Game of Thrones

[Littleathquakes]

I think we're going to see the white walkers in some kind of a flashback. Don't know if they'll stay true to the book because there were other happenings during that battle that they didn't show (yet?...)

 

[CommanderTMugler]

The season is usually 10 episodes, each about 52 minutes long, but this season the 10 episodes will be 57 minutes or so adding 50 minutes of footage, in a way another episode to the overall season time.

 

[Phuel]

I think we're going to see the white walkers in some kind of a flashback. Don't know if they'll stay true to the book because there were other happenings during that battle that they didn't show (yet?...)

A flashback of the Walkers seems anti-climatic...

Starting this season with Sam caught in the eye of the Walker storm would have paid off from last season's epic last moments. We don't need to see a resolution of sort-- since I'm sure the Walker Army will be featured towards the end of the season, but just a bit more time showing where they're headed... a brief confrontation of sorts between the Watchers and the Walkers would be nice. A bit more action wouldn't hurt the opener. Instead, we just got a lone straggler zombie clawing at Sam... Maybe it's due to budget constraints. My ideal episode would concentrate on the Watchers confrontation with the Walkers, Jon in the Wildlings encampment, and contrast all that coldness with Dany's story in the sun-drenched seas. I thought her story felt rushed, with the attempted assassination and the old knight (sorry, don't know his name) revealing himself and his service to her.

I hope to see more military-strategizing for this season. More skirmishes and even battles would be nice. Just less snarkiness and bantering would be most welcomed for me. Is there this much snarkiness in the books?

 

[Littleathquakes]

Yes, Ser Barristen Selmy indeed revealed himself to her much quicker than in the book. I guess Belwas has been cut out of the tv series. Dany's story will have to be rushed, I guess. I can't imagine them doing 3 slave cities on a TV budget, even if it's HBO.

 

[Phuel]

^^^ Interesting: So Dany actually gathers her army from 3 slave cities...? That would be so much grander had they gone along with that. Too bad it's clear they're rushing her story; it's the one I'm most interested in. I'm not a fan of the insanely popular Tyrion and Arya, but looks like they're getting the most devotion. Their story and their characters are too modern for such a time and place that whenever they're the focus, I'm instantly drawn out of that world and only see actors reading their all too-carefully scripted lines.

 

[heelscatchfire]

Dany doesn't really get her army from 3 cities, she sort of conquers 3 cities. And is learning to rule. I really like her storyline the best. I do also think its rushed but only time will tell if its a good idea or not.

 

[Larek]

Does anyone have trouble understanding this show? i'm worried there might be too many characters to keep track of.

I encourage you to follow this channel



she did a first video on the targeryans and it's so well explained!
it make sense to me now
she will post the following videos soon I hope

 

[Littleathquakes]

I can't stop watching this

 

[Phuel]

Thanks for that tidbit heelscatchfire! Dany's story is indeed rushed then. And it seems they're making her out to be gentler, kinder and more compassionate... and even naive? Her character should really be more guarded than how she was so trusting of the strange creepy little girl-- it's not like there's not been an attempted assassination on her, or she's been lied to or tricked.

I guess their budget really isn't that great if the grander events are left out...

 

[heelscatchfire]

She is very naive, she thinks the best of people but I do believe she gets stronger and more guarded. or at least I hope she does.

 

[valeryblack]

Yes, Ser Barristen Selmy indeed revealed himself to her much quicker than in the book. I guess Belwas has been cut out of the tv series. Dany's story will have to be rushed, I guess. I can't imagine them doing 3 slave cities on a TV budget, even if it's HBO.

I hope they rush it...nothing happened in her story last season !!

 

[Phuel]

^^^ But last season her story was forgettable. This season she's going home with a feared, grand army to seize what's rightfully hers and lay waste to any who stand in her way (I hope so anyway...). If they rush the buildup, it'll look insignificant and her return to the West will seem uneventful.

Littleathquakes: Have you seen Reign of Fire? Dragons galore-- and very hot men slaying them. What more could you ask for in a film?

 

[kokobombon]

I haven´t read the books but if they´re making Dany get her army in one city instead of three I don´t think it´s due to budget but to make the story flow and to accommodate everyone´s storylines in 10 episodes.
Is this city the most interesting?

 

[Littleathquakes]

All of them are interesting *spoilers in white* but:

the 3rd city is when Drogon flies her away during the opening of the gladiator-like pits

 

[Phuel]

I strongly suspect budget is a reason certain events are not shown. People underestimate the rate of good CGI, which is insanely expensive, and this show has very impressive CGI. I don't mean to harp on the horrible opener that skipped the Walkers, but they obviously didn't have the budget there (all spent on the dragons?), so instead, we only heard swords clashing with a blackened screen to suggest there was a skirmish. Horrible choice to open a season-- and it came off as a cheap cop-out, not a creative choice.

I don't think they need to go about Dany's 3 armies in the same way it's written in the book(s). They've certainly taken creative liberties throughout the seasons, so why not here? They could have the concept of 3 armies at her service by creative means that would not prolong, nor drag her story down, nor devote too much time to it. Dany's already becoming a threat, a force to be reckoned with in the West through word, to the point that some feel she needs to be assassinated: So a simple story of certain armies willing to come to her aid because of her legendary dragons would work for me. I feel as if they're diminishing her status by having her just "buy" an army.

 

[Littleathquakes]

love this commercial!

 

[jml2]

Phuel I agree with all the stuff you are saying!
It probably is budget. But one minute 1000s of walkers are converging on Sam, and that evil thing on the horse looks at him, and the next minute (in season 3), they have all disappeared miraculously and he is just fighting off the one. Maybe there was an explanation that I missed. I was so looking forward to how Sam was going to escape, or something significant was going to happen.

 

[Phuel]

^^^ Actually, the guys on the (zombie) steeds are the (White) Walkers. The zombies are the Wights (tribute to Tolkien's Barrow-Wights?).

The designs for the Walkers are amazing I think. They're a huge improvement from the one we first saw in the opener of season 1. There, they looked like a brawny Yeti-type design, but their final design makes them otherworldly, deadly but still somewhat regal and beautiful.

While on the subject of the disappointing season opener, another thing that doesn't make sense to me is why was Sam blamed for not releasing the ravens? How could he be expected to in charge of that and sent to collect dung...? Sam can't be at two places at once. I guess he wasn't supposed to be out collecting dung? Was he just shamed because they somehow knew he was hiding during the Walker invasion? And they're still going on about it this episode. I like Sam and feel for him and hopes he comes into his own this season.

Not much happens this 2nd episode-- just a lot of walking... But the Jaime and Brienne parts are really enjoyable, they're such an odd couple and their dynamic is so entertaining. So far, this season seems lulling and... lacking. I don't remember the others being so uneventful. I wonder if all the nudity, violence is being toned down to appeal to a more general audience? I hope not.

I don't think I would enjoy this show as much if the design elements were not so quite strong as it has been. The armory is awesome, but the costume for the women looks more on the cheap and pedestrian side to me when the designs are of the more revealing side-- both in designs and materials; I particularly hate all those toga-style dresses. I take it the costume department that takes care of the menswear is separate from the one(s) that design the womenswear...? Dany's Xena-style costumes from last season, and the entire Qarth episodes looked particularly cheap and tacky, and too typically like made-for-tv level design. I hope to see her in some form of armor this season. SHe looks amazing in the blue cloak-- and I imagine leather armor worn under there... Love this girl.

 

[Littleathquakes]

They condensed so much of what happened with the Walkers. You're right about Sam not releasing the ravens, I don't recall Mormont telling him to do so in the series (in the book it's more elaborate). But I think they're just throwing that in there as a passage of time thing, and even if we weren't 'present' for it, it did occur.

 

[heelscatchfire]

I think Sam was supposed to release the ravens as a warning to castle black that White Walkers have been spotted on the move. Also the only reason Sam is with traveling brothers and not at the castle was to take care of the ravens and send messages so he dropped the ball on that bit of his duties. Sam does come into his own in the books so hopefully it will happen this season.

I agree with Phuel, I would hate for the show to be toned down for the masses. Brienne & Jamie are great together. Even though not a lot happen this episode, it did set up for the future episodes. Like The hound & aria, Jamie and Brienne and Margery and the Lannisters.

Margery is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters because she knows what to do and is willing to do what is necessary to get what she wants. She is a smart character that actually thinks and doesnt say what she thinks people want to hear. Like Sansa.

I hate that there was no Dany in this episode.

I really like that Jojen and Meera are finally in the series. The actor who plays Bran has grown so much!