User Reviews

I will update this review later, but here is a description of this show.

"The Quest" is part Renaissance Faire, part cosplay, part fantasy novel, and part Big Brother. Twelve paladins, who have been carefully chosen for their love of fantasy, are assembled to complete a quest that takes place in Everealm. In the first episode, this fantasy adventure is beautifully staged and one can sense the excitement of the competitors as they are immersed in a "realistic" fantasy world and delivered to Castle Saenctum. (The word paladin, by the way, has come to mean a chivalrous hero.)

The mythology surrounding the game is explained to the paladins along the way. Each is given a piece of the Sunspear, entitling them to fight for the preservation of Everealm against the evil Verlox. They must compete to stay in the quest. At the end of episode one, a bow and arrow competition was used to select the two in jeopardy. Then the other paladins chose the one to be eliminated.

Part of the magic is the total immersion of the paladins in the Renaissance world of the castle, where they live during the competition. The environs surrounding the castle are filled with period actors. And they are guided through the adventure by Crio "The Dreamer", who is an excellent actor. He gives the action an authentic air. The tools in use, the weapons, the costumes--so far, everything lends itself to the creation of this Renaissance illusion.

So what we have here is a fusion of reality show and fantasy, part scripted, part unscripted. Unlike some reality shows, it appears some "action" is created and presented only for viewers, to maintain the illusion.

This should be enjoyable for anyone who engages in fantasy gaming, fantasy novels, cosplay, etc. or for fans of superheroes. What a dream, to be allowed to live and compete in this world. The production values are excellent. At one point, you can hear a competitor say, "This feels real."

Interestingly enough, seven of the twelve paladins are women. But that did not seem to affect the dynamics of the first episode.

One poster on the bulletin board asked what the winner wins. Good question. Apparently, the reward is being the surviving hero of Everealm. That seems like more than enough for those permitted to live the dream.

I think most viewers will root for their favorite paladin. I have already chosen Lina as my champion.

Update 8/17/14: After three episodes--and three eliminations--we find that the social part of the game is significant. If the other competitors like you, it is much more difficult to be eliminated.

The actors that surround the paladins are convincing. The challenges the paladins must face have been interesting (e.g. breaching a series of doors to obtain ingredients necessary for a potion). The paladins themselves are fully engaged. Though their enthusiasm might feel cheesy at times, it fuels the show.

I don't watch many reality shows, but I have really enjoyed this one, largely because of the immersion of the contestants into the fantasy realm. For many of the contestants, this show is like a dream come true: getting to live in a castle, practice the medieval arts, and fight to save a kingdom.

The set design is absolutely fantastic, and there are so many wonderful pieces of costume and little details sprinkled throughout the show that really help pull in the characters and the audience.

Unfortunately, I think the acting of the most of the non-contestants is often a bit stilted, especially toward the beginning of the season. I'm about half way through, and it seems to be getting a little better.

Furthermore, the story is quite generic and unoriginal so far, but I don't think this is a bad thing so much as simply drawing from all the familiar clichés of fantasy in order to be true to the genre.

That said, the reality show aspect is written in quite well with the story, and I love how the rules are explained without breaking character at all. And I do have to say, they did an excellent job with the Fates!

Overall, a wonderful show that I hope will only get better if it continues on for more seasons!

I was hooked after watching 5 minutes of this show.

The production value is insane, the cast & crew were chosen perfectly, and the storyline is actually incredibly well written.

I'm three episodes in it's just getting better, and better. The would-be hero's are hopelessly enthralled with the world, which just helps improve the immersion. This show is the ultimate dream for anyone who's ever wanted to be involved in a fantasy world, and I'm convinced anyone with a creative spirit and a strong imagination who gives this show a chance will completely fall in love.

Amazing, I hope this show gets 10 seasons.

This show is fantastic! It is extremely well cast and acted that I became so immersed in the characters, the quest itself, the plot and subplots that I, at times, completely forgot that it was a reality show. The Quest is more like a TV show that actually left you with a cliffhanger at the end of season 1. The Paladins were charged with tasks to complete to continue on the quest to save the Queen and her kingdom. The makeup, costumes and special effects help you to completely believe you are in this magical world with the Paladins, the Queen and her great general! Hopefully The Quest will have many many more seasons. Love this show it's great!

Competitive Reality TV... A genre of television that was generally spoken of with distaste by many, including me. The Quest changed that. The show proved that reality TV can be entertaining without embarrassing or exposing its contestants, that reality does not necessarily mean showing the lowest places in people's life, illuminating every dark corner of and grabbing at every chance of drama. The Quest gives you 12 people that are firmly rooted in life, but at the same time well-traveled in the realms of fantasy, who get the chance every fantasy fan dreams of. They get transported to a fantasy world where they get to fight against impending darkness, sometimes through teamwork, sometimes through competition. The competitive aspect is a strong one in this show, yet there is no exaggerated drama or open hostility between the contestants like that which usually wears out my nerves speedily in other competitive shows. Some might assume that this lack of clashing personalities and drama would make the show boring to watch, that it would be a teletubbyesk love peace and harmony compilation. Way off the mark! Since the competition for becoming the one true hero is embedded into the background story of a dark invasion that threatens to take over the last free kingdom of twelve, there is plenty of conflict, mystery, treachery and danger. The professional actors that carry this background story do an extraordinary job. Crio, the Dreamer, played by Jan Hutter who made a character his own that was planned to be played by a much older, stouter actor and who delivers marvelously as the paladins' first and truest friend in Everealm and the Queen's loyal steward. The Queen herself, played by Susanne Gschwendtner as regal and aloof as a Queen can be, got to little screen time for my taste, but what we see of her is great. Especially her warming towards the paladins is beautiful to witness. The same holds true for the head of her army, Sir Ansgar, played by Peter Windhofer. He is the one who gives the paladins their battle training, criticizing and pushing them mercilessly. Yet when he cracks a smile once in a while, he raises the heart rates of both female contestants and viewers alike. His counterpart is the Grand Vizier, magician and consultant to the Queen and rather hostile towards the paladins, played wonderfully dislikable by Marcella De Nardo. Around these four a colorful group of monsters, magic beings of hostile or benign nature and numerous medievalish extras ensures that paladins and viewers alike can totally immerse in the "land of beauty and great magical power". My friends and I have been on the edge of our seats for the newest episode every Thursday night, eager for another exciting forty minutes of dreams and magic, treachery and loyalty, friendship and fate. I guess this sums up why I give ten stars to this show. There may be tiniest inconsistencies in the plot line, but the endearing, sweeping character of the whole show covers them with ease. I DO hope there will be a 2nd season!

I just finished S1 on Netflix last night! What a remarkable show! As the media is inevitably taking over our children's lives...it is imperative that the television content they watch reinforce positive values good morals and lasting life lessons. The Quest delivered on every level in a fun and magical way! Would you rather your child watch a wholesome, feel good and team building series or the latest episode of The Jersey Shore or Housewives of Atlanta? Really hoping these TV networks wise up and allow for positive programming that enriches in a fun way like the Quest. Remember TV 20-30 years ago? It was family oriented with positive undertones, and a prominent take away after each episode. The Quest is the answer to reintroducing a lot of what is missing in today's television! Cheers -

Full disclosure, I'm not a huge fan of reality shows. (I don't hate them, I just don't watch many) but from the way this show was advertised, it looked to be a genre defying show, a medieval show with real people in it.

And no, I'm not taking points off, just for it being a reality show, I just don't really care for how the fantasy elements are handled.

-The story is painfully generic: find a number of parts of the thing, save the kingdom.

-the rules are not explained very well: how much can the players interact with the story outside of the challenges,(as shown in the 'should we escape' part)

basically despite their best attempts, the fantasy elements are nothing but a coat of paint on this show. it's a medieval styled reality show, and that's it. and aside from the very well made costumes, and well designed sets the only that sets it apart from similar shows, is the illusion of an interactive story. One that would be way more fun to play, then it is to watch. If you LOVE reality shows AND fantasy, you may find this interesting, but it's no where near good enough to change anyone's opinion on reality shows.

This is by far my favorite show on TV. I kinda think the few people that dislike it come on here and rate it, whereas the vast majority that love it aren't taking the time to rate it because the rating should be much higher than it is. ;)

The whole concept is fascinating and intriguing. I had no idea what it was when I first saw it on Hulu Plus. I thought I'd give it a try, and I loved it right away. When I watched episode #2, and seeing how they develop the story along with the competition, it only deepened my love of the show, as I didn't realize when I first started watching it that there would be such an awesome story to go along with it.

It's like a first person player video game that the contestants are in. The story goes along, and they get to put their skills to the test.

My husband is a busy guy and doesn't watch much TV, but he watches this show. It captured his interest quickly as well.

I love the contestants. I hate when someone gets banished. I wish there was a way for the show to let the players that get banished to continue on in the show...just in a different position or something.

Anyway, to the group of people that came up with this show, and all the actors/actresses and contestants - thanks for making such a wonderful show!! I really hope it continues on for many seasons.

This is a reality competition set in a "fantasy" situation. One of my main problems with this show was this "fantasy" situation made it seem as though the players can't win. Interviews with the contestants allude to the belief that they feel that they have to "save" the kingdom. It is this kind of contrived situation that I have trouble with. The players are going to play and there will be a winner and the fantasy realm will be saved. That has already been decided. To try to make the viewers believe otherwise is insulting. These kind of interviews were laughable. Quite honestly, the whole fantasy thing was laughable. Ogres, banshees, magic, COME ON! Now, if you want to put these players in medieval garb and have them compete against each other the way knights might have in the middle ages, then okay. To have them interact in a make believe situation and have them perform make believe interviews changes the view of the person watching the show. Either make it fully fantasy or fully reality, but I doubt that would even make this show better. After considering this for some time, I think that the only thing that could make this show better is to have the results of each day more of an unknown. Give the contestants more control of the outcome and the fantasy becomes more real. This makes any interview more realistic.

I stumbled across this show somewhat on accident and I'm really glad I did. This is the best reality show and probably one of the best shows in general that I have ever seen.

The fact that it is not your typical reality show is what first piqued my interest. The show is set in a fantasy realm complete with characters and creatures that would be perfectly at home in any fantasy tale. However, twelve people are summoned from the real world to this fantasy realm to aid its citizens in defeating evil.

Another reason I really like the show is that it emphasizes positivity and the good in people. Yes, the contestants or "Paladins" as they are called are whittled down one by one as is the case in most reality shows but these "banishments" do not include much of the backstabbing and politics that seem to be inherent to so many reality shows. The Paladins seem to truly care about each other and just want to do what they believe is for the good of the Quest not worrying about their personal feelings towards each other.

I could not have been happier with this show. I can't wait for season 2+. This is the kind of show that I have been waiting for since I was a kid, and never thought it would exist. If you haven't seen it, you're behind the times and need to catch up. This is the most original idea that I have seen on TV...ever. The world has finally become more interested in the fantasy world that has captivated so many of us since childhood. This show is exciting, dramatic, fun, challenging, awesome, bad@$$, hardcore, Epic and amazing all at once. The characters interact with the contestants perfectly, and the contestants are obviously completely dedicated and immersed in the world that has been created for them. As a viewer I wanted to jump into my TV and join along in their quest, be challenged by the fates, and fight for Sanctum and the security of Everealm.

Probably my favorite TV show of all time. It's a reality show that takes place in a totally different world. The cool part is that all of the costumes, plot, and challenges come together to make it feel like these folks are really in another world. From the very first episode, you can tell that the show is done with a high level of quality that doesn't make it feel cheesy. It progressively gets even more enhancing. As the participants make their way through challenges, you begin to sense the layers of depth that the shows creators made to really create a believable world. The ironic part is that normally, I don't like reality TV. For those like me, you'll probably be pulling for all of the participants in such a way that you really won't think of The Quest as a garden variety reality show. ABC did a fantastic job in planning and showing this series. Great show all around. Season 2 will be awesome!

I was introduced to The Quest by my girlfriend, and not a minute into watching it, I was hooked until the end and beyond. The premise of the show is highly original and entertaining, an unexpected breath of fresh air beside many other reality shows that seem that much more shallow in comparison. The Quest not only creates a unique and intriguing reality competition between twelve likable contestants, but it goes far, far beyond that. The fantasy backdrop for the show is rich, immersive, and well-imagined, and did wonders in making the show worth watching. The supporting cast such as the Queen, the Fates, and the contestants' mentor were all highly skilled and believable characters, and their ability to improvise convincingly and appropriately was unmatched. By the same token, the twelve contestants were also very likable and worth cheering for the whole way through. One of the best parts about The Quest is, however, the importance of the titular Quest on top of the more traditional reality competition. This show really made it seem to both fans and contestants that there was more at stake than winning a prize, and the camaraderie between the Paladins that such a view caused was wonderful to see. I wholeheartedly recommend the Quest, and sincerely hope that it is renewed for many additional seasons.

Just clicked on the show to see what it was about and became absorbed by the story. I could see the participants grow in their characters from episode to episode. What I enjoyed the most was the relationships that grew in such a real and positive way. It wasn't over the top or manipulative like so many reality shows. The end reward wasn't the big dollars but the noble achievement of becoming a hero.

Combining the storyline and plot in this fantasy world with the realism of being a reality show from episode to episode worked so well. The acting of the lead characters blended so well bringing life to the story. Bravo for the whole production and would love to see another season

I love this series. watched it 3 times and gets the thrill.

just wondering if anyone notice this... on episode 2. just before the paladin was about to meet the queen, they went through an arch... on the arch there was a banner or flag... notice anything about it? anything inverted? or maybe just me..

So when season 2 going to be out ? To be it should be in the same realm continuing from season 1 and probably this time instead of paladin they be using different class or maybe multiple class and race so that each maybe advantages to a certain 'task' they'll receive? If there is some reason for not continuing season... I believe every fan wants to know why? and maybe we could help... he he

This show was unlike any reality show I've ever seen. Real people had the chance to be part of an amazing fantasy experience, and nobody had to do any backstabbing to win! There were "contestants" from all walks of life, including people of races that we NEVER see in Sci-fi/fantasy films. The contestants were placed in a pre-set fantasy story line, and made an integral part of the story, where every single one of their challenges had something to do with that plot. It was masterfully written, and the group of actors that were part of the story (but not the competition itself) were amazing! We're currently campaigning to get the show another season on ABC. Go Quest Army!

Why would a person who doesn't like superhero's, fantasy or reality TV want to watch this show? Good question! I saw the previews and thought, "this might be interesting to watch". After the first episode I was hooked. BTW, I read Chronicles of Narnia as a child, does that count? A show that my entire family could watch and enjoy. Great plot, amazing scenes, friendship, sword fights and to overcome evil.

The plot shows thinking, planning, survival, team work and more. There were victories and even sadness as each Paladin was banished, one by one.

On the finale, I found myself jumping up and down to root on the One True Hero to victory over Verlox.

Watch this show. You will not regret it.

I am still watching the shows online and cannot wait for Season 2. It's for everyone.

My adult daughter first told me she'd discovered this show. As she began to tell me about it, I got so excited, I said "Wait! I have to see this! Did you record it?" I'm happy to say, she had. The opening sequence explaining the plot, captured my heart immediately. It truly was love at first sight. I love the reality-meets-fantasy idea, & cannot say enough for the acting, costumes & setting in an actual castle! A joy for a Lord of the Rings fan like myself. And I feel inspired by the 'paladins'--contestants from America who've come to 'save' the mythical kingdom. There are values like integrity you rarely see on any show, especially reality TV, and those are honored here. In addition, I can watch it with my older kids and we're both entertained. The show deserves season 2 & beyond.

When I first stumbled upon a Trailer to "The Quest" (by accident, because there was hardly any advertisement for this show!), my first thought was: "Oh no, not another reality show! Reality shows always have the same concept: Making stupid people do stupid things so that the stupid audience has something to laugh at the expense of the contestant's dignity. And then there are always those bitch-fights and a lot of defamation going on. Man, I hate reality shows, why can't they leave their hands off my favorite genre, the fantasy? I know exactly how this is going to be: They will take the worst nerds there are, put them into cheap costumes, let them battle each other in stupid LARP-combats, and most likely they will film all of that in front of cheap scenery along with bad, non-credible actors that will cost the show the last bit of authenticity!" What shall I say? I have never been so happy for having been entirely proved wrong and this is the first time ever I'll give 10 of 10 points to a show in the IMDb. Since "The Lorf of the Rings" came to cinemas in 2002, I have never been that enthusiastic about anything anymore.

Funny fact: The producers behind "The Quest" actually ARE the producers of "The Lord of the Rings", and they got the idea for "The Quest" even 12 years ago when they thought it was unfair that only the actors got into horse-riding and sword fighting workshops, and they imagined how great it would be to give "normal" people the chance to experience such an adventure.

However, the thing that most distinguishes "The Quest" from other reality shows is not even the fantasy setting (which by the way includes high quality armor, real weapons and most notably a REAL European castle which was bustling 24 hours a day for an entire month by countless extras and four extraordinary convincing actors who did an awesome job improvising 80 % of their actions and dialogs!) but the interpersonal acquaintance on set AND off set.

There was no backstabbing, no cat-fighting, no intrigues. The contestants ("The Paladins") didn't fight against but alongside each other. They grew together strongly, became friends, comrades, they helped each other out and watched each other's backs. They didn't vote out the strongest competitors but knowingly always kept the one they believed could become "the one true hero" to save the magical world of Everealm. There was no prize money in the end, it was really all about the good deed of helping the residents of Everealm become a free people again.

Even the producers didn't try to defame anybody. On the contrary. Best example maybe: One of the contestants has the habit of grunting while laughing. What would be the usual way for a reality show to deal with it? They would repeat every grunting sound twice in slow motion to give the stupid audience a stupid reason to laugh. What is The Quest's producer's way of handling it? They let the cutters cut out every single grunt so that the contestant wouldn't be embarrassed! Isn't that nice? Isn't that the sort of acquaintance between people we all want to see more on TV? This way, "The Quest" emphasizes completely different values than other reality shows. Without having a single boring moment, the show is exciting and entertaining for every family member between 6 and 92 and teaches everybody a lesson in loyalty, bravery and moral along the way. Since nudity, violence and abusive language are no subject of this show, I really MEAN it when I say: There's finally a show that you can watch with your entire family, and every one who has kept himself a sense of adventure and wonder will enjoy it! (This review used to be a lot longer, but there's this restriction on 1000 words, so I had to crop the parts out where I talked - all spoiler-free of course! - about the cast, the soundtrack, the contestants and so on. If you are interested, here is the link to my full version review:)

If you are a gamer, fantasy reader, into LARP or just a dreamer this is the TV show for you. My wife and I didn't know what to expect at first but loved watching the series play out. The concept is similar to survivor but is much different. They have an entire plot lined up that the contestants get to experience and vicariously we get to watch unfold! It certainly takes entertainment to the next level as I can only imagine the experience each of the contests has as they see their fantasy world come to life!

The acting was excellent of all of the cast. I loved how they interacted with the contestants and never broke Character. They really kept the story going!

The only downside is that I would have liked to see the contestants decisions alter the course of the show more or maybe have more episodes showing more about the contestants and more story line.

We loved watching the trials and seeing if the paladin we were cheering for would win. We watched this in days and wish there was more.

Seeing them work together and being there for each other was exactly what we needed.

We loved the storyline and watching it develop.

We can't wait to watch more.

Reality TV is an abomination... oh wait!!!! This show is without a doubt (along with Derren Brown's Apocalypse) the only reason why someone should bother spending time watching reality TV. Every aspect of it drags you up, not down. Very nice writing, lovable characters, touches of suspense, you do care about these 'paladins'. We do feel the competition but the group effort to achieve success on the quest is tangible. I recommend this, I highly recommend it. Yep, a dear friend of mine is in there (Bonnie) but this does not affect my good judgment. I dislike reality TV immensely and there are not many things I dislike immensely. Congrats on a job perfectly well done and I really hope (it is on hiatus) the series will be back.