I haven't read the book. And now I'm totally hooked to TPotE by this series. The novel version of a story being the best way to enjoy it, it's sometimes a small blessing not to be familiar with it before hand when coming across its screen adaptation. One will be blessed with the candid enjoyment of the unbiased mind.
TV miniseries are I think the best way to adapt such big, complex, epic novels. You get a little bit more time to develop the storyline even though having to deal with the elision required for any screen adaptation. This series is nicely paced (though the 4 years jump in episode 4 felt a bit odd, and more on that below), the set, location, and costumes are superb, the musical score is breath taking, and the casts gives an all-around nice performance.
There are some aspects, however, that caused me to frown a bit. For a story that is that epic and complex, I find the main antagonists displayed so far (Waleran, the Hamleighs, etc.) quite one dimensional. They are almost "cartoonish" in their villainy, displaying unparalleled and complete evil. I understand that this depiction may be for the screen adaptation (unless this was the way it was in the book), but it doesn't need to be so blatant. We get it that they are the bad guys, but every one has many facets and/or layers.
I also had some continuity issue specifically with episode 4 (The Battlefield) when the story jumped 4 years ahead. Aside from baby Jonathan now a boy, and Martha a bit less petulant, every one else looked and acted the same. Not only do people change in 4 years, these are medieval times with conflicts around. I would expect a bit more wear and tear, or at least a bit more visible physical changes on the characters. I guess we shall see how they work this as the series and the story time line progress and must again jump several years ahead.
In all, TPotE is great entertainment. If only we had more of those on TV. My measure of a good adaptation is whether or not it inspires me to read the book it's based on. After I watch this enjoyable series, I certainly will.
TV miniseries are I think the best way to adapt such big, complex, epic novels. You get a little bit more time to develop the storyline even though having to deal with the elision required for any screen adaptation. This series is nicely paced (though the 4 years jump in episode 4 felt a bit odd, and more on that below), the set, location, and costumes are superb, the musical score is breath taking, and the casts gives an all-around nice performance.
There are some aspects, however, that caused me to frown a bit. For a story that is that epic and complex, I find the main antagonists displayed so far (Waleran, the Hamleighs, etc.) quite one dimensional. They are almost "cartoonish" in their villainy, displaying unparalleled and complete evil. I understand that this depiction may be for the screen adaptation (unless this was the way it was in the book), but it doesn't need to be so blatant. We get it that they are the bad guys, but every one has many facets and/or layers.
I also had some continuity issue specifically with episode 4 (The Battlefield) when the story jumped 4 years ahead. Aside from baby Jonathan now a boy, and Martha a bit less petulant, every one else looked and acted the same. Not only do people change in 4 years, these are medieval times with conflicts around. I would expect a bit more wear and tear, or at least a bit more visible physical changes on the characters. I guess we shall see how they work this as the series and the story time line progress and must again jump several years ahead.
In all, TPotE is great entertainment. If only we had more of those on TV. My measure of a good adaptation is whether or not it inspires me to read the book it's based on. After I watch this enjoyable series, I certainly will.