The Shannara Chronicles Season 1 Episode Guide
1.01. Chosen - Part One - Review
1.02. Chosen - Part Two - Review
1.03. Fury - Review
1.04. Changeling - Review
1.05. Reaper - Review
1.06. Pykon - Review
1.07. Breakline - Review
1.08. Utopia - Review
1.09. Safehold - Review
1.10. Ellcrys - Review Coming Soon
The Shannara Chronicles 1.09. "Safehold"
Directed by Brad Turner and Written by Evan Endicott & Josh Stoddard
And so we have our penultimate episode of the season. This is it. This is where things start to get interesting and with only one episode left after this it'll be interesting to see what kind of, if any resolution we get from The Shannara Chronicles because it seems to be setting itself up as a one-season long storyline unless everything goes spectacularly wrong for the Elves, Amberle and company. However it remains to be seen whether or not they'll be able to save the day, because regardless, all the pieces are now in place for what should be an epic final episode of the season, appropriately titled Ellcrys.
Anyway, first we have to get through the most recent episode, and first we're going to look at Wil, Amberle and Eretria, who have arrived at what was once San Francisco on the hunt for Safehold. They find the name Safehold on some ruins of what was once a highway sign - with some of the names missing. Eretria discovers that her tattoo on her back is in fact the mysterious map that leads to the Bloodfire, giving the team a location to head towards. You've got to wonder how massively screwed they would have been if Wil had been rescued by a different Rover back when he stumbled into Troll territory in the pilot, but it works to as a way to get the characters to where they're going.
However they are met with resistance in the form of the old women who are the Guardians of the Bloodfire and attempt to turn the trio against each other, causing a divide between the group at the moment that they need to stick together the most. However, Eretria is able to hold back the Guardians' mental assault and learns that her blood is the key to unlocking the Bloodfire for Amberle and decides to impale her hand on a magical spike, which starts the fuse that the trio need. However in order for Amberle to get to the Bloodfire they have to take care of the Guardians so Wil uses his Elfstones to provide cover for her, allowing Amberle to advance. Amberle makes it to the Bloodfire, leaving Wil and Eretria behind, with Wil having used his Elfstones to take care of the Guardians.
So that was where we left Amberle, Eretria and Wil at the end of the episode, providing a pretty interesting ending that asks what lies in store for Amberle in the Bloodfire. Surely there's going to be more tests for her to overcome, right? Maybe something in a similar manner to what she experienced in the Ellcrys. Meanwhile the action just as interesting back home in Arbolon as Bandon became possessed by the Dagda Mor during his training with Allanon. The Dagda Mor uses Bandon to fight both Ander and Catania but is eventually stopped by Allanon. And at the same time Ander has sent Commander Tilton to make an alliance with the Gnomes whose forces they desperately need if they are to stop the Dagda Mor's army.
That doesn't mean that Ander is safe though and has problems of his own in the form of a Coup being lead against him by Kael Pindanon, an Elven Councillor who thinks that Ander is not worthy of being leader of the Elves despite it being his bloodline and deems it best to take care of him. Pindanon enlists several guards to help do so. He has Ander imprisoned and attempts to take control but Commander Tilton returns to Arbolorn with the Gnomes having successfully secured an alliance. After the Alliance with the Gnomes is made announced, that gives Ander enough support to take back command of the Elves after he is freed.
And to make matters worse, the last leaf from the Ellcrys has fallen, and the Dagda Mor and his Demon Army is now able to begin their march on Arbolon, putting the fate of the Elven Kingdom in the hands of Amberle, Eretria and Wil. Wil has to now deal with an unconscious Eretria and a missing Amberle, leaving plenty of cliffhangers even before we get to the finale. After last week's disappointing episode with the whole rave in the woods I was wondering whether the show would be able to bring about a strong resolution but having seen this episode hope still remains for an interesting finale. I guess we'll have to find out this Tuesday whether The Shannara Chronicles can deliver on what it's been building towards all this time.
What did you think of this episode? Be sure to let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for the finale of Season 1 of The Shannara Chronicles (That could also be the series finale if the show doesn't get renewed - I don't think any renewal has been confirmed yet, but it would be a shame to see it go without a Second Season at least, even if I don't know what they'd do next), airing tomorrow night at 10pm on MTV.
Overall Episode Verdict: B+
Positives:
+Safehold.
+Ander's reign being tested.
+Alliance with Elves and Gnomes.
+The Plot is back on track.
