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message 1: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments So, its almost been a week and no discussion.

So....

What did you folks think?
Did anyone watch it?
What about the casting choices?


message 2: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Well
It was a bit slow, I did enjoy it
I watched it with my oldest kid and wife and I am not sure if they liked it or not. Guess I will find out when I make them watch episode two.

I read the book quite a while ago so some of the plot has been forgotten about. This episode was the set up. We meet everyone.
I liked to see Jon Snow and Tyrion come alive. I liked those characters. The casting choice for Tyrion was perfect.


message 3: by Paul (new)

Paul  Perry (pezski) | 228 comments Got to agree about Tyrion; as soon as i saw Peter Dinklage was cast i knew he would be. I wasn't sure about Mark Addy beforehand, but thought he was spot on. Sean Bean was solid, but without a director like Peter Jackson to inspire him he's not a great actor. The younger characters and the female characters haven't had a chance to do much yet, so i'll be watching them with interest.

A little slow, i agree. i wonder if HBO should've gone for a feature length opener to get things rolling, although then perhaps there would have been the temptation to cram too much in. hopefully the audience know they're in this for the long haul. Knowing what was coming with Bran it's difficult to know the impact (no pun intended) this would have on people unfamiliar with the books. I'd be interested to hear what everyone thinks.


message 4: by Shel, Moderator (new)

Shel (shel99) | 3140 comments Mod
*sigh* wish we had HBO...it's just too expensive to justify for us...

waiting anxiously for the DVD release. Hope it doesn't take TOO long.


message 5: by Paul (new)

Paul  Perry (pezski) | 228 comments i know, if only there were some way to watch other than HBO (or Atlantic here in the UK)...

ahem


message 6: by Mach (new)

Mach | 15 comments You can watch it here guys http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/pl... if you have slow internet just press the pause button and wait some minutes, i usually wait half an hour, so the video doesn't stop in the middle of an exciting scene.


message 7: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Xu (kxu65) | 372 comments Machavelli wrote: "You can watch it here guys http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/pl... if you have slow internet just press the pause button and wait some minutes, i usually wait half an h..."

Nice, the link actually works!


message 8: by Sandi (new)

Sandi (sandikal) | 338 comments If I hadn't read the book, I would have been totally lost and confused. My husband kept asking me questions like "Who's that?" and "What's going on?". He didn't get that the couple that Brand saw doing it in the tower were brother and sister. If you missed one bit of dialogue, you were lost. I noticed that they also made the kids about 2-3 years older in the series than in the book. They also left a lot out of the Dany's storyline.


It was like skimming the book.


message 9: by [deleted user] (new)

The couple in the tower at the very end were brother and sister?? I completely missed that. I haven't read the books, so I think I'll have to watch each episode twice to follow all that's going on.


message 10: by Mach (new)

Mach | 15 comments Or you can read the book...


message 11: by [deleted user] (new)

I've heard the show has already been renewed for a second season, which I was glad to learn.


message 12: by Kevin (new)

Kevin Xu (kxu65) | 372 comments kate wrote: "I've heard the show has already been renewed for a second season, which I was glad to learn."

Well I was assumpting that was going to be the case when I saw the outline for the second series around January this year.


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

I think the show has sparked great interest in the books ...all the copies at my local libreay are now on hold, even the hardcover copies. I think people had the same reaction that I did, which is that the show would be enjoyed much more by those who've read the books.


message 14: by Jackie (new)

Jackie (thelastwolf) I thought the premiere episode was fantastic. It was everything I hoped it would be.


message 15: by Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover (new)

Kathi | 4330 comments Mod
I have not read the books and do not have HBO, but could check out that link. My problem is--do I want to watch the show w/o having read the books?

I have the books but am waiting till Martin finishes the series before reading them.


message 16: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments hmm good question. I have begun to do the same. I read the first 3 books but have now stopped. Watching a "making of" Martin was talking and he mentioned he has been writing the series since 91. So the slow pace of the publishing and writing of the books.
Anyway. bit off topic.
Its personal taste. You will be spoiled.


message 17: by Batsap (new)

Batsap | 7 comments I haven't read the books but I watched it. I thought it was pretty easy to follow what was going on... but maybe that was because I had my boyfriend, who has read the books, filling in background info during the breaks. Visually it was lovely - if a bit brutal in some places! - and I'm looking forwards to the next episode. Has got me interested in looking out the books too, which can only be a good thing. =D


message 18: by [deleted user] (new)

Kathi, I was wondering the same thing before watching the first episode, but I figured I'll just go ahead and watch it, and whenever I get to reading the first book is good enough.


message 19: by Shel, Moderator (new)

Shel (shel99) | 3140 comments Mod
I can't really say, not having seen any of the show, but there are some fairly shocking/surprising scenes that would lose their impact in the book if you've been spoiled for them in the show. Then again, I suppose the same could be said for the opposite situation...


message 20: by Mach (last edited Apr 24, 2011 10:16AM) (new)

Mach | 15 comments I think you should read the book, no matter how well they do the tv show, they won't be able to recreate the detail's and feeling of the story in the same way as the book. You also don't get to see things from the point of view of the characters in a tv show.


message 21: by Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover (new)

Kathi | 4330 comments Mod
Oh, I DO plan to read the books (at some time in the future). It's just the whole spoiler thing. I usually don't mind if I've read a book first and then see a movie (like Harry Potter), but going the other way? I don't know.


message 22: by Helen (new)

Helen I wondered when this link would open. I'm on dreeview in the UK so can't get it but I might check out that link - thanks. I read the first three books thinking it was a trilogy and now like Kathi, am waiting for all parts to be published.


message 23: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Episode 2, The Kingsroad

Wow, I really enjoyed this. We get to see the real Joffrey, Cersi and we see what Ned is up against.


message 24: by Ken (last edited May 03, 2011 06:57PM) (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Watched Episode 3, Lord of Snow
This is really growing on me. The first episode was underwhelming for me. Good but guess I was expecting a POW!.

We finally get to see Arya dancing...Jon trying to fit in at the wall, and Tyrion helping him out. Ned and the girls make it to Kingslanding


message 25: by Mach (new)

Mach | 15 comments HODOR Hodor hodor? :)

Where is he?


message 26: by Deedee (new)

Deedee | 136 comments Ken wrote: "So, its almost been a week and no discussion.

So....

What did you folks think?
Did anyone watch it?
What about the casting choices?"


I watched the first, second, and fourth episode. It seems to stay close to the book. The casting all seems spot-on, to the point that characters who were unsympathetic in the book are less so on screen (Viserys, Sansa). I also enjoyed the Dothraki scenes. And, just like he does in the book, Tyrion steals the scene whenever he's in it.


message 27: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments I am really enjoying the series. I do see how people who havent read the books may have a hard time with it. My Son and Wife who started watching it with me were a bit lost. I am afraid to say anything cause I would hate to spoil them


message 28: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Episodes 5 and 6 have come and gone and were, in my opinion. excellent. Tyrion has been brought to the Eryie to face trial for the attempted murder of Bran, Ned is still following in his predecessors footsteps and does discover what is going on.
We also see more of Dothraki and Danys becomes more at one with her new life, while her brother...doesn't with a terrible price.
I cant wait week to week to watch this. The episodes are excellent


message 29: by Helen (new)

Helen It's no good, I'm going to have to reread them all! I can't remember all these people and incidents.


message 30: by Brandt (new)

Brandt Haven't watched it yet, i will wait until the season is finished..
My first thoughts of the cast, after seeing the trailers, was that Arya didn't look like a "horse-face" and Sansa wasnt pretty... (and the age between them seemed exaggerated ?)
Tyrion seemed like a great match...


message 31: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Brandt they all fit perfectly. Sansa and Arya. I cant picture them any differently now.
Helen. I read the first 3 books long time ago and I have only vague recollections of the plot thats part of the charm seeing how things unfold


message 32: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Watched episode 7 and poor Ned is on his way out, Robert is dead, Joffrey is King.

Watching these episodes I just cringe, I didn't quite remember the horror of the downfall of the Starks. Seeing Ned in the throne room I shuddered. Heck, even last weeks "crowning" of Danys Brother gave me the willies


message 33: by Deedee (new)

Deedee | 136 comments Brandt wrote: "Haven't watched it yet, i will wait until the season is finished..
My first thoughts of the cast, after seeing the trailers, was that Arya didn't look like a "horse-face" and Sansa wasnt pretty... (and the age between them seemed exaggerated ?) Tyrion seemed like a great match... ....."


Agree about Tyrion.

I think in the books the age difference between Sansa and Arya was closer than in the HBO series. The actress for Sansa is older. "Pretty" is relative; I remember Sansa from the book to be like the High School Prom Queen, stylishly clothed, and making the best appearance that she could.


message 34: by Deedee (new)

Deedee | 136 comments Ken wrote: "Watched episode 7 and poor Ned is on his way out, Robert is dead, Joffrey is King.

Watching these episodes I just cringe, I didn't quite remember the horror of the downfall of the Starks. Seeing N..."


Because I've read the book, I know when those scenes are coming, and since I've been watching the series "on demand" and not live, I can fast forward through the cringe-worthy parts, and pick up viewing when the next scene appears.


message 35: by Helen (new)

Helen I read the first 3 ages ago and don't remember them in great detail. I can't get the channel so am not watching but a friend said it's bordering on porn. Any comment?


message 36: by Deedee (new)

Deedee | 136 comments Helen wrote: "I read the first 3 ages ago and don't remember them in great detail. I can't get the channel so am not watching but a friend said it's bordering on porn. Any comment?"

Your friend is right, particularly in the first episode. I was re-reading the book at the same time. In the book, there would be a passing reference to, say, Tyrion standing up and leaving his mistress's bed; the HBO series "showed" alot more detail than that, including nearly naked actors. Ditto for the Daenerys scenes and the Jaime Lanister scenes.


message 37: by Helen (new)

Helen No wonder it's so popular!


message 38: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Episode 7 had a whole scene of Littlefinger "training" some new women for his bordello, quite....disconcerting while watching the scene.


message 39: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Well, Well Well. Watched the latest episode and it ended with a.....swing. Again. Even though I knew it was coming I still hoped it wouldn't happen.
Another excellent episode.
Once the series got over the explanations, all the history if the characters etc it gets quite good.
I think season two will be very good.

The final episode is tonight


message 40: by Bill (new)

Bill (kernos) | 334 comments I just finished season 1 on blu-ray. IMO, a superior, if not the best done political fantasy in movies or TV and the real fun has not yet started, if I remember the books correctly.

Now the long wait for season 2 to come out on DVD...


message 41: by Helen (new)

Helen I watched the first 2 episodes on a Lovefilm dvd and went out and bought the box set, it's really good.


message 42: by Ken (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Season two started last week and it was excellent. Cant wait to see more


message 43: by Helen (new)

Helen I didn't think I'd remembered much of the books but it's surprising how much I'm remembering. Read them so long ago too.


message 44: by Ken (last edited Apr 20, 2012 02:42PM) (new)

Ken (ogi8745) | 1430 comments Episode 2, wasnt bad, too much sex and boobs though (I cant believe I just said that.) Episode 3 was simply awesome.

There is a great SNL skit about all the sex in the show
http://gawker.com/5902076/snl-explain...


message 45: by Helen (new)

Helen I shall wait for the season 2 box set! Wonder when book 6 will appear.


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