By the fates Reality and fantasy collide in an ambitious ‘Quest’

By Jacqui Wiens TV Media

The line between reality and nonreality television has always been a bit blurry. The genre has been plagued with accusations of scripting interactions, coercing their subjects into taking atypical actions and even predetermining the outcomes of various shows.

ABC’s recent venture into the reality genre is sending up smoke signals that obscure the line altogether, as “The Quest” takes 12 brave Paladins into the mystical Everealm, where being knighted is more than a formality and where ogres, dragons and dark lords loom menacingly. Step inside the adventure as the Paladins fight to free Everealm when a new episode of “The Quest” airs Thursday, Sept. 4, on ABC. Dragons? In a reality series? It does seem absurd at first glance, but while the contestants — called Paladins — will be interacting with actors, their actions and abilities will determine the eventual “one true hero” who will take on the evil Verlox to save Everealm. “The Quest” is an ambitious series that aims to seamlessly merge our world with a fantastical realm. The imaginary world is inhabited by various species pulled from the pages of fantasy novels, as well as the essential castle full of good humans sheltered from the evils of the outside world.

At the start of the series, the heroes arrive in Everealm and are greeted by the Fates, the mysterious beings who summoned the Paladins from our world to save the magical dimension. The Fates — played by Stephanie Buddenbrock (“Risse im Beton,” 2014), Florence Kasumba (“Tatort”) and Mai Duong Kieu (“Roughtown,” 2014) — reveal that their world is under siege by a dark being known as Verlox (Doug Tait, “Pair of Kings”), and 11 of the 12 kingdoms have already fallen under the might of his onslaught. The heroes venture to the final free kingdom, led by Crio the Dreamer (Jan Hutter, “Joyeux Noel,” 2005), arriving at Castle Sanctum to hear the history of “The Quest” from the Grand Vizier (Marcello De Nardo, “My Best Enemy,” 2011), chief among the queen’s advisers.

As the Grand Vizier explained, a similar group of 12 heroes defeated Verlox 1,000 years ago using the Sunspear. Verlox was banished back then, but has since made his way back to Everealm. The new Paladins each received a piece of the Sunspear from the Fates and must now train and compete amongst themselves in order to become the one true hero.

The morning after their arrival at Castle Sanctum, the Paladins are sent to the training yard under the and teamwork to take down fake enemies. Bonnie Gordon, one of the Paladins from the winning team, was nominated by her teammates and awarded the Mark of Leadership, the first of the small badges the contestants will wear to indicate they won a challenge.

Back on the reality side of this fantasy series, the losing team of three must eliminate one of their members. As with all the future challenges, the competitors receive one last chance to save themselves gins and Katie Smaluk to the mercy of the other Paladins, each of whom had to choose which fellow hero to save. Patrick garnered the most support from his companions, making Katie return her piece of the Sunspear as she became the first to be eliminated.

Following their training session, the Paladins are invited to an audience with the ruler of Sanctum, Queen Ralia (Susanne Gschwendtner, “The Fairy Who Stole Eyes,” 2006). After their conversation is in- elimination for a second time. Jim saves himself in the Fates challenge, and the Paladins decide to save Christian, banishing Ashley back to our world.

The Paladins come from all walks of life. Some of them work in professions that could lend them an advantage in Everealm, while others have explored more ‘modern’ professions. Shondo Blades’ experience in MMA seems to have already helped, winning him the Mark of Dexterity, although Ashley Guerrero’s job as a horse trainer didn’t pay off for her.

Personal trainer Andrew Frazer is the last competitor with a very physical job, but Lina Carollo’s mental wrangling in her position as a school counselor could be handy. Student Jim Curry, math teacher Patrick Higgins, property manager Bonnie Gordon, homemaker Jasmine Kyle, marketing director Adria Kyne, executive assistant Leticia Reyes, bartender Katie Smaluk and server Christian Sochor round out the group.

In bringing Everealm to life, ABC brought some experienced names on board. Among the various executive producers are Bertram van Munster and Mark Ordesky. Van

Munster brings reality experience to the table, having been involved in CBS’s wildly popular series “The Amazing Race,” as well as its various spinoffs, and the unconventional TNT reality series “The Great Escape,” which challenges contestants to escape a carefully constructed course before the other teams.

Ordesky, meanwhile, has been heavily involved in fantasy for years, producing the film adaptation of “Inkheart” (2008) and “The Golden Compass” (2007). He is perhaps best known for his work on the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and brings that fantastical know-how to “The Quest” in his first production role on a television show.

“The Quest” is a one-of-a-kind show that challenges the definition of a reality television series. Real people are thrust into unfamiliar territory and swept along by the carefully planned events taking place around them. Will the Paladins be able to take down the evil Verlox before he destroys Castle Sanctum and the last stronghold of the resistance? Find out whose actions will allow them to become the one true hero when a new episode of “The Quest” airs Thursday, Sept. 4, on ABC.

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