HBO's Game of Thrones

[X]

I watched the episode X...and, that took me aback....[spoiler]your thoughts on the Lannister's intrigues me.  It was a rather dramatic end to the character of Stark.  One that is unfortunate.  I wish that Sean Bean didn't get killed off, but it seems that was his character's "destiny" and as this series has been doing a number of killings, I am not going to quit watching simply because of that, but it will suck regardless.

But, I do have to ask:

Just how much worse does it truly get from here on out?  I can only stomach so much from a series before I begin to...what's the word...start actually hating it.  The threshold on this series is MUCH higher than I've given any other, mostly thanks to you and a few other people I know.  But if it gets a lot worse from here out, I don't think I can stomach that.  So in your opinion, is it 2X, 10X, what?  

I mean obviously our thresholds for tolerance is different, but I would appreciate any opinion you could give me before I decide to invest into this series anymore.  [/spoiler]

Otherwise, this episode will no doubt stir the controversy.  And thanks for your thoughts X.  :)

King

To answer your question:

[spoiler] It gets worse but not in an evil over the top way. Better still, it doesn't get worse, it just has some different darkness going on. Good things happen to bad people. Bad things happen to good people. Bad and good people die for their causes, but the deaths are never pointless. Ned died because he confessed to being a traitor and a spoiled brat was on the throne. He should have known better and suffered for his trying to protect his family. You will grow to love certain characters and grow to hate people that you thought you liked.

Your emotions will be tested, but your patience will be rewarded. All you have to do is remember that the violence is on the level of Shakespeare. Some children will be harmed in the telling of this story, but I think that most of the remaining animals are pretty safe.

[/spoiler]

[ori-STUDFARM]

I actually think the horrific actions and "WTF moments" help to make this world believable as a fantasy world totally different from our own. Yes, there is an initial shock reaction, instantly followed by a better understanding of how harsh this fantasy world is. It adds to the darkness and the atmosphere of this miserable place. I can understand some turning away because of it, but I keep hearing that eventually, it pays off. I personally don't mind watching if I know that justice will eventually be served. The worse the atrocities committed by the characters, the better the pay off is when justice prevails.

Also, before now, the closest I've ever come to the shock reaction I feel after witnessing some of the atrocities we have been exposed to in this show have been true life atrocities I've heard about from true historical events. History podcasts and TV shows. I kind of find it simultaneously disturbing and interesting how low humans can sink in the real world during different periods of history.

Slightly annoyed that next week is the last episode though. We are no where near a conclusion (or so it seems). I like to have some sort of storyline conclusion at the end of a season!

[X]

I actually think the horrific actions and "WTF moments" help to make this world believable as a fantasy world totally different from our own. Yes, there is an initial shock reaction, instantly followed by a better understanding of how harsh this fantasy world is. It adds to the darkness and the atmosphere of this miserable place. I can understand some turning away because of it, but I keep hearing that eventually, it pays off. I personally don't mind watching if I know that justice will eventually be served. The worse the atrocities committed by the characters, the better the pay off is when justice prevails.

Also, before now, the closest I've ever come to the shock reaction I feel after witnessing some of the atrocities we have been exposed to in this show have been true life atrocities I've heard about from true historical events. History podcasts and TV shows. I kind of find it simultaneously disturbing and interesting how low humans can sink in the real world during different periods of history.

Slightly annoyed that next week is the last episode though. We are no where near a conclusion (or so it seems). I like to have some sort of storyline conclusion at the end of a season!

Try waiting 5 years to a decade between each book. At least the viewers don't have to wait long.

[billybob476]

I actually think the horrific actions and "WTF moments" help to make this world believable as a fantasy world totally different from our own. Yes, there is an initial shock reaction, instantly followed by a better understanding of how harsh this fantasy world is. It adds to the darkness and the atmosphere of this miserable place. I can understand some turning away because of it, but I keep hearing that eventually, it pays off. I personally don't mind watching if I know that justice will eventually be served. The worse the atrocities committed by the characters, the better the pay off is when justice prevails.

Also, before now, the closest I've ever come to the shock reaction I feel after witnessing some of the atrocities we have been exposed to in this show have been true life atrocities I've heard about from true historical events. History podcasts and TV shows. I kind of find it simultaneously disturbing and interesting how low humans can sink in the real world during different periods of history.

Slightly annoyed that next week is the last episode though. We are no where near a conclusion (or so it seems). I like to have some sort of storyline conclusion at the end of a season!

There is a conclusion of a sort coming next week. Think of it like Empire Strikes Back.

[X]

I actually think the horrific actions and "WTF moments" help to make this world believable as a fantasy world totally different from our own. Yes, there is an initial shock reaction, instantly followed by a better understanding of how harsh this fantasy world is. It adds to the darkness and the atmosphere of this miserable place. I can understand some turning away because of it, but I keep hearing that eventually, it pays off. I personally don't mind watching if I know that justice will eventually be served. The worse the atrocities committed by the characters, the better the pay off is when justice prevails.

Also, before now, the closest I've ever come to the shock reaction I feel after witnessing some of the atrocities we have been exposed to in this show have been true life atrocities I've heard about from true historical events. History podcasts and TV shows. I kind of find it simultaneously disturbing and interesting how low humans can sink in the real world during different periods of history.

Slightly annoyed that next week is the last episode though. We are no where near a conclusion (or so it seems). I like to have some sort of storyline conclusion at the end of a season!

There is a conclusion of a sort coming next week. Think of it like Empire Strikes Back.

Agreed. Somethings are concluded, but think of it more like Lord of the Rings. You get a lot of story, but more is on the way each year. Ten hours a year as opposed to 2-3

[X]

I was sitting here thinking about the books and the show and it came to me that the key difference between this series and other shows is that it makes no attempts to make war or life seem pretty. It's a brutal world and they don't try to pretty it up. I think that's why I like this series. Not only is it well written, it works.

It's not some RenFaire version of a world where people forget just how crappy those older times were. I think even though it has many fantasy elements, the setting is one based on why you wouldn't want to live in ancient times where if you were not a noble, you were the property of a noble.

This series does a good job in taking the romantic whitewash off of medieval society that we tend to forget about.

It's kind of like the differences between the Civil War and those reenactments that really don't draw on the horrors of the time.

Or war movies pre and post saving private Ryan. When you see the death on the screen in SPR, you realize how crappy these people had it, something that was missing from a lot of the WW movies until then.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I watched the episode X...and, that took me aback....[spoiler]your thoughts on the Lannister's intrigues me.  It was a rather dramatic end to the character of Stark.  One that is unfortunate.  I wish that Sean Bean didn't get killed off, but it seems that was his character's "destiny" and as this series has been doing a number of killings, I am not going to quit watching simply because of that, but it will suck regardless.

But, I do have to ask:

Just how much worse does it truly get from here on out?  I can only stomach so much from a series before I begin to...what's the word...start actually hating it.  The threshold on this series is MUCH higher than I've given any other, mostly thanks to you and a few other people I know.  But if it gets a lot worse from here out, I don't think I can stomach that.  So in your opinion, is it 2X, 10X, what? 

I mean obviously our thresholds for tolerance is different, but I would appreciate any opinion you could give me before I decide to invest into this series anymore.  [/spoiler]

Otherwise, this episode will no doubt stir the controversy.  And thanks for your thoughts X.  :)

King

To answer your question:

[spoiler] It gets worse but not in an evil over the top way. Better still, it doesn't get worse, it just has some different darkness going on. Good things happen to bad people. Bad things happen to good people. Bad and good people die for their causes, but the deaths are never pointless. Ned died because he confessed to being a traitor and a spoiled brat was on the throne. He should have known better and suffered for his trying to protect his family. You will grow to love certain characters and grow to hate people that you thought you liked.

Your emotions will be tested, but your patience will be rewarded. All you have to do is remember that the violence is on the level of Shakespeare. Some children will be harmed in the telling of this story, but I think that most of the remaining animals are pretty safe.

[/spoiler]

Thanks X, that really clarified it.  I think I will keep watching it.  (because the theme music is awesome ;))  But that kind of story is intriguing and once in a while I like reading those kind of books where it is unpredictable and has all those elements that you mentioned. 

King

[wraith1701]

This last episode was pretty gut-wrenching.  Even knowing what would happen beforehand, it still hit me pretty hard. 

I hope everyone sticks around at least until the season finale.  If it wraps up like I think it will, I believe some jaws will drop.  There's more momentous stuff ahead, and it isn't all gloom and doom. :)

It'll be a hell of a cliffhanger, though.

Re. the question of how bad things get:  I'm a little over halfway through book 3.  It has been an intense ride so far.  Kind of like a rollercoaster, with breathtaking high-points and devastating low-points.  And I have to say, as rough as episode 9 was, it wasn't as rough as what lies ahead.   I'm pretty sure folks who've read the books know what scene I'm referring to. 

But let me repeat; it is NOT all gloom and doom.  I really hope folks stick around for the ride; there's some incredible stuff coming up.  ;)

[Geoff G.o.B]

But let me repeat; it is NOT all gloom and doom.  I really hope folks stick around for the ride; there's some incredible stuff coming up.  ;)

You know how you see the light at the end of the tunnel, yup its a train

[X]

This last episode was pretty gut-wrenching.  Even knowing what would happen beforehand, it still hit me pretty hard. 

I hope everyone sticks around at least until the season finale.  If it wraps up like I think it will, I believe some jaws will drop.  There's more momentous stuff ahead, and it isn't all gloom and doom. :)

It'll be a hell of a cliffhanger, though.

Re. the question of how bad things get:  I'm a little over halfway through book 3.  It has been an intense ride so far.  Kind of like a rollercoaster, with breathtaking high-points and devastating low-points.  And I have to say, as rough as episode 9 was, it wasn't as rough as what lies ahead.   I'm pretty sure folks who've read the books know what scene I'm referring to. 

But let me repeat; it is NOT all gloom and doom.  I really hope folks stick around for the ride; there's some incredible stuff coming up.  ;)

Wraith, are you talking about:

[spoiler] A certain wedding and the result of oath breaking? [/spoiler]

[wraith1701]

This last episode was pretty gut-wrenching.  Even knowing what would happen beforehand, it still hit me pretty hard. 

I hope everyone sticks around at least until the season finale.  If it wraps up like I think it will, I believe some jaws will drop.  There's more momentous stuff ahead, and it isn't all gloom and doom. :)

It'll be a hell of a cliffhanger, though.

Re. the question of how bad things get:  I'm a little over halfway through book 3.  It has been an intense ride so far.  Kind of like a rollercoaster, with breathtaking high-points and devastating low-points.  And I have to say, as rough as episode 9 was, it wasn't as rough as what lies ahead.   I'm pretty sure folks who've read the books know what scene I'm referring to. 

But let me repeat; it is NOT all gloom and doom.  I really hope folks stick around for the ride; there's some incredible stuff coming up.  ;)

Wraith, are you talking about:

[spoiler] A certain wedding and the result of oath breaking? [/spoiler]

Yep; exactly.  That was HARSH.

[Feathers]

I think I'll stick it to the end of this season but I don't know how far beyond that I'll go.

Having said that, I had a bit of a marathon session two nights ago and got through two and a half episodes and despite feeling quite down on it, couldn't bring myself to simply give up.

I don't know what it is but there's still something about this series...

[X]

Last night was so awesome. I have one word to sum it all up. Epic.

[X]

I think I'll stick it to the end of this season but I don't know how far beyond that I'll go.

Having said that, I had a bit of a marathon session two nights ago and got through two and a half episodes and despite feeling quite down on it, couldn't bring myself to simply give up.

I don't know what it is but there's still something about this series...

The thing about a good story is that it's a good story. If it invokes  your emotions and pulls that out of you, then it's doing it's job. Not every story will or can be happy, but this story will be honest with the readers. There will be twists and turns, but nothing that breaks the rules that the author established regarding the story. There will be nothing in this story that isn't setup in some way shape or form in other parts of the story.

Shocking things will happen, but in hindsight, you will almost always see how that road was taken.

The good news is that because the lows can be so low, the highs are amazing and you learn to cherish the characters because you don't know if they are ever going to be safe. I think that's part of what makes it a great read and show. Like in life, nothing is promised, but there are rewards to be had.

[Bromptonboy]

Final episode was amazing!  I am working my way through the 2nd book right now.  I read they will start filming the next season in Belfast starting 7/25.

One minor annoyance:
[spoiler]I don't recall in the book -Jaime confessing to Catelyn Stark about tossing Bran out the window.  Am I remembering this right?[/spoiler]