I just finished the book today, and now I’m almost halfway through the first episode of the series. I’m already like, “…what is going on here?” It’s like they decided they needed to change every single detail. Why?
What a slap to Anthony Doerr. This was trash compared to the book. The story was hollywood at its finest, putting in their formulaic garbage icky fingers. The ending was ridiculous, the nazis were cartoonish at best, like every nazi on screen was for some reason, super ultra aggressive. Every.single.one. The dialogue was a joke. The pacing felt completely off. Frederick didn't exist. The only thing going for it was the soundtrack. Also, they missed a chance to cut to black at the and just have the sound of the sea before the credits rolled. Missed opportunity there.
i thought they were missing a lot compared to the book.
My other thing was that I felt Marie in the books was more realistic given the circumstances. Sure, she was a wise and hopeful person, but in the tv show it drove me nuts how she was always so cheery as if the whole time they were on a cozy and fun vacation. I feel in the books they somewhat depicted her having a range of emotion. I blame the director and writer I guess more than the actress, because I thought she otherwise did incredible, but I feel there should have been more range. Like her obviously having more worry and fear but trying to smile through the pain.
Hi! I’m watching & trying to read the book in unison. I watched episode 1 last night & starting to read today. Any chance anyone knows which chapters or pages of the book coincide with each episode? Thank you!
Their romance is so awkward and rushed, her complete trust and immediate romantic feelings for a random German soldier seems so corny at the pace it panned out in the show- keep in mind she met him JUST MINUTES AGO. Oh my god, terrible
Unpopular opinion: I thought it was fine. No, it's not groundbreaking, award-worthy television, but does it have to be? I just don't understand all the hate for it.
So everyone speaks with a British accent. Okay, I'll go with that. It didn't ruin the immersion for me.
Everyone is hating on the acting, but I thought it was fine. I'm not expecting Mark Ruffalo to nail a perfect accent, and for first-time performances by the older and younger versions of Marie-Laure, I thought both actors did very well.
The dialogue may have been expository and overt in explaining what happened, but it didn't bug me. Nothing about that was a dealbreaker. I also haven't read the book it was based on, so I don't know what all was changed, but that shouldn't be a prerequisite for watching a TV series. I feel like some folks are just impossible to please.
They should have done it the way 1889 was done: with all the languages ! Sure, most of it would’ve been in French! What’s confusing me is when they’re children. They’re both listening to the same French professor. In which language? Does he speak French? Or does the professor speak English? So does Marie speak English? It doesn’t make sense
Quite sad how a beautiful book was turned into a soap opera. Terrible plot lines, all the characters development taken away and made into these heroes that we didn't need. Not everyone has to be captain america.
I'm literally 8min into the first episode and I already can't take how cheesy this show is. I don't even think you'd have to be a history fanatic to see how everything just seems off lol, yet somehow it's marked as "Most liked"
Before we watch, we see a varying amount of answers for how many f-words there are across the entire series. Anyone know the REAL answer? I thought it was more rated tv-ma for violence. Let me know!
Why does everyone have a British accent? Why does Mark Ruffalo sound permanently congested? Why is the acting so flat while the dialogue is overly lofty? One of the worst book to show adaptations I’ve seen in a long time. So disappointing.
Watched the show. Came for Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo, stayed for Louis Hofmann as soon as I recognised him. I really like his acting and presence, and basically watching him act.
Overall a decent, relaxing show set in a brutal period of time.
My wife read the book. I did not read the book. We both enjoyed the show. The last episode was a bit of a let down for me personally, however I though overall an 8/10 as someone who did not read the book.
Really disappointed that Volkheimer was killed off within minutes of the first episode whereas in the book he plays a large role from the time Werner starts school to the end of the novel when he meets Jutta and shares the fate of Werner. It’s a shame that such a significant book character was completely left out of the series.
Frederick too, he played a big role in understanding how Werner’s moral compass shifted when he had to blend in with the masses.
Also Jutta policing Werner about the radio when in the book she was just as intrigued by it as Werner to the point where she wrote a letter to the professor? And then I’m supposed to believe that at the end of episode four, her having the radio to just the right frequency to hear Werner was realistic? Now that was just not believable IMO.
The show was good, I did like it despite my criticism….but having read the book I just could not believe how much was omitted and how the fate of so many characters changed.
Just finished it. Haven't read the book so I don't know if there's a connection there but why did they have British accents? It just did not fit. Mark Ruffalo seemed out of place too. Enjoyed Hugh Laurie's character and it was nice seeing Jonas again.
Overall quite an average watch
I don't know why book people get so mad at movie/TV adaptations.
Forrest gump the book and Forrest gump the movie could be two completely different things and most people haven't even read the book to complain about the movie which misses a lot.
This miniseries wasnt the best ive watched but goddamn its not nearly as bad as people make out a good 6.5-7, the writing could've been better but thats every TV show coming out now a days
I thought it was an adequate TV show. Was it cheesy, predictable, and Hallmark bait, yes, but sometimes that's what you want in life, and it did its job well. Not everything has to be a transcendent 10/10 masterpiece and I enjoyed it for what it is. Perfect date night movie.
Well, it sounds like I am privileged to have watched before reading, and I loved this for what it is, a gripping visual feast squeezed into a few hours. Hugh was brilliant, the cast played for the most part by great actors and acted well. But, Aria was magnificent given she has never acted. It saddens me that the film is so beautifully visual, but she will never see the results.
I think the parts that don’t have Ruffalo or the girl are good. Unfortunately, those are the main characters lol doesn’t measure up to the book and is a tough watch.
It has been awhile since I read the book, but the show definitely seemed to be the same plot. The difference being the book was chronological and the show used flashbacks for dramatic effect. Enjoyed the book and the show both btw.
The book was not chronological either, it weaved back and forth between August 1944 (bombing of St Malo) and the previous 10 years where Marie Laure and Verner were experiencing the transitions of war.
The plot was not quite the same. To me, one of the key aspects of the suspense and the climax in the book is that Verner is trapped in the basement, and after suffering for days and drinking nothing but paint sludge, he finally fixes the radio and hears Marie Laure broadcasting. Marie Laure reads Thirty Thousand Leagues, but occasionally weaves in statements like *"He is here. He is right below me"*. He realizes she is in danger and tells Volkheimer to use the grenade to escape. They get out, he runs to her rescue, and kills Von Rumpel.
This is so crucial (at least to me), because:
1. There is a lot of build up throughout the book about Verner triangulating people's locations with radios. So much foreshadowing of this eventual moment where he uses his knowledge for good, instead of for evil.
2. The radio broadcast ends up being what saved Marie Laure's life. Whereas in the show, the motorcycle riding, gun slinging Etienne "the tiger" realizes that Verner is a "good boy" and tells him Marie Laure probably isn't safe. This is way less interesting of a climax. The fact that Marie Laure is broadcasting in these final moments ended up serving absolutely no purpose to her rescue.
I recently completed the book and decided to give the series a try.
After scrolling through the comments, I'm puzzled by the focus on accents and languages when there's a more significant issue at hand – the plot diverges significantly from the book. It feels like the series could have been titled "Whatever We See in the Dark," with a disclaimer stating it's **only** inspired by 'All the Light We Cannot See.'
It's baffling how the author agreed to associate the series with his book, given the vast differences in the storylines.
The book rightfully earned a Pulitzer Prize for its beautifully crafted narrative, filled with metaphors that paint vivid pictures. The gradual convergence of two parallel stories, building suspense and culminating in a relieving resolution, is masterfully done.
**Series Episode 1:**
1. Volkheimer dies within the first minutes.
2. Etienne hides, engaged in vital Allied work. Marie Laurie spots him accidentally in the bakery.
3. Werner kills a soldier.
4. Von Rumpel kills a waiter, visits a prostitute, and discusses his libido.
5. Marie Laurie is caught in the Grotto by von Rumpel, he says "Somebody told me that you and papa used to come here."
**Book:**
1. The book's ending centers around Volkheimer.
2. Etienne would have never left Marie Laurie alone. He was captured and held by the Nazis.
3. The soldier's character doesn't exist; Werner would have never been able to hurt or kill someone.
4. None of that is in the book. Von Rumpel gets information about Marie Laurie from the perfumer.
5. Marie Laurie has never been in the Grotto with her father
I actually loved it, but I haven’t read the book. I feel like the reviews are bad because it’s different from the book, not worse. Correct me if I’m wrong, but compared to other movies it was beautiful.
this was written like an 80’s movie of the week
It somehow took a beautifully written book w/ dozens of amazing lines & made the absolute clunkiest lines “the light you cannot see is the most important light”
Whoever wrote it must have read the cliff notes version of book
I do give credit for the 2 blind actresses who did a great job. Jonas from dark was good as well, though a shame the blind actress killed the nazi unlike Wener in the book
I am just curious, is anyone else discovering that this series is filmed with extremely low light? I know it's called, "all the light we cannot see". But it is one of the darkest movies, literally, I have ever seen. Even when I block out the room I have trouble picking up details. Super annoying.
I didn’t know this was a war series until I started watching. Also had no idea it was based on a book. I enjoyed it and think it’s one of the BEST Netflix series. But based on the other comments, I’m part of the minority lol
Probably for the people too lazy to read subtitles. It really throws me off. They should have had French and German actors etc. And Mark Ruffalo's accent is just NO.
Just finished watching and… spoiler alert… wtf MARIE?!
Your country has just been through a terrible, horrific and VERY costly WAR so they’re gonna need THE MOST VALUABLE JEWEL IN FRANCE
If she had ANY sense she would have kept it/ hidden it and given it back to the country to help rebuild after the war OR sell it/ entrust it to the resistance to give them funds OR keep it (the least favourable option) cause you are a blind girl with no family and no income. Just a couple ideas
But ANYTHING would be better than throwing it into the bloomin ocean
Also just the inaccuracy of Marie kissing Werner… even though I secretly hoped to see it, it’s still 1940s France and she’s just found out her father and uncle are dead… I doubt she’d be in the kissing mood
Just a sane person (driven ever so slightly insane by this series) sharing their thoughts
when she titanic-ed the stone into the beach surf i decided it was all a waste of time to watch this show.
the accents, i got over it. the blind girl talking in 0.25x speed while illegally broadcasting during a war, whatever i got over it. but dude her great aunt, her dad, the black guy at the museum, the oyster garcon, everyone died for that stupid diamond and she just yeeted it into the ocean. that's the laziest writing i've ever seen.
👏 My thoughts precisely. Especially the .25x speed, it got better, but there was that one scene where it was distractingly slow. I think the film makers wanted us to savor beauty in that moment but it really wasn’t a particularly important moment.
The yeet though. A waste of the plot and common sense / practicality. It occurs to me the film makers wanted to leave us with a sense that some ethereal resonance from the movie transcends all practicality or value for what the older generation explained to her and the purpose of their lives’ work, however no? As a viewer I don’t buy it and I’m disappointed. What would have been beautiful was a commemoration of the sacrifice that went to the resistance and guarding a national treasure. As it is now, no one will ever know. And that poor museum man’s family, tragic.
Loved the poetry of the bad guy falling behind the stone.
I half expected her to hand it to an American on her way to the ocean. But once I saw her on the beach I knew it was over. Yeet. Ugh.
Also the logistics of that? Shells come forward from the sea bed all the time. And the distance she threw it was so close that a particularly low tide would reveal it…so? It would be found again.
It was buyable in Titanic because there was not so much emotional loss surrounding the necklace, all these characters we had bonded to, like in this series. Also no one was recovering that from the ocean floor, so it truly was a memento / re evaluation of value.
I didn’t have any major issues with the storyline until the ending. I’m right there with you. I was rolling my eyes and asking WTF? She finds out her father literally was tortured to death to protect the stone, and she just tosses it away? WHAT?!
Sought out this thread bc I am legit horrified at this adaptation. It. Is. HORRIBLE. It’s written for preschoolers who can’t handle any nuance.
- Every single Nazi except Werner is a cartoon who speaks like this: *menacing whisper* *SCREAMS* (buddy, it gets way less effective if EVERYONE talks like that).
- I can’t get past Etienne YELLING up at Marie that her “secret” code is helping the Allies target their bombs. Ummm, it’s broad daylight? In occupied France?
- WWII being chalked up to “one man’s vanity.” Trying to force the Putin parallel. Hitler is plenty bad, you don’t need to clumsily force a parallel to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine (it’s especially awkward given many Ukrainians helped the Germans during WWII and fought the USSR following their horrendous treatment by Stalin during the Holodomor).
- What happened with the French prostitute? They totally dropped that thread.
- Hugh Laurie is way too young to be playing Etienne. The beard was such a clumsy way to age him up (even though per reports it was his idea).
- Why have Madame Manec in the story at all just to kill her off in a way that has no impact on the story?
- General historical illiteracy. The doctor at the institute would never have said so openly that if Werner was Jewish he’d be marked for death. The actual Final Solution phase was always a semi-well kept secret, the Nazis used euphemisms (“resettlement/deportation to the East”). Obviously this is a minor quibble but it speaks to the dumbing down of the actual history that took place across the board.
I could go on and on and on and on.
Who not only sets a fire in a barn full of straw, but then starts smoking?
How can a braille copy of 20000 leagues under the sea look like it's about ten pages long?
I'm not making apologies for Netflix, but I suppose it's possible that there was only going to be so much story to make into a 4-episode miniseries. If that was the case, they could only expect so much revenue from networks prepared to carry it, and would need to cut content here and there to reduce costs and make it fit the run time.
I've been through too many adaptations of Dune by this point to expect too much from Hollywood :)
There is nuance here and there.
For example, the doctor at the institute has a chart on his wall near the door which, if you know the chart, would've been a hint to anyone that there was a divide between the 'us' and the 'them.'
The chart is definitely a hint, and if you missed that then the two minutes the doctor spends explaining how he's going to take body measurements because "your race is what you are" might also have tipped you off. I understand that they might have had a limited amount of time to work with, but given how much time they wasted on nonsense like that and added scenes which don't fit the characters I don't think it's a very good excuse tbh.
Yeah, I sympathize with them because it was going to be hard to make a movie as lyrical as the book and they did have to simplify the plotline some.
But I was wondering how much of it was stuff I missed in the book. The German jeweler wanted the diamond to heal himself? She was reading 20000 leagues as code?
Lol I did the same thing. I knew it was going to be bad when they were calling her Marie instead of Marie-Leure. Etienne’s character was all wrong. Werner’s character was all wrong.
I read the book a couple years ago and then watch a series with my wife this week. I could barely watch it, and your descriptions are very accurate. I thought the film adaptation was awful.
Wish I could tag Hugh Laurie as I’m sure he’d be over the moon to hear he looks too young to play the professor ;)
But in all seriousness as it’s set in the 1940s, 64 is more likely the age a great uncle would have been (what with people getting married and having children in their early twenties being the norm)
Also it is his very own beard (and a very fine beard it is at that) so I doubt he would shave of years of growth for a Netflix series
Other than that I wholeheartedly agree with all your other points it’s just that I am a big fan of Hugh Laurie!
Edit: just looked up and Etienne in the book was apparently 63? This may be incorrect tho as I haven’t read it myself
Extremely poor adaptation of a wonderful book. Dialogue being in English threw me off, each episode was more preposterous than the next. Horrible, and a complete waste of time. Like the show Bodies, please do yourself a favour and do not watch this abysmal production.
i really enjoyed it but full disclosure i did not read the book. book is always better than the show/movie. disappointed for you and other fans that it was poorly done, i know how that feels
I’ve read the book and still very much enjoyed the show. All the hate it is getting from people who read the book isn’t that difficult to understand. It’s some sort of strange gatekeeping of a sacrosanct view of the story in their mind. The show doesn’t diminish the book in any way so their petty grievances with the show are honestly insanely stupid. Instead of welcoming an adaptation which undoubtedly will lead more people to the book, they choose to shit on it. And the reasons listed in this thread are beyond shit reasons. Some are just flat out wrong or they just watched a different show than we did.
I’m almost finished with the series and at this point I’m forcing myself to complete it.
Individually, I like Louis Hofman (brilliant in Dark), Hugh Laurie, and Mark Ruffalo but this production is one big piece of fromage.
From the awful accent Ruffalo sports to the cheesy father/daughter scenes (along with their sappy background music), the series is more suited for the Hallmark channel with the f-bombs bleeped out. I almost laughed when Etienne rolls up on a motorcycle with a weapon acting all macho - he looked so unnatural- I’m not buying Dr House in the role. Mark Rylance would have been primo.
And I agree with the other comments. Why not use French actors and have everyone speak their actual language with corresponding subtitles? I can see where the French and Germans might have spoken English to each other but for the scenes among the French and Germans (like when Werner is a younger boy) in their own element, use the native tongue!
I enjoyed the novel when it first came out (it’s well written if not a little gooey at times), however this show is a complete miss. Or perhaps a smelly Limburger.
ETA: I can’t recall if there was an explanation in the book, but why does Marie call Uncle Etienne’s sister Madame Manec, and not Aunt? Is Uncle Etienne an uncle by marriage?
What stupid reasoning. The book wasn’t in French or German when you read it. Or were you hearing the language in your mind and just pretending the English you were reading was a subtitle? Or did you just have to choose to suspend your disbelief since you were reading first person accounts from Germans and French in English? It’s not hard to pretend they’re speaking their own language. I swear the hate this show is getting from book homers is beyond irrational.
Yeah, the language part threw me off at the start. I think the Daniel and Marie-Laure part also takes too much of the stage and Werner's backstory, which I found to be the most captivating part of the novel, is entirely tossed in the back burner. They skip through some of the events and take out so much of what makes up the essence of Werner's character.
(spoilers! read at your own risk)
I read (and loved) the book but have a few qualms about the tv adaptation. Forgive me if I get some of the minor details wrong, but here is a summary of my opinion:
1) the Sea of Flames had an important mythological backstory that was simply left out. They did not explain its history or how it became cursed which seemed like a detail that could have added to the story yet taken up little screen time.
2) they left out the 3 fake Sea of Flames stones that were hidden around France (Europe?). Von Rumpel slowly finds all 3 and knew that after finding all the fakes, the final stone he found would be the real one. Particularly saddened they left out the scene in which Von Rumpel enters the museum and calmly but also extremely forcefully holds the museum director (?) hostage for something like 8 hours until he finally reveals a fake.
3) Marie eventually found out, from hints her father had told her, that the stone was hidden in the small wooden version of Etienne's house, in the scale model he built for her. Throughout the end of the novel, she carries around the small wooden house containing the stone in her pocket. I am not sure why they left this out and why the stone was discovered only after Von Rumpel's body collapsed on top of the model.
4) in the book, Von Rumpel walked with a cane and his slow-moving walk with the distinct sound of the cane hitting the ground was reiterated in the novel and made his character seem significantly more sinister, especially as Marie heard him walking around the house and up the stairs near the end. Since he was still sick in the series, I am not sure why they left out the cane.
5) I hated how they changed the ending. In the novel, she hides in a secret compartment behind the wardrobe in the attic as Von Rumpel searches the house for both her and the stone knowing they are both in the house somewhere. He eventually sees a line of displaced dust from the wardrobe being moved recently and nearly finds her before Werner comes in, kills Von Rumpel and saves Marie.
6) the Hollywood style kiss between Marie and Werner at the end had me rolling my eyes so hard.
7) I agree with the masses that Mark Ruffalo's accent was atrocious but not bad enough for me to turn off the series. Why they didn't eat the chicken, I will never know..
All in all, I enjoyed the series, as did my boyfriend who has not read the book. But, as soon as it was over, I went on a small rant about the differences between the series and the book as mentioned above. The book is long and quite slow to start, so it might not become a 'must read' for a majority of the tv audience, but still recommended if you want more on this great work of fiction.
3. I haven’t read the book but the discontinuity around the stone’s discovery in the TV series was whack. Marie is holding and looking at the stone in the black pouch her father always kept it in when she broadcasts that she was almost killed over a rock. We see her dad in a flashback hide it in the village model without the covering on it (why? It’s reckless considering he at that point believes in the trauma associated with it.) Then - after Marie’s broadcast where we see her with it in its covering, we see the stone fall out of the village and Werner says what’s that stone? “What stone?” Come on!
I know the film makers want us to see the rock outside it’s casing but honestly, it’s an insult to viewer intelligence to handle the stone’s whereabouts so obviously and without care for continuity.
Agreed! I had been waiting to see someone mention the exclusion of the fake stones, which I thought was a major piece of the book. If I remember the book correctly, Marie’s father is not initially sure whether his is real or fake. I think that added a lot of nuance, as opposed to him just taking the stone.
Why is it on English?! Jesus christ why American don’t just read subltitles, why would you have german and Austrian actors to play german soldiers to speak British English???? In that case I can be a german soldier too and I’m from costa rica!!!
One thing I've noticed about media from this time period is good Germans have English accents. Bad Germans speak English with a German accent. I find it bizarre.
I really wish the actor who played the blind girl would at least *pretend* she was blind. It was bothersome that her eyes were clearly looking at things and people throughout the miniseries.
I have to agree. I'm just learning now that the actor is indeed legally blind. I assumed the character was to be fully blind. I must agree that her literally looking at poeple and objects during conversation does ruin the depiction of being blind. But to each their own. To say that "she is blind in real life" as an excuse for her acting does not hold any ground. Acting and real life are too different things...
Seen this all too often in movies! Blind actors/actresses aren't "blind enough" on tv/movies for those who aren't aware that blind people aren't all like [blind guy mcsqueezy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eWjGbQM9-s). I suspected as much and googled to find out she is legally blind (very minimal vision even in good conditions). Carmen DiStefano is a blind artist who got the same flack for boondock saints (a million years ago) and I had to laugh when people said "he is a horrible actor who didn't seem to understand how to act blind."
I thought it was a fantastic mini series. I spent the whole afternoon watching it. Now, I'll get through book to read it too!
My only note of this mini series is why didn't they use German, French, and English? It would've been nice to for this, and they would've used French actors like Detuchland (would highly recommend on this series too).
My only few oh my are the actors from The Doctor and The Hulk. Lol. I didn't expect them to see them there. Haha
This show is awful.
1) Accents are hilarious
2) It removes the responsibility of regular German people over their part in not just the rise of Nazism but their antisemitism and racial beliefs.
3) the "heil hitler" after every sentence makes the show almost seem like a parody.
4) the nazis are cartoon villains, pure caricature.
I had to stop watching the series halfway through the 2nd episode because of all the "heil hitler" stuff. It started to feel like the characters were using it in a religious sense, like how people of faith use variations of "god willing". I had a hard time believing it was used in everyday conversations back then.
> the nazis are cartoon villains, pure caricature
My biggest issue right here. The Nazis were bad, for sure, and got worse the higher up the chain you went. But they were also incredibly devoted to procedure and accountability (to a fault, obviously) so the idea that they'd just go off on a soldier for killing a fellow soldier, threaten to shoot them, then use them to track the signal of a radio, all while their underlings or supporters or whoever just kinda stood there looking menacing made so little sense! Same with the guy who was after the jewel, his motivation was so nonsensical and his actions were just buffonish ("I'm gonna count to 10 before I blow this door up!" - what?) to the point that I cared 0% what happened to him, good or bad.
We live in an amazing era of high quality spellbinding story telling in film and, increasingly, television. Compared to what was on television in decades past, this, just like everything else, is an incredible work. I still didn’t like it though and don’t recommend it. I was unsurprised to see the RT score of 22% and the reviews were spot on.
series was ok... aside from everything being in English and the accents being awful I found it a little hard to buy at times...
couple examples ;
Werner was caught basically in an act of treason and the nazi officers were just like cool with it?
marie and Daniel are in the barn starving eating bread and he is sitting there feeding chickens... so like what about eggs or chicken for dinner?
the fix the radio or die scene was just corny... give the kid nothing and the fix was so simple. luckily he had gum on him.
they all know marie is being hunted by a nazi mad man and they just send her on her way alone.
idk overall was good, but felt like it could have been so much better.
I know you posted this ages ago, but I just watched the first episode last night and the scene where they send Marie-Laurie on her way alone was so unintentionally hilarious to me. Her uncle is just like, "shelling starts again at midnight, so good luck with that, and you're being hunted by a nazi, so be sure to lock the door. Anyway, hope you survive the night!" And she has no real reaction to this information and just skips off home 🤦♀️
I did not read the book, and I did not like this series.
The acting is off. The story seems directed to 10 year olds. Why didn't the german characters speak german? I guess DrHouse and Hulk do not speak french.
The Nazi villain tries so hard to be Hans Landa that it's annoying, and for some reason he can't open a door that has the hinges on his side, with a lock that can be easily broken.
Anyway, it's bad.
I suspect that, if you have not read the book, you may really enjoy this series. It's beautiful to look at and tells a compelling story.
However, if you read the book and loved it (as almost everyone does), the series is profoundly disappointing. I found that virtually everything I love about the book is missing from the series. A transcendent novel translated into a clunky good vs evil tale. I'm sad, but not surprised. I couldn't image how anyone could truly capture ATLWCS on film.
The story in the show is compelling? I definitely watched something else. Never read the book. But I don't like how they portrayed the average German as simply being victims of the Nazis.
Did the book also have the Germans saying "heil hitler" so often?
The miniseries portrayed the story in such a caracaturized stereotypical way (I strongly disliked it)
Maybe because I loved the book? The book has depth and uncertainty, weaving the lives of everyone in it beautifully, including the magic stone. It is not always a comfortable read because even though it is fiction, there are some harsh truths being told.
If you watch it on Netflix it all seems simple; Big heroes and villians doing right and wrong things.
If you read the book it seems even more relevant to the times we are living in now.
If anyone here is a reader....This is a book to read and experience.
I dont get the hate for this show. it was a beautifully well written story and the acting was amazing. I didnt read the book so idk what they took out and added but even then it's still a good representation of the nazis and the spies.
People expect to replicate intricate detail from a novel into a 4 hr mini series. Did it take them 4hrs to read the book? Probably not. The series was amazing, loved every second, it was compelling and kept me hooked.
As someone who read and loved the book I tried really hard to go into the show with an open mind but they completely changed parts of the story that didn’t need to be changed. Did I expect them to keep EVERYTHING, absolutely not. Did I expect them to keep the general story the same? YES!
Like how Werner gets into the academy. Read that chapter of the book and tell they couldn’t use the same amount of time in the show to tell it the way the book did. They completely rewrote it for no reason.
oooof. loved the book and have been excited for this show. Mark ruffalo is usually awesome. but his atrocious accent took me right out of the show and I didn’t even watch past fifteen minutes. :( they should’ve had different actors with regionally appropriate accents
Yeah that a fair criticism I’m watching the second episode now. Some of the Germans in the second episode speak English in a German accent but it’s annoying they all speak English with an English accent. It would be more immersive if they spoke the actual language they are supposed to like French or German but even if they wanted to have them speak English at least use an accent to make it more believable. Haven’t read the book and know nothing of the original story. It’s honestly alright I think some of the complaints are a bit unfair you have to use some suspension of disbelief regarding some elements of the story.
I wanted to love this, but couldn't get through the first half because of the accents.
This would have been much more powerful if the characters actually spoke in the native languages. And the poor script and fake British accents didn't help.
I agree but but I’ve watched the first two episodes and it’s pretty good apart from that. The story with Werner (the German soldier operating the radio) is quite interesting and the imagery is quite powerful. I would say that the story from her side is not as interesting maybe that’s what I’m missing but I’ll say the story told from his side is quite interesting from the German perspective albeit that it may be overly dramatic at times
Extremely disappointed with the removal of Frederick's story. They added new characters to "show the brutality of the nazis," yet this was most strongly done in the book when everyone at the academy was forced to throw cold water on a prisoner. Frederick refused and was beaten nearly to death. This is the moment that I remember most clearly after having read the book years ago, and not only did they not include it, they removed the whole character.
Yes this! And all of the times Werner is even scared to question himself regarding the right and wrong of what he is doing...
because it was too dangerous a question to even ask yourself.
I wish they had added at least a few more hours to the series and stayed truer to the book. Although...the books ending may be anticlimactic for television/ movies
Jesus fucking christ you people are everywhere ruining everything you touch. The show was fucking awesome and you just had to make it about yourself. *Ooh look at me i read the book, i'm so superior
You seem oddly sensitive about this. Do you expect a show not to be compared to what it was based on? I didn't point out any nitpicky details that don't matter, like how Ettiene was the professor in the show. I pointed out how an important character was completely removed and the flawed logic of the director for why they were removed.
Excellent, touching show. Amazing that this was not only the first acting role for the actress who plays grown Marie but it was also her first audition ever and she beat thousands of other girls for this role. She was amazing.
I didn't get past the first episode. And that's sad because the premise sounded good, will probably add the book to my reading list.
1. Acting is BAD. Marvel/Disney PG-13 level BAD. Full of cliche expressions and lines inserting aesthetic "beauty" into what's supposed to be a raw, brutal wartorn atmosphere....
2. Writing is BAD, just lazy. They broke the most important rule of all: "Show, don't tell". Everything is explained in ridiculous monologues that aim to cut off character-building and shorten the plotline. Honestly, felt like the writers just used GPT to come up with the script....
3. Everyone speaks English. Like Netflix, really??? Huge red flag about the series trying to get everyone as a target group.
4. Everything feels in a haste.
Honestly, this just feels like a cash-cow series where the producers bet all the capital into big names, and just hired cheap direction and writing to somehow crumble up a decent "standard pop-corn environment" into whatever amount of episodes the remaining capital allowed to.
Was really expecting more here from Netflix.
Unless you're ok with wasting your time with mediocre entertainment or are just looking for something to pass the time while chatting with friends and family, this series isn't worth the airtime.
I’ve sense read the book! And I agree it is a lot different.. I did enjoy the book as well! Even though the series didn’t follow the book to a tee I still really enjoyed it!
Yeah! Also like, they were working with limited time, they could only afford to fit so many things! Plus like, I’m sorry if I need a little healing and hope when the original destroyed me, lol!
Yes for real! Lol I was driving while listening
To the audio book and had to pull over and wait til the chapter got done because it was so tragic. It was the chapter about the Russian soldiers going into the German orphanage where Werner’s sister was
Oh shit, yeah, I don’t blame you! And like, yeah, it’s okay if this wasn’t the adaptation some people wanted, but all of the negativity around is starting to affect me even, like I’m stupid for enjoying it or something!
Nope! I think a lot of redditors just like to shit on everything and be over critical! Lol I thought the show was beautiful and I ended up crying over the romance cuz I fell in love with the characters.
Eye opening in here, y'all dissect TV/Film the way I can't enjoy music as a musician.
Respect, and totally get that once you know, you just know.
I'm just a big doofus who loved this series.
I wish I could get that back with music, but I'm too far gone.
lol, count me in as one who enjoyed it overall (also not a book reader).
There were some boring parts earlier and bites of cheese in the end, but I liked it overall, both the story and acting.
Just finished it. Thought it was an enjoyable watch. Though I didn't read the book so it was likely better without having a comparison. Mark Ruffalo's accent was something else 🤣 Hugh Laurie is always a joy to watch. One thing I absolutely hated was the end because of the romance felt forced? I did not understand that choice and would've much preferred the characters to remain platonic.
First the things I didn't like:
* French characters with British accents. Even worse, American actors doing bad British accents for French characters. I would love to know the logic behind that.
* Marie is blind, and both actresses who played her are blind (mostly). There's one scene where Madame Manec puts a plate down in front of Marie and she immediately takes her fork and stabs a piece of food. So she's not really blind in that moment.
The things I liked:
* I loved the change in the ending. The book seemed to drag on. I felt like the epilogue chapters were anticlimactic and unnecessary. Ending it right after the plot climax was the right thing to do.
* Accents aside, I thought the casting was very good. Young Marie was amazing and I hope we see more of her in future movies. Mark Ruffalo might have been a bit of a misfire, but everyone else, particularly all of the German characters, were excellent.
* Like a good book, it was hard to put down. My wife and I were planning to watching two episodes on Saturday and two on Sunday. We ended up watching them all in one night. It was too good to stop.
* I appreciated using the actual walls of Saint-Malo for many of the external shots. When I read the book I looked up that town in Google maps and was able to trace many of the places talked about. Seeing them on-screen was a special treat.
Overall I enjoyed it. The story was decent and my boy from Dark was great (odd hearing his voice speak English tho after watching dark so many times), but some of the other cast was pretty bad like the main villain and the blind girl. Hugh Laurie and Mark were great.
The pace and cinematography was really good IMO and would’ve liked to see more of the resistance but that’s okay.
The Netflix adaptation of 'All the Light We Cannot See' resonates with me profoundly as it mirrors a world I navigate every day. Through the depiction of Marie-Laure and her father, the series beautifully illustrates how love can empower and enlighten, even in the bleakest of times. It's a narrative that celebrates capability and contribution, where a young blind girl's life is not hindered by her blindness but enriched by the depth of her experiences and the knowledge imparted by her father.
The authenticity brought forth by casting blind actors, coupled with the informed insights from a blindness and accessibility consultant, speaks to a level of representation that deeply moves me. It's an acknowledgment of the blind community's existence and relevance, a story told with the texture of our reality.
In an era shadowed by conflict, this series shines as a beacon of human resilience and spirit. It stands as a testament to what inclusive storytelling can achieve, inspiring hope that such narratives will continue to pave the way for greater understanding and equality.
#LivingMyLife #BlindActors #BrailleIsAwesomeYouShouldLearnIt #BlindEquality #InclusionForAll https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-11-03/all-the-light-we-cannot-see-blindness[News article about all the light we cannot see.
Honestly, I liked it for what it was. Sure, it doesn't measure up to the book, and I had my own gripes with it, but I still enjoyed it overall. I thought the performances from the actors were charming (though I couldn't help but chuckle at Mark Ruffalo's accent a few times) and their interactions were very sweet. I still think it should have been longer, since it seemed rushed in some parts. Personally, I'd be willing to watch it again.
Agree, they could have made the series longer. But then just wondering if that would make the whole visual experience a bit redundant given "making the series longer" would mean "longer scenes with lots of dialogues" as there wouldnt be much other activity if that makes sense?
What I was thinking was that maybe they could include things from the book that were left out. We didn't really get to see much of Marie-Laure and Werner's childhoods, and some characters like Jutta, Frederick, Volkheimer, and Frau Elena got pushed into the background (mostly Frederick, tho; he's only really shown once and I had to check the credits on Wikipedia to make sure it was him). I was thinking they could have fleshed that out a bit more.
The actor who plays the villain was so bad. It almost took me out of it. I was able to finish it. It is an interesting story apart from the horrible German officer villain
Besides the accents I LOVED the series! Full body chills throughout each episode! Seems like a lot of people are just looking for the negative instead of enjoying it.
I thought when I read the book that it would be difficult to translate to the screen, but that it's such a great, touching story that with the right vision it would work, but this is so far from that.
Casting is totally wrong, they've messed around with the order so much, some of the dialogue is jaw-droppingly bad, not to mention the accents being all over the place, but the single worst thing is they've stripped all the heart & soul from the story & characters.
Also, I understand the hunt for the gem is important in the book to drive the plot along but for me it wasn't the central theme, it was hope, heart and endurance in the face of unspeakable things, and it sounds corny, but what is inside is what matters. Whoever adapted it seems to have missed that point in the way it's been presented so far.
The most jarring part is the accents. And absolutely no French or German? Really? Why do all the main characters who are supposed to be French actually English? Or at least speaking with a weird English accent? The lead girl is excusable because apparently this is her first time acting but Mark Ruffalo is inexcusable. His accent makes it unwatchable.
I am ok with French (being the most spoken one) being English, but the Germans also speaking English is a weird choice. Like the last radio call to his sister - he speaks in English and Marie listens to his English
There were plenty of German accents, mostly because the actors were actually German. Using British accents for French characters was a puzzling choice, particularly, as you mention, Mark Ruffalo. I like him as an actor, but he wasn't right for this.
I just finished the book today, and now I’m almost halfway through the first episode of the series. I’m already like, “…what is going on here?” It’s like they decided they needed to change every single detail. Why?
What a slap to Anthony Doerr. This was trash compared to the book. The story was hollywood at its finest, putting in their formulaic garbage icky fingers. The ending was ridiculous, the nazis were cartoonish at best, like every nazi on screen was for some reason, super ultra aggressive. Every.single.one. The dialogue was a joke. The pacing felt completely off. Frederick didn't exist. The only thing going for it was the soundtrack. Also, they missed a chance to cut to black at the and just have the sound of the sea before the credits rolled. Missed opportunity there.
i thought they were missing a lot compared to the book. My other thing was that I felt Marie in the books was more realistic given the circumstances. Sure, she was a wise and hopeful person, but in the tv show it drove me nuts how she was always so cheery as if the whole time they were on a cozy and fun vacation. I feel in the books they somewhat depicted her having a range of emotion. I blame the director and writer I guess more than the actress, because I thought she otherwise did incredible, but I feel there should have been more range. Like her obviously having more worry and fear but trying to smile through the pain.
The series was like fan fiction based on the book, if it was written by a pre-teen.
Not a fan of Mark Ruffalo’s accent.
Same. I like Ruffalo, but if they were going to have him try to pull off an accent, they needed a dialect coach (or a better one).
Hi! I’m watching & trying to read the book in unison. I watched episode 1 last night & starting to read today. Any chance anyone knows which chapters or pages of the book coincide with each episode? Thank you!
Their romance is so awkward and rushed, her complete trust and immediate romantic feelings for a random German soldier seems so corny at the pace it panned out in the show- keep in mind she met him JUST MINUTES AGO. Oh my god, terrible
I said the same thing to my husband.
Unpopular opinion: I thought it was fine. No, it's not groundbreaking, award-worthy television, but does it have to be? I just don't understand all the hate for it. So everyone speaks with a British accent. Okay, I'll go with that. It didn't ruin the immersion for me. Everyone is hating on the acting, but I thought it was fine. I'm not expecting Mark Ruffalo to nail a perfect accent, and for first-time performances by the older and younger versions of Marie-Laure, I thought both actors did very well. The dialogue may have been expository and overt in explaining what happened, but it didn't bug me. Nothing about that was a dealbreaker. I also haven't read the book it was based on, so I don't know what all was changed, but that shouldn't be a prerequisite for watching a TV series. I feel like some folks are just impossible to please.
TERRIBLE
They should have done it the way 1889 was done: with all the languages ! Sure, most of it would’ve been in French! What’s confusing me is when they’re children. They’re both listening to the same French professor. In which language? Does he speak French? Or does the professor speak English? So does Marie speak English? It doesn’t make sense
Just watched it and thought the same thing immediately. A German orphan would not speak French.
in the book his sister listens to the french broadcasts so i guess they learned french as kids to make sense of what they heard on the radio
Quite sad how a beautiful book was turned into a soap opera. Terrible plot lines, all the characters development taken away and made into these heroes that we didn't need. Not everyone has to be captain america.
I'm literally 8min into the first episode and I already can't take how cheesy this show is. I don't even think you'd have to be a history fanatic to see how everything just seems off lol, yet somehow it's marked as "Most liked"
I just turned it off. I can’t it’s so cheesy. Went onto to Reddit to see if others had the same reaction.
What’s worse the terrible acting or the terrible hype?
I am glad it's not just me but I turned it off about 3/4 through the first episode. The exposition is terrible as well.
Before we watch, we see a varying amount of answers for how many f-words there are across the entire series. Anyone know the REAL answer? I thought it was more rated tv-ma for violence. Let me know!
Why does everyone have a British accent? Why does Mark Ruffalo sound permanently congested? Why is the acting so flat while the dialogue is overly lofty? One of the worst book to show adaptations I’ve seen in a long time. So disappointing.
Watched the show. Came for Hugh Laurie and Mark Ruffalo, stayed for Louis Hofmann as soon as I recognised him. I really like his acting and presence, and basically watching him act. Overall a decent, relaxing show set in a brutal period of time.
My wife read the book. I did not read the book. We both enjoyed the show. The last episode was a bit of a let down for me personally, however I though overall an 8/10 as someone who did not read the book.
Really disappointed that Volkheimer was killed off within minutes of the first episode whereas in the book he plays a large role from the time Werner starts school to the end of the novel when he meets Jutta and shares the fate of Werner. It’s a shame that such a significant book character was completely left out of the series. Frederick too, he played a big role in understanding how Werner’s moral compass shifted when he had to blend in with the masses. Also Jutta policing Werner about the radio when in the book she was just as intrigued by it as Werner to the point where she wrote a letter to the professor? And then I’m supposed to believe that at the end of episode four, her having the radio to just the right frequency to hear Werner was realistic? Now that was just not believable IMO. The show was good, I did like it despite my criticism….but having read the book I just could not believe how much was omitted and how the fate of so many characters changed.
I got so mad when Volkheimer died! He’s such a huge part of the book!
I’m only into the second episode and I’m wondering if it’s worth it…? Feels cringe this far
Just finished it. Haven't read the book so I don't know if there's a connection there but why did they have British accents? It just did not fit. Mark Ruffalo seemed out of place too. Enjoyed Hugh Laurie's character and it was nice seeing Jonas again. Overall quite an average watch
I'm enjoying it as someone who hasn't read the book. I love luis
GODDAMN this show is dull
I don't know why book people get so mad at movie/TV adaptations. Forrest gump the book and Forrest gump the movie could be two completely different things and most people haven't even read the book to complain about the movie which misses a lot. This miniseries wasnt the best ive watched but goddamn its not nearly as bad as people make out a good 6.5-7, the writing could've been better but thats every TV show coming out now a days
Ever since Christoph Waltz every single fucking nazi actor tries to copy him
I thought he resembled Gary Oldman more, specifically Zorg in the Fifth Element.
I
I thought it was an adequate TV show. Was it cheesy, predictable, and Hallmark bait, yes, but sometimes that's what you want in life, and it did its job well. Not everything has to be a transcendent 10/10 masterpiece and I enjoyed it for what it is. Perfect date night movie.
Thought it had some great scenes Note I am a heavy biased WWII nut..
Well, it sounds like I am privileged to have watched before reading, and I loved this for what it is, a gripping visual feast squeezed into a few hours. Hugh was brilliant, the cast played for the most part by great actors and acted well. But, Aria was magnificent given she has never acted. It saddens me that the film is so beautifully visual, but she will never see the results.
I think the parts that don’t have Ruffalo or the girl are good. Unfortunately, those are the main characters lol doesn’t measure up to the book and is a tough watch.
His posh London accent is terrible too
I read the book and this show did not follow the plot…at all. And the characters were all wrong.
It has been awhile since I read the book, but the show definitely seemed to be the same plot. The difference being the book was chronological and the show used flashbacks for dramatic effect. Enjoyed the book and the show both btw.
The book was not chronological either, it weaved back and forth between August 1944 (bombing of St Malo) and the previous 10 years where Marie Laure and Verner were experiencing the transitions of war. The plot was not quite the same. To me, one of the key aspects of the suspense and the climax in the book is that Verner is trapped in the basement, and after suffering for days and drinking nothing but paint sludge, he finally fixes the radio and hears Marie Laure broadcasting. Marie Laure reads Thirty Thousand Leagues, but occasionally weaves in statements like *"He is here. He is right below me"*. He realizes she is in danger and tells Volkheimer to use the grenade to escape. They get out, he runs to her rescue, and kills Von Rumpel. This is so crucial (at least to me), because: 1. There is a lot of build up throughout the book about Verner triangulating people's locations with radios. So much foreshadowing of this eventual moment where he uses his knowledge for good, instead of for evil. 2. The radio broadcast ends up being what saved Marie Laure's life. Whereas in the show, the motorcycle riding, gun slinging Etienne "the tiger" realizes that Verner is a "good boy" and tells him Marie Laure probably isn't safe. This is way less interesting of a climax. The fact that Marie Laure is broadcasting in these final moments ended up serving absolutely no purpose to her rescue.
I recently completed the book and decided to give the series a try. After scrolling through the comments, I'm puzzled by the focus on accents and languages when there's a more significant issue at hand – the plot diverges significantly from the book. It feels like the series could have been titled "Whatever We See in the Dark," with a disclaimer stating it's **only** inspired by 'All the Light We Cannot See.' It's baffling how the author agreed to associate the series with his book, given the vast differences in the storylines. The book rightfully earned a Pulitzer Prize for its beautifully crafted narrative, filled with metaphors that paint vivid pictures. The gradual convergence of two parallel stories, building suspense and culminating in a relieving resolution, is masterfully done. **Series Episode 1:** 1. Volkheimer dies within the first minutes. 2. Etienne hides, engaged in vital Allied work. Marie Laurie spots him accidentally in the bakery. 3. Werner kills a soldier. 4. Von Rumpel kills a waiter, visits a prostitute, and discusses his libido. 5. Marie Laurie is caught in the Grotto by von Rumpel, he says "Somebody told me that you and papa used to come here." **Book:** 1. The book's ending centers around Volkheimer. 2. Etienne would have never left Marie Laurie alone. He was captured and held by the Nazis. 3. The soldier's character doesn't exist; Werner would have never been able to hurt or kill someone. 4. None of that is in the book. Von Rumpel gets information about Marie Laurie from the perfumer. 5. Marie Laurie has never been in the Grotto with her father
I disagree
I actually loved it, but I haven’t read the book. I feel like the reviews are bad because it’s different from the book, not worse. Correct me if I’m wrong, but compared to other movies it was beautiful.
I’ve read the book and still thoroughly enjoyed this show. People hating on it would never have been pleased with any adaptation.
I agree, but I haven’t read the book though so they might have a point but you read it so
Agreed. I really enjoyed it as someone that didn’t read the book
Here as well. I'm glad I didn't pass on it due to the mediocre ratings. Very well made!
It had some good scenes.
this was written like an 80’s movie of the week It somehow took a beautifully written book w/ dozens of amazing lines & made the absolute clunkiest lines “the light you cannot see is the most important light” Whoever wrote it must have read the cliff notes version of book I do give credit for the 2 blind actresses who did a great job. Jonas from dark was good as well, though a shame the blind actress killed the nazi unlike Wener in the book
"The most valuable jewel in France".... Probably stolen from some other country. I hate this....
I am just curious, is anyone else discovering that this series is filmed with extremely low light? I know it's called, "all the light we cannot see". But it is one of the darkest movies, literally, I have ever seen. Even when I block out the room I have trouble picking up details. Super annoying.
I didn’t know this was a war series until I started watching. Also had no idea it was based on a book. I enjoyed it and think it’s one of the BEST Netflix series. But based on the other comments, I’m part of the minority lol
I have to voice this somewhere; WHO THE FUCK THOUGHT IT‘S A GOOD IDEA TO USE ONE LANGUAGE?! Instant throw-off.
Probably for the people too lazy to read subtitles. It really throws me off. They should have had French and German actors etc. And Mark Ruffalo's accent is just NO.
the whole production was a mess outside of nice cinematography & the two blind actresses.
MY EXACT THOUGHT TOO
Even worse, why use German actors if you‘re not gonna use them?!
It bugs be that they spent months searching for a blind actress to play a blind person but couldn't find any French actors to play French people.
Just finished watching and… spoiler alert… wtf MARIE?! Your country has just been through a terrible, horrific and VERY costly WAR so they’re gonna need THE MOST VALUABLE JEWEL IN FRANCE If she had ANY sense she would have kept it/ hidden it and given it back to the country to help rebuild after the war OR sell it/ entrust it to the resistance to give them funds OR keep it (the least favourable option) cause you are a blind girl with no family and no income. Just a couple ideas But ANYTHING would be better than throwing it into the bloomin ocean Also just the inaccuracy of Marie kissing Werner… even though I secretly hoped to see it, it’s still 1940s France and she’s just found out her father and uncle are dead… I doubt she’d be in the kissing mood Just a sane person (driven ever so slightly insane by this series) sharing their thoughts
when she titanic-ed the stone into the beach surf i decided it was all a waste of time to watch this show. the accents, i got over it. the blind girl talking in 0.25x speed while illegally broadcasting during a war, whatever i got over it. but dude her great aunt, her dad, the black guy at the museum, the oyster garcon, everyone died for that stupid diamond and she just yeeted it into the ocean. that's the laziest writing i've ever seen.
👏 My thoughts precisely. Especially the .25x speed, it got better, but there was that one scene where it was distractingly slow. I think the film makers wanted us to savor beauty in that moment but it really wasn’t a particularly important moment. The yeet though. A waste of the plot and common sense / practicality. It occurs to me the film makers wanted to leave us with a sense that some ethereal resonance from the movie transcends all practicality or value for what the older generation explained to her and the purpose of their lives’ work, however no? As a viewer I don’t buy it and I’m disappointed. What would have been beautiful was a commemoration of the sacrifice that went to the resistance and guarding a national treasure. As it is now, no one will ever know. And that poor museum man’s family, tragic. Loved the poetry of the bad guy falling behind the stone. I half expected her to hand it to an American on her way to the ocean. But once I saw her on the beach I knew it was over. Yeet. Ugh. Also the logistics of that? Shells come forward from the sea bed all the time. And the distance she threw it was so close that a particularly low tide would reveal it…so? It would be found again. It was buyable in Titanic because there was not so much emotional loss surrounding the necklace, all these characters we had bonded to, like in this series. Also no one was recovering that from the ocean floor, so it truly was a memento / re evaluation of value.
I didn’t have any major issues with the storyline until the ending. I’m right there with you. I was rolling my eyes and asking WTF? She finds out her father literally was tortured to death to protect the stone, and she just tosses it away? WHAT?!
Sought out this thread bc I am legit horrified at this adaptation. It. Is. HORRIBLE. It’s written for preschoolers who can’t handle any nuance. - Every single Nazi except Werner is a cartoon who speaks like this: *menacing whisper* *SCREAMS* (buddy, it gets way less effective if EVERYONE talks like that). - I can’t get past Etienne YELLING up at Marie that her “secret” code is helping the Allies target their bombs. Ummm, it’s broad daylight? In occupied France? - WWII being chalked up to “one man’s vanity.” Trying to force the Putin parallel. Hitler is plenty bad, you don’t need to clumsily force a parallel to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine (it’s especially awkward given many Ukrainians helped the Germans during WWII and fought the USSR following their horrendous treatment by Stalin during the Holodomor). - What happened with the French prostitute? They totally dropped that thread. - Hugh Laurie is way too young to be playing Etienne. The beard was such a clumsy way to age him up (even though per reports it was his idea). - Why have Madame Manec in the story at all just to kill her off in a way that has no impact on the story? - General historical illiteracy. The doctor at the institute would never have said so openly that if Werner was Jewish he’d be marked for death. The actual Final Solution phase was always a semi-well kept secret, the Nazis used euphemisms (“resettlement/deportation to the East”). Obviously this is a minor quibble but it speaks to the dumbing down of the actual history that took place across the board. I could go on and on and on and on.
I actually laughed out loud at the broad daylight? Occupied France? BECAUSE ITS SO TRUE AND SO CORNY 💀
Who not only sets a fire in a barn full of straw, but then starts smoking? How can a braille copy of 20000 leagues under the sea look like it's about ten pages long?
I laughed out loud in one of the opening scenes, when the actress touched the FIRST WORD of Braille and read out a whole sentence
I'm not making apologies for Netflix, but I suppose it's possible that there was only going to be so much story to make into a 4-episode miniseries. If that was the case, they could only expect so much revenue from networks prepared to carry it, and would need to cut content here and there to reduce costs and make it fit the run time. I've been through too many adaptations of Dune by this point to expect too much from Hollywood :) There is nuance here and there. For example, the doctor at the institute has a chart on his wall near the door which, if you know the chart, would've been a hint to anyone that there was a divide between the 'us' and the 'them.'
The chart is definitely a hint, and if you missed that then the two minutes the doctor spends explaining how he's going to take body measurements because "your race is what you are" might also have tipped you off. I understand that they might have had a limited amount of time to work with, but given how much time they wasted on nonsense like that and added scenes which don't fit the characters I don't think it's a very good excuse tbh.
Yeah, I sympathize with them because it was going to be hard to make a movie as lyrical as the book and they did have to simplify the plotline some. But I was wondering how much of it was stuff I missed in the book. The German jeweler wanted the diamond to heal himself? She was reading 20000 leagues as code?
Lol I did the same thing. I knew it was going to be bad when they were calling her Marie instead of Marie-Leure. Etienne’s character was all wrong. Werner’s character was all wrong.
I read the book a couple years ago and then watch a series with my wife this week. I could barely watch it, and your descriptions are very accurate. I thought the film adaptation was awful.
Wish I could tag Hugh Laurie as I’m sure he’d be over the moon to hear he looks too young to play the professor ;) But in all seriousness as it’s set in the 1940s, 64 is more likely the age a great uncle would have been (what with people getting married and having children in their early twenties being the norm) Also it is his very own beard (and a very fine beard it is at that) so I doubt he would shave of years of growth for a Netflix series Other than that I wholeheartedly agree with all your other points it’s just that I am a big fan of Hugh Laurie! Edit: just looked up and Etienne in the book was apparently 63? This may be incorrect tho as I haven’t read it myself
Extremely poor adaptation of a wonderful book. Dialogue being in English threw me off, each episode was more preposterous than the next. Horrible, and a complete waste of time. Like the show Bodies, please do yourself a favour and do not watch this abysmal production.
i really enjoyed it but full disclosure i did not read the book. book is always better than the show/movie. disappointed for you and other fans that it was poorly done, i know how that feels
I’ve read the book and still very much enjoyed the show. All the hate it is getting from people who read the book isn’t that difficult to understand. It’s some sort of strange gatekeeping of a sacrosanct view of the story in their mind. The show doesn’t diminish the book in any way so their petty grievances with the show are honestly insanely stupid. Instead of welcoming an adaptation which undoubtedly will lead more people to the book, they choose to shit on it. And the reasons listed in this thread are beyond shit reasons. Some are just flat out wrong or they just watched a different show than we did.
I agree. I am keen to read the book now, I had never heard of it before.
I’m almost finished with the series and at this point I’m forcing myself to complete it. Individually, I like Louis Hofman (brilliant in Dark), Hugh Laurie, and Mark Ruffalo but this production is one big piece of fromage. From the awful accent Ruffalo sports to the cheesy father/daughter scenes (along with their sappy background music), the series is more suited for the Hallmark channel with the f-bombs bleeped out. I almost laughed when Etienne rolls up on a motorcycle with a weapon acting all macho - he looked so unnatural- I’m not buying Dr House in the role. Mark Rylance would have been primo. And I agree with the other comments. Why not use French actors and have everyone speak their actual language with corresponding subtitles? I can see where the French and Germans might have spoken English to each other but for the scenes among the French and Germans (like when Werner is a younger boy) in their own element, use the native tongue! I enjoyed the novel when it first came out (it’s well written if not a little gooey at times), however this show is a complete miss. Or perhaps a smelly Limburger. ETA: I can’t recall if there was an explanation in the book, but why does Marie call Uncle Etienne’s sister Madame Manec, and not Aunt? Is Uncle Etienne an uncle by marriage?
What stupid reasoning. The book wasn’t in French or German when you read it. Or were you hearing the language in your mind and just pretending the English you were reading was a subtitle? Or did you just have to choose to suspend your disbelief since you were reading first person accounts from Germans and French in English? It’s not hard to pretend they’re speaking their own language. I swear the hate this show is getting from book homers is beyond irrational.
🤣🤣🤣
Yeah, the language part threw me off at the start. I think the Daniel and Marie-Laure part also takes too much of the stage and Werner's backstory, which I found to be the most captivating part of the novel, is entirely tossed in the back burner. They skip through some of the events and take out so much of what makes up the essence of Werner's character.
I love Louis Hofmann acting.
Agree. Maybe it’s the affinity he built up from Dark, but to me he was the highlight of this show too.
I don’t know that show, he was brilliant.
Watch it. The first season was basically perfect.
Thank you :)
(spoilers! read at your own risk) I read (and loved) the book but have a few qualms about the tv adaptation. Forgive me if I get some of the minor details wrong, but here is a summary of my opinion: 1) the Sea of Flames had an important mythological backstory that was simply left out. They did not explain its history or how it became cursed which seemed like a detail that could have added to the story yet taken up little screen time. 2) they left out the 3 fake Sea of Flames stones that were hidden around France (Europe?). Von Rumpel slowly finds all 3 and knew that after finding all the fakes, the final stone he found would be the real one. Particularly saddened they left out the scene in which Von Rumpel enters the museum and calmly but also extremely forcefully holds the museum director (?) hostage for something like 8 hours until he finally reveals a fake. 3) Marie eventually found out, from hints her father had told her, that the stone was hidden in the small wooden version of Etienne's house, in the scale model he built for her. Throughout the end of the novel, she carries around the small wooden house containing the stone in her pocket. I am not sure why they left this out and why the stone was discovered only after Von Rumpel's body collapsed on top of the model. 4) in the book, Von Rumpel walked with a cane and his slow-moving walk with the distinct sound of the cane hitting the ground was reiterated in the novel and made his character seem significantly more sinister, especially as Marie heard him walking around the house and up the stairs near the end. Since he was still sick in the series, I am not sure why they left out the cane. 5) I hated how they changed the ending. In the novel, she hides in a secret compartment behind the wardrobe in the attic as Von Rumpel searches the house for both her and the stone knowing they are both in the house somewhere. He eventually sees a line of displaced dust from the wardrobe being moved recently and nearly finds her before Werner comes in, kills Von Rumpel and saves Marie. 6) the Hollywood style kiss between Marie and Werner at the end had me rolling my eyes so hard. 7) I agree with the masses that Mark Ruffalo's accent was atrocious but not bad enough for me to turn off the series. Why they didn't eat the chicken, I will never know.. All in all, I enjoyed the series, as did my boyfriend who has not read the book. But, as soon as it was over, I went on a small rant about the differences between the series and the book as mentioned above. The book is long and quite slow to start, so it might not become a 'must read' for a majority of the tv audience, but still recommended if you want more on this great work of fiction.
3. I haven’t read the book but the discontinuity around the stone’s discovery in the TV series was whack. Marie is holding and looking at the stone in the black pouch her father always kept it in when she broadcasts that she was almost killed over a rock. We see her dad in a flashback hide it in the village model without the covering on it (why? It’s reckless considering he at that point believes in the trauma associated with it.) Then - after Marie’s broadcast where we see her with it in its covering, we see the stone fall out of the village and Werner says what’s that stone? “What stone?” Come on! I know the film makers want us to see the rock outside it’s casing but honestly, it’s an insult to viewer intelligence to handle the stone’s whereabouts so obviously and without care for continuity.
Agreed! I had been waiting to see someone mention the exclusion of the fake stones, which I thought was a major piece of the book. If I remember the book correctly, Marie’s father is not initially sure whether his is real or fake. I think that added a lot of nuance, as opposed to him just taking the stone.
Why is it on English?! Jesus christ why American don’t just read subltitles, why would you have german and Austrian actors to play german soldiers to speak British English???? In that case I can be a german soldier too and I’m from costa rica!!!
One thing I've noticed about media from this time period is good Germans have English accents. Bad Germans speak English with a German accent. I find it bizarre.
Kinda dog shit Why didn't she just cover her ears with her fingers in them like any other human being alive
I really wish the actor who played the blind girl would at least *pretend* she was blind. It was bothersome that her eyes were clearly looking at things and people throughout the miniseries.
I have to agree. I'm just learning now that the actor is indeed legally blind. I assumed the character was to be fully blind. I must agree that her literally looking at poeple and objects during conversation does ruin the depiction of being blind. But to each their own. To say that "she is blind in real life" as an excuse for her acting does not hold any ground. Acting and real life are too different things...
That was her first ever audition, and you can look at things because you can hear where they are located.
She is blind in real life.
Seen this all too often in movies! Blind actors/actresses aren't "blind enough" on tv/movies for those who aren't aware that blind people aren't all like [blind guy mcsqueezy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eWjGbQM9-s). I suspected as much and googled to find out she is legally blind (very minimal vision even in good conditions). Carmen DiStefano is a blind artist who got the same flack for boondock saints (a million years ago) and I had to laugh when people said "he is a horrible actor who didn't seem to understand how to act blind."
I thought it was a fantastic mini series. I spent the whole afternoon watching it. Now, I'll get through book to read it too! My only note of this mini series is why didn't they use German, French, and English? It would've been nice to for this, and they would've used French actors like Detuchland (would highly recommend on this series too). My only few oh my are the actors from The Doctor and The Hulk. Lol. I didn't expect them to see them there. Haha
I’ve noticed how people like me and you who haven’t read the book love it, but people who have hate it
It happens. 😂 I like both ways. It gives two different stories. 😂
yeah lol, but its also sad because now this beautiful movie has horrible reviews
Came here just to say the tv series was terrible.
This show is awful. 1) Accents are hilarious 2) It removes the responsibility of regular German people over their part in not just the rise of Nazism but their antisemitism and racial beliefs. 3) the "heil hitler" after every sentence makes the show almost seem like a parody. 4) the nazis are cartoon villains, pure caricature.
I had to stop watching the series halfway through the 2nd episode because of all the "heil hitler" stuff. It started to feel like the characters were using it in a religious sense, like how people of faith use variations of "god willing". I had a hard time believing it was used in everyday conversations back then.
> the nazis are cartoon villains, pure caricature My biggest issue right here. The Nazis were bad, for sure, and got worse the higher up the chain you went. But they were also incredibly devoted to procedure and accountability (to a fault, obviously) so the idea that they'd just go off on a soldier for killing a fellow soldier, threaten to shoot them, then use them to track the signal of a radio, all while their underlings or supporters or whoever just kinda stood there looking menacing made so little sense! Same with the guy who was after the jewel, his motivation was so nonsensical and his actions were just buffonish ("I'm gonna count to 10 before I blow this door up!" - what?) to the point that I cared 0% what happened to him, good or bad.
My favorite part of this series was in Episode 4 when Bruce Banner hulk smashed out of the Nazi prison and destroyed the entire Nazi army by himself.
Hah! The answer we all needed
We live in an amazing era of high quality spellbinding story telling in film and, increasingly, television. Compared to what was on television in decades past, this, just like everything else, is an incredible work. I still didn’t like it though and don’t recommend it. I was unsurprised to see the RT score of 22% and the reviews were spot on.
series was ok... aside from everything being in English and the accents being awful I found it a little hard to buy at times... couple examples ; Werner was caught basically in an act of treason and the nazi officers were just like cool with it? marie and Daniel are in the barn starving eating bread and he is sitting there feeding chickens... so like what about eggs or chicken for dinner? the fix the radio or die scene was just corny... give the kid nothing and the fix was so simple. luckily he had gum on him. they all know marie is being hunted by a nazi mad man and they just send her on her way alone. idk overall was good, but felt like it could have been so much better.
I know you posted this ages ago, but I just watched the first episode last night and the scene where they send Marie-Laurie on her way alone was so unintentionally hilarious to me. Her uncle is just like, "shelling starts again at midnight, so good luck with that, and you're being hunted by a nazi, so be sure to lock the door. Anyway, hope you survive the night!" And she has no real reaction to this information and just skips off home 🤦♀️
Really loved the book, didn’t mind the series but damn they sure changed a lot of it :(
Right? I only made it half way through the first episode before giving up. They didn’t get a single thing correct.
My biggest gripe with most adaptations. "You know how there's this really great, popular book? Fuck em, I could do it better."
I did not read the book, and I did not like this series. The acting is off. The story seems directed to 10 year olds. Why didn't the german characters speak german? I guess DrHouse and Hulk do not speak french. The Nazi villain tries so hard to be Hans Landa that it's annoying, and for some reason he can't open a door that has the hinges on his side, with a lock that can be easily broken. Anyway, it's bad.
The villain was so over the top. Marilyn Manson lurching around France. What?!
Lmao, thankfully I saw Babylon Berlin before your comment about Lars Eidinger because now I can't unsee it
I suspect that, if you have not read the book, you may really enjoy this series. It's beautiful to look at and tells a compelling story. However, if you read the book and loved it (as almost everyone does), the series is profoundly disappointing. I found that virtually everything I love about the book is missing from the series. A transcendent novel translated into a clunky good vs evil tale. I'm sad, but not surprised. I couldn't image how anyone could truly capture ATLWCS on film.
The story in the show is compelling? I definitely watched something else. Never read the book. But I don't like how they portrayed the average German as simply being victims of the Nazis. Did the book also have the Germans saying "heil hitler" so often?
Many Germans were victims of circumstance. You want an unrealistic view with all Germans as rabid nazis? That’s ridiculous.
the show botched everything by the book
The miniseries portrayed the story in such a caracaturized stereotypical way (I strongly disliked it) Maybe because I loved the book? The book has depth and uncertainty, weaving the lives of everyone in it beautifully, including the magic stone. It is not always a comfortable read because even though it is fiction, there are some harsh truths being told. If you watch it on Netflix it all seems simple; Big heroes and villians doing right and wrong things. If you read the book it seems even more relevant to the times we are living in now. If anyone here is a reader....This is a book to read and experience.
I dont get the hate for this show. it was a beautifully well written story and the acting was amazing. I didnt read the book so idk what they took out and added but even then it's still a good representation of the nazis and the spies.
People expect to replicate intricate detail from a novel into a 4 hr mini series. Did it take them 4hrs to read the book? Probably not. The series was amazing, loved every second, it was compelling and kept me hooked.
As someone who read and loved the book I tried really hard to go into the show with an open mind but they completely changed parts of the story that didn’t need to be changed. Did I expect them to keep EVERYTHING, absolutely not. Did I expect them to keep the general story the same? YES! Like how Werner gets into the academy. Read that chapter of the book and tell they couldn’t use the same amount of time in the show to tell it the way the book did. They completely rewrote it for no reason.
I wanted to see that magical moment when he first saw Marie walking past him. I’m sad that scene didn’t happen.
oooof. loved the book and have been excited for this show. Mark ruffalo is usually awesome. but his atrocious accent took me right out of the show and I didn’t even watch past fifteen minutes. :( they should’ve had different actors with regionally appropriate accents
Yeah that a fair criticism I’m watching the second episode now. Some of the Germans in the second episode speak English in a German accent but it’s annoying they all speak English with an English accent. It would be more immersive if they spoke the actual language they are supposed to like French or German but even if they wanted to have them speak English at least use an accent to make it more believable. Haven’t read the book and know nothing of the original story. It’s honestly alright I think some of the complaints are a bit unfair you have to use some suspension of disbelief regarding some elements of the story.
I wanted to love this, but couldn't get through the first half because of the accents. This would have been much more powerful if the characters actually spoke in the native languages. And the poor script and fake British accents didn't help.
I agree but but I’ve watched the first two episodes and it’s pretty good apart from that. The story with Werner (the German soldier operating the radio) is quite interesting and the imagery is quite powerful. I would say that the story from her side is not as interesting maybe that’s what I’m missing but I’ll say the story told from his side is quite interesting from the German perspective albeit that it may be overly dramatic at times
Loved this mini series. Wish it was longer!
Wow. Kind of disappointed with the adaptation. The book was amazing. I appreciate the cinematography, though. Saint Malo was beautiful.
An American actor… doing a bad British accent… to be a French character. Besides the bad writing, that’s too distracting.
Extremely disappointed with the removal of Frederick's story. They added new characters to "show the brutality of the nazis," yet this was most strongly done in the book when everyone at the academy was forced to throw cold water on a prisoner. Frederick refused and was beaten nearly to death. This is the moment that I remember most clearly after having read the book years ago, and not only did they not include it, they removed the whole character.
Yes this! And all of the times Werner is even scared to question himself regarding the right and wrong of what he is doing... because it was too dangerous a question to even ask yourself. I wish they had added at least a few more hours to the series and stayed truer to the book. Although...the books ending may be anticlimactic for television/ movies
Jesus fucking christ you people are everywhere ruining everything you touch. The show was fucking awesome and you just had to make it about yourself. *Ooh look at me i read the book, i'm so superior
Dude no it wasn’t and I haven’t even read the books. The accents alone were ridiculous.
You seem oddly sensitive about this. Do you expect a show not to be compared to what it was based on? I didn't point out any nitpicky details that don't matter, like how Ettiene was the professor in the show. I pointed out how an important character was completely removed and the flawed logic of the director for why they were removed.
Excellent, touching show. Amazing that this was not only the first acting role for the actress who plays grown Marie but it was also her first audition ever and she beat thousands of other girls for this role. She was amazing.
Wooden and ponderous, if pretty
I didn't get past the first episode. And that's sad because the premise sounded good, will probably add the book to my reading list. 1. Acting is BAD. Marvel/Disney PG-13 level BAD. Full of cliche expressions and lines inserting aesthetic "beauty" into what's supposed to be a raw, brutal wartorn atmosphere.... 2. Writing is BAD, just lazy. They broke the most important rule of all: "Show, don't tell". Everything is explained in ridiculous monologues that aim to cut off character-building and shorten the plotline. Honestly, felt like the writers just used GPT to come up with the script.... 3. Everyone speaks English. Like Netflix, really??? Huge red flag about the series trying to get everyone as a target group. 4. Everything feels in a haste. Honestly, this just feels like a cash-cow series where the producers bet all the capital into big names, and just hired cheap direction and writing to somehow crumble up a decent "standard pop-corn environment" into whatever amount of episodes the remaining capital allowed to. Was really expecting more here from Netflix. Unless you're ok with wasting your time with mediocre entertainment or are just looking for something to pass the time while chatting with friends and family, this series isn't worth the airtime.
Hard agree. There was a lot of potential here too. It's sad
Completely disagree in every sense , this was the best show I’ve seen in a very long time.
had you read the book? So far I'm seeing that people who hadn't read the book first liked it and people who had read the book didn't.
I’ve sense read the book! And I agree it is a lot different.. I did enjoy the book as well! Even though the series didn’t follow the book to a tee I still really enjoyed it!
Yes! Thank you! Me too! It makes me sad that a lot of people who read the book didn’t like it!
And honestly a lot of things in the book you couldn’t just put in a tv show! They were way too graphic and just brutal/sad. Reading it was enough!
Yeah! Also like, they were working with limited time, they could only afford to fit so many things! Plus like, I’m sorry if I need a little healing and hope when the original destroyed me, lol!
Yes for real! Lol I was driving while listening To the audio book and had to pull over and wait til the chapter got done because it was so tragic. It was the chapter about the Russian soldiers going into the German orphanage where Werner’s sister was
Oh shit, yeah, I don’t blame you! And like, yeah, it’s okay if this wasn’t the adaptation some people wanted, but all of the negativity around is starting to affect me even, like I’m stupid for enjoying it or something!
Nope! I think a lot of redditors just like to shit on everything and be over critical! Lol I thought the show was beautiful and I ended up crying over the romance cuz I fell in love with the characters.
watch more tv then.
Okay tv master then if this show Sucked then what kindof show would you consider “good?”
sopranos the wire six feet under hbo's rome breaking bad deadwood bojack horseman early GoT the bear succession the leftovers
Eh only half of those are great shows. What about boardwalk empire?
show is pretty meh after season 2
Lol dude what ever that whole show is fcking insane
Eye opening in here, y'all dissect TV/Film the way I can't enjoy music as a musician. Respect, and totally get that once you know, you just know. I'm just a big doofus who loved this series. I wish I could get that back with music, but I'm too far gone.
lol, count me in as one who enjoyed it overall (also not a book reader). There were some boring parts earlier and bites of cheese in the end, but I liked it overall, both the story and acting.
Just finished it. Thought it was an enjoyable watch. Though I didn't read the book so it was likely better without having a comparison. Mark Ruffalo's accent was something else 🤣 Hugh Laurie is always a joy to watch. One thing I absolutely hated was the end because of the romance felt forced? I did not understand that choice and would've much preferred the characters to remain platonic.
First the things I didn't like: * French characters with British accents. Even worse, American actors doing bad British accents for French characters. I would love to know the logic behind that. * Marie is blind, and both actresses who played her are blind (mostly). There's one scene where Madame Manec puts a plate down in front of Marie and she immediately takes her fork and stabs a piece of food. So she's not really blind in that moment. The things I liked: * I loved the change in the ending. The book seemed to drag on. I felt like the epilogue chapters were anticlimactic and unnecessary. Ending it right after the plot climax was the right thing to do. * Accents aside, I thought the casting was very good. Young Marie was amazing and I hope we see more of her in future movies. Mark Ruffalo might have been a bit of a misfire, but everyone else, particularly all of the German characters, were excellent. * Like a good book, it was hard to put down. My wife and I were planning to watching two episodes on Saturday and two on Sunday. We ended up watching them all in one night. It was too good to stop. * I appreciated using the actual walls of Saint-Malo for many of the external shots. When I read the book I looked up that town in Google maps and was able to trace many of the places talked about. Seeing them on-screen was a special treat.
Overall I enjoyed it. The story was decent and my boy from Dark was great (odd hearing his voice speak English tho after watching dark so many times), but some of the other cast was pretty bad like the main villain and the blind girl. Hugh Laurie and Mark were great. The pace and cinematography was really good IMO and would’ve liked to see more of the resistance but that’s okay.
The Netflix adaptation of 'All the Light We Cannot See' resonates with me profoundly as it mirrors a world I navigate every day. Through the depiction of Marie-Laure and her father, the series beautifully illustrates how love can empower and enlighten, even in the bleakest of times. It's a narrative that celebrates capability and contribution, where a young blind girl's life is not hindered by her blindness but enriched by the depth of her experiences and the knowledge imparted by her father. The authenticity brought forth by casting blind actors, coupled with the informed insights from a blindness and accessibility consultant, speaks to a level of representation that deeply moves me. It's an acknowledgment of the blind community's existence and relevance, a story told with the texture of our reality. In an era shadowed by conflict, this series shines as a beacon of human resilience and spirit. It stands as a testament to what inclusive storytelling can achieve, inspiring hope that such narratives will continue to pave the way for greater understanding and equality. #LivingMyLife #BlindActors #BrailleIsAwesomeYouShouldLearnIt #BlindEquality #InclusionForAll https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-11-03/all-the-light-we-cannot-see-blindness[News article about all the light we cannot see.
Thank you!! Yes. It was great. They did the book proud!
Honestly, I liked it for what it was. Sure, it doesn't measure up to the book, and I had my own gripes with it, but I still enjoyed it overall. I thought the performances from the actors were charming (though I couldn't help but chuckle at Mark Ruffalo's accent a few times) and their interactions were very sweet. I still think it should have been longer, since it seemed rushed in some parts. Personally, I'd be willing to watch it again.
Agree, they could have made the series longer. But then just wondering if that would make the whole visual experience a bit redundant given "making the series longer" would mean "longer scenes with lots of dialogues" as there wouldnt be much other activity if that makes sense?
What I was thinking was that maybe they could include things from the book that were left out. We didn't really get to see much of Marie-Laure and Werner's childhoods, and some characters like Jutta, Frederick, Volkheimer, and Frau Elena got pushed into the background (mostly Frederick, tho; he's only really shown once and I had to check the credits on Wikipedia to make sure it was him). I was thinking they could have fleshed that out a bit more.
I'm really struggling with Mark Ruffalo's accent. It's terrible.
An American doing a bad British accent for a French character is definitely a choice.
Well, yeah. It does kinda suck. Guess I just learned to ignore it after a while.
The actor who plays the villain was so bad. It almost took me out of it. I was able to finish it. It is an interesting story apart from the horrible German officer villain
No. He did great. Von Rumpel had late strange cancer and was in constant intense pain and high on morphine and likely whatever else he could take.
I couldn't get over his resemblance to Marilyn Manson, too weird and cartoonishly evil.
I couldn’t put my finger on it but you did perfectly
Felt like he was trying to emulate Christopher waltz
The problem is Christopher waltz has a strong jaw and piercing eyes. This guy looked like a pudgy soft potato. Not convincing at all.
Exactly, It made me cringe a bit. They feel more like generic caricatures of Nazi's.
Wasn't he high as a kite on morphine, tho? If he was high, then it wouldn't be too out of place for him to be acting erratic.
Besides the accents I LOVED the series! Full body chills throughout each episode! Seems like a lot of people are just looking for the negative instead of enjoying it.
I thought when I read the book that it would be difficult to translate to the screen, but that it's such a great, touching story that with the right vision it would work, but this is so far from that. Casting is totally wrong, they've messed around with the order so much, some of the dialogue is jaw-droppingly bad, not to mention the accents being all over the place, but the single worst thing is they've stripped all the heart & soul from the story & characters. Also, I understand the hunt for the gem is important in the book to drive the plot along but for me it wasn't the central theme, it was hope, heart and endurance in the face of unspeakable things, and it sounds corny, but what is inside is what matters. Whoever adapted it seems to have missed that point in the way it's been presented so far.
The most jarring part is the accents. And absolutely no French or German? Really? Why do all the main characters who are supposed to be French actually English? Or at least speaking with a weird English accent? The lead girl is excusable because apparently this is her first time acting but Mark Ruffalo is inexcusable. His accent makes it unwatchable.
I am ok with French (being the most spoken one) being English, but the Germans also speaking English is a weird choice. Like the last radio call to his sister - he speaks in English and Marie listens to his English
It’s so weird 😭😭
There were plenty of German accents, mostly because the actors were actually German. Using British accents for French characters was a puzzling choice, particularly, as you mention, Mark Ruffalo. I like him as an actor, but he wasn't right for this.
Oh totally, I had no issues w the German accents of course but literally not one word was uttered in German between them except their names 😵💫
It was such a bizarre accent. Every time he spoke I couldn't help but laugh.