I LOVED this week's episode. Note: spoilers include spoilers for the books. Don't click my post if you aren't at least to the 3rd book. Spoiler The Eyre is exactly how I pictured it; the show has captured the fucked-up-ness of Lady Aryn and her son perfectly. The breast feeding was a nice touch that just sealed the deal. My only problem with the episode was the conversation between Renley and Loras. It didn't happen in the book and was a little over the top with the gayness. It's cool. They're gay. We get it. I just don't need to clearly hear a dude on dude blowjob in 5.1 surround sound. The setup for Greyjoy's betrayal is interesting as well. It's not strictly what happened in the books, but it works for the TV format. Also, I vote we see more of Ros in every episode. Her tits are awesome.
I couldn't agree more with the above spoiler section. I would like to get annoyed for the writers straying from the book, but pretty much everytime they've done it, it appears to be a timesaving element. Spoiler I thought the bit about Loras and Renly was a bit weird, as I don't recall any such allusions in the books.
That was a badass swordfight when Tyrion & Co. got jumped. Finally, some true graphic brutality. I also loved the two brothers squaring off at the joust, Scarface has some true valour. Awesome episode, I think the best so far. If Dinklage doesn't get nominations this year I'll lose faith in all mankind.
I'll be honest, I read the first two books basically when first published (yes, long wait). Watched the first episode and ordered the four box set to catch up. Due to work & learning freaking QST, haven't even caught Game of Thrones up to the point of last night's episode, but going to make it a priority this week. I am amazed at what I remember from the series, and how close they're following at least my memory of the book. Yes, some things are different, but the main storyline is the same. And I still love the same characters I loved, and hate the ones I hated. One of those shows I almost wish I had waited to come out on DVD just so I could watch the whole series at once.
Spoiler Oh trust me, the allusions are there in spades. Maybe not as much in the first book, I don't recall, but definitely in the series you're pretty much certain that Renly and Loras are lovers even if neither of them ever says those words and you don't see them having sex.
Spoiler There were a TON of allusions in the book, and GRRM even confirmed in an interview that there was a relationship there. It was one of the reasons people were so sly about Margaery staying a maid while married to Renly. And for goodness sake, the dude had a RAINBOW Guard. Loved the Eyrie. LOVED it. Exactly how I imagined the place. Although I wish there was more evidence of just how removed it is, rather than a shot of them climbing the mountain and then they're at the Eyrie. Baelish is such a smug little bitch, I just love him to death. When I heard they had cast Aiden Gillen, I thought they couldn't have picked a more perfect man, and he is just confirming my faith in that choice more every week.
I just want more of slave girl Doreah (Roxanne McKee). That alone would make this show more awesome (if that's possible) Va-Va-Voom.
Just watched the newest episode last night, every week I just fall more and more in love with this show. Like I said before, I absolutely plan on reading the books, but I'm trying to hold off so I can watch this first season and not know what's going to happen. Loved the fight scene's in this episode, especially the one between Ned Stark and Jamie Lannister (forgive any name misspellings). One thing I find I've been most curious about is if Jamie Lannister was the one that killed the Mad King, why is Robert king instead of him? A hypothetical question I guess as I'm sure that's something that was more detailed in the books, I've just been thinking about it after the last couple episodes. I find Jamie Lannister to be one of the more intriguing characters so far. I have a certain level of respect for him because he seems to be a bad ass warrior, however I hate him because he's a prick and he fucks his sister.
Jamie Lannister was part of the King's Guard (they all wear those golden breastplates, if you've noticed), kind of the Secret Service of the Seven Kingdoms. High honor, and probably the best job available for a really skilled knight, even though he's first in line for the Lannister House. Robert Baratheon actually had a valid claim to the throne through old bloodlines, and was the leader of the opposition, the rebellion, whatever. When it was finally obvious that Robert and his forces were going to win, Jamie stabbed the king in the back just in time to switch sides before Robert and company got into the throne room. So it's not a Necromonger "Keep what you kill" kind of thing. He basically realized he was about to be fucking wrecked and made the best of a bad situation. As the first son of a major house, he was allowed to retain his position in the King's Guard, but everyone refers to him as the Kingslayer, which is both honorable and mocking at the same time. He's kind of a survivalist snake. As he said to Cersei after their crazy incest twin fucking (which I think they got good shock value out of in the first episode and have pretty much forgotten about since), he'll do anything he has to as long as they can be alive and have some sweet brother-sister doggy style.
That's not entirely right. Book spoilers: Spoiler He killed the mad king to prevent him and his crazy pyromancers from burning down King's Landing and killing shit loads of people to deny the rebellion the city. Tywin was the Lannister opportunist who showed up just ahead of the rebels, feigned allegiance, and then sacked the city when the gates opened. Jaime basically saved everyone in King's Landing from wildfire, but was scorned for it (especially by an understandably ignorant Ned Stark who believed the story you wrote), and became pretty bitter as a result. It's been awhile since I read the books, but I don't really understand why he never told anyone about the stockpiles of wildfire hidden around the city and the real reason why he killed the king. He did hint at it a bit on the show when he told Sean Bean Aerys' last words were "burn them all".
Regarding the reasoning (Storm of Swords spoiler): Spoiler When asked by Brienne why no one knows the truth behind Jamie killing Aerys, he says pretty much (IMO very sarcastically) that to tell anyone would be to break his oath, followed by a massive fit of anger. We're not given a real reason outright, just left to infer what we can. To me, that isn't much, given how many different reasons there could be.
NGL, I've watched 6 & 7 now, and cow-orkers be damned if they want to talk to me at lunch while I'm reading the end of book 2. Putting faces with the books that I read 10 years ago = awesome. There's lots of things already spoilered that I *didn't* catch the first read through, or didn't remember. Honestly, to me reading the book first was better, then doing a re-read, and knowing WTF some of the background stuff came from is great. They tie in so many of the "thoughts" that people are having.
I am really glad that this show came along or i would have never found the book series. The show is excellent as well, i teared up a little when Ned Stark had to put down Sansa's wolf Lady... (When i was growing up i had a half husky, half wolf named Lady.) Spoiler I will admit i was kind of upset at the way things went for the Stark family throughout the first three books, I still love the series though. I just wanted to see them pull through mostly intact. I am now on the fourth book and really looking forward to the fifth since Jon Snow or Bran are not in this one. Its definitely cool how close the TV series is to the books though.
It's not completely that I was trying to avoid spoilers. It's been years since I reread the series (fuck you George, release it already), and I may have forgotten parts.
I hated Dany's brother more than any character on the show: an insufferable, spoiled little shit. However, I think we can chalk up Khal Drogo's creative dispatching of him as "Worst Way To Die EVER." OUCH. That's Motrin pain right there.
The real way that death is supposed to go down is to pour the molten gold into their eyes, nose and throat, simultaneously suffocating and burning them to death. Either way, dayum.
So, I have read none of this thread....no spoilers! My question is, I want to start this series, HBO is typically really good at replaying a new series on holiday weekends so I had high hopes, but not this time. I have DVR'd the episodes that I could, starting with #4 (Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things). If I start watching from here will I be hopefully lost? I am reading the book (halfway through the first one now) so I will know who the characters are so I think that will help.