Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy (2017)

******  EPIC AND ENTHRALLING  ******
This series has it all for me...  Action, Magic and Intrigue with stunning scenery.  The beginning did not 'hook' me in at first, but once the plot starts to develop intricacies it began to captivate me. The slow movement and stillness of the scenes provokes emotion and suspense coupled often with ethereal music that lends a timeless quality to understanding the character's motives and actions based on the causal events of the past. I find the series masterful and engaging.

Episode 40 & 41 - I love the alchemical use of the natural elements in the soundtrack, instead of background music episode 40 uses Rain and episode 41 uses Wind and of course there is the crackling of fire in the camp.  So much majesty has been put into this drama, it is a work of Art, Frame by Frame.

Episode 47 - the soundtrack is amazing, the music itself takes you on a journey - it's an acoustical odyssey.      Cherchez La Femme - it's interesting that they are using women each time as catalysts to ignite a reaction that triggers a turn of events or should it be Cherchez Le Sorcier?  The cinematography throughout this drama is pure visual poetry, enchanting the viewer with the connection to nature; even in Ep. 66 the background noise of crickets chirping adds a layer of subtlety.  

Ep. 71-74:  There are a lot of fragmented flashbacks that seemed like a Bohemian Rhapsody:  'Is this the Real Life or is this just Fantasy, caught in a landslide, no escape from Reality. Open your eyes look up to the skies and See...'     The costume, set designs and use of colour were also aesthetically pleasing.  This should be the Flagship model that will hopefully lead the industry as an example for new dramas in the future.  It's refreshing to view a mature series with such depth instead of the shallow young adult dramas with sappy dialogue and dysfunctional relationships that we have been over-saturated with for years.  I will wait in anticipation for the next season to see what the artists conjure up next!

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If you are looking for a typical historical drama with a romantic triangle/quadrangle and a plot you can guess after three episodes, this is not the show for you.

If you are looking for a rich story, filled with three dimensional characters, that slowly draws you in, you should definitely add this to your list.

The story develops slowly and things are not always what they appear. The story is set in a fantasy world with a long and complicated history, a world where no one is simply "good" or "bad". The characters are complex and it may take a number of episodes for the viewer to fully understand their motives. Everyone exists to achieve their goals, whether it is for the benefit of their family/tribe, to uphold long-kept promises, or for personal ambition/advancement. Resist the urge the fast forward through episodes or you will be completely lost trying to follow shifting alliances and palace intrigues.

Visually, this is one of most lush and masterfully filmed TV shows I have ever watched.  Much is conveyed through the use of color, framing, how long the shot is held, etc. The show is worth rewatching for the visual aspect alone.

For the most part, the cast is simply superb and brilliant. There are plenty of fresh, pretty faces, but also older actors picked for their abilities. The principal actors worked hard to help you understand their internal turmoil and deeper motives.  Granted there are a couple of minor characters who were cast for their looks rather than their acting ability or perfect Mandarin pronunciation. But I'm just being a bit nitpicky.

Overall, this show is worth watching. Just know that things may be confusing. It may take some time for you to make sense of it all. Just like real life.

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