What the heck is this and why is it on MTV of all channels?

[thistlechaser]

I was reading a review of New York Comic Con, and came across this trailer:

Elves, trolls, magic, demons, sword fights, dragons... what in the world is this doing on MTV? Based on The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks, which I'll admit I haven't read, but after seeing that trailer I really want to.

It'll start on MTV early in 2016.

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Huh, yeah, I'm not getting the MTV connection either.

Also, I see they're not being subtle about the postapocalyptic world setting...

I've read the first, IDK, 4-5 books? They are... not great. I mean, when people talk about epic fantasy all being Tolkien ripoffs, well, this stuff REALLY is. In my starved-for-more-Tolkien phase, before epic fantasy was hot, I swallowed them anyway, but they're definitely not the best the genre has to offer. (There are like a zillion books, and I've heard from fans that the third-fourth-Nth series is more original and good, but I never got that far, so can't judge.)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Now that I'm thinking about it, isn't the new Teen Wolf on MTV too? I guess maybe they're more about young people TV than anything now?

That seems to be the common opinion about the books, yeah. Which is kind of sad, because the trailer makes it sound quite interesting. Maybe one day I'll give the first book a chance, just to see.

[elfy.livejournal.com]

I am very curious about this, as I also read the books, but when I was a teenager, so looooooong ago. But yeah, they are not very original, but as a teenager I enjoyed them ... which is actually all I remember, I couldn't tell you much about the plot anymore. I remember I really had a thing for Allanon for some reason, but can't say why anymore.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the show will be enjoyable. Maybe they'll be able to take it to more original places than the books themselves went.

[bacchuslives.livejournal.com]

Wow! Loved the books and the trailer is cool as hell, but MTV definitely doesn't seem the expected venue...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Agreed. I'm kind of expecting this to be good, because I bet they have lots of money to spend on shows. Fingers crossed!

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

I remember reading the book in 1982.
Don't remember modern clothes in it...

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hahaha though supposedly it's postapocalyptic, so I guess that's why?

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

He has a whole series of books running from modern times to the far future.
Elfstones was set millenia after the fall of the modern world, so there was little tie in other than some ruins in places.
It sounds like they're taking a much wider range of the stories for the show.
That might not be bad...

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I had sorta heard about this but had not watched the trailer until just now. WOW...MTV? I've never read any of these books, they have been around for ages. It looks good though, makes me think of 'Legend of the Seeker' and all those shows...I need another high fantasy story in my life. Will def give this a try!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Me too! I just wish it was going to air sooner. Though I suppose 2016 really isn't that far away...

[twissie.livejournal.com]

This looks fun! I've been watching Scream, which is also an MTV show. The production quality is great (even though the pacing feels a little uneven at times).

Remember when MTV was all VJs, music videos, music related news and TRL with Carson Daly? 8D

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Agreed, it does!

I've been watching Scream, which is also an MTV show. The production quality is great

Teen Wolf was like that too - looked surprisingly good for an MTV show.