Game of Thrones - HBO part 2 - Part 1

[Matt]

I kind of agree with you, but you gonna admit

Spoiler

that seeing Drogo died and then witness a dragon resting on the shoulder of Daenerys Targaryen were almost as powerful as the beheading of Ned Stark in the finale.

The thing is, I don't really feel as connected to Daenerys. Throughout the season, her arc has been so detached from everything else. I mean, she is connected through her family, obviously but her plot has never really intersected with anyone else directly so it kind of limited my interest. The [blackout]dragon[/blackout] was cool. But it was underwhelming when compared to everything going on in Westeros.

Plus, Ned is really a minor character in the entire series whereas Daenerys is one of the most important. It means more to end it with her than Ned's death.

But from a TV perspective (as I've not read the book), Ned has been the main character and the one I've built a bigger bond with than anyone else. Therefore, his death holds more weight with me.

Oh, slow down there bud. I was of a mind to kill Joff after reading the first one too. But he does serve a purpose in the game and GRRM does do interesting and great things with him in his arc. Don't rush it, it's all good moving forward.

I see. I look forward to seeing how it all plays out. The actor who plays Joffery plays him as such a spoiled, stuck up, arrogant little prick. He makes a great villain because I properly hate him.

 

[Buford The Sly]

The thing is, I don't really feel as connected to Daenerys. Throughout the season, her arc has been so detached from everything else. I mean, she is connected through her family, obviously but her plot has never really intersected with anyone else directly so it kind of limited my interest. The [blackout]dragon[/blackout] was cool. But it was underwhelming when compared to everything going on in Westeros.

There's kind of a reason for that, but the[BLACKOUT] Dragons[/BLACKOUT] do change everything for her.

 

[Matt]

There's kind of a reason for that, but the[BLACKOUT] Dragons[/BLACKOUT] do change everything for her.

Well, I'd assume as much. But again, I don't read the books so I am going from a strictly television standpoint and from that perspective alone, Ned's death was more effective and everything afterward, even the [blackout]dragon[/blackout] felt anti-climactic.

 

[ChickenScratch]

True. But when we are talking important characters then Danny is the rightful heir or at least has the most solid claim. We saw her and her brother trying to build their army to retake her rightful place in Westeros. Now she has an army, an army that will grow. We also have dragons (the sigil of the their house and the first dragons in thousands of years), in a quasi-medieval society, true real magic and real mythical creatures carry a lot of weight. I would get into how the sighting off a comet in a later book freaks everyone out. A comet, is it a sign from a god? Is it bringing in a new ruler-ship? Everybody's got an interpretation ... except the scientific one because they are not up to that point.

 

[smashmode]

Dinklage and game of thrones get globe noms

 

[smashmode]

Will be SHOCKED if Game of Thrones does not win Best Drama if Boardwalk Empire also doesn't win.

 

[Crockett]

The ones that I want to win is either Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones or Homeland, now those are three really great shows.

 

[Poeman]

They are going to give it to Boardwalk...

 

[smashmode]

They are going to give it to Boardwalk...

I could see that, but they awarded them last year. Is BW heads and above everyone else where they will just award it every year? This Isn't Breaking Bad/Mad Men here.

 

[Poeman]

I could see that, but they awarded them last year. Is BW heads and above everyone else where they will just award it every year? This Isn't Breaking Bad/Mad Men here.

Hold that thought bro...I think Breaking Bad breaks through and wins its first best drama...

No joke that is the best show in television and this past season was the best

 

[smashmode]

Hold that thought bro...I think Breaking Bad breaks through and wins its first best drama...

No joke that is the best show in television and this past season was the best

Breaking Bad wasn't even nominated, which is definitely a head scratcher.

 

[Crockett]

It sucks that BB didn't get nominated but BE's second season is great that I could see it winning again.

 

[Poeman]

Breaking Bad wasn't even nominated, which is definitely a head scratcher.

 

[Donut]

Breaking Bad wasn't even nominated, which is definitely a head scratcher.

I am guessing that the voters are The Walking Dead fans & heard about how Breaking Bad ****ed The Walking Dead over with the give us every shows majority of its budget on AMC or we move threat. Hence no nomination

 

[Buford The Sly]

Well, I'd assume as much. But again, I don't read the books so I am going from a strictly television standpoint and from that perspective alone, Ned's death was more effective and everything afterward, even the [blackout]dragon[/blackout] felt anti-climactic.

Well I'll say this. Having read all the books, the first book is kind of a prologue to the whole series. [BLACKOUT]Ned's demise[/BLACKOUT] is more of a spring point for what's coming rather than a climax.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Exactly, it's a catalyst for a lot that goes on. We didnt see many of the major events before, like the seizing of the throne or the king's death.

 

[Matt]

Well I'll say this. Having read all the books, the first book is kind of a prologue to the whole series. [BLACKOUT]Ned's demise[/BLACKOUT] is more of a spring point for what's coming rather than a climax.

Exactly, it's a catalyst for a lot that goes on. We didnt see many of the major events before, like the seizing of the throne or the king's death.

Again, I get all of this but it isn't the book. It is a different medium. It is television. The rules are different. In literature, it is easy to develop multiple strands, no matter how seemingly detached. On television Ned was the character who had the strongest connection to the audience, Jon after him probably. Dany was pretty low on the list of characters of interest, so no matter how important she is to the future of the series, right now, Ned's death was the most effective aspect to a VIEWER (not a reader). Everything afterward, to a VIEWER felt 'meh.'

 

[Spidey-Bat]

It's still the same story. Besides, I'm pretty sure Ned had the most POV chapters in the book anyway. Readers still connected to him just as much as viewers did in the show.

 

[El Bastardo]

Yeah, I think most readers tend to identify with Ned primarily as well. He isn't a primary protagonist of the overall series by any means, but he has his role in the first book for some very obvious an dimportant reasons.

Still, narrative is design. And the fact that both the first book and the first season of the show end their narratives with a very specific scene tells all you really need to understand.

 

[nite-owl]

Behind the scenes video of the stunts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9SyjN_AepU&feature=channel_video_title

 

[Raiden]

Yeah, I think most readers tend to identify with Ned primarily as well. He isn't a primary protagonist of the overall series by any means, but he has his role in the first book for some very obvious an dimportant reasons.

Still, narrative is design. And the fact that both the first book and the first season of the show end their narratives with a very specific scene tells all you really need to understand.

And the fact that they cast the most well-known actor of the cast (Sean Bean) and put him in just about every advertisement for GOT also gave off strong perception that Ned Stark was the integral character of Season 1. However, that ended up worked really well since no one who hasn't read the books saw it coming.

 

[OsGom]

I read this series up until Feast of Crows. I found myself loving and hating this series. I love the characters and their developement and Martin's fearlessness (and obvious delight) in killing them. What get's to me, (aside from the fact that Feast of Crows didn't have POV from hardly any of the characters I cared about), was that nothing good or positive ever happens in the story. I can deal with a lot of badstuff but DAMN! None of these characters really get to feel anything close to joy throughout the first 3 books. It kind of makes reading tideous when you start feeling there is nothing to look forward to but more misery.

In general, Martin's writing is frustrating because much of the literary action happens "off stage". Rather than describing events, like battles, he has his characters describe or remember events in hindsight.

The TV series has been great. Great acting and pacing compared to the books. All the big events from the books were well represented. Looking forward to next season.

 

[smashmode]

 

[El Bastardo]

In general, Martin's writing is frustrating because much of the literary action happens "off stage". Rather than describing events, like battles, he has his characters describe or remember events in hindsight.

What? No he doesn't. If they're important, they're present for a POV character to witness at the time they happen, so we can experience them in the moment. If they're not important, or if all that's important about them is the aftermath, we hear about them when a POV character finds out about them.

Take, for example, The Battle of the Whispering Wood from the first book/season. In neither do we witness the actual battle, because it's not important. The only important piece of it is the capture of Jaime Lannister, which is all we see in both the book and the season, albeit with less information in the season. On the other hand, look at certain events in books two and three, and if you've actually read them, you'll know exactly what I was talking about in the first paragraph.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

What? No he doesn't. If they're important, they're present for a POV character to witness at the time they happen, so we can experience them in the moment. If they're not important, or if all that's important about them is the aftermath, we hear about them when a POV character finds out about them.

Take, for example, The Battle of the Whispering Wood from the first book/season. In neither do we witness the actual battle, because it's not important. The only important piece of it is the capture of Jaime Lannister, which is all we see in both the book and the season, albeit with less information in the season. On the other hand, look at certain events in books two and three, and if you've actually read them, you'll know exactly what I was talking about in the first paragraph.

Well there is [blackout]Rickard Karstark's sons being killed which becomes important later on.[/blackout]