Raven (game show)
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Raven is a BBC Scotland children's adventure game show, currently showing on CBBC in the UK and on BBC Kids in Canada. It is hosted by James MacKenzie in the title role, who conducts a troupe of children over 5 days through a series of tasks and feats. At various stages in the adventure, the troupe loses the least successful 'warrior' until only two are left.
The final task at the end of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th day is called The Way of the Warrior and is attempted by the least successful warrior. There has been 5 series so far (the fifth being aired on 20 November 2006).
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[edit] Format
The show is intended to be shown in five show blocks i.e. one per day over a week. Each week starts with a new set of six warriors and one warrior is lost each day (except on the first day) until there are 2 warriors left at the end of the week who go through to the final. From Series 1 - 2, each warrior was granted seven lives (represented by raven feathers on their standard) at the beginning of their quest and needed seven treasure rings to win back a life. In Series 4 this was changed to nine lives and nine rings. Lives are lost by losing a game and when all lives are lost, the warrior is eliminated. It is the player with the lowest number of lives at the end of each day that faces elimination. The Way of the Warrior is used as an eliminator each day. If two players have the same number of low lives, then they must draw a black feather from a bag to decide who must face elimination. If a player completes Way of the Warrior, then they go through to the next day's competition and the player who has the next least number of lives must face the challenge.
[edit] Characters
Raven (James MacKenzie): An ancient Scottish warlord and the warrior's guide throughout the quest. Raven is both serious and dryly humorous, urging and pushing the warriors to do their best in all the challenges. He is quick to both praise their success and point out their failures, but always has a kind word for the warriors who leave the quest. He carries his Staff of Power with him at all times which allows him to bring warriors back when they lose a game, reveal the warriors' thoughts and recap what has happened previously, and both give and take away the warriors' lives from their standards. Raven is seen to have shape-shifting abilities as he is able to change into a raven at will and he is a skillful archer. He is seen to turn from a Raven to a man at the end of the titles and after the show.
Nevar: A mysterious figure who wears a hooded cloak and an iron mask, not much is known about Nevar. Raven refers to him as 'the enemy of all that is good and true'. He is seen watching the warriors' progress in his castle and only appears in person to the three the warriors and Raven at The Last Stand where he does his best to stop them from winning. He is the one who sends the demons who feature so heavily in all the tasks the warriors face. Nevar is Raven spelled backwards.
Princess Erina (Lindsay McKenzie): Featured in the spin-off show Raven: The Island. Erina is Raven's close and trusted friend. She carries a Staff of Power with her and is helped by a tree sprite named Haryard, who appears as a blue ball of light and reports the warriors' progress to Erina. Erina lives on the Island of Alaunus, Raven's home, and is the one who leaves signs and clues to guide the warriors to Nevar's fortress.
[edit] The Warriors
Each warrior is given a standard with their lives and treasure rings on it. There are six different designs and colours to differentiate the contestants. There is a red standard containing a sun, a yellow standard containing a mountain, a green standard containing a tree, a blue standard containing a wave, a beige standard containing a cloud and a grey standard containing a moon. The contestants started to wear these colours themselves in the second series, which made identification much easier for the audience. The warriors are also given Celtic names. The designs have slightly changed through the series.
So far, there have been four Ultimate Warriors (winner of each series). In series one the prize was the warrior's heart's desire (Lamar won a holiday), and from series two onwards the ultimate warriror got their own staff of power.
- Series 1 - Lamar (runners up - 2nd - Intho, Brhea (equal) 4th - Bryal 5th - Halie 6th - Hadan)
- Series 2 - Grema [Tree] (runners up- 2nd: Varna [mountain], 3rd: Kinia [Water], 4th: Napat [Moon], 5th: Ishal [Sun], 6th: Ersca [Cloud]
- Series 3 - Jaddo [Mountain] (runners up- 2nd: Worjo [water], 3rd: Brena [Cloud], 4th: Cullin [Tree], 5th: Nosoo [Sun], 6th: Sharka [moon]
- Series 4 - Linma [water] (runners up- 2nd: Dejan/Kinsa [Mountain/sun], 4th: Wilga [Cloud], 5th: Sarla [tree], 6th: Wenra [moon]
Only four warriors have ever completed the difficult Way Of The Warrior: Ishal, Varna, Worjo and Kinsa. The record for the most rings in a single challenge was seven which was achieved by Simal in the Demon Causeway where he collected seven rings - 4 rings on the board and 3 rings for completing the challenge.
[edit] Series 1 Warriors
included Lamar, Boyan, Jeash, Rakkar, Halei, Bryal, Brhea, Intho, Hadan, Padwy, Eljam
[edit] Series 2 Warriors
- Week 1: Grema [Mountain], Varna [Water], Kenra [Sun], Dialed [Tree], Venso [Moon], Seacy [Cloud]
- Week 2: Napat [Water], Kinia [Cloud], Lauha [Sun], Roska [Mountain], Ghada [Moon], Oklar [Tree]
- Week 3: Ersca [Water], Ishal [Tree], Skiha [Sun], Dyasa [Moon], Warka [Cloud], Huiso [Mountain]
[edit] Series 3 warriors
- Week 1: Milal (Cloud), Halka (Moon), Orrin (Sun), Graki (Tree), Sharka (Water), Worjo (Mountain)
- Week 2: Fared (Sun), Grimic (Tree), Maska (Mountain), Teyro (Water), Nosoo (Cloud), Brena (Moon)
- Week 3: Wilka (Tree), Menla (Sun), Keari (Water), Denat* (Mountain), Cullin (Cloud), Jaddo (Moon)
- Denat broke his arm when falling off the High Walk, and was replaced by eliminated warrior Maska, from Week 2.
[edit] Series 4 warriors
- Week 1: Dejan (Tree), Sarla (Sun), Melja (Water), Kelal (Mountain), Denra (Cloud), Berat (Moon)
- Week 2: Kinsa (Cloud), Wilga (Tree), Simal (Water), Volna (Sun), Gajes (Moon), Helic (Mountain)
- Week 3: Linma (Cloud), Wenra (Tree), Darna (Moon), Malna (Mountain), Halat (Water), Tharo (Sun)
[edit] Series 5 warriors
- Week 1: Arnor (cloud), Sonlu (tree), Linmis (sun), Jeson (moon), Leja (water), Halec (mountain)
- Week 2: Obra (tree), Molyn (cloud), Milvad (mountain), Worad (water),Terso (moon), Danoc (sun)
[edit] The Tasks
The tasks and feats in which the warriors have to compete vary from series to series. They play the games to win treasure rings and to ensure that they do not lose a life.
- Blasted Mountain - The warriors must successfully build totems and stand behind them before time runs out and they are consumed by the fire erupting from the volcano nearby. played series 1,2,3,4 and 5. In Series 5, the warriors had to build shields, and got less time to do it.
- Burning Battlements - The warrior must put out 3 continually burning flames breathed onto the battlements by a dragon. Using a catapult and "ice" balls they must put out all three within a time limit. If a warrior fails to extinguish any of the fires, they lose a life. Played: Series 2,3 and 5
- Demon Square - A wisdom tree says statements which are true or false and the warriors have to decide which. They then must choose whether to step onto the white path for true or the black path for false. If they are right they can take a step forward, if they are wrong they remain where they are. But the demons (one for each path) behind them move forward after every question and if a warrior gets two questions wrong, a demon will catch them up and they lose a life. The warriors who reach the wisdom tree are rewarded with a treasure ring. Played series 2,3,4 and 5
- Dragon's Blood - Inside the wizard's tower two warriors must manoevure a long pole with four hooks on it through a complex upright maze, collecting small bowls of dragon's blood, and get to the end without spilling a drop. The two leading (and sometimes, the two who are in last and second last place) warriors compete in this challenge, where the first person to make it to the end wins. series 2,3,4 and 5
- Leap of Faith - The warriors take it in turns to climb up a very tall tree, and jump from the top, trying to catch the gold rings dangling from above (they are wearing climbing harnesses). If a warrior is not brave enough to jump, they lose a life. In Series 4, warriors had to climb a tall pole, instead of a tall tree. All series
- High Walk - The warriors again take it in turns to climb a very tall tree wearing harnesses, but then they walk along a beam, trying to reach the other side without falling off. series 1,2 and 3
- Serpent's Eye - This is basically an archery tournament. The targets are black, with a red outline and a green oval in the centre. Each warriors gets three shots. If they hit the green oval, they obtain two gold rings. If they hit the black, then there are no rewards or consequences. If they fail to hit the target after three attempts, they have lost. In Series 4 and 5, another way to lose a life is to hit the red serpent encircling the target. Series 3,4 and 5
- Spider's Tunnel - A pair of warriors must climb through a series of giant spider webs in a cave, seeking holes through which they can fit, collecting rings and having to make it out before the time is up. series 1-3
- The Last Stand This has changed through the series. In Series 2, the warriors must collect 4 pillars without being blasted by Nevar. Getting blasted will make them lose a life, they are out if they lose all their lives. The winner is the first to collect the 4 pillars and go through "the portal". Series 4, however had a different version. 3 warriors must get through Nevar's battleground and defeat the demons in their path. Then they open up the portal and go through it. After one warrior has taken out all their demons, Nevar starts attacking everyone. He has pathetic accuracy now. But when 2 of the 3 warriors go through the portal, his next shot causes instant knockout to the sole losing warrior. series 2-5
- Thrall Demons - the leading warrior and another warrior of the leader's choice enter the tower. The leader is blindfolded and the other must verbally guide them through a maze of strings criss crossing the chamber, careful not to disturb the inactive demons by snagging one of the strings and jingling the attached bells. If they complete the task, the leader gets three rings, and can choose how many they give to their helper and how many they keep for themself. series 1-5
- Troll Trap - This game is played in teams of three. In a cage there are three gold rings suspended from the bars. Two of the warriors must manoeuvre a lance whilst the third warrior stands on it to move around the cage. Whilst the lance is being moved the warrior in the cage must hang from vines. If either the warrior or the lance touches the floor the trap will spring shut. Once the gold rings have been collected the team have a limited time to get the warrior out or the trap will spring shut. It is one of Raven's most deceptively difficult games. series 3
- Riddle Bridge - A pair of warriors must solve a riddle posed by an enchanted book, one at the book and one stepping onto lettered squares that spell out the answer before Raven's hour glass runs out. all series
- Ring Rock - 2 warriors go face to face to fix a rock with a mythical picture on it. series 3 only
- Snake Pit - the warriors split into 2 teams and must pass across an area of ground with snakes in it. Each team has 3 planks to use, but if one warrior touches the ground (therefore getting eliminated from the challenge and losing a life), the team still has to use all 3 planks to cross the snake pit. Any remaining members of the team that loses the race across the pit must also lose a life.
- Water Demon - Each warrior must row out in a small coracle into a lake, grab a ring from a small platform and race back before the water demon guarding the ring catches them.
- The Eyeless Demons - 2 warriors, each carrying a pole with chimes at either end must race to a ring without getting caught by the blind demons. The demons each equpped with a battleaxe which eliminate warriors if they hit them.
- Fire Demon - The warriors are equipped with an ice staff and, blindfolded, they must attempt to put out a floating, burning ball controlled by a demon by hitting it with the staff.
- Stepping Stones - The warriors must, one by one, jump across a series of unstable floating stones and jump into a ring at the end without falling off, with the choice of a short path with big gaps between the stones or a long one with short gaps.
- Millstone Towers - The warriors are split into 2 teams of 3 and must bring 3 millstones through 3 sets of pillars and place them into a stand, one on top of the other. Once accomplished, the team must climb the millstones and pull a lever, which turns the stone demon blocking their path to ash, which also produces a ring for each warrior. If the warriors knock a pillar during the challenge, and the dragon's egg atop of it falls off, the team will be paralyzed for about 15 seconds so giving the other team an advantage.
- Balance Beam- The two leading warriors choose a weapon each from the 'weapons rack', then battle each other while sitting on a pole. The warrior who knocks the other warrior off the balance beam will gain a ring, and then stay on to fight the person who is third, etc. until all warriors have had a go. Any warrior who falls off must forfeit a life. Series 3, 4 and 5.
- Dark Path - This is based in the forest of Long Shadows where two contestants compete to be the first to get a ring on a post. However, each contestant is blindfolded and follows their own vine until they come to the post with the ring on top. However, along the route, the vine they are following may be the wrong path and this is represented with a skull hanging from it, or it could be a fruitful path with a ring on it. However, if they follow a wrong path and go beyond the skull, a demon attacks. Alternatively if they release the vine with two hands, they have lost. They also lose a life if they lose the race to the final ring.
- Tower Build - Two teams of two warriors each compete to build a tower out of blocks in order to reach a ring positioned high above the towers. The winners are the first to reach the ring, with the teams failing if the tower falls, a warrior falls from it, or the other team reaches the ring before them. Then they lose a life.
- Ring Climb: The warriors race along a string of rings to grab a ring. The losers forfeit a life.
- Treasure Ring: Two warriors sit in coracles, each with a long rope that are attached to the bank and a chest with a gold ring on top. They must use their rope to pull themselves towards the treasure ring before their opponent. Whoever fails to reach the ring before their fellow warrior must forfeit a life. The game is usually played with six warriors (two different warriors for three races)
- Long Staff - Similar to the balancebeam, but with the warriors fighting on two floating platforms in the loch or on two tall towers of stones, using staff like weapons.
- Deep Loch - The warriors must jump into the deep loch and swim to the other side. Each warrior who reaches the shore will gain a treasure ring, except for the warrior who finishes last and therefore loses a life.
- Gold Rush - Warriors must piece together a jigsaw style path to make it to the other side of a room. They compete against two other warriors and the warrior who completes the path across first gains a golden ring. If a warrior doesn't come first (in first round stages) or comes third (in final round only) or touches the ground that they must lay the paths on at any time, they lose a life.
- Demon's Causeway - 3 warriors must pass 2 demons in a chess-like game, played on a 7 by 7 board, set at a 90 degree angle. The warriors can move 1 square in any directions while the demons can only move 1 square forwards or sideways. Landing on certain squares will gain them a treasure ring. They must get to the gold square at the end without the demons moving onto their square, and so removing them from the game.
- Pole Climb - The warriors must climb up tall poles, which have rings hanging near the sides. However the person who gets the top ring wins, and the losing warrior must forfeit a life.
- Swinging Ball - The warriors swing a giant ball trying to knock each other off the towers. Whoever wins the first fight stays on to face the next warrior, until all the warriors have had a go. If a warrior falls off their tower, they lose a life.
- Dwarf Mine - The two leading warriors go into a cave. One goes to the back which has a wall with hieroglyphic like symbols on, while the other stays in the 'main' part of the cave where there are supports to the cave. The person at the back must describe the symbols to the other warrior, who must then push the support with the same symbol on it. If they do, they get a ring. There are 4 rings in total. If two false supports are pushed, or time runs out, the warriors will be trapped inside, and will each lose a life
- Enchanted Stream - Each warrior races against a partner to to piece together a bridge across the stream and reach the rings on the other side. The warrior who loses the race is consumed by the mists of the Enchanted Stream and must lose a life.
- Torture Chamber - The warriors go into wizard's tower and are given nets. They must manoeuvre them round a maze similar to the one in Dragon's Blood they have a time limit after which demons will come and take the warriors.
- Nevar's Eye- The blindfolded warriors have to trace a path through stones without touching a demon or the floor. series 5
- Warrior's gate- The six warriors of the quest have to pull a winch to discover what their symbol is. This is always played at the beginning of the week, and no warrior loses a life. Series 5
- Battle of the Boats- A boat race familiar to the style in Deep Loch, the loser loses a life in this race. The others get rings.
- High Rope- The warriors cross a rope suspended from a tree to earn rings. In series 5 week 2, Milvad, Molyn and Obra all fell off.
[edit] The Way of The Warrior
This is the most difficult task in the game, which the warrior in last place at the end of the day must face (no-one faces it on Monday). The warrior loses if they fall off the golden path. There are several obstacles on the path which are designed with the sole purpose to push the warrior off the path. Here is what the task consists of:
- Two rubber scarecrows, which swing back and forth
- The path turns to rope, which zig-zags. There are ropes above which the warrior can hold on to.On the second section (actually wooden), a trapdoor will open above the warrior, releasing rocks. In Series 5, a row of blocks that rise and fall was added.
- A swinging gate
- A carousel of heavy rocks that swing round and round
- A small elevating spiky barrel
- An elevating boulder
- A balance beam, at which once at the end, the warrior has to use a rope to aim for a target. If this target is hit, a drawbridge opens in front.
- Shields that push in and out from the walls
- A huge swinging spiked barrel, about 2 metres long, that the warrior must cross using ropes underneath the barrel
- Swinging blades
- Tall elevating metal spikes
In series one, any warrior can volunteer to do the challenge. If they win, they will regain a life. If a warrior fails twice (this is possible in series one because anyone can attempt the challenge), they will automatically be eliminated.
If the warrior passes the way of the warrior in series 2, 3, 4 and 5, they get to survive for another day, and the warrior in second to last place has to attempt the challenge.
[edit] Quotes
These are just a few of Ravens' many catchphrases;
- "Let the challenge... begin!" (with a slight jerk of the head)
- "You had gold in your sights, but sawdust in your brains!"
- "You will be sorry that you were born without wings, young warriors"
- "It is lucky I have my own brand of magic"
- "I see you all have the will to survive..."
- "You leave... with honour"
- "You must be quicker, young warrior!"
- "Time is not on your side!"
- "Either you did not listen to your heads or there was nothing worth listening to in the first place!"
- "May the luck of the Raven's Eye be with you!"
- "Hold your head high, young warrior!"
- "Everything in their power will stop you!"
- "And so you must pay the price. You must now lose a life!!"
[edit] Production
The series was first produced by BBC Scotland in 2002. It was shot in the grounds of Castle Toward 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Dunoon, near Toward Point and the village of Toward. The production included many innovative CGI effects throughout, including the appearance and disappearance of objects and characters (including contestants), rapidly encroaching lava flows, burning targets and fizzing gases and the zoomorphism of raven in the title sequence. The show won a BAFTA for 'Best Children's Programme' in 2003.
Series 1 was directed by Brian Ross, Series 2 and 5 by Bill McLeod and Series 3 and 4 by Paul Hineman.
[edit] Raven: The Island
Raven: The Island is a spin-off from the original format which aired in the UK on the CBBC channel in mid 2006. It takes place on the 'Island of Alaunus', which is said to be Raven's homeland, taken over by Nevar and his demons. There are three groups consisting of four warriors, which are known as the Eagles, Lions and Wolves. Like in the original series, they compete in many challenges in hope of defeating Nevar, and are watched over by Princess Erina, one of Raven's closest friends and her sprite companion, Haryad.
Raven: The Island contestants:
- Lions
- Delra (Leader)
- Kaysa
- Goram
- Norso
- Wolves
- Tanla (Leader)
- Jenso
- Bayle
- Corso (took over after Tanla was eliminated)
- Eagles
- Tanel (Leader)
- Simlo
- Masam
- Cared
- Norso, Tanla, Jenso, Masam and Cared went out in these groups, Kaysa, Bayle, Simlo and Goram went out when all three groups joined up. Delra, Corso and Tanel reached the oak and claimed a reward from Erina.
