A Game of Thrones (HBO Series)

[TheLastStop123]

it is pretty amazing that one of the biggest shows of our lifetime (if not the biggest) is centered around a book series that isn't going to get finished.

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by Rodey

I think once Martin started working on the spinoff series' we were guaranteed to never get anymore books.

That said, is it worth it to go back and read the books at this point?

ii would absolutely read the books, loved them. gave so much more insight into the characters

[mrignatious]

Even without the TV show and spinoff series(es) it's highly unlikely the book series would've ever been finished.

[coldengrey12]

I prefer the books to the show/movie(s) most of the time and this series is no exception. The books are better.

They do require quite an investment, especially since the story is so expansive.

[mrignatious]

Originally Posted by coldengrey12

I prefer the books to the show/movie(s) most of the time and this series is no exception. The books are better.

They do require quite an investment, especially since the story is so expansive.

Yeah I'll second this.

The show lends itself to marathon viewing (imo of course), but if you're planning to read the books I would be prepared for a slow burn. Worth it though.

[WidespreadMule3]

I've read the books and think they're good but this one of the very few scenarios where I don't think the books are better than the show/movie. At the very least, they're on par with each other. The books are good for added backstory and detail but the show translates so well and is so engaging.

[junior94]

question for the book folks: the flashback to Cersei's childhood when she goes with her friend to see that witch in the middle of the woods and hears the "3 dead kids" prophecy, did that happen relatively at around the same time in the story in the original books? Ya know for like in the context of the TV show, not always showing things totally linearly, it was revealed early in season 5. Was it handled approx the same way in the books?

[coldengrey12]

It's near the beginning of A Feast for Crows, the fourth book, iirc.

Generally speaking, the book/show breakdown is like this:

Season 1 = Book 1
Season 2 = Book 2
Season 3 = Book 3
Season 4 = Book 3
Season 5 = Books 4 and 5
Seasons 6 and 7 = Unknown

There are exceptions. The Theon/Ramsey story speeds ahead early, as does Bran's.

Books 4 and 5 take place concurrently in different parts of the universe. For the most part, 4 focuses on the Iron Islands, King's Landing, Dorne and Braavos. 5 focuses on the rest and then, in the final third-ish of the book, starts bringing back people from 4 like Cersei and Brienne.

[coldengrey12]

There's one more part to the prophecy in the books that I think the show left out — she'll marry the king, she'll have three children who all die, a younger and more beautiful queen will try to defeat her and, the part I think the show left out, is that she'll be killed by the "valonquar," meaning little brother.

It's part of why she's so hell bent for leather to see Tyrion dead. She thinks if he's out of the picture, it eliminates that threat.

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by coldengrey12

There's one more part to the prophecy in the books that I think the show left out — she'll marry the king, she'll have three children who all die, a younger and more beautiful queen will try to defeat her and, the part I think the show left out, is that she'll be killed by the "valonquar," meaning little brother.

It's part of why she's so hell bent for leather to see Tyrion dead. She thinks if he's out of the picture, it eliminates that threat.

do we know if she was born before Jamie?

[coldengrey12]

Originally Posted by smokew11

do we know if she was born before Jamie?

We do and she is.

[junior94]

Originally Posted by coldengrey12

There's one more part to the prophecy in the books that I think the show left out — she'll marry the king, she'll have three children who all die, a younger and more beautiful queen will try to defeat her and, the part I think the show left out, is that she'll be killed by the "valonquar," meaning little brother.

It's part of why she's so hell bent for leather to see Tyrion dead. She thinks if he's out of the picture, it eliminates that threat.

Okay I just took a fresh look, for the show it's literally the very first scene for season 5, it's right after the whole "previously on" segment in the premiere episode. But yea good point, it's not brought up there, but I've seen plenty of talk about it around online, which makes me wonder now how by design was it that D&D left that portion out of the episode.
cause I mean for comparison's sake, the prophecy in the Harry Potter series, that winds up being such a driving force of the whole narrative, when you hear the complete thing in the book there's quite a bit more to it than what's otherwise dramatized by Trelawney in that scene from Order Of The Phoenix. But it's not really anything you needed to hear to understand and appreciate everything of how things play out in the films.

So yea, it hadn't truly sunk in til now that that part is NOT in the series, that can't be by accident. Granted, maybe it'll still be that Jamie winds up killing Cersei in the show, and technically he is her "younger brother", as one had to pop out first and it was her.

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by coldengrey12

We do and she is.

ahhhh I do vaguely remember that, meaning the prophecy is technically open to options

I still think Jamies redemption arc has to end with him killing Cersei (or allowing her to do) to save Tyrion

[coldengrey12]

Show Jaime seems to have caught up with Book Jaime in being generally tired of Cersei's shit.

[WidespreadMule3]

Yeah Jaime is 100% going to kill Cersei. Being the Kingslayer is going to come full circle.

[junior94]

I'm not going to ask the question that I'm about to as a defense in any way for the whole s5 Dorne storyline with Jamie & Bronn going there (although it at least give us the one Sand Snake girl, the one who was really flirting with Bronn good lord was she gorgeous, actually now I think about it I think she's the only one still technically alive in the show) but I do wonder about a timing thing. Lots of viewers it seemed reacted with eye rolls at Jamie & Bronn and the Sand Snakes all arriving at the same place at the same exact time, and probably rightly so. But did anyone have the same issue at all with the Hardhome episode? overall it's a pretty damn good episode with an epic ending, but it seems to me maybe just as ridiculously convenient that the hoard of white walkers shows up RIGHT after their big important sitdown with the other wildlings.

[smokew11]

^ eh its a TV show. That kind of thing happens all the time in shows and movies. Cant let that bother you imo

where it gets to be too much is in the episode where they are stranded on the rocks in the lake. Took them a few days to get there, took whatshisname 5 mins to get to Dany, her another 5 mins to get to them, just as the WWs finally attack after standing there doing nothing

[junior94]

Originally Posted by smokew11

^ eh its a TV show. That kind of thing happens all the time in shows and movies. Cant let that bother you imo

where it gets to be too much is in the episode where they are stranded on the rocks in the lake. Took them a few days to get there, took whatshisname 5 mins to get to Dany, her another 5 mins to get to them, just as the WWs finally attack after standing there doing nothing

well yea this seems to be really the biggest thing that I guess fans are going to have to simply get over full stop as we head into the ending. That they're just throwing out all the "established rules" of how long it would take for a character to get from place A to B, everything's just sped up times a hundred now.

tho, one thing from the Hardhome episode I still never quite understood. Was there supposed to be some sort of magical element to that mist itself as it came down from the top of the mountain, that it would change people automatically into whights?

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by junior94

well yea this seems to be really the biggest thing that I guess fans are going to have to simply get over full stop as we head into the ending. That they're just throwing out all the "established rules" of how long it would take for a character to get from place A to B, everything's just sped up times a hundred now.

tho, one thing from the Hardhome episode I still never quite understood. Was there supposed to be some sort of magical element to that mist itself as it came down from the top of the mountain, that it would change people automatically into whights?

id have to watch again but I think the mist was either
- the cold that the wights bring with them
- or simply the snow and moisture kicking up from thousands of them marching

[rconverse]

Anyone else see this?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/george-r-...163708418.html

Fuck this guy.

[antsmarching777]

This fucking guy is more than likely going to die before he finishes this story. So disappointing to know he's been writing entire spinoff sagas instead of finishing the main story. It's his story and his masterpiece so more power to him, but come on!

[smokew11]

it pisses me off. his legacy will either be the guy who wrote one of the finest stories of all time, or the guy who didnt finish one of the finest stories of all time.

At this point he's going to be writing based on what he sees on the show, which has gone down hill since it surpassed the books.

[WidespreadMule3]

Originally Posted by rconverse

Anyone else see this?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/george-r-...163708418.html

Fuck this guy.

I just don't understand what he's got going on in his life that is so much more important or valuable compared to finishing these books. They're a major pay day.

I don't get it. Even if the books suck they're still going to sell like crazy. Just finish them.

[junior94]

was Martin pretty much praised on these books since the very beginning, after the first came out in what, like 1995 or something it was? And had he given any indication right off the bat how long he'd planned the series to be?

even with JK Rowling, even though I certainly wasn't reading Harry Potter back then, I think it was only after book 2 came out did she make it clear she knew the finite end for it of 7 books.

[fridge112887]

Just started watching. On S3, ep8. Wow do I enjoy this show

[TheLastPig]

Originally Posted by smokew11

it pisses me off. his legacy will either be the guy who wrote one of the finest stories of all time, or the guy who didnt finish one of the finest stories of all time.

At this point he's going to be writing based on what he sees on the show, which has gone down hill since it surpassed the books.

Just seeing this for the first time now. There is no way he finishes before he dies.

But im confused by that quote.. is it saying the first volume is mostly sidebars? If so, woof.

[Gene Parmesan]

Originally Posted by fridge112887

Just started watching. On S3, ep8. Wow do I enjoy this show

Interesting spot to be. Enjoy.

[smokew11]

Originally Posted by TheLastPig

Just seeing this for the first time now. There is no way he finishes before he dies.

But im confused by that quote.. is it saying the first volume is mostly sidebars? If so, woof.

really not sure what you're asking here based on my quote

[TheLastPig]

Originally Posted by smokew11

really not sure what you're asking here based on my quote

Not your quote, GRRM’s.

Is the first volume just sidebar stuff and he’s barely started the second which is the meat of the story?

[fridge112887]

Originally Posted by Gene Parmesan

Interesting spot to be. Enjoy.

Jaime just saved Brienne of Tarth from being swallowed by a bear and Theon had his weiner chopped off. I believe the Tyrion/Sansa wedding is soon.

Speaking with my friend today he mentioned S4 was his favorite. For those of you that have watched 1-7, which has been your favorite?