Game of Thrones - HBO part 2 - Part 2

[DACrowe]

They can cut a LOT of AFFC out. [blackout]Like 90% of Brienne's chapters since she goes in a circle having accomplished absolutely nothing[/blackout]

The problem with AFFC is it consists of people sitting around and talking for 90 percent of the book and when it's not that, it's Brienne walking around Westros all confused. I mean there is some good stuff there. Jaime's continuing evolution, Cersei becoming a downright awful Queen (well she already was there, but without giving away spoilers, y'know what I mean) and Sam's adventure. Still, if it's kind of a slog to read, I can't imagine an entire season of it. I think it could be severely condensed into five episodes and intercut with five episodes worth of material from ADWD. Granted, I haven't read ADWD....but still. Either that, or the writers or going to have to start taking some major deviations from the books around Season 5 of the show.

Spoiler

For the sake of chaos, I would have preferred Renly survived long enough to threaten King's Landing.

We were discussing this on another site due to the fact that many people feel Davos is more popular than he has any right to be, an opinion I share; who makes the cut?

Top 5 characters? (Spoiler tags for anyone beyond the scope of the show currently.)

Top 5 favorite characters in the book series? Without giving any spoilers as to why:

1. Tyrion Lannister
2. Arya Stark
3. Jaime Lannister
4. Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger)
5. Sansa Stark

I wanted to put Ned Stark in at #4, but he wasn't around long enough for it to feel right for him to be in the list.

 

[DACrowe]

One last thing. On episode 2 of the new season....

Spoiler

That was really good. After, the crackerjack editing pace of the premiere I was thrown off by a more gingerly pace. Also, by choosing to focus on a few stories (Tyrion, Arya, Jon, Davos/Stannis and Theon) they were able to move those more along. I imagine Tyrion will be in every episode this season due to his importance. Dany may be just because she brings in the ratings (like her 1-minute cameo this upcoming week ), but everyone else may alternate. We may see a brief bit of Jon next week given the cliffhanger and maybe Arya (though I doubt it), but I suspect there will be no trace of Theon or Stannis and instead we may finally be introduced to Renly and see more of Robb's rebellion.

Even so, this is the first time I really have seen the show cover stuff I already read. I saw S1 before I read the books. So, I'm kind of thrown by how quickly they'll condense stuff. It works, mostly like with Gendry finding out about Arya's past right off the bat (though I hope that doesn't mean her escape with him Hot Pies and the other one who dies isn't cut). But I felt like we didn't see enough of the surprising cold welcome Theon got. It also hurts Stannis a bit for me, because we haven't really see him as a strong man of honor/leader. Thus far, we've seen him renounce his religion with impatience and now break his wedding vows after a minute's pestering. I feel we need to know Stannis more as the man of brittle iron before we see that iron breaking.

Anyway, these were just thoughts. It was great to see Yoren kicking ass, Asha make Theon the idiot and most of all Tyrion just owning King's Landing. And letting Jon actually see what the wildling does to his sons instead of just being told by Gilly? A great bit of adapting it for the screen.

My thoughts.

 

[Drizzle]

Top 5 favorite characters in the book series? Without giving any spoilers as to why:

1. Tyrion Lannister
2. Arya Stark
3. Jaime Lannister
4. Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger)
5. Sansa Stark

I wanted to put Ned Stark in at #4, but he wasn't around long enough for it to feel right for him to be in the list.

Mine are:

1. Tyrion Lannister
2. Samwell Tarly
3. Davos Seaworth
4. Ser Jorah Mormont
5. Arya Stark

It would be different if we were talking about the show, though. [BLACKOUT]On the show, Robb is one of my favorite characters but in the books he doesn't have as much of a presence. He's also one of the only two Starks (along with Rickon) who doesn't have any POV chapters.[/BLACKOUT]

 

[smashmode]

Game of Thrones won a Peabody award:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/peabody-awards_n_1402661.html?ref=tw

Peabody writeup: Adapted from dark-age fantasy books by George R.R. Martin, the series immerses viewers in a multilayered, distinctly imagined world of mysticism and earthiness, fidelity and deceit, wonder and mayhem.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

We were discussing this on another site due to the fact that many people feel Davos is more popular than he has any right to be, an opinion I share; who makes the cut?

Top 5 characters? (Spoiler tags for anyone beyond the scope of the show currently.)

I like Davos because we learn about all the new characters from his POV. I also admire his fierce loyalty and devotion to Stannis [blackout]even after the Blackwater[/blackout]

My favorite 5:
Tyrion Lannister
Davos Seaworth
Stannis Baratheon
Jon Snow
Arya Stark

 

[Drizzle]

Accurate.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Have to say, Tyrion and Tywin Lannister steal the show whenever they're on screen. And Varys. Jon Snow, not so much.

 

[conan69]

Books:
Melisandre
Stannis
Tyrion
Ned
Davos

Show:
Tyrion
Drogo
Ned
Robert
Varys

I really liked Balon and Davos in Ep2. Casting has been great.

Havent seen enough of Melisandre and Stannis on the show yet. Ask me this question again after S2 and this list will prob be very different.

 

[Matt Mortem]

Have to say, Tyrion and Tywin Lannister steal the show whenever they're on screen. And Varys. Jon Snow, not so much.

I agree. Tywin is a cold hearted bastard, but I can't help but like him. Tyrion is just straight up awesome. I will say that I am really fond of Bronn. Something about is just really ****ing cool

 

[chamber-music]

What is it with GRRM and incest lol

Spoiler

Those who have seen episode two know what I mean

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, a good actor with a presence really helps. Bronn will probably get more screen time now that he's been promoted.

I'd also mention Robert (even though he's dead). It's actually funny how people assume he's an idiot, but when he's not drunk, or being blinded by his hatred for the Targaryens, he's one the most levelheaded characters. The scene where he talks about the Dothraki invasion actually makes you understand how he could have ruled successfully for so long.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Arya is just annoying as hell to me, in the books & on the show. Don't get me wrong, she was pivotal & pretty damn vital, but I just can't bring myself to like her.

Spoiler

Her exploits in the House of Black & White were some of my favorite ones in the entire series though.

 

[DACrowe]

Arya is just annoying as hell to me, in the books & on the show. Don't get me wrong, she was pivotal & pretty damn vital, but I just can't bring myself to like her.

Spoiler

Her exploits in the House of Black & White were some of my favorite ones in the entire series though.

Funny you should say that. She's my second favorite because of her damn resilience and kind of plucky resolve/unforgiving bloodthristiness. I think her storyline in ACOK and ASOS is great because you see the war from the "peasant's" eye and where it ends.

But the part you love...

[blackout]The House of Black and White? While interesting, I feel it completely makes the story go sideways and has made her chapters much less compelling or emotionally endearing. I wish GRRM hadn't taken her out of Westros because no matter what, Arya Stark is gone.[/blackout]

Just a complete inverse of opinion.

 

[DACrowe]

I agree. Tywin is a cold hearted bastard, but I can't help but like him. Tyrion is just straight up awesome. I will say that I am really fond of Bronn. Something about is just really ****ing cool

Keep in mind Tyrion's words to Tywin in their last scene together in ASOS. Also what Jaime's aunt says to him about Tywin/Tyrion in AFFC. Tyrion is basically Tywin's intelligence and strategic brilliance warped with compassion and some sense of morality because he was never accepted or given the opportunities Tywin was, simply because he was born a dwarf. Tyrion is a humbled Tywin. And one who knows how to tell a good jape.

 

[conan69]

About Arya..
The think is, people like her chapters, and I think its because Martin always surround her with great characters, who end up being fan favorites...

Spoiler

Syrio, Jaqen, The Hound, even Yoren and Gendry are a fun read

They can cut a LOT of AFFC out.

Spoiler

Like 90% of Brienne's chapters since she goes in a circle having accomplished absolutely nothing

I think thats Martins cruelness.

Spoiler

Brienne, who only wants to serve, ends up failing both Renly and Cat. Martin is aweful hard on his characters. Going back to Arya, we were reading with tension building to her being reunited with Rob and Cat in ASOS, and we know how that turned out, with her right outside the walls

Its ironic that the one character, who actually find some sort of redemption, is

Spoiler

Jaimie, whos arc begins as a incesteous vile person

 

[childeroland]

Tyrion
Arya
Dontos

Spoiler

(he tried so hard, and that makes him a real hero to me, so there)

Jaqen H'ghar
Davos

 

[Drizzle]

Its ironic that the one character, who actually find some sort of redemption, is

Spoiler

Jaimie, whos arc begins as a incesteous vile person

Spoiler

Yeah, I was rooting for Jaime throughout ASOS. The part where he saves Brienne from Vargo Hoat was awesome. He's really on a road to redemption UNTIL he has sex with Cersei next to Joffrey's dead body.

 

[DACrowe]

Heheh.

Spoiler

But then he spites her and frees Tyrion the night of his execution, even though he thinks Tyrion did kill Joffrey, because Jaime thought Joffrey had it coming. Sadly, he is so honest with Tyrion it costs Tywin's life. He still, though, refuses to be Cersei's Hand or tool and does wonders at Riverrun. He goes from the most detestable of characters to one of the most sympathetic.

That's good writing.

Strange how the character he's most associated with keeps digging a deeper hole for themselves. Oh well, that great to read too, in my opinion.

 

[Raiden]

Keep in mind Tyrion's words to Tywin in their last scene together in ASOS. Also what Jaime's aunt says to him about Tywin/Tyrion in AFFC. Tyrion is basically Tywin's intelligence and strategic brilliance warped with compassion and some sense of morality because he was never accepted or given the opportunities Tywin was, simply because he was born a dwarf. Tyrion is a humbled Tywin. And one who knows how to tell a good jape.

Yeah, I'm also fond of Tyrion and Tywin, and I'm surprised that I actually like Tywin (due to the fact that he's the head of the Lannisters, and I just don't like the House of Lannister in general). But his conversation with Tyrion about appointing him to be The Hand really made me realize why he would inspire both fear and respect from his family and foes, because he is a highly intelligent man and extremely protective of his family's reputation. I'm still very much on the side of the House of Stark, though.

 

[Roose Bolton]

There were two moments that made me love Jaime:

Spoiler

the part where Jaime basically told Jeyne's mother that he was disgusted by her really won him points for me.

And his flashback scenes:

Spoiler

wanting to go in and save Rhaella from whilst she was being raped.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Funny you should say that. She's my second favorite because of her damn resilience and kind of plucky resolve/unforgiving bloodthristiness. I think her storyline in ACOK and ASOS is great because you see the war from the "peasant's" eye and where it ends.

But the part you love...

[blackout]The House of Black and White? While interesting, I feel it completely makes the story go sideways and has made her chapters much less compelling or emotionally endearing. I wish GRRM hadn't taken her out of Westros because no matter what, Arya Stark is gone.[/blackout]

Just a complete inverse of opinion.

A complete inverse.

Spoiler

Arya, or better yet, No One, is a much better fit for me personally, with the rest of the clutter cleared away. Considering how stubborn she is, it's not actually removed, just swept very cleverly under a variety of rugs.

Her chapters really entertain me now.

 

[nite-owl]

Wait has the second episode aired?

 

[The Apocalypse]

Wait has the second episode aired?

Apparently it's been leaked. I can wait to Sunday though. Gives me something to watch/

 

[chamber-music]

I've not read the books but in the show I find Arya a bit annoying. Hopefully that will change in the future.

 

[Havok83]

I've not read the books but in the show I find Arya a bit annoying. Hopefully that will change in the future.

LOL...she was like my favorite character last season