I want to love it, I really do, I want to see the entire story laid out as it's one of my favourite book series, but honestly its quite poor, ironically the Trollocs were the best part and I had seriously low expectations for how they would be portrayed!
I haven't read the books, but it does sound as if it's another "Woke-by-numbers" production, what a surprise, they can't leave anything alone, and ruin everything they touch.
Not read the source and only watched ep1 so far , so reserving judgement for the moment. I'll probably see it through, whereas Game of Thrones completely grabbed my attention at Ep1.
As a someone who knows little of fantasy , compared to Game of Thrones it seems much more fantasy esq and less grounded, unlike GOT that seemed grounded ish but plus possible supernatural elements that it initially managed quite well.
Regardless however it looks utterly lovely in 4k Hdr.
Imagine if we'd got Game of Thrones Battle of Winterfell in 4k Hdr rather than 240i Xvid encoded by Dave next door ... despite Got completely jumping the shark well before then ... Might have tolerated S7 and S8 a bit more
From the very beginning, Game of Thrones follows the lives and machinations of some of the world's most powerful people. At its heart it's a medieval political drama, with some light fantasy elements.
WoT leans somewhat in that direction in the later books. But at the beginning it's basically The Fellowship of the Ring; Gandalf (Moraine) and Aragorn (Lan) rescuing the Hobbits (Egewene, Rand, etc.) from the Nazghul (Mydraal - the eyeless screechy monster) with the aim of reaching Rivendell (The White Tower). At the beginning of the story, none of the characters are particularly important geopolitically. Even Moraine is fairly mid-tier in Aes Sedai hierarchy.
I didn't like the first episode. I've read the complete series twice and I've read the first 2/3rds numerous times more. The Eye Of World is a good book one of the better ones.
There is plenty wrong with this series of books don't get me wrong but the changes made to the first episode weren't to the bits that needed changing.
The change to Abel Cauthon utterly unnecessary, Mat rather than being a cheeky young chancer is a grifter and thief although with a well placed heart. DO NOT LIKE.
Perrin rtaher than being an earnest apprentice is a failing husband at the age of 20 or 21 who apprently runs or co-runs the smithy. The character seemed a dour joyless version. DO NOT LIKE.
Egwene is plainly the star of this show but she doesn't seem like a young woman unaware of the changed World ahead of her, she seems kind of dour and joyless. DO NOT LIKE.
Ok Lan wasn't what the book describes but I get that it is difficult finding actors for that role. Morraine was ok. Rosamund Pike is very capable and is the named star of the show so no issues. Rand and Tam weren't too bad their relationship was the closest to the book. Although the point of differnce of Rand's looks is lost in the multi cult, hippiesh, medieval theme park of Eomonds Field.
The niaive fresh happy young characters described in the book are missing and replaced with Eastenders in the most part.
I did like the casting of Padain Fain, that guy looked like he might carry the part.
I will be watching on and hoping it finds it's feet. The unnecessary tinkering with what didn't need changing worries me. I fear the crap that needed culling might stay whilst perfectly fine bits are ruined.
I also get that I'm in a very different place to many watchers, having read the books, and I get that sometimes makes us bad judges. But I still didn't like the first epsiode. Poor not awful.
The main thing that stands out in The Wheel of Time book series is the world building. The world Robert Jordan created is extensive, coherent, and detailed, with a long history. Making changes to that part of the material was always going to be a bold and risky decision, and I'm not sure the show runners got it right here.
Eamond's Field should have conjured memories of Hobbiton, not some hippy enclave from the Charles Manson drama
Still, I'll refrain from being too judgemental. The show has ~8 seasons to run. Decisions which seem questionable now may pan out in the long-run.
I haven't read the books, but it does sound as if it's another "Woke-by-numbers" production, what a surprise, they can't leave anything alone, and ruin everything they touch.
Some of the writing is a bit odd and rushed. The first episode was merely OK, however the character backstory change to two of the three boys seems a little OTT but I suppose we'll have to see how it plays out over the course of the season.
Thought episodes 2 and 3 were an improvement on the opener, and I'm really enjoying it. The casting is OK - some poor choices, others are very well cast IMO. Particularly Moiraine, Lan, Perrin, Rand and Mat. I do think that the writers are giving up on highlighting the impressive world-building aspect of the series in favour of advancing the plot, because it's TV and there's little point pushing RJs world just because...
I think they're going to have a tough time keeping everyone happy though. Some real fans of the books might be put off by some of the immediate changes without sticking around to see if they pay off, whilst the mainstream audiences might think it's much more of a fantasy than they were expecting/than GoT.
I haven't read the books, but it does sound as if it's another "Woke-by-numbers" production, what a surprise, they can't leave anything alone, and ruin everything they touch.
Robert Jordan drew inspiration from real-world nations, peoples and cultures when creating the world in the Wheel of Time. Andor, where the series begins, is meant to be a parallel of medieval Britain. Eamond's Field, the town where the story begins is meant to be some backwater in a remote mountain range. The people would be Anglo-Saxon in terms of looks. For reasons which become clear later in the story, Rand is meant to be the odd one out.
The problem with the WoT show is they went for a multicultural Eamond's Field. That decision changed the characteristics of the town and made Rand less conspicuous. In turn, it could mean that the cultural identity of other parts of the world becomes diluted.
Then there's the "The Dragon Reborn could be a boy or a girl" bit, which probably won't be a significant plot point, but is a change from the books. Again, for reasons which become clearer later, it can only be a male.
I haven't read the books, but it does sound as if it's another "Woke-by-numbers" production, what a surprise, they can't leave anything alone, and ruin everything they touch.
My thoughts after the first 3 episodes (having read the books 4 times and listened to the audiobooks 3 times so safe to say I'm a big fan of the series!):
Very happy with Moiraine, Nynaeve (yes despite backstory change lol) and to a slightly lesser extent Lan.
Really like the portrayal of Mat, it's a shame his actor isn't returning for season 2. I also have no problem at all with his backstory. People will say that Abell not being the character he is in later books is a problem but honestly he's just Tam-lite in the books so I really don't mind. I did think Mat's abrupt change in temperament in episode 3 was a little on the nose but I suppose that sort of thing is very difficult to do subtly compared to written form.
No issues with Rand or Egwene, too early to tell for either of them.
Perrin I'm really not sure, I hope they go more into his (tv show specific) backstory to explain his personality a bit better.
As for the show itself I think the writing at times feels a bit clunky. I didn't really like the choice of first scene - I think this could've been the start of episode 3 instead. The first episode moves quickly and definitely has some pacing issues; the second and third were much better in this regard. I wasn't a massive fan of the Shadar Logoth scenes, it wasn't really explained well enough in my opinion and I expect non book readers will be confused by it. Also seemed a poor/out of character choice by Lan because he'd know that with Moiraine out for the count they'd be ****** if they entered. Ditto with her snapping at him when she woke up, her character is never that defeatist. For me this sequence was the worst bit of the 3 episodes. That said I thought that the visuals all round are pretty great although there were a LOT of sweeping overhead shots of countryside - I wonder if that $10m per episode is weighted towards the back end of the season?
From the cast alone I can see why 'anti-wokeists' won't like it, but then is it possible for those sorts to find any joy at all in life that's not at the expensive of others?
6.5-7/10 for now. There's definite potential here for a great show. I do wonder if Amazon will pick the bigger hit out of this and LoTR and kill the other off though.
Yeah I wouldn’t say it’s was woke on the basis of the first episode. I have no problem with a diverse cast it’s an international company and I can understand wanting to get a representative cross section. I’m just not down with a jarring multi cultural medieval type village. Diversity was easily achievable in the main cast given Lan, Morraine, potentially Nynaeve and another character can plausibly from other than the Two Rivers. It immediately breaks suspension of belief but it’s not the biggest problem or even close. Tonally the characters are wrong and that is what annoys me most. Maybe I’ll buy in more as the episodes progress.
I haven't read the books, but it does sound as if it's another "Woke-by-numbers" production, what a surprise, they can't leave anything alone, and ruin everything they touch.
There is an element of that - the first 30 minutes or so seemed to be tapping into it - but after that it took a backseat (so far at least) and wasn't intrusive.
So far I quite like it - first 30 minutes as above I almost put it down but once it got going I was reasonably impressed. Some inventive use of magic/powers, story line was interesting enough to hold your attention, some original/fresh takes on things which have become genre tropes by now.
Yeah I wouldn’t say it’s was woke on the basis of the first episode. I have no problem with a diverse cast it’s an international company and I can understand wanting to get a representative cross section. I’m just not down with a jarring multi cultural medieval type village. Diversity was easily achievable in the main cast given Lan, Morraine, potentially Nynaeve and another character can plausibly from other than the Two Rivers. It immediately breaks suspension of belief but it’s not the biggest problem or even close. Tonally the characters are wrong and that is what annoys me most. Maybe I’ll buy in more as the episodes progress.
It isn't supposed to be our timeline medieval type - part of the premise a lot of stuff is out of time or can reorganise in subsequent cycles in ways which don't necessarily make the most direct sense - though forced diversity for diversity's sake is generally quite jarring.
Hence the tone doesn't necessarily have to conform to your typical medieval type setting it is part of the premise.
I kinda disagree on this point, I understand they have to give the use of saidin/saidir some visibility as even in the books if 2 people are battling each other with the one power its described as 2 people staring intently at each other as the weaves are invisible to a non wielder but they've given the use a cast time as such with all the finger waggling/gesticulation, whereas embracing the source and shielding another user for example is instantaneous, or as quick as someone can think. Could well present some problems should the tv series get to the later books.
I also think making all different elements (air, water, earth, fire) the same colour is pretty dumb, at least give them a slightly different colour hue .
Haven’t read the books, watched the first episode started off okay and when it kicked off towards the end i was very impressed with the special effects, i assume they have a big budget?
Haha yes! That was one of a few out of character lines. Although that particular character is a bit more reasonable than you're average whitecloak, so sort of giving it a pass.
Edit: As some non book readers in here, do we need to avoid spoilers?
Haven’t read the books, watched the first episode started off okay and when it kicked off towards the end i was very impressed with the special effects, i assume they have a big budget?
I've read the books and I was willing to give this the benefit of the doubt until the end of episode two where Nynaeve miraculously comes back and manages to easily sneak up on Lan, who is a warder. I know in the books she's one of the most powerful Aes Sedai, but she's not yet and I can't honestly see her being able to sneak up on a warder. It's a bit ridiculous and I'm seriously questioning the decision to stray away from the content of the books. The books were amazing and I just don't get why there's the deviation. I understand adapting it for the screen is difficult given the mountains of content, but still, you don't have to change backgrounds for characters or things that make them who they are, like Perrin with his signature axe and hammer. He doesn't even appear to have any weapons on him other than the dagger that he's now been given to him by Mat, made by his wife (another odd change from the books).
I really don't know what to make of things but I'm confused at most of the changes so far. It's quite disappointing really. I want to like it, I really do, but the changes are putting me off even trying to enjoy it as is.
I've read the books and I was willing to give this the benefit of the doubt until the end of episode two where Nynaeve miraculously comes back and manages to easily sneak up on Lan, who is a warder. I know in the books she's one of the most powerful Aes Sedai, but she's not yet and I can't honestly see her being able to sneak up on a warder.
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