Wheel of Time Discussion - Spoilers(with book spoilers)

[Maxperson]

Exactly my point.

Beyond that, even among people who like sci-fi and fantasy, I know a good number who never even gave GoT a shot due to a lack of interest or distaste, so the ceiling is higher for what a fantasy property can accomplish, frankly.

Flip side of that, though, is that my wife and her girlfriends who don't get a rat's behind about fantasy and gaming all watched Game of Thrones. It appealed to a wider audience, probably because there was less fantasy than Wheel of Time has, so is more relatable to those who are not into fantasy.

 

[payn]

Flip side of that, though, is that my wife and her girlfriends who don't get a rat's behind about fantasy and gaming all watched Game of Thrones. It appealed to a wider audience, probably because there was less fantasy than Wheel of Time has, so is more relatable to those who are not into fantasy.

Right, GoT was able to transcend genre. WoT isn't likely to do that.

 

[Mercurius]

The GoT crowd was everybody so its an attractive crowd to target. Making a series isnt as easy as publishing a book, you cant focus on diehard cult fans and need to expand the material.

Yeah, but the LotR was also "everybody," and they stuck true to the spirit of Tolkien (for the most part) and didn't add unecessary sexiness.

You don't need to sexy up Middle-earth to make it appealing to a large number of folks. In fact, GoT is an example of narrowing the market to a certain age, as it was rated R (and then some).

LotR added--or emphasized--romantic elements that were mostly just implied in the books, but did so tastefully and non-gratuitously (that is, not for cheap thrills). Sexifying Middle-earth, say with a Bree-town brothel or Rivendell orgy or Hobbiton key-party, would just be a cheap thrill that would intrude upon the mythic atmosphere that is so intrinsic to Tolkien's world.

I have nothing against sexuality - in its place. Otherwise it is like adding sugar to everything, which spikes your endorphins but is a cheap tactic.

 

[Mercurius]

Flip side of that, though, is that my wife and her girlfriends who don't get a rat's behind about fantasy and gaming all watched Game of Thrones. It appealed to a wider audience, probably because there was less fantasy than Wheel of Time has, so is more relatable to those who are not into fantasy.

Yes, true, although WoT can make up some of the difference with a younger demographic. I don't expect it to be a GoT level phenomena, but I don't think you have to copy all the GoT elements to equal that level.

 

[Maxperson]

Yeah, but the LotR was also "everybody," and they stuck true to the spirit of Tolkien (for the most part) and didn't add unecessary sexiness.

Lord of the Rings was also a movie, not a T.V. show. That makes a difference to viewership and quality. Fellowship of the Ring sold 54 million tickets in the U.S. and Canada and included people who saw the movie multiple times, of which there were a lot.

 

[Parmandur]

Lord of the Rings was also a movie, not a T.V. show. That makes a difference to viewership and quality. Fellowship of the Ring sold 54 million tickets in the U.S. and Canada and included people who saw the movie multiple times, of which there were a lot.

Even accounting for multiple viewings, LotR had a bigger pop culture impact than GoT, particularly in longevity.

 

[Parmandur]

Right, GoT was able to transcend genre. WoT isn't likely to do that.

Well, time will tell: I don't expect it to, the way it has been handled.

 

[Maxperson]

Even accounting for multiple viewings, LotR had a bigger pop culture impact than GoT, particularly in longevity.

Yeah, but it also had the advantage of being THE known fantasy series for a great many people who didn't do fantasy. Many more people had heard of it before the movies came out.

 

[payn]

Well, time will tell: I don't expect it to, the way it has been handled.

Now that is interesting. Is there a way it could be handled that could get it to GoT level and/or beyond? I haven't read the material, but what I have heard from people is that its unlikely. Im curious what elements are missed in the series?

 

[Mercurius]

Lord of the Rings was also a movie, not a T.V. show. That makes a difference to viewership and quality. Fellowship of the Ring sold 54 million tickets in the U.S. and Canada and included people who saw the movie multiple times, of which there were a lot.

Yes, but that doesn't negate the point I was making, which is basically that while, yes, sex sells, selling doesn't require sex. I mean, do you think that LotR wouldn't have been wildly successful as a series?