Legend of the Seeker Season 1 Finale: Reckoning

[sakuraberries]

1.22: Reckoning
This is probably my favorite episode.  It and Season 2's Princess vie for the top spot.  What I want to talk about briefly, though, is the portrayal of Kahlan and Darken Rahl's relationship.

Comments

[sakuraberries]

Yup! Like most dictators, I don't think Rahl ever saw himself as evil. He was always fully convinced that his actions were for the greater good, and with Kahlan and Nikolas, that illusion was even stronger.

[dorothydeath]

he had to frame them in a better light

I'm not quite agree with this.
In "Extinction" Richard confronts Darken (when treating to his wound) and says "You've done all those horrible things blah-blah-blah" and Darken DOES NOT argue (I fully expected him to argue. Honestly if I were him I would argue and try to defend my actions). Darken answers "And you're right, of course". No denying, no attempts to justify his deeds. He seems to genuinely agree with Richard.

Sorry for my intrusion.
Couldn't keep my mouth shut.

[brontefanatic]

This was interesting. I came to this essay via your link posted at People's Palace I don't know if you've clicked on any of the "Reckoning" side bar tags at PP. We've had exhaustive discussions about this episode, and a lot of people including myself, have very strong thoughts about it. A lot of PP members have written discussion posts and fanfics based on the episode

[brontefanatic]

My comment was as long as your essay!! I'm sorry I blathered on so much!

[sakuraberries]

That's a very interesting point you make about Kahlan; I never thought of it that way! I agree completely. I think we all just assumed that Kahlan's daughter, having been brought up by her mother, would instinctively want to sacrifice herself for the good of the world. And I don't think Kahlan's reasoning was necessarily "so Richard and I can be together again" but more so that "Rahl doesn't end up ruling the world." But she's also counting on the fact that this child will grow up with resentment towards her father, which is unlikely, given the loving way he treated Nikolas.

I'm currently writing a fic about the episode as well. :) I'm new to peoplespalace so I haven't really had time to go through the 'Reckoning' tag, but I'm sure I will do so in the near future.

Also, I'm curious, what parts of their relationship would you have liked to see most on-screen? What parts would you like to be explained?

Thank you for this comment; it was super interesting and really got me thinking (and also inspired a part in my fic-in-progress! :D)

[brontefanatic]

There must be something in the water - everybody is writing "Reckoning" fics right now! Riona and I both have long ones that we've been posting for several months, and you are about the 4th person in the past week who has mentioned they are working on one. I'm anxious to see what everyone comes up with

[dorothydeath]

I liked your essay.
I love that there's one more person out there who does not see Darken as a monster =)))

I ship Darken/Kahlan like O_O
When are you going to start posting your fic? I would love to read it! ^_^

[sakuraberries]

Thank you! I think Rahl is quite a redeemable character, and it doesn't hurt that he's played by Craig Parker, a very sexy man. ;D

I'm halfway done with the fic! It'll probably go up sometime next weekend, because college during the week just eats up my time. x.x

[dorothydeath]

Oh, that's great! =))
I'll be waiting! ^_^

[vorquellyn]

Not the way normal people fall in love, at least.

This bit makes me uncomfortable. Is there such a thing as normal love? Is abnormal love worth less than normal love?

As he lay there beside Kahlan's coffin, bleeding out, his last thought was probably something along the lines of, "I should have listened to Kahlan."

I kind of doubt that. He hasn't been shown to do much blame throwing over the course of events. If anything, I'd expect his thoughts to be about irony or how he should have done something to curb Nicholas's powers.

Other than that, I tend to agree with you. I'm not sure I'd describe Darken's feelings towards Kahlan as trust or love but he was certainly fond of her or who he thought she was. I see his reaction to her as trying to prove that he's the hero he thinks he is. I think he sees Kahlan at least partly as the-Seeker's-woman even after Richard is gone. I think he thinks that if he can seduce her, it will prove he's right. And having her on his side is useful for his plans of Peace and Unity.

[dorothydeath]

Is there such a thing as normal love?
Oh, good question! =))

...or who he thought she was.
Yes, that's the problem with so many relationships. So often we don't see people for who they really are.

And Darken does say he wants her understanding. So I think you're right - he wants to prove to her (and himself) that he's right. More than anything else I guess...

[sakuraberries]

No, no, not worth less at all! What I meant was...Rahl wouldn't love Kahlan in a selfless, self-sacrificing, all-consuming sort of way. Like, I don't think he would ever think of her before himself, and isn't that what love is about? But perhaps I should have worded it differently.

If anything, I'd expect his thoughts to be about irony or how he should have done something to curb Nicholas's powers.

Well, yeah, that's exactly what I meant! That he would think he should have listened to Kahlan about Nikolas being dangerous because he was a male confessor.

[vorquellyn]

You can love someone without it being all consuming. Loving someone so much that you'd be willing to lay down your life for them, sure. Loving someone so much that you give up everything else you care about, not really healthy. That way tends to lie codependency and resentment.

Ah, ok. I thought you meant he'd think she was right about killing Nicholas.

[meridian_rose]

Very interesting meta. Redeemable Rahl is of interest me, and I believe he did come to care for Kahlan. And yes, I hope he was thinking he ought to have listened to Kahlan when Nicholas had him murdered.

Not the way Richard loved Kahlan. You'll see a few of us at the Palace discuss this a lot; no-one is allowed to love like Richard and Kahlan. Richard genuinely cares for Kahlan and doesn't try to control her - he wants her whole in 'Torn', he never assumes she'll give up being a Confessor to be his wife. On the other hand, it's not real love; it's Epic Love. Aside from the 'Confession' problem Richard faces, there aren't really any obstacles to their love, no challenges to overcome, no gradual development of respect which matures into a love that will last a lifetime. It doesn't ring true, for me; it's inevitable, fated - and, therefore, dull.
Kahlan/Rahl on the other hand has serious issues to overcome, and that's where the real human drama is to be found :D