A Game of Thrones

[Lox]

They are starting to release some teaser trailers and shots from the show. I'm getting really excited for this. The teaser has some very recognizable shots from the book.




There are some hi-res photos here, too.
http://winter-is-coming.net/2010/11/mgo ... in-hi-res/

[Flip]

If the shirtless guy at 25 seconds in is supposed to be Jaime, than thats the only one i was really wrong in picturing!

[Lox]

That's Khal Drogo and Dany. Cersei is played by Lena Headey (300, Sarah Conner Chronicles).

Jaime is shown at :26 seconds.

[Flip]

Oh Headey, ok, she was hot in 300 and the sex/rape scene really pissed me off. Shes a great choice.

[Lox]

Yeah, I think she'll play the role really well. Cersei is such a scheming, manipulative witch of a woman who uses her looks to get what she wants and Headey can definitely pull that off.

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

I've never read the books, but this looks great. Sean Bean! The dude can do no wrong.

[Flip]

The first 15 minutes:

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/watch-th ... of-thrones

[Lox]

That was really awesome. It did a fantastic job capturing the feel of the book.

[SineSwiper]

So, what's different about this series of books?

[Flip]

So, what's different about this series of books?

We have a search button.

[SineSwiper]

Bah, I'm lazy. Give me a Cliff Notes version.

[Zeus]

Bah, I'm lazy. Give me a Cliff Notes version.

This is as short as I can make it:

U La-z

[Shrinweck]

This is a forum where people often just post Youtube videos and no other content in threads. Let's not get into a laziness argument :P

[Eric]

*gives into glorious sloth*

[Chris]

So, what's different about this series of books?

Do you like Fantasy? Do you think Dan Brown is the best and most original Vatican conspiracy theory thriller writer in history? In that case you will love George R.R. Martin since he's pretty much the Dan Brown of Fantasy.

[Imakeholesinu]

A commoners review of last night's episode.

Spoiler: show

So it starts off with a guy trying to hard to be a bad ass going into an ice cave, coming out the other end, his body guards getting all freaked out and him eventually dying. Wooo. Ok so we see an obvious prick get killed because he's a dick. Moving on, we see Sean Bean being Sean Bean in the same role as he always is in, leader met with tough decision over weather he will ACTUALLY lead his people or leave his family. Oh look, PUPPIES! Because after every beheading everyone should get a puppy. New scene, another Douchey character starts chatting up some girl at what appears to be a funeral for the King's right hand. Nice, I get to see this guy again down the road. Flash to another part of the realm which I can only describe as Greece crossed with Laguna beach. Hot blonde chick and feminate brother who semi hits on her/wants to bone her have a discussion. The dude who is going to play Conan shows up with 5 other frat guys, takes one look at Blonde and rides off. I guess the punch line was "At least he didn't kill her." The King arrives in Winterfell and tells Sean Bean he's fat. Then he goes on and on about how he boned his sister and it is too bad she is dead because he liked that poon a lot. The Queen and Bean's wife exchange some awkwardness along with Bean's eldest daughter who I swear to god is meant to marry McDoucey's child AKA the Kings youngest son, either that or he was the brother of the dude in the first scene. All three of them resemble some form of douche. Oh and btw, how the hell do you get 4 guys to all look the same, because all Bean's sons look exactly alike (except the youngest son). Even the Bastard looks like the other two. Oh and btw, let's throw in a dwarf just for comic relief because he gets more pussy than anyone on the show. Sean Bean gets angsty, a murder plot is a foot, so why don't we all go hunting? Meanwhile, in California, bleach blond chick gets married, and hitched to Conan and we see some of his men murder one another just for shits and giggles. Conan tries to be semi-romantic but probably puts it in blonde rough anyway. Bean's youngest son discovers Douchey boning the queen and then douchey pushes him out the window so he doesn't know that the royal flower is getting a different pollen. One other thing, I think there were more boobs in this show than there were on Skinimax.

We'll see if the next episode is better.

[Flip]

Haha, did you come up with that rant on your own?

Spoiler: show

I like the first episode. The quality of the film work is simply amazing and i loved every second of the wall scene. They did a great job making it seem SOOO big. After that, the opening was perfect to show the map and locations of the important cities/families. From there, i'm a little worried too much was thrown at the average viewer. I always say this when i watch movies/shows that are based on books ibe read, but i'm not sure people will be able to follow the characters and plot very easily from this episode. I tried to watch it pretending i hadnt read the series and things, of course, seemed to move fast.

I cant wait for more. The 'upcoming scenes' did a good job of showing where this will go.

[Lox]

Yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. I managed to get a bunch of my friends to watch it and none of them have read the books. Most of them followed it without too much of a problem. I could definitely see people having issues keeping it all straight though.

[Imakeholesinu]

Yes I did come up with that rant all on my own. I kind of wanted to see the first guy last a little longer than he did. Yeah he was a bit of a cock nut but still I could have seen potential in him.

[Lox]

Yes I did come up with that rant all on my own. I kind of wanted to see the first guy last a little longer than he did. Yeah he was a bit of a cock nut but still I could have seen potential in him.

Are you talking about Waymar Royce (the first guy who got killed in the forest)? It's interesting watching it from the perspective of someone intimately familar with the books (so I knew he was dead from the moment he left the Wall) versus hearing the thoughts of someone who doesn't know the books at all.

[Flip]

2nd season.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/hbo-rene ... son,54785/

"After just one episode, HBO has given a second season pickup to its swords-and-shtupping (and okay, political intrigue and complex characters) drama Game Of Thrones, according to a press release. The move probably doesn’t come as a surprise: Although there were a few loudly contrarian dissenters, the George R.R. Martin adaptation scored tons of critical raves and a solid premiere rating of 4.2 million viewers when you factor in the encore showing. And of course, the network spent a ton of money on it, so you can bet they’re going to milk it for at least another go-‘round. Anyway, this is promising news for fans hoping that the show would delve even further into the A Song Of Ice And Fire saga, as the second season will be based on the next book, A Clash Of Kings, and presumably continue until it runs out of viewers or Martin’s novels, whichever comes first. "

[Imakeholesinu]

Yes Lox that is who I am talking about, though his name was never mentioned in the series (unless it was somewhere after his death).

[Flip]

No, it wasnt mentioned, which makes Lox's question stupid because you wouldnt really have any idea. Lets all point and laugh. http://nelsonhaha.com/

[Lox]

http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=4934368

I can't believe you guys made me pull an Objection! out on you. I didn't have a choice.

[Imakeholesinu]

http://objection.mrdictionary.net/go.php?n=4934415

[Lox]

Ah, crap. You pulled a Godot on me. I believe that means you automatically win forever because Godot is so awesome.

[Shellie]

I watched it last night and loved it! I'm gonna have to grab the books now...

[Eric]

Good god there was alot of tits in the first episode.

[Flip]

Good god there was alot of tits in the first episode.

Prude.

[SineSwiper]

But, what's it ABOUT? So far, I hear it's about kings and sex. Is that it?

[Flip]

But, what's it ABOUT? So far, I hear it's about kings and sex. Is that it?

War and stuff, youd hate it, so please just stfu.

[Shrinweck]

Good god there was alot of tits in the first episode.

Compared to Rome and Spartacus I'd call it a moderate amount.

[Shellie]

Loving the show, and I just ordered the first book.



Also, I love working for a cable company

(Thanks Mully)

[Flip]

The 2nd episode was better than the first, i thought. Things are progressing at a quick pace, but characters like Arya and Tyrion hit home runs. I'm also liking Bean's Ned Stark, you can really see the pain on his face when he had to kill Lady.

So much of the dialogue was from the book verbatim, it was cool to see. **SPOILER ALERT**

Spoiler: show

I liked the little bit where Jaime tells Tyrion something to the effect of, 'Give me a clean death any day, i wouldnt want to live a cripple.' i had to laugh at the foreshadowing and i dont remember that exchange in the book.

I cant wait to see Viserys get his golden crown, it has to be in the next episode or two.

[Lox]

Agreed with all of your thoughts. I can't wait for the Viserys scene either.

[Imakeholesinu]

Alright I'll admit, I'm starting to like the show...

Spoiler: show

Tyrion Lannister is my favorite character thus far. Sucks that Lady Stark is about to kick his ass even though it wasn't his fault at all about what happened to Bram. My guess so far is John Snow is going to turn the men of the nights watch into huge fighting force, or he is going to go to the other side of the wall with his rag tag team and be the lone survivor.

[Shrinweck]

Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) basically makes this series for me. Not that the performances are at all cringe-worthy, but his and Bean are the only performances I look forward to. However this show is making AMC proud with its pacing. Good lord. I'm remembering why I couldn't get through the first book at all when I was a kid.

I'm all for complex stories (remember that I loved Rubicon) but yowza.

[Eric]

Tyrion is a fan favorite always.

[Zeus]

Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) basically makes this series for me. Not that the performances are at all cringe-worthy, but his and Bean are the only performances I look forward to. However this show is making AMC proud with its pacing. Good lord. I'm remembering why I couldn't get through the first book at all when I was a kid.

I'm all for complex stories (remember that I loved Rubicon) but yowza.

And up to this point, that's all we really have: a setup for a pretty complex world. It needs to play itself out before I can finalize judgement as really, at this point, not much has actually happened

[Shrinweck]

After four hours of television I really need some kind of payoff. The only complex storyline intersection so far has been

Spoiler: show

Tyrion being arrested.

[Flip]

I was worried with how long the buildup with this book would take, it def takes a 150 pages or so to get into it. Im enjoying hearing non-readers opinions of the show and i think fans (of both the books and show) are those types that have a weird over-appreciation for wordy'ness, unfortunately.

[Shrinweck]

Note that when I tried to get into Game of Thrones I was several books into the Wheel of Time. It just wasn't for me at that point in my life. If I find the television series particularly grabbing I'll try again. My copy of the first book should be around here somewhere.

Sigh, I wish the Wheel of Time would get a television show or a decent computer game. Or something.

[Flip]

One thing i like about the series as a whole is the scale of the world, it is small. They constantly toss out unimpressive numbers even from episode one when Bran exclaims that the kings caravan has "hundreds of people!". The Dothraki army is feared at around 40k, the tournament spectators were only about 3 rows deep, and Ned only gives over 100 people total to the City Watch to help keep the peace, but it is enough. I think the small scale of the world is why everyone thinks they are important and why names of knights and stories of old heroes are circulated so easily and are not forgotten.

[Flip]

On a re-watch, i forgot how much i disliked the scene with Ned and Cersei. It was way way wayyy WAY WAYYYY WYAY YWywwyayayayw wya way to blatant, i hated it!

"I was taught to kill my enemies."
"As was I."
ominous stare-down...
dun dun DUNNNNN!!!!!

Cliche hollywood awfulness right there. Also, wasnt this line already used with Cersei and Joff? Maybe not exactly, but pretty close. Ugh triple ugh, it almost ruined the episode.

EDIT: Needed to post creepy Littlefinger gif

[Shellie]

So I finished the first book....wow! I really cant wait to see how they play all of this out on the series!

The style of the writing is very different than what Im used to in this genre. Instead of focusing on one main character (Usually the farmer boy that is destined to save the world), it plays more like a soap opera switching to different characters and storylines that directly and indirectly intersect. I'm not sure I like not having a central character, but it seems to be working out.


Major spoiler here...DO NOT READ if you have not finished the entire first book.

Spoiler: show

WTF!! I am really upset at what happened to Ned(how will the tv series fare without Sean Bean?), and I was NOT expecting what happened to Drogo at the end..I really liked him, and them together! I am really curious to see the ending with Dany in the tv series, and I cant wait to find out what happens with her in the next book!

[Flip]

So I finished the first book....wow! I really cant wait to see how they play all of this out on the series!

The style of the writing is very different than what Im used to in this genre. Instead of focusing on one main character (Usually the farmer boy that is destined to save the world), it plays more like a soap opera switching to different characters and storylines that directly and indirectly intersect. I'm not sure I like not having a central character, but it seems to be working out.


Major spoiler here...DO NOT READ if you have not finished the entire first book.

Spoiler: show

WTF!! I am really upset at what happened to Ned(how will the tv series fare without Sean Bean?), and I was NOT expecting what happened to Drogo at the end..I really liked him, and them together! I am really curious to see the ending with Dany in the tv series, and I cant wait to find out what happens with her in the next book!

Book talk book talk!

Spoiler: show

The different writing style is exactly what is refreshing about the series. Who needs another Sword of Truth? Also, personally i like how we get to follow so many characters equally as opposed to just one. It keeps you on your toes and what happened to Ned makes you think it can happen to anyone...! This method also allows you to have a few different favorite characters to follow and root for. Also, with as much insight into so many points of view it makes you realize how gray every character is. No one is really pure good or evil once you get into their head... Except maybe Ned is pure good but he gets his head on a spike.

As far as the series, i think they purposely hired Sean Bean and Mark Addy to play the characters that die. Those are some big name actors that they probably couldnt afford to do years of filming. It was a smart move to attract viewers with the star power for this season. People will be shocked to see Viserys, Ned, Robert, AND Drogo die. These things just dont happen in typical shows! I love it!

Maybe now you can explain to your hubby what the hub bub is about. Have you convinced him to read it after you yet?

[Shrinweck]

Not concentrating on a central character drives me crazy in a lot of books, as well. The Wheel of Time does this, took, and allows for more intricate politics. It is, however, a good use of narration when building suspense for other characters and blue balls-ing the shit out of your readers.

[Shellie]

Book talk book talk!

Spoiler: show

The different writing style is exactly what is refreshing about the series. Who needs another Sword of Truth? Also, personally i like how we get to follow so many characters equally as opposed to just one. It keeps you on your toes and what happened to Ned makes you think it can happen to anyone...! This method also allows you to have a few different favorite characters to follow and root for. Also, with as much insight into so many points of view it makes you realize how gray every character is. No one is really pure good or evil once you get into their head... Except maybe Ned is pure good but he gets his head on a spike.

As far as the series, i think they purposely hired Sean Bean and Mark Addy to play the characters that die. Those are some big name actors that they probably couldnt afford to do years of filming. It was a smart move to attract viewers with the star power for this season. People will be shocked to see Viserys, Ned, Robert, AND Drogo die. These things just dont happen in typical shows! I love it!

Maybe now you can explain to your hubby what the hub bub is about. Have you convinced him to read it after you yet?

Sine is watching the series but he isn't going to read the books. He does like it a lot. I am incredibly impressed at the quality of the adaptation to the tv series! There are some SLIGHT changes, but wow..comparing this to the book to tv adaptation of "Legend of the Seeker" is like night and day. I'm ashamed I allowed myself to be satisfied with the crap show they put out for Sword of Truth.

[Shrinweck]

Apparently immediately after this Sunday's episode you can watch next Sunday's episode on HBO Go.

[Zeus]

Apparently immediately after this Sunday's episode you can watch next Sunday's episode on HBO Go.

Perfect. That should mean someone will record it and it should be available on torrent right away