Roar | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by |
|
Starring |
|
Theme music composer | Jon Ehrlich |
Country of origin |
|
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 13 (5 unaired) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Howard Grigsby |
Production locations | Queensland, Australia |
Running time | 60 minutes |
Production companies |
|
Original release | |
Network | Fox |
Release | July 14 – September 1, 1997 |
Roar is a fantasy adventure television series created by Shaun Cassidy and Ron Koslow. The series originally aired on the Fox network from July 14 until September 1, 1997. It is set in the year 400 AD, following a young Irish man, Conor (Heath Ledger), as he sets out to rid his land of the invading Romans, but in order to accomplish this, he must first unite the Celtic clans. The series also starred Vera Farmiga, Lisa Zane, John Saint Ryan, and Sebastian Roché. Roar was cancelled after 8 episodes due to low ratings, and the final 5 episodes were not broadcast by the network until 2000. [1]
Roar chronicles the life of Conor (Ledger), a 20-year-old orphaned prince who must rise above tragedy to lead his people to freedom. Conor takes on a band of ragtag allies that include Tully (Greer), a teenage apprentice magician; Catlin (Farmiga), a beautiful former slave; and Fergus (Ryan), Conor's big-hearted, ebullient protector. Their primary struggle is against Longinus (Roché), a supernatural creature whose true essence is that of a 400-year-old Roman centurion ready to do the bidding of evil Queen Diana (Zane), who is an emissary of the Romans. In this fight for freedom, what is most important for Conor and his people is the Roar – the roar of the land, the roar of the people – a voice that echoes through every living creature and is the power of life.
The show was created by Shaun Cassidy on the heels of the success of the syndicated programs Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess . However, Roar was not very well received in the United States and lasted for only one season (8 of the 13 episodes were aired in 1997, with the last 5 not broadcast until 2000).
One of the major villains in the program was Longinus, played by Sebastian Roché, an immortal cursed by God for interfering with his plans. By Christian tradition, Longinus was the centurion who stabbed Jesus Christ with his spear during the Crucifixion. This spear, the Spear of Destiny, was supposedly the only weapon that could release Longinus from his curse. The show freely mixed Christian mythology, Celtic mythology, Druidism, and smatterings of history. [2] [3]
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Pilot" | Ralph Hemecker | Shaun Cassidy & Ron Koslow | July 14, 1997 [6] | |
When he loses his family and the woman he loves, Prince Conor sets out on a quest for revenge against the ones who killed them. Conor's friend and mentor, the magician Galen, teaches him how to hear the "roar" of the land and shows him another destiny to follow. The Roman legions coming to take over the land are led by Queen Diana, a Roman woman who married a Celtic king, and the wizard Longinus, who is the soldier who killed Christ on the cross and is now cursed with immortality. Joined by Fergus, a warrior of his own tribe, Tully, a young man raised by Galen, and Catlin, a former Roman slave, he sets out to unite the Celtic tribes and fight the Romans. | |||||
2 | "Projector" | Rick Rosenthal | Larry Barber & Paul Barber | July 21, 1997 [7] | |
A traveling merchant tries to sell "atmos", a primitive form of gunpowder. There is a struggle to see who will control this new power called science, the Romans or the Celtic tribes. | |||||
3 | "The Chosen" | Ian Toynton | John Kirk | July 28, 1997 [8] | |
A young boy is chosen as the leader of the druids, a mythical magical priesthood of the ancient Celts, known as the "Father". But there are those who wish to control or do the boy harm before he reaches the druid temple. | |||||
4 | "Banshee" | Lou Antonio | Lawrence Meyers | August 4, 1997 [9] | |
While making an alliance with another clan Conor and the others meet a beautiful woman. She turns out to be a banshee who has foreseen one of their deaths. | |||||
5 | "Doyle's Solution" | Tucker Gates | Story by : Lawrence Meyers Teleplay by : Lawrence Meyers, Shaun Cassidy & Michael Nankin | August 11, 1997 [10] | |
Conor and Fergus run into a man named Doyle who has "adopted" a group of children around him including a beautiful young woman Molly, who is Fergus' daughter. But they soon realize that Doyle may not be as good and peaceful as he seems. | |||||
6 | "Red Boot" | Thomas J. Wright | Larry Barber & Paul Barber | August 18, 1997 [11] | |
A Roman soldier comes to the island to find a document and conceal the truth that is important to the Christian faith. A big secret is revealed about Catlin's faith. | |||||
7 | "The Spear of Destiny" | Jefery Levy | Michael Nankin | August 25, 1997 [12] | |
Fergus tells the story of how Conor found the Spear of Destiny, of its power to corrupt, and of Longinus' attempt to gain everlasting peace by using the spear to kill himself. | |||||
8 | "The Eternal" | Félix Enríquez Alcalá | Shaun Cassidy & Michael Nankin | September 1, 1997 [13] | |
Conor is summoned by the Father who proposes a marriage for him to a druid novice. Longinus swears to bring down Conor's alliance, and begins to build a base of power, forcing Diana and others to swear allegiance to him. | |||||
9 | "Tash" | David S. Jackson | John Kirk | 2000 | |
Catlin accidentally drops a skull while in Galen's home. Shortly after, she is possessed by an evil spirit, a tash. Conor and Fergus race to save her, only to find that the spirit is none other than Catlin's long lost little sister, and the only way to get her out is to turn to Longinus. | |||||
10 | "Traps" | Ian Toynton | Lawrence Meyers | 2000 | |
Conor and Fergus arrive on an island that says they are interested in trading weapons with them. They are actually, though, selling weapons to Longinus and Diana. Conor and Fergus are given hours to survive the traps. If they do, they go free. | |||||
11 | "Daybreak" | Ian Toynton | Larry Barber & Paul Barber | 2000 | |
When Conor recovers the remains of his family, he makes plans to bury them at his father's village, but thanks to Longinus' interference, he is not welcomed with open arms. | |||||
12 | "The Cage" | Michael Nankin | Shaun Cassidy & Michael Nankin | 2000 | |
Conor and Molly have a dubious romance. They travel to Molly's hometown to meet her mother, who has remarried. This husband is not quite as noble as Fergus. He is a spy for Longinus, and plots to kill Conor. In the end, Diana helps put Longinus in a "cage" that will keep him imprisoned for eternity. | |||||
13 | "Sweet Brigit" | Jefery Levy | Story by : Shaun Cassidy, Lawrence Meyers & John Kirk Teleplay by : Shaun Cassidy | May 28, 2000 | |
Newly free from Longinus, everyone celebrates the union of Rome and the Celts. Conor and Fergus, on their way to the celebration meet a man trapped in a hole. Upon helping him out, he leaves them stuck with only the words, "Kiss the clay and you'll be free." Conor kisses the clay only to meet a beautiful young woman who can not speak, and who acts like a child in many ways. They take her in but are soon running from Diana who was threatened. The girl, who Conor names "Brigit", takes a liking to him, but flees one night after setting fire to a soldier. Unable to find her, they go to the man who revealed her to them. He tells them that "Brigit" is a Fire Sprite, and can not be trusted on her own. |
Ray Richmond, a television critic for Variety , gave the series a lukewarm review, "Even 1,500 years ago, it turns out that the Celtics were in need of a decent shooting guard and a big man in the middle. At least, that's what we're told in this adventure drama set in 5th century Europe that follows a ragtag band of Celtic warriors (is there another kind?) and their bloody battles with a group of nasty, oppressive Romans. Think of the Carringtons vs. the Colbys with a lot more leather... and fewer showers. Roar boasts deliciously elaborate costumes (from designer Jean Turnbull) and impeccable period detail. Yet unlike the divertingly cheesy Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys , this summertime spectacle takes itself relatively seriously – a mistake when your chief female evildoer has a taste for bathing in cow dung." [14] Hal Boedeker for the Orlando Sentinel gave a positive review, writing, "The young stars are attractive, the action rarely flags, and the show is a rare fresh offering on broadcast television this summer. It is also more rousing than many new hour series this fall." [15]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) | Jon Ehrlich (for "Pilot") | Nominated |
Golden Reel Awards | Best Sound Editing in Television Episodic – Dialogue & ADR | Norval D. Crutcher III, Marty Vites, Andy Dawson, Robb Navrides (for "Pilot") | Won | |
Robb Navrides (for "The Spear of Destiny") | Nominated | |||
1999 | Australian Cinematographers Society | Telefeatures, TV Drama & Mini Series | John Stokes (for "Red Boot") | Won |
Two books were written based on the Roar universe. Published in 1998, by William T. Quick writing as "Sean Kiernan," Roar: A Novel ( ISBN 0-0610-5914-5) gives a backstory leading up to the pilot episode, and Roar: The Cauldron ( ISBN 0-0610-5936-6) tells the story of Conor's quest to find the legendary Cauldron. [16] [17]
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American fantasy television series filmed in New Zealand, which aired in first-run syndication from September 4, 1995, to June 18, 2001.
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is an American fantasy television series filmed in New Zealand, based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles. Starring Kevin Sorbo as Hercules and Michael Hurst as Iolaus, it was produced from January 16, 1995, to November 22, 1999. It ran for six seasons, producing action figures and other memorabilia as it became one of the highest-rated syndicated television shows in the world at that time. It has aired on Once Channel, Sky1, five/5, Heroes & Icons, and Horror.
Cú Chulainn, is an Irish warrior hero and demigod in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. He is believed to be an incarnation of the Irish god Lugh, who is also his father. His mother is the mortal Deichtine, sister of king Conchobar mac Nessa.
Lucille Frances Lawless is a New Zealand actress. She is best known for her roles as Xena in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, as D'Anna Biers on the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series, and Lucretia in the television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and associated series. Since 2019, she has starred as Alexa in the television series My Life Is Murder.
Kevin Joseph Aloysius Connors was an American actor, writer, and professional basketball and baseball player. He is one of only 13 athletes in the history of American professional sports to have played in both Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association. With a 40-year film and television career, he is best known for his five-year role as Lucas McCain in the highly rated ABC series The Rifleman (1958–63).
The Fisher King is a figure in Arthurian legend, the last in a long line of British kings tasked with guarding the Holy Grail. The Fisher King is both the protector and physical embodiment of his lands, but a wound renders him impotent and his kingdom barren. Unable to walk or ride a horse, he is sometimes depicted as spending his time fishing while he awaits a "chosen one" who can heal him. Versions of the story vary widely, but the Fisher King is typically depicted as being wounded in the groin, legs, or thigh. The healing of these wounds always depends upon the completion of a hero-knight's task.
Marton Paul Csokas is a New Zealand actor of film, stage, and television. A graduate of the Toi Whakaari drama school, he has worked extensively in Australia and Hollywood, along with his native country, and often portrays villainous roles.
Vera Ann Farmiga is an American actress. Farmiga began her professional acting career on stage in the original Broadway production of Taking Sides (1996). After expanding to television and film, Farmiga's breakthrough came in 2004 with her starring role as a drug addict in the drama Down to the Bone. She received praise for starring in the 2009 comedy-drama Up in the Air, for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Sebastian Roché is a French-American actor. He is known for his roles as Kurt Mendel in Odyssey 5, Jerry Jacks in General Hospital, Thomas Jerome Newton in Fringe, Balthazar in Supernatural, Mikael in both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, and Reichsminister Martin Heusmann in The Man in the High Castle.
Lisa Zane is an American actress, singer, and songwriter.
Simon Lyndon is an Australian actor and director.
Charles William David Mesure is a British-born Australian actor known for his work in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
The first season of the television series Xena: Warrior Princess commenced airing in the United States and Canada on September 4, 1995, concluded on July 29, 1996, and contained 24 episodes. It introduces Gabrielle, the series co-star, beside Xena, previously a secondary character in the TV series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Gabrielle becomes Xena's greatest ally; her initial naiveté helps to balance Xena and assists her in recognizing and pursuing the "greater good."
Heath Andrew Ledger was an Australian actor. After playing roles in several Australian television and film productions during the 1990s, he moved to the United States in 1998 to further develop his film career. His work consisted of 20 films in a variety of genres, including 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), The Patriot (2000), A Knight's Tale (2001), Monster's Ball (2001), Casanova (2005), Lords of Dogtown (2005), Brokeback Mountain (2005), Candy (2006), I'm Not There (2007), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009), the latter two of which were posthumously released. He also produced and directed music videos and aspired to be a film director.
Michael Nankin is an American film and television writer, director and producer. He has been nominated for the Humanitas Prize for his writing.
Taissa Farmiga is an American actress. Her numerous appearances in horror films have established her as a scream queen, alongside her older sister Vera Farmiga.
"Smoldering Children" is the tenth episode of the first season of the critically acclaimed television series American Horror Story, which premiered on December 7, 2011, on the FX network. This chilling episode was expertly written by James Wong and masterfully directed by Michael Lehmann. With a rating of TV-MA (LV), this installment is intended for mature audiences only, due to its intense and disturbing content. The episode continues to unravel the dark mysteries and terrifying events that unfold within the haunted walls of the Harmon household, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.
The second season of Bates Motel consisted of 10 episodes and broadcast on A&E from March 3-May 5, 2014, airing on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The series itself is described as a "contemporary prequel" to the 1960 film Psycho and follows the life of Norman Bates and his mother Norma in the fictional town of White Pine Bay, Oregon prior to the events portrayed in the Hitchcock film.
1923 is an American Western drama television series that premiered on December 18, 2022, on Paramount+. The series is a prequel to the Paramount Network series Yellowstone and serves as a sequel to the series 1883, with Isabel May reprising her role from the latter as narrator Elsa Dutton. In February 2023, the series was renewed for a second and final season of eight episodes.
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre is an American Western anthology television series broadcast on CBS from October 5, 1956 until May 18, 1961.