“The 10th Kingdom” - Parts 1 & 2 / An Epic Fairy-Tale Journey from New York to Grimm’s World (2000)

An ordinary waitress Virginia and her father Tony are pulled through a magic mirror into the Nine Kingdoms — a world where fairy tales have ended, but adventure and danger remain. Together with a prince-turned-dog and a lovesick Wolf, they must restore a throne, find a way home, and uncover a family secret that changes everything.

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📖 STORY (Parts 1 & 2)

The series consists of 5 parts (approx. 85 min. each). Key events of the first two:

📍 Part 1: The Adventure Begins

· The life of Virginia, a waitress, and her father Tony, a janitor, is turned upside down when she accidentally knocks over an intelligent dog with her bicycle in Central Park.
· The dog is the enchanted Prince Wendell, grandson of Snow White. His evil stepmother, the Queen, with the help of the Troll King, has escaped prison and swapped their bodies.
· The Queen sends three trolls and the Wolf to New York (which she calls the "10th Kingdom") to find and kill the dog-prince.
· The Wolf falls instantly in love with Virginia. Tony receives a magic wish-granting bean from the Wolf with unpredictable side effects.
· Fleeing pursuit, the dog leads Virginia and Tony to a mirror-portal in Central Park. The heroes step through and find themselves in the fairy-tale world of the Nine Kingdoms.

📍 Part 2: The Chase and Escape

· Virginia is kidnapped by trolls, while Tony and the prince are arrested in Snow White's prison.
· The Wolf rescues Virginia. Together, having stolen the trolls' magic invisibility boots, they free Tony and the dog.
· The group escapes, only to discover that the mirror that can take them home has sailed away on a boat with a dwarf named Acorn.
· On the boat, they find a magic goldfish. Tony carelessly uses its power and accidentally turns the trolls and Prince Wendell into gold statues.
· The Evil Queen, disappointed with the trolls, sends the relentless Huntsman with a magic crossbow after the heroes.

⭐ HIGHLIGHTS

· The "Ever After" World: The story explores what happened to the fairy-tale kingdoms 200 years after the classic "happily ever afters," revealing a world rife with corruption, prejudice, and bored monarchs.
· A Pastiche, Not a Parody: The series lovingly and ironically reimagines Grimm tales (Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, King Midas) while remaining a sincere, dark-tinged adventure.
· Complex Characters: The Wolf is torn between his beastly instincts and love. Tony transforms from a loser into a hero. The Evil Queen is a deeply traumatized character with a personal connection to the heroine.
· A Grown-Up Fairy Tale: Despite the bright shell, the series tackles themes of betrayal, abandonment, and moral ambiguity, with moments that may scare children.

🎬 PRODUCTION DETAILS

· Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Comedy, Drama.
· Creator & Writer: Simon Moore.
· Directors: David Carson, Herbert Wise.
· Countries: USA, UK, Germany (co-production).
· Budget: Approximately $44 million — a massive sum for a 2000 TV project.
· Scale: Over 4,000 costumes were made, 150 sets built, and 600 visual effects created.

💎 BEHIND THE SCENES

· Creator Simon Moore's idea was to explore what happens to the fairy-tale world after the "happily ever after."
· The project was one of the most ambitious and expensive for NBC and Hallmark Entertainment.
· Initial ratings in the US and UK were modest, but the miniseries has since gained a strong cult following.

🏛️ CULTURAL LEGACY

· The 10th Kingdom emerged at a crossroads: after the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s and before parodies like Shrek, making it a unique bridge between eras.
· The series won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Design in 2000.
· For many viewers, it remains a warm nostalgic memory and a benchmark for "cozy" fantasy worth revisiting.

💬 DISCUSSION

· Who is it for? Fans of The NeverEnding Story, Once Upon a Time, Labyrinth, or the dark fairy tales of Guillermo del Toro.
· Complex Relationships: How healthy is the relationship between Virginia and the Wolf, considering how it began?
· The Ending: Can the story's conclusion be considered truly happy, given the characters' trauma?
· Modern View: How has your perception of the series or its characters (e.g., Tony) changed over the years?

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👉 Like if you also watched The 10th Kingdom and still remember the trolls singing to the Bee Gees! Comment below: who did you root for more — Virginia or the Wolf?

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