HBO's Game of Thrones

[Bromptonboy]

I feel that this back-stabbing ambition accurately portrays 'real' motivations that drove historical events in the War of the Roses in England.  Just read some history from this time period, or even a few of Shakespeare's plays - and you will see that GRRM is not that radical at all.

[wraith1701]

Making progress on Book 2:

[spoiler]During one of Tyrion's POV chapters - I get a sense that Cersei is having incestuous relations with her cousin.  They haven't explicitly stated it, but you get the impression that Tyrion suspects.  Maybe it will be clearer as I read on.  GRRM is one of the series producers, so he must be authorizing these book crossover bits.[/spoiler]

You're correct about Cersei.  Actually, the TV show added that element to the season 1 finale.

I'm happy that the show seems to be winning folks over.  Season/Book one is in many ways like a prologue. It takes you on a tour of the world in which the story takes place, introduces you to the major players, and gives you a little history of the world.  Everything sort of takes off with the end of book one, and just keeps getting more epic as the story progresses.   :)

[X]

Making progress on Book 2:

[spoiler]During one of Tyrion's POV chapters - I get a sense that Cersei is having incestuous relations with her cousin.  They haven't explicitly stated it, but you get the impression that Tyrion suspects.  Maybe it will be clearer as I read on.  GRRM is one of the series producers, so he must be authorizing these book crossover bits.[/spoiler]

You're correct about Cersei.  Actually, the TV show added that element to the season 1 finale.

I'm happy that the show seems to be winning folks over.  Season/Book one is in many ways like a prologue. It takes you on a tour of the world in which the story takes place, introduces you to the major players, and gives you a little history of the world.  Everything sort of takes off with the end of book one, and just keeps getting more epic as the story progresses.   :)

Exactly! This is to get you the motivations of the Major characters. You were brought into their world and you met important people that grew on you, but in the end, it was part of painting the story on why the major characters are moving in the directions that they choose. This is a great example of show and not tell a story. You get to see first hand on how these people feel about characters that shape who they are and who they become. You get to see some rise to greatness from the very beginning instead of just told about their early lives and problems.

[QuadShot]

I am liking this story very much. I started reading the novel, but there's one thing in the book that differs from the show that I don't like much. (Not a spoiler) The kids, like Jon Snow, Robb, the girls, are all MUCH younger in the book than the show. It's hard for me to envision Jon Snow as a 14 year old (as indicated in the book). Other than that, I like it a lot.

[Rico]

My guess on the age changes was so they could use the same actors for the next season etc. more easily.  I have no idea if much time passes between books, but it's hard to have a 14 year old kid actor portray an adult.  Especially when I'm guessing that several of these "kids" are going to need to be doing some fighting.

I did decide to watch the season ending episode since I had come this far and I'll admit, I'm a bit more interested now in what happens in the future for some of these characters.  I still have trouble with many of them and this show has certainly pushed some buttons for me.  However, I did see some rays of hope possibly for the future that I really haven't seen yet.  A couple comments about that below...

[spoiler]When Joffrey had Ned Stark killed (which obviously made me upset), he made a grave error.  I'm guessing this will haunt him and his reign as King (however long that lasts) for a long time.  The gathering when Rob Stark was proclaimed King of the North I liked and I'm also liking this commander of the Night's Watch more and more.  And of course the dragons.  I'm really hoping those play a critical part in things in the future.[/spoiler]

So, I've had a little change of heart.  Hopefully it will be a good decision to continue with this series for me.  Still not completely sure, but I feel better than I did before about it.

[Bromptonboy]

I am liking this story very much. I started reading the novel, but there's one thing in the book that differs from the show that I don't like much. (Not a spoiler) The kids, like Jon Snow, Robb, the girls, are all MUCH younger in the book than the show. It's hard for me to envision Jon Snow as a 14 year old (as indicated in the book). Other than that, I like it a lot.

Yeah, I think they didn't want to show a 13 year old Daenyrs in her wedding nuptials - would be pushing it - even though historically such things did happen. 

[X]

I am liking this story very much. I started reading the novel, but there's one thing in the book that differs from the show that I don't like much. (Not a spoiler) The kids, like Jon Snow, Robb, the girls, are all MUCH younger in the book than the show. It's hard for me to envision Jon Snow as a 14 year old (as indicated in the book). Other than that, I like it a lot.

Yeah, I think they didn't want to show a 13 year old Daenyrs in her wedding nuptials - would be pushing it - even though historically such things did happen. 

I think they evenly aged everyone. Remember Rickon was supposed to be a baby and he's walking and talking 6 or 7. that would make everyone older across the board.

[billybob476]

My guess on the age changes was so they could use the same actors for the next season etc. more easily.  I have no idea if much time passes between books, but it's hard to have a 14 year old kid actor portray an adult.  Especially when I'm guessing that several of these "kids" are going to need to be doing some fighting.

I did decide to watch the season ending episode since I had come this far and I'll admit, I'm a bit more interested now in what happens in the future for some of these characters.  I still have trouble with many of them and this show has certainly pushed some buttons for me.  However, I did see some rays of hope possibly for the future that I really haven't seen yet.  A couple comments about that below...

[spoiler]When Joffrey had Ned Stark killed (which obviously made me upset), he made a grave error.  I'm guessing this will haunt him and his reign as King (however long that lasts) for a long time.  The gathering when Rob Stark was proclaimed King of the North I liked and I'm also liking this commander of the Night's Watch more and more.  And of course the dragons.  I'm really hoping those play a critical part in things in the future.[/spoiler]

So, I've had a little change of heart.  Hopefully it will be a good decision to continue with this series for me.  Still not completely sure, but I feel better than I did before about it.

I guess it's not really a spoiler to say the second book picks up immediately where the first lets off. So no worries about a BSG-style "5 years later" come season 2.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

My guess on the age changes was so they could use the same actors for the next season etc. more easily.  I have no idea if much time passes between books, but it's hard to have a 14 year old kid actor portray an adult.  Especially when I'm guessing that several of these "kids" are going to need to be doing some fighting.

I did decide to watch the season ending episode since I had come this far and I'll admit, I'm a bit more interested now in what happens in the future for some of these characters.  I still have trouble with many of them and this show has certainly pushed some buttons for me.  However, I did see some rays of hope possibly for the future that I really haven't seen yet.  A couple comments about that below...

[spoiler]When Joffrey had Ned Stark killed (which obviously made me upset), he made a grave error.  I'm guessing this will haunt him and his reign as King (however long that lasts) for a long time.  The gathering when Rob Stark was proclaimed King of the North I liked and I'm also liking this commander of the Night's Watch more and more.  And of course the dragons.  I'm really hoping those play a critical part in things in the future.[/spoiler]

So, I've had a little change of heart.  Hopefully it will be a good decision to continue with this series for me.  Still not completely sure, but I feel better than I did before about it.

[spoiler]
Its ironic how he wanted to keep order in his kingdom, but instead he enraged the Northern kingdoms and allies.  Which any sane person would have figured out if they had stopped to think about it, but this kid was obviously on a power-kick at the time and will be paying the price.  No doubt his father would want a few words with Joffrey...[/spoiler]

King

[QuadShot]

My guess on the age changes was so they could use the same actors for the next season etc. more easily.  I have no idea if much time passes between books, but it's hard to have a 14 year old kid actor portray an adult.  Especially when I'm guessing that several of these "kids" are going to need to be doing some fighting.

I did decide to watch the season ending episode since I had come this far and I'll admit, I'm a bit more interested now in what happens in the future for some of these characters.  I still have trouble with many of them and this show has certainly pushed some buttons for me.  However, I did see some rays of hope possibly for the future that I really haven't seen yet.  A couple comments about that below...

[spoiler]When Joffrey had Ned Stark killed (which obviously made me upset), he made a grave error.  I'm guessing this will haunt him and his reign as King (however long that lasts) for a long time.  The gathering when Rob Stark was proclaimed King of the North I liked and I'm also liking this commander of the Night's Watch more and more.  And of course the dragons.  I'm really hoping those play a critical part in things in the future.[/spoiler]

So, I've had a little change of heart.  Hopefully it will be a good decision to continue with this series for me.  Still not completely sure, but I feel better than I did before about it.

[spoiler]
Its ironic how he wanted to keep order in his kingdom, but instead he enraged the Northern kingdoms and allies.  Which any sane person would have figured out if they had stopped to think about it, but this kid was obviously on a power-kick at the time and will be paying the price.  No doubt his father would want a few words with Joffrey...[/spoiler]

King

King, remember:
[spoiler]Joffrey isn't sane. He's the product of a brother and sister mating. So I believe this new king isn't quite all there, genetically. I instantly hated him, plus he looks odd!  :wacko[/spoiler]

[wraith1701]

My guess on the age changes was so they could use the same actors for the next season etc. more easily.  I have no idea if much time passes between books, but it's hard to have a 14 year old kid actor portray an adult.  Especially when I'm guessing that several of these "kids" are going to need to be doing some fighting.

I did decide to watch the season ending episode since I had come this far and I'll admit, I'm a bit more interested now in what happens in the future for some of these characters.  I still have trouble with many of them and this show has certainly pushed some buttons for me.  However, I did see some rays of hope possibly for the future that I really haven't seen yet.  A couple comments about that below...

[spoiler]When Joffrey had Ned Stark killed (which obviously made me upset), he made a grave error.  I'm guessing this will haunt him and his reign as King (however long that lasts) for a long time.  The gathering when Rob Stark was proclaimed King of the North I liked and I'm also liking this commander of the Night's Watch more and more.  And of course the dragons.  I'm really hoping those play a critical part in things in the future.[/spoiler]

So, I've had a little change of heart.  Hopefully it will be a good decision to continue with this series for me.  Still not completely sure, but I feel better than I did before about it.

I'm glad you're giving it another chance! :)   Those elements you mentioned in the spoiler tag will all play a major part in what's to come.

While there are definitely some rather scummy characters doing some scummy things in the series, there are heroes & heroines as well.  The bad-guys get some licks in, but the good guys get their moments to shine as well.  The old saying "you reap what you sew" proves to be very true, for both the likeable and unlikable characters...

Re. the age of the characters:  I've noticed that in deference to birthdays, the characters refer to a "name-day".  In some societies in the real world, children aren't considered 'full-people' until they receive a name.  Perhaps in this world, kids don't have their first name day until they are 3 to 5 of our years old.  If a character's age is measured starting with their first Name Day, this could easily add 3 to 5 'real' years to the ages given for the characters.  For example; Ned's age might be stated as being 35, but when you add in the years leading up to his first Name Day, he'd have an actual age of 38 to 40.

[spoiler]
Its ironic how he wanted to keep order in his kingdom, but instead he enraged the Northern kingdoms and allies.  Which any sane person would have figured out if they had stopped to think about it, but this kid was obviously on a power-kick at the time and will be paying the price.  No doubt his father would want a few words with Joffrey...[/spoiler]

King

Oh yeah.  I think its safe to say that the events that occur in season one have stirred things up quite a bit. ;)

I don't think the following is a spoiler, but I'll put it in tags just to be safe:

[spoiler]  By now, we know that seasons in the world of A Song Of Ice And Fire don't work like they do in our world:  summers and winters can be as short as a few years, or can last decades.  There is a correlation between the seasons and the stirrings of otherworldly forces.  Early on in the story, Old Nan tells Brandon a story about the things that start to stir in the winter.  And to quote the House Words of the Starks: "Winter is coming." 

Here's part of the beauty of the series for me: Elements of Fantasy are eased in gradually, which makes the world of the story feel more real.  To me, the books read more like historical fiction than traditional Sword & Sorcery books, and I love it!  [/spoiler]

[Jobydrone]

One thing wasn't explained to my satisfaction in season 1, and I think is a HUGE point that has more ramifications to the plot and future events than almost any other.  I was hoping one of the folks that has read the books could explain it for me:

[spoiler]Did Littlefinger and Varys lie to Cat about the dagger being Tyrion's and if so why?  Do we get an explanation of this later on or is it dropped?[/spoiler]

[wraith1701]

One thing wasn't explained to my satisfaction in season 1, and I think is a HUGE point that has more ramifications to the plot and future events than almost any other.  I was hoping one of the folks that has read the books could explain it for me:

[spoiler]Did Littlefinger and Varys lie to Cat about the dagger being Tyrion's and if so why?  Do we get an explanation of this later on or is it dropped?[/spoiler]

[spoiler] The dagger and Littlefinger's goals and motivations are further explored as the series progresses. [/spoiler]

[Jobydrone]

One thing wasn't explained to my satisfaction in season 1, and I think is a HUGE point that has more ramifications to the plot and future events than almost any other.  I was hoping one of the folks that has read the books could explain it for me:

[spoiler]Did Littlefinger and Varys lie to Cat about the dagger being Tyrion's and if so why?  Do we get an explanation of this later on or is it dropped?[/spoiler]

[spoiler] The dagger and Littlefinger's goals and motivations are further explored as the series progresses. [/spoiler]

ARGH!  Why did you even bother putting that in spoiler tag!?!  Bah, I'll read the books, no way I'm waiting till 2012.  ;) ;)

[Bromptonboy]

Good article about the early release in Germany of the latest book:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/07/04/thrones.novel.spoilers.ew/index.html?hpt=hp_c2