The 1980s Fan-Favorite Epic Fantasy Series Being Lost To Time
Fantasy shows weren’t always the mainstay of home entertainment. In a time before Game of Thrones and The Witcher, networks tried time and again to make this genre appeal to mainstream audiences, with shows like Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard, and Amazing Stories all flopping in ratings. The biggest loss to fantasy fans was handed down in 1983 when the short-lived show Wizards and Warriors was canceled by its network and remains a difficult show to find decades later.
A Tale Of Two Kingdoms
Wizards and Warriors is the story of two neighboring kingdoms that are constantly in conflict. The storied Kingdom of Camarand is under the rule of monarchs King Baaldorf (Thomas Hill) and Queen Lattinia (Julie Payne). The nearby people of Karteia are ruled by the evil Prince Blackpool (Duncan Rehehr) and his brother Geoffrey (Tim Dunigan).
To aid them in the fight against the warring of Kartia, Camarand has employed the services of Prince Erik Greystone (Jeff Conaway), who also happens to be engaged to the daughter of the king and queen. The Crown Princess of Camarand, Ariel Baaldorf (Julia Duffey), is beautiful but spoiled, a true representation of the stereotype.
Nothing To Do With The Video Game Series
Over the course of its eight-episode run, Wizards and Warriors sees Erik Greystone and Prince Blackpool try to outwit the other, with Greystone’s guile leading him to minor victories along the way. Witches, wizards, and mythical creatures accent each episode, taking audiences deep into a fun fantasy realm where good and evil duked it out on CBS each Saturday in the spring of 1983.
Good Always Triumphs Over Evil
The premiere episode of Wizards and Warriors sees the evil Blackpool send an anonymous gift to the beautiful Princess Ariel. The adorable unicorn becomes the pampered young woman’s prized possession until it’s revealed that it is hosting a device that is set to lay waste to her kingdom. Of course, justice prevails in the end, as it always did in the fictional realm of Aperans, but the introduction of all the mystical creatures and magical characters in the first episode sets viewers up for a great series.
A Fun Comfort Series
Resurrected zombies, cursed artifacts, haunted castles, and so much more acted as obstacles that Prince Greystone needed to overcome each episode, with Blackpool usually behind the mischief. But even when Princess Ariel is kidnapped and taken by Blackpool to the Land of Storms, justice always prevails. Good triumphing over evil was the common theme of Wizards and Warriors, but seeing how this age-old trope played out each week was an exciting and unique experience.
Fantasy Is Finally A Successful TV Genre
The show was likely ahead of its time, as primetime audiences weren’t ready for fantasy shows. The cheeky, cheesy, but action-packed Wizards and Warriors didn’t compare to the evening dramas and action shows of the early 1980s and has faded from the memory of much of its original fanbase. But as time has gone on, the genre has shown to have massive appeal to modern fans, making one wonder if a reboot would hold up to the hype that surrounds a Game of Thrones or Outlander.
More Emmy Wins Than Better Call Saul
Despite Wizards and Warriors’ low ratings, it received recognition for some of its technical aspects. Theadora Van Runkle won the now-defunct Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costumes for a Series, and Sharleen Rassi was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling.
For those who want to catch this short-lived series, locating it on any streaming or subscription service is an impossibility. There are several places that have all eight episodes online for free, but the Internet Archive is the easiest to access at the moment. You can also find Wizards and Warriors on DVD from the 2014 MGM release from its archive collection.
