"Game of Thrones" on HBO (spoilers)

[Jade Owl]

Well, it looks like the wait is over. HBO has picked up the first season of Game of Thrones, the series adapting George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.

About damn time! Now they can go ahead and cast Littlefinger. I can’t wait to see this.

[Koolaidkirby]

Now if only he could get around to releasing that damned next book of his.

[Setzer]

Is it just me, or does it look like they cast Frodo Baggins as Robb Stark?

[Crazedwraith]

I thought they'd already done that. Or was that just the pilot or something?

Meh, in either case, the subpar Feast Of Crows and long wait for the book with the really interesting characters has pretty much killed my enthusiasm for GRRM stuff.

[Mr Bean]

Oh fuck yes. You made the right move HBO. I've had my eye on this for a long time and the fan lists of "dream team" of who to cast for most of the roles seems to have gotten filled. This is the first thing in a very long time I'm going to call outstanding.

[Guardsman Bass]

YES!

Now I just have to sign up for HBO (the article said it debuts next spring).

It's pretty damn cool that they got Sean Bean to play Ned Stark - the mental image fits well.

[Guardsman Bass]

About damn time! Now they can go ahead and cast Littlefinger. I can’t wait to see this.

Tywin too, among other characters. It's a pity we won't get the person I have in mind for Tywin (Patrick Stewart, although he's getting a little old).

[Jade Owl]

I thought they'd already done that. Or was that just the pilot or something?

Just the pilot, which is completed. The news is that based on it, HBO has picked up the series and ordered another 9 episodes to complete the first season.

[Kodiak]

I'm really hoping they cast Dalip Singh as the mountain who rides.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I'm really hoping they cast Dalip Singh as the mountain who rides.

How much dialogue does that character have? Dalip can't really speak english.

[Mr Bean]

How much dialogue does that character have? Dalip can't really speak english.

Not much, nothing more than along the lines of oh this

Big damn spoilers except they won't make any sense Spoiler

"Elia of Dorne," they all heard Ser Gregor say, when they were close enough to kiss. His deep voice boomed within the helm. "I killed her screaming whelp." He thrust his free hand into Oberyn's unprotected face, pushing steel fingers into his eyes. "Then I raped her." Clegane slammed his fist into the Dornishman's mouth, making splinteres of his teeth. "Then I smashed her ****ing head in. Like this." As he drew back his huge fist, the blood on his gauntlet seemed to smoke in teh cold down air. There was a sickening crunch."

[Kodiak]

Big damn spoilers except they won't make any sense Spoiler

"Elia of Dorne," they all heard Ser Gregor say, when they were close enough to kiss. His deep voice boomed within the helm. "I killed her screaming whelp." He thrust his free hand into Oberyn's unprotected face, pushing steel fingers into his eyes. "Then I raped her." Clegane slammed his fist into the Dornishman's mouth, making splinteres of his teeth. "Then I smashed her ****ing head in. Like this." As he drew back his huge fist, the blood on his gauntlet seemed to smoke in teh cold down air. There was a sickening crunch."

IIRC that's almost his only line ever in the series. For a guy they call "The Mountain Who Rides" it seems like it's more important to get someone that's a physical match than a great actor.

[Crazedwraith]

He has some lines in 'Game Of Thrones' (The book) in the war council (An outrider who sees nothing has no use for his eyes, pull them out and give them to his replacement. Tell him you hope four eyes will see better than two, if not, well the next man will have six eyes)

But yeah, talking is not really the Mountain's strong point.

Tangetially, I'm amused you decided the sensor the swear word in that passage Bean, consider what the rest if it is about.

[Mr Bean]

He has some lines in 'Game Of Thrones' (The book) in the war council (An outrider who sees nothing has no use for his eyes, pull them out and give them to his replacement. Tell him you hope four eyes will see better than two, if not, well the next man will have six eyes)

But yeah, talking is not really the Mountain's strong point.

Tangetially, I'm amused you decided the sensor the swear word in that passage Bean, consider what the rest if it is about.

I pulled it from a quotes database with swear word already struck and I agree it's ironic the swear word gets the axe considering what the passage describes.

[GeorgeOrr]

HBO has previewed 12 minutes of the series and you can view it here. For an embedded version, go here.

I have not read the books and I most likely never will, but the preview shows promise.

[Kingmaker]

I'm pretty sure the spoiler'd quote up above is the most Gregor Clegane ever says at one time, and most of the other stuff he says will sound fine as long as the actor can look menacing whilst saying it (and avoid sounding completely wooden).

The preview looks well done, but watching it may give viewers the wrong idea, what with that plot thread being a tertiary focus until several books in.

[Crazedwraith]

Looking over the old conversation here. I looked up Game Of Thrones on imdb; apparently one 'Conan Stevens' will be playing the mountain.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/fullcredits

It also states oddly that most of the cast are only going to be in two episodes, including most of the Starks/Jon Snow and Danearys. Surely that can't be right? Or is it something to do with pilots vs the whole series? Oddly Rodrik Cassel is listen as appearing three more episodes than Catelyn and Samwell Tarly is down for five more episodes than Jon...

[Jade Owl]

It also states oddly that most of the cast are only going to be in two episodes, including most of the Starks/Jon Snow and Danearys. Surely that can't be right? Or is it something to do with pilots vs the whole series? Oddly Rodrik Cassel is listen as appearing three more episodes than Catelyn and Samwell Tarly is down for five more episodes than Jon...

It’s a mistake. IMDb isn’t the most reliable source in the Internet. All the first season episodes have been filmed and are finishing postproduction.

[fgalkin]

Well, the premiere was today and looked pretty sweet. I'm not particularly happy about the usual HBO "RAR! Titsblood" thing, but I understand that it makes the ratings.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Guardsman Bass]

I saw it tonight. It was pretty damn awesome, and very faithful to the book for the most part.
Spoiler

1. Tyrion and Jaime Lannister stole the show. Their parts were easily the best in the episode, and very funny (at least until Jaime pushed Bran off the tower window sill).

2. The actress playing Daenerys is very pretty, especially when naked (although not when crying before unwanted sex with an unwanted husband). I think the girl that Tyrion was fucking was hotter, though.

3. I liked Viserys, but he seems a little off. He needs to come across as more unstable and temperamental.

4. Lots of good scenery and food imagery. I can't wait until we get a look at the Wall.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Viserys doesn't get unstable and temperamental right away. It isn't until they go back to the big meeting-place where all the barbarians hang out til he starts to get all irritated and then Drogo crowns him.

[Koolaidkirby]

Overall I thought that it was pretty spot on, there were a few nitpick differences, but honestly things like Visery's eye colour don't really matter that much to me anyway, the biggest change to me was the consummation of Daenerys(sp?) and Drogo's wedding, it was a bit of a change of tone from the book.

The only thing that bugged me was the fact that HBO likes showing breasts at 9pm on a Sunday, even though I read the books I was a little surprised seeing they hadn't changed that on TV.

[Guardsman Bass]

It's HBO. The fact that they're a premium subscription cable channel (with no commercials, and thus no advertisers to appease) means that they can basically show whatever they think will bring in and hold subscribers. Breasts and violence seems to please viewers, if shows like Spartacus, The Tudors, and Californication are any indicators.

[Mr Bean]

Saw it, loved it, the casting choices were all spot on with the exception of one Cat who once again manages to be the second most hated character in the Song of Ice and Fire and I think they flubbed her casting, normally not an issue except for the fact that every single other casting choice was on the ball spot on.

*Edit can we get a title change to HBO's a Game of Thrones (Spoilers) or some such since the show is now being... shown?

[Guardsman Bass]

I like the fact that they managed to capture how Cersei generally appears charming to many people in the books. We tend to see her at her worst (and getting inside her head at one point doesn't help), but it's not like she comes across as an evil bitch to most of the people in-universe.


I'll second Bean. Could we get a split or re-name to fit the fact that the show is out?