HBO : GAME OF THRONES - Spoiler Thread

[Brando70]

That ending caught me completely off guard. I was expecting a more standard last-minute stay of action, perhaps a raven flying in with news of Jaime Lannister's capture that would have halted the execution. I tip my hate to Martin and HBO for not going that route.

I also thought it was interesting that they didn't show the battles. I initially wanted a big, splashy battle scene. However, that wasn't terribly important in the grand scheme of things. I know it saved a ton of production costs, but it also kept the focus on the characters, which is what makes this such a great series.

[HipE]

I'm happy that Ned's death managed to be kept secret from everyone that hasn't read the books, I thought that would have been spoiled for everyone before the show even started. I've read the book three times and it is still hard for me to watch Ned die. Not even so much the fact that he dies, but that he finally sells out his honor for the sake of his family, only to be paid back by going out like a chump. There was actually some talk that his fate in the tv show would be different, given that he is the biggest name actor in the series and the audience tends to bond much more with actors in a tv show. Like Web said, the series was really never about Ned, although you think it is up until what happened last night. Now it remains to be seen if a story that has so much invested in child characters can be be successful given the limitations of some pretty young actors.

Like Jack said, it does serve notice that nobody is safe in the series, and George Martin never hesitates to remind you of that time and time again. It made me laugh early in the season when there was such an uproar over the killing over Sansa's direwolf, knowing how things were going to play out eventually. One of the reasons I love the series so much is that it isn't the traditional good triumphs over evil story, and you have to be prepared that if you get close to a character in the series, you might not be paid back with a happy ending for that person. If you remember back to the first episode where they find the direwolf pups in the woods, next to the pups are the adult corpses of a dead stag (sigil of House Baratheon, the dead king's house) and a dead direwolf (sigil of House Stark) that have killed each other, with the 6 pups left to fend for themselves in the wild. Now it is time for the kids to sink or swim outside of the comforts of Winterfell.

I feel like the end of the season has been a little bit compressed in comparison to the book and could have done with an extra episode or two. We've gone from Drogo as a total badass at the end of episode 8 to half dead in the opening minutes of episode 9. Also, one limitation of the tv series is you don't get to see the battles play out, as the one where Tyrion led the vanguard with the mountain men is pretty cool in the book, as he actually does some killing which was completely skipped in the show last night. They almost make you think he was knocked out before the battle started and missed the whole thing, which was nothing like in the book. They also skip the end of the story of Tyrion's first marriage, where after all the guards take a turn with his wife he has to have sex with her last, then pay her with a gold coin instead of silver since a Lannister is worth more. It goes to show you how ruthless Tywin Lannister really is.

There is still one more major plot twist to come in the finale, I'm curious to see how everyone here reacts as it changes a particular story arc going forward. I'm already looking forward to next season, I hope they don't have too long of a turnaround time before it starts.

[XXXIV]

There is still one more major plot twist to come in the finale, I'm curious to see how everyone here reacts as it changes a particular story arc going forward. I'm already looking forward to next season, I hope they don't have too long of a turnaround time before it starts.

That was a good read Hip. Thanks and for filling in a couple of blanks.

One thing though. You just had to leave me with that last bit...Already going crazy(crazier)trying to figure out what that twist might be.

[HipE]

There is still one more major plot twist to come in the finale, I'm curious to see how everyone here reacts as it changes a particular story arc going forward. I'm already looking forward to next season, I hope they don't have too long of a turnaround time before it starts.

That was a good read Hip. Thanks and for filling in a couple of blanks.

One thing though. You just had to leave me with that last bit...Already going crazy(crazier)trying to figure out what that twist might be.

Check out the EW.com writeup for the episode last night, it goes into a lot of what I brought up in detail.

I don't want to spoil anything, and hope I haven't just by saying something else is going to happen in the finale. Although considering how explosive almost every episode has been (not a lot of lulls in the action in this series ever), I would think that everyone is expecting nothing less from the finale. Skip the next paragraph if you don't want a little teaser to tide you over (no spoilers, just something to whet your appetite):
















I will say that what happens is not coming out of nowhere, there have been clues in nearly all the episodes, and you will realize it as the credits roll. And there is no way you are going to guess it until it happens, where it then becomes obvious where things had been leading all along. And when it does, you will realize that the game is most definitely on. Chew on that for the next 6 days.

[XXXIV]

I don't want to spoil anything, and hope I haven't just by saying something else is going to happen in the finale. Although considering how explosive almost every episode has been (not a lot of lulls in the action in this series ever), I would think that everyone is expecting nothing less from the finale.

I was having fun. Im glad you posted that and it didnt ruin anything. Worked the opposite.

I love the suspense...Kinda like NHL playoff OT. Thanks for the added teaser.

[wco81]

Yeah that's what others who've read the book are saying that it's too bad they couldn't pad it out to 12 eps instead of just 10.

Production costs are high. Not sure if the ratings have been building up but if they have, maybe they'll order more for next season. Also, if the ratings are good, maybe HBO will rush the production to broadcast the second season while the iron is still hot. That's what they did with True Blood.

[jLp vAkEr0]

Loving this series.

Like Hipe said, not having read the books, Ned's death caught me off-guard.

[XXXIV]

Loving this series.

Like Hipe said, not having read the books, Ned's death caught me off-guard.

Sure did. Ive said "Neds dead" a few times today.

It was pretty powerful with his girls there. Im ready to mess up some lannisters

[JackB1]

Loving this series.

Like Hipe said, not having read the books, Ned's death caught me off-guard.

Sure did. Ive said "Neds dead" a few times today.

It was pretty powerful with his girls there. Im ready to mess up some lannisters

I watched the episode right before going to sleep and all I kept seeing in my head the
whole night was that last scene with the sword falling. Gotta watch that show earlier
in the evening next time

p.s. anyone know how many seasons they plan on doing for GOT?

[EZSnappin]

The plan is for 7 books, but a few of those would be tough to smush into 10 episodes. Also, the 5th book is finally coming out next month, so who knows when/if he'll ever finish the story.

I know it got renewed for next season, but after that I believe is still up in the air.

[Lancer]

I have not read hipe spoilers but I do like how the bad guys are allowed to win. I like how that is so anti-Hollywood/network tv.

[HipE]

I'd like for the series to get three seasons as I really like the third book. I wasn't a fan of book four though, so at this point I'd be fine if the series ended there.

And here is a video to make everyone feel a little better today:

[XXXIV]

SWEET.... and that is the one Lannister I kind of like. Well... I kinda like the chick too but thats different

[JackB1]

I'd like for the series to get three seasons as I really like the third book. I wasn't a fan of book four though, so at this point I'd be fine if the series ended there.

Is the first season = the first book?

[wco81]

I'd been spoiled about Ned's death but it still had a lot of wallop because they staged it through Arya's point of view.

Apparently characters just keep multiplying in the books so it's hard to identify with one or a few characters. Arya might be one of those, as she seems to resist staying within prescribed roles for daughters of lords (though she just got married off in this last episode to someone she hasn't even met). She gravitates to fighting skills and now, she's in survival mode. Before heading to Kings Landing, she probably hadn't faced any hardships but then has to let a beloved pet go, sees a friend beaten and killed partly due to her actions, sees her teacher killed and now her father.

Somehow, she seems suited to adapting to these trials, rising to the challenge, as Robb seems to be doing. Of course, people who've read the book have warned not to get attached to any characters.

[EZSnappin]

I'd like for the series to get three seasons as I really like the third book. I wasn't a fan of book four though, so at this point I'd be fine if the series ended there.

Is the first season = the first book?

Yes.

[JackB1]

http://www.popeater.com/2011/06/15/sean ... bar-brawl/

Apparantly "Ned" is as tough in real life as he is onscreen. The guy was stabbed with a broken glass
and just went back inside the bar for another drink.

[HipE]

Like Dany said right after her brother received his golden crown, "He was no true dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon".

[Lancer]

wow, that ending was total s***. What a cop out.

[JackB1]

wow, that ending was total s***. What a cop out.

I don't know...I liked it. I just don't understand how these baby dragons will come into play?
Khalesi didn't burn in the fire, so she is a real dragon I guess. So she will now command all
the Dothraki's? And why did she suffocate Khal? Did she just not want him to suffer? And
he looked like he was already dead. Was he in a coma or something?

They are really making you dispise that little sh*t....Jeofry. You just know he is going to
"get his" somewhere along the line

Can believe we have to wait until Spring 2012 for the next season!!!

[HipE]

wow, that ending was total s***. What a cop out.

I don't know...I liked it. I just don't understand how these baby dragons will come into play?

Just like the direwolves, dragons grow very quickly. If you were going to have a pre-war draft of everyone and everything we have seen in Game of Thrones so far, Dany just got the top 3 picks.

The only thing that disappointed me (and I'm guessing it was due to limitations in cgi) was that in the book, she emerges from the ashes with the dragons nursing from her breasts. Now that would have been quite a scene to end the season with.

[XXXIV]

Like Dany said right after her brother received his golden crown, "He was no true dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon".

Like you said, they kept hinting at it.
It was a bit of a surprise until I saw them taking the eggs to the pyre. That was a hell of a scene. She looked damn good even with baby dragons on her shoulder.

I wanted more of the King of North stuff...I was into the 'kill them all" spirit of the thing.

I need the next show this week not next spring. Next spring? Thats leaving you hanging in a big way.

[JackB1]

What the heck are we going to do until Season 2???

Maybe I'll go see if I can get the books on audio books?

[wco81]

It takes time to produce 10 hours (if there are 10 episodes again) of quality shows.

Hell Sopranos had hiatuses that was over a year between some seasons.

HBO turned around the second season of True Blood in less than a year because it was hot. But GoT takes longer to produce, with a larger cast, shot in multiple locations.

There will be plenty of good shows to take up time in between.

[JackB1]

It takes time to produce 10 hours (if there are 10 episodes again) of quality shows.

Hell Sopranos had hiatuses that was over a year between some seasons.

HBO turned around the second season of True Blood in less than a year because it was hot. But GoT takes longer to produce, with a larger cast, shot in multiple locations.

There will be plenty of good shows to take up time in between.

I understand it, but I don't have to like it!