Game of Thrones - Book Readers' Thread - - - - - - - - Part 25

[DACrowe]

The fact that we didn't get Theon in front of the heart tree begging the Old Gods for forgiveness is really big missed opportunity, dramatically speaking.

Yes, I feel like both the levels of pathetic despair Theon fell in as well as the sorrow for it was lost on the show. Both due to the runtime and the fact that when paired with Sansa Stark, it immediately stops becoming his story and it turns into hers. Although, in the long run, I have been pleased with the choice to send Sansa back North early. (Ask me again if they make her an accomplice to Littlefinger against Jon in Season 6 and I might think differently).

But yes, it feels like we lost something of Theon's story in Season 5. I would also say time restraints did real harm to Jon Snow's story in Seasons 2 and 3.

 

[Reek]

adding to Reek's chapters... it never felt like winter in the show. it was dark, dreary, frankly it was kind of scary reading the what the atmosphere was like... all dark... random murders happening all over... gates covered in ice...deep snow... theon just walking around was fantastic.. visiting robbs room... etc...

They also didn't have the big Roose/Reek chapter with Lady.... Hornwood? I dont remember exactly... where he breaks down saying his name is reek

 

[Marvolo]

adding to Reek's chapters... it never felt like winter in the show. it was dark, dreary, frankly it was kind of scary reading the what the atmosphere was like... all dark... random murders happening all over... gates covered in ice...deep snow... theon just walking around was fantastic.. visiting robbs room... etc...

They also didn't have the big Roose/Reek chapter with Lady.... Hornwood? I dont remember exactly... where he breaks down saying his name is reek

Yeah winter in the North is pretty damn unnerving in the books. Martin knows how to set the scene.

Im hoping this season does a little bit of that Ghost of Winterfell stuff with

Spoiler

Arya killing Littlefinger and maybe Mel. The viewers will know she did it, but I'd like Littlefinger to turn up murdered for all the castle's occupants to see and for Arya to cultivate that tension and creepiness to ensure everyone knows that anyone that betrays Jon will suffer the same fate.

Make the snows deep, freeze the gate and castle, shorten the days really go all out with the oppressive winterland.

 

[Reek]

"Yellowfinger"

 

[Victarion]

Between Martin's description of Winterfell and the madness running rampant through Essos, like how those Essoi dug up one of their old kings, armored his corpse up and tied it to his horse, there's a strong sense that the end is near. I've missed it in the show.

 

[TheFuture]

The show did a good job on in conveying the **** storm Stannis faced in his March towards Winterfell. I guess the 20 good men crap was just a symptom of having to tell a tighter if not ludicrous story.

Inside Winterfell though was another story. The combination of Theon's horrific existence, Manderly's gleeful piss taking and Roose slowly coming undone were the highlights of the book for me. The show served up something woefully substandard in comparison.

I don't know how to take the pink letter in the book. Before it things seemed beautifully poised in the battle for Winterfell. I'd be disappointed if it was skipped over.

 

[Reek]

why would it be skipped over? I doubt it will be... especially with all the theories about who really wrote it etc

 

[TheFuture]

why would it be skipped over? I doubt it will be... especially with all the theories about who really wrote it etc

I was expecting the chronology to fall back into place by the end of ADWD but seemingly that's not the case based on excerpts he has released on WOW.

Jon's final chapter took the air out of me so I only finished the book last night. Are we meant to think that Dany has the flux?

 

[Roose Bolton]

She's literally full of ****

 

[TheFuture]

Yah.

Jon's POV in ADWD is probably my favourite of his in the series. I don't think Jon necessarily made bad decisions moreso his politiking wasn't up to scratch but even then, being diplomatic with Yarwyck and Marsh probably would have yielded the same end result.

One thing that struck me about book Jon throughout is that he never seemed at peace with his vows or with his identity. So him losing his **** in his final POV in ADWD seemed like such a natural progression to me. It was probably the first time I'd say he genuinely made a bad decision as LC but that was the culmination of what I think was years worth of inner turmoil.

I never liked how in the show it took his death, resurrection and then encouragement from Sansa before he began to embrace who he is again.

 

[TheFuture]

I'm going to read this thread from the beginning now, seems the logical thing to do.

 

[Marvolo]

I'm going to read this thread from the beginning now, seems the logical thing to do.

Have you read "A World of Ice and Fire" or " A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"?

 

[Reek]

Yes Reek and Rooses book of McShane is rather informative as well.

Also, Jons chapters capture what we were talking about with Reeks chapters... the dread feeling of winter.

 

[Roose Bolton]

ADWD might not have had a lot of action pieces, but dramatically there was a lot of material that got left on the floor. The Northern storyline got it the worst, but even in Meereen there was stuff that really would have improved what we got in Season 5.

 

[TheFuture]

Have you read "A World of Ice and Fire" or " A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"?

They're on the list. I've started to read the Anno Dracula series now....bit of a come down.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I don't think Arya needs any help getting home at this point, but I actually think it'll be the Hound that goes back with her.

I thought I was in the show thread when I wrote that. I don't think Arya is going to have much to do with Mel. Mel is going to be tied to Jon in the book, more so then the show. She might actually become his adviser.

 

[TheFuture]

I thought I was in the show thread when I wrote that. I don't think Arya is going to have much to do with Mel. Mel is going to be tied to Jon in the book, more so then the show. She might actually become his adviser.

It's a shame that in the show they had to go the route they did with shireen. I really liked the interactions between Mel/Jon. Kit and Carice seemed to have good chemistry.

 

[Reek]

I have hated Carice since the beginning.. but in season 6 she showed a new side that was extremely likable... her scene watching the fire when Davos ask her if she can bring Jon back specifically.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I have loved Carice since the beginning. I was also waiting for her interaction with Jon the most, and I felt like that went rather well. Especially their conversation before the Battle of the Bastards. I was not happy about the separation.

 

[Marvolo]

Whats wrong with Carice?

 

[Roose Bolton]

Carice is pretty much spot on as Melisandre in terms of performance. The character has suffered from bad writing like most of Team Dragonstone, but that's not on her as an actress.

I'm still not sure why exactly they thought it would be a good idea to change Mel from being genuinely regretful and apologetic about the sons Davos lost in the Blackwater to her openly mocking him about it.

 

[Reek]

I should have said Melisandre, and not Carice... I love Carice and in terms of natural beauty, shes the top of the GoT women. I just hated Melisandre in the earlier seasons (as roose said) the writing was dog **** so she did what she could what the steaming pile she was given.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I should have said Melisandre, and not Carice... I love Carice and in terms of natural beauty, shes the top of the GoT women. I just hated Melisandre in the earlier seasons (as roose said) the writing was dog **** so she did what she could what the steaming pile she was given.

The wisest thing Reek has ever said, which is a legitimate feat.

 

[Marvolo]

I should have said Melisandre, and not Carice... I love Carice and in terms of natural beauty, shes the top of the GoT women. I just hated Melisandre in the earlier seasons (as roose said) the writing was dog **** so she did what she could what the steaming pile she was given.

I dont know if Id go so far as to call it dog ****, but yeah, like with many things in the show, show Mel pales in comparison to book Mel.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I feel like the entire Dragonstone crew had their nuance taken from them, and replaced with a very "black and white" take on them. Still, I think Carice has done a really good job getting book Mel in there when she can.