Definitely a big departure from the books. Not horrible for it though; it's been an enjoyable watch, for the most part. It falls off a bit the last few episodes. I think people who haven't read the books will have an easier time enjoying it maybe than people who have and can't get over the fact that adaptations are a thing and changes are made. Doesn't make them bad, necessarily. Also, how about of all those beautiful, naked, rehydrated Trisolarians (or San Tinos, I guess?) in episode 2. Didn't get that image from the novel, I'll tell you what :tongue: As for any comparisons with the Chinese series, it was definitely truer to the source material and I'm usually the guy saying, "They should have made a limited series out of (insert novel here), this movie didn't do it justice at all." But damn, the Chinese series was so unnecessarily long and drawn out. It really could have used some trimming in the adaptation and editing phases; pacing was dreadful. This series may be a big departure from the novels, but it was done with the author's blessing as he understood the need to make it appeal to a wider, international audience and more accessible than the source material may have been for some people.
I know most people don't respond well if you say something negative about their favorite show but I can't help it. If you like it I'm glad for you (really) but please allow me my opinion.
I am one of those who doesn't think that this is THE best show ever. It's not even the best sitcom in my opinion. It had its moments but not many. Maybe it isn't fair to judge it 25 years after the fact because that is a long time in TV land and things change. But most of the stuff I dislike has nothing to do with timeframe.
First, why this is called Friends is beyond me. Those are the most dishonest, selfish, egoistic and sometimes even mean group of people I've seen on TV. They constantly try to withhold stuff and most of the comedic situations spawn from that. I don't see where it is funny to go behind your friends backs. There are those moments where there behave like friends should, but those come usually after they screwed up.
Than there is the characters. I've written in some episode's comment that Ross is the most obnoxious character I've ever seen on TV. And I've seen my share. And there is WAY too much of him and Rachel who I also disliked deeply. They pull down every episode they're in which is pretty much every episode. That constant back and forth, the bickering and their pretensious behaviour is so annoying. Joey was funny at first but that wears out fast once you get past 50 episodes. Very one-dimensional. I don't even know what to say about Chandler because he is that bland. Monica went from "I don't care" through "I kinda like her" but ultimately annoying. Phoebe I liked until she, too, got the I-need-to-marry virus. Until that she was honest in that she didn't care what others thought about her and just made her thing. Alltogether there was little character developement in any of them. I couldn't connect with them and was more interested in what guest stars might turn up next.
And what it is anyway with all the girls need to find guys to marry and get babies and the guys needing to score? It is a good thing there wasn't any social media available because with all those gay and trans jokes there would have probably been a lot of heat.
That laughing track is way over the top. It accompanied literally every sentence. It even ruined jokes by starting to early. And what is wrong with building up an emotional moment and going through with it instead of ruining it with a bad joke ?
So, why did I watch, and even complete, it ? It's simple. And I mean that in the true sense of the word. You don't have to pay close attention to the plot, f.e. you don't have to stop it if the phone rings, you can even skip an episode completely. It's like having a radio playing in the background. Sometimes reading the synopsis was as interesting as the actual episode. Let's be honest: continuity, logic and depth of story were not the trademarks of Friends. It is full of holes and errors. But it fitted my daily schedule. I could drop in a couple of episodes here and there. And I punished myself a little bit because I went out and bought the whole series at once. Had I watched the first season first I would stopped there and then.
This is the longest review I've written in a while which shows I thought about this show a lot. I like versitality, it would be boring if every show was the same. That doesn't stop me though from speaking my mind. This is a love or hate kind of show. I don't hate it as such. But there were only just one or two episodes a season I think were more than average. It became better towards the end (either that or I caved) but it was an effort to get through and I am glad I'm done with.
Count me in the minority that thought that this show as mostly OK. I enjoy doomsday type shows, I think you can teach yourself things about that possible outcome and postulating on what you might do or not do in the same situation.
There is a very heavy agenda-driven underlying theme of this show that detracts from everything.
The show is basically about what the world would do if the oil was all contaminated, that's fine, it's worth wondering. The problem is that the show ends on that all of this suffering was worth it because the world is so much more amazing when oil isn't in the picture any longer. They fail to showcase the fact that there would probably be a 90% die off of humanity from hunger, violence, lack of medical care and so forth, but it's all worthwhile because no more oil. The better outcome should be that they fix the oil but realize we rely on it too much and allocate far more resources to supplementing it and thus find a happy balance, but the climate nuts can't have that, it must be that oil is the root of all evil.
Will I ever watch this again? No, most certainly not (especially after the unicorn and rainbow ending). Do I regret watching it? Not really, it was an interesting piece of fantasy to replace an otherwise crappy TV schedule that hasn't seen hardly any worthwhile shows in several years.
I did realize that it's not that I didn't like Matthew Fox in Lost, I just don't like him at all, in anything. He has no depth, he's just being himself and repeating some lines, that is the extent of his limited acting skills. I mean, good for him, I can't act so he's better than me, but he's not on par with other excellent actors out there either - far from it.
I enjoy watching most of the UK dramas and police shows. Broadchurch, Scott & Bailey, Shetland, The Fall, Line of Duty, Doctor Foster, The Killing......'Marcella' was no exception. But I have to admit it started off very strong in Season 1, and waned slightly by the end of Season 3, still good though. Anna Friel (whom I've never seen prior to this show) does a great job of showing the struggle of between being a loving mother, loving your career, having a cheating husband, and facing an unwanted divorce. It's enough to drive you crazy and Ms. Friel does a great job portraying this well. All of this is solidified in Season 1, making the character prepared to handle deceased kids, political pressure, and more troubles that hit close to home in Season 2. So close, in fact, 'Marcella' seems to be pushed to the edge of no return. Season 3 picks up a few years later, with a new 'Marcella' (now Keira), working deep undercover in a different city, after many people, including family, friends, and co-workers attended her funeral.
The show was able to keep my interest and I would love to see a Season 4. I do find it possible, but not probable, that a female that doted on her children as much as 'Marcella' did in Season 1 would just up and leave them 1-2 years later, evening letting them believe she'd died! I find that a little too hard to go long with. I would still definitely recommend this show.
