A Game of Thrones on HBO

[Kiaring]

To the great chagrin of many an acne-faced, basement-dwelling nerd, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie will not be playing Jaime and Cersei Lannister.

Despite this immense setback to the wet-dreaming community of the intarwebs I must say that AGoT is a decent enough show. I've got a hundred questions (how will they keep producing episodes if Martin has yet to finish the series, for starters...) and I know for a fact that this fantasy series has been for many years one of the main inspirations for a lot of what has happened throughout EfU. Whilst the settings (FR and Westeros) are incredibly different from one another, and I truly think that in the only instances GRRM has been outright copied it was more out of a sense of respect (homages, such as character names) than a need to plagiarize his work for lack of creativity, I wouldn't disagree with naming the man the Godfather of EfU, in my own perspective at least. With that said, I would very much like to hear what other EfU players have to say on the show. Keeping spoilers to a minimum might be decent, but then again there's a warning on the thread title. And if you've not read every single one of the four books that are out, you really, really, really should do it right about now.

Here's my take on it: Whilst not as utterly unabashedly amazing as ROME (Titus Pullo screaming THIRTEEN and hurling an axe into a rival gang member's face as a reply to his offer of peace, after biting - yes, biting - off the other gang's leader tongue still ranks for me as the greatest television moment, or perhaps outright moment in the history of mankind) it has quite a few strengths. The production is obviously very well made and there seems to have been an effort to stick as close as possible to the original material (why would you change ANYTHING in what is pretty much already a story that was made for the episodic TV-show format is beyond me, really) which is really nice for a fan of the show. From the look of the first two episodes, I don't think they'll be skirting around some of the more sensitive material (sex and violence, namely) though they have toned it down somewhat by aging most of the characters (Daenerys is 16 or 17, whereas in the book she is 13). Obviously for die-hard fans (such as I) there will be some let-downs in casting choices and other issues (such as adding scenes that were not part of GRRM's books, even though other scenes that were not featured in the TV adaptation could have served just as well in their place) but so far I think it's a very watchable show that I hope will at the very least bring more people in contact with this amazing fantasy series. Thoughts?

[Canzah]

Just started watching it today, very entertaining tbh.

[you axed for it]

Doesn't hold a candle to top tier TV shows like Deadwood or The Wire.

[AKMatt]

It's decent, but nothing more than that.  Considerably worse than I had hoped for, but not a complete flop, thankfully.  I'll probably watch every episode, anyway.

[Random_White_Guy]

I never nerded out over the books as so many of you EFU people did, so I've found it cool enough. Plus some great lines.

"At sixteen all I cared for was cracking skulls and fucking girls".

Too true, king sir, too true.

[Kiaring]

While I agree that shows such as Deadwood and Rome are really what television was made for, I don't see how AGoT's television adaptation is anything but a decent attempt to bring the books to the screen. I honestly don't see how it could be better given the current state of affairs at HBO (risky, out-of-the-box shows pretty much died with Rome in that network, imo) and really, it could be much, much, much worse.

Obviously most of us (I expect) are fans of the books and will end up watching every episode one way or another.

And if you do care for witty one-liners you better watch every single one indeed. GRRM has written some of the best.

[Random_White_Guy]

Let's not forget, anything HBO has rights to becomes instantly possible for their late night after hours soft core porn.

A schlong of ice and fire, anyone?

[you axed for it]

There's plenty they could have done better.

Namely, not made Drogo a wax-chested gym monkey with a penchant for makeup.

Also, Cersei should have a much better set of tits.

[Howlando]

It has exceeded my expectations. "Competently done" is the phrase I'd use.

[9lives]

This week's episode is an improvement, at least.

[CroakingOpera]

It's quite decent. The shots are stunning however! I'll probably watch it all, since decent and above- fantasy/sci-fi series are rare enough these days.

[Coldburn]

It's a good series. I fanboy this shit.

[Nuclear Catastrophe]

I didn't enjoy Deadwood and I found season 2 of Rome to be lacklustre compared with the tour-de-force that was the first season, which was a pity.  Still highly recommended.  I suspect AGOT will exceed them all once the actors and actresses find their confidence, and once things are really in the swing.  Bear in mind this is the first 'big' thing a lot of these guys have done.

Peter Dinklage has been a godsend though, it was utterly vital that they got someone with gravitas to play Tyrion Lannister, and I thought given Tyrion's dwarf-stature that would be impossible.  He's done well so far.

As for my overall response to AGOT...

*POTENTIAL SPOILER IN THE SMALL WRITING*

It's hard to judge.  I think the only opinions that matter are the ones of those who HAVEN'T read the books, as it's going to be hard to feign surprise when certain twists occur, and from what I can tell, those tend to be all of a kind - they're really enjoying it.  The critics (who won't have touched this niche fantasy with a bargepole) are all gripped by what is a twisting and turning rollercoaster of a story.

I myself find it very well done from a read-the-books-standpoint.  Well acted, well screenplayed, well directed.  

[size="1"]And we'll get to see the Battle of the Blackwater and the ambush in the Whispering Wood.  That'll be something fantastic to behold, I am mainly looking forward to the realisation of the action scenes, as that's the only thing a book cannot really do better than a movie.  How good will Jaime Lannister be?[/size]

[Coldburn]

Also, Daenerys Targaryen is very, very hot.

I just wonder how the conservative media will respond when they find out she's supposed to represent a 13 year old girl who does softporn in a mainstream tv series.

[Egon the Monkey]

That could be the most entertaining event of the series, if a pundit ever gets round to reading a book :P. Talking of which, a friend gave me his old copy of the novel, so reading through it at last. :D.