Game of Thrones: It's not Books, It's HBO (NO BOOKS!)

AManFromEarth

Game of Thrones is a hit fantasy drama airing on HBO and based on NOTHING IN PARTICULAR AT ALL. Set in the mythical realm of Westeros, a land where seasons can last a lifetime, the only person you can trust is yourself and maybe not even then, where magic is being reborn, and where all men must die.

We follow a variety of characters across an epic story. In the aftermath of a mysterious death, the realms of men are drawn into a great conflagration as the nobles of the world play the game of thrones. Meanwhile, the last scion of a former ruler undergoes a transformative journey to reclaim her family's birthright and in the far reaches of the continent an ancient evil awakens that may spell the end of it all.



In this thread we will discuss this show and our feelings about it.

The purpose of this thread is to give show watchers an avenue for discussion that isn't poisoned by those of us ubernerds who know how to read. If you'd like to talk about book spoilers, there's an app for that, but talk about <REDACTED> or <MISSING LINE> or <EXPLITAVE DELETED> in here and that's a paddlin'.

Spoiler Policy: Pretty standard stuff, current season and future episodes should get spoiler tags (meaning not only hide them behind the cut but label them as well) while seasons 1-3 will be fair game. Once season four ends we'll go ahead and open up that for discussion after a little bit of a grace period.

Special Note to Cross Threaders: Most of us can participate in both threads without being geese. Some of us can't. If you just can't help but post a leading theory or snarky remark about an episode that's about to air the rest of us book readers will deal with you faster than Walder Frey dealt with Dany in the Battle of the Stony Shore (just kidding, that's not a thing guys. Though if it ever is, called it!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZY43QSx3Fk

So enjoy, remember, Winter is Coming.

Bobble

Book policy (hat tip to @Comradebot):
usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/joffery-chops-up-the-book.gif?w=1000

edit- check your gif sizes, kids. My bad.

SkutSkut

Maisie Williams did a Q&A. It's safe for show only people too.

Kana

Doodmann

Is the same artist doing all those? They have similar styles but the website has a submit button if I'm not mistaken. Also that one's awesome.

Bliss 101

Bobble wrote: »

Book policy (hat tip to @Comradebot):
[img]http://usatthebiglead.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/joffery- chops-up-the-book.gif?w=1000[/img]

I love that even in this short clip, Cersei manages to illustrate what a crazy bitch she is. Even Tywin looks taken aback, but Cersei is smiling smugly, going all "That's my boy".

Lena Headey is a fantastic actress.

LostNinja

SkutSkut wrote: »

Maisie Williams did a Q&A. It's safe for show only people too.

Best question and response

Q
What are some flaws or redeeming qualities you think you an Arya have in common?

A
Maisie Williams says:
We both like chicken! We both see more to life than living up to other people's expectations. I don't have to be making a lot of money or living in a fancy house. If I'm happy then I'll do whatever, so that's similar to Arya. We both have family as our main goal in life. My family are the epicenter of all my decisions.

It's cool to see that the actors keep up with the popular memes we get from the show.

PantsB

Doodmann wrote: »

Is the same artist doing all those? They have similar styles but the website has a submit button if I'm not mistaken. Also that one's awesome.

There's also fan art, which ranges from vaguely credible to 4chan


I would have gone with Ser Dontos. That was a much bigger death in my house (my wife yelled Oh No!)

electricitylikesme

Haha what the hell?

The costume process because we shoot in Belfast, I wear two layers of thermals, skin colored socks, my trousers, my costume top and my jacket thing and my belt and sword and I have a massive neck rag. The neck rag sounds like a scarf but every morning I have to get stitched into it. And then I wear boots...Arya Stark is a trendsetter!

Like...what?

AManFromEarth

electricitylikesme wrote: »

Haha what the hell?

The costume process because we shoot in Belfast, I wear two layers of thermals, skin colored socks, my trousers, my costume top and my jacket thing and my belt and sword and I have a massive neck rag. The neck rag sounds like a scarf but every morning I have to get stitched into it. And then I wear boots...Arya Stark is a trendsetter!

Like...what?

Women be shoppin'

Costuming is full of all kinds of insane shit like. Didn't 7 of 9 have to be vacuum sealed inside her original costume?

Kana

for things like scarves they can't just toss it around their necks, because while it won't be noticeable on set, from scene to scene in the final product it'll end up moving around like crazy and be noticeable. So instead they just have to do crazy stuff like that so that it'll never move out of position

So It Goes

It fits quite tightly around her neck and they probably sew it shut so that there aren't any weird buttons or snaps that accidentally show up in shots.



It's not really a scarf anyways

Pony

sometimes it's a continuity thing

I was on a thing where this lady's scarf was rock hard and incapable of really moving, so the folds wouldn't be different in reverse shots and shit.

surrealitycheck

frighteningly relevant gif

http://i.imgur.com/RkxjlGW.gif

Jragghen

Of course it's not mere books, it's the Harrenhall Book Outlet, for all your book needs! Prices so low, you'll hang yourself to offload your gold to our proprietors!

Wraith260

Jragghen wrote: »

Of course it's not mere books, it's the Harrenhall Book Outlet, for all your book needs! Prices so low, you'll hang yourself to offload your gold to our proprietors!

if you require help hanging yourself please see one of our highly trained sales assistants, who will be only too happy to help.

Bobble

Wraith260 wrote: »

Jragghen wrote: »

Of course it's not mere books, it's the Harrenhall Book Outlet, for all your book needs! Prices so low, you'll hang yourself to offload your gold to our proprietors!

if you require help hanging yourself please see one of our highly trained sales assistants, who will be only too happy to help.

Do you guys have like, a section of religious books? Or history books? The only books I see on your shelves are murder mysteries.

By the same author.... Clegor Gregane? Seriously?

Barberism

No book spoilers? You're just chickens.

Zoku Gojira

Aw, but <REDACTED> is the best part of book <CLEARS THROAT>, I can't wait to discuss it with all those internets.

Bobble wrote: »

Wraith260 wrote: »

Jragghen wrote: »

Of course it's not mere books, it's the Harrenhall Book Outlet, for all your book needs! Prices so low, you'll hang yourself to offload your gold to our proprietors!

if you require help hanging yourself please see one of our highly trained sales assistants, who will be only too happy to help.

Do you guys have like, a section of religious books? Or history books? The only books I see on your shelves are murder mysteries.

By the same author.... Clegor Gregane? Seriously?

Still a better disguise than Clark Kent's glasses...

Musicool

Bliss 101 wrote: »

Bobble wrote: »

Book policy (hat tip to @Comradebot):

I love that even in this short clip, Cersei manages to illustrate what a crazy bitch she is. Even Tywin looks taken aback, but Cersei is smiling smugly, going all "That's my boy".

Lena Headey is a fantastic actress.

Good point. Though I reckon Tywin isn't so much shocked as exercising good safety. Look at his face and barely anything moves. His body is recoiling from a sword attack. His experience tells him just how dangerous swords are, so he'll push as far back as possible while also retaining some decorum.

I reckon if you pointed out to him that Cersei was the ballsier one, his response would be something like, "No, just more clueless."

Apothe0sis

So, I wish I had the time and know how to make a music video of Tyrion set to the Christian Death cover of Sex Dwarf. Because it would blow minds. And you could intersperse that bit with Charles Dance from Da Ali G Movie.

Shadowhope

The characters of Season One, Episode One. And their current status:


Eddard 'Ned' Stark - Dead
Robert Baratheon - Dead
Jaime Lannister - Left-handed
Catelyn Stark - Dead
Cersei Lannister - Drunk
Daenerys Targaryen - Still not in Westeros
Jorah Mormont - Still not in Dani's pants
Viserys Targaryen - Dead
Jon Snow - Single again!
Sansa Stark - Safe and sound and nothing bad will ever happen to her again.
Arya Stark - Making a list.
Robb Stark - Dead
Theon Greyjoy - Reeks.
Bran Stark - Broken back.
Joffrey Baratheon - Dead.
Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane - Alive, but keep in mind Arya's list above.
Tyrion Lannister - Accused of kinslaying, kingslaying.
Maester Luwin - Dead
Jory Cassel - Dead
Rodrik Cassel - Dead
Benjen Stark - M.I.A.
Illyrio Mopatis - Alive.
Qotho - Dead
Ros - Dead
Septa Mordane - Dead
Will - Dead
Jon Arryn - Dead
Waymar Royce - Dead
Gared - Dead
Rickon Stark - Alive
Tommen Baratheon - Alive
Myrcella Baratheon - Alive
Khal Drogo - Dead
Hodor - Hodor

Egos

Musicool wrote: »

I reckon if you pointed out to him that Cersei was the ballsier one, his response would be something like, "No, just more clueless."

Regardless of this, I suspect Cersei's "That's my boy" was more specifically her taking pleasure in seeing her son disrespect Tyrion. As opposed to him just being pure psycho.

I know ,semantics.

Quical

Admit it, you made that list just to put "Kinslaying, Kingslaying" together.

Inquisitor77

I'm kind of let down that the list didn't include "Defenestrated"...

Atomika

I watched the first three episodes in a binge. I really think that's the way to watch this show.

Thirith

Especially at the beginning of seasons, I think that definitely makes sense; the season starters tend to be very bitty, catching up with all the characters and their stories. They can almost feel like extended "Previously on"s. Once the season plot arc kicks in, though, I'd say that most episodes are reasonably self-contained for a heavily serialised series.

Atomika

Thirith wrote: »

Especially at the beginning of seasons, I think that definitely makes sense; the season starters tend to be very bitty, catching up with all the characters and their stories. They can almost feel like extended "Previously on"s. Once the season plot arc kicks in, though, I'd say that most episodes are reasonably self-contained for a heavily serialised series.

I think it's kinda odd they structure them that way, though, considering how small the episode orders are each season, but I guess it all works out in the end.

I applaud Weiss & co.'s acknowledgment that they really need to start paring down the various plotlines to inject some momentum back into the show.

Thirith

It works pretty well for me, but then I find most of the character interesting, more so than the plot. I'd rather hang out with the likes of Tyrion, Tywin, Oleanna Tyrell etc. than spend a whole hour moving Jon Snow's or Dany's plot forward.

Atomika

Thirith wrote: »

It works pretty well for me, but then I find most of the character interesting, more so than the plot. I'd rather hang out with the likes of Tyrion, Tywin, Oleanna Tyrell etc. than spend a whole hour moving Jon Snow's or Dany's plot forward.

I see what you're saying, and I mostly agree, as long as it's more development than just five minutes in a cloud of dust. There's too much going on right now for any one plot to take center stage for too long. I'm glad they're hopefully gonna whittle some of that down.

Tofystedeth

Quical wrote: »

Admit it, you made that list just to put "Kinslaying, Kingslaying" together.

Should add 'kin-laying' to the list.

HamHamJ

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Quical wrote: »

Admit it, you made that list just to put "Kinslaying, Kingslaying" together.

Should add 'kin-laying' to the list.

We're talking about Tyrion not Jaime.

RedTide

HamHamJ wrote: »

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Quical wrote: »

Admit it, you made that list just to put "Kinslaying, Kingslaying" together.

Should add 'kin-laying' to the list.

We're talking about Tyrion not Jaime.

Sooooooo kin-playing?

Kana

Bliss 101

Atomika wrote: »

Thirith wrote: »

It works pretty well for me, but then I find most of the character interesting, more so than the plot. I'd rather hang out with the likes of Tyrion, Tywin, Oleanna Tyrell etc. than spend a whole hour moving Jon Snow's or Dany's plot forward.

I see what you're saying, and I mostly agree, as long as it's more development than just five minutes in a cloud of dust. There's too much going on right now for any one plot to take center stage for too long. I'm glad they're hopefully gonna whittle some of that down.

I'm finding it very difficult to care about the Bran and Jon Snow storylines. Bran in particular. Jon Snow is a mildly interesting character, I guess, and easy on the eyes, but he's just not doing anything to make me care about what happens to him. Even the whole Ygritte romance was a bit meh (and illustrated how boring Jon Snow is, as Ygritte was immediately far more interesting). The Bran storyline just makes me groan every time they switch to it. Its only redeeming feature is Hodor, now that the wildling woman is gone, and there isn't enough Hodor!

Pony

Bran's storyline is incredibly boring. It's a "mythology mystery", meaning all that is happening is the characters are peeling back layers of meaning and mystery in the mythology and setting of the story itself.

JJ Abrams is fond of this style of storytelling (all of Lost, the latter seasons of Alias, most of Fringe) and it bores me to tears even if, like in the case of Westerns, I like the setting.

"that only raises further questions!" gets tiresome fast.

Tofystedeth

Tofystedeth wrote: »

Quical wrote: »

Admit it, you made that list just to put "Kinslaying, Kingslaying" together.

Should add 'kin-laying' to the list.

Oh yeah. Rereading the list, those are under Tyrion.
Well ummm, Shae is somebody's kin?

DivideByZero

PantsB wrote: »

I would have gone with Ser Dontos.

Such an amazing line from Littlefinger though

"A bag of gold will buy a man's silence for a time, but a bolt through the heart will buy it forever."

Wraith260

DivideByZero wrote: »

PantsB wrote: »

I would have gone with Ser Dontos.

Such an amazing line from Littlefinger though

"A bag of gold will buy a man's silence for a time, but a bolt through the heart will buy it forever."

he obviously adheres to the terry Pratchett school of philosophy.

:Build a man a fire and he's warm for a night. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.

Egos

Pony wrote: »

JJ Abrams is fond of this style of storytelling (all of Lost, the latter seasons of Alias, most of Fringe) and it bores me to tears even if, like in the case of Westerns, I like the setting.

Bran makes his way past the wall. For some bizarre reason he is captured by the wights instead of killed and taken to an ancient keep. There he is eventually visited by the White Walker Leader

White Walker : "We are the good guys, Bran"

Atomika

Egos wrote: »

Pony wrote: »

JJ Abrams is fond of this style of storytelling (all of Lost, the latter seasons of Alias, most of Fringe) and it bores me to tears even if, like in the case of Westerns, I like the setting.

Bran makes his way past the wall. For some bizarre reason he is captured by the wights instead of killed and taken to an ancient keep. There he is eventually visited by the White Walker Leader

White Walker : "We are the good guys, Bran"

That's kinda how I feel about everything, really.

There's so few sides or people to root for in this show it's unreal.