Spellbinder 2: Land of the Dragon Lord

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Spellbinder 2:
Land of the Dragon Lord

"Spellbinder 2" symbol
Genre sci-fi
Running time 24 minutes
Creator(s) Mark Shirrefs
& John Thomson
Starring Lauren Hewett
Anthony Wong
Ryan Kwanten
Leonard Fung
Heather Mitchell
Country of origin Australia / Poland / China
Original channel 9 Network
Original run 1 September 1997–24 October 1997
No. of episodes 26
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Spellbinder 2: Land of the Dragon Lord (1997) is a children's television miniseries, and a sequel to Spellbinder. Both series deal with children travelling between parallel universes, although the only common characters between the two series are the antagonist Ashka (Heather Mitchell), and her sidekick Gryvon (Rafal Zwierz).

Contents

[edit] Background of the series

Spellbinder 2: Land of the Dragon Lord was filmed on location in Australia ("Kathy's world"), China ("Sun's world") and Poland ("Ashka's world", as well as two other parallel universes). The show was a joint production between studios in the three countries, although the script and concept came from Australia, and the spoken language is English.

Like other children's miniseries by Mark Shirrefs and John Thomson, each episode ends with a cliffhanger. The shows are fast-paced and there are usually new challenges for the characters in each episode, which are solved through cleverness and wits. As with most children's shows, most of the adventure is had by children (Kathy is in her middle-teens), although Ashka, Kathy's parents, and the scientist Mek are adults.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

When Kathy decides to explore an unusual boat she discovers next to a lake, she is accidentally pulled from her home in Australia into a parallel universe. The new world she finds herself in is populated by ethnic Chinese, who possess advanced technology, including a talking computer called "Oracle" that runs the empire. Sun's world, named after the child-king who runs it, is corrupt, and it is probably a criticism of monarchies, because Sun is depicted as selfish and undeserving of his privilege.

Kathy spends most of her time trying to evade dangerous people, return to her own world, and reunite with her family. She is further antagonized by Ashka, a cunning and manipulative woman who has escaped from prison on her own world (for her crimes in the first series) and who seeks to gain advantage for herself.

The series also depicts a journey Sun takes to Kathy's world, where he is no longer protected by his empire, and people do not respect his authority.

[edit] Similarities between the two series

  • It is a teenager who discovers the existence of a parallel world (Paul in series 1, Kathy in series 2)
  • The existence of parallel worlds is discovered by accident (Paul pulls a prank at camp, Kathy heads down to the lake upset)
  • Someone else witnesses that person step into another world (Alex/Katrina Series 1, Josh series 2) and usually parents/teachers don't believe them.
  • The protagonist is usually mistaken for a barbarian of some sort based on their looks (Paul as a Marauder in the Spellbinder world, Kathy as a friend of the barbarian in the Dragon Lord world)
  • Ashka is present in both series and tries to cause chaos and overthrow the land. A sidekick is present in both series (Gryvon series 1 and for Episode 2 of Series 2, and Sharak in Series 2) and Ashka makes frequent use of a power suit.
  • The protagonist befriends someone from the world who believes that they are innocent and are from another world, who also helps them in some way. (Riana in Series 1, Mek/Aya in Series 2)
  • Both the protagonists are from Sydney.
  • As with the first Spellbinder series, a technologically sophisticated elite exploit a group of ignorant peasants, and the protagonist tries to show people why this is wrong.
  • There are trips back and forth between Australia and the parallel world (or worlds). This may be to get supplies or on a rescue mission. (Paul/Riana Series 1, Kathy/Sun/Josh Series 2)
  • Technology is brought from Australia into the parallel world and seems somewhat frightening at first to the people until the protagonist explains it (Airhorn, video camera and walkman Series 1, ghettoblaster, laptop, camera and jeep Series 2.)
  • A strange food is involved, either brought from Australia to the other world, or is eaten in the other world (Dried roots and eels? Series 1 seems strange to Paul, while chocolate seems strange to Sun)
  • The protagonist will also befriend someone in a place of power, who will often help and protect them. (Paul befriends Correon in Series 1, while Kathy befriends Sun and Aya in Series 2)
  • There is a romantic interest, or implied interest, between usually the protagonist and a supporting character (Paul and Katrina series 1, Kathy and Tony series 2)
  • Ashka winds up in the protagonist's world by force and is unfamiliar with the strange world. She often gets into trouble in some shape or form and often the protagonist ends up sending her back. (Ashka makes a new power suit, which is wrecked by a crane in Series 1, she is drugged and has the interface and jewels stolen in Series 2-both times, Paul/Kathy have brought her back.)
  • The power balance ends up weakening slightly and people end up making their own decisions/sharing knowledge.

[edit] Characters

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Kathy Morgan

15 years old, Kathy is slightly spoilt and vain and is reluctant to go camping. Swooning over Tony Lazzi, their neighbour and star on a soap, Kathy accidentally ends up in the Land of The Dragon Lord after playing around with Mek's boat. A little bit upset at first, Kathy soon adjusts to her new life, but begins to resent Sun after he tells her to stay forever. She helps Ashka escape from the Spellbinder land, but after that will swing loyalty with her, sometimes helping her, sometimes not helping her. Beyond that, Kathy is almost like a female version of Paul, but she does not have the scientific knowledge or military skills that Paul does. Most of her planning is often co-worked with her family or with Mek. She is the only person besides Mek to see six worlds, including her own: Australia, Australia 2 (Kathy-2), Land Of The Dragon Lord, the Immortal World, the Spellbinder world and the Land Of The Moloch.

[edit] Josh Morgan

16 years old, he is Kathy's jock brother. While he and Kathy treat each other like brother and sisters normally do, they fight. He cares very much for his sister and is the only person to actually see Kathy disappear. When he and his family end up in the Land Of The Dragon Lord, Josh gets separated from them early and befriends Jasmine, an entertainer. He falls for her and the two share a brief kiss in the series. Beyond that, Josh is more like Paul in that he plays a sport and has some military skills. He can also create a good lie on the spot.

[edit] Carl Morgan

The Kathy and Josh's father, Carl is an ex-pro footballer who injured his knee and now owns a shop called Crazy Carls Sporting and Army Surplus Store. He doesn't believe Josh at first and when he drives into the Land Of The Dragon Lord, tries to get help from Sharak, without realising his true intent. He is eventually reunited with his kids and wife and becomes like a surrogate father to Sun, Aya and Jasmine. Mostly driving, he teaches Sharak how to drive, drives the "monster" (when they're trying to bluff their way out of a situation with Sharak) and handles the driving in and out of the Dragon Lord world. He cares very much for his wife and kids and has some basic military skills, like tactics and being able to use a convincing disguise.

[edit] Vicky Morgan

The Kathy and Josh's mother, Vicky is arachnophobic and is a computer consultant. She appears a little more frail compared to Carl, who can survive without food or water a little bit longer. In the Land OF the Dragon Lord, her role is mostly that of supplies and providing diversions for Sun and Aya, but beyond that her role is somewhat minor.

[edit] Sun, The Dragon Lord

A spoilt brat at first, Sun is the first Dragon Lord. He is easily bored and relies heavily on the Oracle and his guards to take care of matters. When Ashka meets him, Sun takes an instant dislike to her, while befriending Kathy, until he makes her his eternal companion. When he is marooned in Kathy's world however, he is lost and confused, not knowing what to do. He soon adjusts, helping Kathy recover the boat and get back, but everyone believes he's dead. This is played throughout the first half of the series and works to Sun's advantage, as he is able to move around successfully without being captured.

[edit] Princess Aya

Sun's older sister, Aya was meant to be the Dragon Lord, but she was injured in an accident which killed their parents. Sun was made the Dragon Lord while she recovered. She is very gentle and kind to others, regardless of their status and usually manages to keep Sun under control. She takes a great liking to Kathy when she arrives, then the Morgan family. When Jasmine was made a hide-tanner, Aya was the one who made Jasmine's dream come true. She becomes the Dragon Lord after she believes that Sun is dead. She remains the Dragon Lord from this point onwards.

[edit] Scholar Mek

The first person from the Land Of The Dragon Lord that Kathy meets. He is the inventor of the trans-dimensional bamboo boat, which is how Kathy and family end up in the parallel world. His original invention was meant to be musical jewels, but they failed. Working at the scholastery, Mek is a bit like a father figure in a way towards Kathy, helping her adjust to life in the Land Of The Dragon Lord. It is also implied that he has a crush on Aya.

[edit] Jasmine

A 15-year-old girl from the village of Fin, Jasmine is somewhat superstitious, believing in Water Spirits and such, even mistaking Josh for a Water Spirit when she first sees him. Her goal in life is to be an entertainer and she uses one of the Water Spirit's three wishes to try and achieve this goal. When the wish fails at first, Jasmine is angry at Josh, but is soon rescued by his family and eventually the wish does manifest, but not in the way that Jasmine or Josh figured out. She has a romantic interest in Josh and kisses him towards the middle of the series. She plays the flute and can sing and dance, this often makes a good distraction.

[edit] Sharak

The leader of a group of barbarians, Sharak's people are hungry and want food. Sun refuses and sends out his warrior to defeat them. It works all right, but Sharak doesn't give up. Recruiting Ashka and at one point, Josh, Sharak's army manage to invade the Land Of The Dragon Lord and dismantle the Oracle. Being very superstitious, Sharak enlists in the help of a diviner to make sure that everything is all right according to the stars and to banish ghosts and cleanse items. Sharak makes himself self-appointed Lord and forces Aya to marry him. At the last minute, however, Ashka takes Aya's place and becomes Sharak's bride. Eventually, they end up in the Land Of The Moloch, where they are needed the most.

[edit] Cast

Kathy, Mek and Ashka in "Sun's World" (book cover)
Enlarge
Kathy, Mek and Ashka
in "Sun's World"
(book cover)
Kathy and Automatons in another parallel world (book cover)
Enlarge
Kathy and Automatons
in another parallel world
(book cover)

[edit] Main cast

[edit] Secondary cast

  • Geng Baosheng as "the Diviner"
  • Andrzej Debski as "Tad"
  • Lech Dyblik as "the Arbiter"
  • Andrzej Grabowski as "Gan"
  • Aleksandra Kisielewska as "Thalia"
  • Katarzyna Laniewska as "Elin"
  • Lech Mackiewicz as "Dr. Elvo"
  • Maria Mackiewicz as "Mel"
  • Agnieszka Michalska as "the Apprentice"
  • Jowita Miondlikowska as "Mala"
  • Cezary Morawski as "Hugo"
  • Wenanty Nosul as "Lem"
  • Bartosz Obuchowicz as "the Boy"
  • Justin Rosniak as "Tony"
  • Iwona Rulewicz as "Leila"
  • Adam Siemion as "Jez"
  • Monika Switaj as "the Mother"
  • Wojciech Szawul as "Guard"
  • Katarzyna Walter as "Guin"
  • Ye Xiaokeng as "Gobbo"
  • Wang Ya'nan as "Roggar"
  • Andrej Zolkiewski as "the Spellbinder"
  • Rafal Zwierz as "Gryvon"

[edit] USA Showings

Spellbinder was first shown in the USA in 1996 on the Disney Channel, along with another Australian science fiction series called "Ocean Girl". However, after 1997 the Disney Channel decided not to get the 2nd season, as well as renewing "Ocean Girl" (which Disney helped finance OG seasons 2 and 3). However, "Spellbinder 2: Land Of The Dragon Lord" was picked up by the FOX Family Channel and the series the shown in late Autumn of 1997. Unfortunately, FOX TV stopped short of showing the entire 2nd season in January, 1998, leaving many USA fans wanting to know what happened next. Although FOX Family Channel had said that they would show all the episodes later on, they never did. A few years later the FOX Family Channel ownership was bought by ABC Capital TV Network, which is owned by Disney Corporation, and is now called ABC Family Channel, and it seems unlikely that USA viewers will ever see the entire "Spellbinder 2".

[edit] External links

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