Spellbinder

1 9 9 5 (Australia/Poland)
26 x 24 minute episodes

This Polish/Australian co-production saw 14-year-old Sydney teenager Paul Reynolds (Zbych Trofimiuk) transported through an electrical vortex and blasted into an alternative reality when a prank during a school science camp goes horribly wrong.

He finds himself in a feudal world resembling medieval Europe, except the rulers – the Spellbinders – have mastered advanced technology using electricity and magnetism, and used radio communicators, flying ships and “power suits” that could shoot bolts of lightning. Technology and knowledge are reserved exclusively for the Spellbinders and forbidden to the peasant population.

Trying to convince people that he is from another world and wants to return home, Paul is summoned to the Spellbinders’ Council of Regents and threatened with banishment to the wastelands.

Only Spellbinder Ashka (Heather Mitchell) is sympathetic and protects him – although she secretly has no intention of helping him and simply wants to use his knowledge to help her in her villainous rise to power.

Paul eventually finds a way to re-open the portal and return to his own world but accidentally takes, Riana (Gosia Piotrowska) – a courageous 13-year-old peasant girl who helped him along the way – with him, trapping her in his world.

While Riana tries to return home with help from Paul and his friends Alex (Brian Rooney) and Katrina (Michela Noonan), Ashka uses the portal to escape the Spellbinder Council and gain access to powerful technology and weaponry she can use to overthrow the Regents.

Viewed today, the CGI looks outdated and the 90s fashions are terrible, but the series still holds up well, largely because the quality of the writing and plot devices is remarkable for a show aimed exclusively at children.

Heather Mitchell (Ashka) and Rafal Zwierz (Gryvon) reprised their roles in the 26-part Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord (1997), filmed in Poland and China.

Paul Reynolds
Zbych Trofimiuk
Riana
Gosia Piotrowska
Alex
Brian Rooney
Katrina
Michela Noonan
Ashka
Heather Mitchell
Brian
Andrew McFarlane
Correon
Krzysztof Kumor
Gryvon
Rafal Zwierz
Bron
Andrzej Grabarczyk
Christine
Georgina Fisher
Maran
Slawa Michalewska
Summoner
Stanislaw Brejdygant
Arla
Julia Biczysko
Jal
Erland Buchan
Zander
Piotr Adamczyk
Mrs Muggleton
Judy Morris
Nick
Anthony Grey
Ms Gibson
Paula Forrest
Marna
Hanna Dunowska
Lukan
Joachim Lamza
Lisa
Nina Liu
Stavros
Clarrie Thane
Borin
Jacek Lenartowicz
Josie
Lenka
Mort
Mariusz Czajka
Giannos
Joshua Lee

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