*POSSIBLE SPOILERS* The Wheel of Time

[Lizards of Renown]

Yep! Ep4 was the best so far.
In my book every episode was better than the one before it.

Hopefully I agree with those who have come before me!

 

[rychek]

Full disclosure: I have "read" (audio books FTW) the books. I didn't start reading them until after RJ had passed away and it has been many years since I last revisited any of them. I don't consider myself a fanboy, but I do love the Wheel of Time story and characters.

Going into this TV adaptation I was cautiously optimistic. I've watched the first four episodes now and, for the most part, I'm pleased. I tend to be very detail conscious, so some of the following may seem like I'm picking nits.

I'm not a fan of how Perrin's backstory was changed and I think it will impact the believability of how his story proceeds (unless they do something drastic to change his path), but it could have been worse.

So far I like the casting for Matt and Rand. A recast of Matt might be weird at first for season two, but I'll worry about that when I get there.

Lan's actor needs to do some research on Lan's stoicism. He's almost too expressive, especially in the bath scene regarding water temperature, but that is a minor quibble at this point.

I understand the lack of emphasis regarding ageless faces and it doesn't bother me. The stupidly large serpent rings on the other hand jerk me out of my immersion. Otherwise I think the Aes Sedai portrayal has been good.

As for the future of this series, I hope the powers that be take the stance of "this is not Game of Thrones" and do their own thing. Trying to make WoT be more like GoT would be a big mistake IMNSHO.

I think I'll stop there for now.

 

[Aginor]

Lan's actor needs to do some research on Lan's stoicism. He's almost too expressive, especially in the bath scene regarding water temperature, but that is a minor quibble at this point.

I think they oriented more on the later books than on the first one. Re-reading the books I notice how much he changes from the always stone-faced stereotype to a more complex character. The scenes with him in TDR (Book 3) make him show a lot more emotions than in EotW. Especially privately when only him and Moiraine are there.

I do agree with you in some scenes, for example in the campfire scene in Ep4. He was a tiny bit too relaxed there. I still think the actor does a great job in most of the scenes.

As for the future of this series, I hope the powers that be take the stance of "this is not Game of Thrones" and do their own thing. Trying to make WoT be more like GoT would be a big mistake IMNSHO.

This. So much.

I'm not a fan of how Perrin's backstory was changed and I think it will impact the believability of how his story proceeds (unless they do something drastic to change his path), but it could have been worse.

Same. My initial reaction was "this is just unnecessary". A man shouldn't need an explanation why he is a cautious type.
I do get _why_ they did it, but I am not fully on board with it.

However: I think there might be more to Laila than just the old "fridge" trope.
If there is then this might become a decent change after all. But we probably have to wait until a later episode or even a later season for that.

Ep 1-4 spoiler

Spoiler

So far we only have Perrin's dream of Ba'alzamon, and in it her words and what the wolf does. I don't understand yet what we see there.
Why does the wolf eat her guts? Why does she say "I know"?

...and was she a Darkfriend? She had her hammer raised behind her back to strike, in a room in which only her husband was, kneeling with his back toward her, killing a Trolloc. Did she try to kill him, and his instinct and/or ta'veren nature saved him?

Edit: btw. in case y'all don't remember (I admit that I didn't): Laila is actually mentioned in the books. Perrin meets her when they fight near Emondsfield, and briefly mentions that he would probably have married her if they had stayed.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

Ep 1-4 spoiler

Thank you for this.

I'm still planning to watch everything at Christmas (fingers crossed) so no spoilers!!!

 

[rychek]

Aginor, good point about Perrin and Leila. Especially the spoilers section. I completely missed those points.

 

[Aginor]

Aginor, good point about Perrin and Leila. Especially the spoilers section. I completely missed those points.

There is a LOT in that show that is only shown or said briefly and easily missed. I really like that, it reminds me of the books.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

Watched first episode…

Was very disappointed

Couldn’t bring myself to go on…

Maybe I’ll try again in a bit. But I really didn’t like the changes.

 

[Aginor]

I watched the last episode last night.

Not perfect but I give it a 7.5/10

 

[rychek]

I watched it this morning. It could have been much worse. One thing that is bothering me is the five Ta'veren thing. Weren't there only three in the Two Rivers?

 

[Aginor]

I watched it this morning. It could have been much worse. One thing that is bothering me is the five Ta'veren thing. Weren't there only three in the Two Rivers?

Yep, in the books there were only three.
Although I always found that a bit weird. The way the pattern treats Nynaeve and Egwene I'd swear they are Ta'veren too.

Either way, it doesn't matter much for the story, it just helps the show to be a bit less obvious about the Dragon.

 

[The Red Devil]

A tad late to the party

I and the wife have been watching through the first season last week after putting the kids to bed.

We are both quite disappointed, in my opinion, this is nothing more than an attempt to "cash grab" by Amazon (I.e. get more subscribers due to having this title in their library).

I was hoping for something with quality like GoT had for the initial seasons, but instead, the entire season is lightly based on the books and keeps jumping back/forth instead of following them more linearly. I also do not understand the need to litter the episodes with woke.

At least they had the decency to put "based on the books" at the start of each episode.

I guess I am turning into one of those "grumpy old guys" even though I'm not that old. I most probably just had too high expectations and expected whoever made the series to actually give a damn about the actual story.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

A tad late to the party

No worries oh Great Leader, you've had your hands full with the forum!

I and the wife have been watching through the first season last week after putting the kids to bed.

We are both quite disappointed, in my opinion, this is nothing more than an attempt to "cash grab" by Amazon (I.e. get more subscribers due to having this title in their library).

I was hoping for something with quality like GoT had for the initial seasons, but instead, the entire season is lightly based on the books and keeps jumping back/forth instead of following them more linearly. I also do not understand the need to litter the episodes with woke.

At least they had the decency to put "based on the books" at the start of each episode.

Yeah... I only managed to get through the first episode. There were enough changes that I really didn't want to go on.

Watched first episode…

Was very disappointed

Couldn’t bring myself to go on…

Maybe I’ll try again in a bit. But I really didn’t like the changes.

I actually HATED them changing Abell Cauthon into a womanizing drunk. He's such a fantastic character in the book and someone the boys all look up to.

I actually HATED them having Perrin with a wife that he ends up killing. Ridiculously unnecessary.

Then I accidently saw a spoiler about Moiraine and Siuan Sanche and that has stopped me from progressing.

I guess I am turning into one of those "grumpy old guys" even though I'm not that old. I most probably just had too high expectations and expected whoever made the series to actually give a damn about the actual story.

I don't know about "grumpy old guy" as I had a totally similar reaction. The problem is that I LOVE the book series. Not like a lot. Actually LOVE. I have read the books at least three times over. So it was a total affront to my reality to have someone change it.

 

[The Red Devil]

The problem is that I LOVE the book series. Not like a lot. Actually LOVE. I have read the books at least three times over. So it was a total affront to my reality to have someone change it.

Yea, it's my personal favorite as well. Read the first books back in 95, and have no idea how many times I've read them since. It's the only book series that I actually reread every two-three years.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

Yea, it's my personal favorite as well. Read the first books back in 95, and have no idea how many times I've read them since. It's the only book series that I actually reread every two-three years.

+1

I have "tabbed" on my Kindle each of my favourite bits from each book.

What would you say is your favourite moment? (I know that I cannot answer this as I have a lot of them, but I ask anyways )

 

[The Red Devil]

What would you say is your favourite moment?

My favorite part is when Mat is recovering from the disease/curse from Shadar Logoth in Tor Valon, more specifically the part when he defeats Galad and Gawyn with the quarterstaff.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

My favorite part is when Mat is recovering from the disease/curse from Shadar Logoth in Tor Valon, more specifically the part when he defeats Galad and Gawyn with the quarterstaff.

That whole bit is epic.

I love the beginning of the sequence also when he remembers commanding the Heart Guard to defend Manetheren.

How about when Mat lays out the strategy to defeat the Aiel at Carhein? Phwooah!!!

 

[Aginor]

So again I am the odd one who actually mostly likes the adaption?

That's fine I guess, I totally see how the show isn't for everyone.

Anyway, I have been stalling with my re-read/listen but I hope that my wife and I can soon continue.

My favorite part is when Mat is recovering from the disease/curse from Shadar Logoth in Tor Valon, more specifically the part when he defeats Galad and Gawyn with the quarterstaff.

That's a great scene.

One of my favourites is the cleansing.

And of course "will he ride alone" and the funny scene right before it.

 

[Lizards of Renown]

So again I am the odd one who actually mostly likes the adaption?

That's fine I guess, I totally see how the show isn't for everyone.

It's totally real to me that my opinion is just my opinion. If you're enjoying the series that's cool!

-

On a separate note, I love the bit here Lan makes his "final charge" and then he gets reinforcements by gateway. Awesome stuff.

 

[Aginor]

It's totally real to me that my opinion is just my opinion. If you're enjoying the series that's cool!

-

On a separate note, I love the bit here Lan makes his "final charge" and then he gets reinforcements by gateway. Awesome stuff.

Lan has a lot of badass scenes. That's certainly one of them.

But the more I think about it the more I get to the conclusion that most of the really badass stuff (especially those involving gateways and ither stuff in battle, like the Dragons+Gateway artillery) are probably Sanderson's work. Jordan was a bit more clumsy in that regard.

Another character I love for his badass scenes is Talmanes. He is only a side character but man, he kicks ass!

 

[Lizards of Renown]

Lan has a lot of badass scenes. That's certainly one of them.

Definitely. One of the better characters.

But the more I think about it the more I get to the conclusion that most of the really badass stuff (especially those involving gateways and ither stuff in battle, like the Dragons+Gateway artillery) are probably Sanderson's work. Jordan was a bit more clumsy in that regard.

Not for me. The blademaster fight scene in book 2, the calling of the Heroes of the Horn in book 2, the Matt quarterstaff fight in book 3, the defence of hte Two Rivers in book 4, etc. etc. etc.

Another character I love for his badass scenes is Talmanes. He is only a side character but man, he kicks ass!

I love Talmanes. His dry, dry, DRY sense of humour appeals to me immensely. Like in the final battle when they are deep underground and he is making dry jokes. Brilliant.