Anyone gonna watch Game of Thrones?

[fonpr]

Wes,

Can we include the white walkers in this? 

Do you mean to be racist?

[JonFromMaplewood]

Wes,

Can we include the white walkers in this? 

Do you mean to be racist?

Zing!

[Trembling Eagle]

I'm sure a lot of people watching who haven't read the books are lost. It's pretty confusing to try to sort out who's who.

I kind of feel like this is one of those things that people who have read the books are more worried about on behalf of those who haven't than an actual problem for those who are watching the show without having read them. I'm in the latter camp, and the only real problem I had was in the first episode, when it wasn't yet clear which were the five "real" Stark children (since the youngest son is barely shown) and it was difficult to tell Robb, Snow and Theon apart.

That got cleared up pretty quickly, and having recently gone back to watch that episode again, I think a big part of the confusion for me was that Robb and Snow shave midway through the episode and both look different than they did in their first scenes. With hindsight, they actually do a solid job pointing out where Snow and Theon fit into the thing, other than spelling out exactly why Theon is there (something they've done so much in the last few episodes that it's hard to assume anything other than that he's going to screw the Winterfell group over at some point).

Late to the party and it actually took some time to get into (trying to keep track of who is related to who)  but I'm on board.

We only got to discuss this briefly in the chat, but I'm curious, what's your top ten rankings on who could beat everybody so far? The Mountain and Drogo should have the top spots locked up, but things get muddy for me after that, thanks to Jamie and Ned going to a draw and The Hound losing to The Mountain due to ref stoppage in the jousting episode. Bronn (the guy who championed Tyrion) and The Knight of Flowers would take my #6 and #7 spots. I'd probably fill out my Top 10 with the old bald guy in the King's Guard, the guy with the whip in Drogo's camp and Jon Snow at #10, who would be like one of those guys who win a season of The Ultimate Fighter.

I feel too ignorant to give a good response to this. I'm still not sure of how this universe works. But just based on looks and my interpretation of the plot, the writer seems to be suggesting that there are things greater than brute strength like cunning and skill.  So I bet a guy like Syerio (spelling) comes out of nowhere and drops a proverbial anvil on guys like the Mountain/Drogo/ the Hound.

I was a little disappointed that the imp Tyrion wouldn't have his own kind of sneaky fighting skill/tricks to overcome the bigger guys.

[Trembling Eagle]

Holy shit this is some great television.


They lucked out with the actor for Tyrion.

[~L]

My favorite character and actor is Ayria.  I like the fiesty and fierce little one! I think Lena Headley is great too, as the mother of Joffrey.  She plays the protective, clever and no holds barred mom well. I wouldn't mess with her!  Of course she had all that practice protecting her other son John Connor!

[~L]

Sp. Arya

[Gilly]

Thought you nerds might like this: Link expires 11pm CST on Friday

http://www.teefury.com/

[orangewhip]

Sooooooo.  How do people who haven't read the books feel about last night's episode?  I've been looking forward to hearing from people who watched this with no prior knowledge of the events that take place.

[Martin]

My reaction: "What is this, The Wire?"

I was stunned.

[Trembling Eagle]

Holy crap they don't care about killing off main characters

was my initial reaction.

That character really got a raw deal he didn't even get to go out with his honor, the honor he lived his whole life by (and got him into the mess). It seems to me the lesson learned was if you pick a path, a way to play the game, to live your life ...you got to ride it to the end good or bad.

[Sarah]

That poor horse. 

[ChipSuey]

I think Sean Bean must have some sort of moral clause that bars him from appearing in the second part of anything, be it a sequel or the second season of a TV show.  At least if it involves swords and things.

[Pregnant Pause]

Sooooooo.  How do people who haven't read the books feel about last night's episode?  I've been looking forward to hearing from people who watched this with no prior knowledge of the events that take place.

I got my mom into the show, she's never read the books, she sent me this email this morning:

"Okay, I really dislike that baby boy king. How could they do that to Stark? And Drago on his death bed.  What the heck is going on here? I can’t imagine what will happen in the season finale next week."

[~L]

The boy king is very evil.  Seven novels of seven kingdoms equals a seven season series.  I wonder if the viewers will turn to reading the books in the off-season?
I have gotten tendonitis from carting around the massive 973 page third book.  Do these books just keep getting heavier?  I now understand the Kindle concept.

[Sarah]

But you can't read your Kindle in the tub. (Well, you can, I suppose, but it would be mighty risky.)