Sword of Truth vs. Legend of the Seeker - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

achillesheel · 07-20-2009, 03:47 PM

Now that the series is over, I'm curious as to what everyone thought of the first season of Legend of the Seeker.

I happened to watch it one day on hulu because I was bored and they had the first 5 episodes posted so far. It was a fun series, albeit corny at times, and kept my interest for the whole season, and although it's been done in similar ways before, I enjoyed the way they chose to end it.

After finishing the series I picked up the book and couldn't put it down for a moment! I think there was one day that I read over 200 pages in one sitting.

I know, I know... there is no comparison between the two, or any book made movie/tv series ever really (anyone think there has ever been a movie made better than the book?) BUT, I still think they did a good job translating the basic IDEA behind the books into a TV series and hope they will continue with another season. Thinking back to the idea that maybe what took the book 100 pages to cover could be done in a 5 min. scene, it would have been hard to make a direct translation of the book into a TV show.

I'm starting to babble and repeat myself now, so...

What about your thoughts? Did you think they did a HORRIBLE job? Did you like it just AS well as the book? Were you happy with the show? Were you so turned off you couldn't finish the first episode? (I encourage you to try to finish the series... I *think* it's still on hulu)

Let me know your thoughts friends!

p.s. I'm currently burning my way through Stone of Tears... I just can't read fast enough!!

Zotz · 08-02-2009, 04:50 PM

The books are fantastic. The show was complete garbage (Hercules Reloaded).

Speed_Gibson · 08-02-2009, 07:52 PM

I had no flipping clue what this thread was about after seeing the title or first post, but a dim light came on after a very brief glance at the wikipedia entry.
I do believe I have read one or two of the Sword of Truth books 10-12+ years back but have no clue now how they were or were the series went from there.
Still upset at Robert Jordan dying too soon; I thoroughly enjoyed the Wheel of Time books.

Where or when did this series air? Never have heard of any live action/animated/anything else take on these books.

levite · 08-02-2009, 10:15 PM

Yeah, the show was fluff. It was cotton candy at best. It lacked the cohesiveness, the scope, the depth, the edge, and the darkness of the books. And worse, it was poorly cast and poorly written. The git playing Richard was like a surfer boy in Seeker drag, and the chick playing Kahlan was cute, but not gorgeous, and neither of them had a lick of presence. The old coot playing Zedd was just an idiot, and none of the three could act their way out of a paper bag. It was just embarassing. And the episodes were just a hash of crap, sprinkled with terminology and ideas from the books. It was like Xena: Warrior of Truth....

I'm not even that big a fan of Goodkind, and I was sickened. What his die-hard fans must've thought I shudder to think.

rahl · 08-05-2009, 06:33 PM

as a die hard sword of truth fan i was appaled at the adaptation. The actors were fine but the writing was just juevinille and incredibly corny. this series was doomed from the start when it was decided to go with a syndicated show verses a network show. they had to have single story episodes and couldn't focus on an over all story arch wich was just awefull. If you even remotely liked the show, please read the books because there just aren't words for the difference of book vs. show

spindles · 08-05-2009, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levite

The old coot playing Zedd was just an idiot, and none of the three could act their way out of a paper bag. It was just embarassing.

He has quite a sizeable resume, though you'd hardly call him a lead actor:
Bruce Spence (I)

I suspect the bad performances are more related to the material, then any actors chosen. This would've sucked with the best actors money can buy...

levite · 08-05-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spindles

I suspect the bad performances are more related to the material, then any actors chosen. This would've sucked with the best actors money can buy...

No doubt you're right, but even so.... That guy may've had a long resume, but it was hardly distinguished. When I think what an actor like Sam Elliott, F. Murray Abraham, or Liam Neeson could do with the role of Zedd.... But I know, the material still would've bit. They should've treated the series as a maxi-length miniseries, and simply made each week a successive part in the story arc. And they should've gotten someone with decent talent to oversee the adapting of it. Bryan Singer, maybe....

rahl · 08-06-2009, 09:46 AM

I think they also need one writer instead of twelve. Each episode is written by a different writer so there is no basic flow to the series. Season two looks hopefull judgeing from the trailor, but all trailors look awesome. Hopefully they listened to some of the book fans' rants and even though some material will have to be altered atleast keep an over all story arch, and make the show less corny.

Crack · 08-25-2009, 08:52 PM

It's like comparing Anne Rice Novels to Twilight.

Shade89 · 12-28-2009, 09:30 PM

Though some portions of the show were not great I could not expect perfection. It has been a year or so since I last read "The Wizards First Rule", but the lack of use of the garden of the peoples palace as well as the apparent destruction of the boxes of orden and the fact of how the confession of Richard happen completely throws off the entire main plot points of the book so the continued use of the universe of "The Sword of Truth" book series in this show seems destructive and is not able to continue to follow much of any thing in the books. But like I said it has been awhile. Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly but, in the books didn't Richard and Khalin get married in the plains of the midlands because Richards total acceptance and devotion to Khalen render her power pointless and ineffective in the end? I thought that was how Darken was "supposedly" defeated? (of coarse the boxes would have ended anyone that did not use the sword of truth to open them)

Let me know if anyone actually has accurate info on this because it has been bugging me and i don't have the first few books.

rahl · 12-29-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shade89

Though some portions of the show were not great I could not expect perfection. It has been a year or so since I last read "The Wizards First Rule", but the lack of use of the garden of the peoples palace as well as the apparent destruction of the boxes of orden and the fact of how the confession of Richard happen completely throws off the entire main plot points of the book so the continued use of the universe of "The Sword of Truth" book series in this show seems destructive and is not able to continue to follow much of any thing in the books. But like I said it has been awhile. Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly but, in the books didn't Richard and Khalin get married in the plains of the midlands because Richards total acceptance and devotion to Khalen render her power pointless and ineffective in the end? I thought that was how Darken was "supposedly" defeated? (of coarse the boxes would have ended anyone that did not use the sword of truth to open them)

Let me know if anyone actually has accurate info on this because it has been bugging me and i don't have the first few books.

SPOILER..................

Richard and Kahlan didn't get married until the end of book 4. Richard was able to defeat Darkend Rahl using the wizards 1st rule. He made him think he was opening the correct box because the use of a confessor was being used to verify the words in the book of counted shadows. Richard had guessed(correctly) that his total love and acceptance of Kahlan, power and all, was the only way to overcome her power against him.

Zeraph · 12-29-2009, 12:18 PM

Bleh, I couldn't even get through an entire episode of this thing, not sure why. Its too bad, the books seem like they'd actually lend themselves quite well to episodes.

rahl · 12-29-2009, 12:50 PM

The first season was terrible. The second seasons first 3 episodes were fantastic, there were still some major storyline departures from the books but atleast the writing was better, not as amatuerish. Then starting with episode 4 it declined rapidly, they started using "filler" episodes that had nothing to do with the over all plot. And they are continuing to water down the charectors spirit, which is what made the books so successfull

onodrim · 12-29-2009, 05:13 PM

I haven't read the books, so I can't compare. I enjoy the show as a light, entertaining journey in a fantasy world. I can certainly understand the Hercules/Xena comparisons, it is made by some of the same people, but I'd say it's a step above that (and I even loved those for what they were!). I will agree with rahl that the second season is a definite step up from the first, more action and less childish humor. So, those of you who turned away from the first season, maybe give season two a chance.

Shade89 · 12-29-2009, 09:59 PM

Sorry for the spoiler.. I have started re-reading the books and it seems that the use of filler would be unnecessary if they would just follow the the books more closely. Like the episode where Cara(my favorite character in the books BTW) returns to her village and is basically forced to tell of how she became a Mord-sith was supposed to be something used to bring Kahlan and her closer together. Instead the made it a public thing the ultimately cheapened the effect. I think the issue with the writers is that they read the books as something to do for a job rather then for enjoyment as so they don't grasp the importance Terry Goodkind puts into the small details of his books. I doubt they even really comprehend what the series was about, they most likely think its like most fantasy books and about a single character fighting bad guys, when it is actually about a character fighting the base instincts of people that bring about the bad in the world around him. One other thing Nadine is not supposed to make her appearance until "Temple of the Winds" which is several books after Rahl is defeated. Which her point is the story is to remind the reader of where Richard came from and that he had been a infallible good guy way before he became the dealer of death. (I think that name fits his role better then "The seeker of truth".)

---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------

The reason I am still going to continue watching the show is because I am intrested to see how they can continue the series with most of the plot destroyed and the complete way they have warped most every event in the books. Like how can the story continue much past the 2nd series with the boxes destroyed? ohh yeah and Darken Rahl had blond hair

rahl · 12-29-2009, 10:11 PM

The writers get paid extra for the changes they make. So it's in their interest to make changes. I really don't have a problem with some of the changes that they make, just don't destroy the essence of the charectors. The chances of this series going beyond 3 or 4 seasons is virtually nill, so having future charectors appear early isn't really a big deal. The other problem with the first season mainly is that it was one of the corniest show's I've ever seen. The writing was like a junior high school girl was writing it.

07-20-2009, 03:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
achillesheel Upright Location: Southern California	Sword of Truth vs. Legend of the Seeker Now that the series is over, I'm curious as to what everyone thought of the first season of Legend of the Seeker. I happened to watch it one day on hulu because I was bored and they had the first 5 episodes posted so far. It was a fun series, albeit corny at times, and kept my interest for the whole season, and although it's been done in similar ways before, I enjoyed the way they chose to end it. After finishing the series I picked up the book and couldn't put it down for a moment! I think there was one day that I read over 200 pages in one sitting. I know, I know... there is no comparison between the two, or any book made movie/tv series ever really (anyone think there has ever been a movie made better than the book?) BUT, I still think they did a good job translating the basic IDEA behind the books into a TV series and hope they will continue with another season. Thinking back to the idea that maybe what took the book 100 pages to cover could be done in a 5 min. scene, it would have been hard to make a direct translation of the book into a TV show. I'm starting to babble and repeat myself now, so... What about your thoughts? Did you think they did a HORRIBLE job? Did you like it just AS well as the book? Were you happy with the show? Were you so turned off you couldn't finish the first episode? (I encourage you to try to finish the series... I think it's still on hulu) Let me know your thoughts friends! p.s. I'm currently burning my way through Stone of Tears... I just can't read fast enough!!

08-02-2009, 07:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Speed_Gibson Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Location: right here of course	I had no flipping clue what this thread was about after seeing the title or first post, but a dim light came on after a very brief glance at the wikipedia entry. I do believe I have read one or two of the Sword of Truth books 10-12+ years back but have no clue now how they were or were the series went from there. Still upset at Robert Jordan dying too soon; I thoroughly enjoyed the Wheel of Time books. Where or when did this series air? Never have heard of any live action/animated/anything else take on these books. __________________ Started talking to yourself I see. Yes, it's the only way I can be certain of an intelligent conversation. Black Adder

08-02-2009, 10:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
levite Minion of Joss Location: The Windy City	Yeah, the show was fluff. It was cotton candy at best. It lacked the cohesiveness, the scope, the depth, the edge, and the darkness of the books. And worse, it was poorly cast and poorly written. The git playing Richard was like a surfer boy in Seeker drag, and the chick playing Kahlan was cute, but not gorgeous, and neither of them had a lick of presence. The old coot playing Zedd was just an idiot, and none of the three could act their way out of a paper bag. It was just embarassing. And the episodes were just a hash of crap, sprinkled with terminology and ideas from the books. It was like Xena: Warrior of Truth.... I'm not even that big a fan of Goodkind, and I was sickened. What his die-hard fans must've thought I shudder to think. __________________ Dull sublunary lovers love, Whose soul is sense, cannot admit Absence, because it doth remove That thing which elemented it. (From "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne)

08-25-2009, 08:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
Crack Misanthropic Location: Ohio! yay!	It's like comparing Anne Rice Novels to Twilight. __________________ Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex. ~Halx

12-28-2009, 09:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
Shade89 Upright	Convalution Though some portions of the show were not great I could not expect perfection. It has been a year or so since I last read "The Wizards First Rule", but the lack of use of the garden of the peoples palace as well as the apparent destruction of the boxes of orden and the fact of how the confession of Richard happen completely throws off the entire main plot points of the book so the continued use of the universe of "The Sword of Truth" book series in this show seems destructive and is not able to continue to follow much of any thing in the books. But like I said it has been awhile. Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly but, in the books didn't Richard and Khalin get married in the plains of the midlands because Richards total acceptance and devotion to Khalen render her power pointless and ineffective in the end? I thought that was how Darken was "supposedly" defeated? (of coarse the boxes would have ended anyone that did not use the sword of truth to open them) Let me know if anyone actually has accurate info on this because it has been bugging me and i don't have the first few books.

08-02-2009, 04:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zotz There's someone in my head, but its not me	The books are fantastic. The show was complete garbage (Hercules Reloaded).

08-05-2009, 06:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
rahl Junkie Location: Ohio	as a die hard sword of truth fan i was appaled at the adaptation. The actors were fine but the writing was just juevinille and incredibly corny. this series was doomed from the start when it was decided to go with a syndicated show verses a network show. they had to have single story episodes and couldn't focus on an over all story arch wich was just awefull. If you even remotely liked the show, please read the books because there just aren't words for the difference of book vs. show

08-06-2009, 09:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
rahl Junkie Location: Ohio	I think they also need one writer instead of twelve. Each episode is written by a different writer so there is no basic flow to the series. Season two looks hopefull judgeing from the trailor, but all trailors look awesome. Hopefully they listened to some of the book fans' rants and even though some material will have to be altered atleast keep an over all story arch, and make the show less corny.

12-29-2009, 12:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Bleh, I couldn't even get through an entire episode of this thing, not sure why. Its too bad, the books seem like they'd actually lend themselves quite well to episodes.

12-29-2009, 12:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
rahl Junkie Location: Ohio	The first season was terrible. The second seasons first 3 episodes were fantastic, there were still some major storyline departures from the books but atleast the writing was better, not as amatuerish. Then starting with episode 4 it declined rapidly, they started using "filler" episodes that had nothing to do with the over all plot. And they are continuing to water down the charectors spirit, which is what made the books so successfull __________________ "Your life is Yours alone...Rise up and live it"

12-29-2009, 05:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
onodrim Cosmically Curious Location: Chicago, IL	I haven't read the books, so I can't compare. I enjoy the show as a light, entertaining journey in a fantasy world. I can certainly understand the Hercules/Xena comparisons, it is made by some of the same people, but I'd say it's a step above that (and I even loved those for what they were!). I will agree with rahl that the second season is a definite step up from the first, more action and less childish humor. So, those of you who turned away from the first season, maybe give season two a chance. __________________ "The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides" -Carl Sagan

12-29-2009, 09:59 PM	#15 (permalink)
Shade89 Upright	continued Sorry for the spoiler.. I have started re-reading the books and it seems that the use of filler would be unnecessary if they would just follow the the books more closely. Like the episode where Cara(my favorite character in the books BTW) returns to her village and is basically forced to tell of how she became a Mord-sith was supposed to be something used to bring Kahlan and her closer together. Instead the made it a public thing the ultimately cheapened the effect. I think the issue with the writers is that they read the books as something to do for a job rather then for enjoyment as so they don't grasp the importance Terry Goodkind puts into the small details of his books. I doubt they even really comprehend what the series was about, they most likely think its like most fantasy books and about a single character fighting bad guys, when it is actually about a character fighting the base instincts of people that bring about the bad in the world around him. One other thing Nadine is not supposed to make her appearance until "Temple of the Winds" which is several books after Rahl is defeated. Which her point is the story is to remind the reader of where Richard came from and that he had been a infallible good guy way before he became the dealer of death. (I think that name fits his role better then "The seeker of truth".) ---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ---------- The reason I am still going to continue watching the show is because I am intrested to see how they can continue the series with most of the plot destroyed and the complete way they have warped most every event in the books. Like how can the story continue much past the 2nd series with the boxes destroyed? ohh yeah and Darken Rahl had blond hair

12-29-2009, 10:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
rahl Junkie Location: Ohio	The writers get paid extra for the changes they make. So it's in their interest to make changes. I really don't have a problem with some of the changes that they make, just don't destroy the essence of the charectors. The chances of this series going beyond 3 or 4 seasons is virtually nill, so having future charectors appear early isn't really a big deal. The other problem with the first season mainly is that it was one of the corniest show's I've ever seen. The writing was like a junior high school girl was writing it. __________________ "Your life is Yours alone...Rise up and live it"