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

Watched the first episode before work this morning, actually pretty good. Hopefully watch the other 2 later after work.

Thoughts on episode 1:
Some interesting changes. Nynaeve being taken by the Trollocs. Perrin being married and what happened there. Rand and Egwene being a proper love interest. Tam apparently being average with his heron mark sword. Trollocs looked really good and the battle was pretty sweet!
 
It seems to be doing alright in user ratings, but critics are slightly less positive. Regardless, I'll be watching an episode or two later.
 
Watched the first three episodes and while there are differences from the books there is nothing major right now. It feels massively sped up but thats to be expected and the whole Perrin piece was odd but it hasnt detracted from things so far. Ultimately I think the show is standing on its own and Im thoroughly enjoying it.
 
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
 
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I can't stream it at all. Just hangs. Possibly it's in high demand? I would have thought Amazon is the one company that could cope as they have a large chunk of the virtual server business!
 
hudson86 said:
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
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Yeah WoT is high fantasy whereas GoT is barely fantasy at all in comparison. I think that's part of the reason it (GoT) ended up having such wide appeal as even people not into fantasy at all could enjoy it.
 
The more I think about this the more I'm annoyed at the writers, they clearly have not read the books at all to change such pivotal points or add in adversity and wokeness at every turn.

Nynaeve discussion with Moiraine about the Wisdom before her going to the White Tower and being turned away because she was a peasant. Seriously, just what on earth is this change about, the White Tower actively recruits any girl/woman who can channel to teach them at the very least not to kill themselves using the One
Power. Siun Sanche, the Amyrlyn Seat is a fisherman's daughter, but no they turned away a girl with the power because her clothes were bad, just LOL.
 
Lord-Jaffa said:
The more I think about this the more I'm annoyed at the writers, they clearly have not read the books at all to change such pivotal points or add in adversity and wokeness at every turn.

Nynaeve discussion with Moiraine about the Wisdom before her going to the White Tower and being turned away because she was a peasant. Seriously, just what on earth is this change about, the White Tower actively recruits any girl/woman who can channel to teach them at the very least not to kill themselves using the One
Power. Siun Sanche, the Amyrlyn Seat is a fisherman's daughter, but no they turned away a girl with the power because her clothes were bad, just LOL.
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Or maybe at some point down the line we'll learn that what she was told isn't the whole story. And perhaps that will become part of her character development and her change in attitude towards aes sedai as she finds out that her mentor wasn't entirely truthful. There's potential for a really good scene where she finds out about Siuan's origins and has a lighbulb moment. Are the writers good enough to pull that off? Who knows but I'm interested to find out.
 
After two episodes.

Morraine actress good. Rosamund Pike tries to keep this show together.
Perrin actor is absolute crap, he mumbles and what the hell with the wife sub-plot whom he xxxx's in the first episode???!!! What kind of hero does that?
Mat, OK actor about the best of the bunch, however, he has already been replaced in second series. I mean what the hell, sacked?
Rand, oh boy, another crap actor with a dodgy accent. At one point he sounded German! He lumber's through the episodes.
Lan, reasonably good acting.
Egwene, crap actress and woke casting.

Conclusion.

The producers have essentially hired the cheapest actors they could get, they went for the diverse woke casting. Regardless that Jordan described his character's very well and most of this bunch look nothing at all like what the books describe...I wince as they mumble and stumble through their lines. Surely they could have had better casting than this beep.

If this lasts past series three with these "actors", well, it will make Game of Thrones series Eight look like Shakespeare...

Shadar Logoth, what was all that black CGI magic stone goo, Mashadar was clearly described and this ain't it.

I agree Robert Jordan would turn in his grave, but I am sure his widow and estate are being paid lots for this @@@@.

Amazon Prime, the place where woke and broke exist in 2021.
 
RobHu said:
Or maybe at some point down the line we'll learn that what she was told isn't the whole story. And perhaps that will become part of her character development and her change in attitude towards aes sedai as she finds out that her mentor wasn't entirely truthful. There's potential for a really good scene where she finds out about Siuan's origins and has a lighbulb moment. Are the writers good enough to pull that off? Who knows but I'm interested to find out.
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They arent good enough, but I can appreciate your faith! The casting definitely seems off, Moraine seems fine as does Lan, but all the kids are just off.
 
I'm not a big fan of the source material ; watched the first episode and thought it was decent enough. Agree with the opinions from some that the casting smacks of diversity for the sake of it. And I hate it when TV shows make pointless changes to the backstories of main characters eg. Perrin being married, Matt's father being a lech. I'm sure that will irk the WoT uber-fans. Visuals / scenery mostly good, but some of the CGI ( for magic ) is a bit too bombastic for my tastes. Overall though I'm satisfied enough to consider watching episodes 2 & 3 this weekend.
 
Watched the 1st 2, episode one isn't that good imo, far to many changes from the books that just aren't needed. 2nd one was a little better and followed the events in the books better. Overall though it was just boring, writing isn't very good, acting is pretty poor and it still looks cheap, like a bad made for TV movie you get on the SyFy channel.

Doubt I'll bother with ep3.
 
C Kent said:
Haha, I'm not one of those weirdos that hate watch a show like those in the star trek, Batwoman and Dr who threads :D
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That’s good, never understood those types. I’m not blown away by the show and there are a lot of things wrong but it’s still a decent watch. I just have to remember this isn’t going to be a patch on the books.

3 episodes in and no mention of Two Rivers tobac and no one being called wool headed. Aes Sedai being able to blend in as a normal noble person by just taking their ring off changes a lot things.
 
Lord-Jaffa said:
What a travesty, Robert Jordan will be turning in his grave.
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+1

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.
 
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