A Game of Thrones - TV Show Discussion Thread

[MikeH]

As someone who hasn't read the book:

It's an incredibly hard job to introduce SO many characters, give us an idea of their personalities and how they fit together, and also tell such a large amount of plot in only an hour.

As someone said, many dramas would have required 2 hours to do the same. But still, it didn't feel rushed, and I have at least a vague idea who everyone is. And most importantly, I'm very interested in what's going to happen next. So they did a great job.

[Bosh]

Well considering how many characters they squeezed into the first episode, I think we can be excused. We got to see Joffrey looking like a twit and Sansa going ga-ga for him so that's established and Theon can be dealt with later without messing anything else up.

But there's just so much **** going on in the ten chapters they decided to cover that it's hard to avoid leaving stuff out, so in order to get people who know who most of the cast was I thought some of the characterization came across as a bit un-subtle (this is the BASTARD, he is a BASTARD this is the DWARF he likes WHORES, yup he really likes WHORES). Reviewers (who've screened the first six episodes) say that the first was the weakest of the first six.

[Jon Miller]

Also Joffrey (crown price kid) and Theon (the no name guy who wanted to kill the wolves) got their bits in this part of the story cut out. In the book Theon kicks the rolling head and smirks. He's a piece of work...

Considering the importance of both later... isn't this a bad thing?

JM

[MikeH]

Stark even sounds a bit like York.

[MOBIUS]

I thought it was great.

In 1 hour we had

Spoiler:

ritualised mass murder, murder for political advantage, execution, whoring, a fight to the death over a woman, rape in marriage, incest, casual infanticide

Amazing.

When you put it like that, what's not to like!?

Especially when you get to 'double bill' it with the latest Spartacus, like I did...

[Bosh]

Very much so. They condensed a lot of stuff (future episodes should be less condensed) and simplified a bit here and there and a few little bits were added but the main differences is that the Others/White Walkers were more badass/creepy in the book (they cut the ****ing sword fight!) and the marriage scene was less rapey...

Also Joffrey (crown price kid) and Theon (the no name guy who wanted to kill the wolves) got their bits in this part of the story cut out. In the book Theon kicks the rolling head and smirks. He's a piece of work...

[Jon Miller]

Is it pretty true to the books?

JM

[Bosh]

I'd let the dwarf do it.

Stuff like this is so freaking hilarious when you know what will happen to those two characters.

The author was born in Jersey, and not really loosely based on anything.

Vaguely inspired by The War of the Roses. Vaguely. Each family (of Starks and Lannisters is a big like either the Yorks or the Lancasters (Lannister even sounds a bit like Lancaster...)
Robert = Edward IV etc.
An exceedingly awesome character = Warwick.

I thought it was great.

In 1 hour we had
Amazing.

That's a slow start compared with what happens in some of the latter episodes Keep on watching

Yes I know. In the book the Queen was on top I think.

They were both standing up, her backed against a wall.

[Bosh]

Note to people who haven't read the books: Lecherdwarf (Tyrion) and tomboy Stark daughter (Arya) are probably the two most popular characters among readers of the books, the fact that they both have actors that seem like they can carry the parts is cause for much rejoicing. They both have miles of awesome and heartache in store for them...

[Heraclitus]

I've never read the books, or even heard anything about them before, so I admit to being a wee bit confused by all the characters and backstory they tried to stuff into the show. So, please correct me if I am wrong, but...

Was that the queen and her brother ****ing doggy-style at the end, or did I take too much allergy medication?

Yes I know. In the book the Queen was on top I think.

Delightful! And the roguish dwarf brother serves as their fluffer?

Anyone else here found the imp's whores awesome? I hope they keep them as hot through the series.

Nice one, Cort.

I'm interested, but not sold. I've never read the books. It's the first episode, with lots of intoductions, so I'll cut it some slack. It's also HBO, which allows me to cut some more slack and also roll my eyes a bit at the gratuitous T&A (T&A is nice, don't get me wrong, but there's ways of doing it right and ways of doing it just so you can do it, 'cause you're HBO, b*tches!). The marriage consumation scene was effing disturbing.

They've actually toned it down from the book. For example in the book the scene with Eddard in the bed where the monk guy comes in, Catlyn is naked and aching from ... guess.

[MikeH]

I thought it was great.

In 1 hour we had

Spoiler:

ritualised mass murder, murder for political advantage, execution, whoring, a fight to the death over a woman, rape in marriage, incest, casual infanticide

Amazing.

[Docfeelgood]

I haven't see it yet. And when you read the books.... I didn't make that connection when I first read them. All I thought was 'typical medieval setting'.

but are there not dragons and demons?

[Docfeelgood]

Sure, rah, but the flavor is English (the tons of English actors & accents help w/that ). Not that that's a bad thing. I don't mind that at all.

-Arrian

If you're able to understand what they speak

[Arrian]

Perhaps you're right. Or perhaps what you think of as "typical medieval setting" is, well, English. It is for me.

-Arrian

[rah]

Sure, rah, but the flavor is English (the tons of English actors & accents help w/that ). Not that that's a bad thing. I don't mind that at all.

-Arrian

I haven't see it yet. And when you read the books.... I didn't make that connection when I first read them. All I thought was 'typical medieval setting'.