Game of Thrones (HBO)

[graller]

My wife liked this one even more? Maybe she is a blood thirsty Lannister at heart?? She hopes Nymeria is still out there.

So far the best three in terms of bringing the books to life for me?

Tyrion
The Hound
Arya

[Bahimiron]

All these crybabies whining about how bleak the show is make me wonder how the hell Oz lasted six seasons. Some shows say no character is safe, but I’ve never found that to be all that true except in the case of Oz.

Though I guess they did kill the main character of Rome at the end of the first season. Who saw that coming?

[Jazar]

I thought the Nymeria scene needed a little more rock throwing or desperation from Arya though. She threw one rock and that was it, which didn’t seem as heart-wrenching as the way Arya recalled it in the books.

Yeah I was scared for that scene. To get a loyal dog to stop following you it would take a lot more then just one rock, but the emotional impact of stoning your best friend so they would leave would be unbearable to watch.

[Equis]

Though I guess they did kill the main character of Rome at the end of the first season. Who saw that coming?

Guys who read Game of Thrones?

[Octonoo]

Apparently there’s a lot of outrage that Lady was killed off (for example, the two wives earlier this thread).
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/04/25/game-of-thrones-viewer-outrage-over-cute-characters-death/

The actress who plays Sansa, Sophie Turner, adopted the dog who played Lady after the show wrapped.

If this doesn’t quell the outrage, nothing will…

[Telefrog]

Apparently there’s a lot of outrage that Lady was killed off (for example, the two wives earlier this thread).
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/04/25/game-of-thrones-viewer-outrage-over-cute-characters-death/

Throw a 10-year old off a tall building? Cool with it.

Kill a wolf off-screen? I’M DONE WITH THIS SHOW, AMERICA.

Welcome to mainstream sensibilities. YOU CAN NEVER KILL A PET. It’s a rule.

[Tyjenks]

Welcome to mainstream sensibilities. YOU CAN NEVER KILL A PET. It’s a rule.

I am loving it, but keep being reminded how much great material there is in the book that can just not fit into the show. This was probably covered in previews and early press, but in my head, I was thinking that maybe they would make the first book 2 seasons. Now that I think about it, it very well might have dragged. I want to scream to the non-book readers, “Hey, you know what you just missed?!?! Go read the books!!”.

When they got the wolves in the first episode, I just did not see how it was possible for them to show the growing bonds between each wolf and child and they not see either it would seem. The Jon hate was clear and I had forgotten that line, but now that I am reminded, it should would have made a great exclamation point after , “I want you to get out.”. I see everyone’s point about it possibly being overkill, but multiple characters called him bastard multiple times, so they did not let up in establishing that.

So two thumbs up with a third sort of frustrated thumb that I borrowed from my 5 year old. She was asleep and did not notice I was shaking her thumb.

[MSUSteve]

I’m wondering if it will end with Lady’s head coming off. If so, the episode’s going to have to feature Sansa as heavily as the first featured Bran, especially since the first episode didn’t show any of the kids with their dire wolves except Bran. Maybe they could focus a lot on Arya and Sansa, so the audience gets a feel for the differences between the sisters as well as how their wolves have come to be like them, Lady daintily eating cuts of meat at the table while Nymeria gets muddy on her runs with Arya. After all, the loss of Lady comes with the loss of Nymeria.

Yeah I was scared for that scene. To get a loyal dog to stop following you it would take a lot more then just one rock, but the emotional impact of stoning your best friend so they would leave would be unbearable to watch.

I’ve been dreading having to see these scenes since I heard the show was in production. I was weirdly happy that they didn’t have enough time to get me attached to the wolves. It made watching those scenes much easier.

Fantastic. Not sure where to start. The assassin? Tyrion? The Wall? Summer? Lady? The duel by the river. My wife detests the Lannisters as she should by now. Robert still ,ales me angry. This is Ned. Man who put your fat butt on the throne. Stand up to your bloody minded tramp wife already

I was saying this exact thing last night. Robert could’ve stopped the killing of Lady any time, but didn’t. Right then Ned should’ve packed up the kids, his retinue, and the wolf and started back to Winterfell. He came to help his friend Robert, but if Robert can’t even stand with him in that den of vipers, then it’s clearly time to get the fuck out.

Hell, pretty much ANY Tyrion scene rocked. Peter Dinklage is swinging for the fences and knocking them out of the park every single time he’s at bat.

He’s stealing the show.

[forgeforsaken]

He’s stealing the show.

Well considering the character of Tyrion pretty much stole the books it’s sort of how it should be.

[Lizard_King]

The Jon hate was clear and I had forgotten that line, but now that I am reminded, it should would have made a great exclamation point after , “I want you to get out.”. I see everyone’s point about it possibly being overkill, but multiple characters called him bastard multiple times, so they did not let up in establishing that.

I am listening to the audiobooks now after having read them long ago, and I think that scene is really much more about Catelyn in the book rather than Jon. That, along with her perspective on being the King’s Hand in the book and how it showed her as ambitious and ruthless in her own right, was essential to establishing her as a complex character rather than a hero’s appendage or a maternal opposite to Cersei. I haven’t seen the second episode yet, but while I understanding emphasizing the harder edges of characters in abbreviated scenes (such as the Tyrion and Jon during the banquet) for the purposes of the miniseries, this is a direction with Catelyn (wrt to the Hand argument with Eddard) that I’m not sure will be as enjoyable as the one in the book.

Perhaps it’s something they’ll flesh out later, but I always thought the Tullys as written were the ideal “foil” family for both the Starks and Lannisters, and Catelyn their most vocal representative.

[Tyjenks]

He’s stealing the show.

I thought he stole the show in the books, but not until a later one.

EDIT: I was too slow for forgeforsaken :)

[Tyjenks]

I am listening to the audiobooks now after having read them long ago, and I think that scene is really much more about Catelyn in the book rather than Jon. That, along with her perspective on being the King’s Hand in the book and how it showed her as ambitious and ruthless in her own right, was essential to establishing her as a complex character rather than a hero’s appendage or a maternal opposite to Cersei. I haven’t seen the second episode yet, but while I understanding emphasizing the harder edges of characters in abbreviated scenes (such as the Tyrion and Jon during the banquet) for the purposes of the miniseries, this is a direction with Catelyn (wrt to the Hand argument with Eddard) that I’m not sure will be as enjoyable as the one in the book.

Perhaps it’s something they’ll flesh out later, but I always thought the Tullys as written were the ideal “foil” family for both the Starks and Lannisters, and Catelyn their most vocal representative.

I agree with all of that. It can still be good, but I need to try to divorce myself from my expectations for it following the book to the letter. Just not possible in the abbreviated TV format as everyone know. Martin stays away from cliches so well, but as youo say, Catelyn as the weaker one in the marriage who cries for her poor husband is a pretty big departure from the book.

I hope they do move away from this depiction. They do so a bit with the Drogo/Dany dynamic which also departed from the book in the first episode with the initial sex scene.

[mkozlows]

I liked this episode a lot, but I still think it’d work better if they slowed down and let the characters breathe a little. Daenerys in particular goes from being raped again to wanting to be all seductive COMPLETELY out of nowhere in the show. If people hadn’t reminded me that she ends up liking him, I would have been wtfish about that.

[MSUSteve]

Well considering the character of Tyrion pretty much stole the books it’s sort of how it should be.

I thought he stole the show in the books, but not until a later one.

EDIT: I was too slow for forgeforsaken :)

Without a doubt. I was just agreeing that every scene with Tyrion is very enjoyable.

[Telefrog]

I liked this episode a lot, but I still think it’d work better if they slowed down and let the characters breathe a little. Daenerys in particular goes from being raped again to wanting to be all seductive COMPLETELY out of nowhere in the show. If people hadn’t reminded me that she ends up liking him, I would have been wtfish about that.

My wife and I were both a bit stunned by that scene. The way it happens in the books makes sense. Unfortunately, because they really haven’t built up the character of Daenerys much, she went from being a passive victim to suddenly wanting to take charge of her sex life in one scene. It was very jarring.

[Black_Isis]

I finally got to see the pilot and last night’s episode, and man, they were good. The Daenerys stuff was a little jarring, but overall I’ve been really impressed. My parents, both of which haven’t read the books (and my mom is now begging me to let her borrow them) both seem to really be into it – my mother was pretty upset at both endings, but I think she’s slightly forgiven them now that it is clear Bran survives. Whether that will continue once she sees how he survived is unclear. :) They are definitely making me want to read the third book sooner rather than later, since I’ve only read the first two so far.

And yes, Dinklage is running away with the show. If he doesn’t get an Emmy nom at least I will be seriously upset.

[MSUSteve]

My wife and I were both a bit stunned by that scene. The way it happens in the books makes sense. Unfortunately, because they really haven’t built up the character of Daenerys much, she went from being a passive victim to suddenly wanting to take charge of her sex life in one scene. It was very jarring.

I think it’s about Dany trying to establish some identity and seize back some of her power from Khal Drogo. If she’s ever to get what she wants, she needs him to at least respect her. Her only way to do that is to take advantage of their time alone, which is apparently only when it’s time for bed.

Since we’re all reporting what our wives thought, I’ll do so as well. Kellie told me she liked this episode better than the first. I think she’s starting to get a bit of handle on the various people and factions and developing some attachment to the more important character. And of course every scene with Tyrion is a crowd pleaser.

[Bahimiron]

One thing that disappointed me, but is pretty understandable so I don’t knock the show for not having it, was the lack of Renly. I love the part in the book where he laughs so hard at Joffrey’s Lion’s Tooth that Robert kicks him out of the tent.

Anyway, I’m two for two so far. I’m giving myself the second ending since they didn’t bother with the dream. So I’m guessing episode 3 ends with Catelin doing a citizen’s arrest on Tyrion at the ill-fortuned Inn at the Crossroads. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with a double-ending (like what we just saw) and interspersed the Hand’s Tournament over the end of the episode. Or I guess they could go with a happier ending for an episode and have it end with Jon telling Samwell that they’re brothers, which would actually make more sense given the episode title.

I actually kind of wonder if they won’t try and stretch the tourny out a little, since it’s the kind of actiony spectacle people might really enjoy seeing. I just hope that the import of just who Gregor ‘defeats’ isn’t lost in the shuffle, as well as Sandor’s confession and threat to Sansa.

[Woolen_Horde]

One thing that disappointed me, but is pretty understandable so I don’t knock the show for not having it, was the lack of Renly. I love the part in the book where he laughs so hard at Joffrey’s Lion’s Tooth that Robert kicks him out of the tent.

Anyway, I’m two for two so far. I’m giving myself the second ending since they didn’t bother with the dream. So I’m guessing episode 3 ends with Catelin doing a citizen’s arrest on Tyrion at the ill-fortuned Inn at the Crossroads. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with a double-ending (like what we just saw) and interspersed the Hand’s Tournament over the end of the episode. Or I guess they could go with a happier ending for an episode and have it end with Jon telling Samwell that they’re brothers, which would actually make more sense given the episode title.

I actually kind of wonder if they won’t try and stretch the tourny out a little, since it’s the kind of actiony spectacle people might really enjoy seeing. I just hope that the import of just who Gregor ‘defeats’ isn’t lost in the shuffle, as well as Sandor’s confession and threat to Sansa.

It’s weird that they didn’t show the dream, because they have been working on a Three-Eyed Crow. (Just look at the high-res version of the Sean Bean-on-the-Throne poster.) Looks like the TEC shows up later, though.

Renly is coming (yes, in the books he accompanies Ser Ilyn and Barristan the Bold to the Inn at the Crossroads), but he’ll be in King’s Landing.

(Speaking of the Inn at the Crossroads, I had the realization last night that it is the Tatooine of the series. It’s almost hilarious how many times it plays host for such critical events.)

Also, you’re going to whiff next week.

[Telefrog]

I think it’s about Dany trying to establish some identity and seize back some of her power from Khal Drogo. If she’s ever to get what she wants, she needs him to at least respect her. Her only way to do that is to take advantage of their time alone, which is apparently only when it’s time for bed.

I understand that, it’s just there was no build up to it at all. One minute, she’s getting taken yet again, and the next she’s asking her servant to teach her how to please Drogo. It was very off-putting.