THE PILOT EPISODE in brief

THE PILOT EPISODE serves as an introduction to our lead characters and to the fast-paced, light-hearted, magically ruled reality in which the series takes place.  Barrion's father, Prosper, makes psychic contact from beyond the ninth veil requiring that Barrion go on a scavenger hunt for spell-weaving ingredients.  This urgent and time-sensitive request interrupts a staff meeting in which Barrion learns that the Boston University Philosophy department seeks to cut his course load.  Unfortunately, before he can tackle either his father's magical problem or his own mundane one, a crisis demands his attention.  Marjory Kern calls on the phone in hysterics.  It seems her daughter, Sandy is locked in her bedroom summoning a demon as a final project for Barrion's philosophy class.  With time running out for Prosper, Barrion must negotiate a viable truce with the demon, find fresh dragon's blood for his father’s spell -- not so easy in the greater Boston area -- and destroy a wild fire-spirit that threatens to burn his apprentice alive.  Of course, if he can take care of all these little chores, maybe he'll have time to convince an academic administrative body that his course The Hero's Charter from the Code of the Samurai to the House Ethics Bill is an asset to the department.  And did I mention the budding romance between Gaine the demon and Marjory, Sandy’s single mom? 

            Wrapped up snugly in a bright quilt of action, humor and special effects, this is a kind-spirited show with a strong under-theme of tolerance and social conscience.  For this reason, both our antagonists and our protagonists come in unexpected forms.  Rather than conventional bad-guys with evil intentions we have feral and fiery forces accidentally unleashed and college professors locked in budgetary battles.  In place of the traditional sword-wielding warrior-hero battling the evil forces of magic, we have the philosopher-hero who will see the goodness even in a demon, an ancient man-child who strives to enlighten the next generation to the possibility of a magical world beyond warriorism.