A thought about Game of Thrones on TV

[Quick Ben]

Originally Posted by Timba

Well, it is pretty clear I need to find a way to see this program, I love the books and with the ringing endorsements of at least portions of the TV program I am just going to have to find a way.

If you still need a hand in being able to watch the show, PM me and I'll help you out

[Yog-Sothoth]

Dany's world adds an exotic element to the Europeanesque Seven Kingdoms. I personally thoroughly enjoyed every scene with the Dothrakis, and leaving such a massive character and her evolution out in the first season and then suddenly introduce her in the next would confuse the hell out of people.

[Ursa major]

I agree.

It isn't as if the later seasons are going to be any simpler, in terms of plot complexity, than the first, so when exactly would Dany have appeared if she'd been omitted from Season One?

[Mesanna]

DVD release of Season One confirmed for 6th March, 2012

http://winter-is-coming.net/2011/11/...-release-date/

Maybe I'll get an IOU in my Christmas Stocking

[Ursa major]

That's still over three months away.

[Timba]

Originally Posted by Mesanna

DVD release of Season One confirmed for 6th March, 2012

http://winter-is-coming.net/2011/11/...-release-date/

Maybe I'll get an IOU in my Christmas Stocking

My order is in and waiting. I had to gift myself but its not the first time I had to do that

[Timba]

Well the first season DVDs arrived a few weeks ago but I was so wrapped up in re-reading Weber's Honor Harrington books that I put the viewing on hold.

My better half an I watched the first episode yesterday and plan to take it 1 episode per day. Since MBH has not yet read the books it is interesting to get her take on things. Really enjoyed the first episode and not just because of all the great nekkid women either.

[Ursa major]

I do wonder what someone who has not read the books makes of it, particularly the multiple settings and huge cast of speaking characters. For me, though, it was like meeting old friends (although the definition of the term, friend, might need a little broadening for some of them).

Now I've seen the disks - I won't subscribe to Sky Atlantic - I have to say I'm impressed. Yes, the book and season are not in 100% agreement, but I can't think of anything further from the butchering one sometimes sees.

In the highly unlikely event that I bump into GRRM, I'll have to congratulate him not only on the books but also their adaptation to the "small" screen. I don't think I've ever seen Fantasy on the TV that so easily throws off its genre-ghetto shackles and instead looks like a particularly good example of history brought to life on the box. I don't think I experienced even the slightest temptation to genre-cringe** at anything (something all too common with just about every other example of TV Fantasy).


As for the opening credits: hidden info-dumping at its best. The theme music, which I didn't much care for when I first heard it last year, is a definite earworm.



** - I use this term because I know that some have found the sexposition (which I prefer to call info-humping) somewhat off-putting. While I was expecting far more screen time to be devoted to it, given the publicity during the season's run, it did veer towards cringe-making. However, the contents of these scenes was in no way genre specific; these sorts of scenes are present in many TV adaptations, whether of explicitly literary opuses or more mainstream, genre or cult books.

[Needle]

I received the dvd box set as an early b-day present (they knew I would not shut up till I got it!

Anyway, I think the thing I like most (although the packaging is fantastic!) are the cast interviews. It is great how in each one I have watched so far the actor seems totally enamored with their character. They start out saying he (she) is this or that but within a few sentences it becomes "I" as if they are their character.

[Marvin]

Okay - this will probably sound very shallow, but take this as a POV of a TV Exec.

We all know the story is ACE, however the wider public do not. I think we all know whats very good at selling a TV programme nowadays, after a certain time of day

We did get to see A LOT of Dany - very nice eye candy, not a bad hook. Right from the off in Episode 1 wasnt it?

[Ursa major]

If Dany had to "feature" in that way to keep the audience, it seems odd that in season two they've not followed the book, A Clash of Kings, with respect to the "wardrobe malfunction" aspect of Dany's attire.

[Tywin]

Dany naked all the time and getting sex-lessons from her former prostitute slave... Everything with Roz and some big floppin' full frontal Theon... the scenes with Renly and Loras...

A lot of interesting additions.

[Timba]

We cheated on our own schedule today and watched episodes 2 and 3. I am pretty sure I mentioned somewhere here on the threads that I love Ayra but just in case let me say again. I love Arya. What a great character and it only gets better as the story moves on.

I am also struck by what seems to be excellent casting. So far I am not disappointed and am actually frequently really pleased by who was picked to play particular characters. Not so much because of their looks mind you, Dany beautiful as she is does not look like my mental image, but more because they seem to have captured the essence of the character. Now perhaps that is simply fine acting and I acknowledge that element but in many cases such as Littlefinger I have not yet seen enough of the character to say wow, great acting, and yet he seems so correct in that part. Anyway, doubt we will be able to stick to 1 episode per day although it is difficult to get MBH to sit down for more than an hour at a time.

[Silvise]

Personally I love Dany, and her story and I think seeing this part of her story is important.
It shows how she becomes who she is and why. It explains a lot of her motivation. Her scenes aren't just important because of her interaction with Khal Drogo, but also her interaction Viserys, whose shadow she steps out from under.

[Mesanna]

Timba, I loved Arya too! I thought she was absolutely outstanding and just owned the role.

There were parts I could have done without. There's a certain info-hump scene with Littlefinger (I think maybe Episode 7??) that was over the top and completely out of character (not that the TV audience would know, though), but aside from little niggles like that, I thought the TV series was fantastic.

I'm hoping they tone down the sex-for-the-hell-of-it a teeny bit in the next season.

Monday night!! (in the UK) Can't wait!