Review:

Reviewed by BlackDaemon

"Denna" is the one episode I was absolutely certain wouldn't be made.

When this series started, I hadn't touched the first book in the series, "Wizard's First Rule" in nearly a decade. I couldn't recall many details of the book, but the subplot of Richard's capture by the Mord-Sith was very memorable indeed. The story took a dark turn as the Seeker was tortured repeatedly, abused in more ways than can be listed in polite print, then finally earned his freedom with a monstrous deed. It was one of the most moving - and most twisted - vignettes I've ever read before or since in the realm of fantasy.

There was no way they could do that on television.

Well, I was mistaken. Many of the details were changed to scale it for PG-13 television, but Michael Hurst's direction managed to convey the intensity of the events without getting too mired in the dark imagery.

The teaser starts with exactly that - a tease. We see a mysterious woman, painted from head to toe in red leather who is introduced to us as Mistress Denna. Denna gets a new assignment from Darken Rahl via Demmin Nass - to capture and train the Seeker.

Next, we see how haunted Kahlan is by the possibility of betraying Richard as was prophesied by Shota. So afraid is she of hurting him in some way - even more so after they finally share a passionate kiss - she decides to leave him in search of another Confessor who can take her place in his mission.

And then things get interesting. First, Kahlan looks Richard dead in the eye and tells him she feels nothing for him. In the next scene, Richard uses the Sword of Truth in battle against the Mord-Sith and is captured. Zedd flees their overwhelming numbers, leaving Richard to Denna and her torturous Agiel, a hand-wielded rod that delivers unbearable pain. When next we see Richard, he is hanging half naked from chains over an open pit, and the torture begins. (We also see that Craig has been working out a heck of a lot since the opening scenes of "Prophecy". He doesn't have a six-pack in this scene; he's got a half a case.)  

Director Michael Hurst's use of tight shots conveys the intimacy of Richard and Denna's relationship that the plot and dialogue cannot. Denna always looks as if her skin would be cool to the touch, her ornate leathers pristine with nothing out of its place, her Agiel ready and at hand. She always appears in control of the situation. Richard - covered in sweat and his own blood - looks defeated even when he talks a big game about his plan to escape. While the dialogue hints at Richard's defiance of his captivity, the cinematography in contrast shows that he is her slave, that she is relentless, that he will be broken.

Kahlan soon discovers that her choice of replacement has some loose morals for a Confessor: Lara has confessed an entire village, and its occupants all bow to her will. Before Kahlan has a chance to do anything about it, Zedd arrives and tells Kahlan of Richard's capture. Meanwhile, Richard's torture intensifies - particularly once Denna finds out he thinks about Kahlan to give him hope and escape his pain -  and he soon learns that not even death will free him from Denna's grasp.

Denna is also the one to burst a few bubbles for Richard: his torturer tells him the real reasons why he and Kahlan can't be together as lovers.To Richard, this is a sign of Kahlan's betrayal of him. If she truly cared for him, she would have told him herself; instead, he finds out from his torturer.

All of this leads to two of the most intense scenes in the series to date. The first happens after Kahlan makes an attempt to rescue Richard and fails. Once she's captured, they're thrown in adjoining cells. Richard admits that he's a broken man, that he will do anything Denna bids him to do, and that he's not sure he could stop himself if Denna ordered him to kill Kahlan. Kahlan isn't convinced, certain that Richard is strong enough to fight such a request, but Richard doesn't believe it. He is sure that there is only one way to keep him from hurting Kahlan: if she confesses him.

Kahlan is horrified. To her, confessing Richard is anathema. He is the Seeker, she is dedicated to his mission, and to confess him would destroy the essence of who he is. Not only would that betray Richard, it would betray his mission, and possibly doom the Midlands to Darken Rahl's tyranny. Of course, the reason she hides is the most important: she loves him.

To Richard, his love for Kahlan makes the choice is clear: he can either be Denna's slave and possibly kill Kahlan at her orders, or be Kahlan's confessed slave, thereby saving Kahlan's life. When Kahlan won't confess him, he accuses her of truly betraying him, since that leaves him at Denna's nonexistent mercy.

This is one of the best scenes on the series, rivaled only by Kahlan's Blood Rage in "Conversion".

The second most intense moment of this episode happens when Denna orders Richard to kill Kahlan to prove his training is complete. At first Kahlan implores him to resist, but Denna interferes with her Agiel. Kahlan is left to beg him with her eyes alone to resist Denna's dominance.

The dymanic between Kahlan and Richard - and between Regan and Horner - is powerful in those two moments, powerful enough to carry a series. Here's hoping the producers, writers and directors of this show work that magic a little more in other episodes, because it shows up all too rarely.