@Satsu: The book doesn't specify but the ____s have to come from somewhere and she hints very strongly in SoS that they come from that.
On the subject of renewal, when the show covers one episode's worth of Storm of Swords the ratings will be HOLY SHIT INSANE because that book is the REALEST thing. Ever. If they're getting good ratings on Season 2 I can't even think of what's gonna happen when shit goes down in Season 3.
Satsu, BRIAN BLESSED, MIGHTY AND WISE Junpei Iori: Ace Detective, Maccaffrickstonson von Lichtenstafford Frabenschnaben, Polite Krogan, Robert Baratheon
I don't mind the added stuff, except for the much discussed Baelish vs. Cersei scene. I quite liked the way they handled everything in Episode 2, including the Ros stuff. Her arc is hella interesting to me because unlike everyone else I have no idea where its going. Everything else is going just as I remember. Tyrion's arc and scenes (especially in Episode 2) are amazing.
Is Dolorous Edd that guy hanging out with Grenn? They haven't referred to him by name yet. Or is he one of those other assholes? (everyone other than Grenn and Edd are assholes really)
Only one thing is glaringly different from the books as far as I can tell:
killing Rakharo was a travesty, I loved that actor and that character and now I just don't know ANYONE's name in the Dany storyline beside her and Jorah (and Doreah, who the show is treating... somewhat differently) (not that I'm complaining I love Doreah she is babely). Rakharo is there for every major event in the books, what the hell is going to happen now? Jhogo and Aggo aren't even in the show. So Dany basically doesn't have any bloodriders, just Jorah. Nice.
I liked the added scene for Cersei, like was mentioned, but it cheapened Littlefinger a lot. :T
Don't get me wrong, I like the Ros stuff, too.
i garnered a ton of respect for her when she's so distraught over the killing of the baby
. I guess my point is, the book has a lot of stuff as it is and if I had to choose between scenes from the book or scenes about a character who isn't really in them, well...
You get where I'm going. But the season has only started so I'm not going to judge just yet. If they can have all these added scenes and still pull it off, all the power to them.
Also super upset about Rakharo being killed off. I actually genuinely liked the actor and the character. I guess it isn't like HBO to replace an actor when he's got to leave. Still, it makes me sad to see him go.
The end of episode two was weird, too. I mean, I don't remember Jon spying and getting caught? But I guess it's their way of showing what happens to all the male children without actually being in the character's head. Also, liked how they played up the superstition that he gives them up as sacrifices to the Others. In the book, I remember it was just a speculation that he did it. It was neat to see it in the show though.
As for the rest, I basically agree with everything Aki said.
Satsu, BRIAN BLESSED, MIGHTY AND WISE Junpei Iori: Ace Detective, Maccaffrickstonson von Lichtenstafford Frabenschnaben, Polite Krogan, Robert Baratheon
"nothing is sacred"
"haha lol you emotionally invest in these characters, isn't it awesome now they're dead?"
"now stay tuned for next week's episode!"
"nothing is sacred"
"haha lol you emotionally invest in these characters, isn't it awesome now they're dead?"
"now stay tuned for next week's episode!"
Satsu, BRIAN BLESSED, MIGHTY AND WISE Junpei Iori: Ace Detective, Maccaffrickstonson von Lichtenstafford Frabenschnaben, Polite Krogan, Robert Baratheon
Everything about the Renly section in this show has exceeded my high hopes. Marg is awesome. Brienne is awesome. Renly himself -- you could see how he would be such a good Summer King. And how Marg would keep him in line when the Winter came. GO RENLY!
The whole episode was great. I especially liked how they expanded on Yoren (I don't recall that from the book) to tie in with Arya's prayer. Yoren is a BAMF. I also liked how they streamlined Lommy's part, and Shae's, the show is not meandering at all, it seems.
And thank you for leaving Dany out of the episode the biggest flaw in Book II was including so many Dany chapters when she wasn't doing any goddamn thing. So I applaud the show for that, and for everything. The Iron Islands scenes were great, the North scenes were great. I am happily surprised that they worked in some exposition about Maester's chains. Sweet episode.
But WTF is up with Littlefinger's voice? That's three episodes in a row now that he's trying to talk like Homer from early Simpsons.
Satsu, BRIAN BLESSED, MIGHTY AND WISE Junpei Iori: Ace Detective, Maccaffrickstonson von Lichtenstafford Frabenschnaben, Polite Krogan, Robert Baratheon
I thought Danaerys' journeys in the book were pretty dang important, But it's true that Martin could have written the same thing with a whole lot fewer words.
'its ok bb we can get loras in on this action too and then we can make that strategic baby ' ahhhhhhh
i also loved TOMMEN AND SANSA AND MYRCELLA A LOT THEY'RE SO PRECIOUS i honestly liked this episode a lot more than previous ones cause it does sort of directly show that sansa and arya are sort of in the same broken boat, they're just both handling their situations differently
Must be the only one who thought Episode 3 was more miss than hit.
Yays:
* Scene between Yoren & Arya. Don't believe it was in the books but that was a nice touch.
* Yoren going down like Boromir.
* Almost everything from the Iron Islands. Powerful performances by Alfie Allen & Patrick Malahide. Theon seems to be one of the rare few who's undergone some character development thus far.
* Margaery. Dayum, Natalie Dormer is a cutie. Those eyes are mesmerzing and she seems to have this seductive expression across her lips at all times. As her character is another one they've matured, it makes sense to write her as more savvy and cunning than the 16 year-old ingenue from the books. But this does throw up the question why she wasn't already married?
* Brienne. Perfect casting. I was really surprised at how tall the actress is as well. Not sure they could have found anyone better if they tried. I always thought GRR Martin always oversold Brienne's ugliness in the books, too. Yeah, she's a munter, George, WE GET IT.
Nays:
* Will & Grace Renly & Margaery- Okay, Renly's ghey. We get it. Why are we focusing so much on this love triangle when
Renly gets his ass killed soon?
* Renly. Eh... Looks my fears were NOT put to bed. Renly's still as wimpy as ever. Renly Baratheon was supposed to be a charmer. Loved by everyone, the guy knew how to par-tay in style. Now apparently he's mocked by his own subjects for being a dickless wonder and his soiree was nothing like the grand do he was hosting in the books. Quite drab, in fact. I know, I know... budget.
* Shae. Damnit it all. She kills every scene she's in (which sucks, because most of her scenes involve Tyrion). Her moment with Sansa was so boring I should've gone for a Jimmy Riddle.
* Yoren's dumb logic. If you're in a fortified position... stay there. Don't drag your ragtag bunch of street-rats into the open so they can be slaughtered by the armed knights waiting outside.
* "Yara"... The only real lowpoint of the Greyjoy scenes, tbh. I picture Asha as striking, not necessarily 'beautiful' in a classic sense, but more in an tomboyish way. The actress really isn't selling this at all.
* No Shagga. Wasn't he supposed to be there when they roughed up Pycelle?
I think the creators are having trouble adapting Book 2 since things are all over the place. In season 1, Ned was the de facto protagonist. The plot revolved around him venturing into the capital, a proverbial viper's nest of deceit and treachery, to protect an old friend. This not only threatened his own life but we see how it impacted on his loved ones as well. Even the side-stories, such as Dany's failed assassination, Jon joining the Night's Watch, and Catelyn kidnapping Tyrion still converged back to Ned.
Season 2 doesn't really have that tight focus that Season 1 did. There's no overarching plot thread that's keeping this all together other than a bunch of power-hungry individuals vying for the throne. I'm hoping these first few episodes are only laying the groundwork and things will pick up soon but without that central spine (that Ned provided) it will be a challenge.
* "Yara"... The only real lowpoint of the Greyjoy scenes, tbh. I picture Asha as striking, not necessarily 'beautiful' in a classic sense, but more in an tomboyish way. The actress really isn't selling this at all.
* No Shagga. Wasn't he supposed to be there when they roughed up Pycelle?
Season 2 doesn't really have that tight focus that Season 1 did. There's no overarching plot thread that's keeping this all together other than a bunch of power-hungry individuals vying for the throne
Yeah, this is what I was thinking too; there's like what, 5 or 6 storylines going on at the same time now? They would probably be better off to reduce the amount of storylines per episode to 2 or 3; I can sorta follow it because I read the books, but I can imagine those that haven't to go WTF and WHO THE FUCK IS THIS. Character names in particular are easily missed in the series.
I dunno, it has a kind of Heroes: Season 1 vibe that I like. Except that there are ten main storylines (Jon, Bran, Robb, Theon, Arya, Tyrion, Sansa, Catelyn, Davos, Dany) in nine locations -- not to mention all the 'bonus' scenes with Littlefinger, Renly, Stannis, Ros, Sam, and so forth.
*shrug* It seems about as fragmented as the book was, I don't find it particularly hard to stomach. Nothing seems purposeless, and they've trimmed a lot of the fat from the book, so I'm happy.
After writing this though, I agree that the Ros and Littlefinger stuff could be replaced with, you know, real stuff. Maybe it's a pacing thing.
its some random nameless clansmen? because he was bearded like shagga and given i haven't watched it in forever he looked like shagga but i guess he was apparently replaced with some remarkably similar clansguy
Season 2 doesn't really have that tight focus that Season 1 did. There's no overarching plot thread that's keeping this all together other than a bunch of power-hungry individuals vying for the throne. I'm hoping these first few episodes are only laying the groundwork and things will pick up soon but without that central spine (that Ned provided) it will be a challenge.
Yeah, this is what I was thinking too; there's like what, 5 or 6 storylines going on at the same time now? They would probably be better off to reduce the amount of storylines per episode to 2 or 3; I can sorta follow it because I read the books, but I can imagine those that haven't to go WTF and WHO THE FUCK IS THIS. Character names in particular are easily missed in the series.
I haven't read the books (I'm going to, when I get the first book from the library) and I really agree with you. I think it's a bit confusing to have so many things going on at the same time. In the last episode I noticed that they didn't even have time to continue all of the stories. Also there's lots of new characters too, and I can't say that I remember their names.
I think the only thing that's tying anything together is the war and the debate on who's the rightfull king. It's so interesting how one (or two) man's death can have such a huge impact. Have to mention though, that of course there's really no link to Daenerys, but she's already so familiar so it's okay.
.
' ahhhhhhh
