As Redwall fans anticipate the upcoming Netflix adaptation of the novel, the Redwall Wiki has been taking a look back in time.
Approximately 20 years ago, the season three finale of the Nelvana animated Redwall TV Series aired in the U.S. on July 28, 2002.
It was unclear what would be happening next - another season perhaps? It was often rumored, but there was never anything definitive in media reports. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled.
The Redwall Wiki has always wondered if there was a planned next season, and why the production ceased. And now, we have answers.
The Redwall Wiki can confirm that Brian Jacques' Mossflower was officially planned as the fourth season of the Nelvana Redwall TV Series as of March 2001. This is the previously untold history.
A series "bible" for the TV adaptation of Mossflower was created and the writing team even held a development meeting in Los Angeles. We were granted exclusive access to this historic document in an effort to unearth the secrets of the past.
The show was to be another 13-episode season, focusing on Martin the Warrior's quest for Boar the Fighter at Salamandastron and the Mossflower Woods residents' battle for liberty from the oppression of the Greeneyes wildcat family. The story bible included character biographies, a plot breakdown of the novel, thoughts on the best way to adapt certain narratives, and all potential 13 episodes with their plot outlines.
"Mossflower is capable of adaptation with very minimal departures from the original book structure,” the bible states. “The overall story adapts very neatly into a thirteen-part structure requiring only minimal adjustments to events INTERNAL to individual episodes to enable the stories to be both complete (cliffhanger or payoff) and logically coherent (enabling all episode themes to be resolved)."
"As in the previous series we will translate physical conflict into visceral action which avoids direct violence. This can only be handled on a case-by-case basis but we are extremely aware of the need to find the right balance between the valid excitement of fighting (will our hero win against colossal odds) and the representation of the event onscreen. Mossflower will follow the principles learned and applied to previous Redwall series. As in the main storytelling, along with common sense and inventive good taste our great ally here is HUMOUR."
The TV series was canceled before production on Mossflower could begin. In an interesting twist, the show ended because of positive feedback – the powers-that-be planned on adapting a Brian Jacques work into a feature film instead. (We have to wonder if that was the failed Andrew. W. Marlowe project).
And while season four of the Redwall TV series never came into fruition, we're thrilled to share with you how it could have played out.
Here's a look at the tentative Mossflower episode titles and narrative structure, accompanied by brief synopses, as well as some interesting notes. The Redwall Wiki has summarized everything below from information in the series bible. Anything in quotation marks is a direct excerpt. Enjoy, and have fun imagining "what could have been." We provide some final thoughts and observations at the end.
Mossflower Season Four Episode List[]
Episode 1: "MOSSFLOWER"
At Redwall Abbey, Bella of Brockhall begins to tell the tale of Redwall's founding to Gonff the Mousethief's grandson...
Martin the Warrior enters Mossflower Woods, where a patrol of Lord Verdauga's soldiers detain him. At Kotir, Tsarmina Greeneyes breaks Martin's sword, and the warrior mouse is sent to the dungeons. Verdauga is poisoned by Fortunata, and Tsarmina has her brother Gingivere imprisoned for the crime.
Episode 2: "THE PRINCE OF MOUSETHIEVES"
After stealing from Kotir, Gonff is captured by Thousand Eye Army soldiers, and placed in a cell with Martin. They become friends, and Gonff explains the history of the wildcats in the region. The Council of Resistance in Mossflower (CORIM), including Skipper Warthorn and Lady Amber, develops a rescue plan for Gonff; Martin and Gonff manage to escape Kotir, and the woodlanders hold back the pursuing soldiers before disappearing into the woods.
During the commotion, Argulor kills one of Tsarmina's soldiers.
Episode 3: "THE GLOOMER"
Bella greets Abbess Germaine and her wandering Loamhedge mice and escorts them to Brockhall, where she reveals the woodlanders' initial failed efforts to defeat the wildcats.
The Thousand Eye Army pursues the woodlanders into Mossflower, where Gonff and Martin are transported to Camp Willow, the otter stronghold. Seeing water, Tsarmina instructs Brogg and Scratt to retrieve The Gloomer.
At Kotir, the vicious water rat Gloomer is brought up from his underground lake, and hauled into the woods. Skipper brings out the giant pike Stormfin, and the beasts engage in battle. After Stormfin wins the fight, Tsarmina and her troops retreat and the woodlanders celebrate their victory.
Plot note: The past woodlander battle that involved the death of Bella's husband, Barkstripe, and the loss of her son, Sunflash, could be seen in a "flashback."
Episode 4: "CAPTURED!"
The woodlanders seek out the robin Chibb in an effort to recruit him as a spy in their resistance movement. Furious with her loss, Tsarmina trains her soldiers at Kotir and prepares her next moves. She taunts Gingivere, however she flees from the dungeons after he calls out her vile actions.
Gonff begins a romance with Loamhedge mouse Columbine as the woodlanders celebrate the employment of Chibb. During the festivities, young hedgehogs Ferdy and Coggs Stickle decide to invade Kotir alone.
Bella asks Martin to seek out her father, Boar the Fighter, in an effort to turn the tide against Tsarmina. However, during the discussion they learn the hedgehogs are missing, and start searching for the pair.
Thousand Eye Army Captain Cludd captures Ferdy and Coggs.
Episode 5: "QUEST AND RESCUE"
Chibb discovers Ferdy and Coggs are being held at Kotir, and alerts the woodlanders at Brockhall. Skipper, Bella, and Lady Amber begin rescue efforts. Meanwhile, Martin and Gonff find directions to Salamandastron.
With Ferdy and Coggs now located in Kotir's dungeons, Gingivere gains access to their cell.
Martin, Gonff, and Young Dinny, who has joined their party, depart for Boar the Fighter. However, Blacktooth and Splitnose follow them.
Corim rescuers also depart for the hedgehogs.
Episode 6: "THE MASK"
At Kotir, Tsarmina torments her prisoners. Chibb informs Gingivere of Corim's efforts, and delivers food. In the process, he hears the wildcat queen suggest she'll use the hedgehogs as hostages and flies back to Brockhall.
Martin, Gonff, and Dinny quest onward, evading their pursuers.
Chibb reports back to the Corim on the status of Ferdy and Coggs, and it's determined that special assistance will be needed. Skipper Warthorn seeks out The Mask.
Episode 7: "THE BEST LAID PLANS..."
While fishing in a pond, Martin and company evade some massive swans, however one of their pursuers isn't so lucky. The other vermin capture the travelers; however, a fight erupts over food, and the questors make their escape.
Corim and The Mask develop a plan to infiltrate Kotir, and the otter fools Fortunata while disguised as a fox.
Martin, Gonff, and Dinny encounter Log-a-Log Big Club, who helps them defeat a pair of lizards. The travelers join the shrew on his boat on the Great South Stream, but soon come across dangerous raging waters.
Episode 8: "INTO THE SCREAMHOLE"
The Mask successfully tricks Fortunata into her own death, and gains entry to Kotir. After meeting with Gingivere, he leads the wildcat and hedgehog brothers out of the castle and onto the parade ground.
Martin and his fellow travelers find themselves washed up at Bat Mountpit, but Gonff is missing. The bats offer to help find him, while Martin assists them with an owl issue.
As the prisoners escape Kotir, Tsarmina kills The Mask and pursues the woodlanders into Mossflower. Abbess Germaine, Foremole, and Columbine take advantage of the empty fortress and develop a plan to flood it.
Martin, Log-a-Log, and Dinny leave Bat Mountpit for the Toadlands, where they're captured and tossed into the Screamhole. As they struggle, Gonff appears and saves them. The questors negotiate with its resident, Snakefish, and make a deal to set him free.
Plot note: Viewers "may want to see" a flashback of what happened to Gonff in the Great South Stream and how he was detained, as well as how Snakefish was captured. "TBD with Brian Jacques."
Episode 9: "SALAMANDASTRON"
The travelers escape Screamhole, and Snakefish exacts his revenge on the toads. As they reach the sea, they observe Salamandastron in the distance – but a giant crab attacks them.
Noticing the footprints of the woodlanders in her chambers, Tsarmina's mental stability declines. She appoints Brogg as captain, and heads into Mossflower Woods to search for Gingivere. Moles construct flood tunnels near the River Moss.
Gonff defeats the crab by dancing with it, and as the travelers make their way down the shore, they encounter hares who explain they'll be guiding them to Salamandastron.
Episode 10: "BOAR THE FIGHTER"
The questors meet Boar the Fighter at Salamandastron, where he takes them to his chamber to tell them his story.
Bane, a mercenary fox, and his band discover Kotir and allies with Tsarmina against the woodlanders. They attack the moles working on the efforts to flood the castle.
Boar reveals his deep hatred of sea rats, especially his nemesis Ripfang, and forges a new sword for Martin. After holding it, Martin feels inspired to return to Mossflower and take on Tsarmina.
Skipper and Lady Amber attack Kotir, while Tsarmina and Bane fight over leadership. The moles resume construction of the flood tunnels, and Bella looks for a new place for the woodlanders to reside.
As Boar educates Martin on sword fighting, Ripfang's ship, the Bloodwake arrives. The warriors prepare for battle.
Plot note: Martin meets Buffheart and Lupin at Salamandastron. Brian Jacques should be consulted on the "numbers" of their young ones.
Episode 11: "REUNITED"
Battle rages at Salamandastron, and Boar stays behind to slay his enemy as Martin steals the sea rat's ship. The travelers rename it Wuddship, and they head into the River Moss.
Tsarmina and Bane make peace, however the act is a clever ruse for the wildcat to trick Argulor into eliminating the fox. But as Tsarmina feels victorious, she hears water.
The woodlanders determine their flood plan has failed, as the River Moss is too low. Just in time, Martin and company sail in, and the mouse rallies the fighters against Tsarmina.
Episode 12: "THE FINAL CONFLICT"
With Argulor and Bane out of the picture, Tsarmina is in total command. Martin arrives and demands that she leave by sunset. Lady Amber and the woodlanders attack Kotir, and when the end of the day occurs, Martin returns. Tsarmina refuses to leave, and shoots him.
Wuddship is used to dam the River Moss, and the flooding of Kotir begins in earnest. Chaos and mutiny erupt in the castle, as ballistas crash into the building.
At Gingivere's farm, Germaine explains her vision of constructing a giant abbey of red stone.
Martin observes Tsarmina attempting to escape the flooding, and their final fight ensues. Bella notices Martin is missing, and the woodlanders find him successful in battle, but wounded. Only Germaine can provide aid, and she’s nowhere close.
Plot note: "Maybe see Germaine on log finding" the red sandstone quarry? "Refer to Brian Jacques."
Episode 13: "VICTORY"
Chibb and Bella rush to retrieve Germaine, as Martin's health fades. The woodlanders and hares locate the failed Thousand Eye Army soldiers and send them packing.
Twenty days later, Martin awakens, recovered. He learns of Gonff and Columbine's marriage, and orders Wuddship to be refloated and used in efforts to build a new home, Redwall Abbey. Martin vows to hang up his sword and live a life of peace.
Fast forward to Bella finishing her story to Gonff's grandson, who Gonff's son arrives to collect. As they depart, Redwall glows in the sunset.
At Salamandastron, Sunflash the Mace arrives.
Plot note: Martin's public vow would be an "addition to [the] book". While the reader doesn't explicitly see Martin do this, Bella references it.
Final Musings[]
And there you have it! I think this narrative structure does, in fact, stay very close to the book, and could even be a template for Netflix.
Worth noting, the bible states that "certain subsidiary characters will be combined for practicalities of animation," and goes on to add "there are many supplementary or minor characters. We will find ways to compress non-principal characters by combination wherever possible."
This makes sense as the story has approximately 108 characters. Seemingly, Spike and Posy Stickle were excised from the narrative, with a primary focus on Mask's daring rescue. It also appears that the Moledeep sequence was also excised.
I like that Chibb may have received a stronger role as well.
What do you think? Is this take on adapting Mossflower to a TV series successful in this episodic format? Do you hope Netflix adapts this work by Brian Jacques? Let us know in the comments! Stay tuned, as we continue to celebrate the Nelvana Redwall TV Series, two decades later.
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