Talamasca: The Secret Order

I only saw episode 1, my overall impression is that most of the cast members fit the characters of the series. From the mysterious and manipulative Helen played by Elizabeth McGovern, the eeriely dangerous Jasper by William Fichtner, and the new recruit Guy played by Nicholas Denton. However, the title of show stealer should go to Jason Schwartzman as Vampire Burton. OMG, the scenes that he was in.

It would have been more compelling to have the original characters from the novels in this series. I've read she sold 100 million books so there are fans that complain about essential people being completely left out of the story. To me that was a mistake as most people who are interested in the series read the books. I read them because of the way Anne wrote history and how she intertwined world events throughout the series. I will keep watching though, it's not bad.

So whilst I understand that the first two episodes are a slow burn, I have high hopes and I'm fully invested. I think it's too easy for people to write off a show after a couple of episodes. We live within a culture of instant gratification but sometimes we have to invest in something for longer than 5 minutes. I've read comments stating that the reviewers don't care about the characters but after two episodes why would you? I enjoyed both episodes.

I'm halfway through the second episode, so grain of salt. I'll change my review after watching a few more episodes, but I suspect it won't find its feet enough to improve much. I haven't read Rice (not this series, anyway) so I'm coming in without having read -- or watched -- anything but the original Pitt/Cruise Interview. First, the writing is just not very good. The premise isn't very original (maybe it was when Rice wrote it?) but that's okay as it's still pretty rich and this show holds so much promise. So why isn't the writing better? They say painfully obvious things, hold back information annoyingly but unnecessarily, and it's bad enough that the actors are struggling with it. Denton is chewing up the scenery and responding to situations so inconsistently and inappropriately that his acting alone was almost enough to get me to stop watching. It may not be his fault, IDK. And please, do something with his hair, he's not 12 (or James Blunt) and it's 2025.

If the writing shores itself up and Denton gets better direction, maybe it'll attain its promise. Crossing my fingers, but not betting on it.

Watched the 3rd episode. Too much angst, too much explication, not enough movement. The tension is forced and it gets pretty boring.

It is exactly what you would expect. I like that the characters are all solid the actors are delivering solid performances and they did not go for some sort so celebrity stunt casting. Relying more on the script.

It is basically a slow, mystery type with minimal fantasy elements at least the first and second episodes.

But I really don't think weekly releases does this any favours. Each individual episode has so little content, interest or excitement, you get to the end and wonder why you even watched it. I expect this would be better if you could binge the whole thing.

I found the directing and photography very drab and boring, with little colour or interest, action scenes are show after the action part. So just the result. And it just feels like random scene/event after random scene/event the logic tying each scene to the next does not exist. No idea what world these writers exist in.

So far after 2 episodes I don't care about any of the characters or the reason of the plot or what happens which is not much.

The rating right now it is a boring 5 which would be don't bother. I gave it a 6 because only seen the first 2 episodes. But if it does not pick in the 3rd episode I think this series is going to bomb, people are not going to bother watching it.

Basically it is like an amazing looking burger, but tastes like cardboard. If they dont start adding some flavour this show is toast.