HBO: Game of Thrones

[rhinohide]

New extended Trailer Major Spoilers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2ZNaLQD60Y

Edited February 18, 2014 by rhinohide

[rhinohide]

Cool fan made trailer for GOT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QyCmG7EVsQ

Edited February 25, 2014 by rhinohide

[rhinohide]

Based on this promo, and the posters, it appears the remaining Starks will remain very central in the upcoming season.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/25/game-of-thrones-exclusive-season-4-stark-family-posters-and-teaser-reveal

[DRW50]

I'm watching this through Netflix (which means I get to hear the commentary too, which is nice). I just finished episode 4.

I'm not unspoiled, although I don't know every detail to come.

Overall I enjoy the show. The casting for the Starks was superb, especially Michelle Fairley as Catelyn. Catelyn's insecurities course through her and eat at what is a very intelligent and at times very kind woman. She's such a rich character, and bleeds charisma and intensity in every scene. The only casting I think comes close is Sean Bean as Ned (amazing, amazing, amazing), and Lena Headey and Nikolas-Coster Waldjau as Cersei and Jaime - these characters should be loathsome (especially with the way Jaime runs people down to make himself feel more important), but the acting is sublime and nuanced in ways I can't describe.

By and large the casting is fine, especially when the writing is there. I must say I was very disappointed by Aiden Gillen as Littlefinger. He's smarmy and obvious from the start, thus making Ned and Catelyn seem gullible for believing his spin. This helped make Catelyn taking Tyrion prisoner seem more rushed and inexplicable, which is a shame. I can see why George Martin said he was disappointed with how Littlefinger came across on the show. I remember GIllen being very smarmy and obvious on the little I watched of the UK QAF, but this isn't the same role...

I feel a little sorry for Emilia Clarke, because she's good as Dany, if unpolished at times, but the whole story is so murky and offputting, especially the message of rape turning to love and empowerment through rape (and apparently some of this would have been even worse if the actors hadn't dealt with some of it during filming). Her brother makes me cringe with his histrionics that just OTT and false. That scene he had with Louise from Hollyoaks where she was turned on by talk of dragons was so much better than anything else he's had in these episodes - in that moment I saw the actor's talent. The way it's filmed also feels very cheaply done - it reminds me of a porny version of Xena or Hercules, mixed in with the Solid Gold "native" dancers who have boobs! and kill each other! Poor Jason Mamoa with that shoe polish on his face that throws me out of his scenes. Otherwise he's been decent and complex. I do like the basic concepts of Dany's empowerment (even if it was through rape - ugh), family history, the dragons, her insane father and the jagged throne that cut him over and over (brilliant imagery...), so I am hoping that things will pick up.

At first I struggled with Arya and Tyrion because the writing for them was a little too precious for me, but I've grown to care more about them. Everything with Tyrion felt very one note (he's an imp! he likes the common people but lashes out because of what life has done to him! and so forth), but the scenes with Jon on the wall went a long way toward making me care about him. Jon has such a purity as a character, an innate goodness, and it goes a long way to help make the stories of him helping the poor and weak on the wall more palatable and less like some sort of elitist fairy tale (that and Tyrion pointing out to him that he's had opportunities they never had). I do hope the long monologues from wall people hating the winter will stop soon - the best monologue on winter was that incredible story from Old Nan, moment that made me just stop and stare at the TV, the whole thing was so perfect.

Edited February 28, 2014 by DRW50

[YRBB]

It's exciting to read your thoughts as you discover the show! I recognize a lot of them as what I experienced back then.

Meanwhile, I've been reading A Storm of Swords. What a great book!

It's been making me rethink Season 3 (which I thought was a great season) and how, in hindsight, Theon's torture porn doesn't seem as bad as it did in a once-a-week basis.

Edited March 2, 2014 by YRBB

[Vee]

I'm getting to Season 3 as we speak. Good times.

Edited March 2, 2014 by Vee

[Vee]

Just wanted to add: Catelyn's speech in Episode 2 of Season 3 is jawdropping. I had no idea she felt that way - I thought the subject of Jon Snow was profoundly sealed and vaulted deep within her mind. That was incredible work from Michelle Fairley, who hadn't gotten as much to do in Season 2.

The Tyrells - the women, anyway - seem very, very smart. They're a lot cleverer than not only Joffrey but also Cersei, who to me has seemed utterly at a loss and often flailing about since the glory of her early victories in the first season faded. She knew a few tricks from being raised by her father, she'd gotten comfortable manipulating things under Robert, but with an uncontrollable son she helped coronate, and faced with people her equal if not smarter (not the least of which is Tyrion), she's been struggling to stay afloat. Be careful what you wish for.

[Cheap21]

I got the S3 bluray and I'll have to make my way through it. Over a month to go so I have time. I want to try the books but with us about to start S4, that seems intimidating at this point

[ThePrinceOfSunspear]

You should def give the first one a try though Cheap! I love the books so much more than the television show but the tv show is amazing itself for having brought the characters to life in such an authentic way (for the most part). Plot issues aside and little quirks here or there I do think GoT is pretty amazing.

[YRBB]

The showrunners' plan is for the show to last 7 seasons.

Hmmmm not sure how they'll achieve that when it took a whole season to tell less than half of book 3. But perhaps, once they finish with season six, they'll skip whatever storylines they feel are necessary and get to the end point. Then again, it might not be that impossible, especially since they know the end of it. The problem there being, of course, that I don't think they'll be allowed to end the show in the same way as the books before the books are published.

I'd be perfectly happy with 10 seasons, though

http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/03/11/game-of-thrones-7-seasons/

Edited March 12, 2014 by YRBB

[quartermainefan]

 )

Edited March 12, 2014 by quartermainefan

[ThePrinceOfSunspear]

New trailer is interesting but overall I have no idea what they're thinking in terms of ending in 7 seasons. The books themselves probably don't have an ending and yet they're somehow going to wrap it up.

That's completely fine but I hope they clear it up and explicitly say that this is an alternate universe or something. Cuz I refuse to believe anything they show in this upcoming season in terms of storyline....

[DRW50]

PrinceofSunspear, I know you've talked some about the books vs shows. I'm sure you don't want to rehash that, so I won't ask you to, but have you ever watched those videos of the woman on Youtube with the pink hair and the robot? She vents a lot about that subject. I don't agree with all she says (I don't hate Sansa), but it's interesting.

I'm on way to finishing up season 1...in a while I guess, as I am watching through Netflix. I just finished the one yesterday where Ned was arrested.

(I'm mostly spoiled up to late season 3 and some of the book stuff, although watching is different than reading)

[ThePrinceOfSunspear]

I haven't really looked on Youtube for other fans assessment in that regard. Could you provide her name or a link by PM If you don't mind? I would be curious to listen to of them just to see what areas she's concerned about.

I never used to understand why people would get upset about book to movie adaptations but with GoT I'm starting to see to see why it matters to people. When companies and producers or whomever go to such lengths to just tear about the basic foundation of a storyline or a world or a even a character it just boggles my mind. Esp when its such a great story to begin with which doesn't require that much tinkering. I ran across this article on the HuffingtonPost which talks about the 9 essential things that GoT tv fans need to know regarding the books vs the series and its all so true. Yet it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of just how radically different in some ways the show is and how it just ruins the full impact/true meaning of some of the scenes from the book.

[rhinohide]

http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/03/19/game-of-thrones-season-4-cover/