Zel
| Directed By | Ander Kasinov & Konstantin Kivetskiy |
| Produced By | Konstantin Kivetskiy |
| Written By | Ander Kasinov & Martin Corèlo |
| Starring | Aleksei Vyeshna Elrick Bahnhar Casimir Bachesu Ivan Bochkovich |
| Production Company | Caradian Broadcasting Company |
| Distributed By | Caradian Broadcasting Company |
| Music By | Sinescu Oșăvasi |
| Running Time | 3 seasons, 19 episodes of 75 minutes |
| Language | Sarnechi, Vosanskiya, Sacovian, Common tongue |
Zel, meaning Zeal, is a Caradian television series first aired in 1677 AN for the Caradian audience. The series was originally directed by Ander Kasinov, but he left the project to direct other films in 1678, leaving the directing of Zel to fall on the producer of the project, Konstantin Kivetskiy. The show aired its final episode on 4.VII.1679.
The casting work for the series was done by Kasinov, and as such an unusually large portion of the actors in the show are from Kasinov's native Rovighi. This was done partially due to bias on the part of the director, but also because of the nature of the show inspiring Kasinov, who is Flemic, to attempt a religiously minded show targeted at Vosanski.
Synopsis
The show follows Grigoriy Heketskiy and Alexandru Videscu, both Flemic priests, as they attempt to bring their religion to various regions. The main focus of the show's theme is on both the redemption of the people who accept the light of the Black Flame, as well as the punishment of those who refuse to acknowledge the supremacy of the Church. Grigoriy and Alexandru are both depicted as warriors with a strong conviction in their faith, though Grigoriy is portrayed as a newcomer to the faith who is not yet educated in the measures and tactics required to spread the faith.
Cast
Main
Protagonist
- Aleksei Vyeshna as Grigoriy Heketskiy
- Elrick Bahnhar as Alexandru Videscu
- Casimir Bachescu as Brother Vânhoc
- Joán du Minharda as Sister Anna Rosa
- Vika Nisanova as Marie Coldènne
Antagonist
- Ivan Bochkovich as Krakmes
- Ildria Yovesiy as Olga Krügar
- Vladislav Cadensi as Göster Kaschnaung
Guests & Cameos
- Grigore Paschi as Archbishop Alexandru Șîreameș
- Aldur Kontar as Grand Templar Eofel Yeavenby
- Roderick Vangar as Grand Inquisitor Corvèrre
- Alecsi Droguți as himself
- Baron Pedro Coramen as himself
Episodes
| Number | Name | Director | Brief Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 (Season One) | Război | Ander Kasinov | Grigoriy and Alexandru are sent to Sacovia to fight and attempt the conversion of Dochvern tribes. |
| No. 2 (Season One) | Pierderi | Ander Kasinov | Grigoriy is informed of his daughter's death at the hands of a Dochvern raiding party and must push himself to continue the fighting in Sacovia. |
| No. 3 (Season One) | Ispită | Ander Kasinov | Alexandru meets a Dochvern woman named Olga Krügar who attempts to make him join the Dochvern ritualists. |
| No. 4 (Season One) | Lacrimi | Ander Kasinov | Grigoriy is confronted by his daughter's killer, Krakmes, and swears vengeance against him. Alexandru tries to escape Olga and ends up permanently deafening her. |
| No. 5 (Season One) | Justiție | Ander Kasinov | Grigoriy and Alexandru both begin tracking Krakmes through the wilderness. |
| No. 6 (Season One) | Mizerie | Ander Kasinov | Grigoriy laments to Alexandru about his daughter's demise. Alexandru reinforces Grigoriy's confidence and faith. |
| No. 7 (Season One) | Inutilitate | Ander Kasinov | Grigoriy and Alexandru discover that Krakmes is the leader of a Dochvern village. They pledge to destroy everyone in it and burn the city to the ground. |
| No. 8 (Season One) | Moarte | Ander Kasinov | The last episode directed by Kasinov, Alexandru is apparently killed at the hands of Olga and Grigoriy barely escapes to a nearby Inquisition encampment and requests an airstrike. The season ends with Grigoriy watching the bombs fall on the village. |
| No. 9 (Season Two) | Întuneric | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Back home in Togărest, Grigoriy is confronted by Dochvern infiltrators. |
| No. 10 (Season Two) | Orb | Konstantin Kivetskiy | The Dochvern infiltrators blind Grigoriy, forcing him to seek assistance from the local clergy. |
| No. 11 (Season Two) | Zăpadă | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy is ordered by Alecsi Droguți to seek penance for failing to kill the Dochvern infiltrators by wandering in the wilderness. He is reunited with Alexandru. |
| No. 12 (Season Two) | Timp | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy has a flashback to the time before he became a priest, when he was the caretaker of his struggling family. Alexandru helps Grigoriy survive in the wilderness |
| No. 13 (Season Two) | Foc | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy meditates with Alexandru on his faith and his purpose to the Black Flame. Their fire roars higher and heals his blindness. |
| No. 14 (Season Two) | Întoarcere | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy and Alexandru return to Togărest to find the Dochvern infiltration dealt with. A Flemic cleric praises them for their conviction. |
| No. 15 (Season Three) | Voiaj | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy and Alexandru are sent to protect the purity of Porto Vormouna. They find that a Chaotist has stowed away on the ship. |
| No. 16 (Season Three) | Eura | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy and Alexandru arrive in Eura, and are overwhelmed by the shock of the new world. |
| No. 17 (Season Three) | Templu | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy and Alexandru identify the rogue Chaotist as Göster Kaschnaung and follow him to a temple complex outside the port colony. |
| No. 18 (Season Three) | Salvare | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy and Alexandru petition Baron Pedro Coramen for help in dealing with the Chaotists, all while halting subversion in the port. |
| No. 19 (Season Three) | Zel | Konstantin Kivetskiy | Grigoriy and Alexandru put the Chaotist temple to the sword at the head of a contingent sent by Baron Coramen. |
Production
Zel was created and distributed under the Caradian Broadcasting Company. Its distribution outside Caradia was not allowed by the company until late 1678. The show was filmed in indoor filming sets in Relacul, where the Broadcasting Company is based, and in outdoor on-location sets in Sacovia. The third season was filmed partially in Porto Vormouna.
Reception
The show was received extremely well within the Duchy, becoming one of the most popular television series in Caradia, and propelling both Ander Kasinov and Konstantin Kivetskiy into the limelight of cinema.
The show was, however, not so well received in the Ciric Confederacy, where it has been described as a "nationalist, religious supremacist show directed by a fanatical nutcase". It currently only plays on the CaradiaTV channel in the confederacy, where it reaches its target audience with low-moderate ratings.
