About the Series
Set in medieval times in the highlands of Scotland, Raven is a children's television series centring on the mysterious Raven, a black-clad Scottish warrior, whose ability to transform into a raven at will gives the show its name. The series follows the eponymous immortal character as he attempts to free the once peaceful lands from the darkness that has befallen it in the form of his arch-enemy, Nevar, and his league of demonic followers. In his efforts to rid the lands of this scourge, Raven recruits young followers, known as warriors, and tests their skills — physical, mental, and ability to work in a team — in the hopes that the best among them will be able to go forward to an ultimate final battle against Nevar and his army.
Produced by BBC Scotland for CBBC from 2002 until 2010, Raven has spanned thirteen series — ten regular series, and three spin-offs, including one filmed in India — and has gained multiple awards, including two children's BAFTA awards. Its distinct style, sense of fair play, and respect for its young participants in the modern children's television landscape have all combined to earn it a unique following both in and outside of its target demographic.
Format
The series is split into four weeks, each with five days of gruelling challenges, with the first three weeks consisting of heats. In these weeks, six fresh warriors compete against each other to be one of the two who will go forward to the final week. The last week is then played with these six successful warriors, and once again these competitors are whittled down over the course of the week until one victorious warrior remains. This champion will earn the title Ultimate Warrior and gain a much-coveted Staff of Power.
Each warrior is given a medieval name, which is formulated by taking letters from their real first and last names, as well as a special emblem to identify them, which appears on their outfits. These emblems, indelibly linked to the history of the lands, comprise the Tree (green outfit); the Cloud (white outfit); the Moon (black outfit); the Sun (red outfit); the Wave (blue outfit); and the Mountain (yellow outfit).
Spin-Off Series
In addition to the regular series, three spin-off series were made which focused instead on teams of warriors working together. The first, Raven: The Island, followed three teams as they sought to retrieve a precious acorn that Raven hopes will help to restore the lands, and introduces his companion Princess Erina, who comperes the series in his stead.
The second, Raven: The Secret Temple, was filmed in India as part of the BBC's season, "India and Pakistan 07", marking 60 years of independence from British rule. In this series, Raven's homeland has become frozen under magic cast by Nevar, and Raven must travel to the east with four teams of warriors to retrieve the elixir from the Secret Temple that will eliminate Nevar's grip on the lands, with the aid of temple guardian, Princess Satyarani.
The final spin-off, Raven: The Dragon's Eye, was filmed once more in Scotland, despite originally being scheduled to be produced in Morocco. This spin-off followed Raven as he attempted to stop Nevar acquiring the Dragon's Eye, a mysterious stone that would provide him unrivalled power. It also introduced Ervan, the morally ambiguous woodsman whose motives Raven must uncover before the end of the quest.