The new "Will Trent" series

[Minnesota disney fan]

I was wondering what others think of the TV rendition of Karin Slaughter's books on Will Trent?
I have read them all, and love the character of her Will Trent.
He is tall, athletic built, blonde hair and fair. He is a Southerner with a Georgia accent.
There are other differences too, but they don't bother me so much.

I just can't get over the facts of the books and the characters that are in the books. None of them match very well with the TV version of Will Trent.

This happened with the Jack Reacher series.. The author got so much negative feedback that he finally said that he had no control over who they hired for the parts, and with the movie version they wanted a "name" actor. They ran into a lot of flack about that one too.

I'm just curious if anyone else feels this way about the TV version?

I guess I just wanted it to be like all the books I read.

 

[JenniferS]

I haven’t read the Will Trent books or seen the show (although I have recorded a number of episodes), but Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series had the same treatment, so I feel your pain.

The first Plum book was made into a movie theatre picture, but the casting was so off the mark, that the entire movie franchise was sunk. It wasn’t that the actors themselves were bad, it’s just that none of them came close to matching what the readers had been envisioning for decades. Stephanie’s apartment could not have been more wrong, and don’t get me started on Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur.

Hopefully your series has gotten better for you. Is it worth me watching, or should I just hit delete?

 

[Tiggerish]

Is it worth me watching, or should I just hit delete?

I had never even heard of the books, and the show is definitely quirky, but we are enjoying it. I'd say its.worth watching at least one or two episodes to see if you like it.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I haven’t read the Will Trent books or seen the show (although I have recorded a number of episodes), but Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series had the same treatment, so I feel your pain.

The first Plum book was made into a movie theatre picture, but the casting was so off the mark, that the entire movie franchise was sunk. It wasn’t that the actors themselves were bad, it’s just that none of them came close to matching what the readers had been envisioning for decades. Stephanie’s apartment could not have been more wrong, and don’t get me started on Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur.

Hopefully your series has gotten better for you. Is it worth me watching, or should I just hit delete?

Jennifer, you would probably be okay with them. My husband didn't read the books and knew nothing about the series, so he likes it.
He didn't have preconceived notions about the characters or the plots.

For me, it is ruined. They hired a lead actor, who is really good by the way but just not Will, who is about as far away from what Will Trent looks like and talks like, in the books. He is a tall, blonde, with athletic build and talks southern. In the books, Angie was in a home for children with Will. She was mean and spiteful and not what they portrayed on tv. His love was a doctor named Sarah.
His partner, FAith, was a petite blonde. His boss was a small, helmet haired older white lady. The plots follow some of the books vaguely.
I am not prejudice, but just stating what the books are. I find I can't get past what they have done to the characters, but my husband continues to watch it and likes it. So, you might like it too. You probably will since you haven't read the books (which I highly recommend. They are a great series.)

I know what you are saying about the Stephanie Plum movie. I didn't care for that one either, after reading the books. The actress did great, but just couldn't get into the characters.

If you watch it, let me know what you think, if you can. Thanks

 

[Tiggerish]

For me, it is ruined. They hired a lead actor, who is really good by the way but just not Will, who is about as far away from what Will Trent looks like and talks like, in the books. He is a tall, blonde, with athletic build and talks southern. In the books, Angie was in a home for children with Will. She was mean and spiteful and not what they portrayed on tv. His love was a doctor named Sarah.

Wow, I can see why you can't watch it! Those are some significant differences. I do think the actor is trying to do a Georgia accent, but it's often kind of hard to understand him. I know lots of people from Georgia, and might only miss 2% of what they're saying due to he accent, but I'm missing 10% of what the actor is saying, because he mumbles or something!

Did they at least get the dog right?

I'm having the same struggle with All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. I love the James Herriot novels and have read them several times. The casting of the actors is fine, but they've made so many changes to the storylines and backgrounds of some of the characters, that it's not true at all to the books. They were set in a particular place and time, and things were the way they were then. If they wanted to modernize the characters, and change the stories that much, then just call the series by another name entirely. My husband is enjoying the show a lot, because he never read the books. I have to leave the room so he can watch in peace, without me growling at the television.

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

Wow, I can see why you can't watch it! Those are some significant differences. I do think the actor is trying to do a Georgia accent, but it's often kind of hard to understand him. I know lots of people from Georgia, and might only miss 2% of what they're saying due to he accent, but I'm missing 10% of what the actor is saying, because he mumbles or something!

Did they at least get the dog right?

I'm having the same struggle with All Creatures Great and Small on PBS. I love the James Herriot novels and have read them several times. The casting of the actors is fine, but they've made so many changes to the storylines and backgrounds of some of the characters, that it's not true at all to the books. They were set in a particular place and time, and things were the way they were then. If they wanted to modernize the characters, and change the stories that much, then just call the series by another name entirely. My husband is enjoying the show a lot, because he never read the books. I have to leave the room so he can watch in peace, without me growling at the television.

Well................about the dog........................It was a little pomeranian; not multi colored like the one onthe TV. It kinda looked like a rat to me, LOL. Yes, the actor does mumble, but I think he is trying to talk southern
We watch the All Creatures GandS too. I read all the books, and for some reason the tv shows don't bother me. Maybe I don'tremember all there is about the books anyway.
Thanks for the imput about WT show

 

[Ksgypsy]

I was wondering what others think of the TV rendition of Karin Slaughter's books on Will Trent?
I have read them all, and love the character of her Will Trent.
He is tall, athletic built, blonde hair and fair. He is a Southerner with a Georgia accent.
There are other differences too, but they don't bother me so much.

I just can't get over the facts of the books and the characters that are in the books. None of them match very well with the TV version of Will Trent.

This happened with the Jack Reacher series.. The author got so much negative feedback that he finally said that he had no control over who they hired for the parts, and with the movie version they wanted a "name" actor. They ran into a lot of flack about that one too.

I'm just curious if anyone else feels this way about the TV version?

I guess I just wanted it to be like all the books I read.

 

[Ksgypsy]

I was wondering what others think of the TV rendition of Karin Slaughter's books on Will Trent?
I have read them all, and love the character of her Will Trent.
He is tall, athletic built, blonde hair and fair. He is a Southerner with a Georgia accent.
There are other differences too, but they don't bother me so much.

I just can't get over the facts of the books and the characters that are in the books. None of them match very well with the TV version of Will Trent.

This happened with the Jack Reacher series.. The author got so much negative feedback that he finally said that he had no control over who they hired for the parts, and with the movie version they wanted a "name" actor. They ran into a lot of flack about that one too.

I'm just curious if anyone else feels this way about the TV version?

I guess I just wanted it to be like all the books I read.

Totally agree. Casting is completely off. Loved the books and can’t get past the stark differences. Angie is probably the closest physically but she's cruel & possibly a psychopath in the books. Karin defines and rounds out her characters in amazing detail and while TV is limited; they are apparently not trying to appeal to those of us who’ve read the actual books. It’s so obvious that the producers are trying to make the series ‘gritty’ but only managed to do so with the cinematography.

 

[Ksgypsy]

Totally agree. Casting is completely off. Loved the books and can’t get past the stark differences. Angie is probably the closest physically but she's cruel & possibly a psychopath in the books. Karin defines and rounds out her characters in amazing detail and while TV is limited; they are apparently not trying to appeal to those of us who’ve read the actual books. It’s so obvious that the producers are trying to make the series ‘gritty’ but only managed to do so with the cinematography.

Betty however, is spot on!

 

[rubietuesday66]

I was wondering what others think of the TV rendition of Karin Slaughter's books on Will Trent?
I have read them all, and love the character of her Will Trent.
He is tall, athletic built, blonde hair and fair. He is a Southerner with a Georgia accent.
There are other differences too, but they don't bother me so much.

I just can't get over the facts of the books and the characters that are in the books. None of them match very well with the TV version of Will Trent.

This happened with the Jack Reacher series.. The author got so much negative feedback that he finally said that he had no control over who they hired for the parts, and with the movie version they wanted a "name" actor. They ran into a lot of flack about that one too.

I'm just curious if anyone else feels this way about the TV version?

I guess I just wanted it to be like all the books I read.

I love Will Trent. Same police tv, different day. Ik. If the writers work on some side stories. Like her sponsor. Ormwood, Faith, Nico. Amanda. The chief. So many opportunities. There's a back story behind all of them. I watch it because I like the show and the actors mesh well. Probably doesn't come close to the book series. I just like this show!

 

[Minnesota disney fan]

I love Will Trent. Same police tv, different day. Ik. If the writers work on some side stories. Like her sponsor. Ormwood, Faith, Nico. Amanda. The chief. So many opportunities. There's a back story behind all of them. I watch it because I like the show and the actors mesh well. Probably doesn't come close to the book series. I just like this show!

My husband loves the show too. It's hard for me to get into because it doesn't follow the books except with some of the story lines. I keep comparing the books to the show and the books win
It's kind of like casting Tom Cruise as Reacher, when he was the exact opposite of the Reacher in the books. The book author got so much flak about it that he said that the studio wanted a "name" actor in the film. So under his contract with the studio, they went with TC.
FWIW: Will Trent in the books is a tall, athletic, blonde with a very obvious problem with dyslexia. Faith is a small, thin blonde. There are a lot of differences with the actors and even the dog. But if you don't read the books, you will probably love it! I just can't separate the two.

 

[Santa Raccoon 77]

The Reacher series is very good.
The films. I refuse to watch as he is supposed to be six foot plus and built like a brick outhouse. Not like Tom cruise.
In the author's defence I believe Mr cruise bought the film rights and therefore had casting control.