Five Torches (Out of Five)
Warning: The following review contains spoilers for the “Torn” episode of Legend of the Seeker.
After last week’s terrific wrap-up of the Sisters of the Light arc, Legend of the Seeker comes back swingin’ with a great episode where our heroine Kahlan gives us double the fun. This was probably the best episode so far this season, in no small part due to the performance of Bridget Regan. But more on that in a minute …
We begin with the gang spotting two men hanging from a tree. They learn that someone has assigned himself the title of “High Lord Regent” and is attempting to usurp Kahlan’s authority in Aydindril. So the heroes decide to split up (which always works out so well for them, doesn’t it?) with Zedd and Kahlan heading to Aydindril while Richard and Cara continue on the quest. Just as they’re about to teleport, Kahlan wishes she could stay with Richard, and surprise, she does! Well, one version of her, anyway.
Zedd and the other Kahlan arrive in Aydindril and learn that a dude named Fyren is the one who appointed himself Lord High Whatever, so Kahlan immediately confesses the crap out of him and assumes the throne. And for anyone who’s ever seen a fantasy show before, we know instinctively that Kahlan hasn’t just been doubled — her personality has been split in two: One Kahlan has all of her tough-as-nails leadership skills, and one has her softer side that’s in looooove with Richard. (It’s Valentine’s Day, remember.) The bummer for the sweet Kahlan, though, is that she has no confessor power.
So the silver lining? Without her confessor power, that means she and Richard can finally — FINALLY — get it on. (Again, I remind you, it’s Valentine’s Day, so we’re all thinking about the same thing, right?) Over in Idendrill, the Kahlan who’s all business is continuing that trend, deciding that Fyren is the best choice around to sire the next Confessor.
So beautiful, noble Kahlan, who has been chaste as long as we’ve known her, gets two simultaneous love scenes with two different dudes! You go ‘head, Kahlan. You get yours. Of course, it’s a PG show, so there’s an awful lot of kissing with clothes on, but none of the good stuff, and both guys manage to keep their pants on for the entire act. Where’s all the nudity?
Hmm. I think I may be watching too much Spartacus.
Moving on …
When Richard, Cara, and Sweet-Kahlan arrive in Aydindril, All-Business-Kahlan has become a tyrant, obsessed with her own power. Needless to say, good wins out, the Kahlans are reunited, and all is good in the world.
So what made this episode so great? Usually I favor the more action-oriented episodes that deal with the internal mythology of the show, and this episode was not that. Instead, it gave us a deep psychological insight to Kahlan, who is a fascinating character given all the challenges she must face.
The episode could have been farcical, a throwaway romantic Valentine’s Day show, but the combination of good writing and an intelligent performance by Bridget Regan really gave us something meaty to chew on. Like some of the best Buffy episodes, it used a gimmick — “we’re splitting Kahlan in TWO!” — to really explore just who this woman is, and like all fantasy at its absolute best, it made us ponder real life.
What does it mean to cut ourselves off from our emotions? We’re told that’s exactly what world leaders have to do when they enter office, for how could you declare war on a country if you’re empathizing with all the civilians who will be 
killed? Conversely, how many times have we let our romantic feelings get the best of us, and found ourselves saying and doing things that seem odd, sometimes even crazy, all in the name of love?
These are, most certainly, Big Questions. That Legend of the Seeker went there proves it’s a show with some meat on its bones, and with episodes like these, it makes us as the audience not only care about the characters — which is much harder to do than it sounds — but ask ourselves the questions it raises about life in general.
The anchor to this episode was, of course, Bridget Regan. I’ve always enjoyed her on the show, and have written about it before many times. (And now that I know she occasionally reads our reviews, I love her even more!) But she certainly went above and beyond with her performance in “Torn,” and it shows.
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the lines were pretty funny and when the two kahlans were looking at each other i kept thinking queen kahlan was saying in her mind Damn i look good .i had a mental conflict between reckoning or torn was her best ep but torn won Love you reviews look forward to them every sunday or when they are up and of course deejs
Yes! Those were the BEST lines!
This episode surpassed all my expectations, and I already knew I was going to love it. Bridget ROCKS!! Long live Legend of the Seeker. Parties unforgettable for me:
Fyren: “tell me what I can do for you?”
Kahlan: ” GET OUT MY CHAIR ”
Fyren: “that I’ll please you in ways you can’t imagine”
Kahlan: “I DOUBT THAT BUT YOU CAN TRY”
He starts kissing her and she tells him: THAT WON’T BE NECESSARY JUST TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES”
OH MY GOD!! All around fantastic. Bridget was incredibly believable in both roles!!!
Uhh what the crud is “Idendrill”. To help you out next time you write a review for the show its spelt “Aydindril”
Hah! I admit it’s been a long time since I read the books, and the arbitrary spelling occasionally eludes me. I do try to find the spelling online before I publish the articles, bit I guess I used a poor source.
This is the only place I’m going from here on in (It’s a great time-killer, by the way…):
http://sot.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
It threw me off a bit is all. I was like… great artical… but wth is with the spelling of that?! lol
Maybe you could also check the spelling of “article,” which is an actual word.
BURN!!
Just kidding, it’s all love.
Great episode. Strange that “Fatal Attraction” Kahlan had to get ALL naked to “consumate” her relationship with Richard, yet Richard kept his pants on for the “event”. I wonder what Richard is hiding? In contrast, “Queen” Kahlan seemed to keep pretty much all her clothes on for her baby-making efforts. And poor Kahlan doesn’t remember a thing about either experience, which means she gets to re-live all the pain of having her cherry popped again once she and Richard finally figure out how to do the deed (or find another one of those magical collars for Kahlan to wear).
Finally getting used to Kahlan’s Mother H00ker outfit. It still looks a little *s3xy* for the Mother Confessor (and the High Regent seemed to agree), but Bridget Regan does look good wearing it.
Great episode. Strange that “Fatal Attraction” Kahlan had to get ALL naked to “consumate” her relationship with Richard, yet Richard kept his pants on for the “event”. I wonder what Richard is hiding? In contrast, “Queen” Kahlan seemed to keep pretty much all her clothes on for her baby-making efforts. And poor Kahlan doesn’t remember a thing about either experience, which means she gets to re-live all the pain of having her cherry popped again once she and Richard finally figure out how to do the deed (or find another one of those magical collars for Kahlan to wear).
Finally getting used to Kahlan’s Mother H00ker outfit. It still looks a little *sexy* for the Mother Confessor (and the High Regent seemed to agree), but Bridget Regan does look good wearing it.
Great episode. Strange that “Fatal Attraction” Kahlan had to get ALL naked to “consumate” her relationship with Richard, yet Richard kept his pants on for the “event”. I wonder what Richard is hiding? In contrast, “Queen” Kahlan seemed to keep pretty much all her clothes on for her baby-making efforts. And poor Kahlan doesn’t remember a thing about either experience, which means she gets to re-live all the pain of having her cherry popped again once she and Richard finally figure out how to do the deed (or find another one of those magical collars for Kahlan to wear).
Finally getting used to Kahlan’s Mother Hooker outfit. It still looks a little *sexy* for the Mother Confessor (and the High Regent seemed to agree), but Bridget Regan does look good wearing it.
I agree too - great (fantastic) episode. Bridget Regan was awesome and your review was great.
Such love coming from the comments! Thanks, guys! :)
I agree - great episode, great interview too with Bridget.
And I anticipate your reviews only slightly less than the episodes :)
Great, great episode.
No, GREAT episode!
I completely agree! Bridget Regan really was terrific in Torn. I’m loving the 2nd season so much, I thought the sisters of the light needed to be mentioned bc they are integral in the books. But Torn, Broken, Touched, and Perdition have been my favorites in season 2. Btw, I look forward to your reviews. Thanks.
Thank YOU, Jami! :)