House of Dragons vs. Rings of Power (and a touch of Wheel of Time)

[Demetrios1453]

Didn't they say that about season 2? I never got around to watching it.

Yes they did, and Season 2 is better than Season 1. It definitely has its issues still, and some weak points, but it is notably better.

Season 3 thus far is probably further above Season 2 than Season 2 is above Season 1. It's quite visibly far above the other two in its quality. The weave effects for the One Power are stunning now. Plus they perfectly hit (again) on some casting of key roles in the new season. Shohreh Aghdashloo for example is simply amazing as Elaida, which isn't really surprising as she elevates any role she takes...

 

[Rabulias]

I agree that Wheel of Time makes improvements throughout the seasons, though I have not read the books. IMO, season one's acting, production and set design,, dialog, special effects, and pacing were all so much better in episode 8 than episode 1. If I had been a producer on the show finishing up the end of season one, I would have said "We know what we are doing now. We need to go back and re-do some things in the first half of the season. We can improve them." Obviously money and time would not allow that, and probably the producers did feel that way.

IMO, it is rare for such a noticeable improvement in a show over just eight episodes. Season two and now the start of season three have continued to improve. I don't want to build it up as "OMG the greatest evah!" but it is an engaging show that is well-made. I would recommend folks stick through it to at least the end of season one and see if they see improvement.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

IMO, it is rare for such a noticeable improvement in a show over just eight episodes. Season two and now the start of season three have continued to improve. I don't want to build it up as "OMG the greatest evah!" but it is an engaging show that is well-made. I would recommend folks stick through it to at least the end of season one and see if they see improvement.

Yeah it's very notable how much GoT has improved. The acting and chemistry between the characters is wildly, insanely better by the start of S3 than it is in say, the first few episodes of S1. I've rarely seen that level of improvement (particularly in the younger characters). The show also looks much better, which I think is mostly down to dialling in what they can do costuming-wise (budget is not infinite!) and really getting the colour-grading locked down. It's gone from "Who cares" to "I'd actually be upset if this show got cancelled" for me.

(Whereas Rings of Power went from "This show has potential" to "PLS SAVE UR MONEY AND STOP MAKING THIS" with S2)

 

[doctorbadwolf]

No, the costumes abd sets were obviously and extremely expensive...and just because the actors aren't stars doesn't mean they don’t draw pay. It was a large cast, and they all needed to be paid.

$10 million is a lot, but the show demonstrated it being spent.

The only good things I can say about the show are the cast, sets, and costumes. None of it looks remotely cheap, and this from someone who despises the show and will never give money to its show runner ever again due to how dreadfully and egregiously he took a steaming dump on the source material while “adapting” it.

 

[Parmandur]

The only good things I can say about the show are the cast, sets, and costumes. None of it looks remotely cheap, and this from someone who despises the show and will never give money to its show runner ever again due to how dreadfully and egregiously he took a steaming dump on the source material while “adapting” it.

I do feel there is something to the criticism thst some of the costumes almost are too good, and could use a little more down-to-eaeth grittiness. But cheap they are not.

I don't entirely blame the showrunner: between studio dictates and the adaptation-resistant material, any adaptation was going to be difficult to pull off. But, yeah, given the limited screentike, choosing to cut most everything and then invent nee material, and change so much of the character dynamics...not good choices, though I am willing to believe subsequent seasons have improved.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I do feel there is something to the criticism thst some of the costumes almost are too good, and could use a little more down-to-eaeth grittiness. But cheap they are not.

I don't entirely blame the showrunner: between studio dictates and the adaptation-resistant material, any adaptation was going to be difficult to pull off. But, yeah, given the limited screentike, choosing to cut most everything and then invent nee material, and change so much of the character dynamics...not good choices, though I am willing to believe subsequent seasons have improved.

Yeah I wasn’t expecting super faithful, for sure. So much was watered down as if the audience is stupid, and then stuff like changing the whole vibe of key characters, etc.

I’m all for making all 6 taverin (sp?), but some changes were just lame and boring like changing the swords (which have a specific and very cool appearance) or what instrument Thom plays, while others were too egregious to keep watching (Perrin).

But damn the visuals and casting are on point….

 

[Stalker0]

Yeah it's very notable how much GoT has improved.

Are you talking about WOT (wheel or time) or Game of Thrones (GOT)?

 

[Parmandur]

Yeah I wasn’t expecting super faithful, for sure. So much was watered down as if the audience is stupid, and then stuff like changing the whole vibe of key characters, etc.

I’m all for making all 6 taverin (sp?), but some changes were just lame and boring like changing the swords (which have a specific and very cool appearance) or what instrument Thom plays, while others were too egregious to keep watching (Perrin).

But damn the visuals and casting are on point….

The Perrin changes are pretty unforgiveable, since theybmiss the entire point yhwt the PTSD thwt haunts Perrin throughout the series was the justifiable combat slaying of two enemies trying to kill him and his friends...but that messed him up. Making it about accidentally murdering his wife? So weird.

 

[payn]

Yeah I wasn’t expecting super faithful, for sure. So much was watered down as if the audience is stupid, and then stuff like changing the whole vibe of key characters, etc.

I’m all for making all 6 taverin (sp?), but some changes were just lame and boring like changing the swords (which have a specific and very cool appearance) or what instrument Thom plays, while others were too egregious to keep watching (Perrin).

But damn the visuals and casting are on point….

Where the hell did Thom go?

 

[TheSword]

Where the hell did Thom go?

I think he’ll return in Tear which is the point he really starts to do stuff. He’s obviously been downgraded as a character. Understandable.