None of the individual books had enough for one eight part series, so they picked the best bits out of all of them to create their own series
Simon Allen has a "unique and original take on the characters and the stories" (read: names were kept, fuck all else)
You don't need to know the books to enjoy the series (I'd say that's a prerequisite at this point)
Using the fact that Pratchett mentions the multiverse to almost say that this is an alternate Discworld
Simon Allen describes the Watch as a "flawed but adorable band of magical misfits"
Characterises Vetinari as somebody who "largely uses sarcasm more than anything else", which makes them sound like the more obnoxious women I see on dating apps
An "insane demented absurd riotous comedy romp" - fucking hell, Simon, pull it back a bit
Death is a "grumpy comedy Death" who considers near-Death experiences to be messing with his schedule - seems like the Death of The Colour of Magic, before Pratchett got the characterisation of patient and interested Death down
Death teaser - small point, but why are they in water? It's been a desert since at least Small Gods
Death looks like a robot - show the skull, you cowards
Vimes and Sybil teaser - Vimes doing weird bug-eyed facial expressions, Sybil just doing generic no-nonsense posh lady
Domer saying that it's all about the walk - walking on the outsides of his feet? Sounds like nonsense actor bullshit to me, and doesn't make sense if he's able to read the cobbles and Proceed with the watchman's gait
Rossi talking about Sybil taking matters into her own hands and being pompous and entitled - so completely opposite to the books, where she's grounded and sensible but, initially at least, doesn't think about the world beyond dragons
Another teaser - enough has been said about Cheery, Angua and Carrot. Lolrandom pixie reference, and... latex gloves? The tech level is all over the place
Hugill - Carrot was actually brought up by dwarfs, which seems to contradict done of the other stuff about that backstory being given to Cherry. Hugill mentions Carrot's dwarf nickname of 'Head Banger', so either he's read the books or has listened to somebody who has. Seems to understand his character more than Dorner
Corlett - doesn't say much, but seems like they're going for the 'I'm a werewolf so what does that mean for the people I love' angle. Fair enough, it's in the books
Eaton-Kent - Cheery is an actual dwarf, so her height (and the fact that Carrot's height is remarked upon) returns to making no sense. She does mention that dwarfs have a gender unary rather than binary, so the early reports of her being a 'non-binary dwarf' are hopefully just media misrepresentation. Still don't agree with the beard being removed, obviously
Want Ankh-Morpork to have 'old and new' and 'contemporary', so not caring about the tech level, I guess
360° sets, which is cool I suppose
Carcer is multilayered and we'll be rooting for him at some point, so a complete misread of the character right there
Carcer is falling through time and space? Not sure what they're talking about here
Trailer - I think I saw Angua playing an electric guitar?
Yvette Nicole-Brown just referred to Vetinari as "that president lady", which was the one thing I've seen Rihanna mention on Twitter, as it seems to sum up the level of understanding the production team have of the books in general. Not that she's on the production team, she's just moderating the session
Matt Berry plays a talking sword called Wayne. Damn it, I'll have to watch for that
So overall, not making me feel any better about this whole thing
I understood it as one individual book wasn't enough, rather than the whole Watch series
Filming both Guards! Guards! and Men at Arms in one series would involve a time skip half way where we go from Vimes and Sybil meeting to getting married, but that could be done with the story starting with D'Eath researching Carrot, and using a through line of him being heir to the throne, maybe with some flashbacks or something to deal with the time skip
[Muffled sounds of gorilla violence]
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
edited October 2020
The walking thing sounds like they read the Proceeding bit in Men At Arms, but they didn't quite understand it.
Carcer falling through time is pretty obviously Night Watch
Fencingsax on
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
Again, I think this hurts the most because it seems like they would be so close to something that might actually be an interesting interpretation of the Watch. It just seems that what we've seen of the script doesn't work for it, and that is the most important part.
Based on your bullet summary of the TV show, "Death of Ankh Morpork", coming January 2021, would also be an appropriate signage for that.
Honestly, I can't think of a time I've been less interested in a production of a franchise I've loved.
And I loved the Highlander, Terminator and Matrix franchises, and followed them through to the end.
I think, barring rave reviews from trusted sources, I'm just going to completely skip this show.
Because if it's only half as terrible as it sounds, it'll forever taint my perception of the books. I know that's happened for other books (though it wasn't the movie that soured me on Ender, it was OSC). Can't read them anymore, at least not without feeling guilty.
The worst part of it, IMO, is that when it inevitably fails, they will blame it on the weak source material and on the fans who were not smart enough to understand their vision.
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BethrynUnhappiness is MandatoryRegistered Userregular
The Fifth Elephant alone absolutely has enough for an 8 part series. That's probably the one I'd like to see the most just for Uberwald (which would honestly be easier for producers to get right than Ankh Morpork).
The Fifth Elephant alone absolutely has enough for an 8 part series. That's probably the one I'd like to see the most just for Uberwald (which would honestly be easier for producers to get right than Ankh Morpork).
Fairly certain you could get there with Night Watch too. Jingo might be tight, and everything before that probably not a full 8 . The earlier books are noticeably shorter than the later ones (save Shepherd's Crown).
When we started the thread titled "Discworld: Who watches the Watchmen in the Watch?" I never expected the answer to be "Nobody, because it's a terrible program." But here we are.
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
Small thing about latex gloves: in the books they have the capability to manufacture rubber condoms and as such they have the capability of making rubber gloves.
Small thing about latex gloves: in the books they have the capability to manufacture rubber condoms and as such they have the capability of making rubber gloves.
While that is true, hygiene normally covers making sure hands are washed after preparing food
I suppose Cheery could have been taught by the Igors, and for all I know this comes up in a scene discussing the new forensic and medical techniques
I'm 90% sure we've just put more thought into this than the show runners, though
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
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Mr_Rose83 Blue Ridge Protects the HolyRegistered Userregular
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
That one's actually based on a very good murder-mystery series written by an actual medievalista really well-read autodidact lady, from what I recall. I've read a couple of them; it's worth a look if that might be a thing you like.
Auralynx on
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
There have been Roman Republic detective stories too. It's not impossible.
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
Vetinari's word may not be law, but who would be the first to say so?
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
Vetinari's word may not be law, but who would be the first to say so?
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
Vetinari's word may not be law, but who would be the first to say so?
Vetinari, actually.
Well in that case, who would be the first to agree with him?
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
Vetinari's word may not be law, but who would be the first to say so?
Vetinari, actually.
Well in that case, who would be the first to agree with him?
If they didn't want to adapt the books, they could've just gone with a police procedural featuring the actual Watch. Columbo but with Carrot. CSI: Ankh-Morpork. I don't think there's been a quasi-medieval detective series since Cadfael, so it'd still feel original, right?
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
Vetinari's word may not be law, but who would be the first to say so?
Vetinari, actually.
He will however gently suggest you make it a law.
I have a podcast now. It's about video games and anime!Find it here.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Don’t let me detain you.
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
Charles Dance basically played the perfect Vetinari
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
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RingoHe/Hima distinct lack of substanceRegistered Userregular
Charles Dance basically played the perfect Vetinari
I find it hard to see Dance as anyone but Tywin Lannister now, and his Vetenari seems more callous and likely to overestimate his own position with that mental overlay in effect
Mr_Rose83 Blue Ridge Protects the HolyRegistered Userregular
It’s incredibly disappointing that we never got the chance to see Alan Rickman try his hand at Vetinari… that said, Rowan Atkinson could do it as well…
Regarding the "none of the books has enough..." thing: the Bly Manor miniseries currently on Netflix is based on Turn of the Screw, which isn't even as long as Guards! Guards!, and is, I think, 10 hours of show? I'm pretty sure someone with a desire to turn any of the books into a series of TV could pad it out with some character backgrounds and relationship drama for a full series' worth of content.
The Fifth Elephant alone absolutely has enough for an 8 part series. That's probably the one I'd like to see the most just for Uberwald (which would honestly be easier for producers to get right than Ankh Morpork).
Fairly certain you could get there with Night Watch too. Jingo might be tight, and everything before that probably not a full 8 . The earlier books are noticeably shorter than the later ones (save Shepherd's Crown).
You can make 8 episodes of a TV show from a 10 page short story. With great characters, which the watch gives you in spades, you can create 30 minutes of meaningful and interesting conversation with two people buying a dubious sausage on a stick.
But they've got guards guards to use for content, so they have an utterly trivial task to set things up for 8 episodes.
1) Introduction to the city, Vines and Vetinari. Demonstrate the relative incompetence of the watch, but their utility to Vetinari. Carrot arrives
2) Carrot meets Vetinari and joins the watch. Carrot attempts to arrest the head of the thieves guild to everyone's immense confusion. We meet the Elucidated Brotherhood.
3) The Elucidated brotherhood summons the dragon. Carrot goes on patrol with knobs and colon, ending with them sighting the dragon. Vines is ordered to investigate the dragon by Vetinari.
4)Vimes meets Lady Sybil. Cheery and Carrot have a scene and discuss their differing experiences as dwarves. Knobs and Colon meet Cutmyownthroat Dibbler.
And so on. Honestly the bigger challenge Is trimming it to 8 hours.
"That is cool" - Abraham Lincoln
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
yeah it is mind boggling easy to make 8 episodes out of any of the watch books
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
yeah it is mind boggling easy to make 8 episodes out of any of the watch books
Eh... disagree. Most books can be distilled into a 2hr movie with no real problems, the first 2 books of Hitchhiker's Guide roughly tracks with the 6x30min episodes of the TV series, while Good Omens felt padded at 6x1hr episodes. Hell, The Hobbit started feeling like torture towards the end of 2x3hr movies and there was still the equivalent of another 3 episodes to go. I don't think it's easy by any stretch.
I don't want another faithful-but-slightly-disappointing adaptation, like Going Postal. I want a Schwarzenegger Conan, Cruise's Mission Impossible, Netflix's Dirk Gently, or Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight - take the characters and do something interesting with them. Hell, the most successful Robin Hood ever was played by a guy who couldn't be bothered hiding his American accent (although plenty would argue it wasn't him that made that adaptation interesting, but the performance you DO remember still supports the point).
Sure sometimes you might end up with Dragonball Evolution, but not being able to distance yourself from your creation gets you the Star Wars prequels and desperately trying to reconstruct the old magic gets you the Star Wars sequels. Making "In Name Only" adaptations is older than Shakespeare, although it's arguable that he popularised the practice.
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I will save you all half an hour:
So overall, not making me feel any better about this whole thing
None of the books have enough for eight episodes? I would like to call bullshit on that.
That’s so conformist.
-Indiana Solo, runner of blades
8 books decent sized books that tell a sequential story over several in universe years?
Fuck off show runners
Filming both Guards! Guards! and Men at Arms in one series would involve a time skip half way where we go from Vimes and Sybil meeting to getting married, but that could be done with the story starting with D'Eath researching Carrot, and using a through line of him being heir to the throne, maybe with some flashbacks or something to deal with the time skip
Carcer falling through time is pretty obviously Night Watch
Based on your bullet summary of the TV show, "Death of Ankh Morpork", coming January 2021, would also be an appropriate signage for that.
Honestly, I can't think of a time I've been less interested in a production of a franchise I've loved.
And I loved the Highlander, Terminator and Matrix franchises, and followed them through to the end.
I think, barring rave reviews from trusted sources, I'm just going to completely skip this show.
Because if it's only half as terrible as it sounds, it'll forever taint my perception of the books. I know that's happened for other books (though it wasn't the movie that soured me on Ender, it was OSC). Can't read them anymore, at least not without feeling guilty.
Also, am I going nuts or did a couple of scenes in there seem to be set in our-universe present day?
Steam: adamjnet
I'm pretty sure whoever is in charge of this has a serious grudge against Pratchett or his work.
This shit has to be deliberate.
Fairly certain you could get there with Night Watch too. Jingo might be tight, and everything before that probably not a full 8 . The earlier books are noticeably shorter than the later ones (save Shepherd's Crown).
But this picking bits from the books and then twisting them into nonsense is... well, it's kind of infuriating, really. Either commit to an adaptation of the books or don't.
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
While that is true, hygiene normally covers making sure hands are washed after preparing food
I suppose Cheery could have been taught by the Igors, and for all I know this comes up in a scene discussing the new forensic and medical techniques
I'm 90% sure we've just put more thought into this than the show runners, though
When the project was first talked about publicly (back when Sir Terry was still alive and had some control over the content) this is exactly what they said it would be. Not a direct adaption of any of the novels, but related stories using the same characters. I’d have been all for that.
It wouldn't even be that impossible. Police procedurals are about the oldest genre for TV and have been reimagined countless ways to be able to play with well rounded characters. Dragnet to Brooklyn 99.
There was even a medieval one with a monk as the lead. Although “police” as a concept is kinda after the setting period there is a sheriff and a local Lord whose word is pretty much law.
Nintendo Network ID: AzraelRose
DropBox invite link - get 500MB extra free.
That one's actually based on a very good murder-mystery series written by an actual medievalista really well-read autodidact lady, from what I recall. I've read a couple of them; it's worth a look if that might be a thing you like.
Vetinari's word may not be law, but who would be the first to say so?
Vetinari, actually.
Well in that case, who would be the first to agree with him?
Carrot likely. Or Vimes depending on his mood.
He will however gently suggest you make it a law.
I find it hard to see Dance as anyone but Tywin Lannister now, and his Vetenari seems more callous and likely to overestimate his own position with that mental overlay in effect
Nintendo Network ID: AzraelRose
DropBox invite link - get 500MB extra free.
Edit: if we're looking at Blakadder alumni, maybe Hugh Laurie.
Edit 2: fuck it, Miranda Richardson as Vetinari.
Regarding the "none of the books has enough..." thing: the Bly Manor miniseries currently on Netflix is based on Turn of the Screw, which isn't even as long as Guards! Guards!, and is, I think, 10 hours of show? I'm pretty sure someone with a desire to turn any of the books into a series of TV could pad it out with some character backgrounds and relationship drama for a full series' worth of content.
You can make 8 episodes of a TV show from a 10 page short story. With great characters, which the watch gives you in spades, you can create 30 minutes of meaningful and interesting conversation with two people buying a dubious sausage on a stick.
But they've got guards guards to use for content, so they have an utterly trivial task to set things up for 8 episodes.
1) Introduction to the city, Vines and Vetinari. Demonstrate the relative incompetence of the watch, but their utility to Vetinari. Carrot arrives
2) Carrot meets Vetinari and joins the watch. Carrot attempts to arrest the head of the thieves guild to everyone's immense confusion. We meet the Elucidated Brotherhood.
3) The Elucidated brotherhood summons the dragon. Carrot goes on patrol with knobs and colon, ending with them sighting the dragon. Vines is ordered to investigate the dragon by Vetinari.
4)Vimes meets Lady Sybil. Cheery and Carrot have a scene and discuss their differing experiences as dwarves. Knobs and Colon meet Cutmyownthroat Dibbler.
And so on. Honestly the bigger challenge Is trimming it to 8 hours.
Miranda Richardson would obviously be Mrs. Cake
I don't want another faithful-but-slightly-disappointing adaptation, like Going Postal. I want a Schwarzenegger Conan, Cruise's Mission Impossible, Netflix's Dirk Gently, or Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight - take the characters and do something interesting with them. Hell, the most successful Robin Hood ever was played by a guy who couldn't be bothered hiding his American accent (although plenty would argue it wasn't him that made that adaptation interesting, but the performance you DO remember still supports the point).
Sure sometimes you might end up with Dragonball Evolution, but not being able to distance yourself from your creation gets you the Star Wars prequels and desperately trying to reconstruct the old magic gets you the Star Wars sequels. Making "In Name Only" adaptations is older than Shakespeare, although it's arguable that he popularised the practice.