Legend Quest
Fast-paced archaeological series plays loose with facts.
Parents say
Based on 4 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this historical docuseries features occasional moments of violence in the form of brief animated segments depicting warfare from the past. Though there is little else in the way of questionable content, the show's fast-paced momentum coupled with reliance on minor historical details might make it difficult for very young viewers to keep up. It's also unclear how historically accurate the series may be; for example, an episode claims to have uncovered the location of the Ark of the Covenant, when in the end there is only a slim possibility that the Ark is actually where the host claims it may be.
Community Reviews
Oliver Stone meets Indiana Jones?
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So bad it's great.
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What's the Story?
LEGEND QUEST is a fast-paced docuseries that follows Ashley Cowie, a symbologist who specializes in utilizing his skills to attempt to uncover some of history's biggest mysteries. Hopping around the world with his field producer Kinga Philipps, Cowie utilizes close examination of old buildings and artwork to help him patch together a possible location for some of the millennia's most sought artifacts, from the Ark of the Covenant to King Arthur's sword Excalibur.
Is It Any Good?
Spending time with Legend Quest host Ashley Cowie is equal parts exhilarating and obnoxious. He's clearly an intelligent man with a deep resevoir of knowledge about ancient cultures and historical artifacts. Yet he leaps so quickly from conclusion to conclusion, and does so with an unfounded certainty about his results. At times, field producer Kinga Phillips (who appears to have been enlisted as an on-camera talent just so that Cowie has someone to talk to) simply stares blankly at Cowie while he prattles quickly about how a two-headed eagle found on the wall of a church in Ethiopia must certainly point the way toward a secluded chapel in France.
Legend Quest plays so fast and loose with its history that it's hard not to watch the show and question what you're hearing, especially when Cowie acts so certain he's the one who has somehow beaten centuries' worth of odds and uncovered something like the Ark of the Covenant. Slowed down a few notches and supported with a clearer historical background, Legend Quest could be a great show for families who love to learn about history. Instead, it leaves viewers breathless and detached.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how technology may have helped the host make his archaeological investigations. How do you think he made all these discoveries?
How do you know whether the host's claims are historically accurate? Can you be sure that something is true because it's on television? What other tools can you use to verify the facts presented on the show?
Do you think you would ever want to undertake these kind of historical expeditions? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: July 13, 2011
- Cast: Ashley Cowie, Kinga Philipps
- Network: Syfy
- Genre: Educational
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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