Dresden Files Review

[shadowravyn]

So, I know I promised this to you about a month ago, but I'm pretty sure I also promised a review of my first Lunacon, back in '03. So be glad you're getting this now.

In shogunhb's post he sayd the third episode of the series "wasn't as bad as the first 2. Not all that bad at all." You'll notice, he also didn't say that it was good

Comments

[kradical]

Actually, the guy who developed the show is Robert Hewitt Wolfe, who is a fan of the books, has read them and everything, and talked a lot with Jim about developing the series, and Jim is on record as being happy with it.

I know fans like to construct a reality where network executives specifically gather to make them miserable, but the reality is nothing like that.

You don't like the show, fine, but don't accuse the makers of the show of motives they don't have or of being less than they are.

[kradical]

(Sorry if that came across as snotty, but RHW's a friend, so I felt the need to come to his defense.)

[shadowravyn]

I didn't suggest they did it to make us miserable, more that they didn't care enough to do it right. I think this falls under accusing them of being less than they are rather than giving them motives they don't have.

My only question is if your friend is such a fan, then why does the show have very little in common with the books save the names of characters? I understand changing Karrin's first name (since there's a cop with the name Karrin Murphy on Chicago's police force) and why a beat-up Jeep is easier to get access to than an old Beetle, but those are the only changes I understand. Why such drastic alterations to everything?

[kradical]

Because the needs of a one-hour, non-serialized TV show are completely different from those of a series of novels -- which, BTW, is the main reason why they de-powered Harry, which was very wise. With a TV show, you have 20 small problems to solve per year, as opposed to a novel series, where you have one big problem to solve per year. If Harry's sooooooper powerful, he become much harder to challenge on a weekly basis.

[charmed1ofdoom]

If Harry's sooooooper powerful, he become much harder to challenge on a weekly basis.

That just denotes lack of imagination. Their are reasons why a uber superpowerful person could/would not use their powers. Some reasons why and uber powerful person would not use there powers on a regular basis is: destroys the world, to avoid detection of other superpower people, or even using it x amount of times would mean their death (in a general sense).

btw cute icon.

[kradical]

Well, sure they could do that, but that would also be a change from the original, and result in the same complaints. *grin*

a new reply, now with more more thought!

[charmed1ofdoom]

I think Nu argument closely resembles the same argument from die hard fans with the lack of "S.P.E.W" making an appearance in the last Potter movie. She understands the need for changing a few things that the series creators can't depict with accuracy or within a budget or even time limit. However, in the last Potter movie the film centered around the peoples and core story and not the uber cool graphics /scenes. In other words the last film, there is a connection to the story and the characters.

So for fundamental changes to Bob was maybe an arbitrary change to pacify people like censors but enrages the fans.

And after searching on the wiki (linky) it also seems that the eps (the chart at the bottom of the page) are out of order. An affliction that seriously messes up the whole show like Fox's adaption of Escaflowne or Firefly. (Which angers the Nu even more

Re: a new reply, now with more more thought!

[shadowravyn]

See, getting rid of S.P.E.W was an adaptation I could live with. It wasn't integral to the plot, it didn't mess with anyone's characterization. It was flavor for the book, and unnecessary.

But my whole point is that the show's not just changing the plots around, they're changing the people. And if you start doing that, then why bother making the show in the first place?

Re: a new reply, now with more more thought!

[charmed1ofdoom]

dude, I said that! ~_^

Re: a new reply, now with more more thought!

[shadowravyn]

I know, I was agreeing. Your comment was perfect.

But I'm not whining. I'm bitching. Totally different.

Re: a new reply, now with more more thought!

[charmed1ofdoom]

Dude I was trying to be all englishy by twisting a cliche.

Instead of cheese with that whine, I made it change with that whine.

:P

[shadowravyn]

First, I would like to point out Dexter, from Showtime, was considered a very faithful retelling of the novel by fans of both the show and the book, though (of course) some adaptations were made, the characterizations stayed true to the book itself. I admit that I have not read the book, so can't speak to the veracity, just pointing out that's what 'is said.' But Showtime managed tO stay true to the novel by breaking the book down into episodes, so the show flowed well. No, compressing each novel into a one-hour time slot wouldn't work (it would probably set me off on another tangent) but there are definite ways to break down each of the novels so they form story archs across the season. Hell, interspersing 'random' episodes (like the first and second) into the arcs would still be fine--there'd be a narrative flow that would appease the fans, while enough 'monster-of-the-day' to make sure there were enough episodes to round out the season

[kradical]

Actually, there's a lot more stuff from the books coming. As soon as next week we'll be seeing Morgan and the politics of the High/White Council, and according to the series bible, other elements of the books' universe will be showing up, we just haven't seen them in the three that have aired.

Sci-Fi's airing them completely out of order for reasons passing understanding (though a secondhand source that may or may not be reliable says it's due to issues regarding post-production, which is why we're getting low-FX episodes early).

[kradical]

Oh, and FWIW, they could've gone the Dexter route -- which is also what they're doing with GRRM's Thrones on HBO -- and just done Storm Front as one season, but that would make for a denser show with a smaller audience, which Showtime and HBO can get away with because they don't care about ratings. Sci-Fi, however, needs eyeballs on the TVs, so they're going to go for a more episodic approach.

[shadowravyn]

I would guess, however, that the majority of their audience are people who are fans of the books. And this first offering is enough to get several fans I know to stop watching. Heck, the only reason I saw this last one was because Shaughn was watching it while I played FF12 (the TV's are side by side.)

But regardless of my issues with the lack of book plot, my main frustration with the series is the way the characterization is just way off. I picked on Bob, because he's such a blatant example, but Harry and Murph are pretty deep in left field, too (though, to be fair, part of it is that we're missing the voice over-which I think would improve the show a lot. Just having a bit at the beginning of the episodes isn't enough to really convey what's going on).

[kradical]

I would guess, however, that the majority of their audience are people who are fans of the books.

Then you would guess very very very very very very wrong. If it was just fans of the books watching the show, the show would tank horribly, and Sci-Fi would've already cancelled it due to record-breaking lows in ratings.

Millions of people watch the show. Thousands of people read the books. The show has to appeal to an audience way bigger than that of the source material in order to be even a moderate success.

And "me and my friends don't like it" is no kind of indicator of success, FWIW. In fact, Dresden is getting the same numbers as Battlestar Galactica, which is Sci-Fi's darling. It's doing fine.