australian television information archive

The Big Bang

During a school camping trip to view a solar eclipse, Paul Reynolds and his friend Alex decide to play a practical joke on two female classmates who are exploring a 'haunted' cave set inside unusual magnetic rocks. Paul and Alex want scare the girls by having Paul dress up as a ghost, but the cable they rig up for Paul to slide down passes too close to some overhead powerlines causing an electrical surge to pass through the cable and explode, sending Paul through a strange portal and into a parallel universe.

Unsure of his new surroundings, Paul encounters a strange man who is upset at Paul for taking his 'Eyestone', an odd devise Paul finds on the ground. Paul flees from the man and spends the night asleep under a pile of leaves. In the morning, Paul comes across a seemingly deserted camp site where he is soon set upon by an unknown person.

Where Am I?

Paul's captor turns out to be a young girl who thinks Paul is a Marauder. Feaful of the eclipse, she believes Paul to be its cause, a belief he expoits to earn his freedom. When the girls runs away, Paul pursues her and saves her from drowning only to see her run off again.

After witnessing an attack on a pair of travellers by some actual Marauders, Paul comes across a settlement. In the village, Paul again encounters the girl, and returns her trade goods which she left behind in the forest. Taking in the state of the settlement, Paul is convinced he has travelled back in time.

When he innocently helps a young man build a toy glider, Paul attracts the attention of a powerful Spellbinder, who reminds everyone it is forbidden by the Spellbinders to build new things. Paul escapes and flees into the forrest with the help of the young girl, Riana, who is now convinced Paul can't be a Marauder after he saved her life and returned her belongings. In the forrest, a Spellbinder flying craft passes overhead and Paul quickly realises he is not in the past.

Meanwhile, the police and Paul's classmates are busy searching for Paul. Alex and Katrina's story of Paul's disappearance doesn't go over well with the police, forcing the kids to come up with another explanation for what happened to their friend.

Finding the Way Home

After narrowly escaping the Spellbinder's flying machine, Paul tries to convince Riana that he's not dangerous to be around, and wins her over by showing her his cassette player.

Paul stumbles across a mining operation and comes away puzzled about the magnetic rocks being gathered for the Spellbinders.

Returning to the spot where he entered Riana's world, a Spellbinder Summoning Tower, Paul gets a fleeting glimpse of his father when another portal is opened when a Summoner arrives and activates the tower. The portal closes before Paul can pass through, but he is spotted on the other side by Katrina, however once again her story is not believed by Paul's father or the police.

Once again stranded with Riana, Paul is taken back to her village but his presence cannot be kept secret for long...

It Isn’t Magic, It’s Science

Riana sets Paul up in her village and explains that things must be done according to the Spellbinders’ instructions. Paul is skeptical about their powers and soon realises they are using science to appear powerful. He tries to explain to the local Spellbinder, Gryvon; he is from another world and shows him his talent for making fireworks, which saves the village from ravaging marauders. Still Gryvon takes him away to be judged.

Secrets

Paul is brought before the Spellbinder’s Council of Regents, found guilty of stealing an Eyestone, and banished to the wastelands. One Spellbinder, Ashka, is sympathetic to Paul’s story and tries to convince the Council of his innocence. As a result, Paul is put into a cell. Riana is making her way to the Spellbinder castle with Paul’s videotape, hoping this will convince them that he is from another world. Meanwhile, Paul’s family, friends and the police are still looking for him back in his own world. One girl, Katrina, is convinced he has gone into a parallel universe, but no one will believe her.

Show Me Your World

Ashka and Gryvon realise the potential of Paul’s fireworks, and how powerful they world be if they knew how to make them. They plan to learn the secret from Paul. Riana sneaks into the Spellbinders’ castle and finds Paul’s video recorder in the hands of a Regent named Correon. She puts the tape in and shows him how the recorder works. Correon is fascinated and takes it to show the other Regents, they all question Paul about his world. Gryvon and Ashka realise this could destroy their plans of becoming powerful and plot to get Paul to themselves by telling the guards that Riana and Paul have escaped.

The Gunpowder Plot

Gryvon insists Paul teach him how to make gunpowder. Meanwhile, Riana and Correon set off in search of him. Paul is suspicious of Gryvon and Ashka and gives them false instructions in making gunpowder. Having observed the strength of the gunpowder, Correon realises that Paul’s knowledge is too dangerous for their world and insists on helping him return to his world. Correon lures Ashka back to the castle and captures Gryvon.

Secrets of the Spellbinders

Back in Paul’s universe Katrina convinces Alex of her suspicions as to where Paul is. Meanwhile, Paul and his rescuers are heading for the cave where he entered this new world. Katrina and Alex make radio contact with the new world, see energy rippling around the cave, and get vague glimpses of figures in the doorway. However, Paul’s attempts to pass back into his world are thwarted by Ashka and Gryvon. Paul flees to a nearby village only to be attacked by Marauders.

The Labyrinth

The Marauders turn out to be regular people who had been banished by the Spellbinders. They capture Paul, Riana and Correon and take them to their camp in a labyrinth on the edge of the forest. Ashka and Gryvon have combined forces with another Spellbinder, Lucas, convincing him they are chasing renegades. They are close on the trail of Paul and the Marauders. Paul manages to convince one of the Marauders of his story. He helps him get equipment and directs him out of the labyrinth.

Desperate Measures

Paul heads back to the cave with a chain that will act as a conductor to create an electrical surge and help him return home. Paul’s friends back home, Alex and Katrina, pick up that Paul is in trouble and transmit a warning to him. Paul hears the warning, and fearing for his newfound friends’ safety returns to the labyrinth to save them. The Spellbinders pursue Paul and his friends through the labyrinth, eventually capturing Paul and flying him back to their castle. Ashka misinforms all that Correon has been killed by marauders and gets elected to the Council.

The Centre of Power

Paul agrees to provide the gunpowder formula so that Correon’s life will be spared; through Gryvon’s Eyestone Paul lets Katrina and Alex know he is being held prisoner. Riana sneaks into the castle and helps Paul escape with Gryvon’s power suit; Paul contacts Katrina and arranges for her to set up a cable at the cave; however, Ashka shuts down the power to Paul’s flying ship.

Spellbinder Jack

Paul’s flying ship plummets out of the sky, but wearing Gryvon’s power suit he is able to pretend to be a Spellbinder. Realising Summoners are close on their trail, he and Riana float down a river to escape. They make their way to Riana’s village to get a chain to help them open the doorway to Paul’s world, but they are putting Riana’s family at risk.

The Final Challenge

Paul and Riana get caught by Summoners and Riana’s family help them to escape, now they must all flee the village. Paul, wearing a power suit, opens the doorway into his world; but Ashka is hiding, waiting for an opportunity to pass into his world. Katrina’s voice comes over Ashka’s Eyestone, alerting Paul to Ashka’s presence. They struggle at the mouth of the cave. Riana arrives and distracts Ashka so Paul is able to pass into his world. He turns back to Riana, threatened by Ashka, and drags her into his world. A frightened Riana stares at the immensity of the world she has come to.

Lost and Found

The doorway closes behind Riana, stranding her in Paul’s world. Walking to the railway station, Riana gets lost. Paul is adamant that Katrina and Alex keep the Spellbinders’ world a secret. Paul and Alex go to Paul’s home to get help in finding Riana but the police are there. Paul tells Alex to take the power suit, then goes to meet his father. Wandering through the city, Riana’s odd behaviour attracts unwanted attention. She is chased and in desperation takes refuge by climbing a building.

Hospitality

Riana is questioned by the authorities. They think she is crazy and take her to the hospital. The doctor suspects that Riana is some kind of "wild child," and concludes that Paul is suffering hallucinations and amnesia as a result of his ordeal. Riana tries to escape from the hospital but is caught and placed in a security ward. Paul and Alex repair the power suit to prove Paul’s story to Paul’s father, Brian. When Paul puts it on and energises it, every electrical device in Alex’s house and the surrounding houses blows out. Paul realises that the suit has some unexpected effects in this world.

Breakout

Paul and Alex visit Riana who pleads with them to get her out. Paul and Alex use the power suit to get past security systems and break into the hospital. The suit’s magnetic field damages the hospital computers. They rescue Riana and try to hide her at Paul’s house, but Christine comes in and Paul is forced to tell the truth. She agrees to help hide Riana and keep the secret.

The Trojan Toffee Trolley

Riana begs Paul to allow her to come to school with him. With the help of a forged note, Paul passes Riana off as his cousin from Poland. Despite Paul’s anxiety, Riana is able to fit in well. Katrina threatens to turn in Riana if Paul doesn’t allow her to use the power suit. Paul receives a radio message from Correon. The Summoning Tower has been rebuilt; so they can take Riana home. However, Katrina has taken the power suit. At home, she manages to turn the power suit on. Power flickers at her fingertips.

Run!

Paul and Alex race to Katrina’s house just as she gets the suit working and take the suit back. Unable to find Paul at school, Riana goes back to his house. No one is home so she breaks in. Brian catches her and calls the police. Terrified, she breaks away and runs. Paul and Alex take the power suit to the rendezvous. Paul recognises the trail of Spellbinder eyes Riana had left for him and starts to follow them. Meanwhile, Riana is spotted by the police and chase her. Paul activates the power suit and rescues her.

Reunions

Paul plans on going back to the Spellbinders’ world. When he and Riana arrive at the cave, they use the radio to contact Correon and step through to Riana’s world. Correon tells them that Ashka is still at large and returns Paul’s video camera. Meanwhile, Gryvon goes to Ashka who is hiding out in the forest. She realises that this is her last chance to get the gunpowder formula from Paul; so Gryvon lures Paul to the outskirts of Clayhill where Ashka captures him.

Alien Invasion

Riana rescues Paul but leaves the video camera behind. Ashka flees and Correon calls for flying ships to search for her. With Gryvon’s help Ashka steals an Eyestone, opens the doorway, and enters into Paul’s world. Paul returns to his world without the video camera. Katrina and Alex are furious there is no proof of the other world. Paul reconciles with his father, assuring him that everything is going to be fine. But disturbing news reports of strange event make him realise that a Spellbinder is visiting his world.

The Hunt For Ashka

Ashka is having a hard time in Paul’s world. She uses the power suit in an electrical store and all of the appliances go haywire. Paul sees the report and realises that Ashka must be in his world. At school, Katrina decides to search for the Spellbinder on her own. She finds Ashka, who makes up a story about needing medicines to combat an epidemic in her world. Katrina agrees to help. Ashka decides to rob an armoured car using her power suit. Paul and Alex detect the event and head for the city.

Clowning Around

Alex and Paul locate Ashka’s room and convince Katrina that Ashka is up to no good. Paul throws the power suit into a garbage truck where it is crushed. In Riana’s world, Gryvon steals the Eyestone and sneaks up to the Summoning Tower where Riana sees him open the door to Paul’s world and is shocked to see Ashka step through. After following them to the castle, Riana is caught and sealed in a vault with the skeletons of the old Spellbinders.

The High-Tech Power Suit

Using all her strength and cunning, Riana manages to escape from the vault. She reaches the Summoning Tower just in time to see Ashka step through to Paul’s world and follows her. Ashka shows Brian the book she obtained from the vault. He is flattered when Ashka tells him that she sought him out because of his scientific reputation. He agrees to work with Ashka to discover the book’s secrets. That night Riana climbs in through the bedroom window and surprises Paul. She warns him about Ashka and her plan to build a power suit—they set out to find her.

A Spellbinder in the House

Paul tries to warn his father about Ashka, but Brian only gets angry with Paul. Riana tells Paul she has the videotape of her world, but this infuriates Brian even more. Then Riana tries to steal the book which contains the power suit plans but is caught by Ashka and locked up. Paul turns to Alex for help, but Alex’s father refuses.

Breakfast of Champions

Paul realises he’ll need help to save Riana and tips off Katrina and Alex. Katrina contrives to meet Ashka and manages to slip into her house before she can be stopped. Katrina booby-traps the security system so they can get in later. Paul, Alex and Katrina rescue Riana and find a case of money from the armoured car robbery. They inadvertently start the alarm and the group splits up to get away from the police. Paul and Riana make their way to Brian’s lab where they are shocked to see that he has finished building the new power suit.

Flight

Ashka pursues Brian, Paul and Riana through the building. She catches them, locks them up, and tells them she is destroying all evidence of her work. She starts a fire in the building, but they manage to escape. Paul and Riana take refuge at the docks, but Askha corners Riana. Paul uses a huge electromagnet to short out Ashka’s power suit. She is helpless and runs for it. Brian drives everyone to the cave where Paul bids Riana farewell as she goes back to her world. With Brian’s help, Paul, Alex and Katrina lure Ashka into a trap using the stolen money. The police arrive and arrest her. She is hauled off, pleading she is from another world.