It’s not pandering. It’s what TV studios do. They make shows. They send copies to reviewers. Just like game companies make games. They send them to reviewers. There’s a professionalism in that. The reviewers helped make GOT what it is. That first season wasn’t great, numbers wise, but the critical acclaim really helped. HBO respects that. They want it. It’s all about being the most prestigious network on TV. There’s a reason they trumpet all those Emmy nominations each year, more than any other network. Plus, all shows must die. There will be future shows that need reviewing. It’s never wise to shit where you eat.
This is the first season it’s leaked. I’m sure if they figure it out, they’ll crack down hard on the person responsible.
For a brief moment during the initial opening scene when we are watching some feet walk through mud in the woods - I thought we were going to see Lady Stoneheart on her way to hanging some Lannisters/Freys. I almost had a goose bump about how awesome that would have been.
I know it’s a dead horse but with all the extra stuff that is crammed in, isn’t there room just for a little fan service? I mean we’re spending so much time with Brienne and her arc ends up with Lady Stoneheart, right?
So much for the ironborn and Aegon as well, Tyrion is heading straight to Mereen. I suppose neither can be helped given time constraints, although one wanders if some of the ironborn story could have taken place instead of all of that Theon torture porn.
Loras has been behaving like a boring predictable fop which is entirely on the show. He’s been in the series since season one and they haven’t managed to do something interesting with him. In the show, he’s supposed to be an amalgamation of both his role and his brother Garlan, surely there is something more to him than kissing boys in bed. Didn’t he train Tommen some in the books?
Baelish and Sansa are heading out of the Vale - looks like to Winterfell. I hope the showrunners know what they are doing as seems like a major departure from the source.
Looks like Arya shows up next week. Expect a lot more departures from the book. And yeah, young Cersei super nails it.
— Alan
Menzo
5904
About the leak: there is no studio in the world that thinks their DVD screeners won’t leak. HBO was not shocked or surprised, other than perhaps that it took so long. Having the first four episodes leaked in shitty low res on the day of the season premier is not going to hurt them. I imagine we’ll get a press release about subscriber numbers for HBO Now in a few days, if not tomorrow.
I liked the episode. No, not everything is scintillating, but there’s still a lot to like. Stannis/Jon/Mance was my favorite part. It’s kind of funny in a sad way, three men, good men, locked onto boneheaded paths by their personal codes of conduct. Each willing to tell the others what he should do, but not a one will listen to the others when they do the same in return. The three, working together, could have squared the whole country away in no time.
It’s the essence of tragedy in the classic Greek sense, according to some analysts, IIRC: good people, who feel they have right on their side, coming to clash. It’s of the essence that each of their positions must seem reasonable and correct in itself; and also, that they be people of such integrity that they must make their deeds follow their words, regardless of their personal preferences (like not being burned alive :) ).
Reasonable scene-setting first episode, re-familiarizing ourselves with the characters and scenarios.
I like the flashback - but it reminded me, as with all these kinds of things that are in pov chapters, or are visions or prophecies; they’re going to have to get their arses into gear re. the whole “who’s Jon’s mother?” thing. I doubt anybody’s even thought of that since season 1, and the showrunners will need to remind the audience of that. I guess the Dorne connection’s going to be used for that (at some point we simply have to hear about that Tower of thingy and thingy).
Nesrie
5907
I’ve never stopped worrying about that. I am also a book reader though, but I started the series after watching the show, not before, and I am not caught up yet with the books.
HBO strategy is going to work perfectly on me. They had a free preview for this weekend. I’ll subscribe to HBO in 2 weeks for 2 months for both this and Silicon Valley,and last year I had to pirate the finale rather than wait for Netflix, but overall it get additional revenue that they wouldn’t get if they just put them all out at once.
This season snuck up on me. I’ve only read the first three books. I’m thinking about doing the 2 month HBO Now dance in a couple weeks and watching it on TV before I read the fourth book.
Any opinions from book readers on that plan?
Vesper
5911
At this point, you’ve read the good books. Just watch the show from now on.
I wouldn’t be too concerned about when you read the rest of the books. Vesper is right. The first three are the best. Additionally, the later books split the narrative along the same timeline, so you’d really be pushing to read the next two books to get “caught up” to where the readers are.
On top of that, the show already has storylines that have surpassed the material presented in the novels, so there’s no rush anyway. HBO’s show is already outpacing the published story.
Am I mostly safe reading this thread now as someone caught up on the show, but never having read the books?
rowe33
5914
I’m pretty sure you’re safe - it’s more confusing at this point to have actually read the books, given the changes they’ve made. I was definitely not expecting that arrow from Jon at the end.
Vesper
5915
Actually- I was trying to remember - how did that play out in the books?
No arrow. Just burning. Except, you know… Spoiler spoiler then spoiler! Plus, the spoiler.
Vesper
5917
Ok, I’ll look it up. Been too long since I read it. :)
rowe33
5918
I had to look it up too. I knew something was off in the show but forgot the exact particulars until I double checked!
Mr_Zero
5919
Telefrog is spreading misinformation, he may be one of the Spider’s creatures.
Within three heartbeats the whole pit was aflame. Clutching the bars of his cage with bound hands, Mance sobbed and begged. When the fire reached him he did a little dance. His screams became one long, wordless shriek of fear and pain. Within his cage, he fluttered like a burning leaf, a moth caught in a candle flame.
Jon Snow had seen enough. “Now,” he said.
Ulmer of the Kingswood jammed his spear into the ground, unslung his bow, and slipped a black arrow from his quiver. Sweet Donnel Hill threw back his hood to do the same. Garth Greyfeather and Bearded Ben nocked shafts, bent their bows, loosed.
One arrow took Mance Rayder in the chest, one in the gut, one in the throat. The fourth struck one of the cage’s wooden bars, and quivered for an instant before catching fire. A woman’s sobs echoed off the Wall as the wildling king slid bonelessly to the floor of his cage, wreathed in fire. “And now his Watch is done,” Jon murmured softly. Mance Rayder had been a man of the Night’s Watch once, before he changed his black cloak for one slashed with bright red silk.
Hah, those books sound silly.
