User Reviews

Now I know all of us are used the novel version of this classic tale and the old movie version. But don't judge this before seeing it, now there might be a few changes you might notice yes...but still you might find a few interesting things here.

For example: They toned down a few violent scenes. They added a few more extra characters and extended it more with a few themes you might find in a soap opera, along with epic struggles and adventures.

Some may not approve of the changes in the remake, but I like it, it's still has a some things similar to the book and the characters are real enjoyable along with their roles in the story. I have to say this is one of the most pleasant retelling of Watership down and it's a wonderful series for everyone to enjoy.

I admit, when I first saw the show during university, I did not think much of it. I caught only the Season 3 episodes and I thought "rabbits at war? That's silly!" It was not until the early 2000s that I revisited the show, after I have read the books for the first time, and that made me realize how deep this show is.

At its core the story is really about friendship, community and togetherness. The rabbits of Watership Down endure and survive because they stick together, help out other forest creatures, and care about each other - contrasted with Woundworth's oppresive gulag of a warren ruled through fear. But the show is deeper than a cliche good vs evil story. Many Efrafans and Darkhaven rabbits who start out as enemies turn into allies and friends, and even those who remain antagonists are not black and white. Even Woundworth himself - voiced in the first two seasons by the awesome John Hurt - has a tragic past and at one point, he seems to understand how his way to protect rabbits is misguided.

The core cast is all great and memorable - Hazel the crafty and charismatic leader, Bigwig the rough and brave warrior, Fiver the often misunderstood runt with prophetic powers, clever Blackberry, kind and stalwart Primrose, grumpy Hawkbit, cheerful Dandelion, friendly and naive Pipkin. They are joined by the boisterous and loud Keehar and the plucky mouse Hannah on Watership Down, where they meet challenges big and small and get into all sorts of adventures. The voice cast is adorably british, with especially Bigwig's cockney accent and Hannah's cheeky voice being super memorable. In smaller roles we have Sandleford survivor Captain Holly and formerly pampered Shining Wire escapee Strawberry and freed farm rabbit Clover - they are largely relegated to background roles except for a few episodes, and only become more prominent in Season 3. Captain Broom, the forgetful yet still spry classic old british soldier type, joins later from Redstone Warren.

The main opposition to Watership Down comes from the militaristic nation of Efrafa, run by the tyrannical General Woundwort. In order to protect rabbits from man and predators, the General imposed tyrannical laws that his Owsla officers enforce. He considers it a fair exchange that his subjects survive even if living in captivity and only allowed to eat and move when ordered. In Season 3, after the destruction of Efrafa in a freak storm during Hazel's attack, Woundwort goes mad and believes he is an agent of destruction sent by the Black Rabbit of Inlé, tasked to destroy Hazel's warren. He is merciless and strict, but does reward loyalty and is not without his own code of honor, and as Fiver and Pipkin both find out, motivated by a tragic past. While only a guest star in Seasons 1-2, Woundwort appears in every episode in Season 3 and becomes more focused in his goal, although sadly this means we lose the awesome John Hurt as his voice, although his replacement is quite good too.

Campion is perhaps the most captivating character of the show, and there is a reason a lot of Season 3 focuses on him. A courageous and loyal officer with a good heart, Campion is a tragic character - torn between his loyalty for Woundwort and knowing in his heart that what his chief does is not right. Despite being honest, Campion is forced ever deeper into a conspiracy to save Primrose and others from Efrafa and becomes a double agent, something that causes him great pain. In a final decisive stroke, he at the same time betrays Woundwort to Watership Down, but also saves his life, sacrificing his own. His story does not end here though, as he survives, albeit horribly scarred - looking like a rabbit version of Two-Face - and tasked by the Black Rabbit to find Woundwort. Thankfully, his resolve to survive after finding love with Blackberry makes him endure to get his much-deserved reward of a happy life with her.

Vervain is another enduring antagonist, who also becomes a main character in Season 3. While on the surface your typical groveling toady with treacherous ambitions, Vervain is not yet another "Starscream" stereotype sneaky second in command. He is cowardly and lives for intrigue, yet he at the same time fears and respects Woundwort and understands he is nothing without his chief. For brief periods we do see that he yearns for a better life, but also that even he knows he has done too much evil to have a second chance at life.

Spartina only appears in Season 3, but is a very memorable character. She is crafty and strong, taught to survive in Darkhaven where only the strong flourish - thus she learned to play all sides and side with the winner, and gather information and use it to her advantage. In her heart though she yearns for something better and is caught off guard by the kindness and help she finds at Watership Down, particularly the affections of Bigwig.

One minor antagonist also worth mentioning is Cowslip, voiced by the awesome Stephen Fry. Not a fighter by nature, he is a crafty and perhaps insane rabbit who lives in the warren of the Shining Wire, well aware of the snares put out by men, but confident that he can endure by sacrificing his own flock to them.

The show gets a major art style change in Season 3 with characters getting redesigned and recolored - I would liken it to the difference between Batman TAS and TNBA. The writing remains as strong as before though, even as the stories become more linear and action-packed.

I own the show on DVD, and have rewatched it several times. It's a really well crafted series and I can only recommend it. While it takes a different direction from the book and the movie, it also has time to develop points and characters that got the shaft in the movie (like Campion), and I'd say the changes are actually sometimes better than in the book. You can consider it an alternate version of the story, basically. At any rate, I definitely much, much prefer the show over the CGI Netflix one, both in writing and especially in art style. Here, you won't confuse one rabbit with another for sure. ;)

Good, interesting series, just shows how bravely can lead onto be committed to do what right for one's self and have courage to defend Yourself and with others, have strength. I have never actually seen or read the novel/, but I have to definitely say the show is very good, to teach young ones to stand up for yourself and have dedication to not let anyone take anyone down, whether it's people or rabbits , always treat anyone the way that you would like to be treated. Have faith and belief. I feel the sense and willing to have strength and bravery in this series. I loved the memories of watching these series, from when very younger, I loved it , I try was absolutely a great series.

That muscular gray rabbit and short ears from Efrafa owlsa (oooone step) and (no sir, nothing) and his buddy gray blond rabbit they are brothers? What's their names?