The new MTV show The Shannara Chronicles joins several other new post-apolyctitpical dystopian future style science fiction and fantasy shows like The 100, Into The Badlands, and Vikings. I’m, obviously, eating it up because I love just about all fantasy shows that aren’t disastrously terrible; and thus far, it’s been a great immersive and cinematic experience getting into a new worlds mythos. While it still has the feel of a CW teen drama, mtv seems to be pushing a bit on the limits of nudity, and the show will hopefully get a bit grittier as the season progresses.
The Shannara Chronicles story is set on earth thousands of years in the future. Where our current civilization long ago destroyed itself, causing off-shoots of human evolution into dwarves, gnomes, and trolls. And after the destruction of the technologically based society the elves revealed themselves and magic to the world. So of course there are evil elves too that seem to be orc like creatures having delved to deeply into the depths of dark magic. Oh, and it’s the story from the second book of a trilogy, so you can get caught up on the world and character histories if you want.
In the first few episodes that have aired, there’s been a nice mix of classy women’s hairstyles and more fun, The 100 grounders-like, grunge styles. And happily, the detail of haircuts isn’t limited to just the women in the show. With Manu Bennett, of Spartacus fame, playing Allanon and Austin Butler playing Wil Ohmsford, the Shannara Chronicles already have a good mix of intense and more chill men’s hairstyles. While I’m focusing on a few of the major characters here, look out for the extras and minor characters for more cool braided hairstyles.
Clearly we should start with Amberle (Poppy Drayton) because she’s the first character we meet going into the story. Unfortunately, the other elves that we meet immediately, like Amberle’s “boyfriend” and Amberle are the most awkward actors on the show. Fortunately Amberle’s boyfriend is short-lived. lol. Anyhow, check out some of her sportier, adventuring out in the world hairstyles first. And then a couple more elegant, over-done cocktail-party, hairstyles.
Eretria (Ivana Baquero) obviously has the coolest hair as a “rover” which is what The Shanarra Chronicles call a sort of nomadic gypsy like group of humans. She has this cool faux-undercut braid on the left side of her head. But not just braided, there are hair feathers (I thought that trend stopped a while back?), and colored strings stitched into the braids making them into a sort of dreadlock that looks great without the actual grunge and dirtiness of actual dreads. I’m expecting awesomeness from her character in the rest of the show.
I’m not yet sold on Wil Ohmsford as a character. But the performance by Austin Butler in the dreamscape scene where Amberle enters the tree and had to kill him to prove that she’s worthy gives me hope for his acting and character. Not to mention he looks better with the pulled back, more intense, hairstyle. Regardless, MTV is doing a great job integrating modern mens hairstyles into a fantasy world removed from current day by thousands of years. Wether you’re a fan of the man-bun or not I think long hair for men is going to be around for a while.
Allanon really anchors the first few episodes as an experienced actor in the much grittier fantasy role in Spartacus. Without him the show really would be much more lost in a sea of angsty teen dramas. His haircut is trim, modern, and sharp. It reminds me a bit of Brad Pitt’s look in Fury, but bolder because it’s longer and has the completely shaved side fade.
Obviously I had to show this hairstyle too. The evil shapeshifter woman working for the magic elf druid has a pretty badass look. Dark magic needs love too.
