Game of Thrones

[Riverwind (imported)]

Game of Thrones is an HBO production that takes place in no world we know of.

I just almost finished watching the first two episodes, I turned it off before the second one was done, I then asked my son who has been watching it what he thought and his comment was 'it goes down from there'. As I understand they just finished the third season 10 episodes per season.

Has anybody else watch this show, and what do you think of it?

River

[Slammr (imported)]

I love HBO's production of GoT, but I've read the books and like them as well. I think HBO did an excellent job and kept true to the story. My only regret in ditching cable is that I have to wait for the DVD of this year's episodes.

[Dave (imported)]

Supposedly it gets better when the dragons start breathing fire.

I gave up three episodes into it.

[Buzz1221 (imported)]

Perhaps it is an acquired taste; I've watched every episode -- we're now into Season 3 -- and enjoyed it. There are also a couple castration-themes in it. Recently we saw an army of 8000 slaves who were all castrated -- no word of how they did that to 8000 men and so many lived in a time with no modern medicine, but there's lots of magic/mystery stuff, so who knows? There is a eunuch who is an important court official. There have been an couple of threats of castration (One to John Snow -- a major character -- but not carried-out.) I don't know what's coming in the script, but they don't seem to shy-away from the idea of castration.

The acting is generally good but 'little person' Peter Dinklidge, is outstanding and steals every scene he is in, and when he is alone he "chews-up-the-scenery." There's also lots of gratuitous nudity Male and female) and sex.

Sex, nudity, castration; what's not to like?

[Slammr (imported)]

..

. Recently we saw an army of 8000 slaves who were all castrated -- no word of how they did that to 8000 men and so many lived in a time with no modern medicine...

The were castrated when they were boys and raised to be soldiers. As boys they were given a puppy that they cared for and loved, but one day they were required to kill it. Although it's been a while since I read the book, I believe, if the boy couldn't kill the dog or showed emotion when killing him, he was killed.

I agree: sex, nudity, violence, castration, magic, dragons, Middle Ages warfare, undead monsters that can only be killed with certain weapons, dire wolves, epic battles, eunuchs, wizards, and pagan gods, along with kids that might be valiant, heroic, or perversely evil. What's not to love? I just hope Martin and I live long enough to see it completed (2 more books). He's younger than I am, but I might be in better shape. It's been twenty-two years since he started the series of books in 1991, and the first book wasn't completed until 1996. http://www.georgerrmartin.com/

[moi621 (imported)]

The first three episodes has not laid out much story, just characters.

Keep watching until Sean Bean is beheaded.

It is the second season where some characters start to also steal the story. Bron for one.

I like Ayla Stark and her world.

Cesar Hind coming onto the cast also seems like quite an investment.

I don't believe Denarys, Mother of Dragons really traded her biggest.

My hunch is, after the trade, she calls her Dragon home. Yes?

Moi

[hazbalz (imported)]

At first I could not get into this show at all. During season 2 my son got me interested as he read the books. So, I went back and watched the first season in full, twice. I am now addicted. There are several story lines going on at once and it can get confusing. Remember, this isn't our world. And central characters are killed off. Essentially, there are no good guys, although Peter Dinklage's character Tyrion has the best lines and he is such a great actor that watching him is a joy.

[Cainanite (imported)]

I read the books first. They completely blew me away. However, that being said, I often had to skip long swaths of descriptive filler that has nothing to do with the overall story.

George RR Martin has this habit of writing chapter after chapter of some character that is not essential to the plot. You get invested. You get attached, and then he kills them off in an almost offhanded way. A lot of times when he does this, it is merely to explain the moving of some piece on his giant chessboard of a story. He could easily avoid such diversions by simply stating something like, "The Duke of Bluemoon Ridge was going to ally himself with the Lannisters, but died during a joust, and now his house and holdings are in the hands of the Starks."

I don't really need 14 chapters on the Duke of Bluemoon Ridge, what he ate for dinner, the disposition of his horse, and a thorough accounting of all his daughters, sons and bastard children. He could get to the point much more efficiently and enjoyably if he didn't spend so much time on distractions that are not essential to the plot.

I think George RR doesn't really even know himself where his story is going. So he gets caught up in details that seem to be going somewhere, but end up stalling out. No wonder it is taking him so long to finish.

The HBO series, happily seems to skip a lot of the false paths that Martin finds himself on. The story, though clearly very complex and complicated, has been simplified, and streamlined. They stick to the more important characters and plots, and every episode has a point that pays off.

The casting of GoT is superb. The actors they've employed are feature film worthy. The cinematography is beyond excellent. It is something I look forward to every week that it is on.

I can understand how it is an acquired taste. The themes are very violent and the show shies away from nothing. Controversy is key. You cannot watch it if you are just looking for some light brain pablum to get you through an evening. These episodes are dark, disturbing, and require a commitment on the part of the viewer to keep it all straight in your head. It is TV that doesn't play to a lowest common denominator. That investment on the part of the viewer is a big part of the reason the show has such a rabid following, but is also a reason why some people simply cannot get into the show. Not everyone wants to dedicate that much thinking to a TV show.

The eunuch themes of GoT has been discussed on the EA before. Much of what they talk about, and do with eunuchs in the books, would not be published on the Eunuch Archive. Some of the themes are simply too dark and too risky. At least, not before we put the stories behind a password lock. Even then, I still won't publish anything where the whole point of the story revolves around a sexualized death. George RR Martin would certainly be on my watch list if he were an EA author. Sometimes he simply goes too far.

At this point, the show is in its third season, and unless people want to dedicate themselves to watching all the previous episodes, in order, first, then I don't see the show picking up that many new viewers.

I am glad to see eunuchs being portrayed in a less comical light in modern media. Usually movies and TV shows reveal someone is a eunuch as a gag. They wander around with limp wrists, and an artificially high voice, blushing at every sexual innuendo. Not so in GoT. Eunuchs are integral characters, essential to the plot, with desires, and plans of their own. They do not exist in the land of Westeros, as comic relief. They are fully formed people, with fully formed thoughts and motivations. Just because they are not a "complete" man, does not make them any less of a complete character.

If you have the time and inclination Game of Thrones is a wonderful story, and a fantastic way to spend an hour on Sundays. I highly recommend it.

[moi621 (imported)]

A year or so ago, Slammr gave me a synopsis of GoT.

It helps for me to know the story to enjoy the series.

Yes I knew some stuff before the story told it.

All and all, it was worth it.

Need a GoT guide. PM Slammr.

[Riverwind (imported)]

no need to do that, I just ask my son who lives with me, his comment was that it gets worse, then it gets worse, but then it takes a turn and then it gets worse. But I am in my third season now and can't seem to stop watching it. He does agree that the best actor or person is the dwarf, he does steel every scene he is in and what a life, eat, drink, and whore around, or read a book, what else is there to life.

No I finished after watching most of episode 2, its just way to much over the top for me, to much hail to the king, the king is dead, hail to the new king for me. I can see where people would like this show, its not my kind of story or something I wish to watch.

River