Originally Posted by
Sir Andy Mahowry
Two episodes into The Wheel of Time, first episode dragged a lot I feel but the second raised it up a bit. So far it's good but not great.
Not too keen on some of the changes they've made from the books (I've only read the first three and a bit thus far) though.
I've watched the first two as well and I largely agree with what you've said.
For the majority of the first episode I had a really bad feeling it was just a bit too "old fashioned fantasy" to adapt to television in an entertaining way, if that makes sense? Everything was coming across as a bit dull and quaint. For me it really picked up towards the end of episode one.
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I thought they did the fight in the village really well, and did a great job of showing how hard as nails Moirane and Lan are. Moiraine channelling in particular just looked really cool. I'm not always the biggest Rosamund Pike fan but I think she is near perfectly cast in that role. I wasn't sold on the guy playing Lan at all until he started carving Trollocs up and then it just clicked and I was happy with him.
I thought the Trollocs they did quite well too. As well as can be expected anyway. I always thought when I was reading the book that they're just a bit of a naff enemy in general to be honest. I think a lot has to do with their name, which sounds like something from a nursery rhyme. They're just like proper boiler plate "evil monster types" that I never found very inspiring.
The Fade looks really good too.
I only ever read the first two books and it was a while ago but from what I can remember they are moving through it at a fair old clip? Which I'm not mad about because the main reason I stopped (or officially "took a break") with the books is that I found them very laborious and long winded in places.
In terms of the changes:
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Where is Thom Merrilin? Surely he has to be in it!
But yeah, it definitely has promise and I will be sticking with it.