45 minutes ago, Samt said:

He is literally credited as the writer for episodes 1 and 8, as @Jake Sykwalker stated.  

That would explain a few things

7 hours ago, DreadLord31 said:

I do like that we’re getting more of Logain and also Isha’mael; and everything I’ve heard interview wise, all the cast feels that season 2 is better tv than season 1. So that excites me. 
But I think there is still gonna be hard changes for book fans. 

I can deal with changes.  I might not like them all, but a good show is what matters.

12 minutes ago, nsmallw said:

Ugh the writing was the big thing for me about season one. So much hoping the new writers do a better job 

Did they have new writers?  That could be promising.

22 minutes ago, DigificWriter said:

 

In my analogy, you went to a steakhouse knowing that it was a steakhouse, ordered a steak, and then complained when you were served the steak that you ordered.

 

The Wheel of Time television series is not the Wheel of Time novels nd is not written by Robert Jordan or Brandon Sanderson and is therefore, by necessity, going to be different. Criticizing it based solely on the fact that it is different is where my analogy is applicable because it is obvious that there were going to be differences, just as it would be obvious, in my analogy, that a steakhouse would serve you a steak that you ordered.

 

There is merit (up to a point) in being critical of specific differences, but that is a different kettle of fish entirely  from bring critical of the television series solely because it is different.

If I got the steak I ordered, I wouldn't complain.

But if I order a filet rare, and they serve me a T-bone well-done - then there is room to complain.  They are both steaks that have been cooked, but there are significant differences and room to complain.

Your analogy needs work.

Gawyn I could care less.  But Galad had some awesome fight scenes in the books.  Gawyn's were mostly off-screen, right?

37 minutes ago, DigificWriter said:

I personally think that expecting Season 2 to change your mind about the WoT TV series is a fool's errand because you already know what you're getting and you either liked it or you didn't, but "to each their own", as it were.

I agree with you.  I don't expect S2 to change anything for me.  Just hoping.

With many people here saying that COVID and Barney Harris were significant contributing factors to the show not being as good as it could be - I'm just foolishly hoping they are correct.

More than likely it will be more of the same and I will continue with the version I enjoy.

I'll find out real soon...

32 minutes ago, DigificWriter said:

 

If you want The Wheel of Time story as RJ told it, read the books.

Yes.  I'm quite happy diving back into the books and am currently doing so.

32 minutes ago, DigificWriter said:

If you want (or are willing to accept) 'Robert Jordan as interpreted by Judkins' (to paraphrase something that Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey once said about the live-action LotR films), watch the TV show.

This is a little harder.  I also want a show and/or movies.  The Judkins' interpretation has been hard to swallow for some.  For me, I'm hoping S2 improves by leaps.  If not, I'm back to the books alone until someone else gives it a go.  I can live without a screen version if S1 is the best we can do.  Other folks will take all they can get.

3 hours ago, DaddyFinn said:

Another clip.

 

 

 

Excellent scene.  Thanks for sharing.

On 8/19/2023 at 3:46 AM, Sir_Charrid said:

If they don’t include elyas properly then Rafe is missing the point of the key part of Perrin journey. 
 

Perrin meets 2 wolf brothers in the story. 
One he thinks has lost himself to the wolf dream, the other he thinks has kept his sanity by not going full wolf. Hopper shows him instead that what both men are showing him is choice. 
 

Noam chooses to go feral so he can escape the reality of his life. He doesn’t lose himself to the wolf he gives himself willingly. 
 

Elyas chooses to remain a man, he chooses not to fully embrace that wolf side that lets him hunt and exist in the world of dreams. 
 

Rafe has to include both Elyas and Noam to really help to show the audience the truth that Perrin comes to accept, the truth that lets him then let go and truly embrace the wolf nature as he needs to win his key fight at the last battle. 

I agree with your post, but do you really think Rafe has to do anything?  Rafe has missed (or added) lots of key journey points for multiple characters.  Rafe will continue doing what Rafe does...

Only concerned about the strength of his sword arm - no smarter than Mandorallen...

11 hours ago, JeffreyBoring said:

I’m trying to decide if I can finish the series. I’m in The Fires of Heaven right now, and I can’t stand how every single character is being paired off with someone (obviously of the opposite gender) and how all the women are portrayed as being constantly angry, while the men are portrayed as being forever perplexed by the mystery of women. Not only does it feel extremely dated; it feels like Robert Jordan is airing out his deeply upsetting relationship to women. When Elaine is flirting with Thom… WTH, Bob? She knows he was her mom’s boyfriend. It’s not necessary to insert this, or even interesting. It makes Elaine less complex (and she’s already a paper thin character, so far) than when we met her 5 books back. If I could get a single chapter where romantic interest isn’t emphasized, I think I could find the motivation. The overall epic of the thing is compelling, but the gender essentialism and “wool headed” pining over the any given character’s romantic aspirations is vomit inducing. I just want this to be well-written, as well as compelling, but the obsession with who likes whom and do they like each other back is the most middle school level nonsense. I’m ranting, because today I literally screamed when a paragraph seemed to be furthering the plot, and then somebody commented about how mad they were at someone they’re crushing on.
 

Does it get better?

 

 

Not my favorite part of the books, but didn’t put me off as strongly as it did you. If it is not your thing, move on. Why frustrate yourself?

Personally, I think the series resolution is worth pushing through the ‘bad’ parts. 

18 hours ago, Sir_Charrid said:

We are assuming it will be over by 7 lol. I can see it being another WOT, book 7 becomes 8,9,10 and onwards. 

God forbid. I don’t know if GRRM has that many books in him. Maybe his successor that has to finish the series…

14 minutes ago, Guire said:

I am comparing it to other recent large IPs that set out with similar social messaging.  Most of those have been total crap compared to WoT.  I have begrudgingly come to that opinion.  The show at least had some externalities that interfered.  I am giving season 2 every chance to redeem itself.  If it doesnt then I wont feel bad about crapping all over it and then quietly giving up on series and leaving fan series alone.

If S2 turns into a good show (for me) then I will go back and watch what I consider a subpar S1 and enjoy the rest of the show going forward.  Fingers crossed...

32 minutes ago, Guire said:

I agree everything is political.  Rafes political is different than Jordans political.  In an adaptation with lots of externalities making it complicated, I think this change in voice makes it even harder to make a truly great show.  I dont doubt Rafes talent, I think he has just bitten off more than  can be well chewed.  

Politics and changes aside - I very much doubt Rafe's abilities.  S2 will tell...

38 minutes ago, SinisterDeath said:

Forgetting about Narg?

Narg smart!

17 minutes ago, Samt said:

Who is that with Mat? Is that Min? Can I say again that it’s really weird they cast someone in her late 30s to play Min?

I assumed Min.  She did have 'experience' before meeting Rand and the gang - so a bit older wouldn't bother me.

Older actors are often cast as younger characters - some more successfully than others.

1 hour ago, nsmallw said:

Someone please give me reasons why Galad and Gawyn are necessary at all. 

 

I mean do we need the Whitecloaks semi-redemption arc ? If not, then why is Galad needed. 

 

Do we need Gawyn at all ? I think if you take him out of the series entirely, there's nothing that is lost. 

 

He literally does nothing of importance. 

I like the Whitecloak 'redemption'.  

1 hour ago, SinisterDeath said:

Lol. 

 

Either way it's a book... a story, and Time is valuable. I can think of worse things to waste time on then reading a book in a series that hasn't ended yet.

Not every story has a conclusion, and that's honestly just a part of life. I honestly believe the idea that not starting a series because it isn't finished is foolish. But, that's your time, not mine. 😉 

As an anecdote, I was one of four players in a homebrew game of D&D. The DM crafted his own unique world over ~25 years, and he had a story for us.

 

Around the mid-point of our Journey, and just before starting a big clash with the BBEG, our DM unexpectedly died.

 

The story ended; His family gave us all his D&D stuff; And there wasn't a single note written down. Nothing on the upcoming encounters, no statblocks, no plotlines. Nothing. It was all in his twisted head; his story ended, and new stories began in others.
 

Time is valuable, spend it wisely... 

See what you mean.  I'm more frustrated because of the broken promises (self-imposed) on when the book was coming out.  He doesn't owe me anything, but do what you say you'll do.

As far as starting a series that isn't finished, never would have crossed my mind not to until GRRM.  So this 'rule' only applies to him for me.  I'll buy 'Winds' when it comes out - I already have the first 5.  And then just pray he or a proxy gets book 7 done.  Then I can contentedly read the whole series again.

We'll see.  Life is what it is.

1 hour ago, SinisterDeath said:

Entirely subjective, but IMO, it's a Book. Reading it is infinitely more valuable then time wasted in WoW.

Winds of Winter, not World of Warcraft...

Sorry for the confusion.

43 minutes ago, SinisterDeath said:

Not me.  What are we at 11/12 years since the last book?  Can't see investing more time in the series with a very good chance it won't be completed.  I don't mind wasting $30 bucks for WoW on the off chance it all comes together, but time is too valuable...

4 hours ago, Sir_Charrid said:

But one thing it was taught me, never again will I ever start a series written by a single

author before the whole series has been finished, especially if that author is old or unwell or if the series looks like it will span more then a trilogy. 

For real!!  If GRRM ever publishes Winds of Winter, I will purchase it and put it on the shelf unread.  Until all 7 books are published, I will not read them again.

I'm fine with Demandred not knowing.  Shows his fallibility.  He is only human...

I'm also fine without having everything tied with a neat bow.  A bit of mystery is all good.

4 hours ago, DigificWriter said:

For all that some people can quibble - and are quibbling- with the creative choices that Rafe and his entire production team have made and are making, everything that they're doing is purposeful and geared towards making the best possible adaptation of WoT that they can and delivering something that serves both general audiences and the existing WoT fanbase (even though not all of the latter will accept their efforts in that regard).

It is not quibbling to discuss whether or not someone likes or dislikes specific creative choices Rafe and his team have made.  People feel how they feel for specific reasons: it was like/unlike the book, the scene was/wasn't necessary, the writing was good/bad, the CGI was great/awful...

37 minutes ago, Dark Ones Taint said:

 

How much subtle foreshadowing is there over multiple reads?  I would love to pick up on some easter eggs.  I know there will be obvious stuff, I am just hoping for some gems that reward the reader!

There are many.  One I came across in tGH - Siuan and Moiraine are talking about being found out by the Hall for their meddling with Rand.  About the possibility of being Stilled and then being put in the kitchens as punishment.  She would be held in the Tower as an example.  But who could rally around a pathetic figure that scrubbed pots all day.

This is book two.  Remember a similar example from later...?

2 hours ago, Dark Ones Taint said:

 

 

Thanks! I was honestly shocked that it was an available username, especially after all these years. I am glad no one took it!  Sometimes it felt like Jordan was intentionally using it, as an inside joke.  

His use of fingering had me laughing as well, but in that case it seemed like he just refused to use any other synonym.  Perrin 'fingering his axe" just seemed too perfect, but at some point all the characters are fingering, including sausage fingered Loial!  

 

Rand refusing to deal with things/people, was a constant annoyance to me!  He puts talking to the sea folk off forever and can't be bothered to meet with the borderlanders...because he does't know what they are up to...

But letting Taim loose is by far the worst.  Hell, Egwene might actually have lived were it not for Rand's ineptitude.  

People have flaws - some of Rand's were avoidance/procrastination.  The fact that Jordan was able to elicit an emotional response shows how good his writing was.  He made us love and hate his characters - what an author is supposed to do.