A Game of Thrones (HBO Series)

[TheStigSC]

So far this season has been pretty good, but one of my least favorites. A Feast for Crows was not a big lag, it was mainly politics and A Dance with Dragons is mostly action. I think the issue with the show is that they are running out of book material and they aren't making quality "filler" or side stories. In the past seasons, all of the little details are nods to the book and the readers get them and its just quality. Now that they know the main plot but don't have any little details to work with, I think they are forced to stray from the book canon's "journey" and make their own way to the end of the story. As a result, they are already deviating from the little details now and it is becoming of a slightly lower quality. The Sand Snakes/Dorne intro was by far the weakest character intro in the series (just look at Tywin's; skinning/butchering an elk while talking to Jaime) and there were many unnecessary changes (Sansa's/Winterfell's story, Dany's story in Meeren rushed and important details changed, Tyrion's journey rushed, Griff/Young Griff being cut completely, Iron Born story missing/pushed back and altered). These are just my thoughts, but after this season the show is fair game for spoilers for Show and Book people alike.

[WidespreadMule3]

Originally Posted by Absolute34

Sam must play a huge role in the culmination of the story, because he serves no other current purpose.

I've wondered that too. I could see if Jon Snow somehow becomes king then he'd have Sam be the hand.

Originally Posted by thebridge15

dany chapters are always worse (obviously not in feast)

sam chapters are pretty miserable too

I don't mind Sam chapters. He's at least a lovable guy - or at least from the show I've come to love the book character. He's a growth character that is showing he's worth more than being a space filler.

[41ravens]

Originally Posted by TheStigSC

So far this season has been pretty good, but one of my least favorites. A Feast for Crows was not a big lag, it was mainly politics and A Dance with Dragons is mostly action. I think the issue with the show is that they are running out of book material and they aren't making quality "filler" or side stories. In the past seasons, all of the little details are nods to the book and the readers get them and its just quality. Now that they know the main plot but don't have any little details to work with, I think they are forced to stray from the book canon's "journey" and make their own way to the end of the story. As a result, they are already deviating from the little details now and it is becoming of a slightly lower quality. The Sand Snakes/Dorne intro was by far the weakest character intro in the series (just look at Tywin's; skinning/butchering an elk while talking to Jaime) and there were many unnecessary changes (Sansa's/Winterfell's story, Dany's story in Meeren rushed and important details changed, Tyrion's journey rushed, Griff/Young Griff being cut completely, Iron Born story missing/pushed back and altered). These are just my thoughts, but after this season the show is fair game for spoilers for Show and Book people alike.

this is more or less how i feel. the show runners are falling flat with filling out the unfinished story.

how do non-book readers feel? is the storyline working for you?

[AndySlash]

i am not a book reader and i think this season has been fantastic, especially considering there hasn't exactly been a lot of action. things are moving along at a good clip and i am invested in pretty much every story thread. in line with most people's feelings it seems, the sand snakes/jaime/bronn stuff has been the weakest part of this season, but even then it's not like it's OMG HORRIBLE or anything. honestly, reading all the book readers' whining has really been the least enjoyable part of this season for me because i just don't feel the show has been anywhere near as bad as they feel it has been.

[CrashDMB237]

Non-reader and I think this season has been just as good as any other season. This is why I don't read book that have corresponding shows/movies. I don't want a book to ruin anything.

[Gene Parmesan]

Do people really think Ramsay was hanging out in that broken tower? That looked to me like suspensful editing, but Reek was going to Ramsay, he didn't coincidentally find him there, right?

[AndySlash]

that's how i viewed it, suspenseful editing. ramsay wasn't in the tower.

[junior94]

Originally Posted by Gene Parmesan

Do people really think Ramsay was hanging out in that broken tower? That looked to me like suspensful editing, but Reek was going to Ramsay, he didn't coincidentally find him there, right?

No, I really don't think so. I mean Theon still had the candle in his hand (yea gee, a little discretion, eh?) he was genuinely trying to help Sansa, that spot is where she was told by the old lady to leave the flame to send a help message. That's why I said before, I'd really hoped Theon/Reek had gotten it enough in gear by then to be able to convincingly lie on the spot of why else he might've gone up there, but clearly not.

[Roose13]

You don't just easily snap out of that.

[Gene Parmesan]

The fact that he showed no discretion with the candle suggests even more that he was going directly to Ramsay, no? The viewer wants Theon to come back, therefore the misleading editing, but he is still Reek and he betrays Sansa again. If Ramsay was just chilling in the broken tower and Reek happens upon him you can add that to the Dorne scenes as not upholding to the standard set. Also, it was still daylight. Who's going to see a candle in a tower in the daylight? And showing Brienne hiding out 100 yards from Winterfell was kinda cheesy too.

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by AndySlash

that's how i viewed it, suspenseful editing. ramsay wasn't in the tower.

[BAHHHTIWaC]

Wasn't the candle supposed to be put in the lowest window of the tower? Reek was shown walking up the stairs, past two windows.

[junior94]

Originally Posted by Roose13

You don't just easily snap out of that.

No, not at all. Which, as I've brought up before, I thought perhaps was part of why they bothered to show back when Sansa first arrived at Winterfell how quickly Theon was aware of her and very careful to try and not let her notice him. I thought maybe that was a sign he could still do at least a little clear thinking if given the right stimulus.

[Roose13]

But he isn't afraid of Sansa. He's afraid of Ramsay and he doesn't have the balls (pun intended) to stand up to him.

[smokew11]

he doesnt have the balls

poor theon

[rconverse]

Book folks...

Do you think the whole Iron Islands storyline is going to be left out or will that make an appearance next season?

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[sharvey]

^^^ based on suspected casting lists for next season, it could be down the pike shortly.

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by rconverse

Book folks...

Do you think the whole Iron Islands storyline is going to be left out or will that make an appearance next season?

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

i thought it was ridiculously boring in the books, so im ok if it gets cut

[junior94]

Originally Posted by Roose13

But he isn't afraid of Sansa. He's afraid of Ramsay and he doesn't have the balls (pun intended) to stand up to him.

which is why I knew it was a VERY long shot of a hope to begin with.

and yea he does still have the balls, just not his weiner

[rconverse]

Originally Posted by sharvey

^^^ based on suspected casting lists for next season, it could be down the pike shortly.

Cool.

Originally Posted by smokew11

i thought it was ridiculously boring in the books, so im ok if it gets cut

Really? This was one of the more interesting storylines to me.

I think part of the reason I like it is because the storylines need to be winding down. The Iron folk certainly seem to think they have a claim at the thrown, so it's kind of like "everyone in the pool" as things wind down.

Also, while I realize there are two books left, so a lot of action yet to occur, considering the series is seven books, it's technically winding down. Of course that could be 16 years but whatever.

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

[junior94]

oh wait, duh. no, I guess he wouldn't. I initially assumed it was just the dick that Ramsey cut off, but now that I actually think it thru, you can't do that and still have the balls stay on somehow

which come to think of it, how the hell does he piss. I guess there's still some kind of hole there, just in a much worse place

[Julia Roberts]

Originally Posted by junior94

oh wait, duh. no, I guess he wouldn't. I initially assumed it was just the dick that Ramsey cut off, but now that I actually think it thru, you can't do that and still have the balls stay on somehow

which come to think of it, how the hell does he piss. I guess there's still some kind of hole there, just in a much worse place

You can probably Google it. I'm gonna pass on the lmgtfy on this one.

[junior94]

I'm not sure if even book readers would know this... do we know that from the point where we start in the series, when we first actually meet Stannis, how long was it before that that he hooked up with Mellisandre? I mean I would guess it was only just at least once everything kicked off with Robert's death? it's just, he seems like such a basic, practical sort of man. What it was like for him initially to be convinced of actually following this "witch", where so many of his other people seemed so strongly against her.

[thebridge15]

Originally Posted by junior94

I'm not sure if even book readers would know this... do we know that from the point where we start in the series, when we first actually meet Stannis, how long was it before that that he hooked up with Mellisandre? I mean I would guess it was only just at least once everything kicked off with Robert's death? it's just, he seems like such a basic, practical sort of man. What it was like for him initially to be convinced of actually following this "witch", where so many of his other people seemed so strongly against her.

So I'm basing this on my memory and have no idea if this is 100%

Pretty much once Robert dies, stannis leaves kings landing and goes back to dragonstone because Jon Arryn (Ned's foster father, guy who dies in the first episode) told him about cersei and jaime

Melisandre shows up shortly after, she has seen a vision of him in the flames

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by thebridge15

So I'm basing this on my memory and have no idea if this is 100%

Pretty much once Robert dies, stannis leaves kings landing and goes back to dragonstone because Jon Arryn (Ned's foster father, guy who dies in the first episode) told him about cersei and jaime

Melisandre shows up shortly after, she has seen a vision of him in the flames

this. its pretty much the same in the show

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by rconverse

Cool.



Really? This was one of the more interesting storylines to me.

I think part of the reason I like it is because the storylines need to be winding down. The Iron folk certainly seem to think they have a claim at the thrown, so it's kind of like "everyone in the pool" as things wind down.

Also, while I realize there are two books left, so a lot of action yet to occur, considering the series is seven books, it's technically winding down. Of course that could be 16 years but whatever.

Click the "Show Spoiler" Button to reveal hidden text.

i read this 3 times and i have no idea what you're talking about

[TheStigSC]

I hope no one thinks I was complaining, that's just my analysis. Still the best show on TV, unarguably.

Also, I think based on some casting calls that the Iron Islands will be back next season, maybe with a set up this season but with a much reduced/changed role since they have essentially caught the books and messed the timeline up for them.

[DMBstandUP1984]

Maybe this has already been answered in here. But is Varys still waiting for Tyrion to come out of the bathroom?

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by DMBstandUP1984

Maybe this has already been answered in here. But is Varys still waiting for Tyrion to come out of the bathroom?

for a man that knows everything, its strange he hasnt heard about Tyrion getting enslaved yet

[Cscottrun]

Wow. That was fucking awesome.