Shanara

One of the central issues from season 1 that I gravitate to when contemplating major life issues has nothing to do with the violence, excessive blood, love triangles or beautiful actresses, any show can be watched if one sought those things, so I tell myself they were just thrown in to fill quotas but the real issues are why I come back and endure all of the despictable things. One of the favorite issues is included in the story of the king elf who did what he thought best for his children and nation but, then the situation the faced though it could be dealt with through fable and legend, to give one's life the truth was necessary. Specifically, the king had raised his family not to believe events that occurred as literal, and that magic was not true, but then much happened that required him to acknowledge that magic did indeed exist.

Magic comes with a cost, though, and the king ends up paying with his life.  Well into season 2, a faction provides the major struggle in the plot, which has the purpose of destroying magic. This makes me perhaps understand a bit why the king tried to destroy all belief in magic by denying it's existence in the first place.

Currently, I am trying to figure out who I, as a viewer, am supposed to see as the good guy. The elf dude/Shanaran who represents Magic or the Elf Ursurper whi seeks to erradicate all magic.

The season started with the hero dealing with magic or not in his desire to heal. He seems perfectly suited for medicine, but it is only because he is ideally suited for Magic. A mentor even explains that madicine is not his thing, but he claims that although it is true that he saved the world with magic, it comes with a huge price, which he is not willing to pay, but the desire to help still lives within him.