Darkhaven

[Darkling Nocturnal]

So let's talk about the maybe most controversial in the whole series: Darkhaven

It's the episode, where the magic stuff comes into play.

I was watching season 2 for the first time, when I read about the magic in Watership Down. I really thought "What the...?" What a stupid idea. But then, the magic was mentioned already in episode 2.10 Mysterious Visitors. So, it's nothing that's really unexpected.

Now, we come to episode 3.08 Darkahven and Hannah learns the magic spell from Hedge. Because I think, the whole third season has only very good episodes (excepting 3.01 and 3.13, which are amazing), I really couldn't say anything bad about this episode.

The idea with the hedgewizard (or better Hedge the Wizard) is... let's call it unique, but it fits into the whole story. And it's good, that the creators did this step already here and not only in the second last episode. So even the end of the series isn't really unexpected.

[s-tlk]

I don't particular like the idea of sophisticated and applied magic in the series at all, because I always feel this is some lack of imagination on the author's side. Instead of coming up with a very clever idea worth of Hazel (like in the book) to defeat Woundwort, e.g. by luring the dog into the mid of Woundwort's forces. But instead there is some fancy mambo jumbo which saves the day and gives the "surprising" turn in the story. I don't think this was a good idea, but probably there were no other way.

In principle I have nothing against the idea of Darkhaven and it was a logical step when they want to make the series more attractive for younger kids, but by thinking hard they could also solved the end without magic.

[Hawkbit]

Welcome s-tlk!  *waves*  Haven't seen you around here.

I think the magic could've been avoided, but then you'd have to remove some other elements, such as the Black Rabbit and the cryptic messages of him coming to take one away when they have been called for.  They clearly weren't hinting at any rabbit prayer or something they mumble to their kits otherwise it would've been dealt with long ago.  To make that work, magic or some supernatural thing had to be included.  Did it have to be...no, but its what they did.  And you got to admit, they made the black rabbit truly scary.  Can't say the film version was that scary.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I agree with Hawkbit and it's a shame, that I forgot to mention it.

The fact, that the Black Rabbit has to be called so it can act in the world of the living is a nice idea.

"Someone must call me from beyond the shadow lands ... and that one must surrender to my dark empire"

Something like that was said by the BRoI. I like that line.

And I like the series version of it much more than the movie version or the book version. Of course, such a demonic figure wouldn't fit in the books or the movie.

[Capt. Rake Nightfur]

I also agree, I think the whole demonic rabbit thing was done well on the show. I did get that feeling from the "El-ahairah and the Black Rabbit of Inlé" story as well, but the image of a giant smokey/shadowy black and red rabbit of death is hard to beat.

[s-tlk]

Welcome s-tlk!  *waves*  Haven't seen you around here.

Hi. Sorry, I'm not such an active poster.

You're right, the appearance of the black rabbit is in consequence also not possible, when you forbid any kind of magic. But even in the book it appears in the end, although one might think it is just Hazel's imagination in his last hour. I don't know.
The only thing I criticize on the magic at the end is that it contradicts the rest of the movie, book and even the series, where the Watership Down rabbits always outwit their enemies, instead of applying some high level magic. I think that's strange and it would be much more consistence if they found another way. You don't even have to change the outcome by much, for instance Silverweed could have lured Woundwort's troops into some kind of trap, while he lost his life.


And true, the black rabbit is very creepy in the series.

[Indi-Rah]

I actually liked the passive Black Rabbit of the movie. I preferred the design to the series' design, honestly, but I don't mind how much more active he is in the series.

[Lord of the Lough]

I think that Series 3 of Watership Down was a great idea. I think that the whole new challenge and the appearance reshuffle was good as well, and I agree about Episode 13 was the best. I also think that there were some unnecessary episodes in Series 2 like The Market, The Big Water, and the two Christmas on Watership Down's completely lost the momentum of Efrafa and it was if the characters had forgotten about the invasion and toddled off to the seaside.

[Claws]

Probably the best episode of the series, it could have been best though, with the previous animation style... but it is still excellent as it is.

[Lord of the Lough]

it could have been best though, with the previous animation style... but it is still excellent as it is.

I LOVED the new animation! It was so much better than the old one  

You are too right about the episode being awesome!

Probably the best episode of the series

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I LOVED the new animation! It was so much better than the old one  

Finally someone who says it  

[Claws]

I LOVED the new animation! It was so much better than the old one  

Finally someone who says it  

Holly just made Darkling's day

[Hawkbit]

Are you comparing Season 1/2 to Season 3?  The one design that I just can't seem to enjoy much is Bigwig's transition between the series....he really does look different.  Just about everyone else remained the same.  Pipkin was an improvement for sure.

[Darkling Nocturnal]

I liked Bigwig's new design. I've got bigger problems with Strawberry (even didn't recognize him, when I watched the series for the first time).

[Acacia Heartstrings]

it really bad to use magic is the Deus ex machina, is a shortcut to end a villain ... but not bad for the TV a guess. Only sad thing is the sacrifice of Silverweed. =(