Simon Mcmenimen

If you were to change the names of the characters, this show would have little resemblance to the book series in any real way. The book series had flaws and was due for updates to certain plot points and world building, but the show has changed everything from large details down to the minutiae so as to come across as a completely different IP. Flattening the racial makeup of the world was probably a smart decision to update it to our modern sensibilities, however costume design needs to be precise and culturally diverse so that the viewer is able to easily differentiate between people from different lands and cultures. This was not done and it is almost impossible to differentiate a person from Caemlyn, The Two Rivers, and a Shienaran. By choosing to postpone Rand meeting Elayne in Caemlyn their relationship will be very difficult, if not impossible, to portray in a believable way. The way they have changed the dynamic between Moiraine and Lan is nonsensical and unnecessary. The decision they made regarding Perrin and his wife, who they made up for the TV series, turns him into an unlikable character who is constantly moping instead of a calm and calculating character who was a fan favorite at this point in the book series. The set pieces are nice and the battle sequences are well done for the most part, but the writing leaves a lot to be desired at best and falls flat on its face in the worst. Dialogue is extremely clunky at times and feels like it could be inserted into the CW lineup with no issues. If you are a fan of the books, I suggest rereading them or listening to the audiobooks as Michael Kramer and Kate Redding give phenomenal performances. The show fails to give us an adaptation and is only passable as an entertaining piece of media.