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Conan the Adventurer (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Conan: The Adventurer is a low-budget American
television series produced from 1997 to 1998 and loosely based on the fantasy
hero
Conan the barbarian
. The TV show premiered on September 22, 1997, and ran for 22 episodes. This live-action series starred Ralf Möller as Conan of Cimmeria
and Danny Woodburn
as his sidekick Otli. The storyline was quite different from the Conan lore created in the original Conan novels and short stories by Robert E. Howard
, as well as that of the Conan later depicted in the various Conan comic book series
by Marvel Comics
. The TV character is based on the version in the 1980s films, but there is no continuity
between the films and TV series. Unlike the animated series
, which ran for 64 episodes and spanned multiple seasons, the live-action series was canceled after the first season.
and is informed by his god Crom that he is destined to be a king "by his own hand" (a theme borrowed from earlier renditions) when he slays the evil sorcerer Hissah Zuhl (unique to this rendition). Zuhl (played by Jeremy Kemp
) has effectively enslaved Conan's homeland, Cimmeria, and (through magical arts, trickery and threats) controls many surrounding lands. Hissah Zuhl is the primary antagonist
of the series, responsible for the death of Conan's parents, and recurrent as the always just barely thwarted mastermind enemy.
Overall, the series focuses on Conan's vendetta
against Hissah Zuhl (who figures in almost every episode, with a sarcastic reanimated skull as a clairvoyant
servant), constantly seeking to kill Conan, and Zuhl's apparently endless horde of warriors, as well as vassal wizards and princes under Zuhl's control.
Conan's troop (all of whom are entirely or effectively unique to this television show) most consistently is made up of Woodburn as the clever dwarf
Otli, T. J. Storm as the animalistic capoeira
warrior Bayu, and Robert McRay
as the mute
staff-wielder and wrestler Zzeben who communicates in sign language
, but sometimes also includes others, particularly the recurring character Karella, "Queen of Thieves" played by Aly Dunne.
and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
. The overall theme that Conan is a deeply honorable man – and is pushed to a comparative extreme.
The series further contrasts with the original stories in that it does not include the villain Thoth-Amon
nor the evil god Set
, and in that Hissah Zuhl is not based on Thoth-Amon but rather on the villain in the original "The Tower of the Elephant
" Howard short story (the general plot basis for the first two episodes of the television series). The nature and scope of Conan's adventures are (perhaps ironically) sharply limited in the television series compared to the comics and original stories (in which Conan had many occupations all over the then-known world, and many sets of clothing), as the TV Conan has a single-minded purpose (defeating Hissah Zuhl and freeing the people enslaved by him), rarely strays far from Zuhl's territory, always wears little but a loincloth, and in virtually every episode he and his band are wandering in the wilderness until either attacked by Zuhl's minions and going to a small village afterward, or going to a small village initially, only to be set upon by Zuhl's minions.
On the spiritual level, Conan's Cimmerian deity Crom in this version is not a remote, unseen god as in previous storylines, but an accessible deity who at times provides Conan direct divine assistance, and Conan is outright devout in his worship of Crom (while in previous incarnations, Conan has little faith in gods, and believes that Crom simply observes as men struggle).
Minor points of continuity between the original stories and the television series occur, especially placenames, such as Cimmeria, Conan's birthplace, and Shadizar, "the City of Wickedness" (however, most other placenames, and almost all character names, were simply invented for the TV show). The Serpent Men
of Thoth-Amon in the original stories appear, but later, as minor, one-off enemies, and as servants of Hissah Zuhl, in the episode "The Taming". The quasi-Howardian Red Sonja
character has a prominent but one-time role in an eponym
ous episode.
In appearance and style, the TV show Conan is most like that of the films, including brown (rather than black) hair, a Germanic accent, costuming and a sword nearly identical to the filmic versions, signature sword moves from the films, jewelry in the form of an eight-spoked wheel, and other cues from the Schwarzenegger
portrayal of the character, as well as an opening credits logo based on that of the films.
Another point of partial continuity with the comics is Conan's frequent spoken comment that he does not like magic; this was often expressed aloud in the comics but was usually unspoken in the Howard books.
The she-bandit character Karella is based on the "Queen of Pirates" Bêlit
of the original Conan stories, and the thief Valeria of the Conan films, herself based largely on both Bêlit and the Red Sonja character of the Conan comics (yet further based on another Howard character, Red Sonya, unconnected to the original Conan stories). The show's Karella and Red Sonja characters are sufficiently different to avoid viewer confusion or boredom, as the brigand nature of Karella (inherited from the Bêlit character) is juxtaposed with the TV Sonja's duty as a holy warrior for a sect known as the Truth Keepers, and Karella like Bêlit is a brunette while Red Sonja is (obviously) a redhead. Karella also appears in several of Robert Jordan's Conan Chronicles, nicknamed "The Red Hawk".
As with Subotai and The Wizard in the 1982 film, the other characters in the series are basically whole-cloth inventions for the production at hand and bear little resemblance to characters from early Conan media. Otli the dwarf in particular is entirely out-of-character for Conan as a companion (though is refreshingly the provider of comic relief at the expense of other characters, especially)
As in all previous variants of the Conan franchise, beautiful women – as strong, Amazon
-like warrior women in impractically skimpy outfits, damsels in distress
, or scheming femmes fatales
figure in the plot in every episode.
Points of moral and ethical message similarity between this depiction of Conan and his fictive world and the other depictions (as well as many other works of fantastical fiction and mythology in the West
) include consistent themes of the value of human freedom, the importance of honor and loyalty, justice through victory, the use of (righteous, not wanton) violence as a means to justice and freedom, the value of friendship and trust, the idea that bad things come to those who dabble in evil, and the possibility of redemption for past wrongs for which reparations are made.
novels and the two feature films. the series was criticized for its poor quality, the bad acting, cheap action choreography, confusing story and trying to cash-in on the success of the movies rather than following the novels by Robert E. Howard, some calling it more or less "a low-budget Hercules & Xena".
released Conan the Adventurer: Complete series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.
As of November 2010 it is available for instant viewing on Netflix
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series produced from 1997 to 1998 and loosely based on the fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
Conan the barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
. The TV show premiered on September 22, 1997, and ran for 22 episodes. This live-action series starred Ralf Möller as Conan of Cimmeria
Cimmeria (Conan)
Cimmeria is a fictional land of barbarians in antediluvian earth and the homeland of Conan the Barbarian in the works of Robert E. Howard.-Fictional history:...
and Danny Woodburn
Danny Woodburn
Danny Woodburn is an American dwarf film, television and stage actor best known for having played Mickey Abbott on the sitcom Seinfeld...
as his sidekick Otli. The storyline was quite different from the Conan lore created in the original Conan novels and short stories by Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
, as well as that of the Conan later depicted in the various Conan comic book series
Conan (comics)
Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard was first adapted into comics published Marvel Comics beginning with the series Conan the Barbarian in 1970...
by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. The TV character is based on the version in the 1980s films, but there is no continuity
Continuity (fiction)
In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer over some period of time...
between the films and TV series. Unlike the animated series
Conan the Adventurer (animated series)
Conan the Adventurer is an American animated television series adaptation of Conan the Barbarian, the literary character created by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s. Produced by Jetlag Productions and Sunbow Productions, the series debuted on September 12, 1992, ran for 65 episodes and concluded on...
, which ran for 64 episodes and spanned multiple seasons, the live-action series was canceled after the first season.
Plot arc
In the series, Conan escapes from slavery and acquires a magic sword from ancient AtlantisAtlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
and is informed by his god Crom that he is destined to be a king "by his own hand" (a theme borrowed from earlier renditions) when he slays the evil sorcerer Hissah Zuhl (unique to this rendition). Zuhl (played by Jeremy Kemp
Jeremy Kemp
Jeremy Kemp is an English actor. He is known for his roles in the miniseries The Winds of War, The Blue Max and Z-Cars....
) has effectively enslaved Conan's homeland, Cimmeria, and (through magical arts, trickery and threats) controls many surrounding lands. Hissah Zuhl is the primary antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
of the series, responsible for the death of Conan's parents, and recurrent as the always just barely thwarted mastermind enemy.
Overall, the series focuses on Conan's vendetta
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
against Hissah Zuhl (who figures in almost every episode, with a sarcastic reanimated skull as a clairvoyant
Clairvoyance
The term clairvoyance is used to refer to the ability to gain information about an object, person, location or physical event through means other than the known human senses, a form of extra-sensory perception...
servant), constantly seeking to kill Conan, and Zuhl's apparently endless horde of warriors, as well as vassal wizards and princes under Zuhl's control.
Conan's troop (all of whom are entirely or effectively unique to this television show) most consistently is made up of Woodburn as the clever dwarf
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
Otli, T. J. Storm as the animalistic capoeira
Capoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
warrior Bayu, and Robert McRay
Robert McRay
Robert McRay is an American television actor, sculptor, and personal trainer.McRay's first experience in front of the camera was at the age of 5, on Romper Room. Backstage he was introduced to Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy...
as the mute
Muteness
Muteness or mutism is an inability to speak caused by a speech disorder. The term originates from the Latin word mutus, meaning "silent".-Causes:...
staff-wielder and wrestler Zzeben who communicates in sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
, but sometimes also includes others, particularly the recurring character Karella, "Queen of Thieves" played by Aly Dunne.
Contrasts and continuity with other versions of Conan
In this live-action adaptation, Conan is a kind, sympathetic and jovial person, rather than a moody loner looking out for himself, and is a contented member of a merry band of adventurers with a humanitarian quest. The tone of the series resembles its contemporaries Xena: Warrior PrincessXena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
. The overall theme that Conan is a deeply honorable man – and is pushed to a comparative extreme.
The series further contrasts with the original stories in that it does not include the villain Thoth-Amon
Thoth-Amon
Thoth-Amon is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard. He is an evil wizard in The Phoenix on the Sword, the first of the Conan the Cimmerian stories...
nor the evil god Set
Set (Serpent God)
Set is the name of a fictional demon-god within the continuities of Conan the Barbarian and Marvel Universe.He is apparently an amalgam of the name of the Egyptian god Set and the appearance and characteristics of the Egyptian monster Apep and the Greek mythological figure the Lernaean Hydra. This...
, and in that Hissah Zuhl is not based on Thoth-Amon but rather on the villain in the original "The Tower of the Elephant
The Tower of the Elephant
"The Tower of the Elephant" is one of the original short stories starring the fictional sword and sorcery hero Conan the Cimmerian, written by American author Robert E. Howard. It is set in the pseudo-historical Hyborian Age and concerns Conan infiltrating a perilous tower in order to steal a...
" Howard short story (the general plot basis for the first two episodes of the television series). The nature and scope of Conan's adventures are (perhaps ironically) sharply limited in the television series compared to the comics and original stories (in which Conan had many occupations all over the then-known world, and many sets of clothing), as the TV Conan has a single-minded purpose (defeating Hissah Zuhl and freeing the people enslaved by him), rarely strays far from Zuhl's territory, always wears little but a loincloth, and in virtually every episode he and his band are wandering in the wilderness until either attacked by Zuhl's minions and going to a small village afterward, or going to a small village initially, only to be set upon by Zuhl's minions.
On the spiritual level, Conan's Cimmerian deity Crom in this version is not a remote, unseen god as in previous storylines, but an accessible deity who at times provides Conan direct divine assistance, and Conan is outright devout in his worship of Crom (while in previous incarnations, Conan has little faith in gods, and believes that Crom simply observes as men struggle).
Minor points of continuity between the original stories and the television series occur, especially placenames, such as Cimmeria, Conan's birthplace, and Shadizar, "the City of Wickedness" (however, most other placenames, and almost all character names, were simply invented for the TV show). The Serpent Men
Serpent Men
Serpent-Men have also appeared in the Marvel Comics universe.The original Serpent-Men were a race of reptilian semi-humanoids who were created by the demon Set and who ruled areas of prehistoric Earth. Due to the efforts of Kull and Conan, the original Serpent-Men became extinct about 8,000 years...
of Thoth-Amon in the original stories appear, but later, as minor, one-off enemies, and as servants of Hissah Zuhl, in the episode "The Taming". The quasi-Howardian Red Sonja
Red Sonja
Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, is a fictional character, a high fantasy sword and sorcery heroine created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith, and loosely based on Red Sonya of Rogatino in Robert E. Howard's 1934 short story "The Shadow of the Vulture"...
character has a prominent but one-time role in an eponym
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
ous episode.
In appearance and style, the TV show Conan is most like that of the films, including brown (rather than black) hair, a Germanic accent, costuming and a sword nearly identical to the filmic versions, signature sword moves from the films, jewelry in the form of an eight-spoked wheel, and other cues from the Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
portrayal of the character, as well as an opening credits logo based on that of the films.
Another point of partial continuity with the comics is Conan's frequent spoken comment that he does not like magic; this was often expressed aloud in the comics but was usually unspoken in the Howard books.
The she-bandit character Karella is based on the "Queen of Pirates" Bêlit
Bêlit (Robert E. Howard)
In the fictional universe of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian, Bêlit is a pirate queen who has a romantic relationship with Conan. She is Conan's first serious lover. She appears in Howard's Conan novelette "Queen of the Black Coast", first published in Weird Tales 23 5...
of the original Conan stories, and the thief Valeria of the Conan films, herself based largely on both Bêlit and the Red Sonja character of the Conan comics (yet further based on another Howard character, Red Sonya, unconnected to the original Conan stories). The show's Karella and Red Sonja characters are sufficiently different to avoid viewer confusion or boredom, as the brigand nature of Karella (inherited from the Bêlit character) is juxtaposed with the TV Sonja's duty as a holy warrior for a sect known as the Truth Keepers, and Karella like Bêlit is a brunette while Red Sonja is (obviously) a redhead. Karella also appears in several of Robert Jordan's Conan Chronicles, nicknamed "The Red Hawk".
As with Subotai and The Wizard in the 1982 film, the other characters in the series are basically whole-cloth inventions for the production at hand and bear little resemblance to characters from early Conan media. Otli the dwarf in particular is entirely out-of-character for Conan as a companion (though is refreshingly the provider of comic relief at the expense of other characters, especially)
As in all previous variants of the Conan franchise, beautiful women – as strong, Amazon
Amazons
The Amazons are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia...
-like warrior women in impractically skimpy outfits, damsels in distress
Damsel in distress
The subject of the damsel in distress, or persecuted maiden, is a classic theme in world literature, art, and film. She is usually a beautiful young woman placed in a dire predicament by a villain or monster and who requires a hero to achieve her rescue. She has become a stock character of fiction,...
, or scheming femmes fatales
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
figure in the plot in every episode.
Points of moral and ethical message similarity between this depiction of Conan and his fictive world and the other depictions (as well as many other works of fantastical fiction and mythology in the West
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
) include consistent themes of the value of human freedom, the importance of honor and loyalty, justice through victory, the use of (righteous, not wanton) violence as a means to justice and freedom, the value of friendship and trust, the idea that bad things come to those who dabble in evil, and the possibility of redemption for past wrongs for which reparations are made.
Episode list
| Year | Episode Title | Aired |
| 1997 1997 in television The year 1997 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1997.- Events :-Debuts:-Miniseries:*Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, a reunion of the 1979–93 series*The Last Don... |
1. "The Heart of the Elephant" | September 22, 1997 |
| 1997 | 2. "The Heart of the Elephant" (Part 2) | September 22, 1997 |
| 1997 | 3. "Lair of the Beastmen" | October 6, 1997 |
| 1997 | 4. "The Siege of Ahl Sohn-Bar" | October 13, 1997 |
| 1997 | 5. "A Friend in Need" | October 20, 1997 |
| 1997 | 6. "The Ruby Fruit Forest" | October 27, 1997 |
| 1997 | 7. "The Three Virgins" | November 7, 1997 |
| 1997 | 8. "Ransom" | November 14, 1997 |
| 1997 | 9. "The Curse of Afka" | November 21, 1997 |
| 1997 | 10. "Impostor" | November 28, 1997 |
| 1997 | 11. "Amazon Woman" | December 7, 1997 |
| 1997 | 12. "Homecoming" | January 25, 1998 |
| 1997 | 13. "The Taming" | February 1, 1998 |
| 1998 1998 in television The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998–99 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:... |
14. "Red Sonja" | February 8, 1998 |
| 1998 | 15. "Shadows of Death" | February 15, 1998 |
| 1998 | 16. "The Child" | February 22, 1998 |
| 1998 | 17. "The Crystal Arrow" | March 1, 1998 |
| 1998 | 18. "The Labyrinth" | April 26, 1998 |
| 1998 | 19. "The Cavern" | May 3, 1998 |
| 1998 | 20. "Antidote" | May 10, 1998 |
| 1998 | 21. "Lethal Wizards" | May 17, 1998 |
| 1998 | 22. "Heir Apparent" | May 24, 1998 |
Reception
The live-action series was mixed to poorly received by the fans of Robert E. HowardRobert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
novels and the two feature films. the series was criticized for its poor quality, the bad acting, cheap action choreography, confusing story and trying to cash-in on the success of the movies rather than following the novels by Robert E. Howard, some calling it more or less "a low-budget Hercules & Xena".
DVD release
On September 21, 2004, Image EntertainmentImage Entertainment
Image Entertainment, Inc. is an independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming and film & television productions in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release, and approximately 450...
released Conan the Adventurer: Complete series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.
As of November 2010 it is available for instant viewing on Netflix
Netflix
Netflix, Inc., is an American provider of on-demand internet streaming media in the United States, Canada, and Latin America and flat rate DVD-by-mail in the United States. The company was established in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Gatos, California...
.
See also
- Conan the Adventurer (animated series)Conan the Adventurer (animated series)Conan the Adventurer is an American animated television series adaptation of Conan the Barbarian, the literary character created by Robert E. Howard in the 1930s. Produced by Jetlag Productions and Sunbow Productions, the series debuted on September 12, 1992, ran for 65 episodes and concluded on...
- Conan and the Young WarriorsConan and the Young WarriorsConan and the Young Warriors was a 1994 television cartoon series, produced by Sunbow Entertainment and aired by CBS aired as a spin-off to the popular Conan the Adventurer animated series...
- Conan the Adventurer at TV.com