Classic Nick Wed. 7 – Into the Labyrinth

To begin our look at the Third Eye series this week I will start with my least favorite show, it is also the show that I remember the least about so I am posting the Synopsis straight from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.

Synopsis – 

The series was based around the struggle of two timeless, feuding sorcerers – the noble Rothgo (Ron Moody) and the evil Belor (Pamela Salem). Each determined to obtain possession of the Nidus, a magical object of limitless power. The Nidus actually belonged to Rothgo and was the source of his power, but it was stolen by Belor who used her own magic to send it through time and space so that Rothgo would not be able to find it. Without the power of the Nidus, Rothgo would ultimately die.

The first two seasons followed a group of modern-day children (Phil, Helen and Terry) who find Rothgo, almost lifeless, in a labyrinthine cave. Rothgo sends the children through different periods of time to search for the Nidus, which is disguised as a different object in each time period and can only be seen in reflection.

The children arrive at various points of history (the French Revolution, Ancient Greece, English Civil War, etc.), however their attempts are constantly thwarted by Belor who also appears in each time period, and who uses her magic to hurl the Nidus further through time to prevent Rothgo and the children from obtaining it (using her magical incantation, "I deny you the Nidus!" as a bolt of lightning emanates from her fingertips).

Belor cannot actually touch the Nidus whilst Rothgo still lives, and so she can only hope to deny him possession of the artifact until he eventually dies. At the end of the first series, the children locate the Nidus (now in the shape of a sword) and finally manage to outwit Belor and return the Nidus to Rothgo, leaving Belor defeated.

Video/DVD Release

The first series was released on VHS (on two cassettes) in the 1980's. Network DVD released the complete series in a three-disc DVD box set on the 14th July 2008.

CAST

Ron Moody – Rothgo  (1981)

Pamela Salem – Belor

Simon Beal – Phil

Lisa Turner – Helen  (1981)

Simon Henderson – Terry  (1981)

Chris Harris – Lazlo  (1982)

Howard Goorney – Bran  (1982)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Labyrinth_(TV_series)

Classic Nick Wed.6 – The Third Eye

In the spirit of Halloween this month I will be focusing on the Nickelodeon anthology mini-series known collectively as “The Third Eye” which begin airing on Nickelodeon in January 1983.

This hodgepodge of mini foreign shows consisted of a variety of serials from the UK and New Zealand and included: "The Haunting of Cassie Palmer" (1982),  "Under The Mountain"(1981), "Children of the Stones" (1976), and "Into the Labyrinth" (1981).   Later “The Witches of Grinnygog” was added to this line up however it never aired in this collection and was shown later as a Special Delivery.

What made The Third Eye so unique was that it wasn’t silly, upbeat programs that kids were used to, these shows were.  They were live action, sci-fi / supernatural theme, their strange and somewhat their bizarre nature and unclear target audience made them something of a novelty that hasn't been seen since its time on the Nickelodeon Network. The unifying theme of the show (and hence the name of the title, and opening montage sequence) was that of children with psychic powers.

Before each episode an on-screen announcement would read the following statement: "The following is a science-fiction program, and may contain some startling scenes. This show is intended for older children."

Then we see a room of children all standing in a black room with thin light beams fanned out over the floor. As the camera moves through them we hear: "Somewhere in the crowd, sometimes you find someone very special. Someone who hears the unheard, someone who understands the mystery. Sometimes, there's someone who sees with the third eye!" At that point the camera would stop on a child in the back of the crowd with an eye on his forehead them a series of natural disasters flash by.

And while the person responsible for developing the series for Nickelodeon is unknown its loyal followers have never forgot this short series and still lives in their hearts even to this day, and I should know because I’m one of them.

Starting next week I will begin posting about each series in order from my least favorite right up to Halloween night where I will finish out with my favorite show in this series.