Game of Thrones

[Beskar]

The only one who doesn't suffer from this syndrome is Arya, who was always the least Stark-ish of them all.

Actually, it is the otherway around. Arya is the most Stark-ish of them, in looks and personality (Cue: Lyanna Stark, Eddard's Sister).

Sansa is the least Stark-ish of them in personality and looks.

[edyzmedieval]

I still root for Jon though.

And hope Rickon gets fleshed out as a proper character.

[Hooahguy]

I thought it was a good episode, though I didnt like Dany's scene, and the scene with Davos, Melisandre and the demon was as freakish as I imagined it to be.

[Crazed Rabbit]

What do you guys think is a good way to introduce season 2 to someone who hasn't seen season 1 (or read any of the books)?

CR

[Beskar]

Force them to watch Season 1.

[rajpoot]

What do you guys think is a good way to introduce season 2 to someone who hasn't seen season 1 (or read any of the books)?

CR

Wouldn't be much fun! The series is complicated enough with all it's characters and intertwined plots, and starting it from in between, specially in a TV show where many of the part are cut out might be a little confusing and dull.
Whoever it is certainly must watch Season 1 before this one, and if possible eventually read the books.

That's what I did. I watched the first season last year when it was aired and then got so interested that I bought the entire set of books and ADwD separately.

[PanzerJaeger]

So I guess this show is not going to have any big battle scenes. I get that they are expensive, but if Xena: Warrior Princess could pull it off in the 90's, I would think HBO could do one every once in a while. The fade out - fade in 'battles' just are not working for me.

Still enjoying the show, though!

[Graphic]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

So I guess this show is not going to have any big battle scenes. I get that they are expensive, but if Xena: Warrior Princess could pull it off in the 90's, I would think HBO could do one every once in a while. The fade out - fade in 'battles' just are not working for me.

Still enjoying the show, though!

Deep Space 9 had tons of battles too.

Come to think of it, even Rome worked in the Battle of Philippi after they knew it was canceled.

[Hooahguy]

So I guess this show is not going to have any big battle scenes. I get that they are expensive, but if Xena: Warrior Princess could pull it off in the 90's, I would think HBO could do one every once in a while. The fade out - fade in 'battles' just are not working for me.

Still enjoying the show, though!

Well they also have to fit in a ton of stuff in the space of 10 episodes an hour each. While battle scenes are great, unless something big happens in it, no point showing it. And AIFAK, the book doesnt go into much detail either.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

They're going to do the Battle of the Blackwater, and Gurm is writing it. If it lives up to the expectation (that is, of being the only battle they can afford to do) then I will be satisfied. There weren't many battle scenes in the actual book, at least from POV perspectives.

Anyway, I liked all of the last episode except for the Jeyne Westerling introduction. It doesn't seem to match her character in the book (though we don't get to see much of her anyway) as well as being time/place-wise totally wrong.

[econ21]

Anyway, I liked all of the last episode except for the Jeyne Westerling introduction. It doesn't seem to match her character in the book (though we don't get to see much of her anyway) as well as being time/place-wise totally wrong.

I thought it was an utterly pointless addition until after the show and I read that she was meant to be Jeyne. Now, I think it was a very good way to set up a character who is going to have a pivotal role in the story. And another change from the books that is an improvement (given that in the books, as you say, she is totally underwritten.) They want to keep the Robb story alive in this season, so some radical changes in time/place are necessary.

[TinCow]

Actually, it is the otherway around. Arya is the most Stark-ish of them, in looks and personality (Cue: Lyanna Stark, Eddard's Sister).

Sansa is the least Stark-ish of them in personality and looks.

I understand that perspective, but I disagree. Sansa may be excessively girly, but she's excessively girly because she's trying her best to fill her specific role in life. After the first few knocks, she becomes rather stoic and tries to maintain her dignity within the very meager limits available to her. Arya, on the other hand, isn't particularly concerned for rules, decorum, honor, or really much of anything other than pursuing her own personal ends, namely revenge. She becomes a full-on assassin. I don't quite think that Ned would have found that to be a proper profession for any Stark, regardless of gender and temperment.

[Secura]

Caught up with the fourth episode last night having missed it on Monday, although Sky Atlantic's second showing features audio descriptions for the blind... not entirely a bad thing, at least it wouldn't be if she pronounced names like Cersei and Tyrion correctly and didn't refer to characters and locations as "the fat boy" and "the burned castle" (Hot Pie and Harrenhal)! :P

The strongest points for the episode for me were the Stannis-Renly and Tyrion-Lancel scenes, though I enjoyed some of the further character building we saw in Robb Stark (the amputation scene showed him to be his father's son, I feel) and Tywin Lannister (instantly noting that Arya was a girl, shows the guy doesn't miss a beat).

Melisandre's birth scene... as graphic as I expected it to be, but any real impact on me as a viewer was nullified by the audio description lady bluntly saying "THE END" as the camera pans over the shadow creature. I must watch it again without the running commentary.

[Beskar]

although Sky Atlantic's second showing features audio descriptions for the deaf...

How effective was that?

[Secura]

How effective was that?

You have no idea!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

That's what happens when you rush a post in the morning!

[Greyblades]

Heh, the latest south park episode referenced Game of thrones.

[The Stranger]

haha ye this one is quite funny :P

[edyzmedieval]

Bran is a proper Stark as well, he's quite the stoic and the noble one even with the adversities he's facing.

And yet, and I think everyone does, I have a particular affection for the direwolves.

[atheotes]

Bran is a proper Stark as well, he's quite the stoic and the noble one even with the adversities he's facing.

And yet, and I think everyone does, I have a particular affection for the direwolves.

Why would anyone not like the direwolves? Only scenario i can think of is if they had given one to Catelyn...

[The Stranger]

shes a tully =_= male tullys are kewl female tullys annoying!

[gaelic cowboy]

Someone mentioned are there going to be big battles this time well I read probably on IGN or something that there going to do a battle but it will be at night.

They can pretend there is more fighting going on when in reality it will be just 50 to 60 extras in a dark field probably.

If they were to do a full on battle with horses and infantry etc etc then the Curragh is the only place in Ireland where it's possible to get the real scale needed. Also the handy army barracks nearby means the army reserve lads can get a couple weeks of craic for half nothing like they did in Braveheart or Saving Private Ryan.

Wish they would do same as those films but they prob wont.

[Kagemusha]

Someone mentioned are there going to be battle I read probably on IGN or something that there going to do a battle but it will be at night.

They can pretend there is more fighting going on when in reality it will be just 50 to 60 extras in a dark field probably.

If they were to do a full on battle with horses and infantry etc etc then the Curragh is the only place in Ireland where it's possible to get the real scale needed. Also the handy army barracks nearby means the army reserve lads can get a couple weeks of craic for half nothing like they did in Braveheart or Saving Private Ryan.

Wish they would do same as those films but they prob wont.

Or they are going to create the battle scenes, like they did in Gladiator, with randomly mixing same people over and over again.

[gaelic cowboy]

Or they are going to create the battle scenes, like they did in Gladiator, with randomly mixing same people over and over again.

I dont think so according to the article I read I think thats what the idea of the night battle is for to begin with, there is no need to mix it at all they can just pretend there is more going on.

Just stick a few fellows wavin burning torches at the edge of the field to simulate more fighting, then focus the camera on the center where 50 lads duke it out in the dark.

Done right it will look good and you wont mind knowing the reality.

They are supposed to do this Battle of Blackwater does it happen at night or evening???

[Kagemusha]

I dont think so according to the article I read I think thats what the idea of the night battle is for to begin with, there is no need to mix it at all they can just pretend there is more going on.

Just stick a few fellows wavin burning torches at the edge of the field to simulate more fighting, then focus the camera on the center where 50 lads duke it out in the dark.

Done right it will look good and you wont mind knowing the reality.

I guess you are right.Its a shame we cant have similar number of extras like in some 50-60´s epic dramas, these days.

[Greyblades]

Alas the days of Waterloo's level of 16,000 extras running around are over in this day of computer graphics and budget tv series.

[gaelic cowboy]

Alas the days of Waterloo's level of 16,000 extras running around are over in this day of computer graphics and budget tv series.

It's not impossible but it is a tv series an not a film they cant spend 3 week filming couple of battalions of army reserve lads simulating D-Day landings in curraghcloe.

They use restricted views and the like to give the impression there is a ton happening round the corner when in reality it's 20 fellows all shouting off camera.

[Kagemusha]

In my opinion computer graphics can pretty much emulate human movement already.Its only facial expressions that computer created characters cant get quite right.

[gaelic cowboy]

In my opinion computer graphics can pretty much emulate human movement already.Its only facial expressions that computer created characters cant get quite right.

Yea which means that with some clever shots they probably can get away with only actually havin 50 actors in a field hacking each other.

[Arjos]

How could I've missed this, they did cut the peach scene! :O
Very funny meme though :P

The episode was very good, really liked Qarth and the scenes at King's Landing...
Pity Bran and Osha have taken Jojen's and Meera's parts; Stannis and Davos are ever improving; didn't like much Loras giving all the blame to Stannis though, as if they had already forgotten about Brienne...

BTW in two weeks the GoT RPG for most consoles and PC is going to be released, saw few previews and looks nice :)
(Conleth Hill "Varys" and James Cosmo "Lord Commander Mormont" are featured in the game ^^)

[Greyblades]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

New episode and just like the last time the inevitable death hits hard.