HBO: Game of Thrones

[EricMontreal22]

The first 15 mins impressed me. The show LOOKS gorgeous, and my two friends who rant on about how brilliant the books are (and insist that even though I don't like Lord of the Rings, I'll love this) were impressed with the adaptation, so far. I'm def sold for a few episodes.

[Juliajms]

It's nothing like "Lord of the Rings". I can't really understand why anyone makes that comparison, except that both books are well written epic fantasy. Game of Thrones is quite soapy and at least in the first several books there is little magic.

[YRBB]

I'm glad to hear good feedback from the episodes... I was going to watch the preview but I decided to wait for the premiere to see the whole thing. Next week, baby!

[EricMontreal22]

Everyone has though. It annoys the people doing the show as well--but maybe they feel it will get audience?

[Juliajms]

I think it's just a lazy comparison. Everyone knows who Tolkien is, so they go for the easy comparison. I've read both series, so I feel justified in saying they have little in common (size of the books being the major thing). Game Of Thrones is more about politics and sex, especially in the first 3 books. At some point, I think there will be an epic battle of evil vs. less evil, but that is no where near happening yet. Among the human players (and almost every player is human) there are few clear cut villians or heroes.

If GRRM is like Tolkien at all, I'd say its in the ability to write a great, complicated, epic fantasy. The stories themselves are so different, that comparison is all but lost on me. I can't even say which I think is better. I think Tolkien was probably a better writer in the classic sense, while GRRM might be more entertaining to the masses, but that's obviously, jmo.

[EricMontreal22]

(I've never been able to read Tolkien--my dad claims to read the trilogy every year, and my twin sis who is NOT a reader loves them, but I just can't)

[Juliajms]

I think that's understandable. If you aren't into fantasy anyway, there isn't a lot of motivation and the books are dense. I love fantasy, was an English minor, and still found the beginning difficult to get through. After the first 100 pages or so the momentum builds though.

[EricMontreal22]

Growing up till I was 14 or so I read pretty much only fantasy, but somehow missed out on them (and I was an English major but I admit to reading very little fantasy now).

Great New York Times article on the piece this Sunday, but it won't show up online without a subscription...

[YRBB]

It starts tonight! Very excited. I haven't actually planned to sit down and watch a show live in months. Better be worthit!

Edited April 17, 2011 by YRBB

[YRBB]

That was really good. The opening scenes especially were breathtaking and the tone and production of the whole thing was great. Loved that ending. Will definitely be tuning back.

[Juliajms]

I thought it was really good too. Some things seemed a little rushed, but that's to be expected. Overall HBO is doing a good job and whoever is in charge of their promo department is earning his/her keep these days.

[YRBB]

Yes, the promotional campaign has been nothing short of brilliant.

The opening credits were really nice, too.

I hope they can keep this up, I hear it only gets better with each episode. We shall see!

[Bright Eyes]

After watching it, my favourite character so far is the "bastard" son. Plus, I find the actor to be really hot so ...

Does anyone else find it weird watching Mark Addy as the King after knowing him from Still Standing? It'll take some getting used to for me.

That evil blonde haired brother who gave away his sister is SUCH a little toad. That line about giving her up for 40,000 men, etc, was shocking and gross. However, Jason Mamoa (a.k.a hottie #2743 from Baywatch) isn't the worst guy to have to "please."

I want a fox!

LOVED the kid getting pushed out the window (or whatever it was called in those days)! He didn't annoy me at all, but he is a child so I'll expectantly be quite pleased if he dies, but I don't see that happening. His sister is another of my early favourites so far as well. A young Joan of Arc. I usually stay away from shows like this because of the expected misogyny, so I hope they use her well.

As for what I found gross. The beheadings were tame. Not even horror movie grotesque. It was the blowjob scene with Peter Dinklage that made me want to throw up!

I also really like the guy that pushed the kid out of the window. He's amusing. A nice change from all the seriousness.

Edited April 19, 2011 by Amello

[Lucid]

really enjoyed it, didn't disappoint. The wall, the direwovles, the mythology all really well done, pretty true to the first book so far which makes me happy.

Really loving Dani & Arya, Jon and of course Ned.

[Juliajms]

They already decided to give it a second season!

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/04/19/game-of-thrones-season-two-2/