Set in a post-apocalyptic future where war and natural disasters have thrown the continent into a dark age where technology is lost. The series takes place 700 years after the “Great War” as humanity emerges into a Renaissance and rediscovers the technology of the past.
In this harsh, desolate world where modern meets medieval, where swords and horses exist beside cars and guns, an evil Empire rules completely. A group of rebels fight against the tyranny of Empress Zarina, lead by Cat – a former officer in the army; Turlo – a technical expert; Zarc – a talented thief; and Diyara – the Chosen One of the Druids. Together they vow to fight until the Empire is destroyed.
Number of Episodes: 24
Date Completed: December 2000
Airdates:
January 1999 – July 1999 on PCTV in Champaign, IL
January 2000 – December 2002 on SPC-TV in Carbondale, IL
Main Cast:
Cat — Margaret Olson
Diyara — Kali S.
Turlo — Jacob MacLeod
Zarc — Virginia McCreary
General De Carlo — Chris Hutchens
Zarina — Nina Samii
Written, Directed, Edited, and Costumed
by Eleanore Stasheff
It took more than a year to film Pandora's Box. During
that time the weather had a big impact on shooting
days and actors were often miserable. Check out posts from the Survivor's Club to see what it was like to film on hot days, rainy days, and even hot and rainy days!
Check out the article from The Octopus that came out before the series premiered.
To see more photos visit the Pandora’s Box photo gallery!
Episode Guide
Zarina orders the massacre of the druids and Diyara barely escapes with her life. She meets up with the rebels and the adventure begins.
Guest Stars: Monica Samii as Zarynthia, Morgan D. as Captain Jeri, Jen Weber as Aggie, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah
The rebels find a base in a place called the Forbidden Zone while Zarina plots to destroy them and Turlo comes up with a plan of his own.
Guest Stars: Monica Samii as Zarynthia, Morgan D. as Captain Jeri, Jan D. as Mara, Brian Paris as Brian, Chris Lamb as Lord Scarsdale, Jen Weber as Aggie, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
All hell breaks lose when General De Carlo kidnaps Zarc. Cat has to confront her greatest enemy, as well as her past, if she hopes to save her friend's life. Zarina is kicked out of power and off the throne by her worst enemy, General Leffridge and a civil war ensues.
Guest Stars: Morgan D. as Captain Jeri, Jan D. as Mara, Chris Lamb as Alban, Mike Baym as Coskin, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Turlo is nearly thrown out of the base and Cat must help an old enemy survive when the Empire tries to kill them both.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Cat and Leffridge have to settle their differences and work together. It’s a fight for survival after an earthquake traps them in a cave full of surprises.
Guest Stars: Brian Paris as Brian and Ryan Segovich as the Colonel.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Diyara journeys back to the site of the druidic massacre while De Carlo plots to destroy the Chosen One. Zarc has to confront her old life in the Underworld when her foster parents - the Underworld Royals - call her home.
Guest Stars: Edward Stasheff as Cordero, Anna N. as Zurielle, Heather F. as Qadra, and Mike Baym as Coskin, and Jen Weber as Aggie.
Zarc is forced to make a choice between the Rebels and the Underworld. De Carlo's evil plan falls into place, but Diyara threatens to destroy him and seeks revenge for the murder of her druidic family -- a crime that he committed.
Guest Stars: Edward Stasheff as Cordero, Anna N. as Zurielle, and Heather F. as Qadra.
Diyara falls under the spell of a powerful sorcerer. With the help of a scientific monk, Cat and Turlo vow to save her, if they don't kill each other first.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as General Ralin and Neil Cappetta as Brother Bob.
Brother Robert reveals more of the legend of the Chosen One as Cat and Turlo race against time to save Diyara from Mordecai's evil clutches.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as General Ralin and Neil Cappetta as Brother Robert.
Cat, Turlo, and Brother Robert free Diyara from Mordecai's spell, but in the end only the Chosen One herself can destroy his evil forever.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as General Ralin and Neil Cappetta as Brother Robert.
General De Carlo battles his own doubts about what's left of the Empire, while Zarina plots to take back her throne from the rebellious Army Faction with the help of a secret weapon buried deep in the Forbidden Zone. The rebels discover her plan and the race is on to see who will get the weapon first.
Guest Stars: Mike Baym as Coskin.
Zarc forces Cat and De Carlo to settle their differences while Aggie and France-wah battle an evil toaster that is trying to take over the world.
Guest Stars: Jen Weber as Aggie, Rachel Anderson as France Wah, and Annamarie MacLeod as the Toaster.
The Civil War is over and Zarina is dead. Mira Mernecky tries to get into the army and ends up injured and alone until she is taken in by a kind old woman named Thebe. De Carlo has to deal with the fact that no one trusts him as he tries to settle into his new life as a rebel.
Guest Stars: Mike Baym as Coskin, Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Travis S. as Kigar, Jen Weber as General Watarly and Rachel Zoralee as Thebe Rackon.
Thebe turns out to be a retired General and agrees to teach Mira how to be a soldier so she can get join the Army Faction and gain power. The rebels have to deal with an insane renegade who threatens to destroy them all. But can they deal with her before she crosses paths with Rackon and leaves a devastating mark on Mira’s life forever?
Guest Stars: Rachel Zoralee Fisher as Thebe Rackon, and Kate Weber as Ryaka.
The base comes under attack when Turlo unwittingly releases a ghost from the past. The rebels face their fears and find their feelings for each other with surprising results.
Guest Stars: Chris Lamb as Alban, Sam S. as Emil, Jen Weber as Aggie, Rachel Anderson as France Wah,
Special Guest Star: Christopher Stasheff as Horace the Ghost.
Special Guest Star: Christopher Stasheff as Horace the Ghost.
Zarc and Turlo meet up with a new rebel and technical expert named Phil Gamon, who joins them. Zarc falls in love with him, while Mira Mernecky, now a general in the Army Faction, plots to destroy them all.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as Phil Orion, Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Chris L. as Alban, Travis S. as Kigar, Jen Weber as General Watarly, Brian Smith as the Bartender, Jen Weber as Aggie, Rachel Anderson as France Wah, and Tanino Minneci as Gregor.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as Phil Orion, Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Chris L. as Alban, Travis S. as Kigar, Jen Weber as General Watarly, Brian Smith as the Bartender, Jen Weber as Aggie, Rachel Anderson as France Wah, and Tanino Minneci as Gregor.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Phil convinces Turlo and Zarc to help him find a weapon hidden in the Forbidden Zone. He tricks them into helping him rebuild it. The rebels
are caught when the trap is sprung and General Mernecky steps in and takes over. Meanwhile, Turlo and Zarc’s absence has not gone unnoticed.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as Phil Orion, and Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric.
The rebels try to rescue their captured comrades. Mira's plan goes terribly wrong when Turlo has an allergic reaction to a drug she gives him and goes insane. . .with fatal consequences.
Guest Stars: Ryan Segovich as Phil Orion, Michael M. as young Turlo, and Mark MacLeod as Turlo's Father, and Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
The rebels start to plan a massive attack against the Army Faction, but first they have to figure out who in the base is really a Faction spy. Zarc and Turlo steal a secret weapon and Mira attempts to infiltrate the rebels with a new spy – a very familiar looking spy.
Guest Stars: Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Sam S. as Emil, and Jen Weber as Aggie.
Zarc has to decide whether or not to take her throne in the Underworld and leave the rebels forever. Cat and De Carlo offer their advice as she makes this difficult decision.
The rebels are planning a big conference to unite all the rebels and get them ready for a major attack. General Mernecky has plans of her own and puts them into action. The rebels gain a surprising new ally.
Guest Stars: Edward Stasheff as Cordero, Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Anna N. as Zurielle, Roger E. as Qadim, Chris Lamb as Lord Scarsdale, Julia Mayfair as Keira, Nathan M. as David, Michael M. as Vance, Jen Weber as Aggie, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Written by Diana Neatrour and Eleanore Stasheff
Mira's plan unfolds when she kidnaps Darion De Carlo's niece and nephew and Cordero's son, putting both the rebels and the royals at risk. Darion confronts Mira while Cordero tries to rescue the kids.
Guest Stars: Edward Stasheff as Cordero, Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Anna N. as Zurielle, Roger E. as Qadim, Julia Mayfair as Keira, Nathan M. as David, Michael M. as Vance, Jen Weber as Aggie, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Written by Diana Neatrour and Eleanore Stasheff
Mira's plan begins to fall apart when the children escape. The rescue attempt goes wrong and in the end a sacrifice has to be made if the rebels are going to get the children out alive. Fenric brings the muffins.
Guest Stars: Edward Stasheff as Cordero, Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Anna N. as Zurielle, Roger E. as Qadim, Julia Mayfair as Keira, Nathan M. as David, Michael M. as Vance, Jen Weber as Aggie, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah.
Special Guest Star: Annamarie MacLeod as General Leffridge.
Written by Diana Neatrour and Eleanore Stasheff
The rebels decide to end the rebellion with an all out attack on the Army Faction Headquarters, but when their discover a spy in their midst they have to retreat. In the end a major sacrifice must be made in order for the rebellion to continue and for the rebels to survive.
Guest Stars: Diana Neatrour as Major Fenric, Chris L. as Alban, Sam S. as Emil, Michael Baym as Coskin, Brian Smith as Garn, and Ryan Segovich as General Gamon, and Rachel Anderson as France Wah.
Character Bios
Diyara DeQuoi
Diyara is the Chosen One of the Druids, prophesied long ago to destroy the Empire. Protected by the druids since the time of her parents’ murder, when she was eight years old, Diyara is forced to face the harsh realities of the world when the druids are massacred by the Empire. She joins the rebels and fights through her religion to free the world and fulfill the prophesy.Cat is primary leader of the Rebellion Against the Empire (RAE). The daughter of a merchant, she joined the Officer’s Academy at the age of fourteen and became a General in the Imperial Army by the age of 21. At the age of 24 she quit the Army and defected from the Empire, eventually joining the rebels.
Turlo Mason
Turlo is a brilliant scientist and an egotistical bastard. He uses his charm and charisma that he learned as a noble to con people out of their money. Greedy, self-centered, and arrogant, Turlo tries to stay one step ahead of everyone else. The only son of an Earl in the Royal Court, his father was executed as a traitor and he was cast out by Princess Zarina. Forced to make his own living, he prefers to con others into doing all the work and giving him the profits.
General De Carlo is a career soldier, assigned to protect the Empress and kill the rebels. He is the 16th De Carlo to be a General in the Army and is proud to carry on the family tradition. He is above all loyal to the Empire and Zarina and will do anything to protect them both. He also hates Cat and is constantly trying to find her one weakness so that he can destroy her and the rebels permanently.
Empress Zarina
Zarina is the only daughter of Empress Zarynthia and heir to the throne. She is bratty, bitchy, selfish, cruel, and self-centered. She cares about no one but herself and her own power and will do anything to keep her power. However, she has a softer side that she doesn't know how to express until her life takes a dramatic turn and she meets someone who truly understand her.
Pandora’s Box ©2000 by Eleanore Stasheff