Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord

Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord is a sequel to the series *Spellbinder*, blending fantasy adventure with science fiction. The story follows characters who travel between parallel universes. The creators, Mark Shirrefs and John Thomson, also wrote a novelisation of the series.

The plot begins when Kathy, a teenager from Australia, discovers an unusual boat by a lake and is accidentally pulled into a parallel world. This new universe is ruled by ethnic Chinese people who have advanced technology, including a talking computer called the Oracle that advises the Dragon Lord and controls technology, but it does not control the empire in a political sense; it is a tool of the ruler. Kathy spends much of the series trying to evade danger across different worlds, return home, and reunite with her family. She is opposed by Ashka, a cunning woman who escaped from prison in her own world and seeks personal gain. The series also shows a journey by Sun, the Dragon Lord, to Kathy’s world, where his authority is not respected.

Filming took place in Australia (for Kathy’s world and a similar parallel world), China (for Sun’s world), and Poland (for Ashka’s world and two other universes). The show was a joint production between studios in these three countries, but the script and concept came from Australia, and the spoken language is English.

The series moves quickly, with new challenges for the characters in each episode, often solved through cleverness and wit. While most adventure is led by children—Kathy is in her mid-teens—adults like Ashka, Kathy’s parents, and the scientist Mek also play key roles.

In 1997, the series represented Australia in the finals of The New York Festivals international television competition, in the Children’s Programs (Ages 7–12) category.

**Cast and Characters**

Lauren Hewett plays Kathy Morgan, who is nearly fifteen, slightly spoiled and vain, and reluctant to go camping. After accidentally entering the Land of the Dragon Lord, she initially struggles but adapts. She helps Ashka escape from the Spellbinder world but later shifts loyalty, sometimes aiding Ashka and sometimes not. Kathy relies on acting skills rather than scientific knowledge or military training, and she often plans with her family or Mek. She is the only character to see six worlds: Australia, Australia 2, the Land of the Dragon Lord, the Immortal World, the Spell