Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

[DrJones]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

Compared to all other TV/movie adaptations, Game of Thrones is hewing ridiculously close to the books, especially considering the huge amount of characters/locations involved. The showrunners have probably the toughest job in TV right now. No complaints thus far.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

How close to the books does Dexter and True Blood stay? I know True Blood, especially now, has gotten pretty far from the books in some areas. Personally, I welcome logical changes because it keeps the material/universe fresh for long-time fans.

And GOT walks the line of being a porno in some cases. True Blood has nothing on this show.

[Steel5]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

I disagree with this line of thought, unlike the sopranos, the wire, EB&D etc. Which generated their fan bases based off the show. GoT, had a huge following based off the book. It's IMO a rare cases where the show should stay as true to the books as possible. I'm by no means a fantasy genre fan, but I am reading the books and they are amazing, well written and can pull you in. I can only imagine how true fans feel about this episode but I didn't like any of the changes even if I understand why they made them.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

The show has stayed remarkably close to the books thus far, but I don't agree that it should always stay as close as possible. There are cases where consolidation is needed with a massive cast of characters (which is only going to get worse as the series goes on) and there are simply some times where sometime will work differently on TV and changes can improve the show or simply make it work better in the different medium format.

I've been more than happy with how closely the show has stuck to the books thus far, and realize that as the series goes on, they will stray farther from the source material. (AFFC and ADWD will need some series consolidation and reorganizing to work well for TV.)

Anyone else checked out the Viewer's Guide? It's been updated for Season 2. Some really cool stuff in there:

http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/season2/

Really useful, especially for non-book readers.

I love this 'four kings' shot from the viewers guide. The King in the North!


Also, not to get everyone way too hyped, but the reviews that got screener's got the first four episodes of this season, and from what I've read, most everyone agreed that episodes 3 and 4 are really really strong.

[DrJones]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

How close to the books does Dexter and True Blood stay? I know True Blood, especially now, has gotten pretty far from the books in some areas. Personally, I welcome logical changes because it keeps the material/universe fresh for long-time fans.

Never read the books on which True Blood is based. Plot-wise, the first season of Dexter mirrors the first book (Darkly Dreaming Dexter) fairly closely until right near the climax, at which point there are major differences. After season 1, the books and series don't resemble each other in the slightest.

And GOT walks the line of being a porno in some cases. True Blood has nothing on this show.

I agree that the writers should cut back on the sex scenes that don't advance either plot (Stannis/Mel) or character development (Theon). They should probably give the escapades at Littlefinger's brothel a rest.

[Leon]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

Pretty sure the idea is that he gives them his boys in exchange for them not attacking his camp and letting him be.

Seeing as I have only read Game of Thrones, I find this interesting. I know they're smarter than zombies -- wielding a sword would suggest that -- but it never really entered my head that they could talk and thus, negotiate.

[Steel5]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

Seeing as I have only read Game of Thrones, I find this interesting. I know they're smarter than zombies -- wielding a sword would suggest that -- but it never really entered my head that they could talk and thus, negotiate.

Yeah they don't really cover that, but obviously it has to be implied from that situation that they have some sort of an intelligence and communication skills.

[Leon]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

Yeah they don't really cover that, but obviously it has to be implied from that situation that they have some sort of an intelligence and communication skills.

That would make them even more formidable foes. I can't wait for them to be more than just a looming threat.

[Boltman]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

How close to the books does Dexter and True Blood stay? I know True Blood, especially now, has gotten pretty far from the books in some areas. Personally, I welcome logical changes because it keeps the material/universe fresh for long-time fans.

And GOT walks the line of being a porno in some cases. True Blood has nothing on this show.

Go back and watch season one of True Blood, it absolutely has something on this show. I've been watching every series that HBO has that I never got around to watching in the past.

Using the HBO GO from my 360, me and my gf started watching True Blood from season one (were on episode 11 so far). It rivals anything I've seen in two seasons of GOT.

It's really just semantics though, it seems that many of their series are like this.

A question for you guys...

Spoiler

Why did Tyrion ask his newly made commander the question of "would you question me if I asked you to kill a female baby?" or something along those lines? They then cut to him thinking about the commanders crude yet honest response.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

Maybe the amount of "skin time" may be the same, but the things that True Blood does and the stuff that GOT has done in their scenes aren't really comparable. Apart from the opening in the first episode of True Blood, most the sex scenes seem to have some kind of bearing on the characters and their relationships. On the other hand, I don't see the point of watching two prositutes perform rimjobs on one another while Littlefinger does a monologue.

[MachoMyers]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

Go back and watch season one of True Blood, it absolutely has something on this show. I've been watching every series that HBO has that I never got around to watching in the past.

Using the HBO GO from my 360, me and my gf started watching True Blood from season one (were on episode 11 so far). It rivals anything I've seen in two seasons of GOT.

It's really just semantics though, it seems that many of their series are like this.

A question for you guys...

Spoiler

Why did Tyrion ask his newly made commander the question of "would you question me if I asked you to kill a female baby?" or something along those lines? They then cut to him thinking about the commanders crude yet honest response.

Spoiler

I was my belief that Tyrion wanted Janos Slynt gone simple because he had betrayed the past two Hands of the King. Tyrion also tried to justify (to himself) that Janos is a child killer and deserves to be sent to the Wall. Bronn's honest response makes him realize that he is surrounded by killers.

[aholbert32]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

I disagree with this line of thought, unlike the sopranos, the wire, EB&D etc. Which generated their fan bases based off the show. GoT, had a huge following based off the book. It's IMO a rare cases where the show should stay as true to the books as possible. I'm by no means a fantasy genre fan, but I am reading the books and they are amazing, well written and can pull you in. I can only imagine how true fans feel about this episode but I didn't like any of the changes even if I understand why they made them.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

GOT averages 6.3 million viewers a week (over 8 million if you count HBO GO and On Demand Viewers). The entire series of books has sold 15 million copies world wide (around 8-10 mil are US sales with about 2 million sales coming after GOT premiered on HBO). Its safe to assume that the majority of people who watch GOT are people who have not read the books (unless we are assuming that everyone who read the books watches the series or even has HBO). They are people like me who prefer to watch on TV or dont have the time to commit to the books.

With that being the case, its smart for HBO and the producers to focus on people who havent read the books and to make the series as easy to understand as possible. Small changes like a character's first name or making a character that is known to the audience the commander of the Kings Watch (instead of adding another character) is fine as long as it doesnt change the storyline or plot significantly imo.

[Bruins]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

In case there was any doubt...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/04/game-of-thrones-third-season.html

[jfsolo]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

As great as I'm sure the books are, I'm glad I kept putting off reading them so that I can watch this show with no preconceived notions or expectations.

From my perspective as just a T.V. show watcher, I find this show to be damn near flawless.

I bet that if they ever get around to making Dune into a television series, I imagine that I'll be severely annoyed with any changes they make to the canon, and will enjoy it somewhat less than people who have never read the books.

[Steel5]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

As great as I'm sure the books are, I'm glad I kept putting off reading them so that I can watch this show with no preconceived notions or expectations.

From my perspective as just a T.V. show watcher, I find this show to be damn near flawless.

I bet that if they ever get around to making Dune into a television series, I imagine that I'll be severely annoyed with any changes they make to the canon, and will enjoy it somewhat less than people who have never read the books.

I watched the first season without having read the books and absolutely loved it. After the first season was over, I read all the books including the first one. I've really enjoyed the first two episodes, but it is certainly a different experience watching it now. It's lost some of its sense of extreme tension in this wondrous settings knowing what is going to happen for the most part.

The books are great, but now that the second season is airing, there is a part of me that wishes I'd not read the books until the TV series was over.

[Leon]

Re: Game of Thrones Season 2 (aka A Clash of Kings)

I watched the first season without having read the books and absolutely loved it. After the first season was over, I read all the books including the first one. I've really enjoyed the first two episodes, but it is certainly a different experience watching it now. It's lost some of its sense of extreme tension in this wondrous settings knowing what is going to happen for the most part.

The books are great, but now that the second season is airing, there is a part of me that wishes I'd not read the books until the TV series was over.

It is statements like this that make me glad I haven't read ahead of the show. One common theme I've read about book-first fans is that having the material fresh in their heads and watching the show highlights the obvious differences and lessens their enjoyment of the show. Perhaps it's different for those who've read it but haven't revisited the material in a while.

I'm sure no matter your medium of preference though, it's still an enjoyable ride whether you read or watch first.