Game of Thrones

[THeTA0123]

A great and promising first episode of season 2! I have to wait an entire week now again


HBO delivers once again!

Just orderd the First season on DVD

[Eglaerinion]

Loved the first episode. Especially the Bran scenes and the Tyrion & Cersei interaction.

As someone who read the books I fear that 10 episodes are just not enough for A Clash of Kings. Some of the characters like Cressen (the maester that dies of his own poisoned wine), Melisandre (the red woman) and Stannis Baratheon (the guy with the fiery sword) could have used more build up. I had to pause the show for five minutes to explain who was who to a friend of mine after the Dragonstone scene.

[THeTA0123]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE

Episode 2 has been leaked and is already on the Internetz!

[Gezoes]

Ooo nice 

[THeTA0123]

Great 'leaked" episode 

[THeTA0123]

[hOMEr_jAy]

Watched both episodes tonight and really liked them! The new characters are pretty good and the old ones are as good as in season 1, especially Tyrion, Arya and in some odd way, Joffrey.
Especially the ending of episode 2 was quite intriguing and I´m excited to see the next one.
Plot changes compared to the books aren´t as bad as in other TV adaptions (TWD *cough*), probably because GRRM himself supports the producers, so even to me, as a book purist, the show is still highly enjoyable.
Too bad it takes now another 1 1/2 weeks untill the next episode will be shown...damn leak. :/

[Thorondor123]

Plot changes compared to the books aren´t as bad as in other TV adaptions (TWD *cough*), probably because GRRM himself supports the producers, so even to me, as a book purist, the show is still highly enjoyable.
Too bad it takes now another 1 1/2 weeks untill the next episode will be shown...damn leak. :/

Indeed. For some reason the thing I miss most are Small details... like Daenerys' purple and Melisandre's red yes. Unfortunately we didn't see Thoros of Myr or Jalabhar Xho in series one. One of my favourites, Beric Dondarion, was shown briefly and I hope we'll see more of him and Thoros in the future.

But some details are spot on. Like in episode one where Stannis took the burning sword. He had to wear a glove but the sword still burned him. The sword didn't burn long, was most certainly red and when Davos examined it later, the sword was ruined. It was pure show, and one might think that maybe Stannis is not Azor Ahai reborn like Melisandre seems to think...

[Ts4EVER]

Just started watching this, very nice so far. However I disagree with this to some extent:

That´s George R.R. Martin. Just because a character seems to be "important", doesn´t mean he can´t be killed. It´s what sets "ASOIAF" apart from other fantasy series. There are no real "good" and no real "bad" characters and everyone´s life can end any minute. There´s no super hero who makes it through everything unscathed. It´s as close to real life as it can get.

The story is still a narrative construct, not real life. The death of each character has a purpose to propel the story (so I doubt someone would get randomly crushed by a bag of bricks, for example). Even though I am only half way through season 1, I was reasonably sure that Sean beans character would be killed, simply due to foreshadowing and because had his character been "victorious", too few options for story continuity would be open. I'm also pretty sure that both the black haired girl and the midget will survive for a loong time. The douchebag white haired borther who is with the Mongols will not survive this season, I'm pretty sure his sister will "grab power".

[Fuchs]

I do feel I'm missing out on a few things because I haven't read any of the books and only watched the series. Who can shed some light on the happenings in the episodes of season 2? Or refresh some of the things we previously saw in season 1.

- Why are they behind the Wall again?
- Who's this God of Light and why has Melisandre so much power?
- Who are all the people around Stannis Baratheon and what do they do?

[Schneider]

Trying to answer that without spoilers.

- They are beyond the wall because Benjen Stark (the brother of Ned Stark who picked Jon Snow up at Winterfell in S1), who is first ranger, has gone missing with his companions, and as more patrols have gone lost in the past time, they decided to go out in strength and investigate.

- The God of Light is the positive God of a dualistic religion coming from the other continent, Essos (where the Danaerys-storyline is taking place.

- They are vassals to the Baratheons, Lords from Dragonstone, Storm's End etc., who of course support their Lord in his claim on the throne.

[Fuchs]

So the fat old man didn't agree with a new religion and suicided instead? And she survived thanks to 'divine intervention'?

I remember Benjan now, do hope he's alive. I liked him.

[Lightning]

Indeed. For some reason the thing I miss most are Small details... like Daenerys' purple and Melisandre's red yes. Unfortunately we didn't see Thoros of Myr or Jalabhar Xho in series one. One of my favourites, Beric Dondarion, was shown briefly and I hope we'll see more of him and Thoros in the future.

Though on the other hand, you have Ser Jorah Mormont, who isn't a huge bald man with coarse black hair on his arms and chest or Lord Tywin Lannister, who isn't bald with large golden sideburns. They've picked excellent actors for these two roles and, having watched season 1 before reading A Game of Thrones, it's hard to imagine them not looking like the actors who portray them.

The story is still a narrative construct, not real life. The death of each character has a purpose to propel the story (so I doubt someone would get randomly crushed by a bag of bricks, for example).

I would be very impressed if you could guess who lives and dies in season 2 when you're watching it.

So the fat old man didn't agree with a new religion and suicided instead? And she survived thanks to 'divine intervention'?

She's a sorceress. Or is she?

Plot changes compared to the books aren´t as bad as in other TV adaptions (TWD *cough*), probably because GRRM himself supports the producers, so even to me, as a book purist, the show is still highly enjoyable.

One change I'm a bit confused about is the battle of the green fork in season 1. In the book, Robb sends his entire army under the command of Roose Bolton, save for his cavalry, which he takes with him to Riverrun. But in the series, he only sent 2000 men as a diversion. I'm curious as to how this will tie in with the rest of the story.

[Thorondor123]

I do feel I'm missing out on a few things because I haven't read any of the books and only watched the series. Who can shed some light on the happenings in the episodes of season 2? Or refresh some of the things we previously saw in season 1.

1. Why are they behind the Wall again?
2. Who's this God of Light and why has Melisandre so much power?
3. Who are all the people around Stannis Baratheon and what do they do?

1.
- Rangers have gone missing, amongst them the first ranger Benjen Stark.
- The wildlings have left their homes.
- Rumours tell that the king-beyond-the-well, Mance Rayder, would be gathering a great host.
- Two black brothers turned into wights.
Basically, Lord Commander Mormont is trying to find out what is actually happening in the north.

2. R'hllor aka Lord of Light is a god from the east. This religion is popular in the East, but only a minor one after the faith of the Seven and the Old Gods in Westeros. The red priests/priestesses are servants of the Lord of Light, and of all holy people they seems to have greatest power. Melisandre is a red priestess from Asshai in the far east. He is a "shadowbinder" (sort of a mage) which might explain some of her powers.

Melisandre thinks that Stannis is Azor Ahai reborn. (An ancient hero who beat the Others some 5000 years ago.)

3. Like Schneider explained. The man who spoke with the Maester is Davos "the Onion Knight" Seaworth. You will hear more about him in future episodes. ^^

Indeed. For some reason the thing I miss most are Small details... like Daenerys' purple and Melisandre's red yes. Unfortunately we didn't see Thoros of Myr or Jalabhar Xho in series one. One of my favourites, Beric Dondarion, was shown briefly and I hope we'll see more of him and Thoros in the future.

Though on the other hand, you have Ser Jorah Mormont, who isn't a huge bald man with coarse black hair on his arms and chest or Lord Tywin Lannister, who isn't bald with large golden sideburns. They've picked excellent actors for these two roles and, having watched season 1 before reading A Game of Thrones, it's hard to imagine them not looking like the actors who portray them.

I do miss Tywin's sidewhiskers :/

[hOMEr_jAy]

Just started watching this, very nice so far. However I disagree with this to some extent:

The story is still a narrative construct, not real life. The death of each character has a purpose to propel the story (so I doubt someone would get randomly crushed by a bag of bricks, for example).

You´re right, of course each death has a purpose for the story line, but unlike most high-fantasy series, for example LOTR, you´re never sure if a character will survive the next pages/minutes.
As the story progresses, many "important" and beloved (or hated) characters die. Their deaths often have major impacts on the storyline, but their demise often comes quick and unpredicted.
This makes ASOIAF feel very "realistic", because everyone is mortal and noone is safe from an (often) nasty death.

I also agree with Fuchs. If you didn´t read the books some things can be difficult to understand, especially the R´Hollor cult and Melissandre.

I would be very impressed if you could guess who lives and dies in season 2 when you're watching it.

If people were shocked by Neds death, season 2 will have some nasty surprises for them.

Indeed. For some reason the thing I miss most are Small details..

IMHO the Dothraki don´t look as "foreign" in the TV show as they´re described in the book. I always imagined they look like Mongols, while many in the show just look like tanned westerners. That slightly irritated me, but I can look over such a minor thing, because the rest of the show is top notch.
Especially the environment is just great and I love how they portray the variety in GRRMs world. Especially Pike looked awesome and just as I´ve imagined it.
Can´t wait to see a certain battle in a certain city, which involves ships.