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TV Reviews : A Magical Conclusion to C. S Lewis’ ‘Chronicles of Narnia’

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Three years in the making, the British Broadcasting Corp.’s multimillion-dollar series “The Chronicles of Narnia” ends with “The Silver Chair,” the fourth book in the C.S. Lewis epic.

The series, a faithful adaptation that began in 1989 with “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” has been a delicious, dark adventure. Airing on the PBS “Wonderworks Family Movie,” the three-hour conclusion is equally tasty. (It will be shown in two parts, at 8 tonight and Tuesday on Channel 15, and in one part on Tuesday at noon on Channel 28 and 4 p.m. on Channel 50. It also will repeat on Channel 28 at 1 p.m. Saturday.)

In a world of talking animals, dwarfs, giants and centaurs, children once again find their courage tested in a struggle against evil.

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Eustace (David Thwaites), a central figure in the last segment, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” returns to Narnia with his friend Jill (Camilla Power), summoned by Aslan the lion (Ronald Pickup) to perform a vital task. They must find and rescue the dying King Caspian’s son, Prince Rilian (Richard Henders).

In Part I, accompanied by Puddleglum (Tom Baker), the gloomy marsh-wiggle, they meet a beautiful lady and a mysterious knight and end up in the land of giants, where they receive a suspiciously warm welcome.

In Part II, the trio discovers Prince Rilian in an eerie underground kingdom, held captive by the Queen of the Deep Realm (Barbara Kellerman). After a noble fight against enchantment, once again the two children meet the majestic lion Aslan.

Special effects are less than high-tech--the Queen’s snake persona is distinctly rubbery--but there’s ample magic in the production and the first-rate cast.

Irreverent Fun in Store in ‘Retail Christmas’

Rumor has it that Santa’s going out of business and the elves are due for a layoff. Will they have to work at Crandall’s Toys, where the hottest seller is Baby Upchuck?

From the creator of “Alf” comes “A Very Retail Christmas,” half an hour of enjoyable, irreverent silliness tonight at 8:30 p.m. on NBC (Channels 4, 36 and 39).

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Bart Simpson would love it.

Most of the cast consists of eccentric puppets cleverly designed by Robert Fappiano. Among the few humans is Ed O’Neill of “Married . . . With Children.” He’s a sleazy toy manufacturer out to destroy Christmas and put the elves to work making schlock toys.

He hires a troll to infiltrate the elves and sow dismay and dissension, then kidnaps two elves and threatens them with a laser-toting Destructo Pal robot. It can blast the heads off Teddy bears, and does.

Ho, ho, ho.

Howard Bendetson wrote the teleplay from the story he co-authored with director Paul Fusco. Cheap gags abound: A troublesome young elf is told, “Why don’t you go watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’?” Another elf refutes the claim that nothing can destroy the magic of Christmas: “Did you ever see ‘The John Davidson Yuletide Special’?”

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