History Series / TheMysticKnightsOfTirNaNog

The best way to describe this {{sentai}}-esque series that aired in the '90s on FoxKids is either ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' [[XMeetsY meets Irish mythology]] or ''StarWars'' in a MedievalEuropeanFantasy where Darth Vader is a woman.

*** It's a complete [[HilariousInHindsight coincidence]], but ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' has the same five elements, fire (red), water (blue), forest (green), earth (yellow) and air (pink). Forest and Air were Wood and Heaven in SamuraiSentaiShinkenger, so it certainly wasn't intended to match Mystic Knights, it just did.

*** HeroesPreferSwords: Rohan's Sword.

An island resembling medieval Ireland was divided into two kingdoms: Kells, ruled by King Conchobar; and Temra, ruled by Queen Maeve. Maeve, who believed she was entitled to rule the entire island, made a deal in the first episode with Midar, a dark fairy who speaks in the third-person: she would help him take over the fairy kingdom of Tir Na Nog in exchange for a [[GreenRocks green crystal]] whose sorcery would help her conquer Kells.

The best way to describe this {{sentai}}-esque series that aired in the '90s on FoxKids is either ''PowerRangers'' [[XMeetsY meets Irish mythology]] or ''StarWars'' in a MedievalEuropeanFantasy where Darth Vader is a woman.

* {{Cancellation}}: In order to give PowerRangers Lost Galaxy a bigger budget. Production of the second series had already started when the order came down.

* MakeMyMonsterGrow: Oddly enough, there were very few monsters who spontaneously became giant sized in this PowerRangers esc. series. Most likley because there were so few HumongousMecha in on the show (not to mention many of the monsters were pretty big to begin with).

*** It's a complete [[HilariousInHindsight coincidence]], but PowerRangersSamurai has the same five elements, fire (red), water (blue), forest (green), earth (yellow) and air (pink). Forest and Air were Wood and Heaven in SamuraiSentaiShinkenger, so it certainly wasn't intended to match Mystic Knights, it just did.

* TokenMinority: Ivar -- This contributor dares anyone to find a show where this was more conspicuous or illogical.
** Tully from ''{{Roar}}'', also set in Ireland. At least Ivar had ''lines''.
** There's as many black people that are 100% Irish as there are red-haired people that are 100% Irish. With a different accent though he's a Norman I would say, therefore putting the show at before the 1100's.

** DishingOutDirt: '''[[color:green:Angus]]'''
** GreenThumb: '''[[color:goldenrod:Garrett]]'''

** MakingASplash: '''[[color:deepskyblue:Ivar]]'''

!!This show also provides examples of:

The first (and only) season ended with a StoryArc where Maeve demanded something she had apparently been waiting for from a witch, Nemain: a powerful half demon warrior named Lugad, who the Mystic Knights could not defeat. The Warrior Of Temra Arc involved a power up for Rohan called Battle Fury, Garrett's return, the introduction of two not-so-HumongousMecha, and a completely unanticipated [[TheReveal Reveal]] regarding Lugad, Maeve, and Rohan. Maeve was defeated once and for all and exiled, and it seemed that all would live HappilyEverAfter. The last minute of footage, however, featured Midar and Nemain teaming up, making unpleasant plans for Kells and Tir Na Nog. Too bad the show was canceled, and they would never get to carry them out...

* ByThePowerOfGreyskull
* CatchPhrase
-->'''Rohan''': [[OhMyGods By Dagde]]!

** PlayingWithFire: Rohan
** BlowYouAway: Deirdre
** MakingASplash: Ivar
** DishingOutDirt: Angus
** GreenThumb: Garrett

** SixthRanger: Garrett [[spoiler: Lugad near the end of the series.]]

!!The Mystic Knights were:
* Rohan, an orphan raised as Cathbad's apprentice before learning he was the long-awaited [[TheChosenOne Chosen One]] Draganta, making him the leader by default. He is the only one who can control Pyre, the Dragon of Dare, whom he summons with the Dragon's Breath Dagger. Rohan revealed in one episode his heart's desire is to know who and where his real family is. BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor...
** Element: Fire
** Mystic Weapon: [[HeroesPreferSwords The Sword of Kells]], a sword that shoots flames
* Angus, Rohan's best friend and roommate. The two grew up on the streets together, and Angus was -- and still is -- the troublemaker. Rohan trusts him unquestionably ([[ThePowerOfFriendship the power of their friendship]] was once enough to free Rohan from a spell), despite his reputation as a trickster and pickpocket. His skills in that area frequently come in handy.
** Element: Earth
** Mystic Weapon: [[CarryABigStick Terra Mace]], a mace that shoots large boulders and creates earthquakes
* Deirdre, the RebelliousPrincess of Kells, who finds herself a habitual blackmail tool. In the finale, it took all of one minute for Maeve to grab her and the knights to sulkily abandon their weapons as if it had become routine, which it had. Fortunately, [[FauxActionGirl no one in her world seemed to notice]], anymore than they were bothered by her tendency to pull rank whenever she wanted to get her way. ("That's a royal command.")
** Element: Air
** Mystic Weapon: [[TheArcher Whirlwind Crossbow]], a crossbow that shoots strong blasts of air
* Ivar, a prince who was passing through Kells on the hunt for a thief who stole a priceless chalice from his kingdom. He eventually learned that very chalice was located in Maeve's throne room, since it was Midar's portal between Earth and the Dark Fairy Realm. His dedication to retrieving the chalice almost matched his uncanny ability to track anything and everything.
** Element: Water
** Mystic Weapon: [[ProngsOfPoseidon Barbed Trident]], a trident that shoots streams of blue electricity.
* Prince Garrett, a SixthRanger who came to Kells to carry out his betrothal to Deirdre, who instantly shot him down due to his initial severe superiority complex. After a period of fighting the team after being {{Brainwashed}} by Maeve, Cathbad realized he was destined to be the fifth Mystic Knight. Deirdre firmly refused to go through with the marriage, but she tolerated him as a teammate, even giving him a kiss good-bye when he left almost as quickly as he came to escort a stranded princess home.
** Element: Forest
** Mystic Weapon: [[DualWielding Twin]] [[AnAxeToGrind Timber Axes]], which are supposedly "sharp enough to slice a stone in half," but were usually used to shoot energy blasts
----
!!Other characters included:
* Fin Varra, the fairy king of Tir Na Nog who gave the Mystic Knights their weapons and armor. They frequently came to him for help but more often than not heard FigureItOutYourself, in riddle form.
* Aideen, a NinjaButterfly (no, seriously) who followed the Knights around, serving as a messenger and spy. She had a crush on Rohan that occasionally caused her to do foolish things, like having Maeve turn her human or accidentally turning Deirdre to stone.
* Torc, Maeve's general, who was King Conchobar's right-hand man and best friend before the series, acting as TheMole before a young Rohan and Angus uncovered his treachery. He was revealed to be the one who stole Ivar's chalice.
----
The first (and only) season ended with a StoryArc where Maeve demanded something she had apparently been waiting for from a witch, Nemain: a powerful half demon warrior named Lugad, who the Mystic Knights could not defeat. The Warrior Of Temra Arc involved a power up for Rohan called Battle Fury, Garrett's return, the introduction of two not-so-HumongousMecha, and a completely unanticipated [[TheReveal Reveal]] regarding Lugad, Maeve, and Rohan. Maeve was defeated once and for all and exiled, and it seemed that all would live HappilyEverAfter. The last minute of footage, however, featured Midar and Nemain teaming up, making unpleasant plans for Kells and Tir Na Nog. Too bad the show was canceled, and they would never get to carry them out...
----

** Mystic Weapon: The Sword of Kells: A sword that shoots flames

** Mystic Weapon: Terra Mace: A mace, which shoots large boulders and creates earthquakes

** Mystic Weapon: Whirlwind Crossbow: a crossbow that shoots strong blasts of air

** Mystic Weapon: Barbed Trident: a trident that shoots streams of blue electricity.

** Mystic Weapon: Twin-Timber Axes, which are supposedly "sharp enough to slice a stone in half," but were usually used to shoot energy blasts

After a week of defeating the ThresholdGuardians who guarded their armor, taming Pyre the Dragon of Dare, and learning Rohan was actually the warrior Draganta, the Mystic Knights settled into their routine: Maeve conjures up a MonsterOfTheWeek. The knights fight it with just their weapons. When that doesn't work, they [[TransformationSequence transform]] into their armor and destroy the monster by shooting it with their weapons all at once until it explodes. They return to the castle to chase out the Temra soldiers Maeve sent in while they were busy.

This should not be taken being in any way near to actual Irish legend. [[InNameOnly Some of the names match, but that's about it]]. Knights didn't arrive in Ireland until 1168, long after the mythological era. There were no castles until the 12th century either. And there are no dragons (indeed, few monsters of any kind) in Irish legend. Maeve (Medb) was not queen of Tara, but Connacht. Moreover, Ireland is traditionally divided into Leth Cuinn, ruled from Tara, and Leth Moga, ruled from Cashel. Kells and "Temra" (Tara) are... only a few miles apart.

** Mystic Weapon: Barbed Trident: a trident which shoots streams of blue electricity... and is not related to water in any way(?)
* Prince Garrett, a SixthRanger (had to pile up the PowerRangers analogies, right?) who came to Kells to carry out his betrothal to Deirdre, who instantly shot him down due to his initial severe superiority complex. After a period of fighting the team after being {{Brainwashed}} by Maeve, Cathbad realized he was destined to be the fifth Mystic Knight. Deirdre firmly refused to go through with the marriage, but she tolerated him as a teammate, even giving him a kiss good-bye when he left almost as quickly as he came to escort a stranded princess home.

* {{Red Shirt}}s: No kidding -- Kells' army, who are absolutely no help at all in fighting Maeve's army, wear red uniforms.

* SceneryPorn: Some of it WAS filmed in Ireland after all.

* FauxActionGirl: Deirdre

The best way to describe this {{sentai}}-esque series that aired in the '90s on FoxKids is either ''PowerRangers'' [[XMeetsY meets Irish mythology]] or ''StarWars'' in a MedievalEuropeanFantasy where Emperor Palpatine is a woman.

The best way to describe this {{sentai}}-esque series that aired in the '90s on FoxKids is either ''PowerRangers'' [[XMeetsY meets Irish mythology]] or ''StarWars'' in a MedievalEuropeanFantasy where Darth Vader is a woman.

* CaptainErsatz: Tyrune is King Ghidorah. Don't even try to tell me he isn't.

* MonsterOfTheWeek - Most of them were cut-in 3D animations, but so cheaply made and edited that the occasional PeopleInRubberSuits were actually more desirable.

The best way to describe this {{sentai}}-esque series aired in the '90s on FoxKids is either ''PowerRangers'' [[XMeetsY meets Irish mythology]] or ''StarWars'' in a MedievalEuropeanFantasy where Darth Vader is a woman.

What had once been a stalemate between Maeve's useless {{Mooks}} and Conchobar's useless [[RedShirt red-clad soldiers]] now tipped in Maeve's favor. Backed into a corner, Conchobar, at the advice of his court druid, Cathbad, sent Cathbad's apprentice, Rohan, and Rohan's best friend, Angus, to find the legendary warrior, Draganta, who was supposed "to bring peace to Kells for a hundred lifetimes." After meeting up with Ivar, a prince from a distant kingdom pursuing a thief, and realizing Deirdre, Conchobar's daughter, followed them, the four stumbled into the fairy kingdom of Tir Na Nog. After a quick episode of secret tests, the four were judged worthy of inheriting the Mystic Weapons and Armor and becoming the Mystic Knights.

The first (and only) season ended with a StoryArc where Maeve demanded something she had apparently been waiting for from a witch, Nemain: a powerful half demon warrior named Lugad, who the Mystic Knights could not defeat. The Warrior Of Temra Arc involved a power up for Rohan called Battle Fury, Garrett's return, the introduction of two not-so-HumongousMecha (what time period was this, again?), and a completely unanticipated [[TheReveal Reveal]] regarding Lugad, Maeve, and Rohan. Maeve was defeated once and for all and exiled, and it seemed that all would live HappilyEverAfter. The last minute of footage, however, featured Midar and Nemain teaming up, making unpleasant plans for Kells and Tir Na Nog. Too bad the show was canceled, and they would never get to carry them out...

* RealSongThemeTune: The German broadcast had the Kelly Family's song [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2VaINb7G-U "Mystic Knights"]].