OT - Game of Thrones watchers *Spoiler*

[tenureplan]

Bet you didn't see that coming did you. It's another reasion you should read the books; George RR Martin has no qualms with killing off main characters. And you won't have to wait until next year to find out who dies next.

HBO has done a great job following the book. All of the characters are as I imagined them when I read the book. The plot is pretty much verbatim from the book so far.

 

[tenureplan]

Bet you didn't see that coming did you. It's another reasion you should read the books; George RR Martin has no qualms with killing off main characters. And you won't have to wait until next year to find out who dies next.

HBO has done a great job following the book. All of the characters are as I imagined them when I read the book. The plot is pretty much verbatim from the book so far.

 

[RobbieRandolph]

You weren't specific on who gets killed, but at least give us a heads up.

 

[Maroon Eagle]

The series had to follow the narrative because what was depicted in the most recent episode (none of which I've seen) is perhapsthe driving force behind what happens in the future.

I am so looking forward to 'Dance with Dragons.' </p>

 

[boomboommsu]

I've got the a set of the first four in delivery. should i just go ahead and skip the first book now that i've seen the first season on HBO, or is there enough left out to be worth reading?

 

[hullabaloodog]

I think I'll still read the first one. I know the show follows the books pretty dead on, but I have to think there is plenty of extra that didn't make it into the show.

 

[LBTdawg]

**lotsleftoutbynecessitynm

 

[bullysleftnut]

I've got the a set of the first four in delivery. should i just go ahead and skip the first book now that i've seen the first season on HBO, or is there enough left out to be worth reading?

The series did as good a job as it could with the first book, but was unable to really get into a lot of the background detail that is crucial to understanding a lot of what's going on.

There are whole chunks of backstory that were left out - what happened with Ned's sister, Jaime Lannister's service in the Kingsguard, the Civil War, etc. With only 10 episodes there was entirely too much that got left out, and it felt rushed to me.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

I've got the a set of the first four in delivery. should i just go ahead and skip the first book now that i've seen the first season on HBO, or is there enough left out to be worth reading?

ha, yesterday i got texts from a friend saying he starting reading this weekend and within an hour one from my gf saying she wanted to get the books asap. great episode this weekend and great series thus far. there hasn't been a series that's grabbed me in season 1 like this since breaking bad (<- super stoked for the new season, most intense series ever imo).

 

[boomboommsu]

for gf points.

 

[tenureplan]

nm

 

[Predestined]

They look daunting, but the writing is amazing on many levels. I just finished rereading them in preparation for the fifth book and I marveled at how much seemed new on the rereading. It is true that with Martin, no characteris safe (if you were shocked by what happened in the first, it pales in comparision to what happens later). he also is able to change your feelings on characters as they develop throughout the novels - I can't think of one main character that is purely black and white - they all actually grow as war impacts them - some not for the good, and some bad, maybe for the good.

I'd say he is the second greatest author with twon middle names starting with R. SOme would say he is the greatest.

To make this sports related, I don't think martin has ever played sports. </p>

 

[tenureplan]

Not too much focus own the relationship between the wolves and their owners.

Next season should be awesome though, I expect alot more focus on the Cleganes'

 

[MSUDOG92]

for gf points.

The Amazon boxed set is a great deal, just be aware that the books in that set have *tiny* print (or else I'm just getting entirely too old).

As for reading the first book, as others have said, definitely read it. The book and the HBO series really complement each other, unlike any TV series/book combo that I can remember. The HBO series follows the book very closely, but there are differences and there is obviously a lot that couldn't make it to screen from the book (notice that there are hardly any battles shown in the TV series?). I'm trailing behind the series just a bit while reading the first book. There are little nuances in the book that I didn't remember seeing the first time around in the series, but after reading the book, wanted to go back and see if they were in the series (and surprisingly a good many were), so I'm basically re-watching the whole series from HBO On Demand (and HBOGo - which is excellent, by the way) after I've read those parts in the book.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

for gf points.

oh already ordered yesterday

 

[boomboommsu]

budget constraints i guess.

 

[fishwater99]

I wish I had the time to read books, just doesn't happen in my life with two young kids... Maybe one day in the future..

 

[Xenomorph]

The most interesting character on the show sat in a prison for two episodes. WT17? Then you kill him? A bigger WT17?

And now the most interesting character left is John Stone and he's exiled to a distant land with no good story.

I'll watch the final episode, but I won't look forward to a second season like I am Boardwalk Empire.

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

The most interesting character on the show sat in a prison for two episodes. WT17? Then you kill him? A bigger WT17?

And now the most interesting character left is John Stone and he's exiled to a distant land with no good story.

I'll watch the final episode, but I won't look forward to a second season like I am Boardwalk Empire.

different strokes for different folks. i thought boardwalk empire was a pretty huge disappointment.<div>
</div><div>and as good as the GoT story has been thus far, i'll trust that the sotry remains great moving forward without ned considering the 5th book is about to come out. i doubt the books would have lasted this long if there weren't other worthy characters stepping up in ned's place.

</div>

 

[fishwater99]

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

budget constraints i guess.

that's what i was coming to say. maybe once a season we'll get a big battle scene, but they cost too much to be showing every few episodes.

 

[tenureplan]

nm

 

[tenureplan]

Maybe so far, he has been, but the first book was the slowest out of all of them because of all the backdrop being set up.

It's been stated earlier, but with the exception of a few characters, there are no true heroes or villians (yet). I like Boardwalk Empire too, but as it is a story based in a real time and a real place, less emphasis was needed on setting up the backdrop. Season two will blow the socks off of season one.

Sure John Snow is irrelevant right now, but "Winter is Coming!".

 

[bullysleftnut]

I wish I had the time to read books, just doesn't happen in my life with two young kids... Maybe one day in the future..

I usually end up reading one chapter or so per night when I lay down in bed. It takes me a month to get through a book now but it's still enjoyable.

 

[bullysleftnut]

Maybe so far, he has been, but the first book was the slowest out of all of them because of all the backdrop being set up.

<span style="font-weight: bold;">It's been stated earlier, but with the exception of a few characters, there are no true heroes or villians (yet).</span> I like Boardwalk Empire too, but as it is a story based in a real time and a real place, less emphasis was needed on setting up the backdrop. Season two will blow the socks off of season one.

Sure John Snow is irrelevant right now, but "Winter is Coming!".

This is the biggest difference in the books and the show to me right now - Cersei and Jaime Lannister are most definitely villains in the first 2-3 books. They aren't portrayed that way in the show at all.

I wasn't really crazy about Cersei's portrayal. I like the actress but I think she kind of missed here - or else the directors did. Cersei is not likable. She's petty, vain, arrogant, and spoiled - this hasn't been shown effectively.

Jaime was pretty much spot on to me, but again he seemed too likable and not enough of a bastard.

 

[quickdawg]

wasn't really crazy about Cersei's portrayal. I like the actress but I think she kind of missed here - or else the directors did. Cersei is not likable. She's petty, vain, arrogant, and spoiled - this hasn't been shown effectively.

Really? I think she comes off as exactly that and I can't stand the woman.

Peter Dinklage is fantastic as Tyrion. The sounds coming of out the Drogo's tent were awesome, I can't wait to see what comes out of there (and if you spoil it you are a terrible person)


Also, hah (slightly NSFW and spoilery from the last episode).

 

[dawgs.sixpack]

really? i think it's pretty clear thus far in the series that jaime and cersei are the 2 most villainous characters. and i agree with quickdawg, cersei comes across as not likable, petty, vain, arrogant, and spoiled. i haven't read the books but that's how she has come across to me since the first episode.

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

..I've seen Game of Thrones & I've seen Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.


On a scale of 1-10, I'll give Spartacus a 10. I'd give Games of Thrones a 6.

 

[benatmsu]

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qYNeT2nzEgA?f=videos&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355" allowScriptAccess="never" ></embed>

 

[tenureplan]

Martin likes to start characters off being polarized good or evil and then slowly move them towards grey (or kill them). Jaime is a prime example.

To make this topic sports related, I think we as State fan's naturally hate the Lannisters because they embody so many of the qualities possessed by the Ole Miss faithful.

 

[quickdawg]

**

 

[bullysleftnut]

wasn't really crazy about Cersei's portrayal. I like the actress but I think she kind of missed here - or else the directors did. Cersei is not likable. She's petty, vain, arrogant, and spoiled - this hasn't been shown effectively.

Really? I think she comes off as exactly that and I can't stand the woman.

Peter Dinklage is fantastic as Tyrion. The sounds coming of out the Drogo's tent were awesome, I can't wait to see what comes out of there (and if you spoil it you are a terrible person)

Also, hah (slightly NSFW and spoilery from the last episode).

She's much worse in the books. The scene where she talks to Catelyn Stark about losing her kid was made up out of whole cloth, along with a lot of the scene where she discusses Robert and Lyanna with Ned. They portrayed her as a sympathetic character much more in the show than in the books. I'm interested to see how they reconcile this portrayal with later books in the series.

Jaime is also worse in the first couple of books, but it may be a lack of screentime available for character development that's hurting him here. Still, if people who haven't read the books are pegging them as villains I shouldn't complain too much.

And yes, Peter Dinklage is pure awesome as Tyrion. Tyrion is the best character in the series and he pulls him off excellently.

 

[Roy Munson.sixpack]

notagoodweekfornedku

http://wonderwall.msn.com/tv/sean-bean-stabbed-in-london-1624274.story?gt1=28135