Fantasy Series Fans

[Cdw]

7 hours ago, Bronn said:

I actually just finished season 3 of The Last Kingdom last night, lol.

It is a very good show. I have several characters that, because of the good acting, I really really liked. I'll second the recommendation for this, and I am probably going to try and get the books, too.
 

The show does very good justice to the books, though it moves very fast, 2 books per season covered.  I haven't binged through s3 yet but will soon.

[Arroz con Panther]

On 1/3/2019 at 8:36 AM, Bronn said:

I actually just finished season 3 of The Last Kingdom last night, lol.

It is a very good show. I have several characters that, because of the good acting, I really really liked. I'll second the recommendation for this, and I am probably going to try and get the books, too.
 

 

On 1/3/2019 at 4:04 PM, Cdw said:

The show does very good justice to the books, though it moves very fast, 2 books per season covered.  I haven't binged through s3 yet but will soon.

So, I just finished the first episode last night. I'm pretty sure I'll like it because of the setting, but that really depends on if they keep saying cheesy lines. One that really stood out to me was towards the end:

 - "Where will we go?!?"

- "Back to the beginning!"

Please tell me that type of writing isn't constant throughout the show lol  I feel like the first episode was rushed, but I understood why they did it.

[Bronn]

3 hours ago, Arroz con Panther said:

 

So, I just finished the first episode last night. I'm pretty sure I'll like it because of the setting, but that really depends on if they keep saying cheesy lines. One that really stood out to me was towards the end:

 - "Where will we go?!?"

- "Back to the beginning!"

Please tell me that type of writing isn't constant throughout the show lol  I feel like the first episode was rushed, but I understood why they did it.

I think I do recall thinking it started a bit wonky/slow to me too. I actually tried starting it a few times and kept falling asleep in the first episode and having to go back and restart it.

Once you get into the story, though, and know who is who and all that, it ends up being really good.

The first season is probably the worst TBQH. The beginning of the second season and then the third season were my favorite moments.

I think it is a show where the budget has steadily increased as it has gotten popular, and it shows.

There were even times in the first season that I thought the voices/dialogue might have been overdubbed, lol, but it gets way better.

Leofric, to me at least, ends up stealing the show in the first season. Uhtred is obviously the lead guy, but he gets better as it goes on too. Later on, I think Finan is my favorite character.

Both Finan and Leofric share characteristics of sellswords like Bronn, so I think I am more drawn to them over the typical protagonist like Uhtred.

[Cdw]

First two seasons were BBC, then Netflix bought the show and produced season three, upped the budget and took it from 8 to 10 episodes a season.  There are probably more cringy lines, but I cant say its somthing Ive took much notice of.

Leofric and Finan are great, hope they bring Steapa in more too, hes great in the books.  The actors playing Alfred and Beocca do a good job too.  I just finished another one of the books last night so should be good to binge through s3 now no matter how far it takes it.

And those GB books I ordered, one came the rest are MIA,  the one that came is the 3rd though so I cant start yet

[Bronn]

16 hours ago, Cdw said:

First two seasons were BBC, then Netflix bought the show and produced season three, upped the budget and took it from 8 to 10 episodes a season.  There are probably more cringy lines, but I cant say its somthing Ive took much notice of.

Leofric and Finan are great, hope they bring Steapa in more too, hes great in the books.  The actors playing Alfred and Beocca do a good job too.  I just finished another one of the books last night so should be good to binge through s3 now no matter how far it takes it.

And those GB books I ordered, one came the rest are MIA,  the one that came is the 3rd though so I cant start yet

oof on the MIA books. Hope you get them soon!

I just saw that the guy that plays Aethelred in TLK, the one betrothed to Aethelfaed (lol this was one of the more confusing things in TLK tbqh, all the "Aethel's") has been cast as a character in the GoT prequel series.

Good for him! But, I can't stand that dude's face, now. I absolutely loathe his character in TLK, so I don't know if that will impact how I view him on the new GoT.

[Cdw]

2 hours ago, Bronn said:

oof on the MIA books. Hope you get them soon!

I just saw that the guy that plays Aethelred in TLK, the one betrothed to Aethelfaed (lol this was one of the more confusing things in TLK tbqh, all the "Aethel's") has been cast as a character in the GoT prequel series.

Good for him! But, I can't stand that dude's face, now. I absolutely loathe his character in TLK, so I don't know if that will impact how I view him on the new GoT.

I checked the tracking, half my order took 2500 mile detour to AZ...

All those damn Æthelings are hard to keep track off even having read the books lol. 

I binged through 8 episodes of s3, they went with a much different format and shuffled books 5 and 6 quite alot, did a lot of combining different plots, glad I finished before starting.  Finan has really nailed his character.  Aethelwold man, I loved you when you groveled about tits, now you cut me deep. Ill watch ep 9 and 10 tonight.

I havent checked in on what the GoT prequel is going to cover - around s4/5 GoT started to have too many things bother me and I quit watching.  I'd love a series of Dunk and Egg.

[Bronn]

3 hours ago, Cdw said:

I checked the tracking, half my order took 2500 mile detour to AZ...

All those damn Æthelings are hard to keep track off even having read the books lol. 

I binged through 8 episodes of s3, they went with a much different format and shuffled books 5 and 6 quite alot, did a lot of combining different plots, glad I finished before starting.  Finan has really nailed his character.  Aethelwold man, I loved you when you groveled about tits, now you cut me deep. Ill watch ep 9 and 10 tonight.

I havent checked in on what the GoT prequel is going to cover - around s4/5 GoT started to have too many things bother me and I quit watching.  I'd love a series of Dunk and Egg.

Supposedly this prequel will involve the story of The Long Night. Should be pretty cool.

I agree about Dunk and Egg. I was hoping that was one of the things being tabled when they were talking about multiple series, but IIRC it was shot down by GRRM that that would be one of them.

[Cdw]

On 1/9/2019 at 3:02 PM, Bronn said:

Supposedly this prequel will involve the story of The Long Night. Should be pretty cool.

I agree about Dunk and Egg. I was hoping that was one of the things being tabled when they were talking about multiple series, but IIRC it was shot down by GRRM that that would be one of them.

Probably best that they didnt go with D&E.  One, he's not finished the story and two, I feel like they may be better suited as a set of movies. 

The long night seems like a great idea, should be interesting, the only things we know of it are vague legends so they can get ceative with the story telling without backlash of having major changes to characters and plot.

Finished up s3 of TLK, enjoyed it, think they did a great job overall of mashing up the two books it covered into a compelling season arc.

Lastly, The Lies of Locke Lamora came, just read the prolouge, get the feeling I'm going to enjoy this.

[Cdw]

I'm about 2/3's through LoLL now and things are really heating up.  I'm worried for the Bastards.  Lamora may be too clever for his own good again, the heat is on with this Grey King and then Capa Barsavi's request regarding Nazca, all that and the mysterious person... or thing thats been shadowing them.  And I'm sure someone gave kid Locke the sage advice of clutch once and run, clutch twice and swing, but he's determined to continue on with the Don Salavari  job.  Just have a bad feeling the gang is going to pay a price.

So far the fantasy elements have been very low key, but its made an interesting enough backdrop.  The elderglass, the towers etc, and the city being the work of some forgotten race.  Hope that all gets expanded on more.

Anyway, Im hooked.  Anyone else thinking of jumping into a series, this one is worth a look.  So far its kinda like the Faceless Men from ASoIaF, Skyrims Thieves guild, Sawyer from Lost, and the Godfather blended up.

[Bronn]

On 1/13/2019 at 7:19 AM, Cdw said:

Anyway, Im hooked.  Anyone else thinking of jumping into a series, this one is worth a look.  So far its kinda like the Faceless Men from ASoIaF, Skyrims Thieves guild, Sawyer from Lost, and the Godfather blended up.

glad you're liking it! And the above is a perfect description!

IIRC the fantasy elements do remain somewhat low key so far in the series. There's just enough of a taste that you know it is there.

As I mentioned previously, the second book is probably my favorite. So if you're liking LoLL, I hope you find Red Seas Under Red Skies even better too!

[Cdw]

1 hour ago, Bronn said:

IIRC the fantasy elements do remain somewhat low key so far in the series. There's just enough of a taste that you know it is there.

A lot of the time thats for the best, the fantasy setting has given the the city and world a very interesting feel but no magical cop outs for problems. 

Also since Ive just been reading TLK books, Uhtred is always lamenting about how the Romans were such great builders and how his people could never hope to reproduce what they could do, and how people were even too superstisious to live in Roman ruins at times. 

I was reminded of that with the description of the Broken Tower, they have this beautiful damaged glass tower and they can only patch it with wood and stone, showcasing just how crude their ability is compared to those that came before.  Its not a huge plot point or anything but it adds nicely to character and mystery of the world - it even apparently took centuries before the rulers of this city would move into those towers because they feared who'd built them.

 

[Cdw]

 

* Spoilers for Lies of Locke Lamora *

Don't read if youre planning on reading the book yourself

So, I'm about 2/3's through the book now.  poo has officially hit the fan.  I hate to say, I saw a lot of this comming... Locke wouldnt heed my warnings and gtfo out though, Bastard!  When the Grey King had the first meeting with Locke I knew this had to about Locke, not the Capa.  Locke had that feeling of recognizing the GK but not being able to place him and knowing all about the hideout under the temple... gut said, they're getting con'd.  My first suspect: Sabetha.  Then what happened to Nazca... Ok, this is about more than robbing them, GK could have simply done that.  I don't know what went down between Locke and Sebetha but, she is out to utterly destroy the GBs. Or, I could be way off and its not her at all, but thats my going theory.  And I'll have to pour three glasses to air tonight.  Also, damn Capa Barsavi, a keg of horse piss.  I can't even be mad at him for it.  And I dont think Locke's luck changing soon, desperation is about to drive him right into the spiders web.  Any

* End Spoilers *

 

Looking forward to see how things pan out

Edit: I was very wrong it seems

[Cdw]

Finished up The Lies of Locke Lamora.  Overall great book, definitely a page turner, the story never bogs down as happens often in fantasy.  The gangs schemes are fun to read and the plot kept me guessing at the villian and their motivation (And then cursing that I should have seen it.)  Anyone looking for somthing with Fantasy, Mystery, Schemes and Adventure should enjoy - even if not wanting to read an entire series, TLoLL is a complete story in itself.  I'm looking forward to the next adventure of The Gentleman Bastards.

[Bronn]

15 hours ago, Cdw said:

Finished up The Lies of Locke Lamora.  Overall great book, definitely a page turner, the story never bogs down as happens often in fantasy.  The gangs schemes are fun to read and the plot kept me guessing at the villian and their motivation (And then cursing that I should have seen it.)  Anyone looking for somthing with Fantasy, Mystery, Schemes and Adventure should enjoy - even if not wanting to read an entire series, TLoLL is a complete story in itself.  I'm looking forward to the next adventure of The Gentleman Bastards.

Glad you liked it! I had to go back and wiki some of it because I couldn't remember some of the details.

I do remember thinking that the Falconer is one of the coolest villains I've read. The whole Bondsmagi angle is more of a thing in book 3 IIRC, but it comes in a little in book 2 as well.

Book 3 reminded me more of something political like GoT, so that might be more your cup of tea, too.

Once you get through all three, though, you're stuck like the rest of us waiting for The Thorn of Emberlain!