As I start to look at assembling my season 3 outline, and reading into LoC, it has become apparent to me that one of the biggest hurdles that the show will need to reconcile with is the disappearance of certain POV narratives for long stretches of time. This isn't a noticeable trait of the first two books/my seasons, however starting with the material in TDR, we have a major shift (which is welcome), but leads to larger gaps later. Rand functionally is out of the picture for nearly 3/4 of the book. He is around at the start, the end, and we have a couple harrowing moments with him in between. The other major shift is Perrin adopting the mantle of the main narrative along with Nynaeve, Egwene, & Elayne for most of the book. Mat also has a much diminished role.
This is not crippling to a show for a couple reasons.
1) Even with a more limited presence all our primary protagonists are present.
2) Allows for necessary development of other characters while Rand is not doing too much of note.
3) You could add fluff if you needed to in a TV production to add some action or additional appearances.
I do think there is a point where it will become a more noticeable issue. FoH has 0 sequences with Perrin in it outside of a T'A'R appearance with Egwene (and only in the town not with him beyond the wolf hints). So for a TV show to not cast a primary protagonist for an entire season feels like a daunting topic. When we get to books 8-10 I think my goal will be to prompt some massive reorganizing across books to make a smoother narrative. The problem is even more exacerbated in those sections. Once you hit the end game of 11-14 the narrative tightens down again and it'll be easier to streamline the show much like the earlier parts I've proposed. The later books feel more like the first 4-6 and I think that will be reflected in how much of everyone you get in each episode, but that's still a ways away!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Season Two of the Wheel of Time : The Great Hunt
So The Great Hunt is a far more emblematic novel of the series than The Eye of the World is for me. The objective appears a little smaller in scale (at the outset), the scale is actually larger (people locations, threads at the same time), and the stakes are even higher. The first book/season has to establish a lot of world items quickly, and since Jordan wasn't sure how many books he could write, I think it moves at a break neck pace in terms of getting to places and accomplishing goals in case he never got the 14 books (originally signed to six when he thought of three) worth of space. It always felt to me, that knowing it was successful and he would get enough space to fill out his story, the second book feels a little more complex and opens way more doors than season one could have. As it should be, even in a TV series there needs to be escalation. As such the chapter density of each episode is going to vary a lot more than it did in season one where I managed to arrange it so that no episode covered more than maybe 7 chapters and the smallest covers 5. This season we need to pack a lot in early on so that we have space to do justice to the visual sequences and action set pieces at the end of the story. The first half will be a lot more dense as the climax of the second half of this season is a lot of action that fits into the last 1/3rd of the book. There is also more passage of time this season which will need to be conveyed. This is also the first point where I believe you would need some padding to flesh out the TV story where the book did not. This will be necessary to show some of the time passage as well as perhaps add a little of tower life that is kinda skimmed over, relationships move fast in the WoT, so we can add a little extra life to relationships like Egwene/Elayne so that their decisions to act together feel a little more natural than in the book with the amount of page time they are given.
Once again, you will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 9 - Leavetakings
Chapters - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9[1/2]
The winds blow across the land to Shienar where we can see the long winter has finally broken and spring has come to the continent. This first episode has a lot to cover, but it's also setting up the entirety of the plot for the rest of the season which we could not do in the 1st season. More is established, we will introduce some important new characters, and we should finish with a great deal of urgency. There are two sequences in here with the Whitecloaks and Bayle Domon that will hint at the trouble on Toman Head which I think need to be included, but can be short. They should come prior to Fain's breakout so that we have been given some hint of the importance Falme/Toman Head will carry this season. That way when he breaks out and Rand finds his message we can know some of this is connected. The biggest bit of this episode I think would really be casting, there are major players introduced here that have to be around for the haul in terms of the season and the larger story; Siuan, Leanne, Verin, Liandrin, Hurin. We can see that the cast is going to expand a lot as we move forward in this episode. This episode I would end with attempt on Rand/Siuan's life for a small cliffhanger.
Episode 10 - The Great Hunt
Chapters - 9[2/2],10,11 / 12 / 14 / 13,15,16,17 / 18
We can open with the resolution of everyone leaving Fal Dara, the women to the Tower and our men on Fain's trail following the quick mystery of who the arrow was for (Domon's sequence was used earlier from Ch 9 in Ep 1). Otherwise I think this episode is straight forward. We get to do the Portal Stone adventure, a little of the ladies trip down river with the Amyrlin, and most importantly Selene (aka Lanfear) will be brought into the story. I think the portal stone adventure needs to be one flowing chunk as I've reworked this a few times. We need to have the bridge sequence before Rand & Crew wake up that we see they've disappeared. I like that a little better as a flow than realizing they've been separated. I think the scene flow will work better picking that story point up in the real world before going to the alternate one. I want to finish this episode with the arrival at the White Tower. I thought about breaking that sequence up, but really it just needs the lesson to be a very quick component. We want to finish looking right at the White Tower bright and ominous as they are lead to it by Sheriam.
Episode 11 - Friends and Enemies
Chapters - 23 / 19,20,20[1/2] / 22 / 24 / 21[2/2],25,26
The opening of this chapter should be a continuation of where we left the last one, in the White Tower. We need to be awoken as Nynaeve is and then we should have a good length sequence of her testing (this will be at least 1/3rd of the episode imo). Her testing is tenuous and should set the tone of wary distrust this episode. Rand and Co recapture the Horn & Dagger, but still haven't heard from Ingtar or Mat/Perrin so they get on the run. Before we leave them, we should see Selene's discontent and the end of the night at the Nine Rings, but will leave the morning for later. There needs to be a mounting sense of danger, so we get Moraine's encounter with the retired sisters Aes Sedai and the attack that implies the Black Ajah's involvement which may be our first notice of them in the show. We will then get the arrival in Cairhien and our reunion with Thom. This will setup the urgency in needing to leave after the next episode. We should finish with the knowledge Thom is going to be playing Daes Dae'Mar whether he wants to or not at the parties upcoming, hinting at the danger that surrounds Rand.
Episode 12 - Daes Dae'Mar
Chapters - 28 / 27,30 / 29 / 21,32,33 / 34
Having not visited with the Shienarians it will be important to show they are catching up with Rand & Co to setup the episode. We should then get the excursion into the Illuminators compound and the Trolloc ambush, which should then be followed by their decision to wait it out for Ingtar. This will lead to the invitation burning and the press of the horn/dagger being stolen again as Ingtar/Mat/Perrin arrive. We now get some interlude on Falme w/the Seanchan (namely we should see the Whitecloak arrival quickly, and then visit our friend Bayle Domon again so we can be introduced to Egeanin who will be important later on). We need this setup because its going to be the second half goal of the season. We should then get the Party that Goes Wrong, along with their resolve to visit the stedding to ask for help with finding a Portal Stone. I would reverse the order of the narratives between Fain & Tom so that we discover Fain's arrival at Falme, and we close with Cairhien burning from Thom's perspective.
Episode 13 - Trust
Chapters - 35,36 / 38,39 / 37 / 40[1/2]
The setup with the stedding and the elders is first up. Their mission was the most pressing one coming out of the last episode. This first sequence will carry up to the elders agreeing to show them where the portal stone is. This is where I think we get to flesh out a little bit because we need some tower life before their exit. Liandrin's trip into the Ways is a major trust moment that serves to reinforce the worst impressions a lot of our characters have of Aes Sedai. After they enter the ways, we should get the trippy Portal Stone alternative lives viewing, however I would include a little of our other protagonists as well. In the book we only see Rand's future visions, but the show will allow for a little room to visit Mat/Perrin too I would think. What you put in there is up for debate, but there are plenty of branch points in the story where a different decision would have doomed them all to point towards (or invent). Their arrival should be shown to have put them months past their intent, which will serve to contrast and establish how much time Egwene and their crew will have been on Toman Head as well. We will close with their exit from the Ways and the ambush by the Seanchan. I want to split this narrative to focus on Egwene here, Elayne & Nynaeve's escape will be saved for the opening of the next episode. We should close on her screams as she recognizes what the adam is doing along with the pain put on her by the Sul'dam.
Episode 14 - Falme
Chapters - 40[1/2],42[1/2] / 41 / 42[2/2] / 44 / 43, 45[1/2]
I want to open with the other component of the ambush which is Nynaeve and Elayne's escape establishing them as free to cause trouble. This is also a sequence where I think we are going to expand on what the book provides and show more of Egwene's time being "trained" by the Sul'dam leading into the current time which is close to Rand & Co's arrival. This will provide some chronological context to her time in captivity, and will show some of what she has learned, but also how unsympathetic the Seanchan are in their treatment of female channelers. We need good reason to dislike them beyond their invader status. We will jump to Rand & Co trying to figure out where exactly to look with the growing pull from our trio to Falme. That part can be quick to setup the dream sequence that teases the finale battle. We will return to Nynaeve and Elayne's efforts, including mention of Bayle. We can leave them having found Egwene's location and their need to plan. We will jump back to Rand & Co searching for Fain's trail & their discovery by the Whitecloaks that will instigate that confrontation. We will leave them putting the party together to head into Falme. We then need to see that Nynaeve's plan with Elayne and Rand & Co's arrival are occurring at the same time that morning, we should leave the ladies as they prepare to enter and we will finish with our group being confronted by Lord Turok in his display room. I want to leave this as a bit of a cliffhanger, our ladies are nearby about to get into trouble and our trio are in trouble too having found what they were looking for but now being seemingly trapped.
Episode 15 - The Grave is No Bar to My Call
Chapters - 46[1/2] / 45[2/2], 46[2/2], 47[1/2]
This episode is going to get a lot of additional action material compared to what we get in the book which is only a vignette of the chaos that begins in Falme. I want to open with the concurrent scene of Nynaeve and Elayne sneaking in while recognizing next door there is some sort of commotion, but it's time to rescue Egwene and start the fight in the streets which bleeds across the whole town as they work to escape. We then need to return to the confrontation in Turok's residence. This is where a lot more action can be shown than the single combat between Rand/Turok we get in the book. That should be a central focus of this sequence, but let's also get Ingtar/Mat/Perrin fighting as well. When they do manage to finish the fight and make it into the alley to recover a moment we should cut to Bayle trying to stay as long as he can, and Bornhald preparing to engage the Seanchan at Falme. This will also include him sending Byar away. We should then cut back to the alley with Ingtar's confession and sacrifice as our trio move to escape Falme, but find themselves caught between the Whitecloaks and Seanchan armies which brings us to the title of the episode as Matt makes his decision to blow the Horn of Valere and we end with it echoing across the plain as the fog rises.
Episode 16 - the dragon reborn
Chapters - 47[2/2],48,49
Time for our first huge battle sequence. There probably would have been a small glimpse of that at the end of S1 in Tarwin's Gap, but that's a real side tour from the main action unlike this one. We can have some large combat sequences, along with the arrival of the heroes of the pattern, coupled with the battle in the sky. We should see the back and forth between the armies as parallel to Rand's fight with (Ishamel) Ba'alzamon. We should get glimpses of our other heroes, the ladies, and the heroes of the pattern battling as well to add to the visuals and the run time. Once it is finished we need to make real emphasis on his wound, and of the second heron mark brand on his other palm. We get the Lanfear reveal, and Byar's ride off vowing revenge before wrapping up with Rand being filled in on the events during his recovery and finishing with him declaring himself the Dragon Reborn as the Shienarians vow their loyalty to him. I would close the season with a shot of the Dragon Banner rippling in the wind.
Once again, you will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 9 - Leavetakings
Chapters - 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9[1/2]
The winds blow across the land to Shienar where we can see the long winter has finally broken and spring has come to the continent. This first episode has a lot to cover, but it's also setting up the entirety of the plot for the rest of the season which we could not do in the 1st season. More is established, we will introduce some important new characters, and we should finish with a great deal of urgency. There are two sequences in here with the Whitecloaks and Bayle Domon that will hint at the trouble on Toman Head which I think need to be included, but can be short. They should come prior to Fain's breakout so that we have been given some hint of the importance Falme/Toman Head will carry this season. That way when he breaks out and Rand finds his message we can know some of this is connected. The biggest bit of this episode I think would really be casting, there are major players introduced here that have to be around for the haul in terms of the season and the larger story; Siuan, Leanne, Verin, Liandrin, Hurin. We can see that the cast is going to expand a lot as we move forward in this episode. This episode I would end with attempt on Rand/Siuan's life for a small cliffhanger.
Episode 10 - The Great Hunt
Chapters - 9[2/2],10,11 / 12 / 14 / 13,15,16,17 / 18
We can open with the resolution of everyone leaving Fal Dara, the women to the Tower and our men on Fain's trail following the quick mystery of who the arrow was for (Domon's sequence was used earlier from Ch 9 in Ep 1). Otherwise I think this episode is straight forward. We get to do the Portal Stone adventure, a little of the ladies trip down river with the Amyrlin, and most importantly Selene (aka Lanfear) will be brought into the story. I think the portal stone adventure needs to be one flowing chunk as I've reworked this a few times. We need to have the bridge sequence before Rand & Crew wake up that we see they've disappeared. I like that a little better as a flow than realizing they've been separated. I think the scene flow will work better picking that story point up in the real world before going to the alternate one. I want to finish this episode with the arrival at the White Tower. I thought about breaking that sequence up, but really it just needs the lesson to be a very quick component. We want to finish looking right at the White Tower bright and ominous as they are lead to it by Sheriam.
Episode 11 - Friends and Enemies
Chapters - 23 / 19,20,20[1/2] / 22 / 24 / 21[2/2],25,26
The opening of this chapter should be a continuation of where we left the last one, in the White Tower. We need to be awoken as Nynaeve is and then we should have a good length sequence of her testing (this will be at least 1/3rd of the episode imo). Her testing is tenuous and should set the tone of wary distrust this episode. Rand and Co recapture the Horn & Dagger, but still haven't heard from Ingtar or Mat/Perrin so they get on the run. Before we leave them, we should see Selene's discontent and the end of the night at the Nine Rings, but will leave the morning for later. There needs to be a mounting sense of danger, so we get Moraine's encounter with the retired sisters Aes Sedai and the attack that implies the Black Ajah's involvement which may be our first notice of them in the show. We will then get the arrival in Cairhien and our reunion with Thom. This will setup the urgency in needing to leave after the next episode. We should finish with the knowledge Thom is going to be playing Daes Dae'Mar whether he wants to or not at the parties upcoming, hinting at the danger that surrounds Rand.
Episode 12 - Daes Dae'Mar
Chapters - 28 / 27,30 / 29 / 21,32,33 / 34
Having not visited with the Shienarians it will be important to show they are catching up with Rand & Co to setup the episode. We should then get the excursion into the Illuminators compound and the Trolloc ambush, which should then be followed by their decision to wait it out for Ingtar. This will lead to the invitation burning and the press of the horn/dagger being stolen again as Ingtar/Mat/Perrin arrive. We now get some interlude on Falme w/the Seanchan (namely we should see the Whitecloak arrival quickly, and then visit our friend Bayle Domon again so we can be introduced to Egeanin who will be important later on). We need this setup because its going to be the second half goal of the season. We should then get the Party that Goes Wrong, along with their resolve to visit the stedding to ask for help with finding a Portal Stone. I would reverse the order of the narratives between Fain & Tom so that we discover Fain's arrival at Falme, and we close with Cairhien burning from Thom's perspective.
Episode 13 - Trust
Chapters - 35,36 / 38,39 / 37 / 40[1/2]
The setup with the stedding and the elders is first up. Their mission was the most pressing one coming out of the last episode. This first sequence will carry up to the elders agreeing to show them where the portal stone is. This is where I think we get to flesh out a little bit because we need some tower life before their exit. Liandrin's trip into the Ways is a major trust moment that serves to reinforce the worst impressions a lot of our characters have of Aes Sedai. After they enter the ways, we should get the trippy Portal Stone alternative lives viewing, however I would include a little of our other protagonists as well. In the book we only see Rand's future visions, but the show will allow for a little room to visit Mat/Perrin too I would think. What you put in there is up for debate, but there are plenty of branch points in the story where a different decision would have doomed them all to point towards (or invent). Their arrival should be shown to have put them months past their intent, which will serve to contrast and establish how much time Egwene and their crew will have been on Toman Head as well. We will close with their exit from the Ways and the ambush by the Seanchan. I want to split this narrative to focus on Egwene here, Elayne & Nynaeve's escape will be saved for the opening of the next episode. We should close on her screams as she recognizes what the adam is doing along with the pain put on her by the Sul'dam.
Episode 14 - Falme
Chapters - 40[1/2],42[1/2] / 41 / 42[2/2] / 44 / 43, 45[1/2]
I want to open with the other component of the ambush which is Nynaeve and Elayne's escape establishing them as free to cause trouble. This is also a sequence where I think we are going to expand on what the book provides and show more of Egwene's time being "trained" by the Sul'dam leading into the current time which is close to Rand & Co's arrival. This will provide some chronological context to her time in captivity, and will show some of what she has learned, but also how unsympathetic the Seanchan are in their treatment of female channelers. We need good reason to dislike them beyond their invader status. We will jump to Rand & Co trying to figure out where exactly to look with the growing pull from our trio to Falme. That part can be quick to setup the dream sequence that teases the finale battle. We will return to Nynaeve and Elayne's efforts, including mention of Bayle. We can leave them having found Egwene's location and their need to plan. We will jump back to Rand & Co searching for Fain's trail & their discovery by the Whitecloaks that will instigate that confrontation. We will leave them putting the party together to head into Falme. We then need to see that Nynaeve's plan with Elayne and Rand & Co's arrival are occurring at the same time that morning, we should leave the ladies as they prepare to enter and we will finish with our group being confronted by Lord Turok in his display room. I want to leave this as a bit of a cliffhanger, our ladies are nearby about to get into trouble and our trio are in trouble too having found what they were looking for but now being seemingly trapped.
Episode 15 - The Grave is No Bar to My Call
Chapters - 46[1/2] / 45[2/2], 46[2/2], 47[1/2]
This episode is going to get a lot of additional action material compared to what we get in the book which is only a vignette of the chaos that begins in Falme. I want to open with the concurrent scene of Nynaeve and Elayne sneaking in while recognizing next door there is some sort of commotion, but it's time to rescue Egwene and start the fight in the streets which bleeds across the whole town as they work to escape. We then need to return to the confrontation in Turok's residence. This is where a lot more action can be shown than the single combat between Rand/Turok we get in the book. That should be a central focus of this sequence, but let's also get Ingtar/Mat/Perrin fighting as well. When they do manage to finish the fight and make it into the alley to recover a moment we should cut to Bayle trying to stay as long as he can, and Bornhald preparing to engage the Seanchan at Falme. This will also include him sending Byar away. We should then cut back to the alley with Ingtar's confession and sacrifice as our trio move to escape Falme, but find themselves caught between the Whitecloaks and Seanchan armies which brings us to the title of the episode as Matt makes his decision to blow the Horn of Valere and we end with it echoing across the plain as the fog rises.
Episode 16 - the dragon reborn
Chapters - 47[2/2],48,49
Time for our first huge battle sequence. There probably would have been a small glimpse of that at the end of S1 in Tarwin's Gap, but that's a real side tour from the main action unlike this one. We can have some large combat sequences, along with the arrival of the heroes of the pattern, coupled with the battle in the sky. We should see the back and forth between the armies as parallel to Rand's fight with (Ishamel) Ba'alzamon. We should get glimpses of our other heroes, the ladies, and the heroes of the pattern battling as well to add to the visuals and the run time. Once it is finished we need to make real emphasis on his wound, and of the second heron mark brand on his other palm. We get the Lanfear reveal, and Byar's ride off vowing revenge before wrapping up with Rand being filled in on the events during his recovery and finishing with him declaring himself the Dragon Reborn as the Shienarians vow their loyalty to him. I would close the season with a shot of the Dragon Banner rippling in the wind.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Season One of The Wheel of Time : The Eye of the World
A whole season of TV created out of the first book of the Wheel of Time. I expect the TV series will just be titled "The Wheel of Time". Game of Thrones really should be A Song of Ice and Fire, but hey whatever. I don't expect each season to get the subtitle of each book, but I won't be surprised to see the book titles appear as episode titles. I am aware that there are already "leaked" script titles for the first 4-6 episodes of the series which is slated to start production this fall. As such everything I'm doing is my own musings about how I would assemble the material. I will readily admit I am not a person who works in TV or in the creative arts at all really, so maybe some of this will be clunky, but I wanted to put my own stamp on it.
You will see [1/2] or [2/2] next to a chapter in my listing, that only means I have broken apart the narrative of the chapter for how I would want to present the material inside each episode. It does not mean a neat 50/50 split of the material. Chapters connected with a , are concurrent. Chapters connected with a / are POV or narrative shifts.
Episode 1 - Winternight
Chapters - 1,2,3,4,5,6
This episode is going to need to establish a lot of characters, and provide the impression that something is about to happen with so many extraordinary circumstances happening around Emonds Field. I think the most memorable scene they need to nail is the first appearance of the Myrdraal on the road with Rand/Tam. I always remember that reading it, and I think it will really be a striking moment to signal the adventure is about to begin. The climax of the episode needs to be the assault on the farm and it should end with Rand dragging Tam rambling into the night with him unsure of the revelation that his father found him on Dragonmount.
Episode 2 - Roads to Bigger Places than You've Seen (I don't love this title, but the more obvious ones are kinda boring)
Chapters - 7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14
This should be an episode where we can fit in some exposition, we need to make sure that we get a glimpse of the Draghkar, and should encompass the hurried rush at Taren Ferry and their arrival in relative safety in Baerlon, however we close the episode with Rand's dream of Ba'alzamon and the dead rat as a warning. I would consider adding a scene of Nynaeve leaving Emonds Field, but I think her surprise arrival is more fitting.
Episode 3 - Shadar Logoth
Chapters - 15,16,17,18,19,20
We get to start off in Baerlon before rapidly leaving (have to reintroduce Nynaeve), and the chase to Shadar Logoth. This gives us a few chances to have some action before the lull in Logoth prior to the frantic escape. My big adjustment to this chapter is really in the visual arrangement of their escape (we likely need to see a bit more of Nynaeve escaping to the river), and I would break up Rand/Mat/Thom's escape to mirror a bit of Perrin/Egwene's. Both escape the city, then we get to see Rand/Mat/Thom board the Spray before the Trollocs catch them, but conclude the episode with Perrin leaping into the river and washing up on shore exhausted. I want this episode to finish feeling like everyone is really in a tough spot.
Episode 4 - Legends of Ages Past
Chapters - 22 / 21 / 24 / 23,25,27,29,30[1/2] / 26
This will be the first episode with some branching and jumping between narratives. Until then we were one tightly knit band. Start with Perrin finding Egwene, stop in on Nynaeve tracking Moraine & Lan, we will get a quick check in on the Spray, I considered skipping this and I think it can be far shorter than we get in the book, but Domon Bayle is a character we will see more of so I didn't want cut his time this early. Then we should spend most of the rest of the episode with Perrin & Egwene, discovering the wolfdream, Elyas, the Tinkers (casting Aram will be important given his return and involvement later) and we will close with them being assaulted by the Whitecloaks under the remains of Artur's statue. The episode I would then close by having Rand/Mat/Thom disembark at Whitebridge and the encounter with the Myrdraal. Let's finish as the chapter does with Rand/Mat running as Thom instructed.
Episode 5 - Roads to Camelyn
Chapters - 30[2/2] / 31,32 / 37[1/2] / 33,34[1/2] / 37[2/2],38 / 34[2/2]
We open with the result of Perrin/Egwene's capture by the Whitecloaks. We can then rejoin Rand and Mat's harrowing time on the road. The timing of this is a bit fuzzy to me, but I want to try and arrange it so that we can see Rand/Mat are ahead of our other group by a little. So following their escape we will return to Moraine/Lan/Nynaeve finding the Whitecloak camp and deciding to put together a plan. We can then finish Rand & Mat's time on the road before being picked up (including Rand's dream and growing concern for Mat). We will then see the execution of their plan to rescue Perrin and Egwene and their declaration they have a few days to go to Camelyn, which is where we can close the episode with Rand and Mat arriving at Camelyn, seeing the great city on the horizon for the first time.
Episode 6 - Ta'Veren
Chapters - 35,36,39,40,41,42,43,44[1/2]
This will cover all of our time in Camelyn, Rand's Royal Palace adventure and meeting with Morgase/Eladia/Elayne/Gawyn/Galad (big time characters being introduced here although we won't get much time with them). That is probably the first 1/3rd of the episode, then we need to have the reunion, healing of Mat, introduction of Loial, and then the realization that they need to reach the Borderlands as fast as possible. I would close this episode with the waygate closing on our party as they enter the Ways.
Episode 7 - The Eye of the World
Chapters - 44[2/2],45,46,47,48,49
The escape from the ways, arrival at Fal Dara, the reappearance and some revelations from Fain followed by the trip to the Blight. This will provide us a chance to have some more development between Nynaeve and Lan as well as showing us a drastically different location from where the majority of this season has taken place. We should close with their being greeted by the Green Man at the Eye of the World, but we will have to save the surprises inside for the next episode.
Episode 8 - The Wheel Turns (The Dragon Rides Again)
Chapters - Prologue of EoTW, 50,51,52,53, Prologue to TGH
By necessity this episode is going to have some really exciting action, big reveals, and we finally should go back to meet our primary nemesis for the first 3 books Ishmael and his taunting of Lews Therin. I think we need to open with how badly things have gone for LTT so we can set the stage for Rand coming into his own as warning for what he faces. This episode the way I would construct it would be the climactic fight, but it also needs to establish that this fight is far from over. The surprise of the Horn of Valere rightfully comes out of left field, but the Dragon Banner will be a strong signal for the close prior to the credits where Moraine declares that the Dragon is Reborn. I would do a post credits sequence of the prologue to TGH. Already I want a warning leading into the second season that things will only be more dangerous for our heroes as their story progresses. I think you could simply end this sequence with the Ba'alzamon command to recognize the three young men from the Two Rivers, but it would be better to carry it through to the reveal of our particular Darkfriend being one of the Children of Light's Questioners. We get the vibe they aren't totally wholesome earlier with Perrin and that should only add to it as we close on season one.
A Few Unsorted Thoughts
I would love to see continuity of the finale titling for a little bit anyway. Perhaps after the first 4 we can bring this back as it makes sense, but I think there would be value in the subtle escalation of titling.
S1 Finale - The Wheel Turns (the dragon rides again)
S2 Finale - the dragon reborn
S3 Finale - The Dragon Reborn
S4 Finale - Car'a'Carn
So far I haven't wanted to cut a chapter until I got to book 6. Most everything else can be condensed or arranged slightly differently compared to the book and it's all more or less worthwhile. I think that some of the side threads are the ones that will need trimming which start happening in LoC. Although I admit I am split on how to handle chapter 50 of TGH, which is really just a short paragraph about how the story of Falme spreads, and could easily be excised entirely given it will contextually be a thing in TGH season.
I think the first 4-5 books are well structured to be able to translate them to a visual medium. There is a lot of ground to cover, but I am finding 10 episodes might be the upper end of the first half of the series. It'll get far more complicated to breakdown and line up once we hit books 7+. As I'm going I feel like 8 episodes a season might really be the measure of most of the first few books.
Every season must start with the wind, and perhaps a text overlay about the Wheel of Time Turns, Ages Come and Go, It was not the beginning, but it was a beginning.
S1 Finale - The Wheel Turns (the dragon rides again)
S2 Finale - the dragon reborn
S3 Finale - The Dragon Reborn
S4 Finale - Car'a'Carn
So far I haven't wanted to cut a chapter until I got to book 6. Most everything else can be condensed or arranged slightly differently compared to the book and it's all more or less worthwhile. I think that some of the side threads are the ones that will need trimming which start happening in LoC. Although I admit I am split on how to handle chapter 50 of TGH, which is really just a short paragraph about how the story of Falme spreads, and could easily be excised entirely given it will contextually be a thing in TGH season.
I think the first 4-5 books are well structured to be able to translate them to a visual medium. There is a lot of ground to cover, but I am finding 10 episodes might be the upper end of the first half of the series. It'll get far more complicated to breakdown and line up once we hit books 7+. As I'm going I feel like 8 episodes a season might really be the measure of most of the first few books.
Every season must start with the wind, and perhaps a text overlay about the Wheel of Time Turns, Ages Come and Go, It was not the beginning, but it was a beginning.
Friday, March 1, 2019
The World and It's People
So the first bit of detail that I want to tackle is establishing my thoughts on what each territory of the world I have related back to ours. Each territory has it's own flavor (and I will likely be completely wrong about how it's handled), which I have often felt reflected to some degree familiar cultures in our world. There is a strong hint/implication that the world we read about it is our own. The Wheel moves and ages come and go, ours is either sometime prior to the Age of Legends or perhaps somewhere in the future past the events we see. I don't have a strong opinion on that part, but I do think that it means you'll end up seeing some diverse casting choices and that the world will feel very dense compared to ours. The actual land mass space is certainly no larger (in my mind) than the space of Europe or perhaps the mainland US at the largest. The Waste is a large space, Seanchan is probably a decently sized area, but frankly I never got the impression that we really interact with more than a fraction of what would be a full world map.
Let's start with what I think are some of the easier ones to pin down. I do want to note that because of the Breaking of the World I think that even with strong ethnic trends in each area, you'll still find people of all colors and creeds across the world to some degree. Just because a place is mostly one ethnicity doesn't mean there won't be any folks of a different ethnicity as a part of their society. I never got the impression any one place was completely homogeneous outside of really the Aiel.
Andor and it's Western Reaches (The Two Rivers/Manetheren)
Frankly I feel like the allusion to England is relatively strong here. A female monarch, traditional bright castles, spires, rolling hills and forests along with a population that is mostly Caucasian. Camelyn is I think a strong allegory for Camelot in terms of the visual reference point. This will probably be one of the more familiar visual locations to viewers. I think you'll see a relatively diverse population as our crew begin their journey. Mostly white folks, but certainly some representation from latino/black populations too.
Cairhien
During my reread there are a few things that struck me about Cairhien; they are opulent in their spaces, love a huge party, and are not as strong as they present themselves to be. Historically they remind me of the French Monarchy which I think also fits with their tentative alignment with Andor. This is more visual reference for their architecture than for casting. I also think Daes Dae Mar fits very well with the feel of the French court than other monarchies. I would think much like Andor you'll see a variety of casting for the populace, but I feel like the central area of the world is very traditional European in the casting and dress.
Murandy/Altara/Amadacia
Ultimately we don't spend a ton of time in these places, but they are more of that mostly white European blend you get from Andor/Cairhien.
The Borderlands - Saldea, Kandor, Arafel, Shienar
These are a little tricky, but I have often pictured the Borderlands as a blend of central and eastern Asia. Sheinar I often picture as similar in look to Mongolians, while Saldea often struck me as more Korean/perhaps East Russian Asian. The high cheek bones, striking eyes, and dark hair all remind me of that and on my reread, Faile just made me think of a very striking Korean woman in her presence, respect for tradition, and description. So I have a picture of the Borderlands in my head as a blend of that eastern pacific coast/central Asian peoples. Could also have some of south/central asia as an alternative casting group (Pakistani/Indian).
Tear
Tear visually I expect to be very stark and heavy (the Stone makes me think of an imposing peak in a city that feels unnatural), the description of their dress and their relationship with Illian reminds me of the Turkish empire. Bright colors, with volume to some of the clothing, along with their secular government (avoidance of religious systems and lack of a true monarch) also remind me of a blend of Turkish history. I also chose Turkey because of my choice of inspiration for Illian.
Illian
As the rival and counterpart to Tear, Illian makes me think of a Greco-Roman blend for their look and casting. Both are similarly Mediterranean, but despite those similarities they don't get along. Their governance is not democratic, but it is done with a council not a full monarchy. Doesn't hurt that it's also located at the tip of a peninsula much like Italy and Greece. Admittedly as I write this I am only starting book 6 and we haven't really spent time with Illian yet so my opinion may change as I'm just pulling this out of memory.
Ebou Dar
The city is described as vibrant, but dangerous and a little on the dirty side. Coupled with the food as described, and it reminds me out southeast Asia. Thai/Cambodian/Vietnamese would be my angle for how I would want to cast this area. It obviously gets a fair amount of the European people in it from their neighbors to the north.
Tarabon/Arad Doman
Never been quite sure how to handle this group, we really only spend time in this part of the map during the 2nd book, and the main take away is that the people here were quickly and easily subjugated by the Seanchan with their Return although it was not well received. There is a lot of talk about how the Domani women are considered very exotic and appealing. Given their darker skin I would likely angle this towards a Latin/South American casting. The situation and the descriptions of the people make me think of european conquest in south central america given the spaces are not truly united and tend to be more regionally community based.
The Sea Folk
Given they spend their entire lives on the water, I have always pictured them to be a group of peoples who resemble pacific islanders. Dark skin, fiercely tied to their culture, bright colors, tattoos etc. You could also consider casting Philippians, Malaysian, or Indonesian. Consummate masters of the ocean, their ships also remind me of the thinner faster sailing ships from those countries you can still see on the water today.
Seanchan
The visual reference has to be China/Japan. Their armor sounds nearly like samurai armor, and their ships are described to me as Chinese square rigs. There would be more diversity to their general population, but they always reminded me of a blend of that stereotypical chinese/japanese look and feel in the elite/royal level characters we interact with over the course of the series. They can blend in because there would be plenty of cross over since they are descendants of our home territory.
Aiel
This is probably the toughest group to cast. Culturally they remind me of Native Americans, but visually they have a very unique look. Red/Gold hair and blue/green/grey eyes. Makes me think of the acutal Caucuses and western central asia a little. I think the Aiel are going to need some help from the costume or SFX department to nail their contrasting dark skin/lighter hair and eyes appearance.
Shara
We never really see this place, but I would think its a very african/south asia Indian in casting and style. Not a big concern unless the TV show decides to add material we never really got in the books.
Our main map space ends up I think very diverse, with representation from all across the world in it. I think there will be inspiration taken from historical cultures, but they'll need to have the flair given to them that the books afforded. Familiar, but not the same.
Let's start with what I think are some of the easier ones to pin down. I do want to note that because of the Breaking of the World I think that even with strong ethnic trends in each area, you'll still find people of all colors and creeds across the world to some degree. Just because a place is mostly one ethnicity doesn't mean there won't be any folks of a different ethnicity as a part of their society. I never got the impression any one place was completely homogeneous outside of really the Aiel.
Andor and it's Western Reaches (The Two Rivers/Manetheren)
Frankly I feel like the allusion to England is relatively strong here. A female monarch, traditional bright castles, spires, rolling hills and forests along with a population that is mostly Caucasian. Camelyn is I think a strong allegory for Camelot in terms of the visual reference point. This will probably be one of the more familiar visual locations to viewers. I think you'll see a relatively diverse population as our crew begin their journey. Mostly white folks, but certainly some representation from latino/black populations too.
Cairhien
During my reread there are a few things that struck me about Cairhien; they are opulent in their spaces, love a huge party, and are not as strong as they present themselves to be. Historically they remind me of the French Monarchy which I think also fits with their tentative alignment with Andor. This is more visual reference for their architecture than for casting. I also think Daes Dae Mar fits very well with the feel of the French court than other monarchies. I would think much like Andor you'll see a variety of casting for the populace, but I feel like the central area of the world is very traditional European in the casting and dress.
Murandy/Altara/Amadacia
Ultimately we don't spend a ton of time in these places, but they are more of that mostly white European blend you get from Andor/Cairhien.
The Borderlands - Saldea, Kandor, Arafel, Shienar
These are a little tricky, but I have often pictured the Borderlands as a blend of central and eastern Asia. Sheinar I often picture as similar in look to Mongolians, while Saldea often struck me as more Korean/perhaps East Russian Asian. The high cheek bones, striking eyes, and dark hair all remind me of that and on my reread, Faile just made me think of a very striking Korean woman in her presence, respect for tradition, and description. So I have a picture of the Borderlands in my head as a blend of that eastern pacific coast/central Asian peoples. Could also have some of south/central asia as an alternative casting group (Pakistani/Indian).
Tear
Tear visually I expect to be very stark and heavy (the Stone makes me think of an imposing peak in a city that feels unnatural), the description of their dress and their relationship with Illian reminds me of the Turkish empire. Bright colors, with volume to some of the clothing, along with their secular government (avoidance of religious systems and lack of a true monarch) also remind me of a blend of Turkish history. I also chose Turkey because of my choice of inspiration for Illian.
Illian
As the rival and counterpart to Tear, Illian makes me think of a Greco-Roman blend for their look and casting. Both are similarly Mediterranean, but despite those similarities they don't get along. Their governance is not democratic, but it is done with a council not a full monarchy. Doesn't hurt that it's also located at the tip of a peninsula much like Italy and Greece. Admittedly as I write this I am only starting book 6 and we haven't really spent time with Illian yet so my opinion may change as I'm just pulling this out of memory.
Ebou Dar
The city is described as vibrant, but dangerous and a little on the dirty side. Coupled with the food as described, and it reminds me out southeast Asia. Thai/Cambodian/Vietnamese would be my angle for how I would want to cast this area. It obviously gets a fair amount of the European people in it from their neighbors to the north.
Tarabon/Arad Doman
Never been quite sure how to handle this group, we really only spend time in this part of the map during the 2nd book, and the main take away is that the people here were quickly and easily subjugated by the Seanchan with their Return although it was not well received. There is a lot of talk about how the Domani women are considered very exotic and appealing. Given their darker skin I would likely angle this towards a Latin/South American casting. The situation and the descriptions of the people make me think of european conquest in south central america given the spaces are not truly united and tend to be more regionally community based.
The Sea Folk
Given they spend their entire lives on the water, I have always pictured them to be a group of peoples who resemble pacific islanders. Dark skin, fiercely tied to their culture, bright colors, tattoos etc. You could also consider casting Philippians, Malaysian, or Indonesian. Consummate masters of the ocean, their ships also remind me of the thinner faster sailing ships from those countries you can still see on the water today.
Seanchan
The visual reference has to be China/Japan. Their armor sounds nearly like samurai armor, and their ships are described to me as Chinese square rigs. There would be more diversity to their general population, but they always reminded me of a blend of that stereotypical chinese/japanese look and feel in the elite/royal level characters we interact with over the course of the series. They can blend in because there would be plenty of cross over since they are descendants of our home territory.
Aiel
This is probably the toughest group to cast. Culturally they remind me of Native Americans, but visually they have a very unique look. Red/Gold hair and blue/green/grey eyes. Makes me think of the acutal Caucuses and western central asia a little. I think the Aiel are going to need some help from the costume or SFX department to nail their contrasting dark skin/lighter hair and eyes appearance.
Shara
We never really see this place, but I would think its a very african/south asia Indian in casting and style. Not a big concern unless the TV show decides to add material we never really got in the books.
Our main map space ends up I think very diverse, with representation from all across the world in it. I think there will be inspiration taken from historical cultures, but they'll need to have the flair given to them that the books afforded. Familiar, but not the same.
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