Wheel of Time on Amazon Prime?

[d-dave]

So I was excited to see how Amazon took on an absolutely massive IP like Wheel of Time to bring it to the masses.  I watched the first couple of episodes, then immediately ordered the entire series of books (they were half price in a holiday deal).  I've been absolutely grabbed by both the show and the books for different reasons.

I like the story the show is telling.  The first novel, Eye of the World, is considered the weakest, and the producers were dealing with an actor who left before filming was wrapped.  So the season is up and down.  The meat of it was quite enjoyable.  The last episode was kind of weak/hurried.  They could have used 2-3 more episodes to allow the characters to grow and develop.  The were some really rad moments in there, and as I start book three, there could be some super awesome stuff in store for the coming seasons.

Anyone else?  Thoughts?  The first Episode felt like the MTV Shannara series - very TV hair commercial, but then it took that sheen off quickly.

[Harbingers]

Haven’t watched it yet. The lady read on Reddit she has to read the first three books to get around any book spoilers so I’m waiting on that. Really looking forward to it though, even if they did over the top rewrite stuff from what I hear so far. 

Edited January 3, 2022 by Harbingers

[d-dave]

3 hours ago, Harbingers said:

Haven’t watched it yet. The lady read on Reddit she has to read the first three books to get around any book spoilers so I’m waiting on that. Really looking forward to it though, even if they did over the top rewrite stuff from what I hear so far. 

After the first two or three episodes, I started reading.  I finished the first book before I finished the show.  You won't find any spoilers for the 2nd book in the first season.

Really, it's more of a different kind of story-retelling, if that makes sense.  It's adapted from the source material, but it's still fairly different, for some usually good reasons - some problematic.

[Cdw]

I started reading the series a little while back when I heard Amazon was making a show of it, I've read the first 3 books and have enjoyed them.  Thought the show was pretty good overall, didn't mind most of the changes, though some did bother me.   I think Amazon insisting that it be 8 episodes per season hurts it and makes the pacing difficult and I agree on the last episode being weak.

Overall there is a lot to like with the adaptation and I'm looking forward to see where they go and how they finish next season.

[d-dave]

12 hours ago, Cdw said:

I started reading the series a little while back when I heard Amazon was making a show of it, I've read the first 3 books and have enjoyed them.  Thought the show was pretty good overall, didn't mind most of the changes, though some did bother me.   I think Amazon insisting that it be 8 episodes per season hurts it and makes the pacing difficult and I agree on the last episode being weak.

Overall there is a lot to like with the adaptation and I'm looking forward to see where they go and how they finish next season.

That's the biggest thing for me.  Imagine if they had 10-12 episodes?  Sheesh, that would make life a lot easier.  One of the best parts of the show, and what is so central to the story, is when the Emond's Fielders get to hangout.  The chemistry of the cast is so good in those moments.  In the books, that is one of the driving forces of the entire series.  Seems that a lot of those moments were cut out of the show for the sake of getting the information across.

My hope is that season 2 will have the time to adjust to the loss of the Mat actor and consequent recasting, and then be able to combine the main points of Book 2 and 3 (still working on three, but I have a good theory as I read it).  Book 2 was entertaining, but way too long in certain aspects.  There's a fair amount of fat to trim there.  I saw on reddit someone say that WoT was a bunch of 800 page books that could have been cut in half.  There is a bit of truth to that, and hopefully the showrunners will take the opportunity to showcase the important stuff without burying the story in poo.

[Floppin]

I enjoyed the show for the most part and didn't mind most of the changes until the season finale. I feel like they absolutely butchered it.

[d-dave]

2 hours ago, Floppin said:

I enjoyed the show for the most part and didn't mind most of the changes until the season finale. I feel like they absolutely butchered it.

Oh yeah, that was the weakest episode of the season for me.  It was such a let down.  The scene from the book is intense AF.  I loved that part. I think they could have done something similar with the show, and keep the changes to Rand's exit.

[PanthersATL]

Haven't read the books (yet).

As someone not familiar with the source material -- we enjoyed the first season. We also felt that the final episode and some of the plot pacing was weird, but it didn't detract from us enjoying what was being presented.

(we also found we needed to watch with subtitles turned on, to help differentiate unfamiliar names/places)

[d-dave]

36 minutes ago, PanthersATL said:

Haven't read the books (yet).

As someone not familiar with the source material -- we enjoyed the first season. We also felt that the final episode and some of the plot pacing was weird, but it didn't detract from us enjoying what was being presented.

(we also found we needed to watch with subtitles turned on, to help differentiate unfamiliar names/places)

Yes!  I had to spend a LOT of time studying a map lol.  Between WoT and the Witcher...so much fantasy geography!

[Cdw]

14 hours ago, d-dave said:

Yes!  I had to spend a LOT of time studying a map lol.  Between WoT and the Witcher...so much fantasy geography

While reading the series I pretty much have to study the map after each chapter, all part of the fun

[Arroz con Panther]

@d-dave First off, you read fast as hell. Secondly, I don't think you'll have problems getting through the series, but there is a serious lull between books 6 and 10, apparently. Everyone who has read the series says so. I'll be interested to see if you make it. Apparently, the last three books (which are written by Sanderson after Jordan's death) are worth it though. 

Me personally, I've tried to read the series twice and I gave up during the middle of book 6 twice! I'm a pretty slow reader in that I don't dedicate much time. I really want to give it another shot, but it's a commitment for me and I'm afraid I'll just give up again.

[d-dave]

On 1/6/2022 at 1:05 PM, Arroz con Panther said:

@d-dave First off, you read fast as hell. Secondly, I don't think you'll have problems getting through the series, but there is a serious lull between books 6 and 10, apparently. Everyone who has read the series says so. I'll be interested to see if you make it. Apparently, the last three books (which are written by Sanderson after Jordan's death) are worth it though. 

Me personally, I've tried to read the series twice and I gave up during the middle of book 6 twice! I'm a pretty slow reader in that I don't dedicate much time. I really want to give it another shot, but it's a commitment for me and I'm afraid I'll just give up again.

Thanks!  I am a pretty prolific reader.  My poor sleep schedule!  I also have started reading more in the daytime, like when my wife wants to watch her terrible 90 Day Fiancée Shows.  I just put in my noise canceling headphones and I'm down for an hour of reading at a time lol.

I also have a tendency to skim through crap.  Like as soon as I see Rand start complaining, I skip to the last line of the paragraph to see if it's worth reading.  LOL.  Honestly, he's not a well written character at this point in my reading.  I understand he goes through a lot of changes, but man he's whiney AF!

[MickMixon'sMetaphors]

I've read up to about book 9 or so before I tapped out. I've always wanted to get them all on kindle instead of paperbacks, but books are expensive digitally (at least the ones I want).

I really did enjoy the show.  I think they did a good job casting Moraine.  I don't like the actor playing Rand.  He annoys me in like a Hayden Christensen Star Wars thing, but I do feel he potrays the character.  I always found Rand to be rather annoying in the books, so para pasu.

[CanadianCat]

45 minutes ago, MickMixon'sMetaphors said:

I've read up to about book 9 or so before I tapped out. I've always wanted to get them all on kindle instead of paperbacks, but books are expensive digitally (at least the ones I want).

I really did enjoy the show.  I think they did a good job casting Moraine.  I don't like the actor playing Rand.  He annoys me in like a Hayden Christensen Star Wars thing, but I do feel he potrays the character.  I always found Rand to be rather annoying in the books, so para pasu.

I got through the 1st 4 books on Audible. I enjoyed them but they can get a little long winded.

But funny story... I used to used Audible a lot as I did a lot of travelling.  Changed jobs, now I dont travel as much. I used to be on their monthly plan but my credit card expired but because was not looking for more books I didnt really care. Jump forward 8 months, I wanted a new book, so I updated my credit card and the app INSTANTLY purchased all the credits I missed over those 8 months. poo. 

Needless to say I now own the ENTIRE series on Audible.. 30+ hours per book.... Im going to need some time here!