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Game of Thrones - finally

Steerpike

Felis amatus
Moderator
I'm behind the times on TV. I don't watch it, so I only catch up on shows when they hit Netflix or Amazon or, in this case, when my brother buys season one on DVD.

So I finally watched the first two episodes of GoT last night. My thoughts:

1. Did I enjoy it? Yes.
2. I felt like the first two episodes moved too quickly through material in the books, at the expense of character development and motivation.
3. I like all the actors, and the costumes and scenery all look fitting.
4. Daenerys was naked a lot more than I recalled from the books (though to be fair, I did read the first one some time ago). Not necessarily a complaint, just an observation.
5. The guy who plays Joffrey is doing a good job of making me hate him on screen as much as I did in the books.

I'll continue watching the episodes and see how Season 1 pans out. I've read the books so there are no big surprises waiting for me (at least I hope not; I'd prefer they follow the books more or less).
 

SeverinR

Vala
#2; I can see it, but in tv they have to develop characters in scenes which can difficult. You saying that makes me wonder if my favorite characters (to love and hate) are the ones best developed in the first few episodes. Aria, Tyrion, Dany and Joffrey (my favorite to hate.) These are in order of favorites, although Aria and Tyrion are neck and neck.

#3; I think they did a great job on design. Look at the real life stars and see how many you would recognize if they walked by you on the street. before seeing them in real life, I would not have known most of the women and a couple of the men.
#4: It is an HBO movie, I think it is expected to hae more nudity, (fixed typo of Budity, lol)
#5: Joffrey shoots out of the gate dead on to get people to hate him quickly.

Still haven't bought season 1, borrowed from the library twice.
Bought season 2, will be pre-ordering season 3 soon.

I know at least two people that quit the series after rains of Castemere(Red wedding), but I think the story will go on, and with that event it sets many things on track that wouldn't have worked had it not happened. (no spoilers)
 

kayd_mon

Sage
They do follow pretty close. Any changes they made (or additions) don't really hurt the story as a whole, though if you're a big fan of the book, you'll probably wish it was closer to the source. Such is the case with all adaptations.

I thought the show was cast very well.
 

SeverinR

Vala
Personally, I like the HBO version better then the book on Lord Starks serving the king.
In the book, he doesn't tell the king the kids are not his, so he was actually usurping the throne.
In the series the King knew the kids weren't his and actually by decree said that Joffrey was not the heir.

It ended the same but the motives were pure and Starke was innocent of any wrong doing in the series, and the Lannisters were guilty of it all.
 

Legendary Sidekick

The HAM'ster
Moderator
I didn't care for the Red Wedding scene. Or rather, I DID appreciate it until I read the book. Then I thought, why not just do it the way the book did?

Considering how often Dany is nude, I'm glad the actresses on the show are older than the characters in the book.
 

SeverinR

Vala
Netflix has it?
I'm watching season 3 for free.
Season 1,2, and 3 complete.
will still be buying season 3 though.
 
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SeverinR

Vala
There is a site that offers GOT all 3 seasons for free with no subscription or sign up.
Bing it if interested.
 

SeverinR

Vala
Is GRRM the only writer to use a worg as a person that can connect to an animal mentally?
Traditionally, (and per Bing search) Worg is a large magical wolf.

I like the idea, but will probably have to call it something different if I use it.
 

Legendary Sidekick

The HAM'ster
Moderator
Okay... I have book #5. The prologue defines what it means to be a warg in GRRM's world.

Also, I just saw a Season 4 preview last night. It's pretty cool seeing the scenes flash and knowing what they're about, and who the unfamiliar character is. My wife got me to tell her a couple of spoilers, but I chose them carefully so there can still be an element of surprise. Or several.
 

SeverinR

Vala
I'm on Book 2, like 4 or 5th pov, I mean chapter.

Was planning on reading this last weekend, but the weather was too nice and I over worked my camera. (150 pics)
 

SeverinR

Vala
Newly revealed,
Hodor steps out of the real life closet.

The actor that plays the highly inciteful role of Hodor, has never hid the fact, but also has never proclaimed that he is gay.
Amazingly, He never let it show in any of his monologues or his dramatic acting.

Hodor.

Season 3 is on the way.
I have saw 1 or 2 previews of season 4.
I am even more embeded in this series then I was last year.

My daughter refers to Game of Thrones as Fantasy porno, she always seems to walk in when one or more of the characters are naked on screen.
I just grin from ear to ear and say "Hodor".
(She knows me, she knows I'm weird.)

Wait! Wait. It's when the women are naked, it has nothing to do with the first part of this post.
lol.
 

Steerpike

Felis amatus
Moderator
I was reading predictions that the TV series will pull ahead of the books in terms of the story line. What do you think of that?
 

SeverinR

Vala
Series is starting season 4, which is book 3&4,
or was season 3 book 3 and 4? if I remember what people have told me that read them all.
The writer is slow at completing a book. So it will happen.
Writing a full length book as large as these are, can't be rushed.
I don't know what the series will do.
Writing a series as it happens doesn't usually turn out good. The quality drops off because the writer gets rushed, can't step back and see the story from all angles like he can when there is no pressure.
 

Steerpike

Felis amatus
Moderator
My understanding is that GRRM has already told the writers of the series the major plot points and how it all ends. But of course if they move ahead of the books, there is no way to avoid any number of inconsistencies in details, because I doubt GRRM will change his writing to conform to the series. And I doubt he'd like the series moving ahead, in case he changes something important.
 

Legendary Sidekick

The HAM'ster
Moderator
Series is starting season 4, which is book 3&4,
or was season 3 book 3 and 4? if I remember what people have told me that read them all.
The writer is slow at completing a book. So it will happen.
Writing a full length book as large as these are, can't be rushed.
I don't know what the series will do.
Writing a series as it happens doesn't usually turn out good. The quality drops off because the writer gets rushed, can't step back and see the story from all angles like he can when there is no pressure.
Season 4 is the second half of book 3.
 

Nightender

Minstrel
I read about this and decided I didn't have to worry with the books anymore. The books take a lot of effort for me to read and I frequently have to trudge through long stretches focusing on characters I'm not actually interested in.

Giving the TV show the ending of the series has negated any real need to read the book. I can watch the episodes as they broadcast in less time than I can read one of the books. Since season four is going to feature books 3-5 to some degree, I know the show will catch up to the books in short order.

In many ways, this could be the most profound example of "show, don't tell" ever. Martin has told the producers the end of the series, so they get to show it to us. Essentially, Martin gave away the power to give his story its initial shape.
 

Legendary Sidekick

The HAM'ster
Moderator
Not books 3-5… the latter half of book 3.

Book 4 and the first half of 5 take place in the same time period, so I could see those books being combined. But I hope what I heard is correct and they're not combining three books.

 
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Legendary Sidekick

The HAM'ster
Moderator
In terms of page-count, you're right.

In terms of the events themselves, I could see getting 10 episodes out of it. (I read the book right after season 3 ended, by the way, so my thoughts were on how it might work as a show.) I don't see there being just one big event.

According to the Wiki, there "may be" some parts from books 4 & 5, but it's "mostly" based on the second half of Storm of Swords. The names of the first 4 episodes are listed, and there are descriptions. Suffice to say, none of the major things have happened by episode 4 ("Oathkeeper").
 
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