Before Dune, Austin Butler Starred In This Fantasy Series Based On A Best-Selling Book Series – SlashFilm

Austin Butler would possibly’ve catapulted to fame together with his dedicated efficiency in Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis,” however the “Caught Stealing” actor has performed a variety of roles. Butler was a baby actor who bought his massive break with visitor elements in “Hannah Montana” and “iCarly,” after which went on to seem in sitcoms and teenage dramas like “Zoey 101” and “Switched at Beginning.” He has come a good distance since, and lately performed the dastardly Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in sci-fi epic “Dune: Half Two.” Before Butler acquired mainstream recognition for his unbelievable expertise, although, he was Wil Ohmsford in “The Shannara Chronicles,” the TV adaptation of Terry Brooks’ novel collection from Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (creators of “Smallville” and Netflix’s “Wednesday”).

Brooks’ novels are campy submit-apocalyptic tales with a YA (younger grownup) bent — the sort the place excessive fantasy and edgy melodrama meet. The primary season of “The Shannara Chronicles” loosely follows Brooks’ “The Elfstones of Shannara,” which is ready within the 4 Lands, the place a sacred tree that when stored demons away from infiltrating the land has begun to die. Butler’s Wil, who desires to be a Healer, groups up with the elf Amberle (Poppy Drayton) and the Rover (wanderers with no set dwelling) Eretria (Ivana Baquero). With the help of the final druid, Allanon (Manu Bennett), this group of younger heroes should forestall  monsters from wreaking havoc throughout the 4 Lands.

This is as decently generic as any excessive fantasy setting, filtered by way of what one would anticipate from a CW present (although “Shannara Chronicles” began out as an MTV collection). So, how does the present fare, and what does Butler carry to the story?

Terry Brooks’ “Shannara” trilogy is not significantly complicated or meaty to start with. Regardless of its deserves (comparable to its tacky sincerity), there’s little originality to this YA excessive-fantasy that performs out like a shallow rehash of “The Lord of the Rings.” There’s additionally little to no cultural variety throughout the supposedly huge 4 Lands, and no makes an attempt to take narrative dangers that problem hackneyed tropes. All the things from an inevitable love triangle to the presence of each conceivable magical creature (together with changelings!) shapes this trope-heavy present, leaving little area for reinvention.

That mentioned, “The Shannara Chronicles” will be senseless enjoyable, if you happen to’re into that sort of factor. Wil fulfills the mantle of the reluctant Chosen One, doing every little thing he can to not shoulder any tasks that include grand, harmful quests. A few of the extra unserious dialogue that informs Wil’s persona feels ludicrous, however Butler’s efficiency helps floor such silliness In truth, everybody, particularly Bennett, do the utmost with a lackluster script that races by way of places and occasions. The humor is tacky, however nice sufficient to not really feel grating. 

Whereas Season 1 of “The Shannara Chronicles” had bankable viewership numbers, the collection was relocated from MTV to Spike (now Paramount) earlier than the second season aired. The present was canceled after that, however Season 2 is a marked enchancment in each conceivable approach, due to extra streamlined worldbuilding and nuanced character arcs. When you’re interested by Butler’s early profession performances or are a fan of informal fantasy settings, “The Shannara Chronicles” would possibly show to be a jolly good time.