Plain brilliant. Quite well acted from most of the cast, especially the leads, kids and adults. Lost in a parallel world, Paul Reynolds must find a way home, while dealing with deepening crises in his new land. The key to the story is the way the plot builds, with Paul meeting various intriguing characters who constantly escalate the plot. It is at times nothing short of riveting. The downside is that it is a bit slow in the middle, with a basic dynamic of getting into some sort of trouble, then getting out through some clever ruse, and into the next snare. It begins to wander around in parts, going somewhere, but not all that quickly. Still, this is essentially brilliant writing. I love kids shows, and this was always a favourite. Constant cliffhangers and non-stop action.
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demnisbet19 September 2017
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simbrab21 January 2017Ah, Spellbinder, the Game of Thrones of my childhood days! One of my more vivid memories of the time I was a kid at elementary school in the mid-90s is that I was a huge fan of this series. So when I incidentally stumbled across the original episodes on youtube a few weeks ago, nostalgia hit me, combined with curiosity about how well it would hold up 20 years later.
And after watching all 26 episodes again I have to say, apart from outdated CGI and terrible 90s fashion (with the latter fortunately only being an issue in one of the two worlds the series deals with) it holds up surprisingly well. The quality of the writing is remarkable for a show aimed exclusively at a minor audience. Naturally, it runs heavily on the "adults are useless, kids save the day" trope, and our heroes rely on several convenient coincidences to get to the eventual happy ending. But with very few exceptions, the plot devices that cause a turn of events to the positive get solid exposition beforehand and thus aren't just introduced "ex machina" when the plot asks for them. There are even bits of foreshadowing (watch out for the license plate on Mr. Reynold's car in the pilot). But what the creators are really good at is building up tension. There were moments that had me on the edge of my seat when I re-watched it as an adult. Not to mention the cliffhangers. The acting is fine for the most part as well, and the theme music is memorable and nothing short of epic. It's not just a quality show for children, it's a quality show, period.
A short summary of the plot: 15-year-old Paul Reynolds from Sydney accidentally opens a portal to an alternate dimension and gets trapped in a parallel world. A feudal world that resembles medieval Europe, except the rulers, the so-called Spellbinder, master advanced technology based on magnetism and electricity and use devices such as radio communicators, flying ships and "power suits" that shoot lightnings. The status quo is protected by law: Technology and knowledge are exclusively reserved to the Spellbinder and forbidden to the peasant population. Paul quickly gets into trouble with this law, and although he can convince at least some people that he is from another world and just wants to get home, he is summoned to the Spellbinder court and threatened to be banished to the wastelands. Only Spellbinder Ashka seems sympathetic to his case and protects him. But as it turns out, she has no intention to help him get back home, and instead wants to take advantage of his knowledge in order to rise to power.
Paul trying to escape from this scheming and to find a way to open the portal again would be enough for some good television, but that's just act one. When Paul does eventually get back to his world after a standoff with Ashka, Riana, a peasant girl from the Spellbinder world who helped him along the way, is thrown through the portal as well and subsequently trapped in his world. In an inversion of the first act, we find out that surviving in our modern world as an outsider is just as hard as in Spellbinderland, and convincing people you're from a parallel world is even harder. While Riana tries to get home with help from Paul and his friends Alex and Katrina, Ashka's luck changes as her plotting is revealed to the Spellbinder regents and she has to flee the castle. The portal to Paul's world not only offers her a safe escape, but also potential access to powerful technology and weaponry that could be used to overthrow the regents. This sets off the third and final act.
For a main character, Paul will often act irrationally and be either naive or in a bad temper. But as he is a teenager, this portrayal is simply realistic. To me, a fictional character like that is more appealing than a whitewashed hero with zero flaws (Riana comes closest to this, but she makes up for it by being the bad-ass action girl of the series). And for the target audience, his little character flaws make him easy to identify with. If there's something to criticize about the series, it's the characterization of Paul's friends Alex and Katrina. They play a big role in getting Paul back from the parallel world in the first act, but once he's back they're demoted to playing his sidekicks. While Alex, playing the cliché of the teenager who fails at school but isn't all that dumb after all straight, can be regarded as the comic relief, the character of Katrina remains a bit underdeveloped. She's the science nerd, so on top of helping Paul get his life back, proofing the existence of parallel worlds excites and motivates her. Showing a bigger portion of her side to the story would have helped to justify some of her later decisions and actions.
The most interesting character arcs are reserved to two members of the Spellbinder class. There's regent Correon, who evolves from a grumpy old men with zero empathy to Paul's most important confederate to the embodiment of the hope for a better, juster future of the Spellbinder world. Note that the Spellbinder are in no way portrayed as inherently bad to begin with, just as being out of touch with the realities of living outside the Spellbinder castle. And then there's Ashka. The definite highlight of the series, brilliantly portrayed by Australian actress Heather Mitchell. She's so good at plotting, manipulating people, taking advantage of events, always being one step ahead and quickly adapting her plans to new situations, she would be a truly magnificent villain in any TV series, let alone a kids show.
I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the Spellbinder world 20 years later. If your kid is watching this show, be assured that he/she is exposed to high quality television. -
miss_niss6 October 2004This is one of the scariest kids shows ever made. At least for me as a kid. Lost in other dimensions these kids were far from home, and Ashka is one of the best villains ever. She was so scary! I used to have nightmares about her! My memories of the show are dim but I remember being scared to death of her. The special effects were not too bad either, but then this was in the days before computer generated images. It had really good plot twists though, and was open for another series or two. I never saw the telemovie though.
Anyway I wish they would repeat the series on channel nine, or at least give it to the ABC, they're always airing old shows. -
There are no boring parts at least for second. This tv series make you curious all the time and this is very addictive. When you watch one you will end up watching all at once.This was like one of my dreams in childhood,Firstly I watched this when I was 10-12 year kid.And watched many times.Now in 2018 I'm 26 but still watching this again and at least no single point of taste of this has minimized.Thank you for the screenwriter for this drama for writing such amazing plot even nobody can imagine!!! I wondered this is the best thing I have ever seen in my life. YOU WILL SEE MANY THINGS ON TV BUT THIS WILL BE THE BEST OF ALL. I'm in that drama even after days watching it.That much of realistic feeling it gives! Amazing ! I love this. This must be deserved 10 rating !
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samuel-calzadilla14 September 2015I enjoyed Spellbinder as a kid, and I realize that most of its viewers are either children enjoying old shows, former children who loved it when they first saw it, or sci-fi lovers stuck with this program's world. Anyway, I recommend it to all of those who want to see an unforgettable, epic adventure. The leads (Paul and Rianna) are adorable (played by two young, unknown actors), and the main antagonist, Ashka, is mesmerizing. There is no other show like this, not even the spin-off "Land of the Dragon Lord". In fact, it is amazing the fact that it is a short, concise story with a heavy-storytelling style. Bottom-line: If you feel in the mood to watch a sci-fi show meant to take you to a parallel universe, or if you want your kid to stop watching the latest TV garbage, do not miss this show.
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dwdragon30 June 2006I just got it on DVD direct from Australia, and I must say it was a wonderful sight / experience to watch the first season / 1st series again. I was stuck to the screen while I re-watched all 26 episodes in less than a week! Now... waiting for the next part. Spellbinder 2: Land of the Dragon Lord to come out on DVD. Some years ago the series went on Danish TV and that was something could get my attention. Funny thing is that now when I see when the series was made... the actors/actresses are about my age. This mix of current date (at the time) happenings and a parallel dimension where people live much more primitive is fascinating especially is this context. I can only recommend everyone to watch this series at the first chance you get!
It is definitely top entertainment. The people who thought up the plots/ideas were genius! If I were to compare this series to another series it would definitely be another Australien series "The Girl from Tomorrow". -
muzwiz-131 December 2007I have rated this 10 out of 10 as it is a spellbinding to coin a phrase. I think the idea of parallel worlds is fascinating and the spellbinder world is truly remarkable, the scenery, special effects and lovable characters is what keeps you watching. The character Ashka is portrayed excellently by Heather Mitchell, Paul Reynolds is played by a superb actor in Zbych Trofimiuk- courage and determination is acted very well. All the characters in the series are played well, its a shame Zbych has not done more acting since, but for what he has done he has done very well. I think the most engrossing part was when Ashka arrived in Paul's world, with her power suit she really is unstoppable. The spellbinders are very interesting characters and children of today will still be wowed by the special effects. 26 episodes is a fine collection of episodes. Shame no UK release, but if you want something with a bit of imagination, good special effects, characters with depth then this is definitely for you!
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ja_kitty_7126 August 2023Here is another series I really wish was on North American DVD or Blu-ray after watching it on Amazon Video. I watched it out of curiosity, and I also thought the promo picture Amazon used was misleading. This series is definitely in the "Science Fantasy" sub-genre because of parallel world travel.
The first season begins with a teenage boy named Paul Reynolds being pulled into a primitive feudal world, where the overlords there, known as "Spellbinders," have flying ships and electrical "magic. Of course, the spellbinders controlled the people by manipulating their fear and ignorance. Immediately recognized as an outsider, Paul finds himself stranded and in terrible danger when the Spellbinders discover his superior scientific and technological knowledge. Now Paul has to find his way back to his world, with the help of the peasant girl Riana.
I thought it was another awesome TV series, and again, I really wish it was on North American DVD or Blu-ray. The same is true of its sequel series. -
eniledahs11 April 2021I highly recommend watching season 1 if you really love sci-fi, especially sci-fi made from the 90's! I DO want to warn you that in season 2, it only carries the villains from season 1. Any of the other original casts do not follow into season 2 and is reason there isn't any more seasons after season 2. Season 2 completely ruins the TV series! I'm just so happy I got to watch Season 1. Season 1 doesn't leave you in a cliffhanger unlike the TV series Kyle XY! Spellbinder Season 1 is fully complete and will not leave you hanging!
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gdump7 February 2023The underlying story is actually pretty reasonable Sci Fi. That said, the execution fails rather badly on the story segments that take place in "our" world. It relies too much on adults behaving stupidly, which is a pretty common theme in kids stories. When it comes to the villain, all the checks and balances that our society relies on to prevent malicious actions are completely ignored and mayhem reigns.
While I was watching it, I was prepared to give this a 6 rating. Sadly, when I got to the last 2 episodes blew the wheels completely off the bus and the whole thing crashed into utter idiocy. I don't think that even young kids could watch these episodes without feeling that their intelligence was being insulted. -
juil12305 July 2004A very good children's program contains a suspenseful plot and situations on a level where children would be able to comprehend the storyline. An excellent children's program contains all these things and yet, captivates an older audience. Spellbinder definitely is an excellent children's program from my perspective.
Paul reynolds is a boy in his mid-teens who opens a world-portal by playing with electricity and is lost in a world of civilization where the industrial revolution never happened, and science never advanced. A a person of the 21st century, he becomes hunted by the world's leaders: spellbinders for his chemical knowledge on how to make gunpowder on top of his attempts to get home. He finds a friend, Riana who helps him throughout the storyline. Much of the story involves Pauls plight and in returning home, but is also extended, when Riana becomes lost in our world therefore putting the storyline in reverse. The story picks up in pace when one of the spellbinders, Ashka realises that she can use the science of our world to dominate hers, and the main characters are now faced with trying to stop her.
(That is the most brief version i could come up with to summarise the enormous 26 episode long series.)
What really proves captivating is the cinema art used to create the parallel world and the way the audience learns with the characters about each others worlds. There is very good acting by both the young and old cast and a lot of credit must be given to the shows artwork designers.
Overall, "Spellbinder" is a highly recommended Australian television program which has very good ideas to excite the imagination of both children and adults alike. -
xibition22 October 2021This is superb and still arousing the curiosity about chemistry, physics, computer science and astronomy. Marvellous characters has delivered the best product to the whole world twisting the science with little bit of humour and mischievousness at the teenage.
The heroic form of the new inventors depicted to the world about the real heros of this world - scientists and engineers. They are not show offs definitely but developing the world day by day. -
chocoxpromalli22 June 2020Its a very fantastic and joyful series.And its also give a concept for us.I believe parallel worlds.The actors and actresses also did well their chracters.This never getting old.It made my childhood awesome.
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ythzmu2 June 2020Still remember how I was seeking for season 3. Not sure whether this kind of shows are made these days. Still love very much !! Very good show to attract children and teenagers for science specially for astrophysics.
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samithascoop14 November 2022I must say one of the best TV show and best script.. Delighted ,my childhood and still delighting when watching. Its best this has another season with Paul and Riana. I think he should marry her or Kathrina..All actors and actress done great roles. There is season 2 but its better directors can do season 3.. We are waiting. Locations are great. It took us to another dimension. I think writer and director deserve more recognition.. At that era tv series like this made huge different in our lives.. Greatest scientific tv show. Don't know where actors actresses and crew living now. Need to updated information about them too.. And thanks to all of them to made these Awesome TV series and colorful and curious our childhood. No need to rethink giving 10 stars.
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ragstorichesfan14 June 2002I love this series - it is the first time in a while that there has been a cliffhanger series on tv- it got you to the point where you had to see it the following week - sometimes the week was unbearable to get through to find out what happened! im so glad i recorded them - as the disney channel only reaired them once. The Fox Family channel aired a sequel series - which was good but not as good. Ashka was totally evil! she was an awesome villian - i highly recommend this australian sci fi series!!!
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toonboy27 May 1999a young boy is transported to a medieval-like world that is technophobic. it is ruled by a band of spellbinders who, while wearing specially built suits, can shoot energy bolts.
yes, it sounds corny and contrived, but the show has energy and a good cast. yes, it's predictable too since its kiddie fare, but its been a long time since good adventure show has been put out on a budget like this.
the show lacks infantile humor and shows plausibility in the interaction between the youngsters and their interaction with adults. no "home alone" here.
the story really takes off when the young hero makes it back to his world and discovers the spellbinders want to take over there as well.
i was shocked to see this on the disney channel. Of course, the network doesn't seem interested in airing it again. just goes to show you that anything without a cross-marketing tie-in or toyline is taken off television these days. -
When a prank goes wrong this Kick ass story follows. Great if you are into a bit of quality Sci Fi which is also in our world (sort of). I first saw this on CITV and when they got to the end they said this will be back in the autumn and that autumn never came I never found out what happened to Rianna and the others.
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nozcr4 February 2005Spellbinder was a multi part serial centering on an Australian Boy who falls through a dimensional tear and finds himself in a parallel universe that resembles an eastern European country (because it was filmed in an eastern European country). The boy finds his way back to Australia, but is followed by some eastern European villains. Eventually the boy's scientist father sorts it all out and returns everyone from the alternate universe back to where they belong.It lasted approximately 26 episodes and ran on the Disney Channel in the summer of 1996. As far as I know, it marked one of the first co-productions between eastern Europe and the western world and cleared the way for such notable eastern European films as Cold Mountain, Hellboy, and the latest in the Chucky the Killer Doll series.
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JusHowes7 May 2000When an Australian teenager at a school camp pulls off a prank he is trapped in a parallel world where mechanical and technilogical advances never really happened.
The new world is rules by the "Spellbinders". The people are not allowed to learn new things. Only the Spellbinders are allowed to "be smart".
But when Paul is sent into this strange new world, his chances of returning back into the other world is slim. Very slim.
As Paul works harder, things get worse. -
Mike_Warrior11 December 2021It was always fun to watch spellbinder, the series is exciting and certainly well thought out. Series 1 already looks lavishly produced and almost all cliffhangers ended in a gripping way. Unfortunately, a few mistakes reduce the overall impression and that shoots Series 1 out almost completely for me. Paul.... A mature, smart boy suddenly goes crazy at the sight of a few skeletons, while Riana stays cool. And that's not the only moment when such an important figure is tried to be portrayed as a laughing stock. The behavior of Katrina also leaves you thoughtful at times. This also applies to other figures. The icing on the cake is the connection mistake when Paul is standing in the room with his sister and Riana, you can see him coming down the stairs while the two suddenly march in from the next room. All in all, Spellbinder Series 1 is exciting, but unfortunately it suffers from the character representation and excessive emphasis on the actual secondary main characters.
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This show tells the story of a teenager who leaves for camp and gets lost in a primitive world. The teenager gets captured by the Spellbinders. Somehow he finds the way to get back to his home world. But a Spellbinder comes out of the forest and tries to stalk him.