Robert Jordan’s fantasy epic The Wheel of Time coming to TV

Again, I quite enjoyed the final episode. Still quite messy and it feels like they've fumbled it through, but the final 15-20 mins got to where it needed to be, plus I really enjoyed Lanfear's final scene of the series - sets things up nicely.

A bunch of things that needed to happen were ticked off, I just hope they do S3 justice with Tear and the Waste.
 
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is this thing supposed to be Moghedien?#
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All that build up for such a lacklustre finale, feels like this shows does nothing but setup future events.

I’ll keep watching but I can’t say I’m checking for the next season dates.
 
Seems to be the way with a lot of shows lately (same with Foundation) - 2 seasons and you've barely got a seasons worth of development/content - 6 episodes of beating around the bush, re-treading the same ground and people being difficult with each other for no good reason, etc. then 2 episodes which would be good if that is what they'd built up over a decent run of episodes.
 
TonTom said:
Do I actually force myself to binge watch the second season. Reading this thread it sounds as bad as the first.
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Season 2 is a marked improvement, particularly when it comes to set design & costumes. And the actors seem to be settling into their roles now. But it's still not as good as it should be.

If you go in expecting a faithful recreation of the books, you're going to be disappointed. Events play out quite differently. But the season ends with the main characters where they are meant to be.
 
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I quite liked the final episode.

Nice to see Mat finally transforming into a character that is actually recognisable as Mat. The horn scene was a bit "Men in Tights" though.

Egwene's arc was satisfying. The show continues to do a very good job with her story.

The Whitecloaks were also done really well. Hopefully they feature as much as they do in the books going forward.

The bits with Nynaeve and Elayne seemed entirely pointless.

While I think they had the right idea with the Rand vs Ishamael showdown at the top of the tower (the book version of this scene doesn't make much sense even in the books), it was badly done. The scene was too slow & protracted. Ishmael toys with Rand for too long. Then Egwene holds off Ishmael for longer than she should be able to as Moiraine takes forever over weaving her spell. The arrival of Perrin, Nynaeve and Elayne added nothing (also, Nynaeve and Elayne were able to casually hobble past Ishmael :cry:). And then Ishamael's death (or "death") was entirely unsatisfying, with Rand casually walking up to him and stabbing him from the front. This scene could have been so much better just by being cut to a quarter of its length

Overall, 7/10.

Season 2 was a mixed bag for me. I didn't hate it, and IMO it was an improvement over S1. But it's still not living up to its potential. Season 1 left the show in a bad place, and Season 2 spent a lot of time trying to correct course. Some characters got a lot of development. Others got very little. Hopefully the ending of S2 gets S3 off to a stronger start.
 
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I have never read the books but really starting to enjoy the series. Is it close to the source material? Does it do it justice? Also what book of the 14 has the TV series reached??
 
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Kyo said:
I have never read the books but really starting to enjoy the series. Is it close to the source material? Does it do it justice? Also what book of the 14 has the TV series reached??
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Yes and no, yes and no. First three books. They end up in the right places, but take a different path to get where they need to be. I really enjoyed the final episode, there are lots of nods to book readers and things that needed to happen, which all have. Ok, so a bit disappointed we didn't get any of the Fin with Mat yet, but I can accept how and why it has been bypassed now. They also helped to explain what happened to Mat at the end of the first season (the actor quitting) in a way which makes sense to the storyline. Things are looking up as the second season was far better than the first.
 
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Kyo said:
I have never read the books but really starting to enjoy the series. Is it close to the source material? Does it do it justice? Also what book of the 14 has the TV series reached??
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The second season finishes where the second book ends. But a few plot elements from later books have been brought forward. The third season is expected to cover the third and fourth books, maybe with a few things happening out of order.

The series covers the major plot points of the books, but takes a different journey to get there. Given how meandering the books can be at times, this was inevitable. Some people would argue it takes more creative license than it needs to though.

Rand, Mat & Moiraine's stories are very different. Mat & Moiraine are broadly on the right path now at the end of S2. Rand has been quite neglected by the show this far.
 
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Kyo said:
I have never read the books but really starting to enjoy the series. Is it close to the source material? Does it do it justice? Also what book of the 14 has the TV series reached??
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The books are like a single malt whisky, over fifty years old full of flavour, and depth.

The TV series is a cheap knock-off Asda own brand whiskey...

So, I hope that answers that question.

If you want a TV series that focuses on girl power this is the one for you...Because the balance is completely off here. Essentially this is the Morraine, Egwene and Nynaeve show. The male characters are treated terribly.

Rand Al Thor, the main character, is shown as weak and feeble so many times...Instead of the greatest heroes of all time (in the books), he gets overpowered by one Aes Sedai on multiple occasions in Series 2.
 
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McPhee said:
Season 2 is a marked improvement, particularly when it comes to set design & costumes. And the actors seem to be settling into their roles now. But it's still not as good as it should be.

If you go in expecting a faithful recreation of the books, you're going to be disappointed. Events play out quite differently. But the season ends with the main characters where they are meant to be.
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I’ve never read the books so went into the series with no history of what it was about which I guess is a good thing due to how it turned out.

I’ll give it a go having read your and Roff’s reply. Thanks.
 
VonScar said:
Rand Al Thor,. the main character, is shown as weak and feeble so many times...Instead of the greatest heroes of all time (in the books), we get guy overpowered by one Aes Sedai on multiple occasions in Series 2.
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I dunno... he's very naive and innocent in books 1 and 2. He's all gullible and almost childish around Selene, particularly in TAR, and as they get to Falme, and then he starts going a bit off the rails at the start of TDR, moaning at Moiraine, before completely disappearing from the book and only popping up at the end.

In the books he's barely channeled on purpose by the end of TGH, but in the Ep8 he shoots out Arrows of Fire. A totally badass move... that we don't get to see until much later in the books, after PoD or around then?

Regardless of his weird plot lines in the show, I reckon they show Rand's personality and character in a fairly accurate light at this point. Obviously he's a very different character as they progress through the books but doesn't that mainly start from TSR?
 
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toshj said:
I dunno... he's very naive and innocent in books 1 and 2. He's all gullible and almost childish around Selene, particularly in TAR, and as they get to Falme, and then he starts going a bit off the rails at the start of TDR, moaning at Moiraine, before completely disappearing from the book and only popping up at the end.

In the books he's barely channeled on purpose by the end of TGH, but in the Ep8 he shoots out Arrows of Fire. A totally badass move... that we don't get to see until much later in the books, after PoD or around then?

Regardless of his weird plot lines in the show, I reckon they show Rand's personality and character in a fairly accurate light at this point. Obviously he's a very different character as they progress through the books but doesn't that mainly start from TSR?
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I was about to post similar. Book Rand is less capable and far more immature than show Rand in the One Power at this point in the story. Lan trains him to use a sword, which is his main form of defence. He defeats Turak, a master swordsman, in a duel. He then uses the sword to defeat Ba'alzamon.

The show seems to have decided to forego the sword training, probably because they're on a tight schedule and this training becomes less relevant from TDR onwards.

The show has neglected Rand somewhat. But to infer that the showrunners have made him weaker is silly. In a fight, show Rand snuffs TGH Rand with little effort.
 
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Kyo said:
Definitely intrigued now.
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one very key theme is Rand being trained in Borderland honour which substantially changes his World view which sets him up against the Amrylin. Moiraine controls Rand but indirectl, she plays hard to get or sets expectations which he tries to live up to its clever and subtle. Not like the Moiraime in the show. She knows he’s powerful and naive and dangerous and needs to guide him but let him grow. Rand fails repeatedly in book 2 and is stretched and ultimately acts in a Borderland way that has repercussions for the next 12 books.
 
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