(November 5, 2021 at 2:53 am)Foxaire Wrote: https://m.imdb.com/title/tt7462410/
Who will be watching?
I only ever read parts, or the entire thing (cannot remember), of the first book.
I've watched all 3 of the first released episodes finally (I've been savoring it, since it seems they'll be releasing new eps weekly?).
From what I remember from reading the books, this is a pretty faithful adaptation. Rosamund Pike is perfect as Morraine and I like the casting for everyone else. It fits and I definitely feel drawn to the stories of the characters.
Occasionally, the costuming and sfx are a little lacking. Like, they feel a little too crisp, a little too "on set". I get it, the White Cloaks wear white but a little bit of weathered or slightly muddy isn't going to ruin the illusion that these guys are soldiers and hunters with a rigid philosophy. It might be more realistic if the white wasn't a literal bleached white that looks out of place in a land where baths and laundromats are in rare supply. Like, if they interpreted it in some other creative way where you're like, "Ah, yes, the White Cloaks" but it was filtered through a "these people really exist and live in this medieval based land" lens, you know? I can't think of how exactly it would be but I know bleached white, pristine cloaks in the middle of muddy scrub land and riding horses for long hours looked phony and cheap in practice. And sometimes that blue cloak Morraine wears, looks like she's laying around in a blue bathrobe. I feel like they could have put more effort into making the costuming feel less juvenile when the concept is "color coded warrior witches".
I also cannot tell objectively how well the storytelling and worldbuilding is. I read the books at least twice and I watch it with anticipation of certain things I remember and experience pleasure when other parts I remember happen on screen. But for someone who's never read the books, I don't know how well the concepts are coming across. So, I've got a bit of nostalgic blinders on that prevent me from assessing it objectively.
Other than that, I am enjoying it very much. I am excited for more episodes and I feel like the pace and character development is going very well.
