The Realm Wanderer
Lore Master
Still loving the series. I think it's brilliant, especially the acting in general.
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Thoughts on the first episode of Game of Thrones on HBO?
- Thread starter Nathan J. Lauffer
- Start date
Le Pistolet
Apprentice
Exactly the same, I'm hugely hooked and I had no prior expectations as I haven't read the books (thinking of getting them now though)
Kate
Lore Master
Totally agree. It did take a few episodes to get from good, to can't miss an episode good. Tyrion is brilliant! and Arya is great too, I'm expecting BIG things from her (no spoilers please!) I'm surprised how good Sean Bean is. I've even stopped calling him Boromir.
Fodwocket
Master
Lols yeah I've always thought of him as Boromir, but I loved him in that role too. And I have high hopes for Arya too! I can imagine her as some kind of ranging warrior when she grows up.
Donny Bruso
Mystagogue
HBO purchased a second season two days after the series premiered.
I keep watching the series every week, hoping it will get better.
I acknowledge the difficulties inherent in transferring such a deep narrative where so much happens behind the dialogue and action, to the flat tv screens in our home.
But when the producers change scenes, change dialogue, change the order that things happen, all for no apparent reason at all, It makes me sad.
It also really annoys me that the producers have seen fit to change the ages of some of the key protagonists.
One of the most powerful elements of the books, to my mind, is that the children are so young, and yet have to face the problems that they do. This gets much more important in the second book
Bran is only supposed to be seven, not ten. Daenerys is what, 13 when she gets married?
I know it probably appears that I'm griping over nothing (or being an Uber-nerd as my boss said when I complained about the adaption), but for me the series is just close enough to the books that it reminds me of the story I love, but changes just enough it makes me shudder.
And, surely I'm not the only one that agrees!
I acknowledge the difficulties inherent in transferring such a deep narrative where so much happens behind the dialogue and action, to the flat tv screens in our home.
But when the producers change scenes, change dialogue, change the order that things happen, all for no apparent reason at all, It makes me sad.
It also really annoys me that the producers have seen fit to change the ages of some of the key protagonists.
One of the most powerful elements of the books, to my mind, is that the children are so young, and yet have to face the problems that they do. This gets much more important in the second book
When Robb goes to war, leading the host of the north. He's 15 for crying out loud! In the TV show, he appears closer to 18.
I know it probably appears that I'm griping over nothing (or being an Uber-nerd as my boss said when I complained about the adaption), but for me the series is just close enough to the books that it reminds me of the story I love, but changes just enough it makes me shudder.
And, surely I'm not the only one that agrees!
Donny Bruso
Mystagogue
One of the things that you have to bear in mind with any adaptation of this type is that it is based on the books, not a literal word for word copy. I just finished watching episode seven on my DVR, and there are some things that I just go "WTF?" for instance Jaime has a little chat with his father before taking his portion of the army to Riverrun. Ok, I can buy that. Jaime was not a POV character at that point in the series, and Tywin never was, so I can concede that it happened and GRRM simply had no viewpoint to show it through.
The thing that made me go WTF, was that Lord Tywin is skinning a lion while they are talking. Which is bizarre, to my mind. Not really the kind of thing you do over a meaningful talk with your son. Also, the seven kingdoms has no savannah-type areas... so where did he get it? And why is he doing it? Isn't that what servants are for?
As to the issue you raised, Artless, I remember reading in one of GRRM's posts that the entire timeline had been advanced three years to make certain issues more morally acceptable. Dany being married off and pregnant at 15 is more acceptable than at 12. It isn't just two or three people they changed, it's only that a few of them have their ages mentioned in the show's dialogue.
The thing that made me go WTF, was that Lord Tywin is skinning a lion while they are talking. Which is bizarre, to my mind. Not really the kind of thing you do over a meaningful talk with your son. Also, the seven kingdoms has no savannah-type areas... so where did he get it? And why is he doing it? Isn't that what servants are for?
As to the issue you raised, Artless, I remember reading in one of GRRM's posts that the entire timeline had been advanced three years to make certain issues more morally acceptable. Dany being married off and pregnant at 15 is more acceptable than at 12. It isn't just two or three people they changed, it's only that a few of them have their ages mentioned in the show's dialogue.
Most of the series has made me go WTF so far.
I guess one of the reasons I'm so disappointed was because I was exceedingly excited by the prospect of this show, especially with GRRM saying how happy he was with the adaption.
But watching the show and reading the book at the same time, I can't see how ANY author could be happy with the 'adaption' as it stands.
Maybe I'm just being overly critical.
It's just another example of how books are always better!
I guess one of the reasons I'm so disappointed was because I was exceedingly excited by the prospect of this show, especially with GRRM saying how happy he was with the adaption.
But watching the show and reading the book at the same time, I can't see how ANY author could be happy with the 'adaption' as it stands.
Maybe I'm just being overly critical.
It's just another example of how books are always better!
Helbrecht
Master
Of course it is - unlike British productions of a similar genre, it actually has this important thing called a budget.
Myself and my better half are loving this series to a mighty extent, though. We haven't read the books, although her dad's going to lend us them when he's finished reading them himself. The acting is consistently top-notch, the setting seems rich and immersive, and the plots are highly engaging. I cannot wait to see this thing to its conclusion, although I'll be sad to see it end.
Have to agree with the above's comment on the Imp. Peter Dinklage somehow manages to stand out as a shining feature of a truly impressive ensemble cast.
Oh, and:
It's not a lion, look at its legs and the colour of its fur. He's butchering a stag, and the stag is the symbol of which House?
Symbolism, my boy. I was a bit "Wealthy nobleman? Physical activity? WTF?" as well, but I think it was intended to illustrate Tywin Lannister having a more "hands-on" approach than men in similar positions to him, if you see what I mean. I thought it worked either way.
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Donny Bruso
Mystagogue
It's not a lion, look at its legs and the colour of its fur. He's butchering a stag, and the stag is the symbol of which House?
That would indeed make more sense and fall in with GRRM's subtle symbolism very nicely. It's entirely possible I'm mistaken. Good thing the entire season is saved on my dvr so I can go back and check, lol.
Justin Miller
Apprentice
I am so done with TV and Movies to capture my need for fantasy. They never do it right and half the time it is just overloaded with sex. I understand it was part of the times, but that's not why its in the show. I was not pleased with the series myself, or any of the other high fantasy series that have come out, I am starting to follow the practice that if it pops up on any of the premium channels, I am just going to go find a book to read.