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- Randall Flagg
- Rep: 139
Re: HBO's A Game of Thrones
THIS. THIS. And THIS!! Agree completely with this article. I didn't want to be a downer, but this sums up my feeling about the show's writing feeling like fan fiction. The tension between Sansa and Jon is way too forced. The logic issues are really annoying.
(Really interested what Randall thinks of this)
It's a fair point, but the show is the show. How many of you can recall every character in the show? I know plenty of people who "love" the show, but can't remember half the characters' names, let alone recall the castles and their geographic location. In the books, if you aren't able to retain this knowledge, you're going to get lost and quickly put it down. The show can't afford to alienate its fanbase that only knows Dany by "Khaleesi" and still calls Tyrion "the imp". So they have to "dumb it down" to appeal to the largest audience. You all might have remembered Stannis telling Sam Dragonstone has dragon glass every where. But there's a bunch of people who not only forgot that, but would have to think for a moment to remember Stannis. "Oh yea, he's the guy who burned his daughter for the Red Woman."
That's why I try to avoid posting about "well the book did this..." kind of stuff. Starting with the 2nd book, each book hits around 1200 pages, while each season is around 9.5 hours. I listened to all 5 books on audible to refresh my memory between seasons this fall - spring. Each book was around 48 hours of audio, so they're already cutting it down to 1/5 of the book going to film. That slashed 80% is going to undermine a lot of the plot points that build up to stuff that gets chosen to be on the show.
If you want the really good stuff, you need to read the books. The show is great television and some of its cinematography is the best ever done. Martin can write about the battle of the black water all day long, but seeing it on screen is a whole other experience. Yes, the show does some dumb things, but that's true about every fantasy story. Take LOTR, the gold standard. Why didn't Gandalf have the eagles fly Frodo and Sam from the Shire to Mordor and drop the ring in the volcano? Because the story would have sucked and been boring. Dany going right to King's Landing and unleashing her dragons would have been a great 10 minutes of film. Then we'd have 6 episodes of every house bending the knee and Dany looking at the ruins and tens of thousands of dead and wounded from her actions. Not exactly compelling story that will attract millions of viewers each episode. Dany could ambush the Night King's Army with her dragons right now. They're all in one large formation with no terrain to take cover. But again, that would be boring story. I think fans need to keep this in mind when they do the what if game.
Re: HBO's A Game of Thrones
misterID wrote:THIS. THIS. And THIS!! Agree completely with this article. I didn't want to be a downer, but this sums up my feeling about the show's writing feeling like fan fiction. The tension between Sansa and Jon is way too forced. The logic issues are really annoying.
(Really interested what Randall thinks of this)
It's a fair point, but the show is the show. How many of you can recall every character in the show? I know plenty of people who "love" the show, but can't remember half the characters' names, let alone recall the castles and their geographic location. In the books, if you aren't able to retain this knowledge, you're going to get lost and quickly put it down. The show can't afford to alienate its fanbase that only knows Dany by "Khaleesi" and still calls Tyrion "the imp". So they have to "dumb it down" to appeal to the largest audience. You all might have remembered Stannis telling Sam Dragonstone has dragon glass every where. But there's a bunch of people who not only forgot that, but would have to think for a moment to remember Stannis. "Oh yea, he's the guy who burned his daughter for the Red Woman."
That's why I try to avoid posting about "well the book did this..." kind of stuff. Starting with the 2nd book, each book hits around 1200 pages, while each season is around 9.5 hours. I listened to all 5 books on audible to refresh my memory between seasons this fall - spring. Each book was around 48 hours of audio, so they're already cutting it down to 1/5 of the book going to film. That slashed 80% is going to undermine a lot of the plot points that build up to stuff that gets chosen to be on the show.
If you want the really good stuff, you need to read the books. The show is great television and some of its cinematography is the best ever done. Martin can write about the battle of the black water all day long, but seeing it on screen is a whole other experience. Yes, the show does some dumb things, but that's true about every fantasy story. Take LOTR, the gold standard. Why didn't Gandalf have the eagles fly Frodo and Sam from the Shire to Mordor and drop the ring in the volcano? Because the story would have sucked and been boring. Dany going right to King's Landing and unleashing her dragons would have been a great 10 minutes of film. Then we'd have 6 episodes of every house bending the knee and Dany looking at the ruins and tens of thousands of dead and wounded from her actions. Not exactly compelling story that will attract millions of viewers each episode. Dany could ambush the Night King's Army with her dragons right now. They're all in one large formation with no terrain to take cover. But again, that would be boring story. I think fans need to keep this in mind when they do the what if game.
Oh, I get all of that, but its no excuse for poor and sloppy writing. The characters are so good and George's story direction and outline is so strong it's hard to screw that up. They're tasked with filling out the blanks and they struggle with it.
They did a good job on The Hound, full credit given. But the sand snakes are evidence of poor writing.
- A Private Eye
- Rep: 77
Re: HBO's A Game of Thrones
There's only 11 left total. For all the nitpicking it'll be shit when there's no new GOT to look forward to.
- Randall Flagg
- Rep: 139
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: HBO's A Game of Thrones
If there's only 11 left in total it seems so odd to have split it into 2 half seasons like this. I love the show but like watch 7 episodes then wait 18 months then watch another 7 is kinda frustrating lol.
- Smoking Guns
- Rep: 330
Re: HBO's A Game of Thrones
Mates, my thoughts of Episode 3:
Best episode thus far this season.
Some dialogue was excellent, some was so so but nothing horrible.
The initial meeting of Snow and Daenerys was WOLF MODE for Jon. I loved that shit.
I like the part with the Red Witch. She is remorseful for what she did to Stannis's daughter and other mistakes, but she believes in Jon Snow. And wants him to be all he can. She doesn't seem to want accolades she simply leaves. Varys views her as a threat. She lets him know he is on borrowed time and that he too will have to die in Westeros.
How Tryion and Snow talk is fantastic. Tyrion respects and likes Snow and I don't see an agenda here. Seems genuine.
Jamie and Cersei are bloody brilliant. Always on step ahead. Tryrion isn't ready for prime time yet. The Unsullied were well prepared, and they captured Casterly Rock, but it was a set up.
I liked the sex scene with Jamie and Cersei they covered her tats well. WOOD SMASH.
YOU SEE HOW FAST BITCH FACE SANSA TRIES TO STAB SNOW IN THE BACK, she still resents Snow because he is a bastard. Then Bran is like "I am the 3 eyed raven, I know all, I can't be a king". She is pissed. But she also knows he knows all her secrets too. Maybe he can warn her of the Little Finger. He also knows the truth of Snow.
Lady Tyrell, total Fvcking badass, but I think what we really we take away from that is that Jamie now knows Tyrion had nothing to do with Geoffrey's death.
Euron, I hate him. The actor plays that role well. I laughed at the line about putting his finger in Cersei's ass.
I thought we would get an Arya scene but doesn't look like it. Soon 3 Starks could be together with Sansa, Bran, and Arya.
Snow was fearful he made a mistake like everyone said he was by visiting Dany.) I like how Tyrion was able to facilitate that and get a win for both sides (dragon glass, loyalty earned etc)
I loved the scene with the Sand Snakes. Cersei is such a bitch. No fvcks are given anymore.
Good to see Tryion's old hand back with Jamie as a solider
Now Jorhan Mormont is healed. A one man killing machine. He is the military man that Stormborm needs.
Theon is a pussy and everyone knows it. So embarrassing
The speech that Little Finger gives Sansa is epic. Stones cold killer talk there. It is how him and Varys live I guess. Trust nothing.
Cersei handled the Iron Bank well. She knows she has all the power
I am very excited. Shit is about to go down.
Re: HBO's A Game of Thrones
I have to admit, I was kind of disappointed in their meeting but I don't know why. It was okay, their second scene was better. Her look as he was walking away was the highlight to me and it looks like they'll be traversing some caves together at Dragonstone next week. I guess I expected more from Jon. Ask her why does she want to rule his people. Not because of her birth rite but why does she want to rule? He could have easily and honestly said that if she wages war on the north the majority of her army would die in the cold before they ever reached Winterfell... They're desert warriors who fight on sand, not in the snow and not in a blizzard. Realistically, she'd never have a chance outside of her dragons.
Cersi has had a solid season so far. A lot of characters meandering is annoying seeing the season is almost over. This meeting should have come last week, trimmed the fat, give us an extra five minutes and end the episode with Snow being escorted out of the throne room if need be.
Hoping we pick up the pace next week.
