[PJO1966]

I was just flipping through the channels and saw Roar on Sci-Fi. It looks like it only aired for 1 season and was another Shaun Cassidy creation. It starred a very young Heath Ledger and had a Xena feel about it. I've never heard of it before. What's the deal? The scene I was watching was a bit absurd. A girl was about to go over a waterfall. Her father had his hand outstretched but was a few inches shy. She went over the edge. He screams "Nooooooo!" then stands up and walks to where she was hanging! Um, if he really wanted to save her, why didn't he just stand up before she went over the edge?

 

[dswallow]

http://www.tv.com/roar/show/1262/summary.html

Originally on FOX (60 mins)
Status: Ended
Premiered July 14, 1997
Show Category: Action/Adventure , Science-Fiction

In the year 400 A.D., a young Irish man, Conor, sets out to rid his land of the invading Romans, but in order to accomplish it, he must unite the Celtic clans. Roar chronicles the extraordinary life of a reluctant 20-year-old orphaned Prince who is forced to rise above tragedy to lead his people to freedom. Conor's allies include his trusted advisor, Galen (a wise man who possesses the secrets of magic and power), Tully (a cocky teenage troublemaker), Catlin (a beautiful former slavegirl but now a fearful fighter) and Fergus (Conor's devoted protector). Their enemy is Longinus, appearingly a normal 30-year-old man but who is actually the 400-year-old Roman Centurion sorceror of the evil Queen Diana. In this fight for freedom, what's most important for Conor and his people is the Roar - the roar of the land, the roar of the people - a voice that echoes through every living creature and is the power of life.

OPENING CREDITS:
The opening credits had the following voiceovers:

Long ago, at the edge of the known world the last Celtic tribes were fighting for survival. Europe had fallen to the Romans and this remote and untamed island was the final stronghold of the Ancient ways.

and

400 AD, in a land of a hundred warring tribes, a young prince comes of age. Having lost his family and the woman he cherished, he has sworn to unite his people and defend his home.
Bent on destroying him is a Roman Queen, Diana and her eternal love, Longinus, a 400 year old man who cannot die. Between history and myth a great battle will be waged,
in the name of a timeless power called ... THE ROAR!

FILMING LOCATION:
The series was filmed entirely on location in Queensland, Australia.

BROADCASTING:
13 episodes were produced and filmed, but only 8 were originally aired in the United States on Fox. The complete series was aired in other countries throughout the world until finally in April 2003, a U.S. channel (the Sci-Fi Channel) picked up all 13 episodes.

 

[dswallow]

Apparently FOX has been doing this to series far longer than I realized.

 

[PJO1966]

Apparently FOX has been doing this to series far longer than I realized.

At least from what I've seen, this one deserved to be cancelled.

 

[dswallow]

At least from what I've seen, this one deserved to be cancelled.

The following year FOX did much better with Ryan Gosling in Young Hercules; it's an enjoyable show.

http://www.tv.com/young-hercules/show/3245/summary.html&full_summary=1

51 episodes were made for one season. Now that's a nice run for a single season show.

 

[IndyJones1023]

I recall this. I thought it was '98 but see Doug's article says '97. I only remember trying it out when I had 2 infants in the house. It did kinda suck.

What was that fantasy show from waaaaay back in the early 80s where the main character was named Ash and he had a bow? Or maybe the bow was magical and it was named Ash?

 

[WinBear]

I thought the reason to watch this was for Heath Ledger as a very young man in skimpy outfits? Or if you are a fan, Melissa George in skimpy outfits.

The only redeeming thing I found from watching the whole series was that they found a clever way to get rid of the immortal Longinus.

 

[IndyJones1023]

The only redeeming thing I found from watching the whole series was that they found a clever way to get rid of the immortal Longinus.

Was he the blonde baddie who later wound up in Odyssey 5? How did they off him? I don't recall ever seeing the final episodes.

 

[WinBear]

Was he the blonde baddie who later wound up in Odyssey 5? How did they off him? I don't recall ever seeing the final episodes.

Yes, he ended up on Odyssey 5.

Spoiler

They got him trapped in a cage and dumped him in the sea. The last shot of him was trapped at the bottom of the ocean.