Customer Reviews

Beastmaster - Season 3 Complete

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The "Beastmaster" series is highly entertaining if you like such series as "Xena" and "Hercules". Dar (Daniel Goddard), the Beastmaster, is a warrior who has one adventure after another while on his quest to make things right in the world. His constant traveling companion is Tao (Jackson Raine) a man of logic and intelligence. Dar's secret weapon is his ability to communicate with all animals. Animals that offer their assistance to help Dar. Dar's strength and Tao's wisdom make for a true friendship and unbeatable combination against evil in the world.

The third season of the Beastmaster is where the series really begins to shine. It's just a shame that it had to be the last one.

This season's main plot twist was the fact that Dar now has a spirit warrior Dartanus (interestingly enough, he is played by Marc Singer, the actor who played Dar in the original 1980's film) who fights beside Dar in his quest to help rescue his family and return the name of his father, Eldar, to the place of respect that it deserves, while all the while trying to foil Balcifer's plan to take over the universe. It may seem like a tall order, but each episode is broken up enough that the entire process doesn't seem too rushed. As with any TV series, there is always a side-quest Dar must embark on that must be solved during the show's 60 minutes, but at the end of every episode, something has always happened that has either helped or hindered Dar's overall quest to rescue his family. These little happenings are what really keep the show flowing onward.

The special effects are completely lacking, and are even laughable in some instances, but if you don't take the show too seriously, they really won't disappoint you. You can really think of the fight sequences in the same right. After all, in my opinion, it is the plot that really makes the show shine - and a good looking Daniel Goddard as the lead actor really doesn't hurt either.

The extended plot, for those who are interested is this: Dar, in the previous two seasons of the show, believed that he was the last surviving member of the Sula clan (his girlfriend Kira, having died in the first season, left him as the only one). The Sulas had been wiped out by King Zad and his forces. King Zad is your typical ruler who wants every ounce of power imaginable, "what he says goes," that sort of thing. During the first season, Dar was hunting down Zad who had taken Kira prisoner. After Kira dies (by way that I won't speak of here in case people haven't seen the show), Dar goes after Zad for revenge. Being the Beastmaster means that he has the ability to communicate with animals, and all the while, he accumulates new friends that help him on his journey. A rival king, Voden, comes into play during the second season, as well as some interesting developments concerning the Ancient One and his two pupil sorceresses. The second season is definitely the worst, so I won't go into too much detail about that. That basically takes us up to this third and final season.

Dar meets Dartanus, who tells him that everything he has ever known has been a lie, and that really, he is the son of King Eldar. The only son, that is, that has survived in human form. Dartanus always stood by King Eldar's side, but with the coming of Balcifer, Dartanus had a choice to make - either fight along side King Eldar, or protect his Queen and their new born son, Dar. Dartanus chose to protect Dar and his mother. Despite his efforts, King Eldar is fatally wounded, and with his last ounce of energy, turns his wife and other children into animals so that Balcifer would not know who/what they were in the hopes that they would be safe. Dartanus then knows that it's his duty to watch out for Dar, and when the time comes, informs him of what he must do: Find his family and return them to the Crystal Ark, a piece of magical stone that can hold the family safely inside until all can be found, at which point, they will be returned to their human forms. The third season is based around the search for his family, and the fight against Balcifer, whose power and greed are growing ever stronger.

Like I have said before, the plot is definitely the high point of the show. The actors are varied enough to make it believable that they all come from different parts of the world, and with multiple villains all making alliances with Balcifer, it does make for some nice plot twists. If you are a die-hard Sci-fi fan, than this series will be right up your alley, but if you are wanting something a bit more believable, I suggest you look elsewhere.

I wonder why this third and last season of Beastmaster: The Series is Out-of-Print. I got all three seasons from another on-line retailer for $75 total. (About $25 each plus tax). I bet it has something to do with Marc Singer being in it. Probably due to some royalty conflict or something. Shame too because while all seasons of Beastmaster were good with their own story arc, this third season was unique because it included Marc Singer.

Well, anyway, I'm glad I bought my set back when they were readily available.

If you buy this from iNet Video, you will not get this 1999 version with Dar on the cover, they will send you the cheaper set with the eyeball on the cover. This one is called Beastmaster - Season 3 the Complete Collection. What they will send you is called Beastmaster - the Complete Third Season. This one will cost you $49.99, but they will send you the other one that is cheaper at $44.77, ripping you off for $5.22.
I ordered this three times in August, only to get the wrong product each time. I finally called Amazon to complain, and they said they would start an investigation into the issue, and that they would notify me of the results. In October I had to call about something else, so I asked about the status of the investigation. I was told that he could not see any investigation, but that they were still selling it so it must be okay. I ordered it again, only to be sent the wrong product a fourth time. I contacted Amazon - they said they were unable to verify what is being sent since they do not stock it, and they could not provide contact info for the seller. I found contact info for iNet Video online, and I contacted their customer service and informed them of the issue. They saw the problem and the difference between the two products. I asked if they could send the correct product, but they said they cannot even get products from ADV, they could only get the other products from Alliance. I suggested that they remove their name from Amazon page for this product. I also asked Amazon to inform them of what I discovered with iNet Video, and to ask them to flag this item and find another seller that can actually sell the right product, and apparently that has not happened yet. Amazon said that the only thing I could do would be to write a review, so I am doing that now, in the hopes that nobody else gets ripped off by being sent a cheaper product. Amazon is unwilling or unable to resolve this, and iNetVideo will not remove their name from this product, which tells us that they are happy to be ripping people off.
Beastmaster - Season 1 Complete is the same way, sold by iNet Video, but they are still shipping the wrong product. I will be posting this same review for that product as well.
Note: I was able to get Season 2 Complete successfully the first time from Amazon in August, from a different listed seller. This is not an endorsement of any one seller over another, only that if you order Season 2 Complete you will get the right product because iNet Video is not the seller.

Finally, I have that last installment of "The Beastmaster." It is one of those classic adventures that supersedes just special effects. What always drew me to watch each week was the honesty of the whole primace. Dar & Tao put one foot in front of the other, and they never looked back. They kept honest to their quest and never faltered in taking bribes or the easy way out. I've always believed that honesty is the best policy, although not the most popular of characteristics. I feel privileged to have this last installment. The quality of the dvd's are great, and the message still ignites that place inside that reacquaints me with daily living in the best possible honest way I know how. Thanks "Dar and Tao" for your part in helping me reinforce my own path.....

Veemee

This action-packed dvd took me back to the days of Hercules and Xena on my tv. A funny asian man follows the Beastmaster around, and a barbaric black woman kills herself with a spear by launching it thirty feet in the air and....guess you'll have to buy the dvd!

Love it!

does anyone know where i would be able to buy the complete 3rd season of Beastmaster?