Thread: A Game of Thrones - HBO

Or watch GRRM build up suspense for nothing :U
(unlikely though)
I really hope he doesn't die before the books are finished. :I

That's unlikely unless he gets some random disease or something. I hear that sentiment all the time, like he's 80 years old or something. He's not that old, not only will he finish ASOIAF but he'll probably go on to write something else after that, and something else after that.

What is likely, and what I fear for, is a Fullmetal Alchemist scenario. While technically D&D know the ending of the series, they can't hope to encompass what GRRM's writing will eventually unravel so I hope they don't write the series ahead of what he's finished.

I heard from somebody (see:gossip) that if the show catches up to the books then they will do a prequel, like show the rebellion and stuff like that.
That could be really cool or kinda shitty, I'm hoping that a) it doesn't get to that or b) it's the former.

I think that's unlikely but it'd beat writing ahead of the books. I think the producers are trying to keep production running before characters like Bran grow up too much. They've already recast Tommen for the upcoming season (and the Mountain which kind of pisses me off)

A prequel wouldn't be such a bad idea though. Nothing good can come from writing ahead of the books, nothing good at all.

Here's a trailer compilation:





GET HYPE

Well that was an amazing premier if I do say so myself. Holy shit, looks like it's gearing up to go beyond what we've even come to expect.

Yeah, it was good. A bit of everything. I wonder how much of the dragons will be shown throughout the rest.

I just can't wait until the PW thing... ugh, that's going to be awesome. Especially since I've been watching it with my boyfriend who hasn't read the books. There's something deeply satisfying about watching it and then seeing his reaction to the story. No more watching with parents though. It was even more awkward than I thought.

My one complaint is that I'm getting very sick of seeing Dany in that same blue dress. In the books she's always wearing something different. At least have one change of clothing! And there was one scene, where she and Missandai's robes were blowing in the wind, but when the camera changed angles, they completely stopped blowing. I couldn't not notice it and it really bothered me.

But it was good. I liked the last scenes with Arya. I love the hound actor. Their dynamic accurately reflects that in the books which was interesting.

I must have watched that final scene 5 times already, it's so good.

Also, is it just me, or is Dany starting to act a little bit more and more like Viserys? I was at a [8] and I think she's beginning to show some of that classic Targaryen mix of madness and greatness. I was on her side in the books even at the end, but now that I'm seeing the character in the show I think her character is going to bring the fire and blood later. In the books I thought her compassion for people is her main directive and she rules out responsibility. But it's starting to come off equally her responsibility and her sense of entitlement. Just barely, though, just around the corners. Her craziness is still directed and fueling her desire to end suffering by seeing the suffering Meereen is causing people.

Originally Posted by Original Poster

Also, is it just me, or is Dany starting to act a little bit more and more like Viserys? I was at a [8] and I think she's beginning to show some of that classic Targaryen mix of madness and greatness. I was on her side in the books even at the end, but now that I'm seeing the character in the show I think her character is going to bring the fire and blood later. In the books I thought her compassion for people is her main directive and she rules out responsibility. But it's starting to come off equally her responsibility and her sense of entitlement. Just barely, though, just around the corners. Her craziness is still directed and fueling her desire to end suffering by seeing the suffering Meereen is causing people.

Not sure - but I thought something like that before, reading the books - she flies very high..
What sort of leader does she want to be?
And can she keep her dragons under control?
If it is against Winter - dragons should be a marvellous force!
Whatever that Lord of Light is going to pull and the Old Gods and and ..

There are so incredibly many possible narratives open for the books yet to come - I absolutely love it.

I didn't see the new episodes yet - but that's going to change - and real sooon - now that I finished watching 'True Detective'.
Hopefully they are able to do a worthy sequel for TD by the way - my husband cries noo, they should not do that - but I wonder.

They are, but it's an anthology. Each season is a stand-alone detective story, and in fact could end up radically different. It's hard to beat the first season though, Rust Cohle is a piece of work. But it's a great show for actors precisely because they're only tied down for one season so they can work on a character that has a bigger space to evolve without further obligation, and it's built to win Emmys. It's like the perfect resume builder for them. So at the very least it'll survive because big name actors like its format, and plenty of Big Names enjoy creating characters. As a show dependent on characters I think it has a good formula for long term entertainment.

As far as Dany goes, I was pretty forgiving of her in the books. She still comes off compassionate, she makes some bad decisions but it seems like given some time ruling Meereen she'll mature. She seemed to be making mature decisions, sort of. But alas, I'm seeing one inevitable road for her. Fire and Blood.

Originally Posted by Original Poster

Also, is it just me, or is Dany starting to act a little bit more and more like Viserys? I was at a [8] and I think she's beginning to show some of that classic Targaryen mix of madness and greatness. I was on her side in the books even at the end, but now that I'm seeing the character in the show I think her character is going to bring the fire and blood later. In the books I thought her compassion for people is her main directive and she rules out responsibility. But it's starting to come off equally her responsibility and her sense of entitlement. Just barely, though, just around the corners. Her craziness is still directed and fueling her desire to end suffering by seeing the suffering Meereen is causing people.

I've heard book readers say that before HBO, that she starts going a bit mad. I don't really have an opinion about that. It isn't the impression I've gotten. I just can't think of anything she's actually done that makes her seem 'mad'. I wouldn't be surprised if she is starting to enjoy her authority, and have a sense of entitlement, but that isn't really madness. That's what would happen to almost anyone in the same situation, in any leadership situation. You can consciously decide to do everything for reasons of compassion, but if everyone is listening to you and following you, you're going to have to start taking on the role. I see that sense of entitlement in any leader, like Rick from Walking Dead. Jon kind of becomes like that too in the books. Any leader pretty much has to have a sense of superiority over their followers, or no one would treat them as a leader. Dany actually seems kind of humble to me, considering her position.

Though I guess I can kind of see it too, reading the book. It's like she thinks she's really otherworldly and not a normal human, considering she can't get diseases, she thinks she literally has dragon blood, etc. Though in the books it's unclear so far whether any of that is true. She might be some magical being... or she might be the product of inbreeding of some fortunate genes, and the dragons would have hatched given enough heat no matter what, and she was lucky and stayed out of the fire, and other explanations. But it definitely seems like she's some sort of prophet, so it's hard to really blame her for thinking herself otherworldly, and I'm surprised she's stayed as humble as she has.

That's what's so perfect about it. When you start to look at what's coming, you presumably imagine an army of Others and dead things, right? I don't think it's going to be exactly like that. I think the wall seems need to fall, but who knows if we'll even get a POV there? Maybe the wall will go dark, maybe all we'll see from up there are that wildlings are migrating down as quick as they can. And dead things live in the Cold throughout the continent. I think it'll be something more in between a plague and guerrilla warfare. And when I think about Dany's finality it hit me. She's not acquiring a vast horde and navy to come to Westeros and do nothing. She's insane but in the good kind of way that made the Targaryens bright to begin with.

Hmmm..

Oh my god that was so awesome (s4e2).

I think they were trying to fuck with book readers who knew what would happen.

Spoiler for big spoiler if you haven't seen:

He looked like he was talking funny and about to choke multiple times before he actually did. It kept me on edge. I somehow never expected how gruesome it would be.

The author is 74 and I read somewhere German, that as the progression went, the pauses between the books, if it stays as it went - the final book will be out in 2025. That's hopefully pessimistically counted, and he has the outlines ready or something.
But he claims, he has it all under control and all will come to a fully conclusive resolution.

He's 66, not 74. The first three books took 2 years each, then 5 years and 6 years for the ones after that. I doubt Winds of Winter will be out later than 2016 based on reports of his progress. I can't even speak for ADOS but I'm thinking 5-6 years at the latest. I think he can finish the series easily by 2020, and he'll only be 72. But maybe I'm being too optimistic. Most of us are hoping winds of winter comes out in 2015 though.

Spoiler for my take on ep.2:

People are flipping out. If ever the aspiration existed not to get spoiled by the TV show after they overtake the books, dream on. I suppose it was too much to hope for that the scene would pull some sympathy out of people. A few people said they felt bad for it at the end but most people are just cheering "ding dong the cunt is dead."

To me, Joffrey's death was shocking and awesome, sure, but I felt bad for the kid, too. That's how good Martin wrote it, he took my schadenfreude and threw it back at my face. Instead, it's the death at the very end of the novel that gave me real satisfaction.

Another thing I noticed is people bitch a lot that he should have gotten his head chopped off by a Stark. Isn't it fitting that the heroes suffer egregious, bloody betrayal while the villains die in such an undignified manner? Joffrey and the other death I'm referring to fucking deserve the way go out.

Yeah, it's strange how people love stories that dare not to fall into easy cliches like Game of Thrones, yet get upset when expected cliche outcomes don't occur, like the bad guy being brought to justice by the good guy.

I was thinking about the spoiler thing. I hope it doesn't get too popular, so that people who binge-watch the show for the first time in the future will be spoiled. Like I've never seen Star Wars but I know that Darth Vadar is Luke's father. I hope it isn't so bad that it becomes a known spoiler like that, because it's so much better when you don't know it's going to happen.

I Just want to note one another thing I liked about the episode that doesn't have to do with the ending: the very first scene, where the girl is being chased. I liked how they made it seem at first like kids were playing, that she was laughing and being chased through a field by puppies or something. Then you see the arrow. The fact that she seemed to be laughing, that was genius, because that's probably closer to the sound a woman would actually make while running for her life, panicked crying indistinguishable from laughter. It's so sick that no other movie/show would consider it and would have had her screaming. The effect was eerie.

They got a lot of creepiness to make up for with Ramsay's character since they botched the way he Iago'd the fuck out of Theon in Winterfell. He comes off sadistic enough but they haven't scratched the surface of how dangerous he really is. If he's Vader, Roose is like his Grand Moff Tarkin. Oh, I suppose you wouldn't get that reference. Hopefully audiences will get a taste of how twisted he really is when they introduce Jeyne Poole (if she even makes it on the show). But yeah, he's supposed to be eerie as fuck so they're doing a good job with him considering.

I'm also loving the way they're building up the Mountain. He already commands so much presence as a character and they haven't even showed him since season 1.

As far as spoilers, when this show becomes a classic everyone will know what the Red and Purple Weddings are. But if we're lucky, maybe they'll just get encoded as red and purple weddings and people will be like, "What's the Red Wedding" and other people will be like, "You've never seen Game of Thrones wtf go watch it rite nao!!twp"

There's no way to refer to the Vader twist without referring to what the twist actually is. But you can still refer to those twists without giving them away, and that'll help. But not that much, if I wanted to read the books first I'd have to like live in a cave before season 6 starts, or maybe just season 7 since TWOW will probably come out in time.

Was good - as per usual.