rich1232 said:

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merc said:

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Madmarttigan said:

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I mean I thought it was fun. Egwene isn't the one who actually defeated Ishamael so I don't see the big deal she just protected Rand.

Only complaints are moraine showing as much power as a forsaken taking out a fleet at distance and also how is rand able to actually kill a forsaken when they kind of talked about not being able to be killed just imprisoned. Wasn't explained in the show even though the book I'm sure does but I can't remember them.

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Oh no doubt. I enjoyed it mostly but the last 10 minutes or so were such a huge deviation from the books that it bugged me a lot. I feel like they are ripping Rand off and show casing Egwene and I'm not sure if it is an actor thing or just way to much creative license

At the end of the The Great Hunt, Rand: outduels Turak to become a blademaster, completes his leadership arc by granting absolution to Ingtar, meets Hawkwing & Co. and defeats Ishamael in the sky to proclaim himself as Dragon Reborn. This is important stuff. Instead we get Egwene killing Renna and Moraine making a giant dragon illusion.

As far as the power stuff goes it has obviously been thrown out the window.

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I wonder how much of that was scrapped during the re-write of season 2 due to Barney Harris leaving.

In season 2, there was a scene and a half of sword form, zero Ingtar and Rand screen time (including minimal references to Ingtar being a df at best).

I just don't think they prioritized those parts of the arc this season, it will be interesting to see if they piece those aspects in later.

As far as Rand goes, w/o the sword forms and cheesiness factor of a CGI sky duel could entail, I think they opted for a "safer" fulfilling of the prophecy, though I didn't exactly like the dragon either and it definitely had its own cheese elements.

Overall, it was a major upgrade over season 2 and while enjoyed the finale, I felt like it was definitely rough around the edges.

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The lack of the heron marked sword actually matters (aka rand learning to fight) is missed, though we did get to see some Matt action finally. And the "I remember", has some promise. I forget if the show has had lines discussing "old old of Manatheren" yet.

They sang a song about Manatheren in season 1 and I'm pretty sure that they have mentioned the "old blood" once or twice, but I don't think they have made any explicit connections between the Two Rivers and Manatheren yet. The show has also connected Nyneve's parents to Manatheren via the quote they told her before they died.

I was only halfway paying attention during my rewatch so there might have been something mentioned in the Shadar Logoth episode that I missed.

Arrakis ecologist said:

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I just finished Season 2. I would say I enjoyed it much more than season 1.
Most things are going to end up where they are supposed to but how they get there may be different.

For the battle in episode 8 and Mat blowing the horn, that was the best part for me. The book made be think the battle was much larger. Also the weakest part to me was Rand killing Ishamael at the end. seemed anti-climatic. but I haven't read the book in so long.

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Most of this is because they altered this aspect of the book story on the show

Season 2 > Season 1

Random thoughts:
Having Perrin fight with a sword instead of actually having Rand duel Turok, why? Less time convincing us suldam bad and we could have had a decent sword fight.

Uno a hero of the horn? Come on.

The final battle scene was good, Nynaeve and Elayne staring at each other and the arrow wasted too much time and really ruined the pacing.

Egwene facing off against a Forsaken, okay whatever but then Rand just walking up and killing him? Save time elsewhere and have a decent duel with Ishamael in the sky and better dragon declaration.

I understand not introducing the Foxes and Snakes, because they are confusing, but a remembrance tea? Maybe I missed something there but if Mat got his memories from the horn why did we have that scene?

I hope we get Perrin using Bornhalds axe, maybe?

I think Elayne healing Rand could have been better with her letting Nynaeve put the collar on her so Nynaeve could use her powers.

Oh, I guess we have GoT level teleporting, from the Aiel Waste to Falme in no time flat.

Weren't the s&f brought in on the 3rd book?

Definitely Not A Cop said:

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Weren't the s&f brought in on the 3rd book?

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Fourth book, I think. Near the start of the book, Rand and Mat go into the twisted doorframe in Tear after they take the Stone in Book 3.

It has been awhile, but I think 4th book. They take the Stone in the 3rd and then when they are hanging out there in the beginning of the 4th is when Mat goes through.

ramblin_ag02 said:

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Curious to see what they do from book 4-9 (ish?) where things just drag

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Man, they could/should just skip most of that. Not sure how I made it through those books... looking back, the only thing those books accomplished, for me, was they gave a sense that I too was struggling through a LONG journey after laboring through a few thousand pages of mostly boring crap.

If I ever decided to read the series again, I would read 1-3 and then skip forward to Knife of Dreams.

jr15aggie said:

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ramblin_ag02 said:

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Curious to see what they do from book 4-9 (ish?) where things just drag

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Man, they could/should just skip most of that. Not sure how I made it through those books... looking back, the only thing those books accomplished, for me, was they gave a sense that I too was struggling through a LONG journey after laboring through a few thousand pages of mostly boring crap.

If I ever decided to read the series again, I would read 1-3 and then skip forward to Knife of Dreams.

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When I first read the series, books 1-3 really hooked me and I felt like the middle was a slog.

But on my following read-throughs... the first books sort of grate on me. Everyone feels so childish, despite their ages. The middle books have all the cool world-building

So for you or any other book readers, if I haven't read any of this is it worth a watch? Watched the first season and it was ok but didn't really suck me in.

JasonInDFW said:

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It has been awhile, but I think 4th book. They take the Stone in the 3rd and then when they are hanging out there in the beginning of the 4th is when Mat goes through.

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They can skip that now since Mat already has his memories, right?

Appreciated, will add it to the queue.

Thanks for posting, I knew it was coming soon but didn't remember when.

Looks as of they're skipping The Dragon Reborn for the most part and moving straight into The Shadow Rising. Probably fine as not a ton really happens in book 3. TSR is arguably the best book in the series so I hope they can do it justice. Season 2 was better than the first, but we need some big improvements for me to say the show is good. I've mostly watched out of obligation/curiosity so far.

Looks like they are shifting and going to address the Stone of Tear and Callandor in season 4 (if it's greenlit).

I did enjoy season 2 for the most part. I think they did not stick the landing and it was not as impactful as it should have been. Because of that, the entire season suffered.

Also, for those who are interested, the first 11 minutes of the first episode are available.

Pretty good opening

Lots of the two things that make for good flicks: sex and violence! I'd share more but don't want to spoil it.

Yeah, off to a good start in S3!

Mat OMG with the ***** joke!

Took about 40 minutes into S3E1 but had to forward thru made up trash LGBEIEIO garbage between Aviendha and Elayne.

MaroonStain said:

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Took about 40 minutes into S3E1 but had to forward thru made up trash LGBEIEIO garbage between Aviendha and Elayne.

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It's not like they were showing polygamy or some sort of harem. You can still enjoy two girls kissing.

Opening episode was nuts.

I actually don't even know if I want to watch it just yet. I had a break in books to read recently and decided to grab the Eye of the World on kindle since it was on sale. Been almost 20 years since I read it first!

Anyways, I plowed through that book and got hooked again I think. Currently rereading The Great Hunt, and I might just keep going for a bit.

And yes I know the show has been steadily deviating from source material over time, but some of the big stuff is still the same. My plan right now is to read the first few books at least and catch up to the end of season 3. Then watch season 3. What do y'all think of that logic?

I honestly can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm considering picking the Wheel of Time back up to read. Not sure how far I made it on the first attempt but gave up on either book 4 or 5 when it was clear there was no end in sight. That was likely 1995 or 1996.

Really was the first time I realized the entertainment was more about making money for the author than giving fantasy fans a good story.

I'd be damned if I financed another pimp stick or pimp hat rattlesnake band for Mr. Jordan. Hmmmph!

Up to that point, the only high fantasy series I'd read were ones long completed like LoTR, Dune (quasi high fantasy), The Belgariad, The Mallorean, The Prydain Chronicles... All of which I could find at the local used bookstore.

You got to get back into it. It pays off bigly.

I think the recap made me realize how much I forgot happened in season 2.

Agree. Really needed a more extensive recap. One thing I don't like about season 3 so far is how they just jumped back to Tar Avalon and are having to reference their time getting back there after Falme.

I don't want the painfully long traveling sequences like in the books, but it's a little too late-seasons GoT where people complained the story was rushed.

I also feel like I'm not invested in most of the characters despite this being the 3rd season. Hope that changes. Lanfear is killing it though.

After I gave up on hoping it would hold truer to the books, I've enjoyed it much more. I think it would be hard for anyone that hasn't read the books to figure out what's going on sometimes and who is who?

I think they did a good job on most of the characters but a couple. The actress playing Egwene is pretty awful. Also, very disappointed in Loial. I know it would be expensive to have him as a CGI character but I always pictured him much larger in the books than what they are portraying him. They also don't give him the proper sense of humor and youthful bashfulness that made him so likeable in the books. I wasn't too sure about Perrin at first but he's starting to fill out that roll. The actress playing Nynaeve is just as annoying as the character in the book. Easily my least liked character who Jordan gave waaaay too much attention to trying to flesh her out in the books as somehow interesting.