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

Soldato
Joined
20 Aug 2021
Posts
6,297
Location
Krypton
I've never got the obsession with height, it's such an irrelevance. Has anyone's enjoyment of an adaptation seriously been ruined because someone is too tall or too short?

Rand's height, red hair and build set him apart from everyone else, before he knows his mother was Aiel it's often remarked upon how much he looks 'foreign'. From memory (it's been a very long time since I've read eye of the world), after he falls down into the place gardens in Caemyln and Elanye bandages his
head the palace guard are wary of him when he is brought before Morgase purely because of this.

Then again, when the showrunners are screwing around with the geographical ethnicity of the series why would key plot points like this matter eh
 
Soldato
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
8,831
Except in the case of Rand he is set apart by his ethnicity it’s a major plot point in the first few novels. Having him look noticeably different makes him Other but only if there is ethnic homogeneity where grows up and they look different. It’s not the end of the World but it does remove the foreshadowing and implicit mystery of the character.
 
Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
16,912
Location
Cambridge
Why even worry about the ethnicity , really matters very little. The portrayal of the character matters far more.
Because this isn't a progressive year 2021 world that's been written about, its not a modern multicultural world. Its a fantasy setting with medieval tones with very defined roles for men and women and clear difference between the different races, it's literally in the books. What does changing it achieve other than weakening the story, diluting the mistrust / misunderstanding between them and their cultures.
 

taB

taB

Associate
Joined
2 Apr 2009
Posts
941
I've never got the obsession with height, it's such an irrelevance. Has anyone's enjoyment of an adaptation seriously been ruined because someone is too tall or too short?

Jack Reacher 6'5"
Tom Cruise 5'7"

Hope the wheel of time show is good, not bothered about actors' height. Just hope it moves faster than the books...
 
Permabanned
Joined
23 Apr 2014
Posts
23,553
Location
Hertfordshire
Because this isn't a progressive year 2021 world that's been written about, its not a modern multicultural world. Its a fantasy setting with medieval tones with very defined roles for men and women and clear difference between the different races, it's literally in the books. What does changing it achieve other than weakening the story, diluting the mistrust / misunderstanding between them and their cultures.

Yeah, not fussed. Just not worth crying about, will enjoy either way (unless its badly made/a load of guff :cry:)
 
Caporegime
Joined
20 Jan 2005
Posts
45,613
Location
Co Durham
New trailer has got my excitement levels rising. Please, pelase, please dont mess it up!

My biggest concern though is the line from Moiraine stating that any of the 5 from the Two Rivers could be the Dragon Reborn............if they have re written it so that a woman could be the Dragon Reborn then its going to be all wrong and messed up. The whole point is that men with the power go mad, wouldnt be the same story if a woman with the power was the Dragon reborn.

 
Permabanned
Joined
23 Apr 2014
Posts
23,553
Location
Hertfordshire
New trailer has got my excitement levels rising. Please, pelase, please dont mess it up!

My biggest concern though is the line from Moiraine stating that any of the 5 from the Two Rivers could be the Dragon Reborn............if they have re written it so that a woman could be the Dragon Reborn then its going to be all wrong and messed up. The whole point is that men with the power go mad, wouldnt be the same story if a woman with the power was the Dragon reborn.


Well, I am firmly in! Hope its not guff. :D

Doing what you mentioned above would involve drastic story changes, cant see it.
 
Soldato
Joined
14 Sep 2007
Posts
15,660
Location
Limbo
Hope this trailer is good, a few guys I game with are hyped about this and as someone who knows nothing of the source material, the first trailer left me very cold.
 
Caporegime
Joined
20 Jan 2005
Posts
45,613
Location
Co Durham
Hope this trailer is good, a few guys I game with are hyped about this and as someone who knows nothing of the source material, the first trailer left me very cold.

The new trailer is far far better. The only thing I dont like so far is Rand's voice. But he only says one line in the trailer so perhaps I am being mean.
 
Soldato
Joined
14 Sep 2007
Posts
15,660
Location
Limbo
The new trailer is far far better. The only thing I dont like so far is Rand's voice. But he only says one line in the trailer so perhaps I am being mean.

Will check it out when I get home, can't watch videos at work and mobile reception is pitiful. I feel like it's a show I should like from what i've heard about it.
 
Soldato
Joined
11 Aug 2009
Posts
3,844
Location
KT8
My biggest concern though is the line from Moiraine stating that any of the 5 from the Two Rivers could be the Dragon Reborn............if they have re written it so that a woman could be the Dragon Reborn then its going to be all wrong and messed up. The whole point is that men with the power go mad, wouldnt be the same story if a woman with the power was the Dragon reborn.

I don't think they will go down that route, but reckon they'll drag out the reveal as long as they can. Episode 4 is called The Dragon Reborn, and another is Blood Calls Blood which...

Is from an chapter in the books around the time the group is in Fal Dara, and Moiraine figures out it's Rand.
 
Last edited:
Associate
Joined
29 Jan 2008
Posts
994
I don't think they will go down that route, but reckon they'll drag out the reveal as long as they can. Episode 4 is called The Dragon Reborn, and another is Blood Calls Blood which...

Is from an chapter in the books around the time the group is in Fal Dara, and Moiraine figures out it's Rand.

Yeah from what I read they're just playing up the mystery a bit in the show, whereas in the books you pretty much knew who it was from the start.

I'm cautiously optimistic after the proper trailer. One thing I am slightly worried about is if the first season(s) focus on Moiraine, it might be hard for the actual main character to stamp their authority on the series later on. Especially as Rosamund Pike is such a well known established actor. I think whatever happens I'm just going to treat it as completely separate from the books...will help with the disappointment if it's terrible.
 
Soldato
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
8,831
This is an interesting one because plainly it is possible to make a great TV series from the source material but in places the books are bad enough that there is loads of room to improve but equally there is loads of room to bugger it up if you deviate too far. Whole sequences of plot can reasonably be cut with no significant impact but play around with the group dynamic and you might be in trouble.
 
Back
Top Bottom