Game of Thrones

[ikmccall]

Just a FYI for fans of the book who are anticipating the tv series. The HBO building on Avenue of the Americas (in NYC), has costumes on display in the show window of the gift shop and inside the gift shop as well.

[smitten]

Looks like HBO (on Directtv at least) is having a free preview weekend, in case anyone wanted to check out the premiere.

[Atreides]

HBO's website now has a very elaborate map of the world of Game of Thrones and a detailed guide to the major houses, complete with family trees, brief bios, a brief history of this world, and more.

Game of Thrones Viewer Guide

[magazinewhore]

I haven't read the books, but man, it's a gorgeous production. That opening scene was very cool. Lots of boobs, especially in the House of Peroxide Blonds (whatever it's called). So far, I'm enjoying it.

[ElleCee]

The House of Peroxide Blonds. Bwha! So true.

Agreed. Lots of boobs flying around on this show. I really enjoyed it! They managed to give us a lot of information in this first episode and it is gorgeous.

[hikertrash]

I loved it! I'm heading out to get the first book right now.

[sugarhigh]

I just finished watching the first episode and I was so shocked at the ending that I was just left staring at the screen. Holy crap! I haven't read the books so I have no idea about the plot or characters. The first episode was very entertaining though.

Also, I had no idea that Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was in this and he is definite incentive to keep watching. Plus, Jason Momoa.

[Atreides]

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! I haven't seen a show with such visual flair since Rome. The pilot did a really good job of laying out the game and its players without overwhelming the audience with an information overload. I noticed that certain characters like Queen Cersei weren't even named to keep the who's who manageable. And a total haha to the House of Peroxide Blonds!

And hey, who knew twincest could be so hot?

[smitten]

I thought this was fantastic! I can't wait to see what happens next...even though I already know.

When I read the early chapters of the books, I had a hard time following what was going on. I had know idea how Dany and Viserys fit in for hundreds of pages. I thought this episode made everything a lot more clear as to what was going on, but I've heard elsewhere it was hard to follow if you haven't read the books?

I also loved that they aren't shying away from the mystical elements right off the bat. There are actually fewer fantasy elements than I expected in the books compared to some other series, but it's good to make sure people know that this isn't just another royal/political drama.

And everything looks gorgeous. I am so glad this is a series and not just a movie or even mini-series.

[Deleted]

As a fan of the books, I loved it. I was skeptical about Lena Headey as Cersei, just because she was totally not what I pictured, but I thought the icy glares at Robert (or as a poster on another site put it, the "this bitch" look) and the gracious-yet-fake way she talked to Sansa were spot on. And I hate the character of Jaime Lannister, but wow Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is hot. Also, MUST HAVE WOLF PUPPY.

My only complaints, though mild, were about Sansa and the Dany's-wedding-night scene. I don't think the actress playing Sansa had quite enough girlish enthusiasm - when she said, "Please, please, it's all I've ever wanted," she was so flat. It's Sansa's defining characteristic that she really believes the world is essentially a happily-ever-after tale and that if she doesn't get to follow the plot and marry a handsome prince and become a noble lady, her life is totally over. In order to keep her from seeming like a completely annoying spoiled brat (which to some degree she is, but she's also like twelve), I think they need to play up that sweet but starry-eyed element of her personality a little bit more. She seemed kind of bored at times last night. (I think Rachel Hurd-Wood, who played Wendy in that Peter Pan remake awhile back, would have been a great Sansa, although now she'd be too old.)

I was also surprised at how they changed the Dany/Drogo interaction from the book. >>In the book, while she obviously doesn't really have a choice about consummating the marriage, or the marriage itself, he shows that he's not the total savage she thought he was by going slowly and waiting for her to say she was ready. On the show he basically raped her. Arguably the show's version is more realistic, and I've seen several people make the point that in the books, he does proceed to pretty much ignore her and just use her for sex after their wedding night, and she's miserable for awhile until she starts to take charge a bit more, so it's possible the show is just going to go for a strictly linear progression of their relationship and have Drogo become more sympathetic gradually as Dany grows and the two get to know one another. Which makes sense for a series, but still, considering she eventually falls in love with him the rapey beginning makes me a bit. But, then again, it's possible that since they needed to establish how awful it is that her brother's pimping her out, having a tender love scene with the guy she's been sold to would have messed up the dynamic. I WAS sad that they didn't put in her first ride on her silver, which was the first time she forgets her fear, and the first real human moment between her and Drogo - when she says, "Tell Khal Drogo he has given me the wind," and he smiles at her. I thought for sure when Mormont told her the Dothraki have no word for "thank you" they were setting up that line.<<

Anyway, little things; they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the show. Emilia Clarke is gorgeous, I love her as Dany. A lot of fans have been complaining that her hair's not silky and silver enough, but really, actual people just do not have "silver" hair unless they're prematurely grey, and I don't think anyone would be crazy about that look either. The extreme blonde on her and Viserys actually looks better than I thought it would, and probably as good as it can get. And I know book-Dany is supposed to be waifish, but I'm glad the actress is not.