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Legend of the Seeker

Denna

Season 1, Episode 8, Aired Jan 10, 2009

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9.3

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Richard is captured by a Mord'Sith named Denna, who can manipulate any form of magic directed at her and works for Darken Rahl. Kahlan meets up with an old friend to help rescue Richard and ends up facing a moral dilemma on whether or not to use the help she is offered. Richard realizes he only has a short time before he is completely lost and under the Mord'Sith's control forever, doing whatever she bids him to.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Stephen Ure

Benedict
GUEST STAR
Jamie Passier-Armstrong

Constance
GUEST STAR
Gareth Reeves

Raph

Bruce Spence

Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
Craig Horner

Richard Cypher
Bridget Regan

Kahlan Amnell

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Fan Episode Reviews (9)

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Denna

10

"Perfect"

By TrueTvWatcher, May 25, 2011

Denna was a perfect episode of Legend of The Seeker. I really enjoyed watching this episode because it had a lot of character and plot development. I also liked the dark side of magic being explored. The Mordsith are a formidible enemy and they don't play around. I thought the scenes where Richard was being trained were pretty hot and steamy for television and I'm sure appealed to many viewers. I thought it was interesting how Denna seemed to really be influenced by Richard for a second. He definitely touched her in some way. Richard also learns the truth about why he and Kahlan can not be together. We meet another confessor, though she is not quite like Kahlan. I look forward to watching the next episode and getting further into the story!!!!!!!moreless
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a very deep episode about breaking someone's will

10

"Perfect"

By TheTenth10, Feb 26, 2011

WOW! I discovered the series just 1 week ago, I really like the character develoment and the original and adult (opposed to Hercules) way most of the stories are presented.
This episode is about submission and torture, themes not so often seen in a TV series. I like that the characters have a continuity in their emotions and choices (here Kahlan renounces her duties as Seeker companion because of the Prophecy and her feelings for Richard) which makes the series a continued story rather than random adventures like Code Quantum or Sliders.

We are introduced to Denna, a Mord'Sith, servant to the dark powers of Darken Rahl who is given the mission to capture Richard. We also meet Lara, a confessor which Kahlan asks to replace her as Richard's confessor.

The episode begins by a nightmare Kahlan has and Richards tries to comfort her and they end up kissing with Kahlan freaking and finally leaving th group the day after - I think this was very well acted, by Bridget Regan especially. Richard is captured by Denna, as Zedd escapes as she has the power to turn magic against those who use it. That's when the episode becomes very deep emotionnally as Richard gets tortured by Denna who wants to break her will and Kahlan confronts Lara because she used her confessing power to submit an entire village to her will, thus acting in a similar way to Denna.

This is very well acted in both scenes, with a high ethics reflexion about enslaving the human mind in two different extreme situations : one where a person does it thinking it will serve good and the other where a person does it serving a dark master, but both show that breaking a person's mind to your will is evil anywaymoreless
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I think of myself as a big fan of new and different takes on favorite stories of mine. But, this episode is the worst thing that could have been done to this series.moreless

2.5

"Terrible"

By vrashwrath, Feb 26, 2011

For those of you who haven't read the source material, honestly i'd like to know if anyone who hasn't read this novel series and are watching this play out for the first time, Denna is at the top of the heap for most important characters. SPOILERS: She dies in the book and doesn't get Breath of Life, honestly the true story of Denna has been cut down and twisted a little, but it remained pretty solid for an hour long visit into the most twisted and misunderstood of villains. One last shot for me, im upset about this episode, obviously.moreless
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This is what BDSM looks like in Midland

10

"Perfect"

By Kamuko, Sep 27, 2010

This is one of the few moments where I'm actually glad that a TV show cannot quite live up to a book.
They couldn't have possibly done this like it happened in the books. While you might have been able to portray a time span of two month, you could have never shown the intense level of cruelty that was used in the written version. Be warned never to buy this book for your children.
While the show showed us Denna only as some sadistic mistress I still think it's important to mention that Denna was originally a victim just like Richard. What we saw in 43 minutes was spanned of 4 chapters in the books and it shows us impressively how totally insane and bad Darken Rahl actually is to create something like Denna.moreless
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A very pleasant and welcoming surprise - the show is improving much faster than expected.

10

"Perfect"

By Lyta_499, Feb 09, 2009

The story with Denna is much different in the book, where the writer has all the pages he needs to develop the intricate psychological manoeuvres of Denna to enslave Richard, and in the process to become enslaved herself by the charismatic personality of the Seeker. It would take such a one as the Seeker to melt Denna's ice down, and do to her exactly what she does to others: take her emotions and turn them back against herself. There is a complicated back-and-forth game that entails many aspects of human psychology and its response to stimulae such as physical pain, hope, extortion, betrayal, pleasure and so on.

But in the course of one episode it's very difficult to show all those things, so it became just a three-day instance. Denna however is still kept in the story and perhaps a similar ending to the book will be given in the future. That said, her portrayal in the episode is amazing! She is as beautiful, ruthless and fearsome as should be, and in her scenes with Richard there is a depth to the interpretations of the actors that I've seen for the first time. The show is finding its footing and besides presenting the events is also proceeding to making the viewer participate. During Richard's interactions with Denna I could actually relate to him and feel/think what he was at the time. Can't wait to see the next epis! This one was a keeper.moreless
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TRIVIA (2)
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- Book Difference: *In the books, the events with Denna lasted two months instead of the two days that it lasted in this episode. Denna's mission is to break Richard, but he breaks her instead with his compassion and love. *In the book, Richard kills Denna with the Sword of Truth, as depicted here, but she foresees her death and welcomes it instead of being surprised. Before he does the act, Denna requests the "breath of life," which is a kiss that takes her final breath. *In the book, the most important thing Denna taught Richard, which enabled him to kill her, was that there were always two sides to magic. This eventually enables him to love Kahlan without being taken by her power. *As it was written, Denna never meets Kahlan other than as a spirit. *Unlike in the books, we learn in this episode that people who have been confessed get released when the acting confessor dies. In the books the confessed committed suicide because of grief. *By the first book, Wizards First Rule, all other Confessors are dead, except for Kahlan. This is the first episode to show other Confessors still alive but not the last. Also, only the Mother Confessor was supposed to wear a white dress. All other Confessors wore black.
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- Lesson 18: Keep to the path ahead, not the road behind.
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QUOTES (7)
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- (Richard thrusts the Sword of Truth into Denna.) Denna: (Looking incredulous.) How did you? Richard: You taught me how to withstand pain.
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- Kahlan: Richard, your mission is far more important than any feelings we may have. That's why we-- we can never act on them. We can never let our guard down. We have to bury them. Can you do that? Richard: Well, if there's one thing I learned from Denna...it's how to suffer in silence.
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- Denna: (leaning over Richard as he lays battered on the floor) Our hearts, our minds are becoming one. Soon your only thought will be, "How can I please my mistress?" And then everything will be so much easier for you. I won't have to hurt you anymore. Would you like that? (Richard nods)
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- Richard: So, now what? Kahlan: I'm not sure. But I do know I'm not leaving your side again. Richard:What about the Prophecy? Kahlan: I can't think of any worse betrayal than leaving you.
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- Kahlan: Richard, there's something that I need to tell you. Richard: Denna already told me. Is it true? (Kahlan nods) Richard: Do you know what it was like hearing it from her? Why didn't you tell me? Kahlan: I was afraid that if I told you the truth, you'd become scared of me. Your feelings would change. Richard:Well, why would you care if my feelings changed? You told me you didn't share them. Kahlan: Well, like you said. . . I'm not a very good liar.
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- Richard: Shota was right. You have betrayed me. Kahlan: I betrayed you by leaving. If I'd have stayed with you, none of this would have happened.
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- Richard: Kahlan, if she orders me to kill you, I might not be able to stop myself. Kahlan: I know you. You're strong enough. Richard: There might be a way. Kahlan: Tell me. Richard: Confess me. Kahlan: Richard I can't confess you. Richard: You have to. Kahlan: I'll be destroying everything that you are. Richard: Denna is already doing that. If you confess me I can fight her. I'd rather be your slave than hers.
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NOTES (1)
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- Original International Air Dates: United Kingdom: September 3, 2009 on Sci Fi/Sci Fi HD Germany: December 6, 2009 on ProSieben Sweden: March 19, 2010 on TV6 Slovakia: July 25, 2010 on JOJ
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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