The Wheel of Time (Amazon)

[LogGrad98]

I wish he wouldn't have written about the martells of sunspear. **** got too far spread at that point and screwed things up. Should have kept it to the mainland areas and the iron islands. There are some cool characters in Dorne and some good parts of the story/plot but there was already enough going on and the addition of dorne just made it too complicated.

This is why he will never finish it. He let it get way too spread out and convoluted. I saw an interview with him where he simultaneously said he'll finish it within 3 years and also that he will not finish it because he basically doesn't know where to go. He would do well, imo, to pull a Patterson and get ghost writers to finish it.

 

[LogGrad98]

Yeah, considering the reviews I read, I'll just sit and wait to see if it turns into some kind of classic through the second season and pick it up then. As it stands, it feels like we're all inundated with stuff to watch anyways.

At this point it makes me think too much of the gawd-awful Shannara tv show. What a dismal pile of wet dog crap that was. I hope this one ends up being better.

 

[TheGoldStandard]

At this point it makes me think too much of the gawd-awful Shannara tv show. What a dismal pile of wet dog crap that was. I hope this one ends up being better.

I only watched the first episode, but most of the acting, camerawork and shallow character development so far makes me agree with you. Shannara could have been awesome. Elfstones is a great book.

Wasn't expecting this to be GOT. Different type of fantasy, but the character development made that show, and WOT is missing that aspect.

Shows that a $10mm budget can't overcome bad story adaption or using made for tv directors. Hope it gets better.

 

[LogGrad98]

I only watched the first episode, but most of the acting, camerawork and shallow character development so far makes me agree with you. Shannara could have been awesome. Elfstones is a great book.

Wasn't expecting this to be GOT. Different type of fantasy, but the character development made that show, and WOT is missing that aspect.

Shows that a $10mm budget can't overcome bad story adaption or using made for tv directors. Hope it gets better.

Yeah I am expecting an after-school-special vibe from what I have heard. Not too thrilling.

 

[Harambe]

... no sir, I didn't like it. Too different.

But I'm only 15 minutes in. I'll give it a chance

 

[MT Steve]

Watched it.

Episode 1 was a bit rough. I think it really needed two episodes - it felt rushed and set an odd tone.

I really liked Episodes 2-3 though.

 

[leftyjace]

Honestly, I liked it. Ya, episode one crammed a ton in, I kind of agree with MT Steve - could have been split into two episodes.
And the major change with Perrin’s character was… kinda weird. There’s a lot more backstory there to be revealed to be sure.
But overall I’m liking the adaptation. Mat’s backstory is interesting.
So far, the two characters that are killing it are Nynaeve and Lan. The chick playing Nynaeve is just absolutely nailing it.
My wife had read the first book only up until right before they got to Shadar Logoth. My bonus son hadn’t read it at all.
Both loved it and are totally geeking out and cannot wait until next week’s episode.

 

[leftyjace]

By the way, on the comparison to Shannara - I get that completely. The Shannara series was an important series to me when I was a kid. I really loved it.
And even going into the TV series with an open mind, it really did NOT sit well with me at all. I really disliked it - even though I watched the whole thing to try to give it a chance to grow on me.
With Wheel of Time, it doesn’t feel like that to me. It definitely feels more adult, more “true”, more genuine - despite the fact that the Whitecloaks outfit/armor is not at all how I envisioned it and it’s almost distracting with how damn stupid it looks.

 

[MT Steve]

By the way, on the comparison to Shannara - I get that completely. The Shannara series was an important series to me when I was a kid. I really loved it.
And even going into the TV series with an open mind, it really did NOT sit well with me at all. I really disliked it - even though I watched the whole thing to try to give it a chance to grow on me.
With Wheel of Time, it doesn’t feel like that to me. It definitely feels more adult, more “true”, more genuine - despite the fact that the Whitecloaks outfit/armor is not at all how I envisioned it and it’s almost distracting with how damn stupid it looks.

Yeah, this is worlds above Shannara.

 

[gandalfe]

This is why he will never finish it. He let it get way too spread out and convoluted. I saw an interview with him where he simultaneously said he'll finish it within 3 years and also that he will not finish it because he basically doesn't know where to go. He would do well, imo, to pull a Patterson and get ghost writers to finish it.

He has no financial incentive to finish it. Sure, he'll make money, but only a tiny bit compared to what he got from the show.

 

[JazzGal]

I watched the first two episodes last night and really enjoyed them. It has been 25 years since I read The Eye of the World so I couldn't remember enough to know how accurately they portrayed things, but the cast seems pretty spot-on from what I do remember.

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[fishonjazz]

He has no financial incentive to finish it. Sure, he'll make money, but only a tiny bit compared to what he got from the show.

I would think he cares about his work and that would be an incentive to finish it. Not for money.

 

[fishonjazz]

I watched the first two episodes last night and really enjoyed them. It has been 25 years since I read The Eye of the World so I couldn't remember enough to know how accurately they portrayed things, but the cast seems pretty spot-on from what I do remember.

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I really like the casting of the 3 young male leads. I also like the actress that plays Egwene but I think she is more suited to play Nynaeve as she looks just like I pictured Nynaeve when I read the books. Either way, they have done a great job with casting. Really like Lan, Padan fain (i think that is his name), and moraine. Also thought the trollics looked right and the eyeless was super creepy and scary. Im liking it so far. Thought some of the laughter in the dancing scene (when the village was all dancing) was really cheesy and forced and lame and there was a bit of other forced cheesiness but overall I think its been well done so far.

 

[gandalfe]

I would think he cares about his work and that would be an incentive to finish it. Not for money.

 

[fishonjazz]

I just feel like an author is one of those professions that you do for more than a paycheck. I have always thought writers enjoyed writing. Maybe Im wrong.

 

[gandalfe]

I just feel like an author is one of those professions that you do for more than a paycheck. I have always thought writers enjoyed writing. Maybe Im wrong.

Some probably do, and he probably did at one point, but if he actually enjoyed doing it, don't you think he would?

There are some writers, it seems, whose goal is not to write the best book they can, or even write a best selling book, except insomuch as those goals serve the ultimate goal of getting an adaptation made, because that's where the real money comes from.

 

[TheGoldStandard]

Some probably do, and he probably did at one point, but if he actually enjoyed doing it, don't you think he would?

There are some writers, it seems, whose goal is not to write the best book they can, or even write a best selling book, except insomuch as those goals serve the ultimate goal of getting an adaptation made, because that's where the real money comes from.

The problem is GRRM develops the story as he writes. Yes, he has a general outline, but he creates as he writes, and he doesn't control the branching narratives well, and now he is overwhelemed and can't finish.

Authors like Brandon Sanderson map out the entire story first, and write the story to fit the outline. It is why he can publish a book or more per year.

 

[fishonjazz]

The problem is GRRM develops the story as he writes. Yes, he has a general outline, but he creates as he writes, and he doesn't control the branching narratives well, and now he is overwhelemed and can't finish.

Authors like Brandon Sanderson map out the entire story first, and write the story to fit the outline. It is why he can publish a book or more per year.

Stephen king (my favorite author) writes like GRRM too. Just kind of wings it.


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[TheGoldStandard]

Stephen king (my favorite author) writes like GRRM too. Just kind of wings it.


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Most of Kings stories are one off so "easier" to do. Trying to write an epic fantasy that you need an appendix for the reader to keep track of characters would be a nightmare without careful and detailed planning. Not knocking GRRM, just stating his style has created a logistical nightmare. Rumors are the next book release will be Nov 2023. So give another 12 years for the final book and GRRM will be around 87. Just wish he'd stop all the side projects and finish the beast. At the same time, stepping away from a difficult task for something easy would be tempting to do. Barring another author finishing them, I don't think they'll get done. GRRM should hire a couple novelists to help him finish.

I think many of Kings books are excellent, and many are meh. The Shawshank novella is a great read. Red was Irish, so the movie joke about it was even better as an homage to the novella. One of the best movies, crazy it did poorly in theatres. I did get to see it on the big screen when it got a second wind re-release.

The Dark Tower books were good but really went down hill the last few books. Which is why I hope GRRM is just taking the time to do it his books right, but time is not on his side.

 

[leftyjace]

I really like the casting of the 3 young male leads. I also like the actress that plays Egwene but I think she is more suited to play Nynaeve as she looks just like I pictured Nynaeve when I read the books. Either way, they have done a great job with casting. Really like Lan, Padan fain (i think that is his name), and moraine. Also thought the trollics looked right and the eyeless was super creepy and scary. Im liking it so far. Thought some of the laughter in the dancing scene (when the village was all dancing) was really cheesy and forced and lame and there was a bit of other forced cheesiness but overall I think its been well done so far.

Interesting take, and don’t disagree with it.
The breakout performance in my opinion though is Zoe Robbins as Nynaeve… she just kills it.
I can still hear Daniel Henney as Lan saying “Oh, you really tried to kill me” - classic Nynaeve.