Brian Scott Allen
Dark Lord
Watched the premier it was average. It'll take another viewing or so to decide if I like it.
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Shannara TV series.
- Thread starter Brian Scott Allen
- Start date
Ophiucha
Dark Lord
I'm not a huge fan of the Shannara books, but I do like Manu Bennett so I'm watching it anyway. S'okay so far. About what I'd expect from MTV.
It might have been called a series, but I read three of them before i decided they were all the same book. So mediocre, I can't remember anything but how much I wanted to like it, but couldn't. Bland, dull, and all the same. I hope a TV series breathes some life into the stories, because I was underwhelmed by the books, even as a teenager.
Incanus
Shadow Lord
This may be one of those extremely rare cases where the movie (or show in this case) is better than the book. Even if it's mediocre, there's a good chance it would be better than the source material. I'll give it a shot at some point.
Miskatonic
Dark Lord
Maybe if it was anyone but MTV.
Premiere was OK. The show will have to get better for me to keep watching it. They tried to cram too much in 80 minutes. Too many encounters with people that seemed random. Jumps in time and space. You have to do some of that in a show, of course, but I contrast it to something like The Expanse, where they're doing a nice job of building the story and not rushing it even where they've accelerated some of it (all of the principal characters haven't even met yet, for example). Also, though Shannara is geared toward a younger audience I think they're underestimating the viewers by trying to play up too much of a YA aspect to the show.
I read the first book in the Shannara series, and I only made it through that only out of sheer determination not to leave a book unfinished. Throughout the whole thing, I couldn't stop thinking "What a shamelessly blatant ripoff of Lord of the Rings." It does have its original moments, but most of the plot and characters can still be traced directly back to Lord of Rings.
I might give the TV series a try. If you can get over the unavoidable similarities to LotR, it's an ok book, and the trailer makes it seem like it won't be following the plot of the first book. Maybe I should give the series another chance and read the second book.
I might give the TV series a try. If you can get over the unavoidable similarities to LotR, it's an ok book, and the trailer makes it seem like it won't be following the plot of the first book. Maybe I should give the series another chance and read the second book.
glutton
Grandmaster
Maybe I have low standards but I like it so far. Eretria is bae lol and Allanon has an awesome voice, 'Katniss' I mean Amberle is cool too.
Addison
Dark Lord
Crap I missed the premier! I've been re-reading the books to catch up before I watched the series. Dang it! Serious question, how can I watch it now?
Addison
Dark Lord
Still looking for where and how to watch the episode, but are they starting with the original Shannara trilogy? Or Word and Void?
- Thread starter
- #11
Brian Scott Allen
Dark Lord
No idea where they're starting but you can watch it on mtv .com I think. Or Hulu.
Mindfire
Istari
I remember reading somewhere that the adaptation is starting with Elfstones. I've never read the books, and thanks to the lukewarm reception they've generally gotten from the MS I'll probably skip them. I've seen the trailers and the show seems interesting though. Even if it turns out mediocre it already outstrips the Eragon movie, and I sat through that. Has anyone who's already seen it tell me if it's SFW? I might catch some of it online during downtime at my job.
- Thread starter
- #13
Brian Scott Allen
Dark Lord
That's a tough call. There is some demonic dismemberment and some blood, implied sexiness and male toro nudity. I wouldn't say it's clearly NSFW but it's not super SFW either.
Mindfire
Istari
I'm in episode 3 so far and my complaints are: Amberle is insufferable, Eretria is insufferable, and Wil is boring. Of the core group, only Allanon is remotely interesting.
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- Thread starter
- #15
Brian Scott Allen
Dark Lord
That's fair. I agree too. Allanon is a pimp.
- Thread starter
- #16
Brian Scott Allen
Dark Lord
This show. It has moments of greatness and the it reeks if mediocrity. Why can't I stop watching this?
evolution_rex
Grandmaster
I stopped watching it after three episodes. I think the source material may be good though and I might check it out, because it feels like good concepts being ruined by forced MTV meddling (the cheesiness of the love subplots and the use of pop music for example).
Incanus
Shadow Lord
I was probably going to wait until this was available in disc form. But...
is there really pop music in the soundtrack? If so, then it's a non-starter for me. I'm not sure there is anything more jarring.
Could someone confirm/elaborate on this?
is there really pop music in the soundtrack? If so, then it's a non-starter for me. I'm not sure there is anything more jarring.
Could someone confirm/elaborate on this?
Mindfire
Istari
The plot seems powered by character stupidity at times.
glutton
Grandmaster
A whole squad of elven 'warriors' can't handle a wolf or whatever that thing was in the woods and have to be saved by Eretria.
Amberle has no situational awareness and gets taken hostage immediately by a guy coming at her from the side after drawing her sword and walking forward to join a fight.
I guess elves suck at fighting no matter how cool they dress, HUMAN PRIDE.
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