Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses show has a challenge to overcome when it comes to Rhysand’s character, but it can draw inspiration from a beloved 2000s teen drama to accomplish it. The upcoming ACOTAR adaptation is taking a long time to become a reality, but it has the opportunity to improve on Sarah J. Maas’ fantasy series. This means expanding on subplots that are breezed over in the books, as well as digging deeper into supporting characters from Feyre’s story. It could also see the Hulu show addressing some harsh realities about the first ACOTAR book.
While the first installment in A Court of Thorns & Roses stands well on its own, it’s harder to read in hindsight — and that’s true for a couple of reasons. For one, it pairs Feyre with Tamlin, making it seem like the couple will be the series’ endgame. This doesn’t end up being true, and it makes it difficult to revisit the first book in retrospect. It also depicts Rhysand as a much different character, and this could present a challenge for the upcoming Hulu adaptation.
Nailing Rhysand’s Character Could Be A Challenge For A Court Of Thorns & Roses Season 1
His Behavior In Book One Could Be Hard To Sell To New Audiences
While Rhysand is now one of the most beloved characters in the Court of Thorns & Roses universe, he doesn’t make the best first impression in book one. When Rhysand is introduced, he’s antagonistic towards Tamlin, who readers are supposed to be rooting for, and he doesn’t treat Feyre all that well either. Although he helps her survive while they’re Under the Mountain, he engages in pretty questionable behavior throughout ACOTAR. He’s not meant to be likable, which is why his turnaround in ACOMAF is so noteworthy.
Readers know to expect this side of Rhysand during
A Court of Thorns & Roses
season 1, but he might be more difficult to sell to newcomers.
Readers know to expect this side of Rhysand during A Court of Thorns & Roses season 1, but he might be more difficult to sell to newcomers. That’s why Hulu’s ACOTAR show will have a challenge on its hands, as it’s going to have to repeat the same role reversal that Maas’ books do — and do it successfully. Even Maas’ books struggle on this front, as Tamlin’s turnaround from book one to book two feels jarring and extreme. Rhysand’s trauma isn’t explored as much as it should be, either, and his shift could also fall short if handled poorly.
Related
Hulu’s Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Can Finally Improve Tamlin’s Story More Than A Decade Later
Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses TV show can finally fix Tamlin’s character arc, making his shift from book to book seem more believable and consistent.
Fortunately, Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses show can expand on Maas’ characters in an attempt to make the jump from ACOTAR to ACOMAF feel more natural. And when it comes to portraying Rhysand’s character, it could look to another adaptation to determine how to take him from dangerous and cold to more honorable and compassionate: The Vampire Diaries.
Hulu’s Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Should Look To The Vampire Diaries For Inspiration
Damon Salvatore’s Character Undergoes A Similar Transformation
A Court of Thorns & Roses is actually the perfect replacement for The Vampire Diaries, and that’s because Damon and Rhysand have quite a bit in common. Both make strong first impressions, coming off as equal parts charming and dangerous. There’s no denying that Damon and Rhysand do terrible things, but they also reveal their more endearing qualities as time goes on. Both experience quite a lot of trauma, which contributes to their callous attitudes and behavior. There’s more beneath the surface, though, and that’s why their series’ heroines fall for them.
The early seasons of
The Vampire Diaries
do an immpressive job of slowly unraveling Damon’s true nature, and Hulu’s
ACOTAR
adaptation could learn a lot from the CW series.
The early seasons of The Vampire Diaries do an impressive job of slowly unraveling Damon’s true nature, and Hulu’s ACOTAR adaptation could learn a lot from the CW series. Damon does things that could be considered irredeemable throughout the first couple of outings, and he even falls back into those patterns later on. However, viewers continue to appreciate his character, as his nuances are portrayed well, and his redemption is properly executed. The same needs to be true of Rhysand in Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses series.
How The ACOTAR Show Can Learn From Damon Salvatore When Depicting Rhysand
It Needs To Get Viewers To Empathize With Him Early On
There are a few reasons The Vampire Diaries excels at depicting Damon’s character, and Hulu’s Court of Thorns & Roses show must embrace all of them to successfully deliver on Rhysand. For one, the upcoming adaptation needs to get Rhysand’s casting right. Ian Somerhalder is a big part of the reason Damon proves so likable despite his terrible actions throughout The Vampire Diaries. He captures the nuances of his character well, and he brings a sense of humor and charm to everything Damon does.
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Hulu’s Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Already Has 1 Huge Advantage Over The Books
Hulu’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series has an edge over Sarah J. Maas’ books, using the full series to foreshadow key character arcs early on.
Of course, the writing is also responsible for showcasing Damon’s better qualities, first dropping small hints that there’s more to him, then digging all the way in. A Court of Thorns & Roses must also embrace a gradual shift in Rhysand’s character, highlighting small moments of kindness in season 1 without going overboard. The series must drop enough clues that his improvement in season 2 doesn’t come out of nowhere, but it also needs to drive home that he really can be as dangerous and cruel as he first appears.
Hulu’s
ACOTAR
show can utilize flashbacks like
The Vampire Diaries
does, showing why Rhysand puts on a facade.
Finally, Hulu’s ACOTAR show can utilize flashbacks like The Vampire Diaries does, showing why Rhysand puts on a facade so that he’s feared and hated by those outside the Night Court. This could mean A Court of Thorns & Roses showing unseen book characters, like Rhysand’s mother and sister, driving home how his losses have shaped him. It could also involve showing more of his time Under the Mountain and how it forces him to survive at all costs. This will get viewers to empathize with him, much like they did with Damon in The Vampire Diaries.
Based on the A Court of Thorns and Roses fantasy novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follows Feyre Archeron, a young woman dragged into the world of faeries after slaying one of their kind. The series will follow her journey through the lands of Prythian and her relationship with one of its lords, Tamlin.
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Writers
- Ronald D. Moore
- Showrunner
- Ronald D. Moore
