Seeker's Journal: Rewatch and Review - "Puppeteer"
Puppeteer Picspam
Review and Rating for "Puppeteer"
"Puppeteer" is one of my very favorite episodes of Legend of the Seeker. True, it takes the focus off of Richard and Kahlan for a time, but in doing so, still allows the plot to progress while giving other actors a chance to shine. Excellent writing and acting make the hour fly by.
The is one of Zedd's finest episodes, and Bruce Spence clearly relished every moment. He also showed himself to be a fine actor with children - no small feat - as most of his scenes played out with either the obnoxious Princess Violet, or the gentle, put-upon Rachel. His scenes with Violet were funny and sardonic. His scenes with Rachel were tender and encouraging - and more than a little manipulative.
Both children also did justice to their parts, although at times, Rachel occasionally verged on being cloyingly sugary sweet , but on the whole she gives a very good performance. Her scenes with Zedd are especially memorable, as are her scenes of getting out of the palace. In my opinion though, the actress who played Princess Violet, as vile as her character was, did a better job.
I also have to mention the actress that plays Queen Milena. I know she's a character actress on screen and stage in New Zealand, and she was pitch-perfect in this part.
Finally - and I do mean finally - after 6 episodes, our villain made his first sustained appearance in the series. Up to now we'd only seen Darken Rahl in two or three very brief scenes toward the beginning of the the show. Everybody kept talking about him, - how terrible he was, how he must be destroyed, etc., etc., etc. But until "Puppeteer" we never really saw him do much of anything. I never could understand why this show didn't make better use of its "Big Bad" during the first season, since a good villain can often make or break a series. Whatever you do, you should at least give him or her some screen time in every episode. Just my opinion, anyway.
Craig Parker gave an excellent performance as the tyrant who could barely take his eyes off his precious Boxes of Orden as he plotted to gain the third, who had to grit his teeth and suffer through a birthday party and puppet show trying to suppress his eagerness to get his hands on the last Box, and displaying his disappointed and childish rage, then his cold-hearted cruelty, when thwarted at the end. Parker's scenes during the birthday party are hilarious, since it's clear he can't stand any of these people, but has to go along to get what he wants, while his last scenes with Zedd, and then Milena turn much darker when we see what he is capable of when opposed, or ridiculed.
Richard and Kahlan do appear in the episode - first trying to ambush Darken Rahl from a distance with a cross-bow (Wasn't it Richard's destiny to meet Rahl and kill him personally? IDK - this scene bugged me a little because it seemed a little cowardly). Then they have their obligatory fight scene with a few D'Haran soldiers. Finally, they save Rachel from being caught by Darken's men, and open up the priceless gift that she's brought with her.
I did have a few quibbles with the episode: Zedd's conversations with Rachel were pretty manipulative. I know he was working toward the greater good, but some of his comments made me uncomfortable in that he was asking the girl to risk her life in a way I'm not sure she totally understood, with consequences that I'm sure she couldn't fathom.
The next quibble also involved Zedd, but was kind of funny - What on earth did he think poor Martha was going to do with the priceless pink sapphire of Tremontana? The Queen's dead, the princess banished to the mines, and somehow the cook has gotten her hands on one of the royal family's most valuable possessions. How was she going to explain that when she went to sell it - or whatever it was she intended to do with it. Hardly a practical way to help a family in need, Zedd.
Finally, I have to say a word about Princess Violet. The first time I watched this I hated her and thought she deserved everything she got. I still hate her, but, you know, I don't think a 9-year old girl who's been spoiled all of her life, and who has never known anything else, deserves a brutal, and probably very short life in the jewel mines. The more I think about the ending, the more that bothers me.
Final verdict: Great Episode
Rating: 5/5