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

My guess is the TV show does not end well - no chance they wrap this up in 7 seasons. And no chance Martin is finished with the books in the next 3 years.

It may be a bit macabre, but the show's best chance may be Martin dying and the show getting to wrap up on its own.
As good as the show is, I think the books are better, even though the last 2 (particularly #4) haven't been as good as the 1st three. So I'd like to see Martin actually finish his books off, however long it takes, regardless of what happens with the show. If the show has to go a different direction I just see it as a bonus for us - 2 endings for the price of one sort of.

 
My guess is the TV show does not end well - no chance they wrap this up in 7 seasons. And no chance Martin is finished with the books in the next 3 years. It may be a bit macabre, but the show's best chance may be Martin dying and the show getting to wrap up on its own.
As good as the show is, I think the books are better, even though the last 2 (particularly #4) haven't been as good as the 1st three. So I'd like to see Martin actually finish his books off, however long it takes, regardless of what happens with the show. If the show has to go a different direction I just see it as a bonus for us - 2 endings for the price of one sort of.
They can condense the hell out of 4 & 5 for TV. There are story arcs for 2 ladies and at least 1 guy that, while I enjoyed reading them, would be seen as wheel-spinning on TV. The showrunners have already played hell with timelines - and GRRM had already ####ed them up in the books as early as halfway through 3 - that I think they can get to the end of book 5 by the end of TV season 6 (2016). If Martin can get book 6 out by early 2015, that would give him until 2018 to get book 7 out before the show passes him. Granted, given that it took him 11 frigging years to get the last two published, that looks like a pipe dream. But I have a sneaking itch that he's further along than most think.Personally, I think Martin has done his best writing in books 4 & 5 - the ability to evoke atmosphere/emotion is miles above what he was able to do in 1996 or 2000. I'm just talking the writing itself, not the construction (which has gotten a little away from him).
 
Leeroy Jenkins said:
Here is a link to a thread on Westeros.org with multiple links to discussions of various theories. I don't have time to read them all, but the Faceless men theory is interesting.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/79775-a-compendium-of-theories/

Spoilers galore.
OK, I'm going to get NOTHING done today after looking there. I've opened like 8 of those threads to read.
Tower of the Hand also has a bunch. And some of the same as above. Again, lots of spoilers here:

http://towerofthehand.com/essays/

 
Leeroy Jenkins said:
Here is a link to a thread on Westeros.org with multiple links to discussions of various theories. I don't have time to read them all, but the Faceless men theory is interesting.

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/topic/79775-a-compendium-of-theories/

Spoilers galore.
OK, I'm going to get NOTHING done today after looking there. I've opened like 8 of those threads to read.
Tower of the Hand also has a bunch. And some of the same as above. Again, lots of spoilers here:

http://towerofthehand.com/essays/
I think some of the links are actually to that site as well.

The role of the Citadel and Faceless men is intriguing for the overall stories. I'm starting to get an itch to re-read everything but slowly and more analytical than i did on my first and only read through thus far.

 
My guess is the TV show does not end well - no chance they wrap this up in 7 seasons. And no chance Martin is finished with the books in the next 3 years. It may be a bit macabre, but the show's best chance may be Martin dying and the show getting to wrap up on its own.
As good as the show is, I think the books are better, even though the last 2 (particularly #4) haven't been as good as the 1st three. So I'd like to see Martin actually finish his books off, however long it takes, regardless of what happens with the show. If the show has to go a different direction I just see it as a bonus for us - 2 endings for the price of one sort of.
They can condense the hell out of 4 & 5 for TV. There are story arcs for 2 ladies and at least 1 guy that, while I enjoyed reading them, would be seen as wheel-spinning on TV. The showrunners have already played hell with timelines - and GRRM had already ####ed them up in the books as early as halfway through 3 - that I think they can get to the end of book 5 by the end of TV season 6 (2016). If Martin can get book 6 out by early 2015, that would give him until 2018 to get book 7 out before the show passes him. Granted, given that it took him 11 frigging years to get the last two published, that looks like a pipe dream. But I have a sneaking itch that he's further along than most think.Personally, I think Martin has done his best writing in books 4 & 5 - the ability to evoke atmosphere/emotion is miles above what he was able to do in 1996 or 2000. I'm just talking the writing itself, not the construction (which has gotten a little away from him).
I suppose a lot depends on how the story ends up.

 
If they bypass most of that and focus on what the Starks are doing afterwards, it'll work.

Seeing the Hound and Arya ride to the aftermath should be good too.

Arya taking an axe to the head as the closing scene to the season would drive the non-readers nuts
People talk about how reading the Red Wedding was shocking and difficult. For me, when I though Arya was dead, I was furious.
That was the only time I peeked ahead at the next chapter titles. I know the cliffhanger was vague enough, but I couldn't handle Arya being dead.

 
Maybe they can condense crows and dragons to one season, but there's a lot of material there.
As long as the books are unfinished, no sense in rushing things on the show.
I agree and think crows and dragons could be 3 seasons possibly (in chronological order) which would give grrm 4-5 years to finish the song.
You've said this before, but I really don't see how they could dedicate 3 seasons to books 4 and 5 without making it unwatchable. I'd also bet good money that he won't be done with the book series in 5 years (if ever), but that's just speculation.
The sheer length of Dragons lends itself to two seasons. It's almost 100 pages longer than Swords.
so if my math is anywhere remotely correct, we are looking at a minimum of 10 years to finish the HBO series
Being that book 6 is yet to be completed, I think we are looking at 9-10 seasons to A) cover all the material and B) give GRRM time to complete the writings.No way they screw him over and do seasons before he releases the books. Hopefully he is able to keep it to 7 total and if they are long, maybe HBO gives us more that 10 episodes for the final two seasons.
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons.

I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up.

/hipple

 
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Maybe they can condense crows and dragons to one season, but there's a lot of material there.
As long as the books are unfinished, no sense in rushing things on the show.
I agree and think crows and dragons could be 3 seasons possibly (in chronological order) which would give grrm 4-5 years to finish the song.
You've said this before, but I really don't see how they could dedicate 3 seasons to books 4 and 5 without making it unwatchable. I'd also bet good money that he won't be done with the book series in 5 years (if ever), but that's just speculation.
The sheer length of Dragons lends itself to two seasons. It's almost 100 pages longer than Swords.
so if my math is anywhere remotely correct, we are looking at a minimum of 10 years to finish the HBO series
Being that book 6 is yet to be completed, I think we are looking at 9-10 seasons to A) cover all the material and B) give GRRM time to complete the writings.No way they screw him over and do seasons before he releases the books. Hopefully he is able to keep it to 7 total and if they are long, maybe HBO gives us more that 10 episodes for the final two seasons.
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons.

I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up.

/hipple
HBO isnt going to wait for GRRM at all. if the books are out cool, if not, we will all watch it unfold on the screen

 
Maybe they can condense crows and dragons to one season, but there's a lot of material there.
As long as the books are unfinished, no sense in rushing things on the show.
I agree and think crows and dragons could be 3 seasons possibly (in chronological order) which would give grrm 4-5 years to finish the song.
You've said this before, but I really don't see how they could dedicate 3 seasons to books 4 and 5 without making it unwatchable. I'd also bet good money that he won't be done with the book series in 5 years (if ever), but that's just speculation.
The sheer length of Dragons lends itself to two seasons. It's almost 100 pages longer than Swords.
so if my math is anywhere remotely correct, we are looking at a minimum of 10 years to finish the HBO series
Being that book 6 is yet to be completed, I think we are looking at 9-10 seasons to A) cover all the material and B) give GRRM time to complete the writings.No way they screw him over and do seasons before he releases the books. Hopefully he is able to keep it to 7 total and if they are long, maybe HBO gives us more that 10 episodes for the final two seasons.
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons. I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up. /hipple
HBO isnt going to wait for GRRM at all. if the books are out cool, if not, we will all watch it unfold on the screen
I agree with this. HBO had to know this was a very real possibility and I'm sure they have some sort of plan in place to deal with it. Anyone who did 5 minutes of research would see that GRRM writes at a snail's pace and the show was going to catch up in a hurry. They won't stop the show to wait for the books.
 
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons.

I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up.

/hipple
Most everything but Brienne's, Theon's/Reek's, and Sam's arc would make pretty good TV.

Cersei having a mental breakdown and all the maneuverings in King's Landing vs. the Tyrell's will be just as good as what we have seen.

Tyrion's trip across Essos and him gaining a small army.

Jon Connington + Aegon could be interesting.

Arya's training.

Littlefinger + Sansa = Tywin + Arya in many ways.

Bran and the Children of the Forest + Bloodraven

Jon and his politics at the Wall with Stannis and Melisandre and the Boltons.

All the Martell's plans.

Dany's attempt to rule.

Some of the Ironborn arc will be good.

I think that you are selling the books a little short. There aren't any major character deaths which is why almost everyone rates book 3 so highly - but there is a lot of character development and plot movement. When we get to the end of book 5 we have Dany likely gaining a Khalsar, able to ride a dragon, soon likely going to get Tyrion as an ally, and soon ready to go to Westeros. Jon Connington and Aegon already in Westeros. Stannis about ready to seize Winterfell.
 
Maybe they can condense crows and dragons to one season, but there's a lot of material there.
As long as the books are unfinished, no sense in rushing things on the show.
I agree and think crows and dragons could be 3 seasons possibly (in chronological order) which would give grrm 4-5 years to finish the song.
You've said this before, but I really don't see how they could dedicate 3 seasons to books 4 and 5 without making it unwatchable. I'd also bet good money that he won't be done with the book series in 5 years (if ever), but that's just speculation.
The sheer length of Dragons lends itself to two seasons. It's almost 100 pages longer than Swords.
so if my math is anywhere remotely correct, we are looking at a minimum of 10 years to finish the HBO series
Being that book 6 is yet to be completed, I think we are looking at 9-10 seasons to A) cover all the material and B) give GRRM time to complete the writings.No way they screw him over and do seasons before he releases the books. Hopefully he is able to keep it to 7 total and if they are long, maybe HBO gives us more that 10 episodes for the final two seasons.
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons.

I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up.

/hipple
HBO isnt going to wait for GRRM at all. if the books are out cool, if not, we will all watch it unfold on the screen
Won't matter. We have it on good authority that the show won't last past season 5 anyways.

 
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons.

I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up.

/hipple
Most everything but Brienne's, Theon's/Reek's, and Sam's arc would make pretty good TV.

Cersei having a mental breakdown and all the maneuverings in King's Landing vs. the Tyrell's will be just as good as what we have seen.

Tyrion's trip across Essos and him gaining a small army.

Jon Connington + Aegon could be interesting.

Arya's training.

Littlefinger + Sansa = Tywin + Arya in many ways.

Bran and the Children of the Forest + Bloodraven

Jon and his politics at the Wall with Stannis and Melisandre and the Boltons.

All the Martell's plans.

Dany's attempt to rule.

Some of the Ironborn arc will be good.

I think that you are selling the books a little short. There aren't any major character deaths which is why almost everyone rates book 3 so highly - but there is a lot of character development and plot movement. When we get to the end of book 5 we have Dany likely gaining a Khalsar, able to ride a dragon, soon likely going to get Tyrion as an ally, and soon ready to go to Westeros. Jon Connington and Aegon already in Westeros. Stannis about ready to seize Winterfell.
Not selling the books short at all. Just being realistic about how much of it translates to the sceen. Books 4 and 5 are ripe with slow-burn character development, but lighter than the previous volumes in terms of iconic scenes. Your breakdown is legitimate, and again, I don't see any conceivable way to milk three seasons from that, and next to none of the character's arcs are sufficiently long to fit, even if we get book 6 material in the mix.

Saying that there's lot of plot development in books 4 and 5 is very charitable on your part. Maybe if you're talking about lateral movement, rather than forward progress.

-Tyrion's book 5 travelogue is brutal, and I hope they make some serious cuts/changes to that part of the story. They'll have to, if they want audiences to still like him. Not a 3-season arc by any means. At most, they can have him negotiate his way into an army by the end of season 5, and deal with Dany in season 6.

-Dany playing ruler is a one- or two-season storyline at most. What's the arc? Things are going poorly in the city, Dany ovulates whenever Daario's around, the dragons are let loose and Dany goes off on one of them.

-Jon's story at the Wall isn't particularly elaborate, and could easily fit into one season, but they might stretch it to two, depending on how quickly the other stories are coming along.

-Yes, I'm sure they'll build Ramsay up as one of the major villains to fill the void left by Tywin and Joffrey.

-Cersei has plenty of material, given that we see her in both AFFC and ADWD, and she's strong enough as a character to carry on a 3-season arc, but two seasons is more likely. Probably her bungling things at King's Landing and ending up arrested in season 5, then her maneuvering to get out and likely trial by combat in season 6.

-I imagine that we'll see the Ironborn's power struggle in season 5 and Victarion's trip in season 6, though I expect him to actually reach his destination by then.

-I actually enjoy Bran's story, but it's probably the shortest of them all.

-Connington/Aegon is interesting, but there's not much to the story so far.

-I love Arya and her development as an assassin, but where's the payoff? Three full seasons of training?

-Sansa's growth makes for interesting reading, but isn't very dynamic at all. Arya/Tywin was fun, but lasted only one season, and had the benefit of being paired with Jaqen's killings and Arya's escape.

-Martells: We'll probably find out about Doran's plan for vengeance in the end of season 5, and follow Quentyn's herp-derp in season 6, but truth be told, a lot of it is pretty boring. Honestly, who really cares about Areo Hotah's love affair with his axe, or Arys Oakheart?

:shrug: I don't need to see every inane detail of Martin's world-building, and character development can be easily synthesized in short scenes on the screen. As far as actual events, fitting books 4 and 5 in two seasons is more than enough time.
 
My guess is the TV show does not end well - no chance they wrap this up in 7 seasons. And no chance Martin is finished with the books in the next 3 years. It may be a bit macabre, but the show's best chance may be Martin dying and the show getting to wrap up on its own.
As good as the show is, I think the books are better, even though the last 2 (particularly #4) haven't been as good as the 1st three. So I'd like to see Martin actually finish his books off, however long it takes, regardless of what happens with the show. If the show has to go a different direction I just see it as a bonus for us - 2 endings for the price of one sort of.
They can condense the hell out of 4 & 5 for TV. There are story arcs for 2 ladies and at least 1 guy that, while I enjoyed reading them, would be seen as wheel-spinning on TV. The showrunners have already played hell with timelines - and GRRM had already ####ed them up in the books as early as halfway through 3 - that I think they can get to the end of book 5 by the end of TV season 6 (2016). If Martin can get book 6 out by early 2015, that would give him until 2018 to get book 7 out before the show passes him. Granted, given that it took him 11 frigging years to get the last two published, that looks like a pipe dream. But I have a sneaking itch that he's further along than most think.Personally, I think Martin has done his best writing in books 4 & 5 - the ability to evoke atmosphere/emotion is miles above what he was able to do in 1996 or 2000. I'm just talking the writing itself, not the construction (which has gotten a little away from him).
I suppose a lot depends on how the story ends up.
I'm only talking about where the story is in relation to the end of book 5. I have no idea where Martin's going in future books, but there are some arcs that I don't think will play well on a TV show to get us where we are in what's published.
 
Page count isn't all that relevant. Break down what actually happens in books 4 and 5 that would work well on television. There's no way they can milk them for 3 seasons. I don't see any way HBO waits for GRRM to finish. Just to throw him a bone? Television just doesn't work like that, and Martin has already clued the showrunners in on how the story ends. He knew what he was getting into when he signed up. /hipple
Most everything but Brienne's, Theon's/Reek's, and Sam's arc would make pretty good TV. Cersei having a mental breakdown and all the maneuverings in King's Landing vs. the Tyrell's will be just as good as what we have seen.Tyrion's trip across Essos and him gaining a small army.Jon Connington + Aegon could be interesting.Arya's training.Littlefinger + Sansa = Tywin + Arya in many ways.Bran and the Children of the Forest + BloodravenJon and his politics at the Wall with Stannis and Melisandre and the Boltons.All the Martell's plans.Dany's attempt to rule.Some of the Ironborn arc will be good. I think that you are selling the books a little short. There aren't any major character deaths which is why almost everyone rates book 3 so highly - but there is a lot of character development and plot movement. When we get to the end of book 5 we have Dany likely gaining a Khalsar, able to ride a dragon, soon likely going to get Tyrion as an ally, and soon ready to go to Westeros. Jon Connington and Aegon already in Westeros. Stannis about ready to seize Winterfell.
Yeah, but look at what you wrote in there. You think words like: plotting, training, politics, etc.. are going to get a lot of the average viewer base excited for 3 years after the stuff that went down in the first few seasons? I loved the first few books, but the last couple have made me lose interest a bit. I realize there are a ton of moving parts, but it does start to feel like there is no endgame, which is a tad frustrating.

 
I think one of the challenges is that books 4 and 5 take place at the same time - albeit in different worlds. So each season will be a mix of 4 and 5 together.

 
I think one of the challenges is that books 4 and 5 take place at the same time - albeit in different worlds. So each season will be a mix of 4 and 5 together.
It'll be a huge challenge. They can't ignore some of the favorite characters the way book 4 does. At the same time, they can't address all the story lines in parellel without the show moving along extremely slowly.

 
I think one of the challenges is that books 4 and 5 take place at the same time - albeit in different worlds. So each season will be a mix of 4 and 5 together.
It'll be a huge challenge. They can't ignore some of the favorite characters the way book 4 does. At the same time, they can't address all the story lines in parellel without the show moving along extremely slowly.
That's why I think they're gonna streamline some of the storylines from those two books extensively. As I mentioned above, there are at least 3 story arcs that can be cut by maybe 75% without losing anything for TV audiences. How they'll handle timelines, I have no idea. But they have already tinkered with them something fierce.
 
I have not read the books, but I have seen all HBO episodes. I have a question about something, but the answer may be a spoiler about Theon and his torturers.

I know that Theon is being tortured by Ramsay Bolton because I looked it up online. I went back through the show to see if I could piece it together, but I don't understand how he originally got into the hands of the Boltons.Theon was at Winterfell when his own men knocked him out and dragged him away. There is no mention of handing him over to anyone else and he doesn't know who is torturng him when it begins. So how exactly did his torturers get him initially? Was there some sort of deal made or was he recaptured from his own men who dragged him away?I also want to know why lord Bolton is fighting alongside Robb Stark, but he also is returning the Kingslayer to King's Landing. Does Robb Stark know about this?
 
I have not read the books, but I have seen all HBO episodes. I have a question about something, but the answer may be a spoiler about Theon and his torturers.

I know that Theon is being tortured by Ramsay Bolton because I looked it up online. I went back through the show to see if I could piece it together, but I don't understand how he originally got into the hands of the Boltons.Theon was at Winterfell when his own men knocked him out and dragged him away. There is no mention of handing him over to anyone else and he doesn't know who is torturng him when it begins. So how exactly did his torturers get him initially? Was there some sort of deal made or was he recaptured from his own men who dragged him away?I also want to know why lord Bolton is fighting alongside Robb Stark, but he also is returning the Kingslayer to King's Landing. Does Robb Stark know about this?
Roose Bolton sent his ******* (Ramsay Bolton) to take back Winterfell on Robb's behalf. Robb told Roose that his ******* could let them all go, but he wanted Theon captured and alive. So Ramsay laid siege to Winterfell and blew that damn horn for days and days depriving theon and his men of sleep. So theon gives a rousing speech for battle and his men knick him out and turn him over to Ramsay. Implied that they made a deal to save themselves as they never respected theon nor liked being so inland. Ramsay is insane and is torturing him for pleasure while holding him for safe keeping. Notice that he blew that damn horn again when interrupting theon with the chicks. You're not really missing anything with Roose/Jaime that the show hasn't espoused on yet. Just keep watching. The other thrones thread avoids book spoilers and is just about the show. You may prefer that thread.
 
I have not read the books, but I have seen all HBO episodes. I have a question about something, but the answer may be a spoiler about Theon and his torturers.

I know that Theon is being tortured by Ramsay Bolton because I looked it up online. I went back through the show to see if I could piece it together, but I don't understand how he originally got into the hands of the Boltons.Theon was at Winterfell when his own men knocked him out and dragged him away. There is no mention of handing him over to anyone else and he doesn't know who is torturng him when it begins. So how exactly did his torturers get him initially? Was there some sort of deal made or was he recaptured from his own men who dragged him away?I also want to know why lord Bolton is fighting alongside Robb Stark, but he also is returning the Kingslayer to King's Landing. Does Robb Stark know about this?
His own men knocked him out and left him behind, the Boltons were heading to retake WF and the Ironborn knew they'd lose, so they split and left their idiot leader behind. Thus Theon was waiting as the Boltons retook WF. Robb doesn't know where Jaime is and Lord Bolton is sending him back to cover his ### in the probable event that the Lannisters win. I doubt he knows about the assault planned for Casterly Rock, but probably does know about the Karstarks leaving, so to him it's almost a formality. The way Houses switch sides, making sure Tywin has nothing personal against him ensures that he won't be obliterated if/when the Lannisters win and he swears fealty to them.
 
A non-reader friend just predicted this:

Prediction: frays betray Starks kill the wife and the mother and arya watches mother get killed too and rolls with the hound for a minute..also Tywin gets ordered to be killed by Joffrey..don't say anything
 
A non-reader friend just predicted this:

Prediction: frays betray Starks kill the wife and the mother and arya watches mother get killed too and rolls with the hound for a minute..also Tywin gets ordered to be killed by Joffrey..don't say anything
wow. on spot. kinda

 
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Thought episode nine was on last night, was looking forward to watching it today online (don't have HBO).Double disappointed.

 
If they show

Jaime tell Roose to give Robb his/lannisters regards
as the "previously on game of thrones" it will #### it all up for people.

 
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I think one of the challenges is that books 4 and 5 take place at the same time - albeit in different worlds. So each season will be a mix of 4 and 5 together.
It'll be a huge challenge. They can't ignore some of the favorite characters the way book 4 does. At the same time, they can't address all the story lines in parellel without the show moving along extremely slowly.
That's why I think they're gonna streamline some of the storylines from those two books extensively. As I mentioned above, there are at least 3 story arcs that can be cut by maybe 75% without losing anything for TV audiences. How they'll handle timelines, I have no idea. But they have already tinkered with them something fierce.
AFFC & ADWD spoilers
Brienne has roughly 472 chapters in AFFC; they could easily chop her stories down to almost nothing. Show her on the quest to find Sansa...running into that elder priest guy who does a great job explaining how the war has affected the common man...and then getting strung up by zombie Cat. May not want to hear this, but Dany and Tyrion's stories in ADWD move at a snail's pace. Both stories could be chopped considerably.
 
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AFFC & ADWD spoilers

May not want to hear this, but Dany and Tyrion's stories in ADWD move at a snail's pace. Both stories could be chopped considerably.
Also, everyone named Kzkznak mo Kzkznak will probably be consolidated into a single character, because I don't think even George RR Martin can tell them apart anymore.
 
I think one of the challenges is that books 4 and 5 take place at the same time - albeit in different worlds. So each season will be a mix of 4 and 5 together.
It'll be a huge challenge. They can't ignore some of the favorite characters the way book 4 does. At the same time, they can't address all the story lines in parellel without the show moving along extremely slowly.
That's why I think they're gonna streamline some of the storylines from those two books extensively. As I mentioned above, there are at least 3 story arcs that can be cut by maybe 75% without losing anything for TV audiences. How they'll handle timelines, I have no idea. But they have already tinkered with them something fierce.
AFFC & ADWD spoilers
Brienne has roughly 472 chapters in AFFC; they could easily chop her stories down to almost nothing. Show her on the quest to find Sansa...running into that elder priest guy who does a great job explaining how the war has affected the common man...and then getting strung up by zombie Cat. May not want to hear this, but Dany and Tyrion's stories in ADWD move at a snail's pace. Both stories could be chopped considerably.
Agree on all points, though they'll need to show the Brienne/Biter (or was it Rorge) fight. Many people cite the bulk of Brienne's chapters as a reason they don't care for AFFC, but I actually liked reading them - just don't think they'll make compelling viewing.

It's going to be tricky with Dany & Tyrion. If there are stars of the show after Ned's death, it's those two so the show will probably want to have them doing something in at least 80% of the episodes. Jon's another one whose ADWD chapters could be streamlined., though by that point he'll have made it a Big 3 as far as stars go.

It's been speculated that HBO will use 3 (or 4! - God help us all) seasons to air AFFC/ADWD material. The more I think about it, the more I think 2 seasons will work the most efficiently and enjoyably for TV. There's an obvious problem with that line of thinking, though - they could run out of published material. Both Martin & the showrunners have said they will continue on with the series no matter where Martin is in his writing, but that would suck for a lot of people who came to the story through the books and want to read it before seeing it (I'm one of them).

Even so, going with the 2-season/AFFC-ADWD thing:

That gets the show through 2016. I'm an optimist by nature, but I really believe GRRM will have TWOW out by then (my guess is Spring 2015 just before that year's TV season kicks off). Assuming that TWOW is worth 2 seasons of TV - and I see no reason why it shouldn't be; there should be kick-### moment after kick-### moment - that gets us through 2018. THAT is when the show could pass the books. Because I can see Martin agonzing (& rewriting) every last letter into wrapping his story up perfectly.

As an aside, I wonder how King's Dark Tower series would have gone from a storyline/publishing standpoint had he not been hit by that van.
 
I would have never thought two weddings would dominate the season.



yea, one more to come next season.
 
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