@nestor This made me sad and frustrated because you make some very good points. As a new reader that was first introduced to the SV I didn't notice these problems (except for the Snake princess, kidnapping/sexual assault scene, that one was jarring), because I didn't have a frame of reference.
I think I would have to reread both versions to really be able to say much in response to what you've shared, but one thing I did notice as I was reading the TV was the more serious tone, as you mentioned. It does seem like they're trying to push a lot more jokes in the SV, and while I didn't mind it when I was reading it, I can see now how that affects Natalia's character in particular. Because, as you said, while reading the SV, I found myself thinking, how I the world were the people of the kingdom so blind as to not see how unwell Natalia is, when she's literally falling on trees every other second. It takes away from her character and makes the rest seem unbelievably stupid or cruel.
I am sort of expecting/hoping that the more lighthearted tone here is intentional by the author (and not forced by the editorial department), so that it will contrast the events that will come later, when the wall really starts failing.
I can also see how Sara was more... interesting in the TV. She was a lot more obscure, to the point were I found myself questioning her motives, even though I already knew that she was unequivocally on Natalia's side, having read the SV. Perhaps the decision to change the way she was portrayed was partly because old fans would already know the truth, and they wanted to try a different approach.