SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 6, 2012 14:56:16 GMT -5
I always enjoy the show more on rewatch: - It took me the second time, but good lord is the show feeding the Jaqen = Syrio fire, aren't they? The expression and way the action says "Being a dancing master is something special" as if he knows... and while they are implying he knows a lot about her he shouldn't with him knowing her list -- name dropping "Goodbye, Arya Stark" at the end was killer, no? I didn't even notice it the first time around because I know she's Arya Stark, but he doesn't, right!
It's always been one of my least favorite theories because it's something that is less there are arguments FOR rather than you simply can't prove it's not true. But this acting seems to be an argument FOR in the show.
- Loved the first 2/3rds of the show. Perhaps my favorite episode ever through that point. Theon's story was excellent. If the ending was a copout, so what? The rest was great. People were crying (not me) when Luwin died. All the KL stuff was great, even Ros.
- They changed Shae so very much for the show, and while that changes Tyrion, it's working so well, I don't care. I thought last week the show did a good job of seeding doubt that neither Bronn nor Shae cared for Tyrion more than as a paycheck. I was wrong on Shae.
- Jaime and Brienne, road show two was awesome. Whether it's changes to Tyrion, Robb's arc, or Brienne, HBO and the writers are definitely bringing a modern sensibility to the show. For a lot of hard core fantasy fans who adore when people do stupid for obscure points of honor or distinguish greatly between killing a sixth cousin (kinslaying) and your next door neighbor (okay), this is an issue. Not for me. I like even my fantasy stories to be relatable to me, and stories of men dropping everything for a women (Robb, there's a war) or Brienne going vindicative on rape and murder, that's okay by me.
- I thought that while the whole Jon arc just didn't have the impact the book had, the sword fight was good. Yes, the changes there shot that storyline through with a ton of plotholes (I think, in an attempt to solve another plothole -- Ygritte's support and interest in Jon). And it hurts it. But I like that we don't really know if Jon was angry, defending himself or following orders there -- and likely was all three. He has a profound look of regret on his face after, and you can tell Ygritte is like, dude, you did it, keep up the act. Then we can spoon later. She definitely knows what's up.
- I thought, if you obliterated expectations, the first half of the House of the Undying was great. The vision of the Throne Room, ruined as if from fire, snow falling ... both served as the Warlocks attempt to tell Dany that the Iron Throne itself worth it, Dany asking herself the same thing and lastly, perhaps as prophecy (in more than one way). Then beyond the wall and into her yurt with Drogo and Rhaego -- something to entice her to stay forever in their matrix, happy. But she chooses her dragons and her ambitions.
- This series is going to have to figure out special effects, though. Blackwater was insane. Jaqen's face, the entrance to the HotU, all camera trick stuff is fantastic. The dragons and direwolves look great.
But the WW were middling, and it's obvious that they are avoiding interaction between humans and CGI at all costs (cause it's pricey and time consuming). In the book HotU, Drogo raises up and torches a room of warlocks, flying around. These stayed sedentary and shot flame.
In Jon's scene with the Qhorin, he's losing, until Ghost appears and hamstrings the Half-hand. It's a great touch, and a connection with the Direwolves. You knew it wasn't going to be there.
In the future, the Direwolves are in battle scenes (2 next season), the Dragons grow and do some pretty crazy . It's something that needs to be solved through money or the disappointment is going to be tough to offset.
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Jun 7, 2012 0:29:47 GMT -5
Actually, they do meet Luwin after the sack, and he is dying. Luwin insists that Osha split up Rickon and Bran. The Reeds (next season) take Bran and Rickon and Osha head off in another direction. Oh thats rights, I forgot that. I read the books all in a row last summer and they just sort of mush together after so many pages. Im going to have to start re reading them before each season of the show so I can remember better. It's fine watching the show if you havent read the books or if you have and remember what happens pretty well. But having read the books and not remembering exactly what happens leaves me questioning so much of what is going on in the show that it is distracting and I cant really enjoy it. |
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 7, 2012 2:48:33 GMT -5
It's funny, I intentionally don't read the book so I don't get all picky and ruin my own enjoyment. But I can see how the latter would be an issue. I've read them four or five times (I know) so I've got the early ones down at least. Feast maybe three times and Dance twice.
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Jun 7, 2012 7:40:00 GMT -5
Is there a consensus best book or not really?
Thinking about reading them but I'm sort of worried that reading them will ruin the independent experience of watching one of the best television series in the history of what is clearly a golden age of high end tv drama. Might be better now that I've seen two seasons of the show to wait on the books. Just don't know if I can wait that long.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 7, 2012 9:23:52 GMT -5
Is there a consensus best book or not really? Thinking about reading them but I'm sort of worried that reading them will ruin the independent experience of watching one of the best television series in the history of what is clearly a golden age of high end tv drama. Might be better now that I've seen two seasons of the show to wait on the books. Just don't know if I can wait that long. Like most things, the books are certifiably better. The consensus best book is A Storm of Swords (Book 3 and the next 2 seasons). It's probably the favorite of 90% of the readers (at least those who post). The strongest critical success was the last, A Dance w Dragons, probably because a) it's recent and Martin's a big success and b) it's more "literary." Books 4 and 5 slow down the rapid fire pace from 1, 2 and 3. Less happens. That disappointed a bunch of fans that preferred the plot-driven aspects over thematics, character or world-building. Not judging, just more or less true. There are also split between characters, and nearly everyone I know who's read them back to back rather than waiting five years then six year has liked them both more than the hardcore fan that waited 11 years after Storm to see some of their favorite characters again. ---------------- As a reader, I watch the show to see my favorite scenes re-enacted, some incredible acting and visuals, and also somewhat academically to watch how they did it. A lot of fans can't handle the changes -- it bothers them too much to enjoy the show. Not me, but YMMV. On the other hand, while the book has incredible backstory, great characters, etc., part of the real fun is racing through finding out what comes next in a well plotted series of books. The momentum and tension Martin can build is pretty fantastic -- and you kind of have to pick which medium you are going to get the plot surprises in. Despite all the commentary about changes, fundamentally the same people are living and dying and people are in the same place. So, there's no real tension except where I think they would really diverge (Cersei and Tommen in the throne room, for example, is a made up scene and I thought, maybe?). It changes it and it would change how much I enjoy the books as well. Tough to say. |
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thebin
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Post by thebin on Jun 7, 2012 12:47:04 GMT -5
Thanks SF. Let's face it, I'm going to hit rock bottom sometime in the next few sundays and start the books.
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jgalt
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Post by jgalt on Jun 7, 2012 12:48:46 GMT -5
Like I said, I read them all at one (only had to wait a few weeks for the latest book to come out), so they sort of all feel like one book. But the 4th book stood out as slower and less likable than the others. Like SF said, books 4 and 5 are the same time period, but different characters. And my favorite characters were mostly in book 5.
But I bet if went back and re-read them all, book 1 would be the hardest only because I know so much of what will happen. The landscape of Westeros is so much different in book 1 than it is in the others that it might just been too strange.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 7, 2012 13:41:22 GMT -5
Thanks SF. Let's face it, I'm going to hit rock bottom sometime in the next few sundays and start the books. I doubt you will regret it. I introduced a female Hoya friend to the series and she basically wolfed them down in the shortest time possible. She hit Book 3 while on vacation in Argentina and found herself staying up half the night reading (despite being on vacation) because she couldn't put it down. Not everyone quite dives in like that, but it's been known to happen. |
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CTHoya08
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Post by CTHoya08 on Jun 8, 2012 7:29:56 GMT -5
I'm in the same boat as jgalt. Watched the first season and wanted to read the books, but held off until after the bar exam. I got through book one in about two and half days immediately thereafter, and plowed through the next four in a month or so. Aside from a few major events, I don't have much of a feel for what happens in which book.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Jun 8, 2012 11:25:56 GMT -5
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Boz
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123 Fireballs!
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Post by Boz on Jul 9, 2012 12:15:35 GMT -5
;D
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rosslynhoya
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Post by rosslynhoya on Jul 9, 2012 22:33:43 GMT -5
;D For those interested, Paul&Storm, formerly of Da Vinci's Notebook, have ties to the DC area. There's a show at the Birchmere on 8/25. |
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