History Main / Raven

* For the Creator/DCComics character, [[ComicBook/RavenDCComics click here.]]

* For the Creator/DCComics character, [[ComicBook/{{Raven}} click here.]]

Also see "TheRaven" for other similar entires.

* For the DCComics character, [[ComicBook/{{Raven}} click here.]]

Also, it would be appreciated if you could update the link that sent you here to the appropriate page.

* For the ProfessionalWrestler named Scott Levy, [[Wrestling/{{Raven}} click here.]]

[[redirect:Series/{{Raven}}]]

[[redirect:Series/Raven]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/_42361348_raven.jpg
[[caption-width:263:The eponymous host of the show, maybe. But the ''real'' stars here are a bunch of thirteen year olds willing to leap into freezing lochs and take on [[strike:men in black capes]] demons.]]

''Raven'', was a BAFTA-winning BBC Scotland children's adventure game show shown on ''CBBC'' in the UK and on ''BBC Kids'' in Canada, and completed production after ten series and three spin offs. It was hosted by James Mackenzie in the title role, who conducted a group of children, known as warriors, over five days through a series of tasks and feats. At various stages in the adventure, the group lost the least successful warrior, until only two remained to go through to the final week to compete for the title of Ultimate Warrior. Failure in any challenge cost contestants a [[VideoGameLives life]], symbolised by one of Raven's feathers. Success was rewarded with gold rings; [[LawOfOneHundred gain nine rings and]] [[OneUp they could be exchanged to win back a life.]]

Sounds simple enough.

''Raven'' was notable for challenges which actually ''tested'' its 10 to 14 year old contestants. (Granted it was no ''{{Knightmare}}'' but it's the closest anyone's ever come.) The challenges faced include tests of intelligence, (puzzles and riddles), skill and agility (archery and other forms of target practice), strength (one-to-one combat -often on balance beams or platforms ''balanced on a lake''- and races) and the occasional tests which involved jumping from a great height or into freezing cold water (possibly just so the Camera Crews could have a laugh). The challengers competed until the final stage where they faced off against Nevar on what was actually an obstacle course, but you know the drill with these things, and claim the prize of "Ultimate Warrior" and their own Staff of Power (plus, you know, a holiday someplace nice.)

The series resulted in several spin offs which tended to focus on contestants operating in teams. Unlike in the previous series, teammates lost during these challenges could be "bought back" only once each, buy trading the MacGuffin's their team had gathered. The spinoffs also tended to incorporate more {{Filler}} backstory in with the gameplay, and introduced other characters for exposition, and for Raven to interact with. Feelings about this increase in plot alongside of the challenges has had a mixed response with some people enjoying the additional plot, and others thinking it distracted from the real stars -the contestants.

[[AC: Spin Off series.]]
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''Raven - The Island'': The first spin off had the title character taking a backseat role, sending warriors off to "The Island of Alaunus" in order to prevent Nevar from stealing wood from the sacred trees in order to make more Staffs of Power. Which would apparently be a Very Bad Thing. While on the island, the four teams of contestants were serrupticiously guarded by Raven's friend, Princess Erina. The series also introduced Cyrus the Astronomer as mentor to the mentor.
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''Raven - The Secret Temple'': Filmed on location in India, (a couple of contestants even had to pull out when suffering from the effects of the heat) the Warriors were sent to the far east to seek the sacred waters of the Secret Temple, in order to save Raven's homeland from an Icy Spell. This series introduced Satyarani (whose tough, no nonsense attitude made even'' Raven'' a trifle uneasy).
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''Raven - The Dragon's Eye'': The most recent spin off returned it's contestants to Scotland where it's revealed that the NotQuiteDead Nevar has plans to locate the ''Dragon's Eye'', a stone of great power, Raven sets our with his warriors to destroy the stone before Nevar can claim it. This series introduced Ervan, a former ally of Nevar's who may or may not be in this for his own personal gains.

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Due in part to the addition of plot, this series utilises more tropes than you can shake a stick at.

!!Tropes Used

* AnimalStereotype - Averted. Ravens are usually considered symbols of darkness and bad things. The Raven in this case is the good guy. He ''is'' a Warlord though, [[InformedAbility apparently]].
** well not really averted: in Celtic and Irish myths, gods of war often appeared in the form of a raven or crow, so make it more like The Greatest Warlord then.
* AnyoneCanDie - Well, obviously, it's a ''fantasy based gameshow,'' so dying (i.e. failing a challenge) is common and fairly standard, if annoying. Raven brings them back again using ConspicuousCG.
** Then there are the spinoff series, where people who "die" are eliminated and can only be brought back once, via a sacrifice. This holds true even if you end up being the ''only person left'' in your team, as happened to at least one group in ''The Secret Temple''.
* AppliedPhlebotinum - The Rings in series one (served to earn back the warriors lost lives), and the Time Pieces in ''The Island'' (which were needed to complete the game and earn time for the contestatnts in the final challenge).
* {{Badass}} - Raven. Seriously. Corny, but badass.
* BerserkButton - Do ''not'' threaten Raven's warriors, especially not using unfair means.
* BigBad - Nevar.
* BigDamnHeroes - Raven pulls this one, right at the end of ''Secret Temple''.
** Considering how much he and Satyarani bicker, they make a pretty good team.
* BlackCloak - Nevar and the Demons. Raven too, actually, sans hood, and with more feathers.
* BrownNote - The Dragon's Eye stone, which corrupts anyone who looks upon it, except for the pure of heart.
* {{Catchphrase}} - Raven's "let the challenge begin", which is used as a starting bell.
* ChildrenAreSpecial - Which is probably why they're chosen as warriors.
* CollapsingLair - The ''Secret Temple'' in the final episode.
** Also, inside of Blasted Mountain in the original series.
* ColourCodedCharacters - After the first series, each of the contestants has an emblem assignd to them, which they earn in the initial challenge, this emblem comes with a colour (that becomes their uniform) and a symbol - Sun, Moon, Mountain, Cloud, Wave, or Wood.
* ConspicuousCG - Is used with discretion in some places, but where it ''is'' used... let's just say you can really tell. Every time anyone comes BackFromTheDead, then ''again'' when they lose a life because of it, not to mention often during the challenges.
* DeadpanSnarker -Raven is both this and SternTeacher. He often switches between [[MoodWhiplash high praise, sympathy, and dry sarcasm]] several times over the course of ''one'' episode.
* Death Course & DeathInAllDirections - Oh, yegods, The ''Way of the Warrior''...
** And some of the challenges inside ''The Secret Temple'' final level, too, for that matter.
* DescendingCeiling- Well, walls. A level in ''The Secret Temple'', complete with SpikesOfDoom.
* DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu -Satyarani, helping Raven plot a sneak attack in ''The Secret Temple''.
* DragonWithAnAgenda - Former ally of Nevar, Ervan [[spoiler: actually plans to ensure a battle between Raven and Nevar kills ''both of them'' so he can take over.]]
* EliminatedFromTheRace - Whoever has the fewest lives left (ties are broken by number of rings, then by drawing feathers from a bag) has to face the ''Way of the Warrior.'' Fail here, and you're gone. If you succeed, you get to come back for the next day, and whoever was next to last has to play. Repeat until someone fails. Oh, by the way, [[NintendoHard only four kids ever pulled it off in 10 series.]]
* EliminationStatement - All the kids get this one when they're eliminated. In the spin off series that's the only sign we get from them for that moment on and the next they show up is [[NightmareFuel as a bunch of feral children]].
* EnigmaticMinion - Ervan.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses - Erina, in ''The Island'' was a Princess secretly guiding the Warriors on their quest. Granted, most people think this is ''the worst'' of all the series.
* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning - Satyarani is capable of turning into a whirling dervish.
* EvilLaugh - Nevar.
* EvilTowerOfOminousness - The Wizard's Tower challenge, usually contains some kind of skill or puzzle game. (In the first season, there was the Far-Less-Ominious ''troll''. Whom Raven liked to jibe at now and then.)
** The Castle Of Shadows in ''The Dragon's Eye'' kinda counts.
* ExpositionFairy - Haryad, the small, blue, glowy... ''thing'' in ''The Island''.
* {{Filler}} The spinoffs liked to pad out the actual show (namely, watching these kids toughing it out in challenges with some rather difficult odds) with a backstory, explaining ''why'' they were doing all of this. Reactions to the additional plot were mixed, but it generally went down a lot better in ''The Dragon's Eye''.
* FindTheCure - The purpose being the ''Secret Temple'' spinoff was reportedly to recover the magic waters that would save Raven's homeland of Alaunus from [[SlippySlideyIceWorld a spell which has frozen it into an eternal winter]].
* ForbiddenZone - The obviously named Forbidden Kingdom.
* GoldenSnitch - A malignant example with ''Way of the Warrior''. The contestants take it on in reverse order of rank (last place has to play first; it's based on number of lives, then number of gold rings), the first player to fail is eliminated, regardless of lives remaining. That said, the challenge [[NintendoHard has only been beaten twice in 10 seasons.]]
* KarmicTransformation - Apparently it was Nevar's greed and hunger for power which resulted in him being so horrifically scarred that he hides his face behind a mask. Doesn't seem to have put him off trying, though...
* LadyOfWar - We don't see her fight much, but Satyarani in ''The Secret Temple'' hops between this and the {{mentor}}. She had a habit of standing up to the demons, defying them (and Nevar himself) to their faces. One time she ended up serving as a distraction for Nevar, so Raven could get to him which he wasn't looking - it's the only time you saw her ''retreat''.
* [[LawOfOneHundred Law of Seven/Nine]] - Get enough gold rings and you get a life back.
* TheLostWoods - The setting for the first game. In reality it's a pretty safe, nice location in Scotland.
* MrExposition - Raven (and in the spinoffs, Erina and Satyarani). Being the hosts, that's basically what they're all about.
* MacGuffin - The Dragon's Eye itself. Actually, most of the things the contestants have to collect.
* MagicWand - The Staffs of Power. Pretty much all the mentors (and a couple of bad guys) have them. They mostly shoot out PureEnergy. The contestants earn one for winning the series (but they're probably more interested in the holiday).
* {{Mentor}} - Raven, to the contestants. Sort of. Given that it's a game show, in reality he's more MrExposition. Satyarani in the sequel.
* MysteriousProtector - Erina and Haryad, in ''The Island''. Sorta Raven.
* NintendoHard - Several of the challenges. ''Way of the Warrior'', ''Troll Trap'', ''Snakes and Ladders'' to name but a few.
* NoCommunitiesWereHarmed - Alaunus probably doesn't exist, and god only knows where the enchanted forest where all these demons and shapeshifters live is, but it's ''probably'' somewhere in Scotland. Like several different places in Scotland, photoshopped together.
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat - Both Nevar and Raven after the ''Secret Temple'' collapses on them. [[spoiler: and of course they both do. Raven shows up a few seconds into Satyarani [[OurHeroIsDead explaining this to the Winning Contestant]] (he morphed bird and flew out). Nevar just does the EyeAwaken thing from beneath the rubble.]]
* NonStandardGameOver - Subverted with ''Way of the Warrior''. It's ''far'' more common for a player to get eliminated that way than by running out of lives.
* NotQuiteDead - [[spoiler: Nevar]] at the end of ''The Secret Temple''.
* TheObiWan - Cyrus, to Raven. When somebody can make ''Raven'' look impatient and reckless, then you know they've ''got'' to have this going on.
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname - Sort of. All the contestants are given faux Celtic names, based on the first few or last few letters of their names when they start the show, resulting in some... rather weird and not necessarily Celtic sounding combinations.
* OnlySmartPeopleMayPass - The Riddle bridge challenge in the original series, required a correctly answered question to cross (also ''The Old Troll'', which served the same basic purpose.)
* OnlyTheWorthyMayPass - Each warrior is "challenged" to discover who is the most powerful. It's also implied in ''The Dragon's Eye'' that the reason only the final, victorious warrior could take the Dragon's Eye without being corrupted was because she was pure of heart.
* TheOnlyWayTheyWillLearn - Turns out, you can't ''teach'' someone how to jump from a great height. They just have to pluck up the nerve and do it. Okay then.
* PetTheDog - Subverted. Moments after handing the warriors a bundle of fresh firewood, Ervan is turning to the camera and talking about how he'd much prefer to ''kill them'' in their sleep.
* ThePlan: - [[spoiler: Ervan]] (or a GambitRoulette depending on how crazy you think the plan was.)
* RavensAndCrows.
* ReliableTraitor - It takes a while to work out who's side Ervan is supposed to be on [[spoiler: answer - his own.]]
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething - Princess Erina.
* SadisticChoice - In the spin off series', contestants could buy back other team member using their hard won Token Macguffins. But the cost was usually high enough to set them way back in the contest just for bringing back one person.
* SaveTheVillain - Raven tries it, in ''The Secret Temple'', offering to let Nevar take some of the sacred water that will cure him if he just stops trying to destroy everything else. Nevar wordlessly tells him to shove it.
* SdrawkcabName - Nevar (and to an extent, Ervan).
* SelectiveObliviousness - Actually less selective and more ''necessary'' on the contestants part. I.e. "Look, kids, we're trying to insert a plot in between the really difficult stuff you're doing, so just act like you don't see the cameras."
* {{Spinoff}} - Several.
* StartOfDarkness - Nevar had one. ''Raven'' keeps it obscure but it's said that he was once a simple thief, who got over ambitious.
* SternTeacher - Look if you don't ''hurry up'' and jump off that then Raven is going to be Very Disappointed, (but you can bet that he'll be pleased if you manage it).
** Satyarani. Moreso than Raven, actually, who occasionally questions her tendency to send his warriors into death traps.
* ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself - Subverted. Satyarani tells Raven that the final warrior (Sonro?) in ''The Secret Temple'' will have to face that which ?the warrior fears most? ? and do so alone. Raven realises that she means Nevar, who Sonro in short, does not have a hope in hell against, resulting in Raven (who?s been somewhat edgy about how much the warriors have to do throughout the whole last eight episodes), finally saying ?[[ScrewDestiny screw it]].? and going in to help the last remaining warrior.
* TooDumbToLive - In the Warriors' defence, they're roughly eleven years old and some of these challenges are damned ''[[NintendoHard hard]]'' but they should really know ''whether a polar bear is bigger than a lion.''
** Watching the riddle challenges can be infuriating if you aren't in the target demographic... Or for that matter if you are.
* TreeOfLife - The Sacred Oak from which power staffs are crafted, in ''The Island''.
* TykeBomb - why else would they never pick warriors-to-be over 14 years old?
* {{Uberwald}} - The Forbidden Kingdom in the Dragon's Eye.
* UnderdogsNeverLose - Subverted because obviously, ''ThisIsReality''. But there ''was'' Kinsa from season four, who to this troper's knowledge ''never stopped smiling'' even when she was narrowly avoiding being dumped in freezing cold water. [[spoiler: she wins the tournament that year overall, ''still'' smiling, much to the happiness of those who wanted to root for the little guy]].
* ViolentGlaswegian: Kind of subverted- in that James Mackenzie isn't from Glasgow and Raven's not all that violent.
* VoluntaryShapeShifting - Raven. Take a wild guess.
* WeaponOfChoice - During one of the one-on-one combat games, the contestants get to choose from a range of different (fake, obviously) weapons - what this says about each warrior's personality is anyone's guess. They probably just went for whichever looked biggest.
* WaxOnWaxOff - What the ''hell else'' is the point of the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Loch Leap?]]
** "Come, my young friends. The wind will dry your wet clothes!"
*** So the point is to give a bunch of children hypothermia?
* WeNeedADistraction - Satyarani? If you please?
* WeWantOurJerkBack - Never actually stated by the contestants (they're a [[DeathTrap bit busy]]), but [[LadyofWar Satyarani]] turns out to be a more severe task master than Raven (which is no mean feat; bear in mind that this show asks kids to jump into raging rivers and climb sheer cliff faces). Even Raven thinks she's being too harsh, but goes along with it for the sake of the quest. Her expecting the last surviving contestant to go up against Nevar is the [[ScrewDestiny tipping point]] which leads to his CrowningMomentOfAwesome.
* WildChild - The feral children in the Forbidden Kingdom, reportedly former warriors who had looked upon the Dragon's Eye without being pure of heart, and were let permanently corrupted and trapped in the Forbidden Kingdom. (That they were apparantly played by the children who had gone out of the contest earlier makes it just a little creepy.)
* WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief - Okay, so it looks nothing like a dragon's nest and they probably wouldn't use a ladder, but ''trust us'' here and just go with it, okay? Do you want the rings or not?
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity - Everyone who looks at the Dragon's Eye without being pure of hear is instantly corrupted by it's power. Even [[spoiler: Raven]] faltered for a few moments while holding it. The only one who isn't corrupted is the "Pure of Heart" surviving warriors.
* YouCantGoHomeAgain - Raven is exiled from his home Island of Alaunaus for whatever reasons, resulting in him having to send the "warriors" off there to face Nevar alone. He's notably distressed about this and lets it show throughout his brief appearances in the series. (It explains why he wasn't there to help the contestants - though you've got to wonder why this guy is ''getting a bunch of kids'' to do the fighting for him everywhere else, in ''The Island'', that's the explanation you've got.)
* YourOtherLeft - Oh the joy of those blindfolded don't-touch-the-threads challenges...
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<<|BritishSeries|>>

* ColourCodedForYourConvenience - After the first series, each of the contestants has an emblem assignd to them, which they earn in the initial challenge, this emblem comes with a colour (that becomes their uniform) and a symbol - Sun, Moon, Mountain, Cloud, Wave, or Wood.

* ThePlan: - [[spoiler: Ervan]] (or a GambitRoulette depending on hos crazy you think the plan was.)