I haven’t even watched season 2. Does it get any better than Season 1?
this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2024
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Wheel of Time
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Depends on what you expect. I liked it, but I didn't have too many problems with season 1 either (well, except for the last episode).
The show is clearly its own thing and does a lot of things differently. Imho not worse, just different. But for those who were hoping that the series would follow the books closely, I fear that the show will never be good.
I didn't enjoy season one because I felt it was poorly done. Not because it didn't follow the books (which I've read three or four times), but because I felt it was poorly written.
If the subsequent seasons are getting better, I might go back and give it another shot.
Worth remembering that some of season 1's problems (not all of them...not by a long shot, but some of the ones that stuck in many viewers' minds) were out of the showrunners' hands, as they had to adapt to filming during COVID, which had multiple problematic effects of not being able to spend the time doing more rounds of feedback and revision (for example, we know Sanderson reviewed and gave feedback on earlier episodes, but was unable to do it for the last few because of the changed production timeframes) and also have reducing how many characters they could have on screen at once. They also lost access to Mat's actor suddenly, after he quit (allegedly for family and/or mental health reasons).
Season 2 was worse, if you didn’t think the writing was good in season 1, the writing was noticeably worse in season 2. I can’t imagine how terrible season 3 will be.
Should have just did there own thing
Going into season 2, I was ready to write it off completely. That said, I thought it was a major improvement over the first.
Still deviated from the books more than I would have liked, but it was enough of a redemption that I will be watching season 3.
I liked season 2 much more than season 1, but also I had lower expectations.
Haha. That says a lot.
I mean to say, season 1’s ending made me mad, so I went into season 2 expecting it to suck. It didn’t, so I enjoyed it. 😆
That's even more promising. It was the episode one finale that really turned me off too.
No
The first season felt generic and blank. I don't remember the books much, but I was expecting likeable characters in an exciting and detailed world.
The characters were bland (except Perrin), and the world was a pile of cliches (who are the Children of Light? What's with the evil ruins?). Also, Matt is no fun and angsty.
The finale felt rushed and undramatic.
I'll jump into season 3 if it gets decent reviews.
Also, Matt is no fun and angsty.
So, just like he is for like the first 3 books, then?
I thought he was comic relief at some point. Does that come later?
I may have been overstating it by saying "first 3 books", but it's at least most of the first 2. I just went through my chat history with my sister where I basically live blogged my first reading of the series. It included such gems as:
from book 1, and
Can’t stand Mat. Constant whiner.
In book 2.
Though he's not without good moments in the earlier books too:
I'm not sure what book this was from:
but clearly my read on Mat had not changed by this point, though it's possible it had started shifting. By the time he goes to help collect the Bowl of Winds my opinion had more or less changed. And definitely by the later books I really enjoyed his character.
I think he starts becoming a really good character after he's gone through the ter'angreal in Rhuidean.
It's been 30 years since I read the first few books, so I guess I mixed up fun new Mat with old distrustful Mat.
So good for the showrunners for keeping him on brand? I guess.
Season 2 was a significant upgrade from S1.
Evil Ruins is Shadar Logoth, a once good and prosperous city that slowly became selfish and paranoid. The effect became so powerful that the city itself became infected with an evil taint that lingers on every stone and item in the confines of the city.
The Children of the Light are an Inquisition analog. Any group that uses violence, black/white thinking and believing that any actions they perform MUST be good, because they are performing it and they are good is prime real-estate for infection by Darkfriends.
In the books, the red ruby dagger is a conduit for that evil, which is distinct from the Dark One's evil.
Padin Fain was a Darkfriend who became obsessed with the dagger, merged with it's evil and became something new entirely. He acts as a 3rd side in the Dragon vs Dark One struggle.
Making him one of the Chosen neatens the story up a little, but I think we'll miss the chaos of his presence.
I still have hope. The first two seasons were just serviceable enough that if it doesn't decline in general quality and the actors become more comfortable in their roles as you would expect, I would consider it a comparative win for fantasy adaptations. They have a chance to make something exciting with the Aeiel this season. I hope Shoreh Agdashloo is given a chance to shine as I've never seen a property that was made worse by her involvement.
I can't believe it's not canceled yet.
Same, it's so awful.