Game of Thrones

[shadowkat]

Watched Game of Thrones tonight, am caught up now. It was better than I expected. I confess that I'm not a fan of war scenes either in movies or books, they tend to bore me. And I find them hard to follow for various reasons. This one wasn't that bad - and I was rather relieved that the only monsters we saw were the mammoths and giants - I remember there being giant ice spiders in the books. (I remember because when they revealed that this was being turned into a television series - the first thing that came to mind is - please don't do the giant spiders, I don't think they are necessary. Mammoths yes, spiders no.)

Can't remember how it played out in the books exactly...except
that I think Ygritte died climbing the wall? Also, does Jon Snow go and find Mance Ryder in the books or did Stannis show up? I know Stannis shows up and ironically saves the day - although, I'm on the fence as to whether he saves it or makes everything worse. As was Jon Snow, I suspect. Stannis is not a good guy. Not that anyone really is in this series, but Stannis has a thing for burning people alive to amuse his priestess and her god.

* Jon Snow has grown on me. I'm sort of enjoying the character for a change. He annoyed me in the books - here, he's a bit less brooding and more forthright. And his final scene with Ygritte was well played.

* Samwell Tarly continues to be a favorite. Adored his scenes and found him to be the most interesting, which was in keeping with the books - actually. Samwell - in the books -was the only one at the WALL that I found interesting. Although, I think he is shown to be a bit stronger here than he was in the novels, or I like him better for some reason. Gilly - I imagined as being softer and warmer somehow?

* Favorite scenes were with Samwell - specifically the Maester Aemon scene, and the Jon Snow/Samwell scenes. Also, the most touching was Pyp's death.

Comments

[kikimay]

I loved the battle scene. I was really scared - or more like tense like the characters - when I saw the giants. Best battle scene so far, for me. I loved the choreography.

[sophist.livejournal.com]

They modified the books in a couple of subtle but important ways. First, the Wildlings failed in the assault on Castle Black because Jon Snow set an ambush for them. Ygritte was killed in that ambush; Jon found her dying when the fighting was over. Second, Jon didn't voluntarily go out to find Mance. Thorne and Slynt ordered him to do it because they wanted to kill him.

As for Stannis, yes he shows up. Not sure if they'll show that next Sunday or wait till next year. They have a lot of plot lines holding right now (Tyrion, Stannis, Bran, Arya, possibly Lady Stoneheart).

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

I thought I remembered Ygritte dying while climbing, too. But this worked the same way, so not really a problem.

Stannis shows up. I'm sure he will, soon--otherwise the rest of the story will have to be changed.

I didn't like Snow at first, either--not my idea of the character. But now he seems to fit very well. Samwell has always been exactly what I pictured.

I found the fight very hard to see and follow, but the character-interaction scenes were fine. It was a good idea to do the whole thing in one episode.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Ygritte died climbing the wall?
The way I (vaguely) remember it, Jon finds her body with an arrow in it but that's the extent of it. It was over and done and her death was unseen. I think. It's been ages since I read this.

Also, does Jon Snow go and find Mance Ryder in the books or did Stannis show up?
I've long since forgotten but from what I've read elsewhere, yeah Jon goes finds Mance between battles and Stannis does show up after the lull.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Sophist answered it above - he seems to remember the books really well.
My memory of them is admittedly fading.

Apparently, Ygritte died in the ambush that Jon Snow arranged. And Jon does go to see Mance, but it wasn't his idea - it was Slynt and Thorne's - because they wanted to kill him. They've made Slynt and Thorne less evil here.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

It is worth keeping in mind that in the books, Jon Snow is a boy of maybe 14?
While here, he is at least 20.

Fight was very dark, so hard to see - I think. Or follow. But at least it was short and interspersed with good character moments.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I do remember her sort of dying - in the background. Here they made her death more personal and more traumatic, when in the books her death - well it reminded me a little of Anya's death in BTVS Chosen.

Probably wait until next season to have Stannis show up, since they haven't laid the ground work for it yet - and there just is not enough time in the finale.

The finale has a lot to do - Tyrion's arc being the big one. I'm wondering if Lady Stoneheart will be the last scene, like it was in the books? Except they haven't laid the ground-work for it either quite yet - Arya's dream about Nymeria laid the ground-work for Lady Stoneheart in the books. They'll probably change it.

[sophist.livejournal.com]

There's been a LOT of speculation about LS. Some think they won't do it at all (pointing to the lack of ground work). Some say it's a surprise. I guess we'll find out Sunday night.

The comparison of Ygritte and Anya is a good one.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I'd be surprised if they didn't do it. These writers like the sadistic stuff. And LS is a big deal. I mean - that would be akin to not doing the Red Wedding.

[sophist.livejournal.com]

My guess is that they'll do it, but I'm disappointed at the lack of ground work via Arya (and they should include Jon Snow, for that matter, when it comes to showing that particular talent).