Legend of the Seeker 2.02 "Baneling"

[emeraldstag]

I was really surprised with the premiere and the direction they decided to take. The explanation for Darken Rahl's presence in the S2 promo posters made some sense for the world, and made things a lot more creepier with what Richard, Kahlan & Zedd will have to face this season.

• Cara. I am absolutely falling in love with this character. She brings a sass attitude to the party while at the same time has almost a Spock-like quality of trying to understand the compassion and friendship Richard and the gang show each other and the people of the Midlands. The friction between her and Kahlan is fun to watch but it certainly felt that at least in this episode that Kahlan didn't feel responsible for the boy stealing the jewels after telling Cara to show more compassion to the people when she should have.
• Richard. If there ever was an eternal optimist I think it would be Richard. With the discovery that the foes they were killing were candidates to become Banelings aka the dead brought back to life in order to kill, and instead of going the route Kahlan suggested of not killing their foes, Richard only says they will do what ever is needed & he did find the method of burning the bodies.

I was surprised by the shadowy, horror-movie feel this episode had to it, not like anything we'd seen in Season 1. When they were looking for who killed the guards in the prison, I was so surprised for it to be the woman (I was expecting the guy Kahlan had given a dagger to) and then for her to have already been a Baneling ... did not expect that at all (or the kid). This gives me great hope for the show keeping me surprised at every stop and that there will be a darker tone to the season but unlike Smallville S9 there still seems to be a sense of normality and fun amongst the darkness. More please!