A Court of Thorns and Roses is one of the most highly anticipated book-to-screen adaptations currently in the works at Hulu. With no current updates as to the state of the project, fans have had a lot of time to consider their non-negotiable’s when it comes to the series TV show. Aside from finding the perfect A Court of Thorns and Roses cast to bring Sarah J. Maas’ complex characters to life, Hulu needs to perfectly capture the immersive world-building found in the series. Given the level of detail put into Maas’ writing, this will be no easy feat.
There are several key moments throughout the first A Court of Thorns and Roses book that Hulu should focus on implementing in the adaptation’s first season. And many of these crucial scenes will have a major impact on later storylines. For the platform to faithfully adapt the best-selling series, it’s imperative that Hulu’s Court of Thorns and Roses show incorporates these ten scenes accurately.
10
Tamlin’s Entrance In Feyre’s Home
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Four
This is the pivotal moment that turns everything upside down in the first Court of Thorns and Roses book. After Feyre kills the wolf in the woods and sells its hide, Tamlin—in his beast form—tracks Feyre down and demands payment for the life she stole. Not only is this the first glimpse Maas shares of Tamlin in the series, but the scene paints a clear picture of the Archeron family’s broken dynamics. It’s important that Hulu captures both Feyre’s bravery and the heart-breaking realization that no one in her family chooses to take her place.
Feyre’s family dynamics are a critical plot point in the early series, and her feelings of abandonment and neglect in regard to her family is what ultimately drives her to build a life in the Spring Court. This scene also introduces the audience to the hostile nature of the Fae, and emphasizes the fear Feyre feels about entering Prythian—a land she has only ever known to be a terrible danger to humans. Audiences need to truly feel Feyre’s fear and danger in this scenario to later understand her slow acceptance of life in Prythian.
9
Feyre Captures The Suriel
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Fourteen
Feyre’s relationship with the Suriel is beloved by many fans of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series, and this initial interaction between their characters helps to set up a lot of Maas’ world-building. This scene not only highlights Feyre’s incredible hunting abilities and resourcefulness, but also clarifies the court structures found in Prythian. During their discussion, Feyre learns that Tamlin is the High Lord of the Spring Court, and therefore the most powerful Fae in the land.
Their conversation also emphasizes the distinctive nature of the Suriel compared to other creatures found in Prythian. Where the Suriel should have held contempt for Feyre, he is only amused by her presence and skill in trapping him. Hulu needs to take special care in how they present the Suriel on screen, highlighting the gruesome nature of his kind in contrast to his fascination with Feyre. As this will not be the only time Feyre interacts with the Suriel, the Court of Thorns and Roses TV show needs to ensure audiences can grasp the unique elements to their relationship.
8
Feyre Fights The Naga
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Fifteen
The Naga appear only a few minutes after Feyre traps the Suriel, tracking her down by her scent—and their arrival equally terrifies both Feyre and the Suriel. The Naga are known to be a brutal species of faerie, ones that enjoys the torturing and eating of mortals, among other creatures. As Feyre has snared the Suriel, he begs for her to free him and then urges Feyre to run for safety herself. Instead of firing her first arrow at the Naga themselves, Feyre uses critical seconds to free the Suriel before she flees herself.
It is necessary that Hulu accurately portrays Feyre’s compassion for the Suriel during this scene, as her act to set him free cost her valuable time in escaping. The following sequence also showcases Feyre’s fighting abilities. While she may be a weak mortal in their eyes, she proves herself to be a strong opponent—taking down two of the Naga herself before Tamlin arrives. The fight against the Naga not only helps bolster Feyre’s competency, but helps to add a level of believability to her character’s skills later showcased Under the Mountain.
7
Feyre And Tamlin In The Pool Of Starlight
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Eighteen
When Tamlin takes Feyre to the pool of starlight, there’s a notable change in their relationship dynamic. After fighting the Naga and helping the Summer Court faerie, Tamlin makes it a point to do something special for Feyre. This scene is essential in not only portraying Feyre’s love for the beauty of the Spring Court, but also to add a bit of levity and camaraderie between Feyre and Tamlin. This is the first time we truly see Feyre open up with Tamlin, and their small flirtations are essential to the story.
…it’s still essential that Hulu captures the romance of their early relationship for their later breakup in book two to feel authentic.
While Tamlin and Feyre are not an end-game couple, it’s important that Hulu captures the tension and chemistry between their characters. Tamlin’s story in A Court of Thorns and Roses is quite divisive, but it’s still essential that Hulu portrays the romance of their early relationship for their later breakup in book two to feel authentic. There also needs to be a steady growth of trust and love depicted between the two characters on screen, as Feyre will later risk her life to save his and the entire Spring Court when she heads under the mountain.
6
Rhysand And Feyre Meet On Calanmai
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Twenty
It’s fair to say this will probably be the most highly anticipated scene out of the entire A Court of Thorns and Roses novel. While to some audiences this will appear to be a chance meeting during the events of Calanmai, it becomes a cornerstone moment that will later help to carry the rest of the series. During this scene, Feyre sneaks out to witness the events of Calanmai, an annual Spring Court festival, and is accosted by three visiting Fae. However, before they are able to do Feyre any harm, a mysterious Fae male steps out and saves her.
To fans of the books, they know this male to be Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court. This initial introduction and intervention by his character is quintessential to the ACOTAR series’ overall plot, and it’s crucial the adaptation carefully hints at Feyre and Rhys’ undeniable chemistry—without giving anything away too early in the series. Rhys’ character needs to boast arrogance, and clearly portray a magnetic quality that Feyre can’t seem to stay away from. Knowing this is a fan-favorite scene, Hulu’s A Court of Thorns and Roses show will surely take extra care in translating it to the screen.
5
Rhysand’s Visit To The Spring Court
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Twenty-six
Rhysand’s arrival at the Spring Court catches everyone off guard, and it’s the first interaction Feyre witnesses Rhys’ supposed true nature. During breakfast, Tamlin senses that someone dangerous has entered the Spring Court, and orders Lucien to hide and glamour Feyre from their sight. During this scene, Feyre comes to realize the man she met on Fire Night was in fact the High Lord of the Night Court, and someone extremely dangerous. This scene is essential in building Rhysand into a villain in the audiences mind, as it’s not until much later in the series that Maas reveals his true character.
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This scene is also the first mention of Amarantha, and helps to add more context to the book’s overall plot. It’s necessary that Hulu captures this scene perfectly, as audiences need to believe that Rhys is another villain in Feyre’s story. This scene builds a larger picture of the “blight” that is affecting the lands of Prythian—and helps Feyre understand a bit more of what the Spring Court is dealing with. And ultimately, it propels Tamlin to send Feyre away, and his fear for her life needs to be palpable on screen.
4
Feyre Defeats The Middengard Wyrm
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Thirty-Six
Feyre’s fight with the Middengard Wyrm is the most action-packed sequence from the entire first novel. Audiences need to be kept on the edge of their seats throughout this whole scene, and to do so, Hulu’s ACOTAR adaptation will need to invest a lot of time and money in bringing the Middengard Wyrm to life. For the first of Amarantha’s three trials, Feyre is thrown into a muddy pit to fight a giant monster in the trenches of its own home. Utilizing her hunting background, Feyre sets a clever trap and defeats the Middengard Wyrm against all odds.
While this scene is important in showing off Feyre’s best character traits, it also reveals a few key pieces of information. One of which being that Rhysand was the only one to bet on Feyre winning the first trial—where thousands of other faeries bet against her. This scene, while subtle, needs to showcase Rhysand’s belief and awe of her character. It’s important to note that Feyre is also injured very badly in this scene, and that leads to Rhysand offering to heal her wounds—but for a price.
3
Feyre And Rhys’ Bargain Under The Mountain
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Thirty-Seven
This is a crucial moment in the first book, one that ties Feyre’s life to Rhys’ for one week a month for the rest of her life. Given this plot is a huge focus in A Court of Mist and Fury, the way in which Hulu presents this bargain in the TV series needs to be done in a strategic manner. Audiences need to grasp the full weight of what Feyre is agreeing to do—allowing herself to be taken to one of the most dangerous courts, by one of the most powerful High Lords.
This scene is also important in showcasing the love she holds for Tamlin, and what she’s willing to do to save him. In addition to the terms of the bargain, this scene sets up a larger story that will play out for Rhys in seasons to come. While the terms of their bargain initially set Rhysand in an unsavory light, it ends up being the one thing that keeps Feyre alive through the remainder of the trials. And ultimately, he helps propel her to save the entirety of Prythian from Amarantha’s reign.
2
Feyre Solves The Riddle
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Fourty-Four
After Feyre completes the three trials Amarantha has set for her, faeries from all courts begin calling for Amarantha to free the Spring Court from its curse. However, instead of honoring her bargain with Feyre, she finds a loophole to keep them bound, and begins to torture Feyre instead. This scene reveals a lot about Rhys’ character, but also highlights Feyre’s bravery in the face of death. During this sequence, Rhys attempts to stop Amarantha on multiple occasions, often calling out Feyre’s name in fear and revealing himself to be a traitor against her cause.
This is the first glimpse audiences will have of Rhys acting upon his true nature, and Hulu should focus on his reaction to Feyre’s torture in great detail. This scene also reveals the first glimpse at an unusual bond between Feyre and Rhys, another detail to work with carefully as it will become important in later seasons. Finally, before her death, Feyre’s love for Tamlin helps her solve Amarantha’s A Court of Thorns and Roses riddle and releases the entire Spring Court from its curse.
1
Rhys’ Sudden Disappearance
A Court Of Thorns And Roses: Chapter Fourty-Six
The ending to this book leaves a lot of unanswered questions for the reader, and Hulu should lean into the level of secrecy Maas builds into A Court Of Thorns And Roses‘ conclusion. In the books final moments, Feyre, once she’s been made High Fae, follows a tug she feels deep in her soul and finds Rhys waiting for her. After a short conversation, Rhys bows to say goodbye and becomes almost frozen in place, eyes locked on hers in shock, and shortly disappears after some mysterious revelation.
It is crucial to get this right, as this vital moment kicks off the beginnings of a new relationship dynamic to come throughout the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Fans of the series will understand this moment alludes to the fact that Feyre and Rhys are mates, but for viewers new to the source material, there will be an element of mystery regarding what happened. This will also help to create hype and excitement heading into the next season, and Hulu will need to really emphasize this moment of realization for Rhys—even without acknowledging what it means. It is crucial to get this right, as this vital moment kicks off the beginnings of a new relationship dynamic to come throughout the A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
- Seasons
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1
- Streaming Service(s)
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Hulu
- Writers
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Ronald D. Moore
- Showrunner
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Ronald D. Moore
