Thunderstone (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Thunderstone is a 1999 Australian children's television series produced by Jonathan M. Shiff Productions set in a post-apocalyptic world after Earth is hit by a comet. The main character Noah is played by Jeffrey Walker
(also known for his roles in Ocean Girl
, The Wayne Manifesto
and Mirror, Mirror
). Other actors who appear in the series are Gerard Kennedy
, Christopher Elliott (from the US Film Under Jacobs Ladder), Emily Browning
(who later appeared in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
) and Daniel Daperis
.
The show was originally broadcast on Network Ten
. Both the first and second series also aired on ABC Kids
.
The comet's impact destroyed all animal life, so to keep the children's knowledge of biology up to date, they are taught about these extinct animals with the aid of a holodeck
. Noah is fascinated by these animals and even after being chased by a virtual tiger, he can't stop his curiosity. He secretly returns to the holodeck at night to explore the animal kingdom on his own. But when he's discovered by the holographic guards, their interaction with the machines transport Noah in time.
He lands in Haven, a place where a group of kids (the Nomads) travel around trying to stay out of the clutches of the evil Tao who wants to mine all the valuable blue mineral thunderstone to power the vehicles for his men and to use this wealth to get to power.
At first Noah, thinks he has travelled back in time because animals exist in Haven, but he eventually finds out that the thunderstone Tao is after originated from the Nemesis Comet. He has travelled forward in time after all, meaning somehow the scientific work of his father will allow life on the planet's surface.
But the question remains. Will Noah ever get home?
The first series revolves around Noah and the Nomad leader Arushka (Mereoni Vuki) travelling through time, trying to bring animals to Haven.
), and his goal to acquire enough Thunderstone to become immortal
. Noah and company devise a plot to destroy the core of the Nemesis Comet which was recently discovered by the Shadow Master, to prevent him from gaining absolute control over Haven. They destroy it by using its explosive property by combining it with huge amounts of salt and igniting it. The Shadow Master is killed as he approaches the supply of Thunderstone, watching his life's work become terminated. Tao's true nature is also revealed, and his minions flee and become no more.
Season was released on a three-disk DVD set by Umbrella Entertainment on 28 June 2008.
Jeffrey Walker (actor)
Jeffrey Walker was an Australian child actor best known for his appearances in Ocean Girl and Round the Twist. He is currently a director of Australia's soaps Neighbours and Home and Away, and H2O: Just Add Water.-Career:Walker's first acting credit was a small role in The Flying Doctors in 1989...
(also known for his roles in Ocean Girl
Ocean Girl
Ocean Girl is an Australian science fiction TV series aimed for family audiences and starring Marzena Godecki as the lead character...
, The Wayne Manifesto
The Wayne Manifesto
The Wayne Manifesto is an Australian children's television series that aired on the ABC in 1996. Based on the children's books by David McRobbie, it is centred around the life 12-year-old Wayne Wilson, showing the world both as the way he would like it and the way it really is...
and Mirror, Mirror
Mirror, Mirror (TV series)
Mirror, Mirror is a television programme co-produced by Australia and New Zealand. Presented as a single complete story given in a serial with 20 episodes, there are cliffhangers between some of the episodes....
). Other actors who appear in the series are Gerard Kennedy
Gerard Kennedy (actor)
Gerard Kennedy is an Australian actor and two-time Gold Logie winner. He played six different characters in guest appearances in Homicide, all in 1966...
, Christopher Elliott (from the US Film Under Jacobs Ladder), Emily Browning
Emily Browning
Emily Jane Browning is an Australian film actress and fashion model, known for her roles as Violet Baudelaire in Brad Silberling's 2004 film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, as Anna Ivers in the 2009 film The Uninvited, as Babydoll in Zack Snyder's 2011 action thriller Sucker...
(who later appeared in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events is a 2004 black comedy film directed by Brad Silberling. It is an adaptation of the The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room, and The Wide Window, being the first three books in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket...
) and Daniel Daperis
Daniel Daperis
Daniel Daperis is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles in the television series The Man From Snowy River and Thunderstone. He is the brother of actor Jared Daperis. In 2011, he directed two short films - "The Colour Blue" for Young Blaze Films and "Phone Call" which he co-directed...
.
The show was originally broadcast on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
. Both the first and second series also aired on ABC Kids
ABC Kids (Australia)
ABC Television broadcasts the greatest amount of children's content than any other network in Australia.Prior to early 2009, there was a brand called ABC Kids which was separate from regular ABC TV and contained all children's programming on the ABC...
.
Plot
The main character Noah Daniels, his family and other survivors live in an underground colony called North Col in the year 2020. It's impossible to live on the planet's surface, because of the extreme cold and constant snow storms.The comet's impact destroyed all animal life, so to keep the children's knowledge of biology up to date, they are taught about these extinct animals with the aid of a holodeck
Holodeck
A holodeck, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a simulated reality facility located on starships and starbases. The first use of a "holodeck" by that name in the Star Trek universe was in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", although a conceptually...
. Noah is fascinated by these animals and even after being chased by a virtual tiger, he can't stop his curiosity. He secretly returns to the holodeck at night to explore the animal kingdom on his own. But when he's discovered by the holographic guards, their interaction with the machines transport Noah in time.
He lands in Haven, a place where a group of kids (the Nomads) travel around trying to stay out of the clutches of the evil Tao who wants to mine all the valuable blue mineral thunderstone to power the vehicles for his men and to use this wealth to get to power.
At first Noah, thinks he has travelled back in time because animals exist in Haven, but he eventually finds out that the thunderstone Tao is after originated from the Nemesis Comet. He has travelled forward in time after all, meaning somehow the scientific work of his father will allow life on the planet's surface.
But the question remains. Will Noah ever get home?
The first series revolves around Noah and the Nomad leader Arushka (Mereoni Vuki) travelling through time, trying to bring animals to Haven.
What is Thunderstone?
Thunderstone is the name given to the chemical compound the Nemesis comet was made out of. It is a source of energy and power, and can be used to do anything from make explosives to allowing vehicles to run on it like gas. It also reacts violently when it comes in contact with itself, causing it to disintegrate if enough impact is made. When drunk as a compounded solution, it grants long life to the drinker. The entire series revolves around its unique chemical properties to advance the plot.North Col
- Noah Daniels - a teenage boy who lives in the underground research station North Col in the year 2020. Noah is bright, resourceful and inquisitive. He is faithful to his friends and family and will do whatever it takes to help them. Played by Jeffrey WalkerJeffrey Walker (actor)Jeffrey Walker was an Australian child actor best known for his appearances in Ocean Girl and Round the Twist. He is currently a director of Australia's soaps Neighbours and Home and Away, and H2O: Just Add Water.-Career:Walker's first acting credit was a small role in The Flying Doctors in 1989...
.
- Becky Daniels - Noah's younger sister. When Noah disappears from North Col, Becky becomes determined to find him. She is the one who first suggests that Noah has traveled through time. Played by Katie Keltie.
- Dr. Liz Daniels - Noah and Becky's mother. Played by Nikki CoghillNikki CoghillNicola Vicars Coghill is an Australian actress.-Career:Nikki has appeared in many Australian television series and movies...
.
- Dr. Simon Daniels - Noah and Becky's father. Played by Andrew Larkins.
- Dr. Pretorius - a member of the Triumvirate, the law-making body of North Col. He acts as a mentor to Noah and aids him in some of his endeavors. Played by Gerard KennedyGerard KennedyGerard Michael Kennedy is a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as Ontario's Minister of Education from 2003 to 2006, when he resigned to make an unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada...
.
Haven
- Arushka - leader of the Nomads and best friend of Noah Daniels. Played by Mereoni Vuki.
- Sundance - a Nomad. Twin brother of Sutch. Played by Damien FotiouDamien FotiouDamien Fotiou is an Australian actor who has appeared in many fims and television series.Fotiou is probably best known for his roles in the television series Kick and Thunderstone. His guest roles on television series include Blue Heelers, Halifax f.p., Stingers and The Saddle Club...
.
- Geneva - a Nomad. Played by Anna-Grace Hopkins.
- Kwan - a Nomad. Specializes in cooking. Played by Nathan Wentworth.
- Chip - a Nomad. Played by Daniel DaperisDaniel DaperisDaniel Daperis is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles in the television series The Man From Snowy River and Thunderstone. He is the brother of actor Jared Daperis. In 2011, he directed two short films - "The Colour Blue" for Young Blaze Films and "Phone Call" which he co-directed...
.
Season 1
Season one revolves around Noah's adventures in Haven. As he brings more and more animals from the past to inhabit Haven and continues to jump back and forth through North Col, Haven, and the past before the Nemesis Comet hit, he attracts attention from the Triumvirate in North Col and the Shadow Master in Haven. This causes a chain of events that reveal the true identity of the Shadow Master (in itself a plot twistPlot twist
A plot twist is a change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot of a film, television series, video game, novel, comic or other fictional work. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation...
), and his goal to acquire enough Thunderstone to become immortal
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
. Noah and company devise a plot to destroy the core of the Nemesis Comet which was recently discovered by the Shadow Master, to prevent him from gaining absolute control over Haven. They destroy it by using its explosive property by combining it with huge amounts of salt and igniting it. The Shadow Master is killed as he approaches the supply of Thunderstone, watching his life's work become terminated. Tao's true nature is also revealed, and his minions flee and become no more.
Season was released on a three-disk DVD set by Umbrella Entertainment on 28 June 2008.
Season 2
With the Shadow Master and his minions defeated, Noah stays at North Col but misses Haven and is tempted to go back. When he does, he becomes stranded since there is no longer any thunderstone left, or so it seems. In this season, the plot revolves around acquiring a large Thunderstone Cube, which Noah learns about from fugitives from the future, named Mayah and her brothers, who brought it there under a lake. After obtaining it, Noah realises he could travel back in time and use its power to destroy the Nemesis Comet completely, preventing the apocalypse. The season ends with Noah using the energy to completely incinerate the comet and thus, ironically, cause everything he did in Season 1 to cease to exist, in his own words: "Not in this dimension". This causes Mayah and her brothers to cease to exist, and the Earth now has a brighter future. The comet broke off into a ring of thunderstone that revolves around the Earth, which is a major plot point for season three.Season 3
Noah is recognised for his genius, and this season begins with experimental wormholes of his design. This allows him to set up a space colony. The people from the future of this space colony wish to assassinate young Noah, because his future self was said to have murdered their parents. They use Noah’s time travel technology and make several attempts on his life. The Season involves Noah trying to find the truth about what happened and making peace with these people.External links
- Thunderstone at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Jonathan M. Shiff Productions - producer's website which contains a wealth of information on the series.
- Thunderstone at the National Film and Sound Archive