The Legend of William Tell

Overview

The Legend of William Tell is a 16-part television fantasy/drama series produced in 1998 by Cloud 9 Productions in New Zealand. The basic premise of the series β€” a crossbow-wielding rebel defies a corrupt governor β€” and the name of the title character were adopted from the traditional story, but the series was set in a fantasy world and featured supernatural themes.

Described by executive producer Raymond Thompson as "Star Wars on the planet Earth", this is a fantasy saga of bravery, magic, myth and romance. William Tell is the youthful leader of a band of young, β€˜brat pack' outlaws, forever hunted by the forces of darkness, led by Xax and Kreel, who have usurped power in their homeland. The series of self-contained stories follows Will's quest to restore young Princess Vara to her rightful place on the royal throne and defeat Xax and Kreel's forces β€” and by doing so, bring back peace and order to the Kingdom of Kale.

There is action and adventure along the way, magic, creatures, mystery, intrigue β€” but also much human drama and interplay among Will's rebel band who must support each other in their quest. The group encounter a diverse range of people and situations on their journey β€” some help the resistance movement, others are cohorts of Xax and Kreel.

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Episodes

S01E01 Shaytana's Eye

August 30, 1998 60 min
With Shaytana's Eye and the Xaxian Warriors, Kreel and Xax invade the Citadel, overthrow the kingdom and take Princess Vara prisoner. Now the only hope for the kingdom is the Crystal Arrow, Talisman of Kale:...

S01E02 The Fifth Column

September 6, 1998 60 min
In the new reign of terror Xaxian Warriors have been pillaging the countryside, dispersing and destroying any tribes or villages which remain loyal to the old order. One of the survivors is Drogo - a...

S01E03 Escape Into Fear

September 13, 1998 60 min
The Lords Xax and Kreel have put a price on the head of William Tell - and are distributing Wanted posters around all the villages. As two slaves, Freya and Pieter, are about to be...

S01E04 Darkness and Light

September 20, 1998 60 min
A bold plan of William Tell's is to infiltrate the Citadel through his friend, the brilliant horseman Alexim - but this goes dangerously awry when Leon is caught talking to Alexim in the marketplace, and...

S01E05 Hidden Valley

September 27, 1998 60 min
Will has become obsessed with bitter memories of his parents, dead at Xax's hands. Despite Kalem's warning that he must concentrate on his Quest, Will cannot leave aside fruitless thoughts of revenge. Kreel has a...

S01E06 The Challenge

October 4, 1998 60 min
Life-sized statues of Xax, Lord Protector, have been placed in every village and on every road, to which the Kaleans must pay homage, under pain of imprisonment. The statues are actually a form of surveillance:...

S01E07 The Spirit of Kale

October 11, 1998 60 min
Kalem, daring to the point of arrogance, transforms herself into a bird in order to spy on Kreel in his stronghold - but Shaytana's Eye senses her, and in the encounter she is badly wounded....

S01E08 Swarm

October 18, 1998 60 min
The Princess Vara has fallen ill. The band is taken in by Harana, a healer and leader of a group that calls itself the Watchers... Tucked away in a bountiful valley that does not appear...

S01E09 The Sorcerer's Apprentice

October 25, 1998 60 min
A horrible threat hangs over the Kingdom: but for once it does not issue from Xax and Kreel. The evil sorcerer, the Magus Zadrim, has been working in concert with the scientist Voss to develop...

S01E10 Master of Doubt

November 1, 1998 60 min
Xax has taken a convoy of Warriors out on a hunt - and has a fantastic piece of luck when Will and the band stumble right into his path. They are chased by the horsemen...

S01E11 The Lotus Eaters

November 8, 1998 60 min
In this episode Will and the band discover that one must be careful what one wishes for, for the wish may be granted ... Fleeing from Xaxian Warriors, Will and the others stumble into the...

S01E12 The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior

November 15, 1998 60 min
By a remote and beautiful lake a young man, the Sark Darek, has made his camp in the centre of a mysterious, Stonehenge-like Ring of Stones. As he tends his fire a warrior from the...

S01E13 The Labyrinth

November 22, 1998 60 min
In an attempt to defeat Will and Kalem, Kreel has brought forth the most concentrated evil in the form of the Memlok - creature of the Dark. The shapechanging Memlok is sent out into the...

S01E14 Doppelganger

December 6, 1998 60 min
Kreel has a plan of diabolical cleverness to finally defeat Will, and turn Kale against the rebel heroes. He has created a doppelganger - Will's mirror image - who is marauding the countryside with a...

S01E15 Combat

December 13, 1998 60 min
William Tell is in despair - he believes Kalem is dead, and that without her the Quest is lost. Drogo arrives with news from the Citadel of Xax's impending Coronation. Xax has declared he will...

S01E16 Resurrection

December 20, 1998 60 min
With Kalem apparently destroyed, the band dissolved, and the leader of the rebels no one knows where, Kreel assures Xax that the battle to win the Kingdom is to all intents and purposes won. But...

Cast

Kieren Hutchison
Kieren Hutchison
William Tell
Beth Allen
Beth Allen
Princess Vara
Drew Neemia
Drogo
Nathaniel Lees
Nathaniel Lees
Leon
Sharon Tyrell
Sharon Tyrell
Kalem
Andrew Robertt
Andrew Robertt
Xax
Katrina Browne
Katrina Browne
Aruna

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