Legend ot Seeker - any good? what is it?

[Christopher]

^Actually it's uncanny how much time Zedd spends separated from Richard and Kahlan over the course of the show. I've been wondering if Bruce Spence had availability issues that kept him from shooting his scenes at the same time as the other actors, or if maybe they can't stand each other and have to be kept apart. Or maybe it's just the show's attempt to follow the pattern of the books?

As it happens, Mike Sussman, who's a producer on the show, is also a TrekBBS member. Maybe he'll drop into the thread sometime and shed some light on our questions.

 

[Scout101]

^That would be a really interesting conversation/thread for fans of the show and book series, the ability to contrast them somewhat, and get some insight into the 'how and why' on some of the discrepancies...

Only obvious one is to cut down on the rape and hardcore violence, as it's on TV, owned by Disney (if i recall correctly), and frankly, it was way over the top even in book format, so no reason to show that kinda crap. That they've still got the Mord-sith slapping everyone with the red and white dildoes is probably enough

 

[Christopher]

^Not much rape as far as I recall, but there's quite a lot of violence, with the heroes sticking pointy metal things through dozens of bad guys a week. And they definitely don't skimp on the S&M and torture where the Mord-Sith are concerned.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

It's definitely a fun series. I started following it when it premiered last year and count the time watching and reviewing each episode as well spent. True, the stories don't often have a great deal of depth. And while this season has definitely been spent trying to "sex up" the characters a bit, it's almost much darker than the first season. It's all in good fun and, once in a while, it's perfectly okay to give your brain a bit of a break.

If anyone's interested, you can read my episode reviews here.

 

[Scout101]

^^well, there's plenty of gratuitous 'random sword fight breaks out' moments, but they've toned down things like swinging babies against walls, and using people as target practice, etc. Lots of fighting, less of the over the top stuff....

 

[FreezeC77]

I saw the preview for next weeks show and I really don't like Jolene Blalock's look as Nicci. Nicci is my favorite character in the books, in fact her role expanding in the latter end of the books is one of the only reasons I even continued with the series. I think the producers if they have any intent to utilize Nicci more later in the shows run they should have cast an unknown (God knows there's not a shortage of very hot blond women in the Oceanic region lol) unless Jolene Blalock would become a recurring cast member.

But as for her look. Nicci is an extremely beatiful blond woman who always wears black and then I see the preview for next week and Jolene Blalock (who I've seen with blond hair and who looks much more attractive IMO with it isn't blond) and she's dressed pretty damn dowdy. Wearing this reddish frock with a bandana. Lamo

 

[Lt. Trull]

I missed him killing those 50 by channeling all the holders of the sword of truth in addition I also wonder if richard walks into the palace and announces him as the bringer of death like he does in the books...
thereby fullfilling a prophecy...

 

[Scout101]

Well, problem is that he doesn't have the sword, so can't channel any dead former owners through it...

 

[DeadmeatDiggory]

is there a site that has a list of the changes from the book to series. I know of the Darken Rahl change, which I kinda thought was really dumb. I mean, can't he be magically younger in appearence? Whatever.

 

[Christopher]

is there a site that has a list of the changes from the book to series.

It would be a very long list. All you need to know is that this isn't a copy of the books, but a television series loosely inspired by the books and taking their characters and concepts in its own directions. Trying to codify all the changes is really missing the point. The show is its own entity, and is best evaluated that way.

I know of the Darken Rahl change, which I kinda thought was really dumb. I mean, can't he be magically younger in appearence? Whatever.

The reason why the change isn't dumb can be summed up in five words:

"Luke, I am your father."

I think it was very wise of the show's developers to go a less cliched route.

(And yes, I know that's not the actual line. I'm quoting the meme rather than the film.)

 

[Lt. Trull]

Well, problem is that he doesn't have the sword, so can't channel any dead former owners through it...

I know, I know... and I don't expect the bringer of death stuff either...
even if it was pertinent to all eleven books...

 

[MikeSussman]

^Actually it's uncanny how much time Zedd spends separated from Richard and Kahlan over the course of the show. I've been wondering if Bruce Spence had availability issues that kept him from shooting his scenes at the same time as the other actors, or if maybe they can't stand each other and have to be kept apart. Or maybe it's just the show's attempt to follow the pattern of the books?

As it happens, Mike Sussman, who's a producer on the show, is also a TrekBBS member. Maybe he'll drop into the thread sometime and shed some light on our questions.

We did have to write Bruce out of a few episodes in season one because of prior commitments. And as much as we love Bruce, it can sometimes be a relief (for us writers) not to have a near god-like wizard accompany your heroes 24/7.

 

[Christopher]

Thanks for the answer, Mike. But it still seems he's constantly being separated from the other leads in season 2 as well. Is that just for story purposes, or is there a problem meshing the actors' schedules? And then there was that episode where he was turned into a young man for most of the hour, which seemed to me like a way to deal with an availability issue. (And by the way, the actor playing young Zedd was pretty well cast. It can't be easy to find a good match for Spence's tall, narrow face.)

... it can sometimes be a relief (for us writers) not to have a near god-like wizard accompany your heroes 24/7.

I guess that answers my question of whether Richard's wizard potential, revealed in the most recent episode, is going to be developed or not.

 

[Scout101]

To be fair, a good chunk of that matches up with a period where Zedd isn't with the rest of the group, anyway.

IIRC, from the end of the first book, where Richard and Kahlan take off for a bit, Zedd isn't with the group again until towards the end of the 4th book. They're off on seperate quests, or Richard has been kidnapped, and then Zedd is running around with the Prelate. Zedd is then with them for a few pages, and then to start book 5, they seperate again, and while are in the same vicinity, they aren't together in that book either.

Chainfire might be the next time they spend any time together. What's that, book 9?

 

[Lt. Trull]

We did have to write Bruce out of a few episodes in season one because of prior commitments. And as much as we love Bruce, it can sometimes be a relief (for us writers) not to have a near god-like wizard accompany your heroes 24/7.

Thanks for the answer.. but.... zedd in the books didn't have god like wizard power... zedd was a additive magic wizard... and thereby limited by what he could do... richard on the other hand was both a additive and subtractive magic user... by his two blood lines... he was also a war wizard... who could only channel his magic in the heat of a battle... but he could channel both sides of the magics...

 

[Vendikarr]

I saw the preview for next weeks show and I really don't like Jolene Blalock's look as Nicci. Nicci is my favorite character in the books, in fact her role expanding in the latter end of the books is one of the only reasons I even continued with the series. I think the producers if they have any intent to utilize Nicci more later in the shows run they should have cast an unknown (God knows there's not a shortage of very hot blond women in the Oceanic region lol) unless Jolene Blalock would become a recurring cast member.

But as for her look. Nicci is an extremely beatiful blond woman who always wears black and then I see the preview for next week and Jolene Blalock (who I've seen with blond hair and who looks much more attractive IMO with it isn't blond) and she's dressed pretty damn dowdy. Wearing this reddish frock with a bandana. Lamo

I think you'll like the series better if you don't compare it to the books at all. They are two separate interpretations at this point.

 

[PhasersOnStun]

Count me among those who really like the show. It's fun, and the lead four have great chemistry. Not every episode is a winner, but we've felt there's a lot more hits than misses, and overall it's a fun show.

 

[StarshipDefiant]

I watched a couple episodes today, seemed pretty cool...and I thought Jolene Blalock did villainy pretty well.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

Classic episode tonight, basically a lot of fun with a decent story ... and I loved the intrigue/mystery angle with Richard.

 

[Othello]

Although it's great to see made-for-syndication dramas still exist (remember the days of Xena, Hercules, Farscape and Star Trek TNG?), this one's so out of the way I never even knew it existed until today. I took a look at my local listings and one of the cable channels I get here is showing it at 2 AM or something. Far cry from the days when shows like this used to air on Saturday afternoons, over the supper hour, or even in prime time.

The show looks intriguing, and the casting of Jolene Blalock got my attention, but I have a feeling it'll be yet another show I'll have to watch on DVD later. (Don't say Hulu - I'm in Canada so that's useless, and watching video on my computer screen for too long gives me a headache these days anyway - I'd rather watch it on my 42-inch plasma!)

Alex

It actually does air on saturday afternoon on WGN which almost all cable companies include in their basic package.

LOVE the show and all the actors are quite good. Writing is quite good and as I have said before given how very dark the books are the writers have done an excellent job of conveying the darkness without tonign it down too far to miss the point of it.

My only complaint is when Cara wears the Mord Sith outfit with the front open rather than the full neck version. Just seems a tad too casual for a Mord sith even with her freedom. Not to mention I love the full get up and long braid look a lot. ;>))

And a hearty thanks to Mike Sussman for replying in the thread. Much appreciated.

Now, off to watch the new episode I taped today. I'm sure it will be great!!