The Official Game of Thrones [A Song of Ice and Fire] Thread (includes spoilers)

[Jack Brickman]

So I just finished the second book in the Gentleman Bastard series, and I highly recommend any of you guys who are Martin fans give this series a read. It's kind of like if you mixed Martin's adult fantasy with a crime/heist story. I loved the first two books and am already pounding through the third book. My only regret is that, like Martin, this series is far from done and I have no idea when the fourth book will be finishes.

Unlike Martin, though, these books are mostly independent from each other, so it's less of a knife through the heart knowing the next book is years away.

 

[kosis]

HBO is teaming up with IMAX and showing the last two episodes of season 4 in participating IMAX theaters around the country for about a week, starting January 29th. In addition they'll be debuting the new trailer for season 5 at the showing.

Re: OH, no Cleveland theaters, but Columbus and Cincinnati will be showing it.

http://www.imax.com/community/blog/game-of-thrones-in-imax-participating-theatres/

 

[Jack Brickman]

Hey, they're showing it in Charlotte!

Why is it only on a Thursday at 10pm? That's kind of annoyingly late given that I'd have to drive like twenty minutes to get to the place showing it.

 

[kosis]

Hey, they're showing it in Charlotte!

Why is it only on a Thursday at 10pm? That's kind of annoyingly late given that I'd have to drive like twenty minutes to get to the place showing it.

It's only showing Thursday? Thought it was a week-long run.

 

[Jack Brickman]

It's only showing Thursday? Thought it was a week-long run.

It's only showing on Thursday at the theater in Charlotte. I dunno about the one where you're at. Screw it, though. I bought my tickets. Back row, dead center. Best seats in the house.

 

[kosis]

It's only showing on Thursday at the theater in Charlotte. I dunno about the one where you're at. Screw it, though. I bought my tickets. Back row, dead center. Best seats in the house.

Well I'm in Cleveland, so I get nothing. 20 mins away sounds nice.

 

[Jack Brickman]

Well I'm in Cleveland, so I get nothing. 20 mins away sounds nice.

Haha fair enough.

 

[Sebastian]

Thursday night. Biggest screen in Washington. Not sure if there will be a red carpet event like last year.

 

[col63onel]

So at my roommate's behest, I started watching from the beginning a month ago. I already knew the major spoilers (SURPRISE! Sean Bean dies!) going in. Never read a page of the books, but might do so this summer. Just finished the last episode today. (When you guys talk about stuff in the books that hasn't hit TV yet, you use spoiler text, right?)

Basic thoughts on the show, trying to catch up on 4+ years of fanboyism

- 2 favorite characters are Tyrion (which I am sure is a cliche) and Arya (is she popular?). I think my favorite scene was when Arya and the Hound show up at the Vale and find out Lysa was dead, and Arya just starts laughing.

- Arya is still the only likeable Stark I have found. I know everyone liked Ned, but I have come to conclude he was an idiot for trusting anybody in this universe. And the most annoying is somehow still alive and living safely in the most picturesque part of the world.

- Was there ever a debate on Littlefinger vs Spider? I go back and forth on who I like better. Right now it's Spider, but partly because Littlefinger is with Sansa now.

- I wish Drogo had not died. Since the start of season 2, every scene with Danny Targaryen is the same. And for a while, she had 2 creepy, boring, old white guys with here. I know it seems like she will eventually sit on throne (has a claim, has shown to be merciful but not naive), but hopefully her character does something.

- I think Lena Heady was misscast as Cersei. Maybe it's because her character is worthless, and it doesn't who is cast.

 

[Jack Brickman]

@col63onel

You should definitely read the books. They add a lot to your understanding of the world and characters. The show is good, but it also changes quite a bit and also screws up some things, mostly because the showrunners, while ambitious, aren't the best writers around. Also, the books are just great. The first three are among the best books I've ever read, and the fourth and fifth are still page-turners.

Your complaint about Dany is echoed by most book readers. Her story just kind of stagnates for a while, even in the books. While it's clear her overall arc is about her learning both to lead and what she wants from her life, the story really runs out of steam during her conquering of Slaver's Bay. It was awesome when Dany takes Astapor (and how she takes Yunkai was done much better in the books), but by the time she's settling down in Mereen you're just fucking waiting for her to do something. Drogo dying, though, was obviously all about subverting expectations, as much of the series is.

Ned was definitely an idiot, but in a world filled with selfish assholes, he's refreshing in his values. Of course, his values are also part of what got him killed.

Everyone likes Arya and Tyrion. They're the two best characters in the series.

I don't really mind Lena Heady as Cercei. She doesn't really fit the character as she's written in the books, but almost all the characters are aged up on the show, so she's a fit. I wouldn't say her character is worthless. She has much more power now than she did at the start of the series now that Tommen is on the throne and Tywin is dead. Unfortunately, she's also short-sighted and stupid, so it's inevitable that she'll abuse that power.

 

[Chris]

Wouldn't say Ned was an idiot, or stupid. I find those words overused when describing Ned. He was actually a pretty smart guy. The issue as you know was that he happened to be so set in his values (which were good ones, by the way- he was a very moral character, definitely a guy I would want to follow and respect) that he wouldn't budge even if it meant losing. "Always tell the truth, even if it would lead to your death." Martin specifically inserted a character like that into a world full of cutthroats, liars, schemers, people that would backstab their most trusted friends if it meant gaining power or achieving whatever their goals are.

In a world like that, Ned just didn't belong. He was out of place in King's Landing and doomed from the start. RIP Ned.

Anyways, I dislike Arya. Not in a way that she isn't likeable but I don't get the fascination with her. Yes, Williams' portrayal on the show is pretty impressive. No, I don't find her story particularly cool or interesting. And no, the spunky female tomboy lead is nothing new at this point. That said, yes, everybody seems to be obsessed with Tyrion and Arya. At least the former I understand and agree with. Tyrion is awesome. Him and Jaime probably round out my top 5 favorite characters. Jaime POV chapters in ASOS were just fanfuckingtastic, and seeing him again in ADWD was like reuniting with an old friend, even if just for a moment. Truly one of the most complex characters in the series.

I also never really took a liking to Robb like so many people did, but that was a TV-viewer exclusive thing seeing as Robb is not even that prominent of a character in the books (never got a POV chapter).

 

[col63onel]

I should one of my favorite perks is that I can try GoT:ASoIaF games on Sporcle. My favorite was "50 most spoken words by Hodor"

 

[Adam]

I think if this season cersei gets to "repent " Lena might be in for the role of her life. I think she should be able to do a good job of the transition she has to go on. They might pad out her story though

 

[Jack Brickman]

Wouldn't say Ned was an idiot, or stupid. I find those words overused when describing Ned. He was actually a pretty smart guy.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

It should be noted that in the books, Ned was smart enough to not want to go to KL in the first place once Bran was hurt and they received Lysa's letter claiming that the Lannisters had killed Jon Arryn. He knew it would be incredibly dangerous and that he would lack true allies. Catelyn talked him into it, a scene that was reversed in the show.

But once he was there, his options were more limited. If Ned was the type who doesn't mind seeing children murdered, then there are a lot of things he could have done differently. But most of those other options came back to the reality that Tommen, Myrcella, and Joffrey would have been killed, and Ned wasn't willing to do that.

And I think he believed that Renly's plan would have resulted in a war anyway, especially since Robert was still alive (though barely) and Ned had not yet been named Regent.