Etheria is a Filipino fantasy television series produced by GMA Network. The full title of the series is Etheria: Ang Ikalimang Kaharian ng Encantadia (Etheria: The Fifth Kingdom of Encantadia), referring to Encantadia, its highly successful predecessor. Etheria ran for 50 episodes from December 12, 2005 to February 17, 2006 and then gave way to the franchise's next incarnation, Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas, which aired on February 20 of the same year.

Being a prequel to Encantadia, the story takes place before the events in Encantadia, although it is technically a continuation of the story of the Encantadia series, since the plot of Etheria starts with the four elemental Sang'gres (Pirena, Amihan, Alena and Danaya) and Ybrahim going back in time when Etheria was in its full glory.

PlotEdit

Etheria is the oldest and potent (for this was the first kingdom ever established in the land) kingdom in the Encantadia. It reign is the Etherian Empire, which had dominion over the other major kingdoms: Adamya, Sapiro, Hathoria, and, in its infancy, the kingdom of Lireo.

Animus, an Etherian noble from Hera Sensa, was responsible for the deaths of Memen and Ornia, the parents of Cassiopea. The event triggered the first Great Encantadian War. This lead to a rebellion that, through the intervention of Emre's single elemental jewel, destroyed the once great empire.

The defeat, however, would not be permanent, as Avria's dying curse would lead to the rebirth and vengeance of Etheria once Cassandra, the last member of Memen and Ornia's bloodline was born.

Origins and relation to the Deities Edit

The world of Encantadia was created when the three major bathalas/bathalumans (deities) Emre, his brother Arde, and sister Ether were cast out of the heavens (not to be mistaken for the "heaven" of Judeo-Christian canon) for remaining neutral during the first war of good and evil. They arrived in a strange, uninhabited land and claimed it for themselves. The three decided to name the land "Encantadia."

Working together, the three deities transformed the barren land into a paradise and populating it with their creatures.

Relations between the three masters of Encantadia were genial at first, until Ether and Arde broke the cardinal rule: never fall in love. Emre cursed them by turning Ether into a giant snake. Arde was banished to limbo, transformed into a dragon-like beast tasked to forever safeguard the boundaries between the world of the living and Devas, the world of the departed.

Because of her horrific and feral form, most of the citizens of Encantadia grew to fear Ether and shunned her. Others, in awe and fear of her new power, came to worship the bathaluman, who in turn granted them power and protection. They became the first citizens of Etheria.

The Four Herans in Book 3Edit

When Etheria was destroyed, the goddess of that kingdom, Ether, flew around her kingdom which was all destroyed to find the Four herans. She found them all and kept their spirits in a crystal ball and brought them to the future. The Crystal ball broke and their spirits were free and they hid in Hera Andal. They practiced fighting and were plotting something evil so they may try and steal the four jewels (because their powers were too weak compared to the sang'gres powers) so Etheria may once again rise back in glory. See: Encantadia: Pag-ibig Hanggang Wakas

CastEdit

• Diana Zubiri as Danaya
• Iza Calzado as Amihan
• Sunshine Dizon as Pirena
• Karylle as Alena
• Dingdong Dantes as Ybrahim
• Jopay Paguia as Hera Juvila
• Francine Prieto as Reyna Avria
• Alessandra de Rossi as Hera Andora
• Pauleen Luna as Hera Odessa
• Dennis Trillo as young Raquim
• Nadine Samonte as young Mine-a
• Alfred Vargas as Amarro
• Empress Schuck as young Cassiopea
• Ping Medina as young Hagorn
• Sid Lucero as young Asval
• Aiza Marquez as young Gurna
• Mike "Pekto" Nacua as Banak
• Rainier Castillo as Nakba
• Ella Guevara as Cassandra
• BJ Forbes as young Aquil
• Paolo Paraiso as Animus
• Tirso Cruz III as Barkus
• Daniel Fernando as Cilatus
• Gary Estrada as Meno
• Justin Cuyugan as Arkrey
• Noni Buencamino as Bartimus
• Michael Flores as Arvak
• Tonton Gutierrez as Memen
• Glydel Mercado as Ornia
• Cindy Kurleto as Cassiopea
• Chinggoy Alonzo as Evades
• Raymond Bagatsing as Emre
• Angel Aquino as Ether
• Rachel Lobangco as As'nan
• Maricel Morales as Ora
• Arthur Solinap as Muros
• Benjie Paras as Wahid
• Jackie Rice
• Marky Cielo
• Noel Urbano as the voice of Imaw/Aegen
• Ryan Eigenmann as Marvus
• Neil Ryan Sese as Viktu
• Frank Garcia as Xenos
• K. C. Montero as Eldrin

ReceptionEdit

Encantadia, the show that preceded Etheria was the number one and highest rated (40% above daily) show in the Philippines during its run. Encantadia was only beaten several times by any show from June to December 2005. The only time Encantadia rated lower compared to another show was with Darna in June 2005 and with ABS-CBN's fantaserye Kampanerang Kuba for several days. Encantadia has topped since that span of time. Etheria had beaten its rival shows in its early weeks but has failed to maintain the 35%-45% ratings of Encantadia before. Its ratings dramatically decreased and has failed to consistently top in its time slot and almost went below 20's, unlike its predecessor, Encantadia.

It is said that Encantadia soared high on Philippine Television because it had captivated the hearts of young audiences particularly the children. Etheria wasn't able to maintain the ratings of Encantadia because of the complicated storyline since it involved time travel and that fans are expecting it to be a "pure" prequel. Furthermore, there are several new characters introduced which added confusion to the audience. Yet, Etheria is still significant because it cleared some questions and doubts raised on its Book 1, hence, became a milestone in the history of Philippine Television.

The highest rating of Etheria was its pilot episode, with 38.6%, the lowest was 22.9% and the overall ratings of 30.1%.