TV: Game of Thrones

[Penner]

No, i mean the season 4 finale, the one that aired this past Sunday.

I got some things spoiled for me simply because the showrunners decided to remove/change a bunch of "important stuff" that apparently was in the books, and as a result of them not showing those things, all the book-readers went nuts and on damn near every site i went to there were people talking about/comparing what in the episode was removed/changed from the same scenes in the books...

I haven't read any of the books, but i assume you have since you posted that spoiler warning? (unless someone had already spoiled that thing for you, and that's how you knew it?)

[Death BOO Z]

I just finished book three, so it was a shock to see that character back.

And despite what the cracked article insists, I don't feel as if there's that much of a difference. sure, some people from the book never show up,and some named characters turn into one person, but I don't feel as if it's about to turn into something ground breakingly disastrous.
and as for seasons... well, there's still at least one season to get from book four (maybe even two) and another two seasons out of book five.

the rising costs might kill them, though. even if they limit themselves to one army scene in every season, all these remote shooting have to be expensive.

[shinta|hikari]

There will always be people who hate it when adaptations do not follow the source as closely as possible, even if those changes actually make the story better, like in most cases for GoT.

[Animeniax]

No, i mean the season 4 finale, the one that aired this past Sunday.

I got some things spoiled for me simply because the showrunners decided to remove/change a bunch of "important stuff" that apparently was in the books, and as a result of them not showing those things, all the book-readers went nuts and on damn near every site i went to there were people talking about/comparing what in the episode was removed/changed from the same scenes in the books...

I haven't read any of the books, but i assume you have since you posted that spoiler warning? (unless someone had already spoiled that thing for you, and that's how you knew it?)

Wow season 4 is already over? I skipped the last page of this thread so I wouldn't see any spoilers. Even though I've read the books I don't want to be spoiled on what happens in the show.

I've read through the first 3 books. I got book 4 but never finished it because alot of my favorite characters had died by then and the book only covered half the stories.

I just finished book three, so it was a shock to see that character back.

And despite what the cracked article insists, I don't feel as if there's that much of a difference. sure, some people from the book never show up,and some named characters turn into one person, but I don't feel as if it's about to turn into something ground breakingly disastrous.
and as for seasons... well, there's still at least one season to get from book four (maybe even two) and another two seasons out of book five.

the rising costs might kill them, though. even if they limit themselves to one army scene in every season, all these remote shooting have to be expensive.

It was one of the things that turned me off the series, but I think at that point in the books the art had not been covered with the other practitioner (possible spoiler: I don't remember if Beric Dondarion's repeat resurrections were revealed in the book prior to Catelyn's resurrection. I recall Catelyn was the first to return from the dead so it was a bit of a shock to me too.)

I agree with you, the Cracked article was too pessimistic about how many seasons could be covered with books 4 and 5. I think they could easily fill 3 more seasons with the material from those 2 books.

Also, if the show producers worry about running out of story, why cut out characters and minor stories from the books?

[Penner]

So, we talked earlier in the thread about how the actor who plays 'The Mountain' was 25yrs old...

I just now found out that the guy playing Jojen is 24.

These guys are one year apart in age... jesus christ, lol

jojen_gregor.jpg

[Carnage]

There will always be people who hate it when adaptations do not follow the source as closely as possible, even if those changes actually make the story better, like in most cases for GoT.

That's funny you say that, because literally everyone I know who hasn't read the book (most of the people I know who watch GoT) has noticed a substantial drop in quality this season.

[Animeniax]

That's funny you say that, because literally everyone I know who hasn't read the book (most of the people I know who watch GoT) has noticed a substantial drop in quality this season.

Drop in the quality of what? The story, the acting, the overall production?

I'm about to start season 4 so hopefully they're just being too critical of the show they've come to expect so much from.

[Carnage]

Pacing, almost nothing happens each episode. Only 25-50% of it is actual content from the books, the rest of it useless filler. You rarely get the vibe that you "have to see the next episode" because each one is so drawn out.

[shinta|hikari]

Half of the episodes are filler and not canon? Is that an exaggeration?

[Animeniax]

Pacing, almost nothing happens each episode. Only 25-50% of it is actual content from the books, the rest of it useless filler. You rarely get the vibe that you "have to see the next episode" because each one is so drawn out.

Weird, I was thinking it wouldn't be as bad as people say, but then I saw the last episode of season 3 where Ramsay is torturing Theon and I thought, "this has to be filler" and "man this scene is kinda long and drawn out for no reason." Prior to that I thought they could lengthen some scenes and not make it suck, like Jon escaping Ygritte or Sam meeting Bran and Jojen. Those scenes were too short and could have easily been expanded.

[Death BOO Z]

I think that part of the problem is that a big chunk of plot is stories about the past;
there's jojen telling bran the story of his people and their hero, and then there's the same story being told to sansa or tyrion or dannierz. and it eludes to something that happened before the series started, and another story about katelyns' dad, and the deal with the boltons in the north and the tyrells in the capital being huge dicks...
the 3rd season took most of the action beats, and the 4th season couldn't adapt all the background stories about politics and history to make engaging television.

[Animeniax]

There was a lot of action in the 3rd season. Maybe now they realize they're running out of book story so they're delving into prior history? The books had references to ancient history throughout, the show not so much. It'd make viewers unhappy to spend too much time recounting old tales of Westeros, but there may not be any other option for the producers besides to deviate from the story more, which would suck worse.

[Animeniax]

Just watched the first episode of season 4, amazing stuff going on. I think people are being too critical either because they have to wait each week to see the next episode or because of changes from the book. I thought this first episode was awesome. Things slow down a lot now that the War of the Five Kings is over.

Looking back at some of the complaints posted in this thread, I have to say a lot of it is a bit nit-picky.

The Thenns being cannibals made them all the more frightening and it makes sense since they live north of the wall where food is scarce (never made sense how 100k wildlings fed themselves for years).

The change in actors does throw you off a little, but it's not that bad. Kinda surprised there's a new Daario Naharis.

[Carnage]

Finish the season and then judge it, the first two and last two episodes are the only ones done relatively well.

[Animeniax]

Saw the episode where Joffrey gets his due. I'd forgotten how it went from the books, but I'd have preferred something more gruesome and agonizing for such a colossal twat. It sucks though that the guy who plays Joffrey seems like a nice guy and a good actor, but wants to give up acting because of the "rigors" of the profession. I think it comes down to the amount of hate he gets for portraying Joffrey.

edit: I don't know if this has been revealed in the rest of season 4, but something I'm discussing elsewhere online is the conspiracy over who killed Joffrey. [possible spoiler]People think it's Littlefinger and Lady Olenna and maybe Ser Dontas. If true, why would Lady Olenna have to be so circuitous and secretive about smuggling poison in via Sansa's necklace? Would the king's guard pat everyone down and check for poison vials? As family of the bride, why couldn't she have just brought the poison in a jar in her purse?

[Animeniax]

F*cking awesome Honest Trailer for GoT. Warning, spoilers for seasons 1-3:

[Animeniax]

Finish the season and then judge it, the first two and last two episodes are the only ones done relatively well.

I'm through episode 7 and I admit I watched every episode this season with your words in mind... but I've loved every episode so far. Important developments happen in each episode, and even though I know what's coming because of spoilers or having read the books I am still amazed and thrilled with most every scene and twist.

You know how I tend to dissect and criticize most work, but I'm loving this series even more than I thought possible. I've even started reading book 4 again and tearing through it. Maybe it's just the effect of watching an episode almost every other night and not having to wait a week or two between episodes, but maybe if you buy the BR/DVD and marathon it, you'll get a greater appreciation for this season.

[Animeniax]

Finished season 4, wow I'm a little surprised at who all died. It kinda spoiled some things in the book for me, since I'm only 1/3 through book 4. The problem with watching while reading is that the show contains events from books 4 and 5. Since Tyrion isn't in the 4th book, you don't get to read his side of the events from the season finale.

Spoilers:
I don't think Sandor Clegane is finished. Arya left him wounded but something tells me he'll survive and reappear at some point.
I think the show might diverge from the book with the treatment of Gregor Clegane. He might survive as well.

[poopdeville]

edit: I don't know if this has been revealed in the rest of season 4, but something I'm discussing elsewhere online is the conspiracy over who killed Joffrey.

Two things: they didn't want to get caught. So they framed somebody. And also, they want to divide the Lannisters. So they framed a Lannister.

[Animeniax]

Two things: they didn't want to get caught. So they framed somebody. And also, they want to divide the Lannisters. So they framed a Lannister.

Yes getting caught would mean death for the conspirators, or at least a return to war considering one of the Tyrells is involved. They didn't exactly frame anyone though, since no one really knows who did it, but of course will suspect Tyrion and Sansa. Part of my question was answered when they found the necklace Sansa had been wearing, but did they even know it was hers? Plus Olenna could still have brought poison instead of relying on Sansa to bring it via the necklace, which could go wrong in so many ways.