TV We've Just Watched discussion
Scifi/Fantasy
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Game of Thrones
I can live with some minor changes but not when it's completely rewriting a character, like they did with Sansa last year and now Theon. Theon was a traitorous weasel and now it's all Balon's idea for what comes next? And the changes aren't consistent, they went to great pains to remind Theon last season that he was a captive, much more than in the book, I understood that was done so non-readers can understand why Theon does what he does later. But now this crap with Balon? The other thing about changes is that some things don't happen til later books and they're revealing it now, for example, Arya telling Gendry who she is, that happens later. My point is, what about the people who haven't read those books yet?
On a positive note, wasn't Ghost awesome?
There was never any doubt. The third book was the absolute best of the series so far, so we're in for one helluva great season. All the books, and TV episodes, are fantastic. They've really done a great job with it all.
You said it, Jackie! I loved the books and I love the series. Can't wait for Martin to tell us what happens next! Write faster, George!!!
I can wait a couple of years as long as he writes them well, as he has been. I take it you read A Dance With Dragons? If not, don't read this spoiler: (view spoiler)
I definitely agree. Jon is one of my favorite characters.
I adore Jon Snow! I like the casting for him too. Kit Harrington fits him perfectly.
Jackie wrote: "I adore Jon Snow! I like the casting for him too. Kit Harrington fits him perfectly."Amen to that.
I'm anxious to see what becomes of Arya, Arry, the girl with no name, etc. She's my other favorite Stark offspring.
I like Bran, but his journey has become too mystical for my taste. I like the court intrigues, the lust for power, the "game of thrones". Bran's story line is getting a little more than weird by the end of A Dance With Dragons.
I agree about where Bran's character is going. But this is for the TV show and we're still in Book 2 in the TV series, so I'm still loving that little boy. And while we're on the books, (view spoiler)
I agree with you RE Dany. I want her to get to Westeros already!!! That's when the fun is really going to start.
So what do you think of this season so far? Where they keep to the books, I'm more than pleased. The changes that are happening with characters will have repercussions down the line. I don't think the writers have read all the books, otherwise they'd see how important it is. For example, no Meera and Jojen. Instead we'll get Osha taking over their roles. Two reason why it doesn't work: (view spoiler)
And Jenye Westering is now (view spoiler) I just don't see why this had to be changed.
I'm trying to keep the series separate from the books but it's impossible. Last season was much better because it stayed true to the books for the most part. I wasn't happy about the change of Sansa's character to a more sympathetic one but it was something I could live. This season has too many changes and I fear they'll ruin the series.
I have to agree with you Re the change from M & J to Osha. Unless they decide to give Osha some of Jojen's powers and we just haven't seen them yet, this won't work at all. And who are they going to send off to safety with the youngest Stark. And as for Jeyne, when she appeared on the battlefield I couldn't figure out who she was supposed to be. We didn't see Robb meet her in the books; why did the TV writers decide we needed to see the "meeting" on TV? Just doesn't make sense to me. What do you think of Brianne?
I don't know why they're make some foreign commoner Robb's love interest. Unless it's even more of a slap in the face to Frey. This seems likely since we don't seem to be getting Edmure Tully, so the slight to Frey has to be big for what's to come next season. Though, how that'll take place, I don't know, since it was Edmure's wedding when all the big stuff goes down.I was underwhelmed with Brienne in this episode. I liked her a lot up to now. When she pledges service to Cat, it seemed like she had no idea what to do next, or what to do with herself than any real desire to protect Cat.
I'm loving Jaqen. The actor is perfect in the role.
There's been so many changes that I'm not too happy about. I don't think the writers have read the books because they're making major character changes that will affect future events. I'm not really sure how I feel about this series anymore. I love it because it's GRRM's masterpiece but I'm disappointed that they haven't stuck to the original.
The final two episodes should be good. One thing I'm worried about: (view spoiler)
Agreed. The books are so good that I can't understand why the series writers would want to change anything as long as it can be done on-screen. I've been disappointed in the way they've handled Dany, too. They skipped so much, and combined things and characters who aren't even in the same location in the books. Do I make any sense? At any rate, I'm not as pleased with this season as I was with last season.
You make perfect sense to me because I have the same feelings. Last season was so spectacular, but we had GRRM's input, not this season and it shows.What infuriates me is when they make changes that are not for the better, it's like they're saying to the author, 'You're vision sucks, mine is better' and clearly, it's not. It's arrogant and rude. If they want something different, then do it, but call it by another name.
I tried really hard to not let the changes bother me, but I'm failing.
Tonight's episode was fantastic. This is how it's supposed to be. Probably because GRRM wrote it. I hope he's writing the finale too.
It was really kind of a different kind of episode. Of course, it would have been difficult to switch to different locales when Blackwater was going on. Very well done. Can't wait for the next one.
I thought the finale episode was good but not as good as last weeks episode. The whole episode felt a little busy with so much happening everywhere.I actually prefer the TV shows ending to Dany's storyline here compared to how it went in the book.
It was good to catch a glimpse of the White Walkers at the end but I do wish they had stuck with the book version of events in that case.
Jackie wrote: "I'm loving Jaqen. The actor is perfect in the role. "
Agreed, He is an even better character in the TV show than he was in the books. The other big beneficiaries are Ser Jorah, Joffrey, and Robb Stark.
The White Walker on the horse was awesome but the zombie looking ones were cheap. I liked Dany's story but hated how they did Jon and Halfhand. I just don't think this season measured up to last season, and it's definitely sub-par with the books.
I agree with you, Jackie. Dany's story has changed a whole lot, but it is definitely moving at a much better pace than it does in the books. And Ser Jorah's story hasn't been explored at all yet. I was really looking forward to his encounter with Tyrion on the way to Qarth, which apparently will not happen in the TV series. Some things make the TV series move along at a better pace, but when you mess with story lines too much you destroy some really good stuff that happen in the books. Oh, well. I have to say I much preferred Season 1 over Season 2.
I have stopped comparing the show to the books and look at them as a great way to revisit the books without having to read them all, kind of like a bonus feature you get with a set of DVDs. It helps to pass the time as we wait for the next books. It keeps the stories and the characters alive for me. I enjoyed this season as much as last season and I've loved reading all the comments on GR. We are back to waiting again for another installment of the show but hopefully we will get some good news on the next book too.
I am happy that Dany's story is moving along faster. I started to hate her stalled out story in the books. Tyrion, Jorah and Qarth doesn't happen til later, there's a whole lot that has to happened in ASOS first.
I really tried not to compare. One episode I was chill. The rest, not so much. I wouldn't mind if it was better, or at least made sense but most of the changes don't. Dany's does and I'm glad for that but rest, no. It's not even the scenes being changes, it's the characters. I'm really annoyed at how Jon kills Halfhand because he called his mommy a whore? Get real, writers. Jon has immeasurable control over himself and his emotions. This is not the Jon I know and love. And that's what bothers me most of all.
Don't get me wrong, I still like it but I don't love it like I did with S1.
The show is definitely not perfect. I think the writers for the show are doing a good job with all the material they have. Its a huge task trimming the story down for TV. I am disappointed in Jon's story too but I love Tyrion so much more because of Peter Dinklage. I am sorry there have to be tradeoffs but that's kind of how life works. If it was perfect, this thread would be very dull and we would have nothing to talk about, lol.
Season 1 was perfect, so I know it can be done. Is that a realistic expectation for subsequent seasons? No. lol And sometimes I just like to bitch. They did Tyrion well. Some things they get right, I don't dispute that. You know how I feel about certain characters, and how emotionally involved I get. It's like I take it as a personal affront. Pay no attention to my crybaby fits, they pass, lol
I don't think you are having a crybaby fit. You just have higher expectations than I do. I was prepared to be disappointed and I wasn't, lol.
I really am having a crybaby moment. Funny how in real life I rarely do, only in fantasy. What a loon. lolYou're right that I had high expectationd...but I have to blame GRRM for writing last season; it got me to expect more of the same. Now if only they screwed up last season, I'd have expected more of the same. It's all their fault! lol
Just think if GRRM wrote all this season's episodes, we would never get the next book! We do have to make some sacrifices.
Honestly, I would make that trade off. If he can waste time on blogging about football so the books get pushed back year after year, I'd make the sacrifice.For the books, I'm really not expecting a new one for another 4 years anyway. He can say it'll be forthcoming and that's great, but I'll believe it when I see it. I don't mind him taking a long time because I'd rather have quality and if that takes longer then I'm good with it.
With that said, in a perfect world the books would be completed and he'd be writing the show.
A man can write.
A girl can dream.
Jackie wrote: "A man can write.
A girl can dream. "
Well said
Inspired by Jaqen H'ghar lolAnd speaking of Jaqen, the actor did a fabulous job. Jaqen is an intriguing and favorite character.
I found this, quite interesting and I would love for it to be true, as I love Syrio as well:
http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/mlarchiv...
I can blow gaping holes through the cons of the article so I'm not as convinced as the author that it can't be true, I think it's as possible as anything else in this series.
Thanks for posting, Jackie. My reason to disbelieve would be based on his disappearance from the story since then. When Arya gets to Bravos, I would think there would have been some kind of indication that one of the people she meets there has some connection with Jaqen or Syrio, but I don't recall a reference of any kind. Even the magic words didn't lead her to Jaqen, Or am I misremembering something? I've slept many times since completing that particular book.
You're remembering correctly. But there's also a strong indication that Jaqen is now (view spoiler)I am willing to bet anything that we haven't seen the last of Jaqen...whatever his name may be now. One of the most intriguing characters ever, no way is he just dropped from the story. There's so much subtlety to GRRM's writing, he isn't always linear or clear.
Well good news is that we get free hbo this weekend including thier on demand so I get to watch season 2 in it's entire.
That is awesome! I can't wait for you come back and tell us what you think. BTW, did you read the books? Just curious.And you'll be able to see the first episode of True Blood on Sunday night. If you watch it.
I read the first book and loved it. I'll read book 2 after I finish the 2nd season. Book 2 will be broken into 2 seasons right?
No, book 2 is complete with season 2. Book 3 will be broken into two seasons. And that's the book you really want to read first, best one of the series...so far.
Okay cool thanks for that. I'll read book 2 & 3 back to back so I'll be ready for next year.True blood has the last 7 eps of last season so I'll watch them before the premire.
Cool. You'll have lots to watch this weekend.
Well I got game of thrones watched and it was awesome.Now let me get this stright there are two forces in the north the wildlings and the undead army we saw at the end am I right?
Also I was hoping that the seig would've been longer.
Yes there are two types of beings beyond The Wall. Three, technically. 1. Wildling. Humans who happen to be born beyond The Wall.
2. Others. Blue-eyed blackened hands Ice beings, who are not dead, despite what they look like.
3. Wights. The dead who are touched by an Other, for all intents and purposes, zombies.
Others use Wights as their 'army', for lack of a better word.
Read A Clash of Kings for a much better battle on Blackwater Bay. This was nothing, compared to the book. Read it for a far superior story than what you've seen here.
Yes, in the last episode, they were walking along with the Other. The Other was the cool looking thing on the horse; the wights look like zombies, with nasty open wounds. Most of them were wights. I only saw the one Other for sure. I have to watch it again and take better notice. I was looking out for something to happen...but of course it didn't, as per usual this season, leave out all the good stuff.
Okay thanks I am going to reread the first book and then read the others.
How long ago did you read AGOT?
TV We've Just Watched
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Warriors (other topics)Legends (other topics)
Legends Volume 2 (other topics)
A Game of Thrones (other topics)
A Clash of Kings (other topics)
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I agree with everything you said, especially the changes. I am watching the show with my husband who hasn't read the books. He keeps asking questions that I don't have answers to. He doesn't care about spoilers.