Plot Synopsis: The episode opens with Richard guiding the group with the compass. Zedd complains that he needs to stop and get some food at a tavern. Heh... old people. Fortunately Richard spots a persimmon for him to eat. Unfortunately, the persimmon is cursed. Zedd begins forgetting everything and after knocking out Richard, runs off to a local brothel. After some magic tricks to create some coins he goes after a particular lady of the evening.
Before the fun is about to start Cara arrives. However, before she grabs Zedd, Shota transports him to her cavern. She tries to convince him to name a new Seeker and take over the world together. Shota transforms him into a young man. She then tells him to get the Sword of Truth from Richard. Meanwhile, Richard and Kahlan kill a shadrin and get attacked by some local soldiers working for some corrupt lord. Zedd and Shota manage to steal the compass and Sword of Truth.
Zedd ditches Shota and comes back to get that prostitute that he's become a fan of. He turns her into a princess and all of her prostitute friends into maidens. Zedd then proceeds to pull up a palace out of the ground. Shota runs into the rest of the gang and lets Richard know that he is prophesied to fail in his quest to defeat the Keeper. She tries to enlist Cara's help but Cara brutally says no and takes her prisoner.
Meanwhile Zedd has fashioned himself a king. He is told of the problems that the Keeper has been causing. Zedd then proceeds to name himself a Seeker since he cannot trust Richard with the responsibility as he is prophesied to fail. The local evil lord comes to the castle, and is promptly killed by Zedd's Wizard's Fire. He is sent back to the underworld and is returned to life by Darken Rahl. He then proceeds to snipe Zedd's princess with a crossbow.
Salindra, the newly dead princess/prostitute, is convinced by Darken Rahl to help the Keeper by trying to bring Zedd, the Sword of Truth, and the compass to the underworld. Zedd continues to try to revive her and she implausibly revives even after turning cold. She then convinces him using the old Br'er Patch argument to go into the underworld and fight the Keeper. Realizing that Zedd will kill them all if they attempt to recover him, Shota and the gang decides that Richard will try to talk to him.
That does not work. Zedd casts a spell on Richard freezing him in place and causing Kahlan and Cara to emerge. Zedd heads into the rift to the underworld. Once inside the rift, Zedd begins turning old. Freed from his spell by Shota, Richard follows Zedd into the rift telling Kahlan to stay out because someone has to. Richard gets real old in the rift as well. Rahl tries to stop them both as he has been given dominion over the gates of the underworld. He fails miserably for no reason.
Richard drags Zedd out of the underworld. Salindra dies from not being able to keep her side of the bargain. Cara forces Shota to break the spell. She then offers to kill Shota but old Richard claims that they might need her later. Zedd then transforms Richard into his youthful body. He reconfirms his belief that Richard is the only true Seeker and only he can succeed.
Commentary: A pretty standard memory loss episode. Except this one was totally awesome because it was Zedd who lost his memory. You know how we have gotten some creepy hints about Zedd's previous life time after time? Well it turns out the guy is kind of a jerk. An objectifying, misogynistic, self-absorbed jerk. Who likes to visit prostitutes. And build castles for himself. And name himself king and take his favorite prostitute as his queen. Alright!
You know who it turns out is completely useless? Darken Rahl. I love how the Keeper made him a gatekeeper for the underworld. He responds by completely failing to trap Richard and Zedd inside. They just walked away at a leisurely pace. You had them right there and you just let them get away. I could just see the Keeper furiously yelling at Rahl telling him to close the rift faster. Rahl would likely respond that he could do the job fast or do the job right.
First of all the prostitute that Zedd chose really was pretty. There was something pretty sweet about Darken Rahl just completely tearing her down while in the underworld. Of course she agrees and then is completely transparent about her intentions to betray Zedd. So apparently losing your memory also causes you to be blind towards people blatantly lying to you. I love that there was another prostitute who was all nice to Zedd. He repaid that kindness with likely leaving them forever.
Cara was pretty awesome in this episode. She immediately tracked Zedd down to a brothel. Her imperviousness towards magic really makes her an asset when dealing with the likes of Shota. It was also great that Zedd took my advice to completely ignoring Shota's so called "advice." He correctly assumes that he should not trust her as listening to her would mean that they would give the Sword of Truth to a person that Shota presents. Seems like a recipe for disaster. Of course that was smart Zedd and not young Zedd.
Richard and Kahlan Romance Index: 2 out of 10.
Just a standard stay here while I go into a dangerous place without you speech from Richard. Nothing else really.
Zedd's Creepiness Factor: 9 out of 10.
I would give the full 10 but I don't know if it counts if he has a spell put on him. The points don't mean anything anyways so I think it is a fair grade. But c'mon. Eating the persimmons with juice dripping down his chin. Immediately heading to a brothel after losing his memory. Turning some guy into a mouse. Declaring himself king. Burning the lord instantly. So so sooooooo creepy.
Notable Quotes:
Shota: "You are the great love of my life, Zeddicus."
Zedd: "I'm not surprised."
Zedd: "As wizard of the first order I hearby name as Seeker of Truth and bearer of the Sword, Zeddicus Zul Zorander."
Darken Rahl: "They're all nice fellows to you... as long as they have a little gold in their pockets! On the other hand you're welcome to stay here with us in the underworld. The Keeper keeps a very special chamber of torment, for those that traffic in love"
Richard: "If Zedd and I don't come back someone needs to stay alive to find the stone. Kahlan this quest is bigger than any of us. Don't follow me."
Zedd: "You were always the Seeker, long before you first held the Sword of Truth. You faced death for me, literally."
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