Game of Thrones

Be I the only Wrinkly currently watching and enjoying HBO's lavish new fantasy series based upon George RR Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series of novels; starring Sean Bean, Lena Headley, Harry Lloyd and the always impressive Peter Dinklage amongst a host of others?

We're up to episode two and the show is slowly establishing its detailed, intricate world and large array of interlinked characters with measured confidence. I possess - but have yet to read - the books, so I'm coming into this blind and with no preconceived expectations. And thus far I'm impressed by what the show has been offering up to me.

If you're not watching it - please do give it a try. Quality fantasy of this type is a rare thing - especially so in the televisual medium.

I don't have HBO as a channel in my satellite dish package, so I am not watching it yet, but I have seen Game of Thrones receive some promotional spots on various cable networks. It certainly looks lavish and exciting. I figure given the cast, it's only a matter of time before BBC-America picks it up and starts airing it the same way they're now running The Tudors.

Sid Seadevil wrote:Be I the only Wrinkly currently watching and enjoying HBO's lavish new fantasy series based upon George RR Martin's Song of Fire and Ice series of novels; starring Sean Bean, Lena Headley, Harry Lloyd and the always impressive Peter Dinklage amongst a host of others?

You are not.

Sid Seadevil wrote:We're up to episode two and the show is slowly establishing its detailed, intricate world and large array of interlinked characters with measured confidence. I possess - but have yet to read - the books, so I'm coming into this blind and with no preconceived expectations. And thus far I'm impressed by what the show has been offering up to me.

I'm also going into this without having read the books. I hope to do so afterwards. Thus far it's been excellent, like a weekly short film.

Sid Seadevil wrote:If you're not watching it - please do give it a try. Quality fantasy of this type is a rare thing - especially so in the televisual medium.

Agreed.

Ah, Zoltar old chap. I suspected that this would be your type of show. Great to know that I'm not the only one here enjoying it.

Sid Seadevil wrote:Ah, Zoltar old chap. I suspected that this would be your type of show. Great to know that I'm not the only one here enjoying it.

Oh, for certain, this is right up my street. And I agree, Peter Dinklage is excellent as Tyrion Lannister.

As is Sean Bean also. From what I understand Bean and Dinklage were the only two cast members who were offered their roles from the outset without having to audition. Which is understandable given how they're both pitch-perfect.

Sid Seadevil wrote:As is Sean Bean also. From what I understand Bean and Dinklage were the only two cast members who were offered their roles from the outset without having to audition. Which is understandable given how they're both pitch-perfect.

Indeed they are. Sean was a big selling point for me in terms of interest in the series, I'm definitely a fan of his work.

Same here. From my understanding this first season is a straight (and remarkably faithful) adaptation of the opening book - so I'm happy to follow it at the writer's pace.

Much as I hate to disagree with my fellow wrinklies, A Game Of Thrones was an example of everything that I hate about the state of contemporary American tv drama: self important, pompous, humorless and above all else strangled by it's continual attempt at a feeling of 'authenticity.' The first scene of the first episode pretty well gave a good impression of what the show would be like when it featured a gate opening... slowly. And as the episode progressed, so did my disinterest.

At no point was I given any reason to care about the characters, let alone identify with them. And while I understand one of the themes was the sexism any medieval fantasy world would have had to endure, this was rendered into hypocrisy on the part of the creators with the amount of slow pans up the female cast members naked buttocks and around their naked breasts throughout the episode.

About the only thing that would make me watch the second episode was the dwarf, without a doubt the most interesting character in it. But, please excuse the pun, there wasn't enough of him, so I doubt I will.

It really does reinforce the quality of Doctor Who. Or, for that matter, Peter Jacksons insistence of momentum in his adaptations of Lord of the Rings. Personally I preferred Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, which at least tried to be funny.

Those are certainly fair enough points, Lee. But for my part I didn't really have those problems with it to any great extent. Not having read the books I can't really comment on whether the lingering shots of the naked females were a producers/directorial edict - but from listening to fans of the books, I'm inclined to suspect they were merely adhering as closely to these scenes from the book as they did to the rest of the episodes.

Given that this season is ten episodes and devoted purely to adapting the first novel, I'm inclined to grant them the relatively slow pace at this point. But I certainly both acknowledge and understand your criticisms of what we've seen so far. Perhaps you might give the show a try for at least a couple more episodes? Who knows, perhaps you'll find some of your concerns being addressed.

Eitherway, it was as interesting as always to hear your reactions to it.

Well think I may watch it tonight, once I've caught up with the wrestling. I hope it's better than Camelot was - my opinion of that was summed up by The Purefoy himself when he said "Fuc k this shi t"!

I've just caught up with it.

I can see what Lee means by it being slow, but past the first episode the pacing changes a little and stuff starts to happen a little more evenly.

There are some excellent moments from the first seven episodes, which were not the moments I expected them to be. For example, meeting the Pater Familias of the Lannisters, played by Charles Dance. He's matter of factly skinning a Stag in his tent (ooo...visual metaphor) and at the same time verbally skinning his son. In the space of five minutes we see all of the Lannister family traits in one person.

Watching Eddard Stark get it all wrong, utterly out of his depth and never for a moment realising that he's an idiot and playing into the hands of others until literal moment where all the betrayals happen at once, and the look on Sean Bean's face when it happens...it's one of the most disquieting arcs I've seen in a while. You want Eddard Stark to be smarter, but not in the way those around him are, and you want him to realise what's going to happen and get the hell out of King's Landing, but he can't.

Worse, it looks like Eddard was right. About everything. All along. And no one has listened to him because they're wrapped up in being clever, devious and cunning.

Also, based on what I've seen so far I'm pretty sure that while Eddard might be right, all the "wrong" people will prosper. They're well written, so there are no out and out villains and it's easy to understand most of the motivations, and there aren't really any wrong people, but you know that come the end of the season the people who you were cheering for aren't necessarily going to come out on top.

Recommended when it arrives on DVD.

Haven't got Sky Atlantic, so waiting for either the DVDs or a repeat on a channel I have got, but have started reading the books, which are excellent.

(Genuine spoilers if you haven't read the book, you have been warned)

Spoiler:

Dave Webb wrote:There are some excellent moments from the first seven episodes, which were not the moments I expected them to be. For example, meeting the Pater Familias of the Lannisters, played by Charles Dance. He's matter of factly skinning a Stag in his tent (ooo...visual metaphor) and at the same time verbally skinning his son. In the space of five minutes we see all of the Lannister family traits in one person.

Yeah, had to be one of the more interesting and strong introductions of a character I've seen in a while. Very well played by Dance.

Daenerys has been a surprise. Not having read the books, I wasn't expecting her to rise to her new role so well.

i'm totally loving this. especially the midget.

I've got absolutely hooked on this. Just rewatching the first six episodes while I wait to "obtain" the other four...

seven.

As a side note, why are we so coy about 'obtaining' things? There was a house rule at OG about never mentioning downloading stuff...is there one here?

Yeah, just say "I'm stealing it"!

Rich Flair wrote:Yeah, just say "I'm stealing it"!

Questionable. If I steal your hat, you no longer have access to it. If I download a copy of a TV show, I'm not preventing anyone else having access to it. So, is it still theft?

Also, if the intellectual property I'm getting access to is being sold by the Murdoch Empire and I want the product but don't want to be held hostage by some grubby media baron who'd essentially like to dismantle freedom of speech and thought, isn't that just market forces in action?

I'd probably be quite happy to give HBO some money, and when the DVD appears I will.
(I checked...HBO are Time Warner, so since they aren't actively trying to dismantle the BBC I will cheerfully fund them).

((Geekynote: turns out I'm basically Chaotic Good).

No, I don't really see it as theft. I buy enough box sets to balance out what I get from the internet, so my conscience is clear. If HBO choose to ally themselves in the UK with the terrible Murdoch then it's their fault if I find other ways of accessing their output.

I'm not stealing it at all .

And, likewise - as soon as the DVD comes out, I'll be buying it. Other copies that might be in my possession are merely serving as placeholders .

Dave Webb wrote:I'd probably be quite happy to give HBO some money, and when the DVD appears I will.
(I checked...HBO are Time Warner, so since they aren't actively trying to dismantle the BBC I will cheerfully fund them).

They've got my cash, I'm seeing it the old-fashioned way by being a subscriber. I'll be getting the DVD set as well. Hell, Blu-ray if they have one.

(HBO and the Beeb generally get along pretty well, lots of co-funded projects in the past).

Dave Webb wrote:((Geekynote: turns out I'm basically Chaotic Good).

Cool, we have t-shirts.

Zoltar wrote:
Cool, we have t-shirts.

Where?

Dave Webb wrote:Where?

Well, it's sort of like saying "join the club". That having been said, a quick Google search does turn up results for alignment t-shirts from different sellers.

This has to be the best thing I've watched since The Wire. Is anybody else watching the latest series?