# Terry Pratchett OKs Night Watch TV Series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [March 19, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280 "2011-03-19T20:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/141 "2019-09-16T09:02:47Z")
I love Olivia Colman, but she’s not _generally_ upper-class or jolly-hockey-sticks. I _know_ she’s played royalty several times, no need to tell me, but generally, I view her as her characters in Peepshow, or Rev., or Broadchurch long before I view her as Queen Anne. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/142 "2019-09-16T09:44:35Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I love Olivia Colman, but she’s not _generally_ upper-class or jolly-hockey-sticks. I _know_ she’s played royalty several times, no need to tell me, but generally, I view her as her characters in Peepshow, or Rev., or Broadchurch long before I view her as Queen Anne. I’ve only really noticed her recently, so to me she’ll always be the hyper-competent intelligence agent she played in \*The Night Manager. \* I guess my point is, Olivia Colman is amazing and can play whatever she wants. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/143 "2019-09-16T10:38:39Z")
I doubt they have the budget to afford Colman’s current rates. She’s just won an Oscar, plus she has a couple of Golden Globes, several BAFTAS (film and television), a ridiculous number of other awards and she’s currently up for an Emmy for _Fleabag_. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/144 "2019-09-16T11:05:19Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > I doubt they have the budget to afford Colman’s current rates. She’s just won an Oscar, plus she has a couple of Golden Globes, several BAFTAS (film and television), a ridiculous number of other awards and she’s currently up for an Emmy for _Fleabag_. Would you say she has a _much_ higher rate than, to pick another recent Pratchett series, Sheen and McKean and - especially, given your criteria - multiple award winners David Tennant, John Hamm and Miranda Richardson? Just for one Oscar? We’ll skip over multiple Oscar winner McDormand… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/145 "2019-09-16T13:08:33Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Would you say she has a _much_ higher rate than, to pick another recent Pratchett series, Sheen and McKean and - especially, given your criteria - multiple award winners David Tennant, John Hamm and Miranda Richardson? Just for one Oscar? > > We’ll skip over multiple Oscar winner McDormand… Amazon throws a lot more money around than the BBC. Good Omens was a co-production but Amazon put a lot of money into it. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/146 "2019-09-16T16:06:05Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > What the casters are proving if they make Sybil conventionally pretty is exactly that either they didn’t get the point – and so shouldn’t be trying to adapt, translate, or whatever, Pratchett, because they’re bound to screw it up – or that they got the point, don’t like it, and are deliberately counteracting it; which if true is nasty. Or that they thought something that worked well in the books might be harder to translate to the screen. Or that they were working with constraints from above to make the show “younger” or “sexier” or “prettier” and hope to accomplish the “don’t judge a book by its cover” themes from different directions. As a larger person myself, I definitely am disappointed they’re negating that aspect of Sybil and losing the opportunity to tell that particular unique story. But I don’t think that inherently means the story they’re telling has to be bad, it just means they’re telling a very different story. I’m willing to let them succeed or fail on their own terms and judge the quality of the show on its own merits. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/147 "2019-09-16T16:22:43Z")
If they’re telling a different story then they should _write an original story_, not desecrate a beloved series and besmirch a wonderful writer. They are fundamentally altering at least 3 major characters for no good reason, which means they think they can write better than Pterry could. Which is total bullshit. This project needs to be stopped with extreme prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/148 "2019-09-16T16:51:34Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Amazon throws a lot more money around than the BBC. Good Omens was a co-production but Amazon put a lot of money into it. BBC Studios is not “the BBC” in the traditional sense, though. Look at the production values of Dirk Gently (Elijah Wood), Killing Eve (Sandra Oh), even the new Doctor Who. And of course, Intruders also had an Academy Awards alum… ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/149 "2019-09-16T17:04:57Z")
I found out today it’s shooting here. That’s an odd choice, I would have thought somewhere European would be more apropos. Wonder if I’ll recognize any of the sets from _Black Sails_? > [@silenus](#): > > If they’re telling a different story then they should _write an original story_, not desecrate a beloved series and besmirch a wonderful writer. Oh, tone down the hyperbole. Nothing they’re doing will have the slightest effect on the existing books, or any impact on the esteem Pterry’s held in by his fans. If it’s a shitty show, it’ll be forgotten as a footnote. > [@](#): > > They are fundamentally altering at least 3 major characters for no good reason We don’t know that, yet. The series hasn’t even started shooting yet. Bit early for the “Sky is Falling” song-and-dance. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/150 "2019-09-16T17:24:59Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > This project needs to be stopped with extreme prejudice. So you’re saying: This project needs to be _inhumed_ with extreme _impoliteness_. Meanwhile. I don’t know any of the context for this series. But _Night Watch_ is really not a stand-alone story. You need to know the back (front?) story of a lot of characters, lots of the watch, Vetenari etc. Where in The Watch arc does it start\*? I mean… there are two Vimes in Night Watch how does that work if you don’t know who he is/will be? - or end, refer [del]back[/del] forward to? ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/151 "2019-09-16T17:36:59Z")
I may have misjudged what this “series” is going to be, (that is, nothing to do with the book ‘Night Watch’) C.S.I. - Ankh Morpork ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/152 "2019-09-16T18:19:08Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Bit early for the “Sky is Falling” song-and-dance. The sky isn’t falling. This is **much more important**. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/153 "2019-09-16T18:38:08Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The sky isn’t falling. This is **much more important**. 😛 Personal isn’t the same as important. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/154 "2019-09-16T19:09:36Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > I may have misjudged what this “series” is going to be, (that is, nothing to do with the book ‘Night Watch’) It’s kind of an odd duck, because it’s obviously drawing some elements from the book, but I think it’s going to be taking a few elements from Night Watch (notably Carcer and the idea of a heavily corrupt watch) and mix in elements from the later watch books. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/155 "2019-09-16T20:15:11Z")
**Mr. Dibble** , “here” is, IIRC, South Africa? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/156 "2019-09-16T20:24:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **Mr. Dibble** , “here” is, IIRC, South Africa? Yes - specifically, [Cape Town](http://www.thecallsheet.co.za/richard-dormer-from-game-of-thrones-to-star-in-the-watch/) (like parts of _Good Omens_ and the last season of _Doctor Who_). ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/157 "2019-09-17T03:22:00Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Or that they thought something that worked well in the books might be harder to translate to the screen. Or that they were working with constraints from above to make the show “younger” or “sexier” or “prettier” and hope to accomplish the “don’t judge a book by its cover” themes from different directions. > > As a larger person myself, I definitely am disappointed they’re negating that aspect of Sybil and losing the opportunity to tell that particular unique story. > > But I don’t think that inherently means the story they’re telling has to be bad, it just means they’re telling a very different story. I’m willing to let them succeed or fail on their own terms and judge the quality of the show on its own merits. I agree. I’m … hesitant… about the casting for Sybil. But if the actress can pull it off, I’ll buy her not being older, or plus sized, or jolly hockey sticks. However, as described, seriesCarcer is just _wrong_. “Vengeance-seeking”? “Wronged”? “Wounded”? Have the showrunners actually _read_ the book? Carcer is not conflicted in the least. Like Euron Greyjoy of _Game of Thrones_, he’s an vicious sociopath who has no illusions about himself; he’s an evil bastard who knows he’s a bastard, who embraces and revels and glories in his bastardry. It’s not like the Ankh-Morpork novels don’t have well-intentioned extremist villains, acting in pursuit of what they think is a higher goal - Edward d’Eath and Doctor Cruces from _Men At Arms_, the Low King’s Ideas-Taster Dee from _The Fifth Elephant_, Dragon King of Arms from _Feet Of Clay_, even Findthee Swing, of _Night Watch_ itself. But Carcer? No, just no. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/158 "2019-09-17T04:27:00Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > As a larger person myself, I definitely am disappointed they’re negating that aspect of Sybil and losing the opportunity to tell that particular unique story. > > But I don’t think that inherently means the story they’re telling has to be bad, it just means they’re telling a very different story. I’m willing to let them succeed or fail on their own terms and judge the quality of the show on its own merits. It does sound odd. But we shall see. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/159 "2019-09-18T20:09:20Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > But Carcer? No, just no. My guess is that we’ll see one of two things: 1. The character in the show will be closer to the books than it sounds, and that description is more “how he justifies himself” than reality – that IS a major component in the books. He always portrays himself as a victim and I think there’s some ambiguity to what degree he believes it (or at least wants/hopes/expects to be believed). or 2. It’s effectively a new character but they kept the name because, hey, it’s a good name for a villain. I wouldn’t be shocked if they went this route, because I honestly wonder if Carcer-from-the-book would actually work well in a show. He’s kinda one-dimensional and so damn dark that I think it could make the balance of adventure and humor that the show needs tricky. Carcer worked great as an antagonist in the sixth Watch novel, but I’m not sure he would have worked as well in the first. This one actually gives me less pause than Sybil because Carcer isn’t actually an interesting character in his own right; he’s just an AMAZINGLY powerful foil for Vimes in Night Watch because he undermines everything Vimes holds dear and becomes such a menacing, cancerous presence. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280/160 "2019-09-18T21:08:24Z")
Does it say anywhere that the TV series is based on **Night Watch** , the novel? The announcements just say the series is inspired by Pratchett’s City Watch series. We know Carcer is a character in the series, but suspect his role and the storyline will bear little resemblance to what’s in the novel **Night Watch**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/terry-pratchett-oks-night-watch-tv-series/575280.md?page=9)