Seriously, I'm disappointed.
This is like, the best show on tv right now.
Never read "A Song of Ice and Fire", so I really don't know what to expect from this HBO series.
So far, the entire cast has been amazing. The story is building up to something pretty epic as well.
Please tell me I'm not the only one following this amazing show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7L2PVdrb_8
I agree, it's my wife and I's favorite show by FAR right now; everything about it is top notch.
I hate those people who say "read the book, it's sooo much better." But, read the book it's so much better. The show rules so hard, Sundays will never be the same when it ends in 2 weeks.
I've talked to a couple dudes who have said they think it's boring... baffles the mind how anyone could think the show is boring. Just the production value alone is enough to keep me entertained.
Tyrion was my favorite character in the book(s) and I think they really made him a great character in the show too.
Hey only I get to call people "dick fuckers" ok.
I'll read the books once this season is over.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
I seriously expect this show to sweep many award shows. It's just that good.
I've been meaning to read the books for months. Eventually, I'll get around to it. I don't want to watch the tv show first. Maybe not next, either, depending on how much I like the books.
I'm loving this show with each episode
"A crown for a KING!"
I been watching it and it's bloody fantastic afther it finsh it's run i'll give the books a read.
This show got picked up for a second season the first night it aired, so it's fair to say it's going to win awards.
Loving this show, but I think it's a bit heavy for some audiences due to the amount of characters involved. Sometimes I don't know exactly who they're talking about at that moment in time, but they make it clear by following up. I know some people (women) that this bothers though. "Who is that?" is a pretty common question when watching this and there's a conversation going on about someone that isn't there. If you just wait 30 seconds, it'll probably be made more clear. Either that or it really doesn't matter all that much.
The books are great. I read up to the third one, and just started the fourth, but I can't find my Kindle's power charger. :(
As for the show, I have heard good things, but I no longer get HBO. So the choice now is to torrent it, or wait until it comes out on Bluray/DVD. I've heard it's pretty faithful to the books so far.
It's got some great talent in there. Lena Headey, Sean Bean, Peter Dinklage. Glad to hear it's getting a second season.
And yeah, the story has a ton of characters, but it's not too hard to follow, since many of them die off anyway. Martin loves killing off characters.
Great show. I haven't read the books but I have heard they are amazing.
Dockmaster X is the sole arbiter of dickfuckers.
I'd have to say that I'm enjoying it, but I do think it has dragged a bit lately.
.
Sorry Spin. I edited the title to another n-g meme.
I've really been enjoying it, pretty much everything about it is top notch. I've only been watching it sporadically though and have missed a couple episodes.
Best show I've ever watched. Period.
Best novels I've ever read. Period.
And both are awesome.
No hypebole, no sensationalism.
It's just the best.
As for the comparisons, the TV show is about 95 percent accurate to the novel. They abbreviate a few things and tighten a few things up, and find different ways to reveal information that makes more sense for a TV show, but this is largely the same narrative.
This show is a perfect example of why you stick to the fucking blueprint. This show achieves what The Walking Dead failed to do in its translation, although I still enjoyed The Walking Dead TV series.
The thing I like best about the series (books and TV) is the sense of CONSEQUENCE. I don't know who's going to live and who's going to die. It makes me really care about the events. And the characters are ALL so awesome and interesting. Even the characters that are absolute cocknockers...I want to watch/read about them all and see where it goes.
Ironically, Martin said that the series was something he decided to write when he got tired of the constraints of writing for TV. He said 'I wanted to write something where I didn't have to worry about the limitations of TV. I could just put whatever I wanted in there and not have to hold back or keep anything out.'
And now with a quality network like HBO, who is committed to providing top flight entertainment to the audiences, it can be made exactly as he intended.
I'm also watching Camelot right now, and it's got some problems. If Game of Thrones had not been on at the same time, I might be more forgiving. It just comes off as so lightweight by comparison. After Game of Thrones, I don't think I can ever go back to network TV, either. It's just fucking kids' stuff by comparison.
I agree. Except that he was suppose to be revoltingly ugly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
Probably the most incredible thing about Tyrion in the show is that they've found a way to have a dwarf stand just as tall as the rest of the characters in terms of charisma and appeal. Generally, dwarfs are mishandled by a production and despite their best efforts it comes off as a stretch.
In the books, you never doubt Tyrion is a player, and a dangerous one, in the game. The show has managed to translate the character's potency very well.
Yes, Game of Thrones is by far the best show on TV. Gonna suck when the season is over as I really only watch this and Dr. Who religiously.
I felt the same way about The Wire when I started watching it. Eventually, everything just clicked. LOVED that show and loving this one just as much.Quote:
Originally Posted by subcons
Sage, I too don't have HBO, but that problem can easily be bypassed.
My mind was blown last night.
Spoiler:
Wasn't expecting that at all.
I also really liked that fight between Jorah Mormont and that one guy who wants to replace Drogo as leader.
Get used to it. He's the first of many characters to get killed.
This, if you have a fav, second fav, third fav, fourth favQuote:
Originally Posted by Ghost-Dog, presented by [Available]®
Well no one is safe really
I pretty much assumed this after seeing that episode, but it's really something you expect to see at the end of a season, not the episode before the finale. Curious to see what they have in store as a cliffhanger for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghost-Dog, presented by [Available]®
When I was reading the book and came to the event that is being referenced right now, I wanted to scream and throw the novel at the wall.
Then I realized what brilliant writing it was.
The bottom line is that bad things happen to good people all the time in real life. In history, there are no daring last second rescues, no swinging from chandaliers or 'two against many' scenarios. Usually, people trying risky things get killed and the Robin Hood last second rescues just didn't happen for important prisoners all that often. Usually, they ended up suffering.
It gave the novels a certain real world grittiness despite being in a pseudo fantasy setting.
Martin's template is really simple.
He wants to show what's going on a certain part of Westeros or the land beyond the Narrow Sea, or whatever. So he writes the climate of that particular region through the eyes of the characters living in it. By doing this, the reader becomes familiar with the global political situation and the actions and reactions of the characters affect or are affected by the changing climates around them.
And it works really well.
And would utterly fail if characters defied realistic odds in this setting.
I don't think I could read fantasy novels if they were all like this, but as a singular entity in the genre amidst a sea of average adventure novels, Martin's work is far and away the best I've ever read.
I love the show but it moves as fast as a Dragon Ball Z episode....
Surprised no one has posted this yet...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxc0EQiwngE&feature=player_embedded
im waiting for the flood of Book readers to lash against the show.
Right now they just seem to be happy people know about it.
I'm not sure we are going to have a backlash... Most of the people I know, myself included, really enjoy the adaptation. It is quite faithful to the books, albeit condensed.Quote:
Originally Posted by NeoSneth
I read the book back in 97 and loved it, but never checked out the sequels, which I was trying to do sometime last year. I think I'll pick up the next two and see how they are.
The show is amazing, its bound to win tons of awards. Peter Dinklage for best male actor!
see i dunno about this. Is he a good actor, or just good for a midget? So many small people are terrible actors. I can't tell.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giby
Right now, sure. But isn't Breaking Bad coming back in a few weeks? GoT as a whole should win awards for best series. Cranston owns any best male actor award.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giby
Cranston does an amazing job, I'll agree that he owns every male actor award, but the performance Dinklange has done is phenomenal. Midgets tend to be goofy side characters, its seldom that we see one that's putting on a serious performance.
With all of this said, Breaking Bad is my fav show on tv right now, and its because of Cranston. GoT is a close second, and I agree that the show as a whole should win best series awards.
Cosigned. The Imp is one of the most likable characters. GoT will probably win over BB, but as a series, BB is the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giby
In a way, Tyrion reminds me of myself with the eloquent wit and charm about his attitude, I just think his need of books pushes him into the bum tickler zone.
Not really.Quote:
Originally Posted by HoboinaBox
That was pretty sweet!Quote:
Originally Posted by IsamuBlue
Lost track of how many times I've watched this clip. lol!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxLOXUGmRKI
That was really well edited.Quote:
Originally Posted by Castor Troy
Started the series on the recommendation of this thread. On episode 4. Not sure what I think about it so far. Some of it just seems to drag, but I guess that's to be expected for an hour long show. I'm sticking with it, though.
Yeah stick with it man. Lots of my friends who had not read the book kind of echoed the same sentiments early on but are now thoroughly hooked... the production value was enough to pique their interest initially (or at least keep them from losing it), but now the scope and range of the characters along with everything else is what has kept them.
A question for those who read the first book... a couple of my friends were kind of let down by the last episode (Baelor) as it was missing some of the battles that were in the book. Personally, it didn't bother me in the least. While I think this portion of the book was excellent the episode they put together was fantastic... I'm inclined to think it's just elitist bullshit mentality that makes people feel the need to point out the differences and complain, but what did you guys think?
Mother fucker. Just finished episode 4, and the ending was great. The whole episode was good, but now I feel like I'm going to miss something if I don't continue it. Kudos for this thread. This will be a great time-killer for the summer.
My only complaint is that there seems to be a lot of gratuitous sex scenes. They kind of seem thrown in and go on like some sort of erotic time-filler. Normally I wouldn't care, but I made the mistake of initially trying to watch it with my kid around, heh. Looks like this show is going to be regulated to night time viewings.
Awesome dude, so much insane shit ahead for you. Kinda makes me wish I could go watch it all over again, and I probably will after the finale this Sunday.
And yeah, the gratuitous sex scenes are fully in the book as is the descriptive language. Kind of put me off when I first read through the book, not because I was offended but because it just felt sort of contrived and forced. Changed my opinion about it though as really, its a character drama. And people like to fuck, regardless of what kingdom or time they are from.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...nout/z5009.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Castor Troy
Damn it I love that, posting it on my fb wall
Yep, and in such a setting they do it as frequently as everyone else. Sex is a serious driving force behind the characters, just as it is in real life.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
I have no issues with the sex in the show.
I think it's far more gratuitous in Spartacus, but I really don't have a problem with it in that show, either.
The main point behind my comment was that I was unprepared for it, and decided that it was a bad idea to watch the show around my kid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taiso
Still, there is a lot of it. You can say it's a driving force behind the characters, but when people are randomly fucking each other at a wedding while dancing, I just roll my eyes. Yes, they're barbaric. We get it. Also, be sure to document every possible sex act that can take place with the main characters. Go for 2-3 minutes with every one of the scenes, if at all possible.
Although the last episode I watched, they decided to film a conversation between a messenger and guard by a door where the guy was fucking 5-6 women at the same time, as some would trickle out. I guess they can be subtle about it when they want.
It's clear that you aren't watching the series that closely, an I think if you gave it more of a chance you would really dig it. I think it's fantastic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Soilwork
Spartacus is better on screen. More visceral.
It's not for kids (depending on your standards, I guess). Sex aside, there's a lot of graphic violence later on.Quote:
Originally Posted by Soilwork
I picked up the first book on the strength of the show. I don't tend to read fantasy (or sci-fi, for that matter), so I don't know whether I'll stick it out.
I don't necessarily agree that one plays 'better' than the other, but Spartacus has more of an immediate payoff, IMO. If you're looking for weekly thrills, Spartacus delivers. The show is quick, bloody and coarse. As well it should be. The dramatic situations of Spartacus are very plebian/Shakesperean in terms of theme and delivery. There ARE politics, to be sure, but Spartacus is more concerned about the bloody consequences of dealings gone foul. Everything in Spartacus is all build up for the inevitiable collapse of the characters' schemes. Rather appropriately, Spartacus is completely about the payoff.
The politics of of Game of Thrones feel more 'real world,' and interwoven. If continuing layers and interweaving intrigue is not your thing, you're likely to consider the show a little slow. Thrones is not about the payoff. It's about the whole process. Payoffs are just another event, leading to the next series of events. If you aren't into watching the evolution of the thing, and only want to see how it all turns out, get ready for a long and frustrating ride. Real world politics don't just 'end' and the show is not about fighting and blood. Fight and blood are just byproducts when others see through the gilded smiles and fake promises as they converse.
Just the scene from last night where Varys and Petyr are talking about the throne just before Joffrey walks in on them is deep and layered, and if you take into account all the different ways in which the characters have been influencing the world around them, it takes on so many meanings and so much weight. But in order for that to matter to the audience, they have to be interested in the political drama. Ned finding out the truth of John Arryn's death is not the endgame of the storyline. It just sets up the next thing. And it goes on and on and the complications twist and writhe and change continually.
The MOST interesting about Thrones, to me, is watching these layered, complex and wholly fascinating characters react to those situaitons and seeing the cycle of intrigue continue.
Another difference between the two is their source of origin. Spartacus isn't nearly as complex as Thrones, and it was written as a one season TV show with the potential for a second if people liked it enough. If you know anything about Spartacus, the popular versions or what little is known of history, all the foundations are set up for any iteration. If they didn't continue it, it serves as a suitable 'prologue' to the myth of Spartacus. Because of the tight framework and the knowledge the producers had of how many episodes they had, they were able to plot just enough into each episode to move things along to the payoff.
Thrones isn't written like that, wasn't conceived like that, and there is considerable shoehorning that has to be done to fit that book into ten episodes. I'm frankly amazed at how well they were able to pull it off. But wasn't conceived as a ten episode TV series. Martin wrote it from the standpoint that it would be something unfilmable, so he put everything in there that he wanted to.
But its origins as a novel are evident from the very first. They made it as all-inclusive as they could, but complex books about dirty politics just aren't as accessible to general audiences as a TV show crafted solely to appeal to general audiences. Spartacus has a beautiful simplicity to its storytelling, a sort of plain genius that just fucking works. It carried on into the prequel, Gods of the Arena, and you can tell that the producers have this thing figured out.
It helps Spartacus that they can put in action, sex and intrigue in a single episode by centering it on a very small group of people who exist to fight and those who directly control their lives. Let's see how things change once Spartacus and his rebels go to war. I hope Starz doesn't skimp. I don't need epic wars in every episode. I don't need Helm's Deep every week, but there will be some very vicious fighting going on as Spartacus' revolt grows to thousands. I can't wait to see how the showdown between him and Glaber plays out on the screen.
I'm half expecting Gannicus to return later as part of the Roman military, in a showdown with Crixus.Quote:
Originally Posted by Taiso
I like Game of Thrones, but Spartacus is better. Payoff is a good term to use here. I like it.
You're 100% spot-on. I made the mistake of casually watching the first several episodes while doing other things. This was a huge mistake, because I missed a lot of things. Taiso is right - this series demands serious attention. I just finished episode 9, and I feel it hurt me not watching the first episodes as closely as I should. I know what's going on, but I'm not engrossed in it like I should be. I'll finish episode 10 today, and probably go back and watch the other episodes again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Agent Sands
One thing troubles me about the series is that everything almost seems like it could really happen, but then frozen monsters attack an outpost which make me kind of scratch my head... and if Khal Drogo survives because of blood magic it may ruin the realistic aspect that I enjoyed from the show.
This is still a great show. I fully plan to go back and re-watch episodes just to get a ton of information I know I missed.