Latest news with #WheelofTime
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
There is too much trauma on TV and it is killing all the joy
A few weeks ago, a friend suggested that I watch Dope Thief on Apple TV+. Like everyone else, I too enjoy a good movie or TV series that can be classified as a thriller. It is usually good entertainment in the evening, and more so when, after a day in the office, you are not in the mood to ponder over love and life in a Woody Allen movie. So, last week I fired up Dope Thief. The first episode went well enough. The second one wilted a little. The third was down in the dumps. And by the fourth one, I found the Dope Thief crashing and shattering into thousands of little pieces all over my TV this was a well-received show among critics. Usually, I tend to vibe well with stuff that has lots of red on Rotten Tomatoes. But of late, I am also finding many of these highly-rated shows unwatchable. Dope Thief is one. Wheel of Time season 3 is another recent one. I loved Bad Sisters season 1 but couldn't watch season 2 beyond three episodes. Zero Day, despite Robert De Niro, was terrible. Adolescence, a darling of critics and a topic of conversation on a dinner table, was barely tolerable for me. Even superhero and gaming stuff — The Penguin, The Daredevil Returns, and The Last of Us — was missing a verve and felt sluggish in the thrills it Penguin Lessons and The Friend, two movies with a big tender heart in their centre, too turned out to be somewhat less wholesome for me. There are many examples. This made me ponder: either there is something wrong with how I am approaching these movies and TV shows, or there is something subtly broken with the entertainment we are getting nowadays on our I don't have an answer yet as to which is which and what is what. But I have a hunch. I am finding this stuff on TV unbearable because there is too much trauma in it. By that, I don't mean to say that watching them is traumatic — although something like The Eternaut can give most people a chill. I mean, there is too much trauma in the plot, and often this trauma comes to the screen in flashbacks that not only break the narrative flow but also try to explain the world and everything else in a therapy-speak that is heavy-handed. Actually, it is as if they are shoving the narrative down our Thief, for example, does it with these quick and very short — less than a minute — trauma bursts that take over the vision and thoughts of Ray Driscoll, its lead character. It is the same in almost everything that is coming to screens nowadays. The plot is driven by some trauma or other, the characters act or don't act in rational or irrational manner because — you guessed it — this trauma or that. What happened 15 years ago to a character is the thread that runs through their life-story now. What happened to them yesterday takes over the thoughts of the lead characters today. They move through the plot dazed and compelled, without any human agency that can make them accountable for their own is explained. And trauma is used to explain it all. Increasingly, watching a TV series or a movie is akin to tuning into a psychoanalysis lecture. It is like watching Sigmund Freud unravel each character in all their ugliness. It gives no joy. If the character gulped a glass full of whisky, it is probably because they are nursing a trauma from yesterday. If they are mean to their neighbour's cat, they are mean because of some childhood trauma, and this trauma is laid bare by the show for its movies and TV series nowadays, in one way or another, have plots driven by the past. It is as if the world has stopped living in the present collectively. That is infuriating because it means we are always watching things 'explained' instead of things 'unfolding.' At least, that is the impression I get. Explanation makes things banal, it strips the moments and acts of their mystery. This is the reason why Samuel Beckett, in a thinly veiled attack at viewers, wrote in his play Endgame: 'Ah, the creatures, the creatures, everything has to be explained to them.'advertisementExplanations make the narrative flat, which is what I find in most popular TV shows and movies. They are flat without layers, and the overuse of trauma strips them of irony, absurdity and satire. The effect, I believe, is the opposite of what they want to achieve. With all the explaining and use of trauma as a torch, they hope to reveal reality. Instead, by robbing plots and their characters of mystery, absurdity and irony, the TV shows and movies nowadays make them unreal and was different earlier. Why can't a character be evil because that is the way they are? Or why can't they be supremely kind because that is how they are? Why does it have to be explained? Some of the great characters I remember from movies and TV shows leave an impression because they exist without any explanations. Chigurh from No Country For Old Man is a great villain, and brilliantly psychotic, because he is what he is. No trauma required. Just a toss of a coin is sufficient for him. Amelie, yes that French girl, is made of light because she is what she is. Again, no trauma TV shows and movies of late have become unnecessarily heavy and weighty. They have become too ponderous, even in genres where they don't need to be. That is probably the reason why even Marvel stuff has lost its floaty and fun aspect. That is a pity. Because weight is an ingredient that spoils anything that is Calvino warned against this weight in his essays for the future. In his essays in 1985 - later published as Six Memos For The Next Millennium - he talked about weight. In an essay titled Lightness, Calvino argued against making art heavy. His idea was that the best art is light and has a quality that makes it effervescent. He wrote that after accumulating all the experience as a writer, his 'method has (now) entailed, more often than not, the subtraction of weight.' He gave a lot of credence to weight in the beginning, he wrote. But now he had realised that it was the lightness that we all should chase. I feel that somewhere in the last ten years, movies and TV shows have increasingly lost this quality of being light. They have become too heavy and that is because of all the trauma they pack nowadays.(Javed Anwer is Technology Editor, India Today Group Digital. Latent Space is a weekly column on tech, world, and everything in between. The name comes from the science of AI and to reflect it, Latent Space functions in the same way: by simplifying the world of tech and giving it a context)(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Must Watch
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rosamund Pike, Natalie Portman Among Guests of Dior Cruise 2026 Show
ROME — Guests of the Dior 2026 cruise show made it through the step and repeat and the entrance of Villa Albani Torlonia just before it started raining on Tuesday evening, ominous black clouds in the background. Abiding by the dress code — white for women and black for men — Natalie Portman made her way toward the 18th-century residence, whose spectacular gardens served as the stage for the fashion show. More from WWD Maria Grazia Chiuri on Her Restored Theater and Rome's Special Locations Italian Fashion Associations Sign Protocol to Combat Worker Exploitation in Supply Chain Together Group Acquires 'Experiential' Agency Obo Asked about her work as an audiobook narrator, for example on the 'Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, Rosamund Pike said smiling that 'it's a gift because you are alone, just with your imagination, which is a wonderful place to be and you create everything. If you do an audiobook you have to do it so that the person you are reading to has to picture everything, so you have to know it deeply and imagine it first so that you can share your imagination with others.' Spotted earlier in the day at the Teatro della Cometa, which Maria Grazia Chiuri has been restoring, Pike, who is a Dior brand ambassador, lit up and said 'it's a wonderful, very special project. Theaters are places of dreams and creativity and for Maria Grazia to see this one and restore it to its glory, hoping to bring all kinds of artists, productions and music, it's very, very exciting. That would be my dream.' The theater was on her mind because she said she loves a dress code as 'it makes everybody feel special, there is a sense of belonging and togetherness, you are part of a production, I suppose. It's like being part of a theatrical company, you are required to play a part.' 'I love a dress code, I get overwhelmed with choices,' concurred Alexandra Daddario. 'I'm an actress, I've learned fashion but that was not my expertise. So for me it's wonderful to have someone as talented as Maria Grazia and Dior choose something for me.' From the first to the latest 'White Lotus' seasons, Daddario and Sarah Catherine Hook commented on the series' enduring success. Daddario did not envision how influential it would become. 'I didn't think much about it because we shot it during COVID, so we had other things on our minds but I've been doing this for a really long time and you just never know what's going to happen, so it's awesome. Sometimes you think something's going to be huge and it's not, but I knew we were making something special.' Hook said she was 'a fan of it right from the beginning as a viewer and it made so much sense to me. After the success of the first and second seasons and going into the third we all felt this type of pressure and we hoped and wanted the success to continue, but honestly it's all Mike [White, its creator and director], if it's in his hands, we are good. I feel very enriched by the whole experience and the location was stunning. I love Thailand and Asia.' She gave a thumbs-up to the night's dress code, too. 'Oh my gosh, I love it, I didn't know we were going to do all white and being here and seeing it, I think it's elegant and perfect for a garden show. It's kind of like a dream look, and I feel like a vintage princess,' she said, smiling. 'It's timeless color, very much like Dior, and I think there's a lot of ways and times that you can wear it, it's fresh and I think it's fabulous,' said Ashley Park. Launch Gallery: Celebrities Front Row at Dior Cruise 2026 Ready-to-Wear Show Photos Best of WWD Bottega Veneta Through the Years Chanel's Ambassadors Over The Years Ranking Fashion's Longest-serving Creative Directors
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rosamund Pike, Natalie Portman Among Guests of Dior Cruise 2026 Show
ROME — Guests of the Dior 2026 cruise show made it through the step and repeat and the entrance of Villa Albani Torlonia just before it started raining on Tuesday evening, ominous black clouds in the background. Abiding by the dress code — white for women and black for men — Natalie Portman made her way toward the 18th-century residence, whose spectacular gardens served as the stage for the fashion show. More from WWD Maria Grazia Chiuri on Her Restored Theater and Rome's Special Locations Italian Fashion Associations Sign Protocol to Combat Worker Exploitation in Supply Chain Together Group Acquires 'Experiential' Agency Obo Asked about her work as an audiobook narrator, for example on the 'Wheel of Time' series by Robert Jordan, Rosamund Pike said smiling that 'it's a gift because you are alone, just with your imagination, which is a wonderful place to be and you create everything. If you do an audiobook you have to do it so that the person you are reading to has to picture everything, so you have to know it deeply and imagine it first so that you can share your imagination with others.' Spotted earlier in the day at the Teatro della Cometa, which Maria Grazia Chiuri has been restoring, Pike, who is a Dior brand ambassador, lit up and said 'it's a wonderful, very special project. Theaters are places of dreams and creativity and for Maria Grazia to see this one and restore it to its glory, hoping to bring all kinds of artists, productions and music, it's very, very exciting. That would be my dream.' The theater was on her mind because she said she loves a dress code as 'it makes everybody feel special, there is a sense of belonging and togetherness, you are part of a production, I suppose. It's like being part of a theatrical company, you are required to play a part.' 'I love a dress code, I get overwhelmed with choices,' concurred Alexandra Daddario. 'I'm an actress, I've learned fashion but that was not my expertise. So for me it's wonderful to have someone as talented as Maria Grazia and Dior choose something for me.' From the first to the latest 'White Lotus' seasons, Daddario and Sarah Catherine Hook commented on the series' enduring success. Daddario did not envision how influential it would become. 'I didn't think much about it because we shot it during COVID, so we had other things on our minds but I've been doing this for a really long time and you just never know what's going to happen, so it's awesome. Sometimes you think something's going to be huge and it's not, but I knew we were making something special.' Hook said she was 'a fan of it right from the beginning as a viewer and it made so much sense to me. After the success of the first and second seasons and going into the third we all felt this type of pressure and we hoped and wanted the success to continue, but honestly it's all Mike [White, its creator and director], if it's in his hands, we are good. I feel very enriched by the whole experience and the location was stunning. I love Thailand and Asia.' She gave a thumbs-up to the night's dress code, too. 'Oh my gosh, I love it, I didn't know we were going to do all white and being here and seeing it, I think it's elegant and perfect for a garden show. It's kind of like a dream look, and I feel like a vintage princess,' she said, smiling. 'It's timeless color, very much like Dior, and I think there's a lot of ways and times that you can wear it, it's fresh and I think it's fabulous,' said Ashley Park. Launch Gallery: Celebrities Front Row at Dior Cruise 2026 Ready-to-Wear Show Photos Best of WWD Bottega Veneta Through the Years Chanel's Ambassadors Over The Years Ranking Fashion's Longest-serving Creative Directors
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
‘Gone Girl' star Rosamund Pike reveals she was punched in the face during ‘horrible' mugging incident
Rosamund Pike experienced a traumatic robbery nearly ten years ago. The 'Gone Girl' star, 46, recently appeared on U.K.'s 'Magic Radio' and revealed that she was mugged in London in 2006. 'I was on the phone to my mother – on a mobile phone walking along a road – and I was mugged,' Pike recalled. 'The phone was snatched so all she heard was me scream and a thud and the phone went dead.' 5 Rosamund Pike on 'Magic Radio.' Magic Radio/YouTube 5 Rosamund Pike in 'Gone Girl.' 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection 'And then I just walked to the pub and called her there when I met my friends,' Pike said of her mother. 'For her, it was probably a pretty horrible 15 minutes.' The 'Wheel of Time' actress claimed that the mugger was 'some kid on a bicycle' who physically assaulted her as she stole her phone. '[They] punched me down the side of my cheek and snatched my phone out of my hand,' Pike said, adding that she was 'angry' in the moment. 5 Rosamund Pike at the UK screening of 'Hallow Road' in London on April 28. Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImage Pike appeared on 'Magic Radio' with Matthew Rhys to promote their new thriller film 'Hallow Road,' in which they play parents who get a distressed phone call from their college-age daughter and have to help her. Director Babak Anvari told Collider in an interview last week that the film explores a parents' 'worst nightmare.' 5 Rosamund Pike seen at CBS Studio in New York City on March 26. GC Images Rhys, 50, also spoke to the outlet about working with Pike on the intense project. 'It was probably the improvisational work we did at the beginning. We did some improvisational rehearsals. It wasn't really a shock; I don't think you said 'action,' but you said you can kind of begin whenever you want, and it's like a switch with Rosamund, the intensity, the 'now it's game time' switch,' he explained. 'It's kind of startling. It's so immediate and so deep. I went, 'Oh, it's time to step up.' There's no easing our way into this, and I think that's how she attacks every day and every scene,' said Rhys. 5 Rosamund Pike attends the 'My Master Builder' West End opening night in London on April 29. WireImage Last year, Pike made headlines when she attended the 2024 Golden Globe Awards in massive headpiece to hide injuries she sustained in a skiing accident. 'I had an accident over Christmas — I had a skiing accident and I had to think, you know, not what you want when you're coming to the Golden Globes on the seventh of January,' the 'Saltburn' actress told Variety on the red carpet. 'So on the 26th of December, my face was entirely smashed up,' she continued. 'And I thought I need to protect I need to do something.'
Daily Record
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Amazon cancels The Wheel of Time fantasy series after 'best season ever'
Despite a record-breaking debut, The Wheel of Time was axed over financial concerns, angering fans who praised the third season. Amazon Prime Video has confirmed the cancellation of its acclaimed fantasy series The Wheel of Time after just three seasons, much to the disappointment of fans. The show, based on Robert Jordan's iconic novels, was officially axed on Friday, May 23, a little over a month after the third season finale aired in April. Despite debuting as Prime Video's most-watched premiere in 2021, the series suffered from declining viewership, with Deadline attributing the cancellation to financial reasons, Mirror reported. This decision has sparked frustration among loyal viewers, especially as many praised season three for being a marked improvement on earlier instalments. On social media, fans vented their anger and disbelief. One viewer on X, formerly Twitter, questioned: 'Wdym Prime cancelled The Wheel of Time after the best season they ever had? Rosamund Pike literally spent weeks in a desert for nothing?' James Dyer from Empire was equally outraged, tweeting: 'No, I'm sorry @primevideouk, this WILL NOT STAND! Season 3 was f***ing fantastic and if you can afford to pour a billion dollars into The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power, you can throw some cash at this glorious show!' Another fan agreed, saying: 'I thought it really found its feet with Series 3 as well. It felt more focused and the younger actors were starting to give Rosamund Pike a run for her money. "Completely agree with you on The Rings of Power as well. It's ok. But Wheel of Time was much better.' This sense of disbelief was echoed on Reddit, where one user mocked: 'lmao of course they waited for the show to actually be well received by fans and critics to cancel it.' Another added: 'I'm genuinely surprised by this... Seems like they had a lot of positive momentum after Season 3 and people were happy with the direction the show was going.' A third simply shared their sadness: 'I am so sad. I was really loving the last season.' However, not all viewers were shocked by the news. Some criticised The Wheel of Time as an underwhelming adaptation that never quite matched the cultural impact of giants like Game of Thrones. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'They wanted the next Game of Thrones,' one commenter observed. 'It just wasn't the same kind of cultural phenomenon, no matter how good the last season was in comparison. This was bound to happen, they put a lot of money into it.' Despite the cancellation, fans are not giving up. Several petitions have already been launched, urging other streaming platforms such as Netflix to rescue The Wheel of Time and give it a new lease of life. For now, the series remains available to stream on Prime Video, leaving fans to wonder if this might not be the end after all.
