HBO - Song of Ice&Fire Series -Varsity Thread - no TV only whiners (2 Viewers)

[Marvin]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

 

[Mjolnirs]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

Somehow, this does not surprise me.

 

[southeastjerome]

What happened to Stannis' lady? Why did she not have a hand or intervene in this. Seems she easily dispatched of Renly, why didn't/couldn't she do the same to the Lannister's?

 

[Bronx Bomber]

What happened to Stannis' lady? Why did she not have a hand or intervene in this. Seems she easily dispatched of Renly, why didn't/couldn't she do the same to the Lannister's?

Im just starting book 2 so it might be addressed in there but I was expecting something during the battle from Stannis Red Lady, Melisandre. Figured she would have had something up her sleeve to rival the wildfire.

Not sure why folks thought this - it was pretty clear an episode or 2 ago that Stannis was not bringing the witch to Kings Landing - to avoid the appearance that she won the battle. Now, in retrospect, maybe he should have brought her - but it was a pretty clear point made in the conversation between Stannis and Davos prior to setting sail towards Kings Landing.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

meh

All of the accounts re: "Renly's ghost" leading the assault were second hand. None of the main characters actually saw it.

While it wasn't telegraphed to the viewer during the actual battle scene, the net result is the same. You learn what happened after the fact in both cases.

(if you were really really going nuts on details, you'd notice it wasn't a Lannister (no Crimson Red). That alone would be enough intrigue to satisfy until they fully revealed who it was).



I have a bigger problem with The Hound offering to free Sansa and her turning it down. Bigger implications imo.

Sansa's the biggest idiot in the history of literature, and now, television.

Maybe, but here is a guy famous for being a psychopath skilled killer and devoted body guard who already saved here once asking her to come with him alone one a couple hundred mile journey. What could possibly go wrong, right?

more accurate

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

True, but I'd find a guy that rescued you from a rape (and god knows how many STDs) more trustworthy than the jackhole kid that ordered your father's head on a stick. Just saying.

The guy that rescued her from the rape works for the guy who ordered her father's head on a stick.

Even if it was a set up, which is highly unlikely given the context, how woul she have been worse off if she went for it? It's not like standing pat was a fantastic alternative.

Standing pat seems okay to me. If King Stannis prevails, he should treat Sansa well. If King Joffrey prevails, which seems a lot less likely,

Spoiler

she's still got her plan with Ser Dontos.

right, re: the spoiler.

Spoiler

This is the reason she rode it out. She had a much better option.Also, I don't think the show went to the extent the book did in describing the impending doom. Cersei planned to kill her if the castle walls were breached.

 

[Marvin]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

Somehow, this does not surprise me.

Didn't surprise me either.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

Somehow, this does not surprise me.

Didn't surprise me either.

I did the same last summer after Season 1. I wouldn't have ever read it on my own. Too many characters/houses, ect.

 

[Chaka]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

Somehow, this does not surprise me.

Didn't surprise me either.

I did the same last summer after Season 1. I wouldn't have ever read it on my own. Too many characters/houses, ect.

Emperor Joseph II: My dear young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. There are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect. Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

 

[the moops]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

 

[mad sweeney]

Marathon today of season 2 if you missed any.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

Marathon today of season 2 if you missed any.

They should all be up on HBO On Demand. That's what I used to catch up.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

 

[the moops]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

 

[Sabertooth]

meh

All of the accounts re: "Renly's ghost" leading the assault were second hand. None of the main characters actually saw it.

While it wasn't telegraphed to the viewer during the actual battle scene, the net result is the same. You learn what happened after the fact in both cases.

(if you were really really going nuts on details, you'd notice it wasn't a Lannister (no Crimson Red). That alone would be enough intrigue to satisfy until they fully revealed who it was).



I have a bigger problem with The Hound offering to free Sansa and her turning it down. Bigger implications imo.

Sansa's the biggest idiot in the history of literature, and now, television.

Maybe, but here is a guy famous for being a psychopath skilled killer and devoted body guard who already saved here once asking her to come with him alone one a couple hundred mile journey. What could possibly go wrong, right?

more accurate

I agree, but his reputation is that of a psycho. I think the Hound is actually one of the more honorable characters in the book. He's loyal as heck. Doing the King's work. His character in the books is one of my very favorites. But his reputation is that of a killing machine. And Sansa is certainly afraid of him.

 

[Sabertooth]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

Joff being a coward?

 

[the moops]

He's loyal as heck. Doing the King's work.

Except the part that he told the king to #### off.

 

[Ilov80s]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

Joff being a coward?

I think he meant the Kingsguard guy trying to kill Tyrion.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

well Pod Killed the man

 

[jdoggydogg]

"Why do you kill all my favorite characters?" a 'Game of Thrones' fan asked George R.R. Martin during his appearance at MisCon, Missoula's annual sci-fi/fantasy convention. "Give me a list of your surviving favorites," the author replied wickedly, "and I'll see what I can do." Read More »

Master of the Games: George R. R. Martin Spars and Parties with Fans in Montana

The 'Game of Thrones' author signs body parts, reflects on Hollywood and trashes literary fiction at the MisCon for sci-fi and fantasy lovers

The Iron Throne, shipped from New Jersey for $4,000, was a fiberglass replica identical to the one HBO uses for its hit show Game of Thrones. Sitting on the throne was Daenerys Targaryen, also known as Amy Dixon, who hadn't traveled quite so far: she drove to Missoula, Montana after finishing the semester at Carroll College in Helena. The dragons at her side, two red and blue hand puppets, materialized from somewhere in the hotel's "Lobby of Doom" just before she competed in the Gameshow of Thrones, part of the 26th annual Missoula Convention (MisCon) for science fiction and fantasy fans.

The event featured six fans dressed as major characters from the Game of Thrones series. They drank poison (Kool-Aid), dueled (with trivia, not swords), and answered anachronistic questions in character (what would Stannis Baratheon think of global warming?). A rowdy audience voted and heckled them off stage until only Amy remained, the queen of the Lobby of Doom.

She was just one of a thousand-plus enthusiasts who descended on Missoula for the event, drawn by a shared love for genre stories, cosplay and the opportunity to attend panels and activities like "Raising Little Geeks," "Ancient Aliens: Fact or Fiction?" or "Throwing Axes, Swords and Knives." At almost all hours various R.P.G.s (role-playing games) were unfolding in hotel rooms.

But the biggest attraction at MisCon 2012, the thing that made people drive nine hours from Portland, or pull their kids from school, or fly in from Pennsylvania, was the presence of one very special guest: Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.

Martin entered his first event at MisCon flanked by two big guys in purple shirts and black Utilikilts, which are distinguished from normal kilts by an alarming number of straps, slots and pockets for weapons. As Martin walked to the front of a conference room, a kilted security guy whose nametag identified him as Love-a-lot-bear said into his headset: "Ops, this is Echo, was anyone able to find Alpha?"

Love-a-lot-bear and his team seemed assembled less to protect against any real threat than to provide themselves with a chance to wear fancy wireless headsets and say things like "Ops, this is Echo." The security team was like an R.P.G. that hadn't quite realized its status as a game. Martin, in a capacious pair of black Levi's, suspenders and newsboy cap, made it safely to the panelists' table and began taking questions.

"Why do you kill all my favorite characters?" someone asked. Martin flashed a wicked grin and laced his fingers in a cartoon villain's pose. "Give me a list of your surviving favorites and I'll see what I can do."

"Is Jaime Lannister cursed by the Gods?" another asked. Martin put his elbows on the table and leaned forward, "Do you really believe there are Gods? I'll answer whether there are Gods in my books when I see definitive evidence about whether there are Gods in this world. Maybe if God turns up and is interviewed on CNN or something." Another fan asked Martin if he ever just wanted to shake some of his favorite authors for making a particular choice in a book. "I'm opposed to shaking authors," he said dryly.

A vocal minority of Martin's fans post angry comments on his website. Typically they're angry at him for not delivering the next book in the series rapidly enough. He used to reply to disgruntled fans, but he soon learned the folly of online debate. "Don't feed the trolls. Delete and ignore them," he told me over cheese and cherries after his first panel. But the impatience of some fans puzzles him. "I grew up with four T.V. channels. If you missed a show, you missed it. You gotta wait a week for the next one. I'd mail-order books: take a quarter, get an envelope, send off for it and wait until it arrived. I grew up waiting for things."

On the second day of MisCon, hundreds of fans were waiting in a snaking line to get books signed. However strident some might be online, his fans looked vaguely amorous when they reached the front of the signing line. They smiled shyly or stared as if they couldn't quite believe he was real. With the Iron Throne replica looming just behind him, it was hard not to see Martin as monarch, greeting his awestruck subjects in a New Jersey accent.

Each fan could get two books signed and one personalized. One man passed Martin a book with a yellow post-it with the message he wanted: I will sit on your lap. Martin chuckled and said in a friendly tone, "I don't think I can write that." It wasn't the strangest personalization request he's ever seen. At one convention a fan asked him to write a marriage proposal. He pointed out to the young man that if he wrote "Will you marry me?" it might seem as if he, George R.R. Martin, were proposing. So instead he wrote Mary, will you marry John? At a room party that night, John presented the book to Mary, whose response was something along the lines of, "Are you out of your ####### mind?" They had met only two days before.

Near the end of the signing, a man presented Martin with two books and his daughter. "This is Daenerys," he told Martin, "I sent you a letter about her five years ago." Daenerys, a squirmy blonde in a pink jacket, looked about five years old. "Hello there," Martin said, "do you like dragons?" She nodded, and they made room for the next fan.

 

[the moops]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

Joff being a coward?

I think he meant the Kingsguard guy trying to kill Tyrion.

this

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

My son is watching the horrible movie "Underdog" right now.

The mad scientist bad guy?

None other than Peter Tyrion Dinklage (David Puddy is his co-bad guy).

Not a lot of quality roles for little people.

 

[=Smackdown=]

Valar Morghulis

 

[Sabertooth]

He's loyal as heck. Doing the King's work.

Except the part that he told the king to #### off.

True. Still a great character.

 

[Charlie Frown]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

I imagine so as Tyrion knows who tried to kill him. I am sure Joffrey will drop a load when he finds out his uncle lives.

 

[Swing 51]

Didn't realize it was one of Joffrey's men that took down Tyrion.

Is this true?

yes

Do we know who it was?

Remember the one that Joffrey said would represent him on the battlefield before he ran and hid? That one.

Ahh. Actually just went back and re-watched the scene.I imagine this will be explained at some point in the future?

I am sure Joffrey will drop a load when he finds out his uncle lives.

Cersei might be a little disappointed as well

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I don't remember Stannis being such a badass in the books. I guess I was surprised to seem him leading the attack over the walls.

Also, why is no one in here talking about who sliced Tyrion's face apart?

I thought it was one of the king's guard, not surprising IMO as Geoffrey considers Tyrion to be a threat. What should we be talking about?

This was a pretty big "holy ####" moment for me in the books. Sorry to bother you. Carry on.

It was a holy #### moment for me too. I thought it was a through and through and Tyrion's head was going to slide off down the cutline. I am just not sure what there is to discuss about it. I am hardly suggesting that I have a 360 perspective on it and would love to hear you tip off a discussion with a point about the scene that I had not considered. To me it seemed pretty straight forward and I didn't see much subtext. Whaddya got? Let's discuss.

Nothing to discuss. Just surprised to not see it mentioned.

I was surprised that it happened. It was Geoffrey's guard, no? I would have thought there would be a plot point leading up to that rather than them just springing it on us. I am also not sure if we should really have known that specific guard from a previous episode but he didn't ring a bell for me.

It was a member of the Kingsguard. Tyrion addresses him as Ser Mandon earlier in this episode. I don't think he'd appeared in any previous episodes.

I assumed it was the Kingsguard that we have seen several times (I can't remember his name) but the one where Tyrion told Bronn to kill if he talked again as an example of a threat. Basically that he hated Tyrion and saw his chance to end him in the fog of war.

No, that was Ser Meryn, not Ser Mandon. They're both members of the Kingsguard, but they're different characters.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

My son is watching the horrible movie "Underdog" right now.The mad scientist bad guy?None other than Peter Tyrion Dinklage (David Puddy is his co-bad guy).Not a lot of quality roles for little people.

Call me elf one more time!

 

[Ilov80s]

He's loyal as heck. Doing the King's work.

Except the part that he told the king to #### off.

True. Still a great character.

That made him an even better character. The Hound is quietly stealing this season.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

My son is watching the horrible movie "Underdog" right now.The mad scientist bad guy?None other than Peter Tyrion Dinklage (David Puddy is his co-bad guy).Not a lot of quality roles for little people.

Call me elf one more time!

lol, yep. forgot about that one too.

 

[Abrantes]

My son is watching the horrible movie "Underdog" right now.The mad scientist bad guy?None other than Peter Tyrion Dinklage (David Puddy is his co-bad guy).Not a lot of quality roles for little people.

Call me elf one more time!

lol, yep. forgot about that one too.

He was awesome in that.I was going over the ways in which they could close out each character's arc for the season, and I just feel that today's episode could be so damn good.

Spoiler

-House of the Undying-Jon vs. Halfhand-Winterfell being sacked by Ramsay, and Theon is taken captive.-Bran heading north-Others arriving at the Fist of the First Men.-Valar morghulis. Arya kills a dude and parts ways with Jaqen.-Joffrey takes Margaery as his new bride, Sansa is "free".-Hodor.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

My son is watching the horrible movie "Underdog" right now.The mad scientist bad guy?None other than Peter Tyrion Dinklage (David Puddy is his co-bad guy).Not a lot of quality roles for little people.

Call me elf one more time!

lol, yep. forgot about that one too.

He was awesome in that.I was going over the ways in which they could close out each character's arc for the season, and I just feel that today's episode could be so damn good.

Spoiler

-House of the Undying-Jon vs. Halfhand-Winterfell being sacked by Ramsay, and Theon is taken captive.-Bran heading north-Others arriving at the Fist of the First Men.-Valar morghulis. Arya kills a dude and parts ways with Jaqen.-Joffrey takes Margaery as his new bride, Sansa is "free".-Hodor.

HODOR@~!@~@

 

[Bronx Bomber]

Can't wait for this finale. Looking forward to the house of the undying.

 

[shuke]

I'm about 1/2 through the first book having never read any part of this series. So glad I started watching the TV series first. So far the books aren't that great. If I started reading them 10 years ago I would never have finished book 1.

 

[EYLive]

He's loyal as heck. Doing the King's work.

Except the part that he told the king to #### off.

True. Still a great character.

That made him an even better character. The Hound is quietly stealing this season.

. Turn up the sound.

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

 

[Trey]

Thank god the white walkers finally showed up because the story beyond the wall has been the clear weak link..

Although khaleesi's arc this year could have been better. She essentially did a repeat of season 1 where she became a strong leader in the finale.

Episode needed more Tyrion and cersei as well.

But still the best show on tv in years.

 

[shadyridr]

ok i dont understand two things:

1. who burnt winterfell? and where did the 500 men from starks army go?

2. why did jon snow and halfhand start fighting?

as a non-book reader it seems to me that all directions are pointing to the series ending with dany taking over kings landing with her bad ### dragons

 

[Usual21]

waiting for the torrent to go up any minute now.

 

[Ilov80s]

ok i dont understand two things:1. who burnt winterfell? and where did the 500 men from starks army go?2. why did jon snow and halfhand start fighting?as a non-book reader it seems to me that all directions are pointing to the series ending with dany taking over kings landing with her bad ### dragons

I found #1 confusing as well. As for #2, Halfhand hinted to Jon last week that he needed to earn the Wildlings trust and fight them from the inside. What better way to earn their trust then killing the legendary Halfhand.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

ok i dont understand two things:1. who burnt winterfell? and where did the 500 men from starks army go?2. why did jon snow and halfhand start fighting?as a non-book reader it seems to me that all directions are pointing to the series ending with dany taking over kings landing with her bad ### dragons

1 - It was Lord boltons (bald dude that is advising Robb stark on the battlefield) bastards men came to winterfell. I gotta say, the last 2 episodes have been awesome

 

[Big B]

ok i dont understand two things:1. who burnt winterfell? and where did the 500 men from starks army go?2. why did jon snow and halfhand start fighting?as a non-book reader it seems to me that all directions are pointing to the series ending with dany taking over kings landing with her bad ### dragons

the halfhand wants Jon to join the King Beyond the Wall to learn as much as he can from them. He knows that they are both going to die regardless so he is hoping by having Jon kill him...Jon may have a chance to join the others. So he essentially sacrificed himself

 

[modogg]

So many questions.... Big one is, for the book readers, does Martin ever explain the whole origin of the White Walkers? It certainly seems to have a zombie vibe to it, but it seems to only effect guys who die in the North? Just wondering if it is ever looked into or explained at all, which i hope it is. And will the white walker virus or whatever make it to the south? will we see a White Walker Ned Stark?

 

[Ilov80s]

ok i dont understand two things:1. who burnt winterfell? and where did the 500 men from starks army go?2. why did jon snow and halfhand start fighting?as a non-book reader it seems to me that all directions are pointing to the series ending with dany taking over kings landing with her bad ### dragons

1 - It was Lord boltons (bald dude that is advising Robb stark on the battlefield) bastards men came to winterfell. I gotta say, the last 2 episodes have been awesome

If he is a bannerman to Lord Stark why burn Winterfell? I assumed it was the doing of the Iron Islanders as a distraction to help them escape and as a general FU to the Starks.

 

[Balco]

Did not read the books. In the show, did Eddard Stark make any mention of who Robb Snow's mother was? I am starting to think he might have a wildling mother.

Can't believe the season is over. Just a great 10 episodes.

I am a little puzzled about Winterfell as well. I was assuming that his men gave Theon to the people surrounding the gates, and then they left.

And I guess I completely missed the Hound/Sansa interaction. I thought she left with him?

And I am not so sure that Joffrey's grandfather is too happy with him. He didn't say anything when he was made hand of the king. Let his horse take a huge dump, trotted into the throne room, and then left without saying a word.

 

[Gator Shawn]

ok i dont understand two things:1. who burnt winterfell? and where did the 500 men from starks army go?2. why did jon snow and halfhand start fighting?as a non-book reader it seems to me that all directions are pointing to the series ending with dany taking over kings landing with her bad ### dragons

1 - It was Lord boltons (bald dude that is advising Robb stark on the battlefield) bastards men came to winterfell. I gotta say, the last 2 episodes have been awesome

If he is a bannerman to Lord Stark why burn Winterfell? I assumed it was the doing of the Iron Islanders as a distraction to help them escape and as a general FU to the Starks.

Bolton is a piece of #### and his son Ramsay Snow is a sadistic #####. Their sigil is a flayed man and Ramsay takes it to heart.

 

[Ilov80s]

Did not read the books. In the show, did Eddard Stark make any mention of who Robb Snow's mother was? I am starting to think he might have a wildling mother.Can't believe the season is over. Just a great 10 episodes.I am a little puzzled about Winterfell as well. I was assuming that his men gave Theon to the people surrounding the gates, and then they left.And I guess I completely missed the Hound/Sansa interaction. I thought she left with him? And I am not so sure that Joffrey's grandfather is too happy with him. He didn't say anything when he was made hand of the king. Let his horse take a huge dump, trotted into the throne room, and then left without saying a word.

Tywin knows Joffrey is an idiot and that he has all the real power, now more than ever. He just has to go along with the dog and pony show.

 

[Abrantes]

So many questions.... Big one is, for the book readers, does Martin ever explain the whole origin of the White Walkers? It certainly seems to have a zombie vibe to it, but it seems to only effect guys who die in the North? Just wondering if it is ever looked into or explained at all, which i hope it is. And will the white walker virus or whatever make it to the south? will we see a White Walker Ned Stark?

Stop watching the Walking Dead, man.

 

[modogg]

So many questions.... Big one is, for the book readers, does Martin ever explain the whole origin of the White Walkers? It certainly seems to have a zombie vibe to it, but it seems to only effect guys who die in the North? Just wondering if it is ever looked into or explained at all, which i hope it is. And will the white walker virus or whatever make it to the south? will we see a White Walker Ned Stark?

Stop watching the Walking Dead, man.

You're probably right, the episode has my head spinning with questions for everybody. I also can't figure out how Martin will end the series, i don't see a world where the Lanisters, Starks, Kalesy, and the rest of them all live in a world together. I think we'll have 1/4 of the current characters left by the series finale