Anyone watching Game of Thrones? (spoilers)

[meBigGuy]

After season 2 I read 2.5 books, then stopped when it caught up to the end of season 2. I felt it was better to read the books later rather than start nit-picking the TV show where it diverged from the book. I really enjoy the show.

My GOT advisor/expert said to go ahead and finish the books since the show is now off on its own track. Little or no relation to the books.

It's a great show, even at its worst. I kinda envy the late-comers that get to binge watch.

 

[arist]

Tried to... was overwhelmed with unbelief, as always when watching those who dine at restaurants try to dive into history...

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Tried to... was overwhelmed with unbelief, as always when watching those who dine at restaurants try to dive into history...

I'd be interested if you could expand on this. ASOIAF is a fantasy setting but the fantasy elements are largely played down. The rest of it seems pretty realistic, it's very much based on the real world War of the Roses. What parts overwhelmed you?

 

[arist]

<p>

I'd be interested if you could expand on this. ASOIAF is a fantasy setting but the fantasy elements are largely played down. The rest of it seems pretty realistic, it's very much based on the real world War of the Roses. What parts overwhelmed you?

</p><p><br></p
People who drive lux cars and use all the goods of progress, try to imitate those who relied on their muscles and wit... Even modern sports champions would fail at this, since they all have that shine of XXth century...

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I'm afraid I don't see it. Are you suggesting the acting/script isn't appropriate for a medieval setting? Is there an obvious example you can think of?

 

[phion]

Now I watch this show and Silicon Valley exclusively.

 

[phion]

The latest episode was so good.

 

[HomogenousCow]

The latest episode was so good.

I think I'm starting to understand why they're deviating from the show.
Right now in the books, people are riding around the countryside and eating mutton pie.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

The last episode was very good, I like that how they've diverged from the show. It's always risky when a TV show/film does that but game of thrones does it well. It's good we see the white walkers again, part of the issue I have with the books is how they're built up as this huge threat but rarely seen. After five books you get a bit desensitized to mentions of them given that it seemingly takes them years to walk a few miles south.

 

[HomogenousCow]

Episode 9 was pretty crazy.

-SPOILER ALERT-
I can't believe they went through with the whole child burning thing.

 

[Dotini]

I was well amused by this academic criticism of Game of Thrones.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...eligion-is-dead-just-look-at-game-of-thrones/
"We all live in Westeros now"

 

[PapersOwl]

Watching game of thrones? :) I re-watched it few times, can't wait for next season :D

 

[PapersOwl]

I will have to give this show a try.

Watch at least 4 episodes and you won't be able to stop :)

 

[Dotini]

The new season starts Sunday.

HBO and the producers have done an extraordinary job of suppressing any spoilers on the fate of Jon Snow, other than insisting on the obvious.

Shall we tune in and watch for any surprises?

 

[Dotini]

This article from Esquire suggest that Game of Thrones is more science fiction than fantasy, based on Martin's vast sci-fi works published earlier in his career.

http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/news/a44092/game-of-thrones-wall-theory-preston-jacobs/

 

[tobyr65]

Ugh, don't get me started. Each book was about 500 pages. I read each one and after reading them all, George didn't finish the story! I talked with him by accident at the airport one day. When he walked away a coworker told me who he was. I'm thankful I didn't know so I couldn't give him the best dressing down I'd ever regret.

 

[tobyr65]

Dotini, Esquire is 100% wrong.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Ugh, don't get me started. Each book was about 500 pages. I read each one and after reading them all, George didn't finish the story! I talked with him by accident at the airport one day. When he walked away a coworker told me who he was. I'm thankful I didn't know so I couldn't give him the best dressing down I'd ever regret.

Come on be fair to the guy, he's pushing seventy and has been publishing stories since he was in his late twenties. If you look through his bibliography you'll find that like most moderately successful authors (he didn't become very successful until late in life) he published novels every couple of years with short story collections/novellas in between. Just like the vast majority of authors (the vast majority of workers in fact) his work rate has slowed with age.

 

[Dotini]

I've stumbled across a theory that explains Melisandre in Season 6, Episode 1. It also predicts what's going to happen next to Jon Snow. It coincidentally happens to tally with my reading of Martin's Sci-Fi fiction of the 70's and 80's.

Spoiler: Theory explains Melisandre and predicts Jon

It begins in these two links:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...ead-a-spoilerific-recap-for-the-a6999191.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/com...k_regarding_melisandres_ruby_necklace/cisasro
---------------------

My take on the theory is that the red woman is a quasi-immortal shapeshifter and will reanimate Jon Snow by sacrificing her own longevity. "Only death can pay for life", it is said several times thoughout the books. On the side, I speculate that Jon Snow will lose that name and take on another, perhaps Jon Stark, or some other.

We will know next week!

 

[Rocco the Stiff]

I've stumbled across a theory that explains Melisandre in Season 6, Episode 1. It also predicts what's going to happen next to Jon Snow. It coincidentally happens to tally with my reading of Martin's Sci-Fi fiction of the 70's and 80's.

Spoiler: Theory explains Melisandre and predicts Jon

It begins in these two links:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...ead-a-spoilerific-recap-for-the-a6999191.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/com...k_regarding_melisandres_ruby_necklace/cisasro
---------------------

My take on the theory is that the red woman is a quasi-immortal shapeshifter and will reanimate Jon Snow by sacrificing her own longevity. "Only death can pay for life", it is said several times thoughout the books. On the side, I speculate that Jon Snow will lose that name and take on another, perhaps Jon Stark, or some other.

We will know next week!

Bro, the theories of Melisandre resurrecting Jon Snow are as old as Jon Snow's death...or, well...maybe one week younger.

 

[russ_watters]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/...son-6-episode-2-recap-home-jon-snow/83806622/

Can I just say the continuing complaints about the treatment of women I'm seeing in commentaries about the show are starting to get on my nerves? The show spares no creativity in tortures and deaths and most are of men, but it's the less common bad treatment of women (and generally, the popular women) that causes the outrage? Annoying double standard.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I can't wait for when Bran meets the white walker king!

 

[russ_watters]

I can't wait for when Bran meets the white walker king!

Erm...is that a spoiler from the books?

 

[JorisL]

Erm...is that a spoiler from the books?

Not as far as I can tell but its quite a reasonable assumption to make although a part that's relevant (to me at least) for such an arc was omitted from the show :-(

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Erm...is that a spoiler from the books?

It's been in the trailers for season 6

 

[Ryan_m_b]

Erm...is that a spoiler from the books?

There are virtually no spoilers left for the books to give IIRC. The TV show has either caught up/overtaken or disregarded some storylines entirely.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

There are virtually no spoilers left for the books to give IIRC. The TV show has either caught up/overtaken or disregarded some storylines entirely.

I thought season 6 was basically the second half of feast of crows? There is book 5 dance of dragons. We have caught up with that?

btw, anyone know what will happen for next season? Martin is due to finish book 6 later this year, but HBO has to shoot for the next season.

 

[JorisL]

If what I've read is correct they basically finished up with the shows storyline. (Rumours mostly)
Martin said the stories won't be entirely the same IIRC not to mention he spends too much time on the show, we want books!

 

[Dotini]

I thought season 6 was basically the second half of feast of crows? There is book 5 dance of dragons. We have caught up with that?

btw, anyone know what will happen for next season? Martin is due to finish book 6 later this year, but HBO has to shoot for the next season.

The plans are for a Season 7 of well fewer than the usual 10 episodes, and likewise for an 8th. Although the contracts are yet inked.

I too am looking forward to the meeting between Bran and the whitewalker. Is it the legendary "Night's Kings"? How are the whitewalkers related to the Children of the Forest?

It's true the show has caught up to the books and is now creating its own script and plot points. But the showrunners have always said they knew the ending from working with author Martin, and the show and story eventually end up much the same.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I thought season 6 was basically the second half of feast of crows? There is book 5 dance of dragons. We have caught up with that?

btw, anyone know what will happen for next season? Martin is due to finish book 6 later this year, but HBO has to shoot for the next season.

Yeah we've caught up with virtually everything (in terms of story lines the show includes) and overtaken in over respects.

This season and the next two are essentially being invented by the show writers but GRRM has apparently told them his plan for how the series will progress and end.