Last Updated: 23 April 2003 | Compiled by John Freeman
This series, shot in New Zealand, follows Ivanhoe’s epic quest to restore King Richard to the throne and bring peace to England…
Episodes
For original tx dates and a more detailed episode outline visit: EpisodeGuides.com
Season One Episodes
Cast: Ben Pullen, Charlotte Comer, Peter O’Farrell, Jeffrey Thomas, Cameron Rhodes, Todd Rippon, Desmond Kelly, Michael Wilson.
• Dark Knight
Writer: ??? Director: Terry Marcel
• Marjan the Magnificent
Writer: ??? Director: ???
• King of the Woods
Writer: ??? Director: Mark Ezra
A blood-red moon rises over England, and it bodes ill for a country still enduring the Norman boot. But the same moon also shines on the ancient forests and pagan glades of the land, where liberty lies hidden and a young warrior-knight will shortly undergo an amazing and mystical transformation. Deep in the woods a new “King” of old England will be crowned; it will soon be the hour of “The Chosen One”.
• Possessor
Writer: Director: Mike Smith
From the depths of the ancient forest comes an invisible horror that threatens the life and soul of Odo, and ultimately, Rebecca. To save them Ivanhoe must embark upon a journey that will force him to confront his deepest fears, now transformed into a frightening and all-too-dangerous reality.
• Spellbound
Writer: ??? Director: Mark Ezra
Odo’s misspent youth resurfaces when he returns to his roots to purloin a very special book that provides him with the opportunity of a little “further education”. The ex-sorcerers apprentice decides to put his training into practice, with chaotic results! Ivanhoe loses his heart, and Odo loses his grip when he opens the fatal: Book of Spells..
• Ultimate Sword
Writer: ??? Director: Harley Cokelis
Ivanhoe faces one of the deadliest challenges of his quest as Mordour unlocks the secret of an ancient weapon so powerful it can rip apart the fabric of time itself, and strike the Dark Knight at his very core.
• Deadly Assassin
Writer: ??? Director: Declan Eames
The “Shrake” an evil that returns to haunt Ivanhoe from his father’s past.
• Games Master
Writer: ??? Director: Harley Cokelis
The game has begun. The stakes: beyond measure. For the winner: mastery of an awful power, for the loser a cruel death and eternal damnation. In a cosmic contest kept mercifully hidden for a thousand years, Ivanhoe and his comrades find themselves the human pawns in the pitiless hands of the Gamesmaster.
• High Elf
Writer: ??? Director: Declan Eames
“Death by Nightmare”- and only the blossom of a simple flower growing in a lost Kingdom can save Rebecca from this dreadful fate. Yet no human can penetrate the Elfin domain and live to pick the flower, but without it Rebecca is doomed.
• Golden Bird
Writer: ??? Director: Mike Smith
Prince John is bored, he desires entertainment. So, Odo joins the circus, Rebecca and Ivanhoe polish-up their double act; and John, Falco and co. become the unsuspecting audience as the stage is set for the thrills, spills and laughter when the Dark Knight seeks to free the mysterious “Goldenbird” from the clutches of the Rock Witch.
• Dragon Singer
Writer: ??? Director: Wayne Vinten
Prince John is bored, he desires entertainment. So, Odo joins the circus, Rebecca and Ivanhoe polish-up their double act; and John, Falco and co. become the unsuspecting audience as the stage is set for the thrills, spills and laughter when the Dark Knight seeks to free the mysterious “Goldenbird” from the clutches of the Rock Witch.
• Stolen Souls
Writer: ??? Director: ???
Season Two (2000/2001)
• Boneman
Writer: Keith Claxton Director: Mike Smith
First UK tx: 17 November 2001
Young women at the castle are being horribly murdered – not a single bone left in their bodies! And now the mysterious Boneman has kidnapped the Lady Rowena. Can Ivanhoe find her before it is too late?
• Puppet Master
Writer: Andrew Cartmel Director: Terry Marcel
First UK tx: 24 November 2001
Ivanhoe and Rebecca are shrunk to pint-size “puppets” and enslaved by the Puppet Master. Meanwhile, Prince John’s necromancer, Mordour, has hatched an evil plan. Can Ivanhoe escape in time to save the Queen from an assassin’s dagger?
• Damned
Writer: Ashley Sideway Director: Julian McSweeney
First UK tx: 1 December 2001
A dark stranger seeks Ivanhoe’s help. An old prophesier warns of the beast who takes human form … a beast that must soon feed on pure blood. And Ivanhoe has the purest blood of all …
• Streng
Writer: Phil O’Shea Director: Wayne Vinten
Ivanhoe’s loyal companion, Rebecca, lies dying – her blood slowly turning to ice. To save her Ivanhoe must defeat the most terrifying killer the world has known… Streng himself.
Written by Phil O’Shea
• Kha
Writer: Donna Malaine Director: Ghris Langman
Mordour raises Kha, an evil and long dead Egyptian ruler from the dead. Using Rebecca as bait and promising her as a reward, Mordour commands the ancient mummy to kill Ivanhoe. And Ivanhoe soon discovers that Kha is a very deadly opponent…
• The Claw
Writer: Ashley Sideway Director: Mike Smith
Alyssa is a beautiful young woman with an unrequited love. And if she can’t have Ivanhoe then no one will. With Mordour’s help she acquires the Claw of Persuasion and prepares a trap for Ivanhoe…
• Black Tree
Writer: Ashley Sideway Director: John Reid
Deep in the forest the Black Tree is struck by lightning and Asmodis, the evil incarnate herself, awakes. Ivanhoe must survive Mordour’s lethal trap, find the fabled golden Axe of Jurgen and entrap Asmodis before it is too late…
• Scorpion
Writer: Keith Claxton Director: Keith Claxton
The evil Countess Adel has kidnapped Cedric and Rowena and holds them captive in her torture chamber. In a race against time, Ivanhoe must somehow outwit the Scorpion… but can he survive her fiendish traps?
• Stormguard
Writer: Phil O’Shea Director: Wayne Vinten
Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Odo are trapped inside the mysterious ancient fortress Stormguard. But they have company. Not only is Prince John trapped with them, but also King Richard, Austrian soldiers, cannibalistic hags… and the gigantic and terrible Direrogg.
• Shadowraiths
Writer: Donna Malaine Director: Keith Claxton
If Prince John is to remain on the throne the documents DuBois is carrying must never reach the Queen. Ivanhoe has gone to assist the badly wounded DuBois but he has not reckoned on Rebecca becoming a deadly Shadowraiths…
• Stonegod
Writer: Ben Aaronovitch Director: Andrew Merryfield
With the help of the Stonegod Mordour sets a trap for Ivanhoe… and Rebecca is the bait. But being a pawn in Mordour’s game is not to Ivanhoe’s liking and he prepares to fight back.
• Thunderknight
Writer: Ashley Sideway Director: Terry Marcel
The legendary sword, Excalibur, has fallen into the hands of the evil Morgan Le Fay and her brutal warrior son, Mordred. Soon they will gain ultimate power… unless Ivanhoe can stop them.
• Shameer
Writer: Andrew Cartmel Director: Keith Claxton
Shameer, the deadly Cat Goddess, is absorbing the life force of powerful women… and her eyes are set on Queen Eleanor. With an uneasy truce Ivanhoe and Mordour join forces to save the Queen – but at a terrible cost.
Notes: Andrew Cartmel did write a script resolving the season two cliffhanger. Perhaps it will one day see the light of day.
Web Sites
• Blue Dolphin Productions: Go
One of NZ’s most experienced variety entertainers has appeared in Dark Knight – a juggler, escapologist, unicyclist, magician, musician, songwriter and guitarist. Kim is a versatile and dynamic performer. From a 45-minute comedy show, to workshops, promotions and character based walkabout, we’re told Kim will always impress.
• Recommended Episode Guide: EpisodeGuides.com
• Read the original Ivanhoe (Wordsworth Classics Edition) | AmazonUK Affiliate Link
Set in the reign of Richard I, Coeur de Lion, Ivanhoe is packed with memorable incidents – sieges, ambushes and combats – and equally memorable characters: Cedric of Rotherwood, the die-hard Saxon; his ward Rowena; the fierce Templar knight, Sir Brian de Bois-Gilbert; the Jew, Isaac of York, and his beautiful, spirited daughter Rebecca; Wamba and Gurth, jester and swineherd respectively.
Scott explores the conflicts between the Crown and the powerful Barons, between the Norman overlords and the conquered Saxons, and between Richard and his scheming brother, Prince John. At the same time he brings into the novel the legendary Robin Hood and his band, and creates a brilliant, colourful account of the age of chivalry with all its elaborate rituals and costumes and its values of honour and personal glory.
This page compiled by John Freeman. Additional information welcome. Text © 2001 John Freeman. Dark Knight created by Terry Marcel. © Palana Productions (NZ) Ltd and Dark Knight Production (UK) Ltd. This is a fan site site and has no official link with the show. With grateful thanks to production team members Jon Paske and Andrew Cartmel for their contributions
The information presented here is for information and news purposes only. Please credit this site and John Freeman if you use any of the information above, thank you. Special thanks to Jon Paske in New Zealand for permission to use some of his pictures from the show
• Episode Guide • Production Credits • Dark Knight: A Personal Tribute by Andrew Cartmel