Spellbinder (TV series)

**Spellbinder** (known in Polish as *Dwa światy*, meaning "Two worlds") is a 1995 children's television series blending fantasy, adventure, and science fiction. It was a co-production between Australia and Poland, filmed in both countries, and made in English. The story follows Paul Reynolds, a high school student from Sydney, who is accidentally transported to a parallel universe. In this world, the industrial revolution never occurred, and only a privileged few—the Spellbinders—possess advanced technology. They pass this technology off as magic, using it to control the population through fear and ignorance. Paul must rely on his wits and scientific knowledge to survive, aided by a local girl named Riana, while his friends back home work to rescue him.

The series consists of 26 half-hour episodes. It was produced by Film Australia and Telewizja Polska, with support from the Australian Children's Television Foundation, which also provides educational materials for the show. Filming took place in Australia (Sydney and the Blue Mountains) and in Poland, where most parallel-world scenes were shot in locations such as the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, Ogrodzieniec, Zawiercie, Czocha Castle, and Książ. Czocha Castle served as the Spellbinders' stronghold, while Książ Castle was used for interior shots. The ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle stood in for the Old Spellbinder's castle.

In 1996, *Spellbinder* won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Children's Television Drama. The creators, Mark Shirrefs and John Thomson, later novelised the series into two books: *Spellbinder Book 1: Riana's World* and *Spellbinder Book 2: Paul's World*. A sequel series, *Spellbinder: Land of the Dragon Lord*, followed, with Heather Mitchell and Rafał Zwierz reprising their roles as the Spellbinder Ashka and her apprentice Gryvon.

**Synopsis**

During a school camp in the Blue Mountains, Paul Reynolds stumbles into a parallel universe. This world is more hierarchical and technologically different, ruled by the Spellbinders. There, he meets a girl named Riana, and they become friends. The Spellbinders have mastered static electricity, flying in large copper machines powered by rotating orange crystals that create magnetic levitation. While some Spellbinders use their power for good, others, like the malevolent Ashka, abuse it. Commoners and even Spellbinders can be banished for wr