"BeastMaster" (1999) TV series 1999-2002

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Directors:

Peter Andrikidis
Ian Gilmour

Writers:

Sarah Dodd (writer)
Edwina Follows (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

9 lokakuu 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy

Plot:

The sword and sorcery adventures of a wandering adventurer who has the ability to communicate with animals.

Plot Keywords:

Animal | Sword And Sorcery | Beastmaster | Loincloth | Spin Off From Cult Film

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Jackson Raine	...	Tao (65 episodes, 1999-2002)
Daniel Goddard	...	Dar (65 episodes, 1999-2002)
Steven Grives	...	King Zad / ... (32 episodes, 1999-2002)
Monika Schnarre	...	The Sorceress #1 / ... (29 episodes, 1999-2002)

Runtime:

45 min (66 episodes)

Country:

Australia | Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Queensland, Australia

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Quotes:

Tao: So we're helping someone we don't like, based on the word of someone who never tells the truth.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Beastmaster (1982)

Greatly Missed

It was rather campy with ridiculous plots that only children would appreciate, but I do miss this show. I kept watching episodes repeat until I started to wonder why they were going back to the beginning. I finally found out that it was canceled due to production issues and not ratings. Daniel Goddard is stunning on screen, but his character seemed very much like Kevin Sorbo's Hercules rendition. They were both very sensitive, hunky, muscular males who could kick butt when it came down to it. They're also extremely monogamous and don't seem to want to move past the women they were once in love with to venture into anything new.

I found the opening credits vastly amusing. It amps it up a lot and then you're like, "Oooh! Who is this guy?" and then the announcer says quite blandly, "He's the Beastmaster. He communicates with animals." It was so anti-climatic, it was comical. That's his specialty? Talking to animals? So he's an ancient vet? Eh, I watched anyway. His sidekick was more annoying that Gabrielle in Xena. And the heavy surfer, Californian accent was a little off in this ancient environment. I loved the character of Arina and wished she and Dar would hook up, but it got canceled before old lover boy would make a move. Heck, the way he was moving, his ferrets woulda got to her before he did.

The plots were childish, as I've said, but you still watched because it was just a way to kick back and enjoy a Saturday afternoon, no stress. It didn't require heavy thinking on my part. It also might have grown into a pretty strong show that tested waters, but it didn't last. Ah, it's OK, but you feel bad for the actors. It's like they may never get another break with this show gone. I remember those episodes with the original Beastmaster and I found him terribly annoying. I'm not surprised his movies didn't work out majorly. I caught sight of one of his versions and detested him. Daniel was better. Ah, so's the TV world.