The actors did an amazing job portraying the characters of the book. However, as a fan of the series since the first instalments release, I was disappointed to see that the plot of the film loosely followed the plot of the book.
In the book, the Village of Gavaldon is surrounded by the endless woods they are confined to their village with no opportunity to leave. I was thrown off by the "discovery" of the school for good and evil; in the book the school master has taken readers from Gavaldon every 4 years for the last 2 centuries, children of varying age and gender are taken. This is a well known legend in Gavaldon. Not something Sophie and Agatha discover by a embossing in a copy of Cinderella. Sophie's life long dream is to be taken by the Headmaster to the school for good. It's the whole reason she fights to hard to be switched with Agatha once she is there.
The whole concept of the headmaster being a mystery was thrown out, and instead replaced with Rafal disguising himself as Rhian for 2 centuries. The headmaster being a mystery further fuels the fight between the two schools as the Nevers believe it's Rhian who won the fight between the brothers due to the Evers always triumphing in the fairytales. He is also shown guiding Sophie to divulge in evil and blood magic, yet in the book Sophie's evil grows as she begins having her nemesis dreams. Nemesis dreams also begin her transformation into a witch. Rafal is also portrayed as a young boy, however in the books he is a full grown man. Which makes more sense when you know his history of relationship with Evelyn Sader and Callis.
There were important characters missing such as Professor Sader who played a crucial role in the book that was never explored in the film he was an confident for Agatha, a comfort in a strange world. He also has a pretty important role to play being a Seer an ability that allowed him to give Rafal the "Reader Prophecy" which began Rafals abductions of the children of Gavaldon. His story line extends into the the next book "A World Without Princes" with his half-sister being Evelyn Sader, who appears in the second instalment of the series attempting to revive her lover Rafal. They have changed the origin story of Lady Lesso, Originally she is from Netherwood (as is Agatha's mother). She is not Leonora of Gavaldon (woods beyond); though it seems a very small detail to be criticising, the change also ties in with the change to the legend of the school for good and evil.
They also didn't include the Beast of the Doom Room and instead replaced this role with Lady Lesso. The beast is the Torturer at the School for Evil. He tortures Sophie by cutting off her hair and Sophie gets her revenge by drowning the beast. This is the start to Sophie evolving as it is one of her first signs of being evil.
There were other parts of the book that were left out of the film such as Sophie's "Good deeds" which her attempt to be accepted into the School for Good after having a reality check, and coming to the conclusion that good deeds with selfish intentions will be rewarded. Her introduction as jealous and vain is important to her role. She resents her father and hates her stepmother and is envious of her half brothers and the attention her father gives them. She hates the village she lives in a doesn't like anyone but Agatha. These are very important qualities to understanding her character. This allows the readers of the book to get a glimpse into Sophie's lack of understanding of being good. It allows readers to see that Sophie is willing to do anything to get what she wants, what she feels she deserves.
The plotting and scheming to leave the school was completely put aside leaving the film with little context. This again was a crucial element in the books as it shows the relationships between the characters being built. It depicts the strong bond of the Coven (Hester, Anadil and Dot), as well as the blind loyalty of Hort towards Sophie. It also shows the relationships they build with Agatha.
The way the film portrayed the romance between Agatha and Tedros was also disappointing. From the moment he met her in the film he had an affection for her which completely contradicts the books. Their relationship takes an entire book to bloom. They spend the majority of the book despising each other and fighting for Sophie's attention. It shows their love hate relationship and defies the Ever idea of "love at first sight". Their differences and their ability to overcome them are what build their strong relationship during the course of the series. Tedros likes the fact that Agatha doesn't fawn over him but challenges his ideals even when he doesn't want to be told he's wrong.
Though I enjoyed the casting and think that all of the actors did a tremendous job. I feel as though the producers could have focussed a bit more on the appearance of the characters and their development; they should have tried to keep them as close to the book as possible. In the books, Underneath Agatha's black sack of a dress, her jet black greasy hair, her poor manners and lack of etiquette she is a beautiful princess. I feel that those attributes to the character should have been portrayed to show her character development. She is meant to find beauty in herself, to acknowledge the good in herself, let go of self doubt and overcome a lifetime of being treated as an outcast. She spends the majority of the series in a fight with herself over being normal or being a princess. They also depict the the crossing of the bridge as a simple walk, but in the book there is an invisible barrier that only the teachers are able to freely pass through. When a gather attempts to cross to get to Sophie at the school for evil, she is met with a negative reflection of herself who voices her own self doubt and her insecurities. She is only able to pass through the barrier as she is convinced she does not belong in the school for good.
Tedros and the way his character has been portrayed was mostly well done. However, he is far more conflicted than any of the other characters knew. This should have been portrayed in the film as despite his character development taking place over the course of the series, getting a deeper insight to him was very important in the first book. He's stubborn, he rude, he's a show off, a bit self centred but he also wants to be loved not for his status or his looks, he wants to be with someone who isn't vain or self absorbed, he wants to be with someone who empathises with him who is loyal to him and someone who won't abandon him, someone who won't hurt him like his mother did to him and his father. His relationship to the girls should have been displayed much better.
There were very important events missing/altered in the film such as Yubas class in the Blue forrest (which is meant to be blue), the Trial by Tale, the Circus of talents and the "No-Ball". In Yuba's class he turns the students into illusions of creatures for other students to tell them apart, good from evil. This I feel is another element to the story that shouldn't have been left out as Yuba being unable to tell Sophie and Agatha apart because of their behaviour as hobgoblins, further proves a Agatha's view of no one being solely good or evil. Tedros being unable to tell which of the hobgoblins is Sophie ( he believes Sophie to be in the wrong school) is also important as no matter how hard he tries to avoid Agatha he's drawn to her.
Secondly, the Trial by Tale is thrown around lightly in the film as if it's not a big deal but that's not the case. In the book the Trial by Tale is for the highest ranking Evers and Nevers to compete against one another and see who can last until morning. It's about fuelling the fire between the students, as well as showing the deception of Tedros. After realising that true loves kiss may be the only way to get them him the girls begin their pursuit of Tedros and winning his affection for Sophie.
Thirdly, the Circus of Talents, this meant to be a show of the power and strength that each student possesses. It's also a turning point in Sophie and Agatha's relationship. Agatha finally accepts that she is in the right school after all and wants to prove it; she uses her power to free a fairy (ex student) while sophie who has turned into her full which self, uses hers to kill the wolves and fairies (all of them being ex students). Tedros proposes to Agatha at this event which angers Sophie and pushes her to declare war on Good.
Lastly, the "No-Ball" and the "Snow Ball". Though both were depicted well and shown exactly how readers would imagine the events that occurred where not exactly true to the book. Sophie convinces Tedros at this point that Agatha has been working with her the entire time (despite Sophie deviating from their plan and embracing evil). He is so convinced that he fires an arrow at Agatha, this is what makes the switch between the Evers and Nevers.
The book is full of adventure, mischief and action. It's about the battle between good and evil not just in the fairytales but in the characters themselves; it's such a shame that Netflix has strayed so far from the original story and potentially affected the plot of the rest of the series due to unnecessary changes. I understand the need for theatrics and the limitations of time in a film however, they should have either made it a Netflix series or they should have focussed less on the action scenes and the grandeur of the ball gowns and more on the portrayal of the characters that Soman Chainani wrote, the characters that fans like myself have related to and fallen in love with over the last 9 years.
In the book, the Village of Gavaldon is surrounded by the endless woods they are confined to their village with no opportunity to leave. I was thrown off by the "discovery" of the school for good and evil; in the book the school master has taken readers from Gavaldon every 4 years for the last 2 centuries, children of varying age and gender are taken. This is a well known legend in Gavaldon. Not something Sophie and Agatha discover by a embossing in a copy of Cinderella. Sophie's life long dream is to be taken by the Headmaster to the school for good. It's the whole reason she fights to hard to be switched with Agatha once she is there.
The whole concept of the headmaster being a mystery was thrown out, and instead replaced with Rafal disguising himself as Rhian for 2 centuries. The headmaster being a mystery further fuels the fight between the two schools as the Nevers believe it's Rhian who won the fight between the brothers due to the Evers always triumphing in the fairytales. He is also shown guiding Sophie to divulge in evil and blood magic, yet in the book Sophie's evil grows as she begins having her nemesis dreams. Nemesis dreams also begin her transformation into a witch. Rafal is also portrayed as a young boy, however in the books he is a full grown man. Which makes more sense when you know his history of relationship with Evelyn Sader and Callis.
There were important characters missing such as Professor Sader who played a crucial role in the book that was never explored in the film he was an confident for Agatha, a comfort in a strange world. He also has a pretty important role to play being a Seer an ability that allowed him to give Rafal the "Reader Prophecy" which began Rafals abductions of the children of Gavaldon. His story line extends into the the next book "A World Without Princes" with his half-sister being Evelyn Sader, who appears in the second instalment of the series attempting to revive her lover Rafal. They have changed the origin story of Lady Lesso, Originally she is from Netherwood (as is Agatha's mother). She is not Leonora of Gavaldon (woods beyond); though it seems a very small detail to be criticising, the change also ties in with the change to the legend of the school for good and evil.
They also didn't include the Beast of the Doom Room and instead replaced this role with Lady Lesso. The beast is the Torturer at the School for Evil. He tortures Sophie by cutting off her hair and Sophie gets her revenge by drowning the beast. This is the start to Sophie evolving as it is one of her first signs of being evil.
There were other parts of the book that were left out of the film such as Sophie's "Good deeds" which her attempt to be accepted into the School for Good after having a reality check, and coming to the conclusion that good deeds with selfish intentions will be rewarded. Her introduction as jealous and vain is important to her role. She resents her father and hates her stepmother and is envious of her half brothers and the attention her father gives them. She hates the village she lives in a doesn't like anyone but Agatha. These are very important qualities to understanding her character. This allows the readers of the book to get a glimpse into Sophie's lack of understanding of being good. It allows readers to see that Sophie is willing to do anything to get what she wants, what she feels she deserves.
The plotting and scheming to leave the school was completely put aside leaving the film with little context. This again was a crucial element in the books as it shows the relationships between the characters being built. It depicts the strong bond of the Coven (Hester, Anadil and Dot), as well as the blind loyalty of Hort towards Sophie. It also shows the relationships they build with Agatha.
The way the film portrayed the romance between Agatha and Tedros was also disappointing. From the moment he met her in the film he had an affection for her which completely contradicts the books. Their relationship takes an entire book to bloom. They spend the majority of the book despising each other and fighting for Sophie's attention. It shows their love hate relationship and defies the Ever idea of "love at first sight". Their differences and their ability to overcome them are what build their strong relationship during the course of the series. Tedros likes the fact that Agatha doesn't fawn over him but challenges his ideals even when he doesn't want to be told he's wrong.
Though I enjoyed the casting and think that all of the actors did a tremendous job. I feel as though the producers could have focussed a bit more on the appearance of the characters and their development; they should have tried to keep them as close to the book as possible. In the books, Underneath Agatha's black sack of a dress, her jet black greasy hair, her poor manners and lack of etiquette she is a beautiful princess. I feel that those attributes to the character should have been portrayed to show her character development. She is meant to find beauty in herself, to acknowledge the good in herself, let go of self doubt and overcome a lifetime of being treated as an outcast. She spends the majority of the series in a fight with herself over being normal or being a princess. They also depict the the crossing of the bridge as a simple walk, but in the book there is an invisible barrier that only the teachers are able to freely pass through. When a gather attempts to cross to get to Sophie at the school for evil, she is met with a negative reflection of herself who voices her own self doubt and her insecurities. She is only able to pass through the barrier as she is convinced she does not belong in the school for good.
Tedros and the way his character has been portrayed was mostly well done. However, he is far more conflicted than any of the other characters knew. This should have been portrayed in the film as despite his character development taking place over the course of the series, getting a deeper insight to him was very important in the first book. He's stubborn, he rude, he's a show off, a bit self centred but he also wants to be loved not for his status or his looks, he wants to be with someone who isn't vain or self absorbed, he wants to be with someone who empathises with him who is loyal to him and someone who won't abandon him, someone who won't hurt him like his mother did to him and his father. His relationship to the girls should have been displayed much better.
There were very important events missing/altered in the film such as Yubas class in the Blue forrest (which is meant to be blue), the Trial by Tale, the Circus of talents and the "No-Ball". In Yuba's class he turns the students into illusions of creatures for other students to tell them apart, good from evil. This I feel is another element to the story that shouldn't have been left out as Yuba being unable to tell Sophie and Agatha apart because of their behaviour as hobgoblins, further proves a Agatha's view of no one being solely good or evil. Tedros being unable to tell which of the hobgoblins is Sophie ( he believes Sophie to be in the wrong school) is also important as no matter how hard he tries to avoid Agatha he's drawn to her.
Secondly, the Trial by Tale is thrown around lightly in the film as if it's not a big deal but that's not the case. In the book the Trial by Tale is for the highest ranking Evers and Nevers to compete against one another and see who can last until morning. It's about fuelling the fire between the students, as well as showing the deception of Tedros. After realising that true loves kiss may be the only way to get them him the girls begin their pursuit of Tedros and winning his affection for Sophie.
Thirdly, the Circus of Talents, this meant to be a show of the power and strength that each student possesses. It's also a turning point in Sophie and Agatha's relationship. Agatha finally accepts that she is in the right school after all and wants to prove it; she uses her power to free a fairy (ex student) while sophie who has turned into her full which self, uses hers to kill the wolves and fairies (all of them being ex students). Tedros proposes to Agatha at this event which angers Sophie and pushes her to declare war on Good.
Lastly, the "No-Ball" and the "Snow Ball". Though both were depicted well and shown exactly how readers would imagine the events that occurred where not exactly true to the book. Sophie convinces Tedros at this point that Agatha has been working with her the entire time (despite Sophie deviating from their plan and embracing evil). He is so convinced that he fires an arrow at Agatha, this is what makes the switch between the Evers and Nevers.
The book is full of adventure, mischief and action. It's about the battle between good and evil not just in the fairytales but in the characters themselves; it's such a shame that Netflix has strayed so far from the original story and potentially affected the plot of the rest of the series due to unnecessary changes. I understand the need for theatrics and the limitations of time in a film however, they should have either made it a Netflix series or they should have focussed less on the action scenes and the grandeur of the ball gowns and more on the portrayal of the characters that Soman Chainani wrote, the characters that fans like myself have related to and fallen in love with over the last 9 years.