Yeah. I just finished the pilot, and the book has a much better set up. The first half of the pilot suffered a lot from the forced in MTV-ness. Elven dance! Elven babes! Etc. Also, I know technically there's no reason for people in this make believe fantasy world to have more contemporary dialects, but the fact that many of these characters have a clear Southern California dialect going on is just very jarring. Especially the Elves.
There are a few ideas presented in the show that I don't mind as additions. Shea didn't die in squalor as a drunk, nor was he Will's father, but it very much fits with the way Brooks eventually develops magic. The "magic always has a price" thing was developed later on in the series, but Shea falling victim to it's after effects is a nice touch that adds a bit of tragedy to those who read Sword.
I like the overall shift of Allanon's character. In fact, Manu isn't too far off personality wise, if anything, he's actually a bit softer than Allanon was in the books. I don't mind the look either, since book Allanon was more or less you're generic "wizard in a robe" type. I do wish they had used camera tricks to make him appear massive. He's supposed to be 7ft, but that's a small thing.
Also, the Eretria is rough. Her deliveries are quite bad at times, and she actually has some decent lines. I just don't think she's the best actress. Her scene with Amberele was better than the one with Wil though, so hopefully she improves throughout the show.
