His death was consequential, not intentional. I get that.
I only labelled it as "payoff" on account of my own emotional investments, not Martins writing style.
Maybe I'm using the term incorrectly?
I find myself frustrated with them building scenes and dialogue where they aren't necessary while Jon Snow, a character that needs more screen time, continues to get the shaft.
That entire sequence with Sam and Gilly last night was completely unnecessary. It was, what, nearly ten minutes of screen time? And for what?
I will admit that Jon Snow is my favorite character in the books. and that may make my complaint seem subjective. But the reason he is my favorite character in the books is because Martin does all the right things to show his growth both in wisdom and skill. Also, Jon really takes charge of every situation he's in and he becomes 'the man' in so many instances.
In the TV show, he continues to be a bystander in his own story. I don't understand why the showrunners are doing this with Jon. I can't even hate on Harrington for his performance: the script and plotting just haven't given him any opportunity to grow into the leading man he is in the books. Do these fuckers even remember that he has an albino dire wolf watching his back at every turn? Where is Ghost? He had so much more of a presence in the books and he really lent Jon an air of importance and uniqueness. In the TV show, he's just another young member of the Night's Watch taking abuse from the idiots in charge.
In all other respects, I'm still enjoying it. When I watch, the show, I never realize where the time goes. I guess that's a good sign.
RE: Strong Belwas being replaced by Daario for that fight
To this day, I still don't understand why some version of Strong Belwas can't be in the TV show. What are the showrunners so afraid of? Showing a large black man that used to be a gladiator slave as a free man who indulges in food and drink and has a lust for life? Is this show really afraid of being labeled racist by some ignorant minority, given all the other ways in which it efforts to portray everyone as equals in terms of human worth, and that injustices are the fault of fictional characters and not cultural flaws of the plotting/writing?
Glad I haven't read the books. Seems the book readers online hate the way the show is going.
I'm enjoying the season so far, but not like before.
My only complain so far is with Dany's storyline. I'm seriously bored with the whole "travel to the new city and free the slaves" plot. Unless something major happens, I don't see why any of this can't be condensed to a simple 10 second dialog explaining what is happening.
Why would other book readers that 'hate' the TV show make you glad you haven't reading the books? What a strange thing to say.
BTW, the scenes with Dany freeing slaves are important because they are ultimately building towards the kind of person and leader she is going to be. You haven't seen the parts of the story where her every action wisens her up and hardens her to the harsh realities of being a ruler. This is all actually pretty important, even though it may seem like it's not and even though some will inevitably say 'it still wasn't that important to show all that.' These people aren't interested in storytelling, world building and character development. They're just interested in plot, which is a terrible way to consume a story IMO.
I understand her importance in freeing slaves are concerned, and I do hope the tv show does a better representation of her motives, but this storyline (as a non book-reader), has dragged for much too long.
Right now (as a non book reader), I'm more interested in what's happening with Tyrion, Bran, Sansa, and Arya.
I understand her importance in freeing slaves are concerned, and I do hope the tv show does a better representation of her motives, but this storyline (as a non book-reader), has dragged for much too long.
Right now (as a non book reader), I'm more interested in what's happening with Tyrion, Bran, Sansa, and Arya.
Regarding Dany's arc, there is a kind of payoff to all of this, but it's not at all what you'll be expecting. Or maybe you will, but I have a strong feeling most viewers will not see it coming. Right now, she's still thinking about becoming queen of Westeros and reclaiming her birthright and being very idealistic. What comes next is yet another example of how the world works from Martin's pen. It's cool, but I'm fairly certain a lot of Dany fans will either be let down or confused. All of my coworkers are all eager to see her get across the Narrow Sea.
I just chuckle at them.
Do you not read books in general or do you not want to read these books specifically because you'd rather watch the TV show first?
taiso i'mma slice your throat unless you tell me what happens to dany in the books. spoiler tag, do anything, but i wanna know, bro.
Spoiler:
She meets Jon Snow and they have sex. Jon Snow then finds out she is his aunt. He prefers the time he knew nothing.
Ok, I'm glad you guys have explained a few of the confusing bits. I kept wondering what happened to Ghost. I thought that maybe he's somewhere just chewing on a deer and chilling out. This Belwas character also sounds better written than Daario. Speaking of which, anyone else frustrated that the repacement Daario looks nothing like the one from Season 3? I had to explain this to my fiancee's family and they just got even more confused. I was vetoed when I tried to draw a small map explaining the location of the slave cities.
Question for Was or Taiso: without spoiling much, do the books do a better job of explaining what happens to the slave cities once they're freed by Dany? I realize the show is glossing over a lot of the smaller bits, but I felt that they needed to address how exactly all the slaves are traveling with Dany and getting fed/housed/etc, as well as how cities like Quarth and Yunkai are able to continue to survive after having their populations uprooted and hegemony disrupted.
Finally starting the second book this week. Just don't want to get ahead of the show. But I'll likely catch up at the point where he releases the latest book. Otherwise spoilers may become very mainstream similar to what happened to the TWD TV viewers when Issue 100 came out.
none of them have a blue tipped triple goatee though.
I am kind of bummed that the HBO people decided to completely dump Strong Belwas, and give his story over to Daario. In the books, that scene in Meereen where Daenerys picks a champion to face off against the lancer from Meereen was supposed to be with Belwas. It was a fantastic moment in the book. In the show, forgettable. And that is almost the tone for this season.
In the books, the freeing of the cities is a complete mess. The books explain this through the perspective of Dany and her thoughts about what's going on. As a television audience, you are denied this insight.
none of them have a blue tipped triple goatee though.