So I just finished watching the two hour premiere of Legend of the Seeker that aired last night and I have to tell you that it was awesome. Seriously, I loved every minute of it. It had some of the most incredible fight sequences I’ve seen on television, with sword fights better than The Lord of the Rings movies. They were that good. They did this thing where they would cut in these amazing slow motion shots that just blew me away. And I was so impressed with the production values. I know they usually throw a bit more money into the first few episodes to draw people in, but it was well worth it. Great fights, incredible horse chases, and even catapults! I hope they can keep it up. The story was pretty basic, simple guy (who looks good shirtless) turned warrior, evil warlords, wizards, beautiful damsels (who probably also look good shirtless, but this is The CW, not Showtime) in distress who aren’t really in distress because they’re also kickass warriors. But it was definitely interesting enough to keep me intrigued beyond the fight sequences. Did I mention the fight sequences? Because they were awesome. I got chills a few times because they were so good. People have complained that it deviates too much from the source material (It’s based on The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.) but I’ve never read them, so I don’t care about that. Plus, turning a series of books into a weekly television series has to come with a few sacrifices. One slight complaint I have is that the evil bad guy is discussed as being the culmination of all evil, and yet he looks like just a regular man. I think it would have been more interesting if he was cloaked and hidden in shadow like a Nazgûl or the Emperor from Star Wars, but that’s just a minor quibble, and they hinted that he may be disguising his true appearance, so we’ll see what comes. Anyway, you should definitely check it out! It was awesome! Go to the official site to learn more and see when it’s playing by you.
Here’s a clip of the first ten minutes, and yes, it includes our hero’s shirtless chopping wood scene (LOL…wood):
Ok come one guys. First off, the television serires may deviate course from the general plot flow of the books, but you can expect some changes when they are incorporating the book series into a television series. Most of the changes were major, but when you think about it, they were neccessary. I’ve read the entire series multiple times and still enjoy this show so much that whenever Saturday rolls around I am already on the couch watching the previous episode and waiting for the new one.
Most of the changes may be major, but they are for the better good. Terry Goodkind approved of these changes to make the television series better. I’m sure we can all agree that the books wouldn’t make the best television series. Most of the philosiphizing goes on in the characters heads in the book so without some characteristical and dialogue changes, the show would be filled with five minute shots of Richard and Kahlans’ blank expressions as they try to figure out a way past their current situation. They also needed to change some of the story to fit for television and allow the watchers to be drawn in a lot better. There is an interview with Terry Goodkind in the Legend of the Seeker Promo where he was talking about the changes to the television series. He said that fans of the series might be dissapointed by some of the changes, but he really believes that its for the best, he wants them to expand upon the world that he created and that is what they are going to do, even though a couple major changes to the story might have to be incorporated.
And of course the cast may be questioning, but they still have plenty of seasons to improve and plus, they had to get some good looking characters…we all know if Kahlan looked like Sohorny Weaver
, we would all be quite dissapointed. Kahlan’s character looks amazing, she has that hot pale look that is just gorgeous. Especiall in episode 5 where you saw so much of her skin, it was like…flawless. And Richard, they also wanted a guy that looked good with his shirt off and had a nice face, and hell, they found him. Plus his acting isnt terrible, he does good with facial expressions but still could improve. Kahlan always sounds like she has a stuffed up nose too lol. But anyway. You guys really shouldnt flame something like this. They are doing their best to change a magnificent book series into an equally magnificent television series which isn’t an easy task. Give them a break. Don’t forget to watch the new episode with Shota in it on Saturday 3 Central. Peace 
.
Compared to the books, Legend of the Seeker SUCKS. If you haven’t read the books yet, you really should. They’re friggin awsome! Although, the books may make you not like the show so much…on the other hand, if you can keep the show and the books as two different things in your mind, the show isn’t that bad. I like it alright as it’s own thing, but it just disappoints me greatly compared to the books, and my Fiancee won’t even watch anymore of the show. He hates it because he thinks it has ruined the books. The show really doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the books I think. The characters are the same, with slight alterations, and the main plot point is there (Darken Rahl trying to get the boxes of Orden), but everything else is different.
I do applaud them for doing such a great job on Zedd however. *standing ovation* He’s my favorite character in the books, and the show.
k well have any of you ever read a book that wasent better than the movie we automaticly talor the book to our own emaginations so of course the book is better of course you dident see the seeker or confessor like the tv show
I agree with Brett! If you people don’t like the show, just don’t watch it! I don’t want it getting cancelled!!!!
TRUST ME! THIS SERIES SUCKS PENIS!
THE BOOKS ARE THE BEST THING EVER!
I have all 11 and they have killed them, they killed them dead ;o
Zedd looks like a peadofile with a big head (easter islander head)
Kahlan hasn’t got green eyes ffs D;
And Richard Rahl. What have they done to youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu?
I wonder if they’re going to scrap the idea of Darken Rahl being Richard’s father like they killed every other aspect?
How he burns the book of counted shows is beyond me, seeing as it is the main plot for all the books -.-
I don’t suppose they’ve thought this through very well have they?
AND WHERE IS THE WORD ‘TRUTH’ THAT IS ON THE GOLDEN AND SILVER WIRED HANDLE OF THE SWORD OF TRUTH? =’[
I cannot believe that they have done such a bad job D:
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT RICHARD BURNS THE BOOK OF COUNTED SHADOW IN THE SWORD OF TRUTH THEY DID MAGNIFICENTLY ON zedd and admit kahlan doesnt have green eyes every other way shes perfect{but they should use contacts]but everything else your rightdont say anything about the last 2 books because im only half way through phant and half of this is capitalized because by the time i noticed it i had already written too much to put in the effort to change it
Tom, how can you say that the books suck?
They went very dark, but not bad…
Especially with the chainfire element added in.
A mord sith finding love? I think that was a good ending and also the fact that he left the books open ended (the temple of the winds being brought back into the world of the living)
He may write more, but just wanted to take a break and so left it like that, but they did NOT go downhill after book 5-6 (whichever you were on about)
Of course I would prefer the same quality that Peter Jackson showed when makeing Lord of the Rings, and feel that this series deserved that level of quality. I wish he did Aragon, as that movie was as much a travesty as LotS is to many who read the series. My wife had been watching the LotS and I just watched the last three episodes that she had on TiVO. I can’t watch any more because I can’t contain my displeasure. I only hope that the TV series prompts people to read the books that they may learn the truth.
I have read the books and I keep watching the show just to see how they are going to fix all the things they messed up. I don’t mind all the things they add to make it a decent tv show, cause well you cant have a show with a lot of information and only a lil bit of action, each show has to have a sub plot to keep people coming back. I dont mind any of that. Its the back ground story’s of the main characters that they have completely changed and messed up. If they are going to spend time in the TV show explaining someones past.. then why make up a new one? that is beyond me. In the books Richard is not a whiny little brat, He is the Seeker of Truth, he is smart, dependable, in charge, mature, strong, both mentally and physically, being the seeker means he seeks the truth and can figure things out not run to other people to help him think. The TV show turned him into a scrawny little runt with no mind of his own. its sad really. If you enjoy the TV show then i would recommend that you at least pick up the first book. It is more powerful and wonderful than i could ever explain. some notes on backstory screw ups that we’ve already seen in the tv show- Kahlan’s father was not an evil brute who tied her up to use her power for his own purposes.. he was a good man who taught her the ways of war and fighting, and you are not free of a confessors magic if she dies. Richard was raised by his real mother *who died in a fire* and his adoptive father, and they messed up big time with the book of counted shadows but i wont tell you how they messed that up sense we’re not at the end of the series yet. Darkan rahl is an extremely beautiful and clean man, not a greasy slime ball they’ve shown in the TV show so far, He is evil beyond all compare, he sacrifices children for his spells and wields great power. I understand they wont show him killing children in the tv show but the book series is not for kids,, its a mature book series and this would have been better as a Show time tv series where they could have done more with it.
all i have to do is compare this to the way they made the eragon film compared to those books.
Lol Hannah have you read all of the books? If so I think it’s awesome how you finally find out why Richard’s mum went back into the fire xo
To all those who have read just the first few books and complain that this show is a travesty of the books, Please refrain from commenting. Read all the books first before you comment.
I tell you. I really hope this show deviates from the whole series made by Terry Goodkind. Because the first few books were very good. But after the fourth book onwards, it is all downhill.
Read the whole series. You will get my point.
With regards to the show I think it is good. I enjoyed it.
go fuck yourself anthony you are totally wrong
Come on guy’s and gal’s, i can’t be the only one that’s read ALL the books half a dozen times… after the first few they suck. suck. suck. suck…!!!!:))) PUN intended. Goodkind repeats himself so much it’s very boring to read line to line. you have to skip over a lot of the books to keep from reading the same lines 500 times. but the story is epic, the reason we all hang in there, is Kahlan and richard and even more important CARA……..well what Sam Rami has done is try to put his own spin on it:((( It’s just not kahlan and richard….(((
you do not hate the books or else you would not read them repeatededly and if you do i hope someone slowly strips you of your skin while your alive bye
B.A. i can agree with you it is what it is , Better than the other cop crap on t.v.:))))))But i’m as sure as toasted toad’s, that goodkind could care less what we think,He’s as aragant as they come, and yes there will be another book or 10,very longwinded of course, dealing with the temple of the wind’s and it’s link with the other world.. Rember the prophacy Nathen mentioned… about one from another world coming to save them???? I’d guess one of Jennsen’s children….. a spark of magic surviving in him or her…being called by the temple….bla bla bla , i’ll Never buy another goodkind book .. By the 5th I felt like a sucker, and we all were….. But i had to know how it ended…
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck yoooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
uh craig:) six wasn’t on battle star gallectia:)))) ha.. she was on Star trek voyager….
Six was on BSG, seven of nine was Star Trek
I have read all of the books, and I was so excited about the series. After watching the first two I was quite disappointed. The acting is bad, the storyline is way off from the books. The casting is all wrong. Kahlan is flat, the Wizard is way over done, and Richard is too small. I hope it will get better, however, I will soon stop watching. I don’t think the show will last long…and yet Goodkind had a hand in the TV series…I can’t help but feel he sold out.
Bad series from a great book. Regardless of changes that have to be made from book to movie/TV format, the producers/series creators chose to change the essential qualities of the characters. That sucks. Richard isn’t Richard anymore. The fact that he and Chase chase after Chase’s daughter or that Darken Rahl’s army bashes through the Boundry doesn’t matter as much as the fact that Richard is not portrayed as intelligent, warm, and everything that makes a hero. They’ve turned him into a scared boy- not someone who is intially motivated to help others. Building a bridge and helping a boy get his cow accross doesn’t outweigh the fact that they obliterated his earlier relationship with Zedd. Kahlan is shown as bitchy, controlling and doesn’t have any of the obvious magic or charm that Richard falls in love with. They could have kept those elements. And they are important. I don’t care what happens to these characters. Won’t watch the rest. Agree with everyone else who is also sadly dissapointed in the series. Wanted so much to like it. Too bad.
if you see the show before you read the books you think its awesome then you hate it
I treat book adaptations as a new but familiar story and let them play out as a new experience (I also usually set my expectation bar very low). I have read 11 of the books (still haven’t read the short story yet) and have seen the first three episodes. So far I like it and look forward to seeing more. Glad I found the series!
So far, so good. I’ve got some experience with writing fantasy in both book and screenplay form (unpublished and unbought, in the interests of full disclosure), so let me add my two cents.
There is always the element of time. To kick off the series, they had to get Richard out of the Westlands pretty quick, within the space of about 90 minutes or so. Translate that to 90 pages, but think of that in terms of about thirty or forty pages of text. Here’s another rule of thumb: fights take longer in movies than in print. Here’s one popular pair of words to describe a battle royale between two opponents:
They fight.
But those two words could be several minutes of battle.
Additionally, you have the matter of pacing. You can be looser and more non-traditional with a book, but pacing becomes a much more precision crafted issue when you’re putting together a TV show and/or movie.
Pacing affects things like dialogue, the amount and kind of action, and the complexity of the scenes in question. Where a book could devote pages to a certain development, a show will have mere minutes to establish things.
Content is of concern. In one aspect, it’s question of what they’ll let be shown on a syndicated television show. The sword literally detonates somebody’s head when he uses it on one guy. And of course you have the Showtime-worthy relationship between Denna and Richard.
A second issue with content concerns budget. I recently watched Stardust, and on the DVD, author Neil Gaiman commented on how he just whimsically wrote of this flying pirate ship, and felt kind of guilty to see a bunch of craftsman working on a million dollar set based on that casual writing decision. There will be things in such an adaptation which aren’t so easy to bring to life. It’ll be interesting to see what they do about the dragon Scarlet, if they do anything at all!
But lastly, let’s be clear on something: Unless you can see it, hear it, or infer it from what’s visible or audible, it doesn’t exist on screen. I took a glance at the first page of the sequel to Wizard’s First Rule. There’s sentence after sentence about what the character Rachel thinks, what she sees and hears.
What she could hear or see could be captured on film, captured in the audio. But what she’s thinking? That has to be demonstrated through what an actor can act or do, through the aesthetics of sound and image, or appropriately revealled through dialogue. It’s either translation, or negation.
Okay, all that academic stuff submitted, let me tell you what I really think. I think it’s marvellous. They take the material seriously. This isn’t a post-modern riff on mythology like Xena and Hercules. There is respect for the gravity of the material.
The acting isn’t bad at all. I’ve seen far worse in syndication, and I think they nail their characters decently. I love Bruce Spence’s performance. He does a very good irrascible wizard. That Zedd isn’t shown to be a life-long pal or Richard’s quest three weeks after the fact is probably an effort at reducing the complexity of the work as much as possible. It’s much simpler to start things off linearly and work towards the end. Reduce the amount of explanation, exposition and other time-consuming, pace-deadening backwaters of story as much as you can.
I’m under the impression that they’re doing their best to subtly set up certain concepts and ideas early on. The episode Listener, though filler material in this adaptation, sets up the Sisters of Light, who I understand to have a role in the next book, ostensibly the next season, if they’re going at the novel’s pacing. The episode Denna gives a compressed, but somewhat faithful reproduction of one of the more twisted of the book’s subplots, although there are some interesting issues brought up by the ressurrecting magic. There I’d be saying to the show’s writers: you’d better be careful! As for Puppetmaster, they do a good job of essentializing one of the more touching of the subplots of the book. What I particularly enjoy is that the easy steal of the book is anything but easy in the episode.
Overall, I find the adaptation to be a good one. They could take a more cerebral approach to it, but I these kind of adaptations at this quality are rare enough that I can accept a little bit of dumbing down, which is minimal, given the constraints. The fight scenes are well choreographed as well, so I don’t really mind that element.
We have to think deeper about adaptations than just canon translation of book to film. The folks running this series are doing their homework.
I completely disagree with the people who say that the books went downhill! I loved how he put a spin on the whole thing, and what someone said about one of jennsen’s children coming back, that’s impossible as where they live now is meant to be Earth (Plus the power of Orden is the power of life so technically there is no stronger magic o.o). Although i do agree that he will most likely write more. Well i’m hoping so anyways lol xD
Obviously most people who like this show, but anyone who is a diehard fan of the books probably finds it as disgusting as I do.
The series completely deviates from the books. It is quite disappointing how much every episode is different from from the book. Although the general story-line might be the same, there seems to be nothing that is the same between the books and the series.
I loved the books and Terry Goodkind is an amazing author, but this series is a shame to his name and writing. Not only that, but it looks like a b-grade show. The quality, etc, is just poor. I much prefer the oder of events in the books compared to the oder in the show.
15 episodes and still sucks big time.
Discovered this series as a high ranking file on a torrent site and decided to grab the episodes of the season last week since there was quite some time since a company failed miserably at creating a goblin tv series.
So what has the TV industry learned in the 10 years since the last attempt at this genre?
The first episode was oh so corny, but many pilots are which made me give it another whopping 15 episodes. And now I’ve had enough.
Each episode had 4-5 scenes so incredibly bad they made bile crawl up from the stomach and the rest were uniformly below par.
It’s sad really. They do seem to have a budget, however all but a handful of actors across these 15 episodes look to have had any prior acting experience and none are part of the main cast!?
A total recast and change of writers and directors might make this a passable show, but how likely is that to happen?
PS. I haven’t read the books this series is apparently based on and am judging the series on it’s own merits. If the series “over arching plot” is based on the books, then I’m really glad I missed out on the books as a child.
first off id like to say it is not a childs book at least i dont think so considering it involves pedophilia and eating human testicles on two ocassions and thats not even the worst part of the torture although i read the first one when iwas eleven or twelve and loved even though i found some parts literally unspeakable and secondly you can go shove your broom up your ass
Why is everyone giving this show so much flak? Its great… I have read the series and its the first good remake into a television series i have seen. Considering the book series went downhill and turned into a mills and boon type series i think its actually quite good. The acting is very good, how can you say its bad acting? There is no cringe moments and they play their parts well. Its made by the makers of Hercules and Xena. Both series were absolutly pathetic and i think this is a big step up. Well done whoever made this show.
i hate you ben go fuck a scorpions tail
Wow… just wow… I didn’t know I could feel this much dissapointment over a tv show. All I have to say is that if you have read the books and enjoyed them, do not bother watching this series. Did they even CONSULT the books before making this? I would like the 2 hours of my life back…
Last summer I had never even heard of Goodkind or the SOT series. I started reading book 10 of the SOT series. When I was searching for the names of the other books I learned this series was coming to T.V. I did go back and read all the books in the series. I am even requesting a full set of books for my birthday. So, I think I can speak as a person that truly a SOT fan. I never got to watch the LotS on T.V. on a regular basis. I would catch an episode every now and then. However, I watched a full episode this past saturday with my son, 10, and daughter, 8. We really loved the show. The fighting, the magic, the characters. Yes, the series did deviate significantly from the books. HOWEVER, the show was never promoted as an enactment of the books. At least I never saw that. It is a television series. It is show in the late afternoon and the target audience probably includes kids. That said, I am actually really glad they made this series like this. While I was reading the books, I actually thought my son would enjoy them. He read the first 3 Harry Potter books in 3rd grade last year. However, and this is a big deal breaker, there was entirely too much vicious, atrocious sexual violence in the books for a 10 year old to read. So, I am loving this series for my kids sake. I’ve even gone back on the LotS website and watched all the past episodes. Yes, Richard’s character is not what I expected from the book, neither is Kahlan but that’s okay. And parts of the story are revealed at different times. I was upset that Kahlan was not portrayed as the Mother Confessor but then she gets the title in a later episode. Like I said early, this is not an enactment of the books. Overall, I am enjoying this television series and so are my kids. For the record, I never watched Xena or Hercules.
id like to say that my experience was similar to yours and when you ra most of the books you will be severely disappointed with the show and i was only i little older than your son when i read the first one and i actually recomended it to my mom she is now actually this minute reading confessor and im on just finished chapter 23 of phantom a few hours ago
I have read all the books several times, at first I hated this show for straying so far from the book. and I refused to watch it any more. fell in love with the characters while reading the book and it broke my heart to see them as something other than what I pictured. Recently I got bored and decided I would give it a second chance. I started watching it on hulu. The show itself is actually good. I just have to tell my self that its not the book.
Only one thing to say about the TV serises…. GO READ THE BOOKS.
ok look i am commenting on a remark about the actress of kalan being a “plain girl ” look there is no F ing way she is plain she is like beautiful one of the prettiest actresses in the F ing world i think she is always kick butt and her ating is wonderful she is perfect for displaying the distront woman with an unfofiled love and she is like beautiful once again the only way she is off the book is she doesnt wear the white dress as much and has green eyes but i think the dark hair blue eyes hing is the most hottest combination alive and the white dress compliments that so stick it i love the series and if the second one gets canceled half way through some ones ass is geting kicked
Ya know, I remember many years ago chatting with the guys about how awesome a Sword of Truth movie would be! We talked about how seeing these scenes played on on the screen for us like in the LOR series would topple anything before it. Imagining Richard doing the dance with death for the first time would be the coolist thing ever. Slow motion, tearing through everybody with fluid movement! I could go on and on…but I won’t. When I heard that the Sworkd of truth sereis was comming out o tv, I thought God himself heard my prayers and answered them! For months I would check online to see what was happening, how soo it would come out and who would play who! The day it opened and they had a double show I was sitting in my living room with a giant soda and bowl of popcorn barely stemming off the anticipation of what was comming on. When the first sceen opened and they flew over the mountians I thought, ” Oh my gosh, this is going to best the best show ever!” it took less than 2 minutes for the first episode to kill, destroy and crush my SOT dream. I literally wanted to call Rami and tell him, “You’re a Di#k!!” Terry……How could you let them destroy a series that developed your fanbase? We love those books!!! Coutless hours and lost sleep is to be blamed for reading these books! Hell, I’m a guy… a mans man…and the books made me cry at many points throughout the series. Many people will say,” Hey, they always have to change to book to make a movie or show, just deal with it.” Well, 1: Screw YOU, you probley did not read the books. 2: I can’t let go. From what people tell me, the Harry Potter sereis is pretty accurate?! Maybe there is still hope for the devoted few in a movie deal, time will tell. But the Legend of the Seeker…I stopped watching after the first night and have not looked back.Shame on you Terry!
Oh, one more thing for Stephen Daughtrey who wrote a comment a screen or two above mine. You liked the show, you are a “writer/ slash screen writer”? You thought they did a good job?! There is a reason nobody wants your scripts!!! You are the same people who butcher anything good in attempt to meke money, I would rather they never made the whow than to create such crap! The acting: CRAP Plot: Crap Flow: Crap Writing: Uber Crap!!!!!! Jesus, lets be real people! If you do like it your life must be reeeeaaaal boaring!!!! The only thing that can make this show better is if they nix the actors and just let Terry sit in a chair by a fireplace and read the damn story to the camera, ” Will Richard ever make it out of the cave?, to be contiuned next week folks.” Maybe than I will watch it, if you don’t like what I have to say, bite me!
I think this dude sums it up best: http://www.sheepvomit.com/The_Legend_of_the_Seeker_Traves.html
Legend of the Seeker tv series is fucking great!!! If it had also been filled with naked lesbian love scenes and underworld orgies…DAMN…it would have been so good I would have cried!!!
Right ON…hand me dat blunt!!!!!!