There was a ton of changes for this battle it feels like, but didn’t hate it. Rand not showing any skills with the sword makes sense since they haven’t shown him practicing or improving at it. Ended up enjoying this season a lot. Looking forward to it continuing. Spoiler Was weird the way they showed Rand winning was just walking right up to Ishamael and stabbing him. Was also weird how they allowed Egwene to hurt the seanchan but the seachan couldn’t hurt Egwene when she tried. I guess that could be bc Egwene has endured that pain for longer. Forgotten a lot from the books too so may have missed some of the details that would help explain this.
Was just reading some about the finale and I guess season two is supposed to cover books 2 and 3. Season 3 will cover book 4.
Ok I actually enjoyed that more than the end of the book. I’m fine with the changes. They are definitely going for more of a team effort, which feels more balanced than the books. The women are also definitely much better written. That battle was excellent even if it did end as abruptly as the books. I may do a rewatch from the beginning, but definitely a much better finale than last year.
random thoughts: S2 was very big improvement from S1. Still far from an amazing show but at least it’s pretty decent. A lot of the plot changes from the books are so random and weird that I can’t fathom why they did them, but I can’t say I’m mad at most of them. I think recasted Mat is a big upgrade. His portrayal is far closer to book Mat and his performance has just been better. The women in the show are written way better than books. No braid tugging. The show is completely fucking up Perrin’s abilities/plot line. So much missed potential. egwene is great. Rand is p solid. Lanfear is A+ casting. Hated book Nynaeve, but I think actress is playing the hell out of what she’s been given. not sold on Aiel yet. Seanchan as weird as expected and damane well envisioned.
Not really a spoiler per se but Spoiler The actor playing Dain Bornhald is basically exactly how I mentally pictured Gawyn so every time he pops up I for a moment think we’re getting introduced to Gawyn.
Maybe i missed the part where the horn was such an important thing this season. All of a sudden they have the horn and need to get it to the tower. Like wtf. sometimes I feel like they fast forward past some key points. I very much enjoyed the season.
I have no idea why I’m supposed to be interested in this group of kids or whatever they’re supposed to be. I get they have some magical powers, but I don’t think they’ve done a very good job of making me care for them or explaining why they’re important. Seems like magic is everywhere and they aren’t unique why was the eye patch guy one of the super heros from the horn? it’s an alright show and I’ll probably watch season 3 but
Yeah it feels like a show that has so much content to burn that its doing a poor job slowing down to explain, build characters. Feels like they are focusing it on the dire hard fans who read the book and know the storylines. I enjoy the show and will continue to watch but they could build shit up more and do a better job explaining things.
The Season 2 Finale was one of the best television shows I have ever watched. To address some of the earlier questions: -the end of Season 2 puts us at the end of Book 2 (The Great Hunt). The series is exactly where it should be chronologically with the books. -the Heroes of the Horn have lived many lives as has everyone in the WoT. The Wheel puts the Heroes back into the world as needed. Not really a spoiler, but at least 3 of the Heroes will be reborn and play significant roles in later seasons. -the content of the books is vast. Lots more going on than we see in the shows. There’s no way all of it can be put into the shows. I think the Director and writers have done a magnificent job deciding what to include, the changes they’ve made, setting up future story lines and events, and sticking their landings. They’ve met the substantial challenge of keeping non-book readers engaged while keeping the book readers mostly satisfied. -The show’s Moghedien is already more interesting than the book Moghedien. They’ve done a better job of portraying her sinister, twisted character than Robert Jordan did. -just to note that Mat hasn’t really displayed any “magic”. He was possessed for a while by the evil nature of the dagger, but that wasn’t his own “magic”. In the final episode he did show cunning, bravery and loyalty.
I thought the minor detail of making Aviendha’s hood have a splash of red on it, probably from blood, was a nice touch to acknowledge the character’s hair color in the books when you couldn’t really see her hair
Awesome finale, I think their only real mistake this season was splitting Rand up so much from Perrin and Mat compared to the book. The bromance is very important.
That sword fight was one of my favorite events in the books, but when the show got to that part my rxn was ‘No. Let’s don’t do this. It’ll take away from the pace of the episode and the viewers who haven’t read the books are supposed to believe that a guy who hasn’t trained with the sword defeats a heron blade master?”. There will be plenty of time for them to address this in later seasons. They handled it well with the call back to Indiana Jones.
I get you. The scope of the show means they aren’t going to try and short-shrift some important events by literally cramming them in. This includes some things that I’m very attached to. For example, Inghtar’s redemption arc was one I really liked, but wasn’t included in the two seasons. The way they handled his death leads me to think they will still include a redemption story somewhere, but it won’t be identical to the books, and will probably be someone we don’t expect. In fact, I think Season 2 has already begun to set up this arc.
True. But the way Turok referenced it followed by his deft display of sword handling was probably enough for most people to think what Lanfear said at the end of the show.
No they would have done the sword fight if that was the case and also not changes the 100 things I’m not complaining about that I want to.
I’ll take the blame for creating that impression in this thread. I’ll try to reduce my posts and spoiler some of them. When fellow posters ask Why This? and Why That? it’s easy to over-explain when trying to help them out. My pov is that the series is just good TV. The shows follow the books in a general way, but there are frequent surprises for book readers in every episode. The episodes are written for non-book readers imo, but they haven’t alienated the book readers because they’ve handled the changes in a way that respects the books.
Non book reader and while I really enjoyed season 2's characters, magic, fights, and scenery/visuals, I have only a loose idea of WTF is going on and how things work in this world. Often watching it's, "oh that's a thing I didn't know about that seems important and wasn't explained". I accept it and move on so I can keep watching.
no, I was speaking on the showrunners. nothing you post is really spoiling anything because I barely know what’s happening on TV so sharing a book tidbit just goes way over my head. Post away my friend
Funny thing is a poster in the book thread rage quit after like 2 episodes because of the changes from the book
Just read back through Imurhuckleberry 's posts and chuckled again. Have you watched any of season 2? Its better than S1 but no truer to the books. Lanfear is hot tho.
Nope, I think I turned it off halfway through S1E2. I saw someone in this thread mention that there isn’t the buzz around this to keep it afloat. The reason why is the show runners basically told the original fandom to kick rocks. Though GoT and HP went off the rails eventually they both started with clean representations of the canon. This lead to the fandom supporting and convincing their friends to give it a chance. I tell anyone who mentions this show (which honestly is basically no one) that it’s trash and I’d consider it a personal favor if they gave it a 1 star rating.
I mentioned this show doesn’t feel like it has a following, but I’m still real into it even with some of the odd changes. I’m a sucker for any of my favorite books getting put on tv.
Some info regarding S3 content. Not much in this post is truly spoiler worthy, but I’m doing it anyway. Spoiler From Rafe Judkins at WoT CON this summer. Book 3 will be barely touched. That book was mostly about Rand and his character development. In it he tries to take on the forces of the dark by himself but learns he needs help. That part was indirectly covered in S2. Season 3 will be mostly Book 4 (The Shadow Rising) with elements of Book 5. This could be a make it or break it season imo since Book 4 is widely regarded as the best book in the series. Rafe and company really need to stick the landing. Tanchico and Rhuidean will be new book locations. The Sea Folk will also be introduced. I don’t know how much they will be featured. Moghidean will be a main character. A new Forsaken has been cast. I’ve heard nothing about Lanfear but I have to assume she will still be prominent. Not from Judkins: I expect the Two Rivers/Padan Fain/Whitecloaks story line to be heavily featured since S2 spent a lot of time setting it up.
Totally late to the thread but just finished S2 Think I’m gonna start the books Will catch up itt tomorrow
Is this worse, as good, or better than the Lord of the Rings tv show? It's getting mediocre reviews in this thread. Some people thought it wasn't great and a lot of folks said it was basically good enough to keep them interested.
With the exception of the Covid episodes in season 1, I would say slightly better. If you like fantasy you will enjoy it. It’s missing something, but it’s still good.
sounds like I’d enjoy it. Moving it up the rankings of next shows to watch when I finish my rewatch of The Americans.
ok there's a lot for me to unpack in Season2...first off, as a non book reader, I'm in gonna start reading very soon. some thoughts. Mat: It took me an episode to adjust to the new casting. Thought the first Mat played Mat like a bigger shitbag but new Mat won me over by the time he got to Falme. As someone who has struggled with substance abuse in the past, I think he did a real good job portraying his internal conflicts and I was pleasantly surprised with his arc so far. Egwene: holy fuck what a performance, it was tough to watch but her torture/keeping her resolve was fucking awesome...thought she was kind of a plot crutch to Rand last season but god damn I like where her story is going Perrin: Again with more content I like the fleshing out of his character, wanna know more about the Wolfbrother shit, keep it coming Nynaeve: probably the character I like the least, yeah yeah we get it you're strong, stubborn, and noone tells you what to do but the vulnerability she showed after spending like a decade in the arches with Fantasy-Lan was refreshing. Not sure how I feel about not being able to channel at will yet. seems like a plot device to keep the balance of power between the Light and The Dark in check. She was rendered somewhat useless in Falme during the battle tending to Elayne Rand: Lanfear's introduction/Selene's seduction = chef's kiss. didn't see that shit coming. Really enjoy that Lews/Lanfear/Ishamael triangle. Thought his reluctant hero prone to pouting schtick was getting old in S1 but I like where they're taking him so far. Obviously there's a lot more to get into but Really into this series and am anxiously awaiting more content
wouldn't surprise me but again I'm going with the context I know through watching them for a season of TV thus far
Finally started season 2 last night and this review makes me think I'm going to really enjoy this season. basically everything I disliked about season 1 you make sound like got better. Perrin definitely my favorite character. Hands down the best actor of the core group IMO
When GoT was airing, I had read the books so I totally get readers being dissatisfied with the TV show but it's new content to me and Season 2 has got me really excited to the point where I want to read the books. After S1. ended my thoughts were best summed up by Rand: Reluctant and pouty...meh Mat: shitbag...I didn't understand why he bailed on the squad and thought it was just a change to cope w. the actor quitting irl, the explanation given makes total sense Egwene: Rand's crutch Perrin: Untapped potential/what are they doing w. this guy?? Nynaeve: stubborn, predictable, and boring still not sure how I feel about certain characters and their motivations. it's all a matter of perspective. the White Cloak guys for example are heroes to some and a scourge to the Aes Sedai, it's good story-telling
Ok so I have something embarrassing to admit: I recently inquired about this show in here and determined to watch it. I downloaded an episode and then realized quickly I had already watched season 1. I don’t know how you can watch an entire season of a show and not remember. Has anyone ever done anything remotely close to that? But this turned out to be ok because I really enjoyed the rewatch and now I can dive into season 2. Love this show. Like yall mentioned, it has flaws and the CGI isn’t always great but overall it is very entertaining and pretty well done. I like it significantly more than the Lord of the Rings TV show. They didn’t really dig into the fabric of the world and background story lines nearly as much as Game of Thrones. I’d say that is one of the items separating it from an elite fantasy show.