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in: Miniseries, Episodes

The Journey

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The Journey is the first episode of the miniseries. It aired on 22 December 2018.

Synopsis[]

Concerned by troubling visions his brother Fiver has about an encroaching threat, Hazel and several other rabbits set out in search of a new safe haven.

Plot[]

According to Richard Adams's Lapine mythology, the world was created long ago by the god Lord Frith, who represents the sun. When the rabbits begin multiplying out of control, Frith creates the predators in order to hunt them down. However, he bestows great talents upon the rabbits, led by El-ahrairah (the "Prince with a Thousand Enemies"), in order to ensure their survival. Though the life of a rabbit is one of constant fear and danger, Frith reassures the rabbits that as long as they rely on their speed and wits, they will never be destroyed.

In the present day, in the Sandleford Warren in Hampshire, England, a rabbit named Hazel wakes his younger brother Fiver from a vision, where he sees machines coming to destroy the warren. Hazel, worried since previous visions have come to pass, decides to warn their Chief Rabbit, but the vagueness and forcefulness of their charge caused them to be dismissed. The brothers manage to convince some rabbits to leave the warren with them, but they are surrounded by soldiers led by Captain Holly, who consider them mutinous. Bigwig, the largest rabbit of the warren, helps them escape. In the forest, the group is chased by a party ordered to hunt them down, only managing to escape by crossing a river to safety.

Exhausted after days of wandering, the group huddles inside an abandoned church before being attacked by a flock of crows, managing to escape after Bigwig kills the leader. Afterwards, Bigwig vents his frustrations at the brothers. The next morning, a strange rabbit named Cowslip visits the group, offering them a place in his warren. Despite Fiver’s objections, the group goes to the warren. Though it is full of well-fed rabbits, morale and numbers are strangely low. Sensing that the warren is plagued by death, Fiver convinces Hazel to leave, causing Bigwig to shun them both. Moments later, he is caught by a snare. When Fiver asks for help, Cowslip reveals that those snared are given up to a farmer in exchange for protection. The rabbits manage to free Bigwig before leaving, with a doe named Strawberry joining them.

The group resumes their journey, eventually settling on the top of Watership Down. Soon afterwards, a wounded and exhausted Holly arrives and confirms Fiver's vision was right; Sandleford has been destroyed. The audience is then introduced to Efrafa, a dark and cruel warren dug into some ruins near the Down. One of the soldiers, Sainfoin, informs their leader, a massive, scarred buck named General Woundwort, of the new rabbits in the area. He tells him not to return until they're located and to leave one alive for questioning.

Characters[]

  • Bigwig
  • Blackberry
  • Bluebell
  • Clover
  • Cowslip
  • Captain Holly
  • Dandelion
  • El-Ahrairah
  • Hawkbit
  • Hazel
  • Fiver
  • General Woundwort
  • Threarah
  • Sergeant Sainfoin
  • Silverweed
  • Strawberry
  • Lord Frith

Cast[]

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