HBO's Game of Thrones

[Bombers]

I sent a similar email this morning to my buddy who had the read the books. Apparently he's been waiting for me to react to that scene for a quite a while now.

 

I'm rapidly running out of people to root for in the show. I'm pretty much down to Arya Stark, John Snow, and Daenerys Targaryen.

I read the books, and I had a good group of people tuning into the show that never read the books. For me, it was great to see their reaction. I remember when I read it in the book I was really mad. Especially becuase you though Arya was dead too (She takes an axe to the back of the head - you find out later it is the butt of the axe and she was just knocked out.)

[Bombers]

Just a question from a guy who hasn't read the books and didn't get involved in the show until last year: are the books that different from the show? I am always looking for a new book to start so I am wondering if it pays to start reading them after knowing all that I know now from the show.

They are pretty spot on. There are things that are different but nothing drastic. Smallish things like Robb's wife wasn't at the red wedding. That is what GRRM was referring too on Conan. (http://winteriscoming.net/2013/06/grrm-on-conan/) ... The also removed some characters. Gendry wasn't taken by Melisandre, Stannis had another bastard called Edric Storm. So they just combined those two people into 1 person.

 

As far as the comment about running out of material, here are my thoughts:

Season 3 wrapped up about 60 ish % of the way through the 3rd book. So they are doing a good job. As far as running out of material, they have time to worry about that. Here are some things I have heard:

1. It is expected with the pressure from HBO, GRRM will have book 6 out in 2014. On Conan he says it is 1500 pages. If he knows how long it is, he atleast as a rough outline completed.

2. 2014 will be the rest of book 3.

3. Book 4 and book 5 run in parallel (from a time perspective) and they are huge (1,000 pages each) ... so that could take 3 years to get through. (2015, 16, and 17)

4. If book 6 actually is 1500 pages, I would expect that to cover 2018 and 2019.

5. So he would need book 7 out by 2020. I think he is fine.

[Bombers]

Just a question from a guy who hasn't read the books and didn't get involved in the show until last year: are the books that different from the show? I am always looking for a new book to start so I am wondering if it pays to start reading them after knowing all that I know now from the show.

And the part of does it pay to start reading them. I am partial because I thought these books were amazing. They are extremelly long. (I hooked someone I work with onto them and it took him 1 year to read the 5 books.) They are all like 1,000 pages. There is just a lot more detail to the books then in the show. There are more characters too. There are also some good theories out there about items left open ended at the end of book 5. So it will be interesting where it goes from here. Like he said on Conan, there is no character in my books that is safe from being killed off. (I find that intriguing but also a tad sad as you do get hooked into liking some characters a lot. So you worry about an axe to the back of the head at every turn) ... good luck if you start reading them. (The first two books are similar to the series but IMO I don't think you can just skip them. I think it might be akward for you - but maybe not. I had read all the books before the series started.)

[Bombers]

So for those still watching - what did you think of the season 4 premiere?

I thought it was great - especially the Hound and Arya's scene

[Invader3K]

Yeah, I thought it was great. I like the character advancement so far in the first episode.

 

BTW, is that a new actor playing Jaime Lannister, or does he look different now that he's all cleaned up?

[Menotti80]

Yeah, I thought it was great. I like the character advancement so far in the first episode.

 

BTW, is that a new actor playing Jaime Lannister, or does he look different now that he's all cleaned up?

 

 

Yes same actor. they did recast Daario though.

 

My main advice to HBO is showing less Shae and Sansa & more John, Tyrion and Arya

[pitchleague]

 

BTW, is that a new actor playing Jaime Lannister, or does he look different now that he's all cleaned up?

 

 

Heh, that's what I was thinking as well. He sure looked and sounded different.

[pitchleague]

 

BTW, is that a new actor playing Jaime Lannister, or does he look different now that he's all cleaned up?

 

 

Heh, that's what I was thinking as well. He sure looked and sounded different.

[razzzorsharp]

[Invader3K]

So yeah, Joffrey is dead. I knew he was going to die at some point...kind of thought his death would be more spectacular than choking to death after being poisoned, but whatever. He had it coming.

 

I have a guess as to who poisoned him, but I can't say I'm sure at this point. No, I haven't read the books.

[pitchleague]

Finally watched the latest episode last night.

 

Pretty interesting. Kind of glad he's gone.

 

I haven't read the books either so it's nice to watch and be surprised. Although for two days I had to avoid spoilers like the plague.

[docduany]

I was also hoping Joffery's death was going to be more excruciating. Maybe flashier? I also haven't read the books. From listening to my friends that have read the books, I think I'm enjoying the show more. I nothing to compare changes to.

[torts]

So yeah, Joffrey is dead. I knew he was going to die at some point...kind of thought his death would be more spectacular than choking to death after being poisoned, but whatever. He had it coming.

 

I have a guess as to who poisoned him, but I can't say I'm sure at this point. No, I haven't read the books.

 

I haven't read the books either, but I have to think it was Sansa just by the way she was just starring off, with that determined look in her eyes the entire time Joffrey was mocking the death of her family, and she handed the cup to Tyrion that he ended up taking that final drink from. I tried discussing ideas of what happened but those discussions got overrun by those who read the books interjecting how whatever was being suggested couldnt have happened without just flat out spoiling the storyline. so frustrating! i now avoid almost all GoT discussions

[burnzy24]

Here is an interesting take on who killed Joffrey. http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/heres-exactly-how-the-biggest-jerk-in-all-of-game-of-thrones

[nate82]

 

I haven't read the books either, but I have to think it was Sansa just by the way she was just starring off, with that determined look in her eyes the entire time Joffrey was mocking the death of her family, and she handed the cup to Tyrion that he ended up taking that final drink from. I tried discussing ideas of what happened but those discussions got overrun by those who read the books interjecting how whatever was being suggested couldnt have happened without just flat out spoiling the storyline. so frustrating! i now avoid almost all GoT discussions

 

It was not Sansa who killed Joffrey. Burnzy24 has the correct answer.

[berniebrewer4life]

was also hoping Joffery's death was going to be more excruciating. Maybe flashier? I also haven't read the books. From listening to my friends that have read the books, I think I'm enjoying the show more. I nothing to compare changes to.

 

I started reading the books after last season. I am currently a book ahead of the tv show. For me, i am enjoying the TV show more now, as i not only fully know all the characters and their back stories a little better(Sometimes the show glosses over that a little bit), but i am excited to see how the show portrays upcoming scenes.

 

As for the death scene, it was pretty accurate(it seemed pretty excruciating when i read it, as it seemed to drag on longer in the books). The only things i remember being different is that Joff clawed at his throat as he was dieing in the books, as well as the fact that Jamie hadn't made it back to Kings landing yet(he arrived just after the death). Both are by no means a big deal, just a few small differences i noticed.

[Invader3K]

After watching last night, I already knew he was pretty messed up...but I think Jaime Lannister is the next character who deserves to get bumped off. Wow.

[pretendastronaut]

Didn't see the Little Finger thing coming. Poor Sansa.

[torts]

Didn't see the Little Finger thing coming. Poor Sansa.

 

me either!

[Bombers]

Another good episode. (And some new material for the book readers as Bran never went to Craster's Keep in the book - he was north of the wall, just never went there)

[pretendastronaut]

I thought last night's episode was fantastic, literally found myself leaning forward on the couch.

[jjkoestler]

Another good episode. (And some new material for the book readers as Bran never went to Craster's Keep in the book - he was north of the wall, just never went there)

 

I don't want to write too much because it might spoil a few episodes, but that threw me off quite a bit.

 

This site does a great job with the differences between the books and tv show.

 

http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Differences_between_books_and_TV_series_-_Season_4

[Bombers]

Pedro Pascal really nailed the part of one Oberyn Martell (The Red Viper) ... It is a bummer to see him go. As a book reader, I knew it was coming but didn't want it to. 2 episodes left. Articles by the producers say the majority of episode 9 will be dedicated to the wall. Should be another awesome episode.

[docduany]

I can't believe they just killed the Red Viper!! That sucks! Game of Thrones 101, don't like a character or they will kill them off.

[thebruce44]

Ugg, so worried Snow is going to die in this next episode at the Wall.