Game of Thrones - Non-Booker readers' thread - NO SPOILERS

[Ramsay Snow]

So, will Kane post his GIFs in here too?

 

[eddy]

Finally a GOT thread I can go into without being spoiled. When did the show get its own forum? Its about time.

 

[Llama_Shepherd]

Yeah that was savage, I thought she had lost by that point but obviously she thought not today! Have no idea what happens in the books past this point, so I've no idea if her arc is over or if she gets to do more awesome stuff.

I think this season's break will be the one to make me pick up the books and read them. I'm almost hesitant though. So many great things I like about the series apparently just aren't like that in the books. Like the Hound is never really redeemed, you don't ever end up liking him, which is why Arya leaves him to die in the tv show - that's exactly as it is in the books. And people like Tywin Lannister, who you love in the tv series despite being a b*****d, well in the books apparently he's just a b*****d, not likeable at all.

If the tv show keeps injecting lighter elements into the story, just how dark and depressing a read are the books?

The books are more "realistic" in a way, because nearly everybody is painted in shades of grey. The TV series focuses more on trying to have people divided into good guys and bad guys. You only have to look at Dany and Stannis to see it, the truth about Dany is she would be a ****** queen, because she a naive little girl who I wouldn't be surprised seeing her turning into a new "mad king". The series doesn't show this as much, but they do a little.

But Stannis! Stannis! Stannis! is truthfully the best option for the throne, however but the series seems intent on presenting Stannis as a bad guy, that sinister music that plays when Stannis is supposed to SAVE the Night's Watch. It's ridiculous.

 

[Teelie]

Finally a GOT thread I can go into without being spoiled. When did the show get its own forum? Its about time.

About three days ago.

 

[summerteeth]

The books are more "realistic" in a way, because nearly everybody is painted in shades of grey. The TV series focuses more on trying to have people divided into good guys and bad guys. You only have to look at Dany and Stannis to see it, the truth about Dany is she would be a ****** queen, because she a naive little girl who I wouldn't be surprised seeing her turning into a new "mad king". The series doesn't show this as much, but they do a little.

But Stannis! Stannis! Stannis! is truthfully the best option for the throne, however but the series seems intent on presenting Stannis as a bad guy, that sinister music that plays when Stannis is supposed to SAVE the Night's Watch. It's ridiculous.

As a non book reader. I definitely get that impression about Dany in the tv show. Whenever she blathers on about how she has a right to the throne or calls Robert Baratheon an usurper after what her father did. Sorry little one, you lost the right to the throne when your father went crazy and had to be removed for the good of the realm. The only reason she has gotten as far has she has is because of Jorah and now she got rid of him so I would expect more mistakes coming. I agree about Stannis, but I think that's just because nobody wanted to see Tyrion die at Blackwater so the audience had to root against him. At this point though it should be clear he should be king.

 

[Glassjaw]

So, will Kane post his GIFs in here too?

Ooo I hope so.

 

[Glassjaw]

As for Stannis, is he portrayed in a better light in the books? In the series it's not so much that he's the bad guy, its just he has Davos whose a great advisor but he always backs Melisandre over him. And she very much does spell out bad news. And he seems to know he's going down the darker path, but does so anyway because it's going to get results. I hope the series does turn his character around and make him more likeable, its always good when they do that

 

[scatterax]

As for Stannis, is he portrayed in a better light in the books? In the series it's not so much that he's the bad guy, its just he has Davos whose a great advisor but he always backs Melisandre over him. And she very much does spell out bad news. And he seems to know he's going down the darker path, but does so anyway because it's going to get results. I hope the series does turn his character around and make him more likeable, its always good when they do that

yeah the show really doesnt do much for his story. I never quite got the villain vibe, except obviously the showrunners wanted you to root for rob above all else, so he was painted as the purist of the five kings, while he really was like the micheal carleone of westeros. Stannis, on the other hand, is a character who seems like he deserves much ore attention, and he keeps getting sidelined everytime his story gets interesting.

 

[Ramsay Snow]

Well, Stannis did listen to Davos recently and now honoured Ned and listened to Jon. So I think it's good news. He's such a dry ******* - I love him.

 

[Hyde]

I never really liked Stannis that much in the books or the show either. I mean, sure, he wants to do his duty to the realm and it's his birthright etc etc but he's unlikeable as ****. People preach about how awesome he is, but really the most awesome thing he did was save the Night's Watch. And that only just happened.

 

[Roose Bolton]

In the books he gets quite a bit of backstory, regarding the reason why he is the way he is, like with him watching his parents die, the sacrifices he made during the Rebellion and how little respect or support he's ever received in his life. I mean the prologue chapter that opens the second book is told from the point of view of the old Maester who pretty much raised the three Baratheon boys after their parents died, and right off the bat the descriptions make it sound like Stannis is the one that's always gotten the short end of the stick. It makes you sympathetic, and in the books he and Davos are genuinely great friends, with Stannis often defending Davos from those who would mock his low-birth. Considering that Davos is arguably the most decent human being in Westeros, this all gives Stannis more points.

So, you read it and you see Stannis as this dour and bitter man, but you understand why and you can see where he's coming from. I wouldn't call book Stannis a villain, whereas I think they've kinda shortchanged him for the show.

 

[Hyde]

Yeah, reading that it is easy to see how he was shortchanged in the show. Admittedly I did feel sympathy for him when he said how he was the one who held Storm's End under siege for a year for Robert and their food situation was so dire that they turned to eating rats, but then Robert went and gave the castle to Renly. I hope Stannis ends up in some position of power by the end of the saga

 

[Iceman]

Stannis ignored Melisandre and listened to Davos for the Battle of Blackwater and if that had worked out he'd probably have continued to listen to him above her. Can't blame him for trusting Melisandre's words when her prophecies keep coming true and after that failure.

 

[Marvolo]

To anyone wondering how the show will handle catching up with the books and how long it will go on for. Here it is straight from D&D. This is from an interview they did on June 18. I will post the source link at the bottom, but the rest of the interview at the link contains what some may consider mild spoilers so if you decide to click on the link do so knowing you've been warned. Anyways, here is what D&D had to say about the length of the series and diverging from the books. No spoilers in the part I quoted here.

With some characters on the television adaptation having already reached the end of their so-far published storyline, many are wondering how far the fifth season will extend into the two remaining books, and if the television series will continue to diverge from Martin’s written work.

Benioff and Weiss reveal, “We have talked to George extensively about where he’s going with the books, and will continue to do so. His books are the blueprint for the world we’re building. Ultimately the show needs to work on its own terms, and keep on moving. Our job is to square that necessity with George’s work to the best of our ability.
We’re not going in strict order because we can’t. We can’t adapt Feast and leave out half our characters. We’ll be drawing heavily from Feast and Dance in season 5.”


They confirm that 7 seasons is still the plan, and that the end to George’s saga is absolutely, 100 percent satisfying. Now that they have passed the halfway point in their storytelling, they’ve started looking towards that end. Benioff says, “I feel we have so many conversations about later seasons. And this year we’ve started talking about the very end… We want this to work.”

Like I said above, very mild spoilers at the link so if you don't want to know about a new location in season 5 don't click it. I just posted the link so you all would know the source of the quote.

http://winteriscoming.net/2014/06/1...-heading-dorne-season-5-strongest-season-yet/

 

[CapedCrusader14]

I find it kind of surreal how D&D are possibly the only other people who know how it ends besides George while we all sit here speculating
Also, wasn't it an 8 season plan?

 

[Teelie]

I think the season 8 thing was either rumor or misinformed information.

 

[Roose Bolton]

They originally said "We hope for 7, but 8 is a possibility." plus, in their original pitch they sold HBO 80 hours of television. My guess is they've decided to say "**** it" and just do their own thing than try and be too faithful.

 

[Hyde]

I'd prefer 8 seasons to 7. Seems like not enough.

 

[Roose Bolton]

I'd prefer them to stay pretty faithful to the books, which 8 seasons would allow. 7...doesn't seem like it's going to work out that way.

 

[Bruce Malone]

I think 7 seasons has a nice ring to it.

Although they'll probably pull a Breaking bad and have 7.1 and 7.2 final season.

 

[Hyde]

They should just go with 8 seasons full stop rather than making it wishy washy. Sure, 7 seasons, 7 gods, 7 kingdoms, 7 books, but would D&D REALLY want to sacrifice telling a good story for rhythm?

 

[Teelie]

I can see them do an entire season dedicated to non-essential characters or ones who just weren't that important as some kind of alternative or different view on the events going on we saw directly.

 

[Marvolo]

I think 7 seasons has a nice ring to it.

Although they'll probably pull a Breaking bad and have 7.1 and 7.2 final season.

Breaking Bad was on AMC. HBO doesnt do this sort of stuff.

 

[KevanG]

So this is the only post I'll be putting in here until I watch some as I'm about 10 minutes in Ep1S1. I'll catch up sooner or later.

Whelp, I'm caught up. HA.

 

[Marvolo]

Whelp, I'm caught up. HA.

You've watched all the way through season 4?