Game of Thrones on HBO (spoilers)
 

I wanted to start a new thread, to focus more on the actual series, rather than the casting.


All I have to say right now is 'woooooooooooooooooooow." Watching the first episode for the second time right now, so I'll add a more in-depth viewpoint later.

For now though: You'd think HBO could've sprung for purple contacts for Viserys and Dany. Such a little thing, but it bothers me.

When Benjen came on the scene, I clapped, and Eden & I declared, "that's our puppy!" :lol:

Direwolf puppy: WANT!

I love Arya so veryvery much.

The rest is an incoherent fangirl "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" for now.

I'm really impressed with the acting so far. That's usually the kiss of death for fantasy on film.

I'm not going to say much now, as I'm still kind of digesting it. They really have the look of everything down. So now it's going to come down to the acting being consistently good.

I'm not that concerned with the deviations from the book. I understand the decisions that get made when filming literature. Sometimes you write something for the screen and it doesn't come out right, so you write something different. Sometimes you try things and they don't work (e.g., maybe they did try the contacts on the Targaryens and it looked silly/fake).

I've enjoyed the entire production. The soundtrack north of the Wall was eerie and spacious. Quite nice. Just one of many examples of what I notice and pay attention to.

Oh, and Sean Bean rules.



Anyway... SQUEE!

It's killing me that this is sitting on my seedbox waiting for me to get home from dinner at my parents....sounds like a good excuse to grab a 720p copy while I wait to get home.

:skeptical:

what a good first episode. I found it a bit hard to keep up with the characters, names and houses, but it will grow apparent over time.

I can't see Mark Addy and not think he's messing with his son Brian or daughter Jennifer.

Everything I really had issue with was very minor-- the Targaryens not having purple eyes, for example, and Viserys not coming across as mean as he did in the book.

On the whole, though, I was very impressed. The acting was solid, the scenery and camera work were beautiful. It played out like a big screen epic, to the point that I was vaguely surprised when the credits rolled.


Also--- had I not known exactly who Jon, Robb, and Theon are, I very easily would've gotten confused (well, Jon and Robb in particular. Which is awesome, since they're half-brothers and all.)


And OMG THE DIREWOLF PUPPIES WERE ADORABLE.


***

From one of the discussion forums I've been reading: "Joffrey is perfectly cast. How do I know? The instant he appeared onscreen, I wanted to punch him in the face, repeatedly." :lol:

Wow, indeed.
I haven't read any of the books, and didn't really have any pre-concieved notions about the work, except for the excitement I read from y'all's posts in the other thread, so I have to say, I'm now gonna have to invest in me some more books, and possibly subscribe to HBO. (thanks for the freeview weekend, HBO)
And thanks, guys, for drawing my eye to this series.

I think that she doesn't know what she's talking about at all. I'm not familiar with the books since I've not read them yet, but taking the show on it's own, it seems to fare better than something that showed up on the CW or WB.

I hope I still have HBO tonight so I can check out the first episode. Might actually re-order it if its good enough.

Cyn, she lost me at "sweeping 'Braveheart' shots of warrior hordes." She either hasn't seen Braveheart, didn't actually watch the whole episode of Game of Thrones, or is exaggerating.

And "Dungeons and Dragons aesthetic"? Seriously? She has clearly not picked up and read a fantasy or historical novel, and I sincerely doubt she knows the difference between that and D&D. Meh.

Successful troll is successful.

GRRM bashed this woman's review, cause it's just horrible. She looked at "fantasy" and just didn't care. She skipped watching the show and then wrote down everything she hated about fantasy.

*****

I really liked the show, I thought they did a great job about introducing the characters that felt natural and kept the fans of the show happy.

Now, to get a copy of it to watch later this week.

I liked GRRM's response to the article: "if I am writing "boy fiction," who are all those boys with breasts who keep turning up by the hundreds at my signings and readings?"



I really need to watch this again. People were talking, and distracting me from stuff I really wanted to pay attention to (like the Dany/Drogo consummation scene. Is it just me, or did it seem less...rape-y in the book? Part of the reason she falls in love with him is that he shows a more tender side with her that I didn't really see onscreen.) I almost feel like I want to be watching with a notepad in hand, scribbling down thoughts as I'm watching.

I consider that scene HBO-ized. It's one of the casualties of filming literature: the difficulty of portraying character emotions and internal decisions. I don't suspect this series to catch all these nuances.

In the book, Drogo makes attempts to communicate and connect with his new bride when he discovers just how frightened and innocent she really is. He makes some concession with regard to his sexual aggressiveness; however, Dany makes the decision to allow Drogo to consummate their marriage and invites him to do so, and that marked a big turning point in her perception of how the power was going to shift between her, Drogo, and her brother.

She wasn't necessarily "into it"; but I think she learns (and at a very young age, mind you) that sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get what you want.

Savor season one, confident in the knowledge there will be....season two!

HBO renews 'Game of Thrones' for second season! | Inside TV | EW.com

A Lannister always pays his debts.

You had to know that was going to happen. They have paid for the production materials (props, costumes, ect) already and the two highest paid, big name actors on the show will not be coming back next season. It's an easy call for season two.

And in other news.... A grown man goes crazy over a tv show.

*akhem*

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Thank you, that is all.

Fair warning: spoilers. If you haven't read the books, don't read my post.

I would have to assume that Lena Headey and Peter Dinklage draw fairly decent salaries as well, but this brings up an interesting point about the future. It's interesting how much front-loading there is of "big personalities" in this series, who need some degree of stunt casting like Spoiler: Sean Bean or Mark Addy to give legitimacy both to the character and to the series. However, as people have observed, these people die relatively quickly in the overall timeline. It will be very interesting to see how quickly the other actors are able to rise to the occasion and carry the series forward on their shoulders once some of the bigger names have met their untimely demises. I don't think I exaggerate when I say the continued success of the HBO adaptation hinges on their ability to do so.

There are so many intriguing characters, and the casting looks well-played all around. I don't think it will be a problem. The challenge is knowing where to put the emphasis with the constraints of filming literature.

Aidan Gillen was able to carry an entire season of the wire (3), and propped up the ones before and after. I'm sure he will be awesome as Littlefinger, and Spoiler: since he's still around as of the latest canon book, we will be enjoying him for many season to come

I've talked to another male friend about this part of the book. It is difficult to process. Mostly because our "liberated" male minds can't reconcile her rape by, then subsequent love for Drogo.

I don't feel the show was much different from the book. I remember some more talking between them, but at the end of the day, does the amount of her resignation really change the power balance? Whether she "allowed him" or didn't I feel it was still rape. If anything the show was more realistic (and more likely to have had more minds involved in the handling of it).

Also, since GRRM is so heavily involved in this, I wonder if he was consulted on some of the scenes and perhaps used this as a chance to refine the presentation of certain scenes.

Would love to hear more female perspectives on this scene and Dany's arc.

EDIT: oh and the Bellafante review...

1) claiming a global-warming allegory is very strange

2) why do critics bother reviewing serialized shows after the first episode?

For Boardwalk Empires, the last new HBO show, the critics received the first four episodes for review, so they could get a feel for the series before posting their review. I'd guess it was the same in this case.

Well, the whole progression of Dany's relationship with Drogo happens beyond that scene. If I recall, she doesn't appreciate his sexual aggressiveness in consequent acts, but I seem to remember than she herself came to enjoy it in some capacity.

The resignation isn't what changed the power balance. I'm not sure I'd call it a resignation. I saw it more as a shift in perspective. She didn't so much as think to close her eyes and think of Westeros as realize that a part of a woman's politics in this world is through sexual unison. As a Khal, Drogo needs an heir, and by providing him with one, Dany establishes more influence and power than her brother could hope for in his exile. She could have resisted Drogo and essentially get raped, or she could just go with it. She could look at it as a resignation, or she could accept it willingly and work it to her advantage.

EDIT: From the book:

He stopped then [caressing her, and playing with her breasts], and drew her down onto his lap. Dany was flushed and breathless, her heart fluttering in her chest. He cupped her face in his huge hands and she looked into his eyes. "No?" he said, and she knew it was a question.

She took his hand and moved it down to the wetness between her thighs. "Yes," she whispered as she put his finger inside her.

Of course, this is my most elaborate interpretation. It's my view that Martin doesn't fare well with regard to writing women. He tends to write them as schemers, sluts, and/or outcasts (if they're ugly). They come to life on the page by descriptions of what they're wearing, whether they're fat or voluptuous, and the size of their tits. (In a way, much better written than Robert Jordan's "She crossed her arms beneath her breasts.")

But as with everything I read, I try to get some value and meaning out of it. The Ice and Fire series is driven by plot and action. Characterization, while more elaborate than in a lot of epic fantasy, tends to get sacrificed in the end.

I just want to put in my two cents. I've read the series and love them, and I thought the premiere was astounding. The details in the sets was amazing.
That is all.

So I watched it with snowy and 4 other people. I was distracted by conversation (aka smart ass remarks) and kitties. I have no idea what happened. I might try to watch it again sometime.

As someone who hasn't read the books (I've been told I should but I havent yet) I'll say this. It was okay.
Not great, not bad but just okay. But then again it was just the first episode, and I am interested and do want to see more.

I will say this, visually it looked fantastic.

I was a little lost for the first bit of the show, but then googled the plot to get an idea of the characters and plot. Looks like it will be pretty entertaining! :)

For those of you who haven't read the book: you have no idea what's in store.

I hope the edge of your seat is comfortable.

I haven't read the books and I was totally at the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see more! :hyper:

Woo! Who's watching tonight at 9pm?

:)

I'm heading to my friends house around 8:30 for drinks and GOT. I can't fucking wait.

Me!

watching it maybe tomorrow... I want to watch Ep 1 again and skogafoss wants to see it back to back.

Wow. Just wow.

The way it's unfolding is nothing short of satisfying.

http://www.virtualshackles.com/img/gameofthrones.jpg

On a completely different topic, if anyone wants to PM me for some information for purposes totally separate from those discussed in the comic, on wholly unrelated matters, feel free.

Now that I've watched it: they seem to be doing a really good job of hitting the high points of the story. Very rarely do I have to explain anything to the wife. I read the book long enough ago that I remember details about what's happening, a general familiarity with the overall plot arc, but not specific details, so it has an odd sort of familiar feel to it.

Watched back to back ep 1 & 2. It was very good and the dialogue while hard to hear at times was very good putting many elements into the story in short quick sentences without long drawn out dialog. Ep 2 seemed a little predictable at the end scene. Nice wedges been driven early on in the series.

I find nothing wrong with predictable. Many things are predictable. I have a strong sense of presence when watching things and I don't try to solve things ahead of time; I let them unfold.

Predictable is not a concern of mine. Chaucer's audiences knew exactly the kinds of stories they were getting from him. What delighted them astoundingly was what he presented to them; it was his presentation and delivery.

No, I don't mind predictable, but I do appreciate a solid presentation.

Finally saw the second episode. I believe I said in another thread that I'd be alternating between yelling, "that's not what happened" and "that was AWESOME!" That's exactly what happened, to the point that Eden was getting annoyed with me.

I know literature doesn't translate to the screen perfectly...they need to move things along, and blah blah blah... but I was still a little annoyed with the Jon/Arya scene. One of my favorites in the series, and it felt like they just glossed over it.

Also... I love Dany & Drogo. In the books. Onscreen, not so much (although omg he is so yummy.) If I'd started watching before reading, I'd probably write him off as a stupid asshole.


And I cried for Lady. Again.

Hijacking this thread very briefly to link this:

Update - A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin's Official Website

Been waiting to see that for so long.

I had to change my pants twice. COME SOONER JULY!

Edit: And in honor of same, I can't let cinna be the only person who gets to show off her Ice and Fire pride. Been using that avatar/title on my guild/alliance forums for a while, but seems a good a time as any to start using it here.

Not a threadjack.

/nerdgasm