Legend of the Seeker by singate

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

I've tried to watch it a couple times. My main question has been, "Why did they buy the rights to this story if they didn't want to use the story?" The story they're telling could have easily been told with different characters, maybe a few different abilities, and some generic magical objects. Now I'm not saying it's a bad story, it seems like it has merit, but it bears very little resemblance to the books I have read and loved so well. While it's nice to see a show involving magic and women (or at least one woman) who can swordfight and generally kick ass back on the air, I'm having major difficulty getting into it just because I kind of get a jolt every time one of the characters is mentioned by name, because I've had those characters living in my head for so very many years, and it's often odd to see them in these scenarios.
It's an epic story, and definitely would take a series to tell, but I don't think this series is telling it.

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Monday, January 12, 2009 4:51 PM

I watched the pilot, and I have to watch my tongue in the sf writers circle, offend no one, but I imagine that he can't be happy with the results. The show lost me about 20 seconds in. Horses can turn.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:00 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
I've tried to watch it a couple times. My main question has been, "Why did they buy the rights to this story if they didn't want to use the story?" The story they're telling could have easily been told with different characters, maybe a few different abilities, and some generic magical objects. Now I'm not saying it's a bad story, it seems like it has merit, but it bears very little resemblance to the books I have read and loved so well. While it's nice to see a show involving magic and women (or at least one woman) who can swordfight and generally kick ass back on the air, I'm having major difficulty getting into it just because I kind of get a jolt every time one of the characters is mentioned by name, because I've had those characters living in my head for so very many years, and it's often odd to see them in these scenarios.
It's an epic story, and definitely would take a series to tell, but I don't think this series is telling it.

Agreed.

I was very excited about this show when I first heard about it as I am a fan of the books, but what they are showing bears little resemblance to the story told in the novels.

I fell off after episode three and have had no interest in watching any more. As PR said, they could have done this as another series without tampering with the characters and setting I have come to know and enjoy. Why screw with an existing world if you had no intention of really using it?

__________________________________________
Holding the line since December '02!

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009 3:38 AM

ARTCAT81

I watched the first episode, but I am usually busy when it airs, and I do not own tivo. So, that being said, I can only critique the first episode. Watch me do this with no spoilers!

The first half, the opening scene the way they filmed it was beautiful, though nonsensical. The way they filmed it is very reminiscent of LOTR, gorgeous place to film and angles are similar. It comes across as epic (if you check your horse knowledge and common sense at the door). CGI could have been way better and it didnt flow like the rest of the first half. The second half it devolves into something akin to hercules and xena, granted same folks behind it, but gorramit,the first half visually set the bar high, the second half was a total let down visually.

I think the characters are reasonably cast, and I would have liked to see more, just the time it is on sucks for me.

Browncoats are the shiniest folks in the 'verse
www.texasartcat.com/bluesun.html <--my bluesunshop

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009 8:08 AM

I knew there was going to be trouble when it said that the first episode was taken from the first two books.

Scorsese, being the only director I've seen with the guts to make a direct page-screen parallel said "a movie is about 80 pages of text, than means a minute of screen is rougly a page of text. If you go far from that, you're going to have to start cutting"

Now, sure, it's not an exact science, but you can see where he's coming from, a lot of the text can become visual, and so you can catch up, and cover it. But if you take two books and make them into a TV pilot, then you much have to take a machete to the story.

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Tuesday, January 13, 2009 8:57 AM

I don't see how any of book two was used in the pilot. Maybe they meanst the first 2 chapters of the first book or something, because there was, as far as I can tell, nothing from subsequent books in the pilot.

I lost intyerest after the first couple episodes. I was really hoping for a more serialized approach, a hard-fantasy version ofr Lost or BSG. But when it became clear that it was just another adventure of the week thing, I drifted off.

Surprisingly, it seems that a lot of the changes made to the show, were done at the suggestion of the novelist, Terry Goodkind.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 5:57 AM

I haven't read the books, I just saw the note on the pilot that said it covered the first two books.

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 7:05 AM

HAKEN

Likes to mess with stuffs.

FYI, I do have a section for "Legend of the Seeker" on Shiny Universe if you're interested. It's pretty sparse right now, but once I finish the software, I'll have time to fill it up with stuff.

http://www.shinyuniverse.net/planet.aspx?pid=38

As for the series, I enjoy it more when I try not to think of it in terms of the books. It's not as fun as Xena or Hercules, but it does fill a void left vacant when those series went off the air.\

Haken

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:07 AM

SICKDUDE

All I know is that Bridget Regan is hot!

"Your gratuitous jello awaits." - Dr. Helen Magnus, Sanctuary

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:18 AM

I enjoy it for what it is - a Disney fantasy. With eye candy for the grownups

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

Yes We Did!

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
I enjoy it for what it is - a Disney fantasy. With eye candy for the grownups

But that's not what it should be. The source material is about as far from Disney as it gets, and had a lot of depth that their eye candy has none of.

I have to ask, do you have criteria beyond good looking people by which you judge things? Not to be insulting, but that's what you seem to post about for almost any movie or TV show you seem to like.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:56 AM

SICKDUDE

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
I have to ask, do you have criteria beyond good looking people by which you judge things? Not to be insulting, but that's what you seem to post about for almost any movie or TV show you seem to like.

I'm not sure if you are talking to me or FMF, but since I made the comment, I thought I'd reply.

Yes, I do. A lot of criteria. Heck, we are all here because of Firefly, right? However, I try to be funny once in a while. Not successfully, but I try. And since I could not think of another thing the show has going for it more than Bridget Regan's looks, I went with that. It has it's good points, but none of those are huge factors, IMO.

"Your gratuitous jello awaits." - Dr. Helen Magnus, Sanctuary

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Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
I enjoy it for what it is - a Disney fantasy. With eye candy for the grownups

But that's not what it should be. The source material is about as far from Disney as it gets, and had a lot of depth that their eye candy has none of.

I have to ask, do you have criteria beyond good looking people by which you judge things? Not to be insulting, but that's what you seem to post about for almost any movie or TV show you seem to like.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

You seriously need to lighten up. If you expected a program that is funded by ABC family and Disney to be more than light entertainment then perhaps you need to study Disney's motivation more closely. As for my criteria (a) what possible business is it to you and (b) since yuou don't know me and I am certain have not read every post I have ever posted your statement makes you look like an ass.

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

Yes We Did!

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 5:43 AM

I think I demonstrated the hotness of the cast of Firefly in another thread. Now it's occurring to me that in such a picutre, it's criminal to omit Saffron.

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
Originally posted by FutureMrsFIllion:
I enjoy it for what it is - a Disney fantasy. With eye candy for the grownups

But that's not what it should be. The source material is about as far from Disney as it gets, and had a lot of depth that their eye candy has none of.

I have to ask, do you have criteria beyond good looking people by which you judge things? Not to be insulting, but that's what you seem to post about for almost any movie or TV show you seem to like.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

You seriously need to lighten up. If you expected a program that is funded by ABC family and Disney to be more than light entertainment then perhaps you need to study Disney's motivation more closely. As for my criteria (a) what possible business is it to you and (b) since yuou don't know me and I am certain have not read every post I have ever posted your statement makes you look like an ass.

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

Yes We Did!

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

I never claimed to have read all your posts, nor did I claim to know you. But I have seen a lot that revolved around "It's good, because so-and-so is hot". A LOT of those. So, I asked an honest question. Rather than enter into a discussion, or offer a simple "no", you get super-defensive. That defensiveness and avoidance of an actual answer pretty much tells me what I needed to know, I guess.

As for the show, maybe you should know more about the source material befor getting so damned snappy. i mean, sorry didn't look into who financed it, all I know about is the actual story, the characters, and the writer. But those are unimportant, I guess. But at least the star is all hunky, or whatever....

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 9:58 AM

you ASSume I don't know the story, the books, the author.

My original post was a simple statement. I take the show for what it is....a Disney fantasy.

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

Yes We Did!

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:17 AM

Based on available evidence, yes, that is my take.

Not that you've said anything to the contrary, and once again got defensive and evasive.

But your creative capitilization is just har-har clever. yeah....

But you're right, it is a Disney fantasy. Unfortunetly, I was actually expecting something that reflected the books. And even as a Disney fantasy, it's not a very good one.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:20 AM

Dude

I don't have to prove anything to you. I do not have to list everything I have ever read or seen or done for your edification.

So take a chill pill.

I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

FORSAKEN original

Yes We Did!

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:28 AM

Nor did I ask you to. I asked a direct question. You got snippy and talked around it. Which is your perrogotive, just as it's mine to point that fact out.

But whatever. Seems I touched a nerve, so I'll leave you be. But you might want to take you're own advice, and chill (since between you and I, you seem to be the one who's upset - I was just curious).

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 10:28 AM

KELKHIL

PR!!!

Did you catch the last episode????

WTF????

It was with the Mord-Sith!!! Not only did they scew up the breaking but Richard did not turn the sword white when he killed Denna!!! on top of that she was given the Kiss of Life and is alive again!!!!!

[/rant]

Zombie Killing, Ninja in Training Kelkhil
The Shirtless Forsaken

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Thursday, January 15, 2009 4:33 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by Kelkhil:
PR!!!

Did you catch the last episode????

Nope, I haven't been making much effort to watch it. Sounds like I would have, well, hated it though. Mord-sith are some of my favorite characters.

You know, the more I think of it, it's a story that should really have been done by HBO or something. Something that can be allowed to explore sex and gore and the like. But even toning all that down they could more or less follow the story. I'm more disappointed with it all the time.

[/sig]

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Sunday, February 1, 2009 8:42 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Is the show similar to the movie?

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Sunday, February 1, 2009 8:55 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Is the show similar to the movie?

. . . What?

[/sig]

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Sunday, February 1, 2009 10:06 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Quote:
Originally posted by jewelstaitefan:
Is the show similar to the movie?

. . . What?

[/sig]

I'm asking if the movie and the TV show are similar. Or is this series mentioned not a TV series?
I have seen the movie The Seeker, starring Will Stanton, and with Ian McShane and Wendy Crewson. Is this the same storyline as the series mentioned here, or completely unrelated stories? The film seemed to be part of a series of work.

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Sunday, February 1, 2009 10:25 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

you must be talking about this: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0484562/
Totally unrelated to the Seeker of Truth or Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels.

[/sig]

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Sunday, February 1, 2009 10:40 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
you must be talking about this: http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0484562/
Totally unrelated to the Seeker of Truth or Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels.

[/sig]

Yep, that's it. Guess it was based on books by Susan Cooper. Thanks for clarifying.

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Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:13 PM

TUJIAOZUO

I just got into this series, like this last weekend when I had absolutely nothing to watch lol.

The pilot eps were clunky, but I moved through all of the current eps on Hulu in no time, and I'm pleased to say I think the show found it's footing.

What I really love is the production value of it, the exterior shots of NZ are milked for are they're worth, the FX seem top notch as do costumes and props. I actually held on for the production value.

Past that though, I've never read the books. I do know that it's loosely derived from the books, and it has a very different feel from them. But that doesn't bother me entirely (It's like reading Wicked and then seeing the Broadway production, you have to respect them as two entirely different breeds because they're so flippin' different). The premise is pretty good, the standard fantasy fare. And while they eps are relatively formulaic they're entertaining and keep me wanting more. Zed's voice at times seems forced (and annoys), but I think the two leads Craig Horner and Bridget Regan, who play Richard and Kahlan are pretty strong and can carry the eps well. It also doesn't hurt that Horner is very easy on the eyes (gratuitous shirtless scenes anyone?) and he and Regan have chemistry that can carry the star crossed lovers thing they got going on.

On a totally weird note that links Firefly to this, I dunno why but Horner sort of looks like what I think Mal and Inara's boy would look like. I hoenstly have no idea where that came from, possibly me watching at two in the morning... but yeah. If they ever were to cast a Firefly: The Next Gen, the guy for some reason looks like he pull off the next line of Reynolds.

So yeah, pretty good. Not mind blowing award winning material, but it's fun and entertaining and I'll keep watching.

Your Indian Pirate Lord,
Ash

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:18 AM

SHINYGOODGUY

I've caught a few minutes of a couple of eps after seeing the promos for it. For me it's just not my cup o' tea. Someone mentioned that it has elements of Xena and Hercules, a certain type of look. I agree. But one thing is different, those shows had a particular pace and timing that this show lacks.

One thing i find interesting though is - the girl, women sorceress. Hubba, hubba. The dude playing the Seeker is rather stiff and clunky in his movements (at least the few minutes of the eps i watched). I've tried more than a couple of times to get into it - but, so far, I'm not impressed.

SGG

Tawabawho?

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2:34 AM

RALLEM

I've watched every episode on hulu, and I have been told they pale in comparison to the books, which I have not yet read, but I have no problems with that because it would be boring in my opinion if I read the book or watched the movie and then went to the other medium and it was exactly the same. At least it is not like the Harry Potter movies which ignore entire story threads just they won't go over the 90 minute format in a medium where it is perfectly acceptable to do so. So far I've liked the "Legend of the Seeker," even the latest flash back episode which has been panned on hulu by viewers.

http://www.swyzzlestyx.com/index.html

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:39 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by rallem:
At least it is not like the Harry Potter movies which ignore entire story threads...

It is.

[/sig]

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:50 AM