A Question of Confession

[MotherConfessor]

I hate to argue a detailed point, but this is something that bugs me.

I only just found a way to watch season 2, so I'm a bit behind. But I have issue with the fact that in the episode Touched, everyone is upset when Richard is confessed, and the fact that he is INDEED confessed.

As i understand it, at the end of Season 1, Richard had to open the Boxes of Orden but only did so safely because he was tempered with the touch of a Confessor. I took this as Richard being confessed because he has been touched. And because he also touched the Boxes of Orden, it balanced out the effect of the Confessors touch. (Since the tv show isn't going by the book, I'm taking direction from the mythology established by the show.)

So now i'm annoyed that in this episode he's supposedly confessed and everyone is upset about it. Unless Richard is faking it? (I haven't watched the full episode yet.)

I apologise if this has already been discussed, but I couldn't find another thread about it here.

[Mudpie]

I hate to argue a detailed point, but this is something that bugs me.

I only just found a way to watch season 2, so I'm a bit behind. But I have issue with the fact that in the episode Touched, everyone is upset when Richard is confessed, and the fact that he is INDEED confessed.

As i understand it, at the end of Season 1, Richard had to open the Boxes of Orden but only did so safely because he was tempered with the touch of a Confessor. I took this as Richard being confessed because he has been touched. And because he also touched the Boxes of Orden, it balanced out the effect of the Confessors touch. (Since the tv show isn't going by the book, I'm taking direction from the mythology established by the show.)

So now i'm annoyed that in this episode he's supposedly confessed and everyone is upset about it. Unless Richard is faking it? (I haven't watched the full episode yet.)

I apologise if this has already been discussed, but I couldn't find another thread about it here.

When he was confessed while putting together the boxes of Orden, it was done to temper is power. The thinking was that this would give him the controlled power to finish off Darken Rahl and that everyone would then have lived happily ever after. Kahlan was very upset about doing this. It was NOT just fine, but Richard insisted that the Book of Counted Shadows said that's what had to be done. When Richard attempted to do this, however, Rahl got in the way; and though he died, a split opened a crack to the underworld. Richard now had a new quest for season 2. That's why everyone was so upset when Richard was confessed in Touched, just as they would have been if he was confessed [I]before[I] he took care of Darken Rahl. I hope that helps.

[MotherConfessor]

Oh yeah, I understand what your saying. But I suppose Im disappointed that the writers had an opportunity to get out of the "How are Richard and Kahlan going to be together" thing and they didn't take it. i just hope it's not something they are going to drag out otherwise people are going to get bored and stop watching. And we can't let that happen!

[Old Nathan]

The Confessor's power in the books is much more devastating than in the TV series. In the books, a Confessor's power 'destroys' the person and leaves an empty shell that exists only to please the Confessor. When the Confessor dies, those she confessed die within days because their reason for living is gone.

In the TV series the Confessor's power does NOT destroy the person, it simply acts like a spell that makes pleasing the Confessor the most important thing in their life. If the Confessor dies, then this spell is broken and the person who was there is recovered. Disoriented perhaps, but they do recover.

For all practical purposes, the only reason Richard is even in the Midlands is because he will do anything for Kahlen Amnel. He is already committed, heart and soul, to making her happy. At some point the "Seeker of Truth" will figure this out and find some way to 'trick' the Mother Confessor into confessing him because he will know (or at least strongly suspect) that it won't have any effect on him.

All we need is for the people producing the show to realize it is time for their relationship to move on and come up with a really, really good script for it.

[Crystal]

I haven't read the books, but the way I understood it from Reckoning is that Richard wouldn't be confessed like normal because he'd be using the Orden at the same time. The Orden would keep him from being confessed completely and Kahlan's powers would temper the influence of Orden on Richard. If she had just confessed him first and then he'd put the boxes together then I think it would've been bad news for Richard. But they were gambling on him not being totally confessed because of the Orden. Kahlan was quite upset about it before they tried it, but Richard and Zedd convinced her it would work. And they were right.

It seemed very logical to me.

[Old Nathan]

I haven't read the books, but the way I understood it from Reckoning is that Richard wouldn't be confessed like normal because he'd be using the Orden at the same time.
It seemed very logical to me.

The book and the TV show present much of the magic very differently. Without "spoiling" the story too much in case you get around to reading WFR, Richard "The Seeker" figures out how the Confessor's magic works and how to negate it.

If you like the show, I highly recommend reading WFR. You will recognize the characters, but many of the details in the story line are quite different.

[Erin]

-warning:this whole post will be spoiler-y, but i think putting the whole thing in tags is not needed, if you have not read WFR and dont want it spoiled, stop reading now-

I think the writers did right by not using that "loophole" and letting Richard and Kahlan be together in the series at that point.(note: he would need to be allready imune from confession at that point) since then the question "If Richard was allready confessed/imune what happened with the power of Orden? How was it negated?" would pop up, and then for me at least it would all seem less beleavable.

To me its very logical the way they did it in the end.
In the season finale, once the boxes of Orden were no longer together Richard only lost the power, not the influence of Orden since it was negated to begin with with the Confessors power and the same would work the other way arround, he would not realy be confessed since that power was negated too. And then that would mean that he could get confessed by random Confessor XYZ again, aswell as he still could get overtaken by the influence of Ordens power if he put the boxes back together without the Confessors touch.

I dont think it would be right if they made it that the power could not harm him no matter what. But once he realises that he loves Kahlan more than life itself and is allready devoted to her then it can not touch him. Its the realisation that saves him, not who he is, the Confessor's power is not a physical thing, but more of a -mind- thing. It destroys yout mind first, makes everything that you are vanish and be replaced by the love towards the confessor and then that new mindset controls your body.
So i realy hope that they do this part by the book, even if it was one of the only things.

[Snagor]

Somewhat 'spoilery'...

Actually the book somewhat contradicts itself. If you remember, at the end of WFR Kahlen is about to kill herself, and she explicitly states 'it is to release you' [Richard]. This doesn't exactly match up with her earlier descriptions of it being irrevocable and final. Why would she plan to kill herself if the result would be that Richard was going to just kill himself a few days later?

I would go further to say that in the tv series it is more powerful, because Kahlen could confess two people a minute or two apart, as you can see during the episode where she confesses Cara's teacher and then is about to confess Cara immediately afterwards. Also the teenage confessor was able to do a small group of men in a time period that appears to be a few hours or less. This also makes the tv series more plausible in terms of Confessors not having a relationship...with the book's 24 hour+ time between uses for most Confessors it would be inconvenient but plausible to have a relationship. Yes it would be annoying to have to plan in that fashion and dangerous, but possible, especially in a larger city where confessions were frequent.

[Ladyxdulcina]

Somewhat 'spoilery'...

Actually the book somewhat contradicts itself. If you remember, at the end of WFR Kahlen is about to kill herself, and she explicitly states 'it is to release you' [Richard]. This doesn't exactly match up with her earlier descriptions of it being irrevocable and final. Why would she plan to kill herself if the result would be that Richard was going to just kill himself a few days later?

I would go further to say that in the tv series it is more powerful, because Kahlen could confess two people a minute or two apart, as you can see during the episode where she confesses Cara's teacher and then is about to confess Cara immediately afterwards. Also the teenage confessor was able to do a small group of men in a time period that appears to be a few hours or less. This also makes the tv series more plausible in terms of Confessors not having a relationship...with the book's 24 hour+ time between uses for most Confessors it would be inconvenient but plausible to have a relationship. Yes it would be annoying to have to plan in that fashion and dangerous, but possible, especially in a larger city where confessions were frequent.

Wow, I never realized that, but that does make perfect sense.
My theory is, someone's going to be the catalyst for them getting together. (like suggesting it, or somehow prodding him along that thought trail) I guess to me, I don't see the TV Richard coming up with the fact that they can be together all by himself.
Or like someone said, she has to accidently confess him or something.

[yfaruqi]

Somewhat 'spoilery'...

Actually the book somewhat contradicts itself. If you remember, at the end of WFR Kahlen is about to kill herself, and she explicitly states 'it is to release you' [Richard]. This doesn't exactly match up with her earlier descriptions of it being irrevocable and final. Why would she plan to kill herself if the result would be that Richard was going to just kill himself a few days later?

I would go further to say that in the tv series it is more powerful, because Kahlen could confess two people a minute or two apart, as you can see during the episode where she confesses Cara's teacher and then is about to confess Cara immediately afterwards. Also the teenage confessor was able to do a small group of men in a time period that appears to be a few hours or less. This also makes the tv series more plausible in terms of Confessors not having a relationship...with the book's 24 hour+ time between uses for most Confessors it would be inconvenient but plausible to have a relationship. Yes it would be annoying to have to plan in that fashion and dangerous, but possible, especially in a larger city where confessions were frequent.

That's actually a very good point and I thought about it a while back. I guess from the book's perspective what was important was that Richard figured out a way to be with Kahlan and Kahlan was the only confessor in all 11 books of the series so it wasn't much if an issue.

[benmeiffert]

Somewhat 'spoilery'...

Actually the book somewhat contradicts itself. If you remember, at the end of WFR Kahlen is about to kill herself, and she explicitly states 'it is to release you' [Richard]. This doesn't exactly match up with her earlier descriptions of it being irrevocable and final. Why would she plan to kill herself if the result would be that Richard was going to just kill himself a few days later?

Because she couldn't bring herself to kill him directly? I mean her choices were to live with confessed Richard, kill him, or kill herself with him dying later.

[griff]

See, my theory is they are gonna save the whole "being together" until they know for sure they aren't going to get another season (not saying it's happening with this season) and they are then gonna finish everything with R&K finally getting it on so they can have the whole happily ever after thing.

[benmeiffert]

See, my theory is they are gonna save the whole "being together" until they know for sure they aren't going to get another season (not saying it's happening with this season) and they are then gonna finish everything with R&K finally getting it on so they can have the whole happily ever after thing.

Possibly, although I think they'd be better off putting them together prior to that. Fans get tired of a constant will they or won't they, especially if a huge amount already know the outcome. You are better off putting them together and tossing in complications as TG himself did than going on and on without development.

[Mysticgal]

I thought I had read somewhere that Richard would not be affected by confession because he was already devoted to Kahlan? Or did I dream this up? I don't know how it gets resolved in the books as I have not read them as of yet.

[benmeiffert]

I thought I had read somewhere that Richard would not be affected by confession because he was already devoted to Kahlan? Or did I dream this up? I don't know how it gets resolved in the books as I have not read them as of yet.

You'll just have to read WFR and find out :-p

[yfaruqi]

See, my theory is they are gonna save the whole "being together" until they know for sure they aren't going to get another season (not saying it's happening with this season) and they are then gonna finish everything with R&K finally getting it on so they can have the whole happily ever after thing.

I suspect you may be right but I hope that's not the case. As Goodkind's books showed us a lot of things can still happen even after R&K get together, their bond only grows stronger the more closer they are and more heartbreaking when they are apart.

[Mysticgal]

You'll just have to read WFR and find out :-p

You're a big help benmeiffert.............................LOL!!!!

[kate]

Somewhat 'spoilery'... This also makes the tv series more plausible in terms of Confessors not having a relationship...with the book's 24 hour+ time between uses for most Confessors it would be inconvenient but plausible to have a relationship. Yes it would be annoying to have to plan in that fashion and dangerous, but possible, especially in a larger city where confessions were frequent.

Using her power in the books leaves Kahlan exhausted and nauseated, so I don't think she'd be in the mood somehow. Also, we don't know how the power returns to her. Does it gradually gain strength, or come back all at once? Would a Confessor risk touching the man she loves after having used her power, just hoping they had enough time to finish what they were doing before she destoyed him?

[Snagor]

As you point out that is true for Kahlan and what makes it extremely difficult for her with only two hours. But with 1 to 2 day recovery time the majority of Confessors should not have had a problem, the nausea and all passes. They just need to be cautious and avoid it during the last few hours where you wouldn't be sure if the power had returned or not. It doesn't gradually gain strength, it's an all or nothing power; there is no partial confession. I don't think the books were specific about her knowing if she was 'recharged' or not on a by-minute basis at the end of the time which could make it even more plausible, again for other confessors.

As for the earlier comment:

Because she couldn't bring herself to kill him directly? I mean her choices were to live with confessed Richard, kill him, or kill herself with him dying later.

It would not be in her character to kill him either directly or indirectly, and she specifically states it's to release him. To my knowledge there is no other reference to what happens when a Confessor dies. King Wyborn killed himself before Kahlan's mom died, upon hearing the news, not afterwards.

One other confession item I wondered about was in FotF why she didn't Con-Dar (at range) confess Nicci after she was spelled. It doesn't seem like her power could affect herself, so in theory it should have been safe to do. Idle speculation anyway from just having read the book a week or so ago...

[yfaruqi]

As you point out that is true for Kahlan and what makes it extremely difficult for her with only two hours. But with 1 to 2 day recovery time the majority of Confessors should not have had a problem, the nausea and all passes. They just need to be cautious and avoid it during the last few hours where you wouldn't be sure if the power had returned or not. It doesn't gradually gain strength, it's an all or nothing power; there is no partial confession. I don't think the books were specific about her knowing if she was 'recharged' or not on a by-minute basis at the end of the time which could make it even more plausible, again for other confessors.

I think the confessors were more worried about unintentionally releasing their power when they are living with someone they would care about. They always have to hold their power in and if they were living together with a man they love there is always a chance that he would become confessed unintentionally by accident.

As for the earlier comment: It would not be in her character to kill him either directly or indirectly, and she specifically states it's to release him. To my knowledge there is no other reference to what happens when a Confessor dies. King Wyborn killed himself before Kahlan's mom died, upon hearing the news, not afterwards.

That's a good point, I think it's a bit of contradiction in the book. The way Kahlan explained the power to Richard, it didn't seem that anything could make someone unconfessed but then her actions at the end suggest that Richard would have been released from confession. I don't think Kahlan would do anything that would result in Richard's death ever.

One other confession item I wondered about was in FotF why she didn't Con-Dar (at range) confess Nicci after she was spelled. It doesn't seem like her power could affect herself, so in theory it should have been safe to do. Idle speculation anyway from just having read the book a week or so ago...

Actually they mentioned that in the book, had Kahlan not been so disoriented after the spell she could have resorted to Con dar. Richard stopped her from using her touch to Nicci afterwards since he was pretty sure it would come to no good end. In all likelihood using her confessor's power would have killed both Nicci and herself.