Discussion
I recently re-watched the last two episodes as I couldn't quite remember what happened, due to me being somewhat inebriated when I last watched them. I still stand by my earlier comment that it feels a little rushed towards the end, but they are covering all the bases that the book does with few deviations. I'm glad that a second series has been confirmed though, not least because the first series only covers half of the "Leviathan Wakes" book, which is the first of The Expanse series.
No spoilers, but its interesting how the series is differing from the book, but I can see why the differences are there. For those familiar with the Game of Thrones books, this is written in the same way (one of the writers is / was G.R.R Martins assistant, so might explain the inspiration), with each chapter being from either Miller's or Holden's perspective. There's no other character perspectives, so the woman from Earth's council is nowhere to be seen, so it seems she has been put in place for the series to explain what is going on politically outside of the main characters lives, which in the book is only explained when Miller or Holden watch a news channel or hear something from other people.
No spoilers, but its interesting how the series is differing from the book, but I can see why the differences are there. For those familiar with the Game of Thrones books, this is written in the same way (one of the writers is / was G.R.R Martins assistant, so might explain the inspiration), with each chapter being from either Miller's or Holden's perspective. There's no other character perspectives, so the woman from Earth's council is nowhere to be seen, so it seems she has been put in place for the series to explain what is going on politically outside of the main characters lives, which in the book is only explained when Miller or Holden watch a news channel or hear something from other people.
It crawled along up to episode 7 (with the exception of action barnstormer episode 4), revealing only small amounts of info about what was going on and without too much actually seeming to happen ... then from that point onwards hit the gas and more or less did a massive expository dump of information which finally allowed the viewer to make sense of the previous episodes. The season finale didn't really feel like a finale and it is apparently because the first season covered only half of the first book.
This is the problem when you adapt one medium to another - the pacing which might work well in the context of a long book is just wrong for weekly, episodic TV.
That said, it was fantastically well filmed, great FX and generally good dialogue and acting. I'll definitely watch the second season, especially now that there is a chance of understanding what is going on and they've laid the groundwork of introducing the viewer to the fictional universe and characters.
This is the problem when you adapt one medium to another - the pacing which might work well in the context of a long book is just wrong for weekly, episodic TV.
That said, it was fantastically well filmed, great FX and generally good dialogue and acting. I'll definitely watch the second season, especially now that there is a chance of understanding what is going on and they've laid the groundwork of introducing the viewer to the fictional universe and characters.
Having read most of the books I have been waiting for this series coming on to TV here (Belgium) but it has not raised it's head yet.
Finally imported the blurays of the full series and have just finished watching them. Having read the books I know where the story is going and the background behind what is happening and it has made the TV adaption much easier to understand.
I have quite enjoyed the series with the film being more than I imagined and less at the same time.
I can see the why of the differences in the plot compared with the books to tell the asides of the book in a way that does not break immersion.
Can't wait to see more of the Roci in action in series 2
Finally imported the blurays of the full series and have just finished watching them. Having read the books I know where the story is going and the background behind what is happening and it has made the TV adaption much easier to understand.
I have quite enjoyed the series with the film being more than I imagined and less at the same time.
I can see the why of the differences in the plot compared with the books to tell the asides of the book in a way that does not break immersion.
Can't wait to see more of the Roci in action in series 2
Yeah I was pleased to see that it had appeared on Netflix, although oddly billed as a "Netflix Original". Trailer for the second series shows its tapping into aspects of the second book, although I was disappointed to see one particular character in there, which likely means they're going to skip over a fairly major plot point from the books, or have it take place at a different time.
Roll on the second series though!
Roll on the second series though!
funkyrobot said:
First half of the first book seems to be what series 1 has covered. I heard that series 2 covers the second half of the first book.
Looking at the trailer for S2 they're firmly in book 2 territory - You're right that S1 is just the first half of book one though, but it seems like they're mixing it all up. No bad thing I suppose, but an example would be the Indian UN woman doesn't make an appearance until the second book, but she's in S1 quite a bit...Brigand said:
Looking at the trailer for S2 they're firmly in book 2 territory - You're right that S1 is just the first half of book one though, but it seems like they're mixing it all up. No bad thing I suppose, but an example would be the Indian UN woman doesn't make an appearance until the second book, but she's in S1 quite a bit...
I see. I only read the first book. No wonder some of the trailer stuff looked new to me.HorneyMX5 said:
Discovered this on Netflix last night and not sure as a die hard Sci-Fi fan this passed me by. 4 episodes in and loving it.
A friend introduced me to it ages ago. I saw a bit of the first episode, but it didn't really take my attention. A month or so later it was mentioned on here so I took a more in-depth look. Glad I did.
First 2 episodes are good.
The sheer amount of detail in this is still stunning, can't think of anything else on TV or film where someone has put in quite so much effort.
And that's quite apart from the story being not too bad.
One thing I did like was the way they did a subtle reminder that there isn't an 'up' in space by having a ship fly past with all the markings upside down. Just because. And they do like their physics.
The sheer amount of detail in this is still stunning, can't think of anything else on TV or film where someone has put in quite so much effort.
And that's quite apart from the story being not too bad.
One thing I did like was the way they did a subtle reminder that there isn't an 'up' in space by having a ship fly past with all the markings upside down. Just because. And they do like their physics.
Been waiting for someone to do big scale sci-if and this doesn't disappoint, best thing I've watched in ages. I liked the pacing and the build up to end of season was great.
Bought the first of the books following watching the series and there are marked differences (the crews attitude to Holden's orders for example) but they're both very well done.
Can't wait for season 2.
Bought the first of the books following watching the series and there are marked differences (the crews attitude to Holden's orders for example) but they're both very well done.
Can't wait for season 2.
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