Wheel of Time S3

[TheSword]

I'm not even with this show, but if you enjoyed the first two seasons, I can say that where this Season is headed could be very next level (The Shadow Rising is often the fan favorite novel, and the climaxes are a big part of that).

It’s the consciousness raising bit that makes you see everything in a new light and really illuminated the cosmic scale of the series. Hopefully they do it justice.

 

[payn]

I'm not even with this show, but if you enjoyed the first two seasons, I can say that where this Season is headed could be very next level (The Shadow Rising is often the fan favorite novel, and the climaxes are a big part of that).

Mostly it just feels like they are trying to cram 8 hours of material into 3, but somehow, still making it feel slow. Well, except the bad ass witch fight in the beginning. However, the city goes back to normal immediately. Everyone just shrugs and says, "witches be crazy"...

 

[Parmandur]

Mostly it just feels like they are trying to cram 8 hours of material into 3, but somehow, still making it feel slow. Well, except the bad ass witch fight in the beginning. However, the city goes back to normal immediately. Everyone just shrugs and says, "witches be crazy"...

Oh, no, they are cramming way more than 8 hours of material into too little space. That has been the shows problem since Season 1.

 

[OB1]

Oh, no, they are cramming way more than 8 hours of material into too little space. That has been the shows problem since Season 1.

This is coming from someone who hasn't finished reading the books, but I find the flow of the show to be far superior to that of the books (I'm on Path of Daggers currently). The books meander and take so much time to get places (enjoyable time! but still so much as to forget all of the little details along the journey) that I find myself struggling to keep the main thread being woven straight in my head.

In that way, it's very similar to my experience with LotR. I read the books once in HS, and once again shortly before the movies first came out, and had absolutely zero idea of who anyone was or what exactly it was they were doing. The films, wonderfully condensed as they were, finally made it all make sense in my head.

Also interesting to note that LotR basically condensed each book into about 3.5 hours, and seasons 2 and now 3 of WoT seem to be doing the same, spending about 3.5 hours per Jordan novel.

 

[nevin]

Feel like this dropped out of knowhere onto Amazon yesterday (the first 3 episodes at least). Didn't see a discussion thread for S3 so figured I'd get it started!

I got through the first 2, and while some of the FX are a bit rough this season, overall I'm digging it. Def some interesting choices with how their changing things (I'm currently on book 8 of my first reed through of the novels), but as with the first two seasons, so far it feels like the way they are condensing storylines works. Would love to hear from WOT experts what your thoughts are.

I've stated before I have a cognitive dissonance problem with the books in my head clashing with the TV show storyline. But at least 50 percent of those books could be removed from the story and you'd lose almost nothing. (And I loved them but it's true). Also several story lines that just dropped out with no resolution or explanation could be expanded and you could probably improve the story. So condensing it probably makes a better story. But I don't know that I'll ever watch it. My brain just won't let go of the mangled timeline and plot.

 

[Parmandur]

This is coming from someone who hasn't finished reading the books, but I find the flow of the show to be far superior to that of the books (I'm on Path of Daggers currently). The books meander and take so much time to get places (enjoyable time! but still so much as to forget all of the little details along the journey) that I find myself struggling to keep the main thread being woven straight in my head.

Path of Daggers is about peak meandering (it helps to see it for what it is, a novel about Jordan's existential experience of the pointlessness of the Vietnam War). It does find the way in a few books, Knife of Dreams might be one of the finest things ever written, and largely justifies the meandering slog books. And that is where I am afraid the show is going to trip up: very little that happens in the Wheel of Time doesn't pay off in the final big picture...so pulling too many threads will unweave the tapestry.

In that way, it's very similar to my experience with LotR. I read the books once in HS, and once again shortly before the movies first came out, and had absolutely zero idea of who anyone was or what exactly it was they were doing. The films, wonderfully condensed as they were, finally made it all make sense in my head.

When the movies had come out when I was 26, I had moved past the Simirlilion into the Real Stuff, lol.

Also interesting to note that LotR basically condensed each book into about 3.5 hours, and seasons 2 and now 3 of WoT seem to be doing the same, spending about 3.5 hours per Jordan novel.

It is worth considering how much larger in scope the Wheel of Time is than LotR: in the final analysis, the series is about 10 metric Lord of the Rings trilogies. Shadow Rising alone is nearly the length of the combined trilogy...

Honestly, the only way to make a really satisfying adaptation would be a very long fork cartoon: like the Shadow Rising in 58 episodes of 25 minutes.

 

[nevin]

Path of Daggers is about peak meandering (it helps to see it for what it is, a novel about Jordan's existential experience of the pointlessness of the Vietnam War). It does find the way in a few books, Knife of Dreams might be one of the finest things ever written, and largely justifies the meandering slog books. And that is where I am afraid the show is going to trip up: very little that happens in the Wheel of Time doesn't pay off in the final big picture...so pulling too many threads will unweave the tapestry.

When the movies had come out when I was 26, I had moved past the Simirlilion into the Real Stuff, lol.

It is worth considering how much larger in scope the Wheel of Time is than LotR: in the final analysis, the series is about 10 metric Lord of the Rings trilogies. Shadow Rising alone is nearly the length of the combined trilogy...

Honestly, the only way to make a really satisfying adaptation would be a very long fork cartoon: like the Shadow Rising in 58 episodes of 25 minutes.

Tons of stuff that happen in the books never pay off. Eugene travels to alternate realities via the dream. The people behind the doors that take mat's memories but we never find out why. The whole story arc of Mat seemingly heading towards a great destiny of perhaps cleansing the SeanChean empire of evil that just fizzles into nothing. There are at least 2 dozen story lines in these books that could be their own trilogies that just fizzle into nothing

 

[OB1]

I've stated before I have a cognitive dissonance problem with the books in my head clashing with the TV show storyline. But at least 50 percent of those books could be removed from the story and you'd lose almost nothing. (And I loved them but it's true). Also several story lines that just dropped out with no resolution or explanation could be expanded and you could probably improve the story. So condensing it probably makes a better story. But I don't know that I'll ever watch it. My brain just won't let go of the mangled timeline and plot.

That makes sense. I'm almost the exact opposite when it comes to stories in two different mediums. All I see is the resonant threads, and forget all the differences. Heck, I'm a huge Dark Tower book series fan, and can even enjoy the movie for what it is.

Though I will say it's odd when I see something in one that my brain instantly puts into the other whether it was meant to be there or not. For example

Spoiler: S3 and Book Spoilers

Elaine's mom's Ae Sedai (Avisarala from the expanse) being the person pushing the coup post Black Aja reveal. If that is who was responsible in the books, I had completly missed that connection. And if not, it feels totally right. So now in my head that's the way it went down in the books, even though a part of my brain thinks it's wrong.)

And just to be clear again. I'm absolutely loving Jordan's novels, it's just taking me a while to get through these middle books. Especially after the high that was 4-6. And I'm loving the show too. Season 2 was responsible for me giving the books another try after I gave up 10 years or so ago after the Eye of the World. Now I can't believe I waited so long to read them.

 

[TheSword]

Tons of stuff that happen in the books never pay off. Eugene travels to alternate realities via the dream. The people behind the doors that take mat's memories but we never find out why. The whole story arc of Mat seemingly heading towards a great destiny of perhaps cleansing the SeanChean empire of evil that just fizzles into nothing. There are at least 2 dozen story lines in these books that could be their own trilogies that just fizzle into nothing

What what whaaaaat?! All those things pay off.

Spoiler

Egwene becomes an expert in the world of dreams and uses it to defeat the black ajah and one of the most deadly forsaken!

The Eelfinn restore Matt’s memories, not take them, and they do it because they feed/nourish/enjoy the experience of fated individuals… “the savor, the savor!” and Matt returns to them to do one of the most badass things in the series - rescue Moirraine.

Matt becomes the top general of the Seanchan armies and leads them to victory in the last battle.

How can you say these things don’t reach a satisfactory conclusions?!

 

[TheSword]

That makes sense. I'm almost the exact opposite when it comes to stories in two different mediums. All I see is the resonant threads, and forget all the differences. Heck, I'm a huge Dark Tower book series fan, and can even enjoy the movie for what it is.

Though I will say it's odd when I see something in one that my brain instantly puts into the other whether it was meant to be there or not. For example

Spoiler: S3 and Book Spoilers

Elaine's mom's Ae Sedai (Avisarala from the expanse) being the person pushing the coup post Black Aja reveal. If that is who was responsible in the books, I had completly missed that connection. And if not, it feels totally right. So now in my head that's the way it went down in the books, even though a part of my brain thinks it's wrong.)

And just to be clear again. I'm absolutely loving Jordan's novels, it's just taking me a while to get through these middle books. Especially after the high that was 4-6. And I'm loving the show too. Season 2 was responsible for me giving the books another try after I gave up 10 years or so ago after the Eye of the World. Now I can't believe I waited so long to read them.

I would say take your time and enjoy them. It’s all world building that pays off in the end. WOT is one of the few series that convincingly lets all 10 of its main characters be totally badasses. That’s no mean feat!