Tobias Carawin
Citizen
Hi everyone, I have stayed away from the forums for a long time in anticipation of the WoT Amazon series. I tried to stay away from the leaks and rumors so that I could enjoy the series when it is released. Unfortunately, my buddy has a loose tongue and had peaked my interest in some of the leaks that I had to check out.
*Before I explain anything further, I would like to express that I am somewhat of a purist in what I hope to see in the Amazon series. I would like them to stick as close as possible to the source material concerning the events, the people, and the rules each culture are defined by. I have no issues with them adding additional content that follows the rules of the world that RJ created. What I fear is major alterations to the events, story, or rules.
I was on a long road trip with a friend when he revealed a leak from the amazon series…
The purist in me is screaming that this is wrong. If they were willing to make this small change, then what else will they do?
My friend then revealed several other leaks and rumors that also concerned me so much that I had to research them myself. I am now very familiar with all the websites, podcasts, YouTubers, and other media outlets that release leaks and rumors. I don’t want to go into detail about any of them except to relay that some are reasonable and that some worry me.
Adapting a book series to a TV show is extraordinarily difficult. The adaptation must cater to fans of the book series and to newcomers without one thread of familiarity of the series. This means that there will be changes. And I ask you to try to accept these changes. Not as canon. But as an alternate story. Possibly retold through generations and changed with each retelling.
This may or may not be the purist WoT TV series that I wanted… but I can’t see any reason to not give this adaptation my support when it will bring more people into our community.
I am curious how many of you have struggled like I have to accept possible change within the WoT series.
*Before I explain anything further, I would like to express that I am somewhat of a purist in what I hope to see in the Amazon series. I would like them to stick as close as possible to the source material concerning the events, the people, and the rules each culture are defined by. I have no issues with them adding additional content that follows the rules of the world that RJ created. What I fear is major alterations to the events, story, or rules.
I was on a long road trip with a friend when he revealed a leak from the amazon series…
He explained that one leak suggests that Hightower (Taren Ferryman) dies when going after his sinking ferry.
I have major concerns with this. My first thought was that they were breaking from the source material. On second thought… this is not a major change and it changes little in the overall story arc. I accepted the possible change for about fifteen seconds when I realized that they just broke one of the most important rules in the WoT. The last of the three oaths an Aes Sedai takes is:
Never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Darkfriends or Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme defense of her life, the life of her Warder, or another Aes Sedai.
Is this an example of the power being used as a weapon? I guess you could make arguments either way… but for me, harming someone with the power in any way is using it as a weapon. Clearly, it is not Moiraine’s intent to kill Hightower. I believe that if Hightower tried to go after his sinking ferry, Moiraine would have to stop him or stop her weave from killing him at the least. I personally see this as a major breaking of one of the biggest rules within the WoT. But I understand why they might do it. It is hard to adapt things like feelings and internal thoughts onto film. This is a quick way to tell newcomers to the WoT series that Moiraine is a woman prepared to do anything to see her mission to the end.
I have major concerns with this. My first thought was that they were breaking from the source material. On second thought… this is not a major change and it changes little in the overall story arc. I accepted the possible change for about fifteen seconds when I realized that they just broke one of the most important rules in the WoT. The last of the three oaths an Aes Sedai takes is:
Never to use the One Power as a weapon except against Darkfriends or Shadowspawn, or in the last extreme defense of her life, the life of her Warder, or another Aes Sedai.
Is this an example of the power being used as a weapon? I guess you could make arguments either way… but for me, harming someone with the power in any way is using it as a weapon. Clearly, it is not Moiraine’s intent to kill Hightower. I believe that if Hightower tried to go after his sinking ferry, Moiraine would have to stop him or stop her weave from killing him at the least. I personally see this as a major breaking of one of the biggest rules within the WoT. But I understand why they might do it. It is hard to adapt things like feelings and internal thoughts onto film. This is a quick way to tell newcomers to the WoT series that Moiraine is a woman prepared to do anything to see her mission to the end.
The purist in me is screaming that this is wrong. If they were willing to make this small change, then what else will they do?
My friend then revealed several other leaks and rumors that also concerned me so much that I had to research them myself. I am now very familiar with all the websites, podcasts, YouTubers, and other media outlets that release leaks and rumors. I don’t want to go into detail about any of them except to relay that some are reasonable and that some worry me.
Assuming there is truth in the leaks and rumors, this does not feel like the WoT TV series I had hoped for. This feels like an alternate dimension from the WoT. It feels like… an alternate reality from the portal stones! No. This does not seem to be what I wanted from the WoT series. But it can still be an enjoyable experience. I have spent too long waiting for any type of wheel of time content to be a grumpy purist when I can just accept it as a portal stone reflection of the story we all know and love.
Adapting a book series to a TV show is extraordinarily difficult. The adaptation must cater to fans of the book series and to newcomers without one thread of familiarity of the series. This means that there will be changes. And I ask you to try to accept these changes. Not as canon. But as an alternate story. Possibly retold through generations and changed with each retelling.
This may or may not be the purist WoT TV series that I wanted… but I can’t see any reason to not give this adaptation my support when it will bring more people into our community.
I am curious how many of you have struggled like I have to accept possible change within the WoT series.