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Me too. Started on Thursday, and am over 100 pages in. Yesterday, before the show came on, I was just reading the Bran chapter where he was dreaming of the crow. It was different (and shorter, of course) on the show, but as soon as I saw that crow, I said "Does it have three eyes?" My wife had no idea what I was talking about.Started reading the book.
I'm only as far as what would be a little into the second episode of the show so far. Only had time to read on two short flights.Me too. Started on Thursday, and am over 100 pages in. Yesterday, before the show came on, I was just reading the Bran chapter where he was dreaming of the crow. It was different (and shorter, of course) on the show, but as soon as I saw that crow, I said "Does it have three eyes?" My wife had no idea what I was talking about.Started reading the book.
It was... and it's the only reason I haven't started reading the books.
It certainly takes away from the twists, though I guess there are advantages too in being able to follow along better than some non-readers. In any case, the time-release info-capsules are working at a different pace than in the book and I don't really have a problem with that. For instance, the end-of-the-world crying that Dingo references in his spoiler comment above - what I assume they're going to show next week will make no sense without what those fans are screaming about. I think that most of the exposition-placement on the TV show has been done pretty well - some better than what Martin did in the book, and some made necessary by the medium. With no internal dialogue on the screen, non-readers would be completey lost by now had the producers kept to Martin's order of events.
So what's your take so far as a non-reader, EG? Too much info, not enough action? A good balance? Is most of what's been presented pretty clear?
Yep.
Most of what has been presented has been pretty clear, yes. Reading the companion you guys recommended on HBO's web site made things even more clear. Almost too clear, in fact, as a few backstory moments/events referenced on this past episode, I already knew from reading the descriptions of the houses/characters.I think it probably could stand to be more action heavy for the average viewer. I don't find myself getting bored at all (quite the opposite, I'm totally hooked) but I also tend to value dialogue and character development over action. I am aware, though, that many (based on Fast Five's box office figures, way TOO many) people don't share my likes/dislikes, so I imagine that they may lose some viewers who are waiting for "stuff to happen."My greatest fear is that the fact that it's obviously a big story and will take time to develop will turn off viewers and make the obvious cost of producing this program prohibitive for HBO. Isn't that how 'Deadwood' died? I never watched that show once and I feel guilty about it. HBO is one of the very few channels out there right now putting a premium on developing well-written, well-cast, well-acted programs rather than that deluge of reality show pablum so rampant on the rest of the dial. I vowed I would watch every new HBO series that came out not long ago, so I was in on this show knowing nothing about the books. However, I am kind of a "middle Earth" nerd at heart, so it appealed to me nevertheless. Anyone know what the ratings have been like?I guess if it gets canceled, then I'll just read the books.
In fact, I'll eventually do that anyway, but I'm not going to do it while the show is still being made. I'm having too much fun on Sunday nights right now.
Yeah, I just got off my lazy iAss and looked it up - I see it's already renewed for a second season, so that's great. I think it said 8.9 million viewers across all showings for episode 3, seems like that's a pretty good # for HBO, no?
Reading the book lagging behind the series has been a good approach for me so far. I think that even once I catch up to the episodes, I am going to wait until after viewing to read on. My dilemma will be once the series is over, whether to read the next book(s) or not. I have a feeling I will give into temptation.Most of what has been presented has been pretty clear, yes. Reading the companion you guys recommended on HBO's web site made things even more clear. Almost too clear, in fact, as a few backstory moments/events referenced on this past episode, I already knew from reading the descriptions of the houses/characters.I think it probably could stand to be more action heavy for the average viewer. I don't find myself getting bored at all (quite the opposite, I'm totally hooked) but I also tend to value dialogue and character development over action. I am aware, though, that many (based on Fast Five's box office figures, way TOO many) people don't share my likes/dislikes, so I imagine that they may lose some viewers who are waiting for "stuff to happen."My greatest fear is that the fact that it's obviously a big story and will take time to develop will turn off viewers and make the obvious cost of producing this program prohibitive for HBO. Isn't that how 'Deadwood' died? I never watched that show once and I feel guilty about it. HBO is one of the very few channels out there right now putting a premium on developing well-written, well-cast, well-acted programs rather than that deluge of reality show pablum so rampant on the rest of the dial. I vowed I would watch every new HBO series that came out not long ago, so I was in on this show knowing nothing about the books. However, I am kind of a "middle Earth" nerd at heart, so it appealed to me nevertheless. Anyone know what the ratings have been like?I guess if it gets canceled, then I'll just read the books.
I think its been a good balance. I did some reading on HBO.com and Wiki though....that definitely has helped me fill in some of the story lines when watching (like knowing who Theon was and why he was with the Starkes).
Both her and the actual Dothraki chick that was there when Viserys got whip-choked and made to walk are both smoking, though the Dothraki chick has a pretty sloppy body. IIRC, there are many more intimate scenes with her and Dany later on'gump said:She is not a "horse wench", she is Lyseni and I wish they showed more in her lesbo scene with Dany
Not to give anything away, but people start dying long before winter comes. As a matter of fact, from what I saw on the previews, death should start avalanching starting next episode. One of the great things about Martin is that no character is safe. Every character you see, main or peripheral, has a 50-50 chance of being horribly killed by the end of the season so don't get too attached. Women, children, knights, lords, etc... all have a very strong chance of dying. IMO, the #### hits the fan starting Sunday and it won't stop.
I talked extensively this weekend with two film biz insiders who haven't read the books and they are entranced by the show. Neither have read any of the HBO extras and are stoked for each new episode and have followed everything easily. I gave them the Robert's Rebellion cliff notes and that seemed to help them, but they were really fine with what's been shown.eta: I advised them, since they're enjoying the show, to finish it and then read the books.
Although I think it's been talked about enough widely to say this post, per se, isn't the problem, but this fact is a bit of a spoiler itself. One of the great things about reading the book was not knowing that's how Martin rolled until it started happening. As evidenced by modogg's post, most people don't think that bad things are goign to happen to good guys - especially in the fantasy genre.
Well, that's true in a way, but since there've been spoilers and a majority of the posters have read the books I don't mind saying so. I did edit my post to remove a group of people that may or may not die to not give too much away, though I assume it will be the final scene next week.
Really? Over what part?A pm will do so we don't spoiler this up too much more.
Really? Over what part?A pm will do so we don't spoiler this up too much more.I don't think there's anything to spoil. The particulars of how Gregor Clegane caused Sandor's burns was delivered in a different way than in the books. This has been fairly common, as the writers have needed to cull scenes for narrative efficiency and to give us a little variety in how the (very heavy) exposition is delivered. The biggest difference between the series and the books is that the television series is naturally not confined to the same set of POVs. Which means that there are some pretty strong thematic differences between the series and the first book because we are given some character's POVs (and by extension their motivations) far earlier than in the books.
Well sci/fantasy tried using the pov/internal dialogue once before and it didn't go very well. Dune.
totally agree with this.
I think I read that more tourney is comming in Sunday's episode, including the tilt Cletius mentions above.
Has there been an episode without a chick getting rocked from behind yet? I've been following along pretty well, but the conversation between Littlefinger and Varys went straight over my head.
Kinda just to show the two main players behind the scenes who are always sneaking around and how aware they were of each other's motives/plans etc.
Yah, this http://www.angelfire.com/ma4/mlarchives/faq/lorasrenly.html , lays out some of the subtle evidence from the books.
:whoosh: I have to say that all of those subtle hints completely missed the target with me.For those that haven't read the books, that scene was NOT in them.
