The Shannara Chronicles – Ellcrys

By starrymag | March 2, 2016

By: Caitlin Walsh

 

 

**Warning: spoilers ahead for the Season 1 finale of The Shannara Chronicles**

 

Holy season finale! From start to finish, the Season 1 finale of “The Shannara Chronicles” was nothing short of epic – jam packed with violence, romance, tragedy, strategy and magic all into less than an hour. I’m still not over it—let’s see if that day ever comes.

 

Every ship sailing

 

All shippers got their moments to shine last night, and for that, we can all be grateful. Wil (Austin Butler) thinking Eretria (Ivana Baquero) is dead, saves her with his elf stones (and there is that tender forehead kiss moment). Eretria, looking for Amberle as she wakes up, momentarily appears devastated that she didn’t make it out—and willing to drain herself of blood all over again just to get her back (swoon with me Princess Rover shippers). Amberle (Poppy Drayton) learns that she, herself, is the seed and she will need to let go of her love for Wil and sacrifice herself–ouch, my heart.

But that tearful, short lived reunion hug between the three and the sheer relief at seeing each other alive may be when my heart really first stopped during the episode, though it’s hard to be sure.

 

Mere minutes after, Eretria successfully manages to save Amberle and the trio reunite (albeit it being short-lived) yet was enough (a group hug with a dose of tears and relief? Yes please.). They realize they need to get back to Arborlon immediately—now knowing that the Ellcrys has shed its last leaf and the Dagda Mor and all the demons are free–and they’re off. There will be time for hugs and emotions later–maybe.

 

Cue the plot twist: Eretria turns and sacrifices herself (again – willingly and knowingly) to buy Wil and Amberle time to escape the trolls chasing them through the tunnels of Safe Hold. She tells Amberle they all have a part to play, this being hers and Amberle needs to see this entire mission through. Amberle wants to fight it, but it’s not up for debate. The girls share a knowing look, one of respect and admiration for each other. It was all I needed. These girls have come so far and there’s a rooted bond there. Now, while the world needed them they needed each other (most of the time begrudgingly, but still).

 

Their friendship, which started with an attempted robbery and some serious prejudices, has come so far. They’re not without fights, still, but they’ve opened each other’s eyes, slowly, putting away past prejudices and ignorance. They’ve come to some sort of mutual respect and understanding (a work in progress, but still so significant). They’re two pretty dynamic female characters and I’ve loved their developments so far, especially Eretria’s. Here’s hoping that if “Shannara” continues, they can handle a love triangle appropriately. These characters are and can be so much more than the romance. (See: “The 100.” Through brief, Raven/Clarke/Finn triangle was the perfect example of this.)

 

Wil is slower to accept Eretria’s sacrifice, promising they’ll come back for her–but with a quick, loaded kiss through the grates. Eretria says her goodbye before being her badass self, taking down a few trolls singlehandedly and running through the tunnels, buying her friends time they desperately need.

 

Not that it seems to take Wil too long to push aside his distress. He and Amberle make a (inexplicably) speedy return to the outskirts of Arborlon and wait out the rest of the day time in a cave away from the eyes of enemies waiting for battle (more on that later). Amberle hasn’t exactly shared her self sacrifice plan with Wil yet, not ready to let him go. Cue a love confession on both ends, and some steamy, cave sexy time topped off with sunset mood lighting. (After all, it’s not like anyone is in a rush, right?)

 

“I wish we could’ve met before all this.” -Amberle

 

“When everyone’s safe, we’ll have all the time in the world to do things differently.” -Wil

 

You know it’s coming and it still guts you. “I love you, Wil Olmsford, and I’m not ready to let you go. Not yet.”

 

Disclaimer: For all my teasing, I ate every second of it up.

 

Honorable mentions for shipper hearts tonight: Catania, sweet Catania, came to Bandon’s (Marcus Vanco) aid while he’s locked up, wanting to help him despite what transpired the previous episode. All he wants is to get far enough away so he can’t hurt anyone, fearing the dark side taking over him. She just wants to help, hough she didn’t exactly see it coming that he’d kill the guard that shoved Catania (Brooke Williams) out of the way.

 

“He shouldn’t have touched you,” Bandon said, hollow, his face covered in blood.

 

They don’t exactly get happily to ever after. (Spoiler: no one does.)

 

King Ander (Aaron Jakubenko) and Commander Tilton (Emelia Burns) are in the midst of preparing for battle and actually fighting said battle, have their moment (FINALLY).  There is a long overdue kiss and an even longer overdue chat–but hey, I’ll take it.

 

“We were supposed to get married, remember? Once upon a time…I’m sorry it took the end of the world to realize what a fool I’ve been.”-Ander,

 

Like one strong uppercut to the gut after another…

 

Needless to say, we should all be checking in with cardiologists today.

 

Just a dash of (potentially apocalyptic) war

 

With the Dagda Mor free and an army of demons with an axe to grind against the Elves knocking on Arborlon’s door, there was really no way to avoid some war–and boy, did the finale more than deliver with that battle. On a scale rivaling “Game of Thrones,” we saw our fair share of bloodshed, battle cries and best of all inspiring speeches. King Ander went full Aragorn pre-battle: “Let us fall so the Ellcrys may rise again!”

 

It did the job. Hell, I was ready to grab a sword. (Sidenote: Why in the world was King Ander, of all people, not wearing a shred of armor? No helmet? Nothing. I know Aaron Jakubenko is beautiful, but c’mon, it was impractical!)

 

The joined forces of the Elves and Gnomes held their own, I must say. Despite earlier claims that they were outnumbered by the demons 1000:1, they stood their ground–but not without a few casualties along the way; sadly, including Commander Tilton at the hands of (plot twist) demon Arion. Ruthless.

 

In true heroic tragedy fashion, Ander watched his love die at the hands of his demon brother and then drove the warlock sword through his brother while Arion begged to be set free. “What are you waiting for? Release me! Please.” I have to give serious kudos to Aaron Jakubenko in this scene–the devastation Ander is feeling about Tilton, Arion and the confusion and horror at seeing a demonized version of his recently deceased brother….it was all palpable and crushing. Well done, sir.

 

When one storyline closes…

 

It all, of course, had to come to some sort of end–especially with the fate of the show still up in the air (#RenewShannara). There had to be at least a few resolutions.

 

Allanon (Manu Bennett) helped Wil and Amberle to the Ellcrys where Amberle finally confesses, tearfully, to Wil that she is the seed and she needs to sacrifice herself. They’re crunched for time and Wil isn’t ready to let go (one last tearful kiss, yes please). But there’s no option here and Amberle follows through, ending the battle. The Ellcrys lives again and with that, the demons dissipate. Peace time, once again, but at the sacrifice of many – including Amberle. Wil doesn’t handle it well and calls Allanon out for having known all along and not telling them what the consequences would be. He’s not wrong, but as Allanon points out that it wouldn’t have really done any good for them to know. (Major Dumbledore moves, no?)

 

“Your father would’ve been proud of your actions today. As am I,” Allanon told him.

 

Wil packs up and heads out to rescue Eretria (“I’m not going to lose her, too.”), but not before admitting to Allanon that despite everything, he’s grateful he met him and found out who he really was. They know they’ll cross paths again, someday. Until the next time, boys.

 

King Ander, in the meantime, is having trouble grasping just what happened on that battlefield. There was no sign of Arion’s body afterward and no sign of the warlock sword. He’s not sure what he saw was real. Allanon has no answers for him and, thus, we have also have no answers. Was it demon trickery? What happened?!

 

Back at the demon base, we see one last lone figure standing. He removes his hood, and while I wasn’t entirely shocked, I still wasn’t ready to see dark eyed demon Bandon standing there. Ouch. This is one major cliffhanger which I absolutely will need to see resolved (Again, MTV, get on it. Renew for a second season like, yesterday.). With dark Bandon, does the Dagda Mor live on? I have questions.

 

Cut to Eretria—alive [flail] but captured. She’s dragged into a room filled with trolls and thrown to her knees. One stands before her, removes his mask and we don’t see his face, but she does. She sure recognizes whoever it is. Yet another cliffhanger that I need resolved as soon as humanly possible.

 

A few notes

 

• That soundtrack was on beautifully on point tonight and don’t think I didn’t notice Woodkid playing in that quick pre-battle montage. Taking cues from “The 100,” are we? (I’m not mad. At. All.)

 

• I should read the books. I’m going to read the books, but if there’s something that flew over my head as a result of my slack, I apologize.