Legend of the Seeker

[cookster50]

Not sure if we have many fantasy fans here, but for anyone that has read the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind(first 3-4 great, then got preachy), a tv series loosely based on the books starts November 1st.
http://www.legendoftheseeker.com/

The trailor looks good, but it is a real brief look. The fact that the producers of Hercules and Xena are in on it scares me......

[Fire Me Boy!]

My wife and I watched the first episode last night on the DVR. It wasn't bad. Kim's a fan of the books, so she'll definitely keep watching. I told her last night I'd keep watching with her until I got bored.

[keg in kc]

There's another thread on here somewhere, probably page 2 or 3. I'm too lazy to look it up.

The first two hours weren't bad, although they deviated pretty far from the books.

The third hour was awful.

[unlurking]

I set it for TIVO, but have expectations of utter disappointment.

[Jawshco]

I'm a huge fan of the Sword of Truth books, and a definite Raimi fan all the way back to the original Evil Dead days. So I'm going to keep watching this show and will hope it improves.

In the book, Goodkind describes Kahlan like some kind of sexual goddess of destruction- like Wonder Woman with her horns on. I mean she cuts off a bad guys balls and feeds it to him in the book, so that's too extreme for TV, but the TV Kahlan just seems unimpressive so far in comparison.

I like the Wizard and Richard is okay too. I guess I'll wait it out. Lord knows, when Bruce Campbell shows up- we'll know how liberal Raimi is willing to be with story. I don't mind them being campy with this series, it had it's funny moments in the books too. In fact, it could be campier if they wanted. I just want it to be interesting- I'll keep hopeful on that. I just wish that one of the stations would play it at a decent hour.

[Jawshco]

Wow, the first two episodes were somewhat close to the book, but having seen the fourth episode, I'm wondering if they're going to be using the original story line at all. It's pretty much it's own continuity now. I guess that's okay. The horny wizard cracks me up. It's a lot different from the Wizard in the books who only boned the bone lady.

[unlurking]

I'm guessing at this point, it's just run around the country side doing good deeds, occasionally fighting Rahl and his minions. I figure they'll progress along the plot line around the beginning and end of each season, if then. This is the knew Xena/Hercules, or a fantasy version of the A-Team.

[cookster50]

Yeah, I'd love to see the books in movie form, no way it would work as a tv series. Anyone else really not like the actress playing Kahlan? Her little "half" smile or whatever is always on her face annoys me.

[JD10367]

Apparently, this show has officially been cancelled.

Crying shame. Bridget Regan (Kahlan) and Tabrett Bethell (Cara) are incredibly hot, and it was worth tuning in every week just to see how they looked.

[Jawshco]

Ah, man, really? That sucks. I don't love the show, but I'm with you about the chicks. That and Fantasy action always has me putting it on my DVR. They strayed sooo far from the books though. I guess that really alienated the Goodkind fan base. I don't know why... I've read all those books. They're Not some sacred work of art. A couple of them are down right stinkers.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Jawshco

Ah, man, really? That sucks. I don't love the show, but I'm with you about the chicks. That and Fantasy action always has me putting it on my DVR. They strayed sooo far from the books though. I guess that really alienated the Goodkind fan base. I don't know why... I've read all those books. They're Not some sacred work of art. A couple of them are down right stinkers.

First book ("Wizard's First Rule") was ****ing awesome.

Second book ("Stone Of Tears") was really damn good.

Third book ("Blood Of The Fold") started to lose me a bit.

Fourth book ("Temple Of The Winds") was pretty good.

After that, it all became a blur. The only thing that stands out in my memory is the Domini Dirtch (sp?), because I loved the concept. But every book became the same. "Oh, look, Kahlan and Richard are finally together... No, but wait! They've been separated again!" And the rest of the 999 pages was them eventually working out the trouble and finishing the book together again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

If you're not familiar with Terry Brooks, read his "Shannara" series. They're pretty much "Tolkien For Dummies". But the smart thing Brooks does is move the story down the generations. The first book ("Sword of Shannara") is about two brothers (one of them's adopted, but you get the point). The second book ("Elfstones of Shannara") is about the son of one of the brothers. The third book ("Wishsong of Shannara") is about the children of that son. Et cetera. So it's the same idea playing out--magic, elves, trolls, gnomes, monsters--but it's different people and different quests.

Anyways, back to the series... At first I hated the idea that they played fast and loose with the book storylines. But as the series has gone on they've worked a lot of the book's storylines into the episodes (Rada Han, Sisters of the Light, etc.,.). So it's sort of like a retelling of the Goodkind universe, not just a recreation of the books. I didn't like the casting for Richard or Zedd at first but, as it's gone on, I've gotten used to them.

And I cannot stress how much I want to both Regan and Bethell. Holy crap. Bethell's got sexy eyes and BJ lips and looks ridiculously hot in the red leather, and Regan works the whole boobs and pale skin angle (I think she's actually a redhead but plays the part dark-haired). I hope they both find work again, and soon, which requires skin to be showing.

[keg in kc]

I watched most of the first season, because there just isn't any fantasy on TV, but never watched the second. Basically, it's a bad series of books, so I'm not surprised that it ended up being a bad TV series.

Thankfully winter is coming, and we get Game of Thrones in a year.

[Jawshco]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I watched most of the first season, because there just isn't any fantasy on TV, but never watched the second. Basically, it's a bad series of books, so I'm not surprised that it ended up being a bad TV series.

I would disagree. Even if only 4 of the 11 books in the series are good and 3 are downright awful, I still say it's better than most fantasy series.

As far as the show is concerned, I think season 2 has been more entertaining than season 1, but it pissed off the fans of the books because some of the episodes are completely contrary to the main theme of the books.

But yeah, the show is all about the girls! That alone makes me hope another station picks it up.

Until then, I'll have to content myself with Merlin.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Jawshco

I would disagree. Even if only 4 of the 11 books in the series are good and 3 are downright awful, I still say it's better than most fantasy series.

It's all a matter of opinion and personal taste, but I've read a lot of fantasy, and I'd rate that series of books somewhere down toward the bottom of the pile, along with the Shannara series from Terry Brooks. There's a lot better fantasy out there, particularly in the last decade to fifteen years. In my opinion of course...

[Mr Luzcious]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

It's all a matter of opinion and personal taste, but I've read a lot of fantasy, and I'd rate that series of books somewhere down toward the bottom of the pile, along with the Shannara series from Terry Brooks. There's a lot better fantasy out there, particularly in the last decade to fifteen years. In my opinion of course...

What do you consider good fantasy?