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*POSSIBLE SPOILERS* The Wheel of Time
Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Aginor, Sep 6, 2021.
Aginor said: ↑
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!
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rychek Active Member
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.
rychek, Nov 30, 2021
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Aginor Fifth Spawning Staff Member
rychek said: ↑
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.
This. So much.
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
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.
Aginor, Nov 30, 2021
Thank you for this.
I'm still planning to watch everything at Christmas (fingers crossed) so no spoilers!!!
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.
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.
Lizards of Renown, Dec 27, 2021
I watched the last episode last night.
Not perfect but I give it a 7.5/10
Aginor, Dec 27, 2021
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?
rychek, Dec 27, 2021
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.
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