wheel of time show vs book
Wheel of Time-- amazingly famous series of books by Robert Jordan. Recently picked up by amazon as a series featuring Rosamund Pike. Yes, old news. Not trying to add value to information here though. Here, instead, I will be comparing the 1st book and the 1st season and telling you a little what I liked and didn't like from both.
First and foremost I have to mention that I love the story of Menethren, both how it was told in the book and how nicely the show has shown it. Despite the difference in presentation of the tale of Menethren, it was beautifully done and I totally loved it. Now that being out of the way, here are the ways of how the two differ in:
Story:
The book's prologue where Lews Therin fights Ishamael is missing from the show.
The show's beginning where Red Ajah sisters hunt down a male channeller—only happens in the show.
The cliff-jumping initiation ritual to the Women's Circle, is not included in the book.
Perrin's gifts are explained to him by the wolves and Elias in the book.
Rand doesn't encounter a Myrddraal on the way into town in the show.
The journeys after the shadow city for each group are quite different in the book.
Tom, the gleeman accompanied them from the start of the journey in the book
In the book Moiraine hides her status as an Aes Sedai in the Two Rivers, whereas in the show, she indicates her station with pride.
The show gives Mat a much darker childhood with not that great a family
There is no talking Trolloc who tries to convince Rand to surrender in the show
Two rivers being defended by Aes sedai and warder is not seen in the book
Moiraine discusses with Lan and chooses to go to the shadow city
Only Egwene and Perrin meets the whitecloaks in the book
Ghealdan doesn't side with Logain in the books
Show shows a direct journey to tar valon not Caemlyn
The wisdom doesn't almost die because of her power in the book
Rand does not hide but looks for Moiraine in the book
Perrin and Egwene escape the Whitecloaks on their own in the show, without the help of Moiraine, Lan, and Nynaeve.
The whole group goes to the eye in the book
Character:
Aes Sedai in books wear shawls to show their Ajah but in the show wear long dresses and rings in their ajah colour.
The 4 central characters are teenagers in the book but slightly older in the show.
Perrin is an apprentice in the book but a full fledged craftsman in the show who has a wife.
The character of Mordeth was missing in the show.
Whitecloaks were annoying zealots in the book but really dangerous in the show
Dana the darkfiend is not present in the book
Logain is not shown as much in the 1st books as the show has shown
Karene the green aes sedai is not a living character in the 1st book
Moiraine and Siuan isnt explicitly dating in the book
Moiraine is not powerful enough to heal Mat alone in the book
Nyeneve displays excessive power multiple times to save everyone in the nick of time–not in the book
Amalisa is not trained as an Aes Sedai in the book
Min stays in Bearlon not in Fal dara
Lan and Nynaeve get into a relationship in the show faster and more intimately
Agelmar and Amalisa die fighting trollocs in the show
The ogier, Loial, looks like trollocs in the book
Loial doesn't die in the book
Other:
The book narrates from Rand's perspective but it shifts to Moiraine in the show.
Lan is a warder in the book
Baerlon, Whitebridge, and Four Kings are not mentioned in the show
Mat leaves them at the waygate due to the actor leaving the show
Amyrlin Seat related vision of future is not seen by Min in the book
Perrin is not in love with Egwene in the book
Horn of Valere is at the eye of the world in the book not under the throne at Fal dara
These are the differences off the top of my head. Honestly it took me 3 tries to even get started on the show. I found Pike really not owning the character of Moiraine, everything from her mannerism to her dialogue delivery to even how she moved to casting spells seemed unnatural. While the actors for Egwene, Perrin and Nynaeve did ok portrayals of their respective characters, Rand became a very unlikable character in the show. The only actors who managed the essence of their characters for me were Lan and Mat.
Despite the not so great, aforementioned issues, the tv show has not gravely deviated from the main plot of the book and has me invested in some of the characters (not Rand) to come back for season 2. I can't wait to see how Perrins power grows, how Nynaeve and Lan's relationship progress and how the lore is expanded more on.
And while we all wait for the second season to be released, here is the link to books to get you more into the series.
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