GAME OF THRONES + Season 3

[Former Poet Laureate]

I think this series could be in trouble (a bit) when the viewers realize that you only need to watch the last two eps of a season to get the whole story. It's just such a slow slog for me to get through...same reason I already gave up on the books, which seem to have gotten worse in that regard. It's a well done, technically crafted series, but it seems to be headed nowhere. Anybody else feel this way, or am I an outlier on this?

[Kenney]

I totally disagree. I think if you feel like this season was a slog, the show might not be up your alley. I only say that because I was riveted every single week. Sure, last weeks episode felt bigger than others, but only because I had a whole season building up to it.

This show is all about the character interaction to me. So things don't need to be "happening", for me to enjoy watching. I get off on seeing how the characters try to outwit each other. The story does move at a glacial pace, but in a good way. They just keep ratcheting up the tension, slowly moving the pieces, until things explode -- and then they start doing it again.

That said, I have heard bad things about Dance of Dragons.

[Kenney]

LOVE seeing dany get rid of her funk and mete out some old testament-style justice. that scene in the tent just about broke my heart.

LOVE tywin giving absolutely ZERO FUCKS about jeoffrey; 1- horse shits at the throne room 2- doesn't bother dismounting 3- does not kneel or bow to the king 4- says an unimpressed 'thanks' and trots away like he owns the goddam palace (which he does).

LOVE ol' viserys plotting new plots.

LOVE the final shot of sam's predicament. holeeee shiiiit.

I agree with all of your points, but these were the highlights for me. Viserys is a delicious character to watch. He always gets such sharp dialog.

That final shot was insane. I wonder if this show is going to be known for delivering final scenes like that?

I really hope Geoffrey over steps his bounds with Tywin next year, so he can get smacked down.

Dany getting her groove back might be my favorite thing from this year. Her in the ruined throne room was such an eery shot.

I really hope Bronn isn't gone for good. That was my boy.

[JimN]

I think this series could be in trouble (a bit) when the viewers realize that you only need to watch the last two eps of a season to get the whole story. It's just such a slow slog for me to get through...same reason I already gave up on the books, which seem to have gotten worse in that regard. It's a well done, technically crafted series, but it seems to be headed nowhere. Anybody else feel this way, or am I an outlier on this?

I don't feel that way at all and I don't think you'd get anything close to "the whole story" by just watching the last two episodes of each season. Stories are more than just climactic battles and major shifts in the landscape of the characters lives, they're also about the paths those characters take, about the developments that lead to climactic moments. This season didn't seem like a slow slog to me. It flew by and left me wanting more. Every episode contained moments that defined and developed the characters and every episode held my interest.

As Jacobi said, maybe this isn't the show for you.

[Former Poet Laureate]

As Jacobi said, maybe this isn't the show for you.

Probably. I feel like more happens in a single episode of Breaking Bad or Justified than happens in 3 of this show. Suffice to say I don't dig the slow burn.

[Kenney]

Nothing wrong with that. I adore Breaking Bad too (I think it and GoT are the best shows on TV, cable or otherwise, right now), but that show has a breakneck pace. Once the ball started rolling with Walt in season one, it never stopped. A very different pacing than the deliberateness of Game of Thrones.

[JimN]

Probably. I feel like more happens in a single episode of Breaking Bad or Justified than happens in 3 of this show. Suffice to say I don't dig the slow burn.

I don't find it that slow overall but it is somewhat slow on action. Looking back, it seems to me like a lot happened over the course of the 10 week season but the show's primary focus seems to be character development and the agendas/machinations of those in power and those seeking it. I find it all pretty fascinating but I can see why it isn't for everybody.

[the other mike]

I totally disagree. I think if you feel like this season was a slog, the show might not be up your alley. I only say that because I was riveted every single week. Sure, last weeks episode felt bigger than others, but only because I had a whole season building up to it.

This show is all about the character interaction to me. So things don't need to be "happening", for me to enjoy watching. I get off on seeing how the characters try to outwit each other. The story does move at a glacial pace, but in a good way. They just keep ratcheting up the tension, slowly moving the pieces, until things explode -- and then they start doing it again.

That said, I have heard bad things about Dance of Dragons.

personally, i thought it was a good read. i think they'd do well to combine dance of dragons with feast of crows (for the TV show). if storm of swords was an explosion (plot-wise), FoC and DoD is where the wreckage settles; where martin starts arranging the chess pieces for the next sequence. shit does go down in those books.

I think this series could be in trouble (a bit) when the viewers realize that you only need to watch the last two eps of a season to get the whole story. It's just such a slow slog for me to get through...same reason I already gave up on the books, which seem to have gotten worse in that regard. It's a well done, technically crafted series, but it seems to be headed nowhere. Anybody else feel this way, or am I an outlier on this?

as with anything, its the journey and not the destination. if you just watch the last two eps, you miss all the great acting, the dialog, the interactions, the juicy intrigue in the earlier episodes. nothing in the last two eps would carry any weight and references would fall flat.

on the other hand, we're talking about game of thrones here. i definitely feel the same way as you do with other shows i could mention.


-mike

[Farrell]

Finally started watching this.  First two episodes down and couldn't get the Netflix envelope in the mail fast enough.

[JimN]

Finally started watching this.  First two episodes down and couldn't get the Netflix envelope in the mail fast enough.

Just wait... it gets better!

[Wood]

FINALLY got a chance to watch the finale.

 

Soooooooo much hotness

Dragons, zombies, magic, faceless men, it was crazy great.

[S. Earl]

FINALLY got a chance to watch the finale.

 

Soooooooo much hotness

Dragons, zombies, magic, faceless men, it was crazy great.

That final scene, I didn't expect to get there so soon. I was thinking sometime next season. I'm glad they went there now.

[Wood]

I'm wondering if the ratings have given then more budget?

There were some pretty sweet special effects in the last few episodes, from the harbor wildfire to the final scene in the last episode.

[Kenney]

I'm wondering if the ratings have given then more budget?

I read somewhere that HBO gave them a bit more budget, along with extra time, for the finale (and possibly the episode before?). HBO seems to be taking care of this show. It's the biggest hit they've had in a while isn't it? HBO always has critically successful shows, but I'm trying to think of the last thing that sort of entered the (wait for it) zeitgeist like GoT has.

[Jon_Samuelson]

I would imagine the first few seasons of True Blood, but I didn't give that show a chance until a few seasons in.  I remember it being a pretty big deal though.

[the other mike]

http://www.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/inside/interviews/george-r-r-martin?autoplay=true&cmpid=ABC587#/game-of-thrones/inside/interviews/george-r-r-martin.html

HBO One final question on behalf of all your fans -- how's the next book coming?

George R.R. Martin I'm working on that, and a number of "Ice and Fire" related things at the same time. Not only "The Winds of Winter," which is Book 6, but we're also coming out with a big concordance called "The World of Ice and Fire," which is about the whole history of Westeros and will be lavishly illustrated. So I've been filling in some of the histories of the kings who ruled 200 years ago or 500 years ago. We've also been doing a map book, and I'm working on a new novella about Dunk and Egg, the prequel series I have. It's a slow process the way I write, especially books of this size that are as large and complex as they are. It's still a slow process. I am aware of the TV series moving along behind me like a giant locomotive, and I know I need to lay the track more quickly, perhaps, because the locomotive is soon going to be bearing down on me. The last thing I want is for the TV series to catch up with me. I've got a considerable headstart, but production is moving faster than I can write. I'm hoping that we'll finish the story at about the same time... we'll see.

-mike

[Nojfotra (Jonathan D. Gordon)]

I guess I could have posted this in the .Gif thread. It gave me a bit of levity on a kinda dark day.

[BobBretall]

Arrrrgh!   I watch these series once they come out on DVD......I'm like an HBO "trade waiter".

Desperately avoiding spoilers......

[Nojfotra (Jonathan D. Gordon)]

Arrrrgh!   I watch these series once they come out on DVD......I'm like an HBO "trade waiter".

Desperately avoiding spoilers......

The wife and I added hbo for a month 12 dollars total and got to watch all of game of thrones season 2 as well as all of girls on HBO on demand. far cheaper than a dvd purchase.

[Jay Tomio - Part Deux]

Is it weird that I found myself rooting for the Lannisters a bit? I mean, Cersei can eat a dick, but I didn't want to see Stannis' forces overtake Kings Landing. And when Tywin showed up, I was like "Yes!...Wait, I hate these people!"

It was weird.

I haven't watched the show beyond the two season finales but have read the novels probably 2 dozen times now, and I've always felt that Tywin was (at the time) best fit to rule. While nobody is perfect, Tywin shows obvious leadership qualities, is both respected and/or feared, and did not inherit a powerful house. A rich one, yes, but his father was a joke and he himself brought prestige to his house, making House Lannister both a  military power and connecting himself to the the Throne.

Also note that he is the only Hand of the King in recent memory to leave that office with his titles (Lord of Casterly Rock, Warden of the West) and land (and his life) intact - that's how powerful he is.

Tywin had in some sense had  run the kingdom when was the Hand, so he even had practical experience.