Just as a quick side note about another "universe" I've always enjoyed reading about, Amazon is supposed to be adapting Larry Niven's "Ringworld" story into series form. I loved reading about the Ringworld's technology & how life could be lived on its enormous surface area (but was less enthused about the characters exploring that gargantuan structure, since for me most were quite unlikable). This article, dated May 14, 2020, describes what's happening with the series: Ringworld Pilot to Be Directed by Game of Thrones Helmer Alan Taylor Anyhoo, back to Asimov ......
Began watching the first episode and gave up after a half hour or so. Resembles the original book vaguely. I’ll finish it up at some point, but in no hurry. Hope it gets better, and I’ll leave it at that.
Well, the best thing I can say is it reminds me of the books which I read back in high school: people talking and not much else. Lots of world building, not much plot. Boring, but I'll give it another shot.
The second episode was pretty good -some real deviation from the book from what I can remember. I am deducting points for sex scenes with clothes on. If you don't have the ability/nuts to show some nudity then skip the sex scenes all together, because they come off as ridiculous.
I've recounted this story before, but don't know if it was on this forum, so I'll risk it again. I went to Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), which had around 1300 students and is in a small (then) town. Asimov spoke there around 1979. He was hunched over the lectern, seemingly rambling about various topics. I started to get upset - was he tired, or just didn't care about our small college? Then, within the last few minutes of the talk, he deftly spun together all the bits he'd said into a coherent theme about the need and benefit for women to have equal rights, reproductive choice, and a place at the table. I was stunned and impressed.
I've made it through 2 episodes, but I think that's about enough. Even Jared Harris can't save it, I'm afraid, and Lee Pace is pretty hammy. (He was only marginally less so on Halt and Catch Fire.)
Love the photography and visual effects. The pace is fine and the acting is generally good. I don't know how true to the books this is but somehow it appears that "side" stories have become more important than Asimov's original theme. I have decided to just enjoy the show as it is presented and keep in mind that it is merely "based" on what was once considered Asimov's best work.
I’ve watched the first three episodes. A bit up and down and not sure I will continue but I guess I’m hooked enough to keep watching for now. I thought the big stuff at the end of episode two would be addressed in episode three but I guess not…
[QUOTE="Pete Puma, post: 27880832, member: 9983" I am deducting points for sex scenes with clothes on. If you don't have the ability/nuts to show some nudity then skip the sex scenes all together, because they come off as ridiculous.[/QUOTE]
Having never read the books I'm coming into this blind based on the cast and general love of sci-fi... Three episodes in and I'll say it's slow...and much like Game of Thrones or The Wire it demands your attention as it's not passive entertainment in any way. So I've had to "skip back" a few times as I've missed something. I do still feel like something is off...I mean, if it took them something like 35 years to get to Terminus some of those folks should be much older than they are.
Slow isn't the word. They are padding it and milking it for all it's worth and then some. I think we should start a raffle of what season they get to the Mule. I'm guessing S26E10. The production is great. The storytelling is average at best.
After watching 3 episodes, I can’t imagine what Jared Harris saw in the script that attracted him. Very disappointed. I’m out.
When I saw that AppleTV+ was launching this epic (it's going to take place over a thousand years, and they're hoping to do 8 seasons, 10 episodes per), I got to thinking about how a platform like this should take on Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, and in doing so, maybe interweave Cryptonomicon throughout it. Or keep them separate. But talk about world building some historical (and fantasy) fiction...
After the third episode, I was away for almost a week. Now, I realize I'm not interested in continuing with this series. It was beautiful to watch, but the stories and characters didn't grab me.
‘That’s the one thing that keeps me away from Apple TV in general, real slow loading times on my Roku tv. Had a devil of a time getting Ted Lasso to work this year. Guess Roku and Apple TV are not pals. ‘But I do want to watch the Foundation soon and the new Apple series, Invasion.
When focusing on big picture issues (psychohistory, the crumbling empire, robot wars...) it's interesting and I want more. When it's just the characters and their lives it's really dull stuff. Really dull.
I use Apple TV 4K (but for a 1080p stream only). I have no problems w/ Apple+. Other streaming apps are stable on the Apple TV, too. Every once in a while, an app times out or can't connect, but very rarely.
It's not an issue of lag or instability, it's the interface itself. Never seems to show me what I'm currently watching and I have to search for the show. Like I'm currently watching Ted Lasso and Foundation, you'd think they'd be the first things up top. Nope. Go to the comedy section and no Ted Lasso. I have to use the search bar. It's nuts.
