okay so, no spoilers and i’ll not even mention any details about the leaks, but if it does turn out to be true (which i hope not for a few reasons, but also am a bit unsure cause for other reasons they do seem true, especially with all the teaser trailer confirming certain things), i don’t even know what to think tbh.
like, i’m not even a book purist (i’m not even finished reading lmao). it’s okay if things aren’t similar and all that cause tv adaptions (movie or tv series) will always have to change things because of the change of medium alone. but yes i have to admit that there have been changes made that i just can’t comprehend - sure, we don’t have the full picture yet and don’t know what they have planned for the full (possible) eight seasons. and honestly i don’t think this is all on rafe either. he had stated that he had wanted a 120min pilot and ten episodes per season but amazon denied it. same with “making the show darker”, that’s also something that came straight from the amazon execs and we don’t know how much they have their finger in the pudding in other matters either. (though i do have to state that i disagree with people who insinuate that the books aren’t dark. just because robert doesn’t focus on every single bloody detail in those moments, doesn’t mean some dark shit isn’t happening, like have you actually read the books or just looked at the cover and skimmed wikipedia?)
i’ve been so torn with this show. the casting is perfect imo, the actors do give it their all and it is incredibly obvious that they’re very passionate about their characters. so i am not blaming any of them at all for anything (why would i even, they have no say in anything). and there have been scenes that weren’t from the book or changed quite a lot in the show which i actually enjoy a lot and in some cases even prefer. but some other changes really do rub me the wrong way. and listen, that’s fine too. you can enjoy and like a show and still be critical of it or not like (or agree with) every aspect of it. but these leaks (which ngl i am inclined to believe for specific reasons the more i think about it) do hamper my enjoyment. not because they changed some major points - cause lbh the ending of teotw is quite confusing on a first read through and very rough so i don’t even mind changes to it - but because it is kinda showing a preference the writers have that i just don’t agree with and that so far is deliberately getting in the way of other storylines in the show. (again, keeping it very vague, no spoilers.)
i will watch season two, especially to see if maybe certain viewpoints change and focus gets shifted around a bit more and characters actually get to do stuff without staying one-note. (screentime doesn’t matter if said character is just standing there moping around and not doing anything btw. no you can’t change my mind but you can soothe your own and that’s fine by me.) i will definitely continue to support the actors who are all doing a stellar job (and tbh, for them alone i don’t want this show cancelled at all, like i have my grievances but that doesn’t mean i want the show to end. who knows how it’ll go next season.).
anyway this is all more incoherent rambling, cause i’m just confused as hell. i’ll get over it, it isn’t the end of the world for me, just momentary disappointment i suppose. also i do still have the books left for me and still have my book journey infront of me. so that isn’t gone in any way and no matter how much i’d disagree with anything the show does (not saying that i do, i’m just confused and... idk... underwhelmed?), the books are still there and not running away.
thank you and apologies for having wasted your time if you read this mess. and please don’t let my vague reaction influence how you view the show in any way. if you thoroughly enjoy it and have fun, then that’s great! and i genuinely am happy for you. but i myself am torn, even if some things turn out to be wrong about the leaks, my problems with the show have been there since ep1. but i will get to that once i watched the finale and have the full season in perspective.
