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So far I've liked the True Blood TV show very much. It was the inspiration for me to go out and read the first 9 books of the Sookie Stackhouse series pretty much back-to-back earlier this year. |
Originally Posted by CaptainFoamerang
I was referring to the fact that the TV show adds a lot more material and actually manages to be better than the books, and it's one of the few shows that one can point to as an example of a series based on another serial medium like The Walking Dead.
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I'll offer the "standard book rant" that the TV/movie version of a book series leaves out a lot of detail from the books that they can't hope to include. But I will agree that the differences/updates that the TV show has offered have been very well done and it definitely adds to the overall story beyond what the books alone provided.
As to whether the TV show is ultimately "better" than the books I'm going to reserve judgement on that until the TV series is completely finished.
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Quote:
Well adapting a short graphic novel series into a TV show is probably the opposite challenge than what you have with taking a novel and squeezing it down into a TV series. They probably had to expand single panels of graphic novel content into multiple minutes worth of TV time. |
Originally Posted by Innovator
It's "staying true" in a sense, that several scenes and plotlines in the first 2 comics were in it, but stretched out much much more, and some changed outright, in some cases for the better. For instance the shootout was more in depth in the show than the comic with more characters, there was only Rick and Shane in the comic with 2 gun men, and there was no "DON'T OPEN. DEAD INSIDE" sign painted on the door in the comic, and Rick did open it to see the dead inside (I liked how the show did it better), the bicycle zombie also had more parts...body parts I mean. I could go on...
EDIT: If you want to do a comparison and you have Comcast Cable, ONDEMAND has the first comic in full motion format. |
Either way with 6 planned episodes for the first season it sounds like they've chosen to focus in on the key elements of the story and make something tight and fast-paced. Now since we know they are already going to do a 2nd season the proof will be in what form that will take. If they try to expand it out to a "standard" 22 episode season then I'm going to worry that they "sold out" the idea already. I guess we'll see.
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Quote:
Well looking at two of AMC's longer running series, Mad Men and Breaking Bad, it looks like they shoot 13 shows per season. So I wouldn't expect AMC to jump to 22 shows per season for Walking Dead.
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Originally Posted by Lothic
Well adapting a short graphic novel series into a TV show is probably the opposite challenge than what you have with taking a novel and squeezing it down into a TV series. They probably had to expand single panels of graphic novel content into multiple minutes worth of TV time.
Either way with 6 planned episodes for the first season it sounds like they've chosen to focus in on the key elements of the story and make something tight and fast-paced. Now since we know they are already going to do a 2nd season the proof will be in what form that will take. If they try to expand it out to a "standard" 22 episode season then I'm going to worry that they "sold out" the idea already. I guess we'll see. |
total kick to the gut
This is like having Ra's Al Ghul show up at your birthday party.
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There are over 70 issues of the comics for them to draw material from. If they are doing roughly 2 issues an episode, that puts the first season at only 12 of the issues. They have plenty of story to have made more episodes, if they wanted. |
Originally Posted by Lothic
Actually if this show is "staying true" to the comic then it's probably a good thing it's only 6 episodes long. All too often people who make TV shows tend to think the only thing that's important is to make as many episodes as possible regardless if the story actually calls for having lots of episodes or not. Some of the best shows ever made are ones that understand that sometimes "less is more" and that to do the material justice you don't have to run it into the ground or "jump the shark" as quickly as possible.
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I'm fine with the "tell as much story as you have" style of television series. I enjoy many shows that have 12 or less episodes per season and don't have a problem with it at all. I'm not all that crazy about all the "filler" shows that end up diluting storylines in order for many series to make it to 20+ episodes per season.
I just liked the show so much that I'd really enjoy more episodes next season....presuming that they have one.
@Joshua.
Well, they're off to a very good start:
AMC's The Walking Dead premiere ratings are enormous: The 90-minute Halloween night debut delivered 5.3 million viewers and a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating.
Shweet.
"America is about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-[censored] speed."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
...brought to you by Carl's Jr.
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very nice |
Originally Posted by MisterTorgo
Well, they're off to a very good start:
AMC's The Walking Dead premiere ratings are enormous: The 90-minute Halloween night debut delivered 5.3 million viewers and a 2.7 adults 18-49 rating. Shweet. |
City of Heroes was my first MMO, & my favorite computer game.
R.I.P.
Chyll - Bydand - Violynce - Enyrgos - Rylle - Nephryte - Solyd - Fettyr - Hyposhock - Styrling - Beryllos - Rosyc
Horryd - Myriam - Dysquiet - Ghyr
Vanysh - Eldrytch
Inflyct - Mysron - Orphyn - Dysmay - Reapyr - - Wyldeman - Hydeous
This show will be on for a decade minimum.
I'm wondering how they will handle Carl as the series moves on. Kill him off? Jump forward in time? The young actor playing Carl is going to be aging muuuuuuch faster than his character. Some of these episodes look like they might just be a day or two in Walking Dead time.
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I read the first three books years before the show came out and my interest sort of petered out, so I think the show really brings the stories to life in a terrific way. Anything they want to do to mess with the books while keeping the core solid is fine by me.
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Originally Posted by Lothic
True Blood stuck close to the first two books fairly well during the first two seasons. The third season started "creeping" across the plotlines of many of the later books (not just the third one) and it's not entirely clear if it's going to reign itself in and get more focused in the next season. I fear if it continues to spin out of control that it might not last much past its fourth season.
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The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
Good news, everybody! Episode available online.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
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Historically, post-apocalyptic/disaster series don't last long. The general public are either turned off because it's too depressing or simply wish some semblance of society quickly reforms so everything returns to "normal".
The two series I've seen that I can think of are Jericho and Jeremiah. I haven't seen the BBC series Survivors (either version).
Fighting off another hoard of zombies this week or rival group of survivors or scavenge for food or medicine or finding shelter so you can at least rest for a while without worry could get tiresome really quick. I haven't read the comic so I have no idea where this series could be going but I'll stick it out for this season.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
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I've only read the first two hardcovers, but from what I saw it seemed like the creator wanted the interaction of the people and generally what the situation was doing to the characters to be the focus instead of the situation itself.
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Originally Posted by Father Xmas
Historically, post-apocalyptic/disaster series don't last long. The general public are either turned off because it's too depressing or simply wish some semblance of society quickly reforms so everything returns to "normal".
The two series I've seen that I can think of are Jericho and Jeremiah. I haven't seen the BBC series Survivors (either version). Fighting off another hoard of zombies this week or rival group of survivors or scavenge for food or medicine or finding shelter so you can at least rest for a while without worry could get tiresome really quick. I haven't read the comic so I have no idea where this series could be going but I'll stick it out for this season. |
- CaptainFoamerang
Silverspar on Kelly Hu: A face that could melt paint off the wall *shivers*
Someone play my AE arc! "The Heart of Statesman" ID: 343405
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That doesn't really surprise me. IIRC the third book was one of the weaker ones of the series.|
Originally Posted by Ironik
I read the first three books years before the show came out and my interest sort of petered out, so I think the show really brings the stories to life in a terrific way. Anything they want to do to mess with the books while keeping the core solid is fine by me.
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Like I said before I actually do like the True Blood TV show for the "new spin" it gives the story established in the books. I'm just kind of worried that the third season tried to cover too much too fast. It touched on bits and pieces of many of the later books in a disjointed "let's throw it out there before we get canceled" kind of way that makes me wonder what they'll try to focus on next season.
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I have heard that the comic series is really depressing. That happiness does not last very long in it and is very, very fleeting.
As far as the TV series getting repetitive, I can point to Lost, whereas in its first season, people were worried that the survival aspect of the show would get boring after a few seasons. Of course, they introduced a whole mythology in the second season and the series shifted from survival to exploration.
I don't know if TWD will follow a similar arc, but it can break up "monotomy" by showing flashbacks (to borrow a Lost device) to life before the outbreak, to the month or so Rick was out, and so on. It can also expand upon the comic book series and make the stories a little more epic, while still involving the characters.
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Father Xmas
Historically, post-apocalyptic/disaster series don't last long. The general public are either turned off because it's too depressing or simply wish some semblance of society quickly reforms so everything returns to "normal".
The two series I've seen that I can think of are Jericho and Jeremiah. I haven't seen the BBC series Survivors (either version). Fighting off another hoard of zombies this week or rival group of survivors or scavenge for food or medicine or finding shelter so you can at least rest for a while without worry could get tiresome really quick. I haven't read the comic so I have no idea where this series could be going but I'll stick it out for this season. |
Quote:
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Originally Posted by CaptainFoamerang
I've only read the first two hardcovers, but from what I saw it seemed like the creator wanted the interaction of the people and generally what the situation was doing to the characters to be the focus instead of the situation itself.
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I don't think this kind of show could really stand to have too many "filler" type episodes.
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TWENTY MINUTES!
*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!*
Here we go!
Oh MY, that was an intense beginning to the second episode.
I hope Laurie and Shane get eaten.
I hope Glenn survives.
I wonder if that thing with Rick's hand was foreshadowing something.
And I wonder what he's going to do with that toy he snagged in the tank.
Back on!
Running out of ways to say that this show is so damn incredible that I'm going into awesome overload. Rick manages to get out of the frying pan and goes straight into the fire. Tension keeps building. Something's going to happen soon.
Back on!
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I could so spoiler this for you, but I won't. >.<|
Originally Posted by Luminara
Oh MY, that was an intense beginning to the second episode.
I hope Laurie and Shane get eaten. I hope Glenn survives. I wonder if that thing with Rick's hand was foreshadowing something. And I wonder what he's going to do with that toy he snagged in the tank. Back on! |
As to the comic itself, the zombies are more of a backdrop than anything else for the interaction between the people and how they cope with things going to hell. Yes, it is very depressing, but there are bright spots. Not very many, but some.
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Smart. You must have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.|
Originally Posted by Dark One
I could so spoiler this for you, but I won't. >.<
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| As to the comic itself, the zombies are more of a backdrop than anything else for the interaction between the people and how they cope with things going to hell. Yes, it is very depressing, but there are bright spots. Not very many, but some. |
It's back on! Is that thunderstorm going to hit before they reach the trucks? SUSPENSE IS INTENSE!
Oh, crap, I hear it raining! Have to switch back to Dscalar NOW! O_O
These are the smartest zombies I have ever seen: using arock to bust open the glass doors, climbing...
"Ben is short for Frank."
-Baffling Beer-Man, The Tenacious 3: The Movie
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Did anyone see the name on that van? Ferenc Builders.
Fun fact...Elizabeth Bathory, aka the Blood Countess, was engaged to a Ferenc Nadasdy. Ferenc is also a Hungarian name, and who else is from Hungary (more accurately Wallachia)? Vlad The Impaler...aka Dracula.
Nice little in-joke for the fact that Glenn and Rick were covered in blood and guts. 
Glenn knows how to flee a zombie-infested town in style. 
great acting, I liked it quite a bit.