Online Series: The Wheel of Time (Prime Video, Nov 22)

[Jumptheshark]

'The Wheel of Time' Recasts Mat Cauthon Role for Season 2 of Amazon Series

Sounds like Mat is being re-cast for season 2. Not entirely sure what to make of that.

Here the UK it has been suggested he was not happy at shooting in Slovenia and Czech republic. Season 2 will have a longer shooting schedule and if he was unhappy before--this news made him more unhappy

 

[Knave]

It's only 3 episodes but I thought it was a strong introduction. We see all the main characters. We understand where they will end up - at least in the short run- and we have a decent idea of what is trying to get to them.

They've covered a lot of ground in 3 episodes all things considered.

In terms of Game of Thrones comparisons it's premature. The first 3 episodes of Game of Thrones weren't spectacular or a masterpiece on their own or something. The key is more how it tells a story over multiple seasons (and built a massive audience doing that over 7 seasons)

And for Wheel of Time hopefully Amazon hangs on for 3 or more seasons and we can get a fairer comparison at that point when looking at how the crew adapted the book and told its story.

 

[Nizdizzle]

Watched the first 3 episodes this weekend. I read the books a few years ago and absolutely loved them.

I think the first 30 minutes of the show was not great. The episodes felt heavy-handed and on the nose in a lot of scenes. I think they are struggling with trying to provide exposition while making it seems natural. I think they would have been better just letting showwatchers be in the dark about some things until a few episodes down the line when it can be explained naturally. I also worry that the showmakers are trying to hard to push "girl-power" narrative rather than just showing naturally through the plot that is where a lot of power lies. I hope they explain the difference between Saidin/Saidar rather than the "men shouldn't use this power, they'll dirty it" line we got in the first scene of the show.

Spoiler

The scene in Wintersnight where an all female group of villagers takes down a Trolloc felt as cheesy as the Avengers scene where all the woman Avengers group up at the finale of Endgame

I think things got a lot better in episodes 2 & 3 as the show got its legs. A scene between Moraine & Rand in episode 2 (I think?) showed me that the guy cast as Rand was an excellent choice and I cannot wait to see him a few seasons from now.

Definitely doesn't have the quality of production value of Game of Thrones, but I think its a really good start and hopefully closes out strong.

 

[NyQuil]

I hope they explain the difference between Saidin/Saidar rather than the "men shouldn't use this power, they'll dirty it" line we got in the first scene of the show.

I think they did a pretty good (if obvious) job of it in an early scene in terms of Egwene fighting the river before giving up and submitting to the power of the current.

 

[Nizdizzle]

I think they did a pretty good (if obvious) job of it in an early scene in terms of Egwene fighting the river before giving up and submitting to the power of the current.

Yes, I liked that and I think they handled it well. I more meant that the early scene with Liandrin, she made a comment about how men aren't meant to use the power and they will make it unclean. I very much hope they explain that men can't use Saidar, and them using Saidin doesn't make it unclean (its already unclean). I saw that scene and was worried they were going to remove Saidin/Saidar completely and just make it one power that is easier for show-watchers to understand. I imagine by the end of the season we should know exactly how they intend to handle it.

 

[Make]

I struggle to understand Amazon's decision to give this only 8 episodes instead of 10. If they want this to be their GoT, then give the producers the resources to make that happen. As I've understood it they have invested quite a lot of money into this, so why constrain them with a shorter season? Time is extremely precious in these types of series imo, far more so than how much money you have to use for fancy setting or special effects. You have to let the story breathe a little.

 

[TheAngryHank]

Was that Stanis in E1?

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

Its pretty good, will continue to watch.

 

[RandV]

Was that Stanis in E1?

I think what you're getting at is that's 'Roose Bolton' as Rand Al'Thor's dad.

 

[TheAngryHank]

I think what you're getting at is that's 'Roose Bolton' as Rand Al'Thor's dad.

Yes ,your correct , Ramsay's dad.

 

[HanSolo]

I think what you're getting at is that's 'Roose Bolton' as Rand Al'Thor's dad.

I'm not familiar with the actor's full body of work but it was cool to see the range of being an excellent villain in GoT to being, for my money, the most warm and likable character in the first three episodes. I hope he wasn't limited to just one episode.

 

[HanSolo]

I struggle to understand Amazon's decision to give this only 8 episodes instead of 10. If they want this to be their GoT, then give the producers the resources to make that happen. As I've understood it they have invested quite a lot of money into this, so why constrain them with a shorter season? Time is extremely precious in these types of series imo, far more so than how much money you have to use for fancy setting or special effects. You have to let the story breathe a little.

6-8 episodes seems to be becoming the standard for big budget series.

 

[MadDevil]

I'm not familiar with the actor's full body of work but it was cool to see the range of being an excellent villain in GoT to being, for my money, the most warm and likable character in the first three episodes. I hope he wasn't limited to just one episode.

He's good in pretty much everything I've seen him in, and I think was a good fit for Tam. I really liked the castings for him, Moiraine, and Lan (even though admittedly he looks a lot different than I pictured him reading the books). I was less enthusiastic about Rand, Perrin, and Mat, but admittedly I've only seen the first episode, so we'll see how the rest of the season goes.

 

[Osprey]

Me watching the first episode just now:

"What's a trolloc?"

One minute later...

"Ohhhh... that must be a trolloc."

Spoiler

Also, the girl dumps her boyfriend for her girlfriend, but then runs back into his arms after her girlfriend is dragged off. Typical.

 

[beowulf]

Really liked the first 3 episodes, really does look like Amazon didn't skip for sets and CGI, etc.

Me watching the first episode just now:

"What's a trolloc?"

One minute later...

"Ohhhh... that must be a trolloc."

Spoiler

Also, the girl dumps her boyfriend for her girlfriend, but then runs back into his arms after her girlfriend is dragged off. Typical.

Huh what gf left for bf?

 

[Nizdizzle]

Really liked the first 3 episodes, really does look like Amazon didn't skip for sets and CGI, etc.



Huh what gf left for bf?

Pretty sure they're refering to

Spoiler

Egwene telling Rand they were through so she could train as a Wisdom under Nynaeve, and then going back to Rand after Nynaeve is taken and they are fleeing Two Rivers.

 

[beowulf]

Pretty sure they're refering to

Spoiler

Egwene telling Rand they were through so she could train as a Wisdom under Nynaeve, and then going back to Rand after Nynaeve is taken and they are fleeing Two Rivers.

That's what I thought but don't get the whole gf thing when it was about training yada yada.

 

[RandV]

Me watching the first episode just now:

"What's a trolloc?"

One minute later...

"Ohhhh... that must be a trolloc."

I still haven't watched the opener yet so only have the trailer to go by, but that's one thing where I feel like I'm the only one who thinks Jordan overdid it. They're supposed to be the 'orcs' of the series, but he made them was too terrifying as they're supposed to be like 8-10 feet tall. That's just way to terrifying, I don't see how human armies could possibly stand up against them.

 

[Warden of the North]

This won't be the Game of Thrones "killer" that Amazon was hoping for.

To be blunt, it's not "adult" enough. It feels and looks like a young adult targeted show.

 

[beowulf]

This won't be the Game of Thrones "killer" that Amazon was hoping for.

To be blunt, it's not "adult" enough. It feels and looks like a young adult targeted show.

Why because no sexy time and boobs? The violence is pretty much R level in the old movie rating system.

 

[NyQuil]

Why because no sexy time and boobs? The violence is pretty much R level in the old movie rating system.

It currently is hyper-focused on your prototypical cast of attractive young people that is consistent with a lot of young adult franchises (e.g. Twilight, Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Harry Potter etc.).

Game of Thrones had its share of young protagonists but this was fairly well balanced with a large number of older authority figures (Eddard, Catelyn, Littlefinger, Tywin, Tyrion, Cersei,etc. etc.) whereas right now there's Moiraine and Lan who are like camp counsellors shepherding them around.

 

[beowulf]

It currently is focused on your prototypical cast of attractive young people that is consistent with a lot of young adult franchises (e.g. Twilight, Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Harry Potter etc.).

Game of Thrones had its share of young protagonists but this was fairly well balanced with a larger number of older authority figures, whereas right now there's Moiraine and Lan who are like camp counsellors shepherding them around.

True but that is like the novels...though I had only read The Great Hunt many moons ago but just ordered and received New Spring which I am told is a prequel that should be read before the first real book of the series. I mean Jordan didn't write this as a young adult novel like the shimmering vampire one or the Hunger Games.

 

[NyQuil]

True but that is like the novels...though I had only read The Great Hunt many moons ago but just ordered and received New Spring which I am told is a prequel that should be read before the first real book of the series. I mean Jordan didn't write this as a young adult novel like the shimmering vampire one or the Hunger Games.

I mean, GoT is also focused on young protagonists as well for the most part (e.g. the Stark children, Daenarys), it's just that there's a bit more balance in the early going.

Obviously the WoT crew is going to interact with the larger world and with authority figures as the story progresses, and this should help balance things out a bit.

 

[Nizdizzle]

I think holding the show to the standard of Game of Thrones is just folly in itself. Despite the bad last two seasons, I feel like Game of Thrones is a once-in-a-decade type of show in terms of quality and adaptation (similar to how LoTR is for fantasy movies). I think if that is the bar set for WoT to match, you have nowhere to go besides disappointment.

 

[beowulf]

Season 2 is already confirmed. The Wheel of Time: viewers are saying the same thing following its release

Seems even long time fans of the books like the series including some of the changes from the books.

One person tweeted: "#TheWheelOfTime is becoming the new talk of the town. It totally deserves it. The world-building is so great, and I love how it focuses on so many characters. The magic sequences were absolutely amazing," while another added: "I love everything about the show, I can't believe the quality, the characters, the set-ups it's AMAZING."
A third person agreed, writing: "#TheWheelOfTime is ESCAPISM at its finest. It’s just so well done."
The new Amazon Prime series is based on Robert Jordan's novel series of the same name, and some fans have noticed the slight changes in the television adaptation from the series. One person tweeted: "Really enjoying #TheWheelOfTime show so far. I love the whole book series. So far, I think I see why they've made the changes from the books that they have, and I'm fine with those. Looking forward to the next episodes and hopefully seeing the show all the way to the Last Battle," while another added: "As someone who has been living with these books as a HUGE part of my life for 30 years, I can say in all honesty... I love it. I love them. I understand the changes. I'm invested. I want more."