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Game of Thrones is bad. Like, really bad. Here's why. (Spoilers)
- Thread starter pashmilla
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Wafflecakes
Member
There is a difference between realizing a show has flaws, but enjoying it anyways, and watching a show that you believe is absolute trash.
Look! The Pie!
Member
Linda, is that you?
I'll agree that the writing is sometimes...off the mark (like...everything Dorne, yikes), but the show as a whole is so compelling and enjoyable to me that I couldn't ever call it trash. Just as an example, "The Battle of the Bastards" and "The Winds of Winter" are two of the most impressive hours of television I've ever seen. I also appreciate that she show is actually, you know, moving the fucking plot along instead of just spinning the wheels (I look forward to reading the next book in 2024 and being introduced to 75 new characters with fuck-all relevance to the ongoing storyline).
I find it strange that you're complaining about all the problematic, rapey aspects of Tyrion's book character being toned down...then a few paragraphs later, you're bemoaning the show relying too much on rape. So...which is it? Do you want the show to be more or less rapey?
Dany's show storyline, whilst shit, is STILL leagues better than the book version. I thought the Meereen arc was universally hated because Dany sits there doing literally jack shit for three entire books? There was still far too much sitting around in the show, but at least it expedited things a little and she actually did shit.
Cersei's show character is also far superior to her book counterpart, sorry. Sure, getting inside her head and seeing how fucking delusional she is was deliciously entertaining, but at heart she was still basically the "evil queen" archetype. Show Cersei is still a villain, but she's been given more depth and is therefore a more enjoyable character.
The jetpack argument never made sense to me. Like, do you actually want all these characters' journeys to be accurately represented? Well, good look enduring another 48 seasons of this show you hate so much while the writers wait for Littlefinger to get from King's Landing to Winterfell or where-the-fuck-ever. Travel times are compressed for the sake of pacing, and that's absolutely fine.
I can't even with all the other points.
Ah, the age old "If they disagree, they didn't read it" dismissal.
I read the entire thing (much to my regret) and I still disagree. Is that okay?
karmaforgotme
Member
Strongly disagree. The only season I ever disliked of GoT was season 5. I think season 3 and 4 were great. Also season 2 is criminally underrated. Even in season 5 we at least got Hardhome.
Edit: Also I read the first 4 books long before there was even a thought of a televison show . Overall I think the show has done a good job adapting the books. I am glad they changed several things.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Seriously?
Back-In-Black
Banned
I forgot about this, OP you should've just linked this:
TUN: Blame of Thrones
Eh, sometimes watching trash is fun. You just turn your brain off and enjoy the explosions, gore, and sex. I enjoyed Transformers 3 even thought it is pure garbage. It's what the phrase "guilty pleasure" is for.
soundscream
Member
I cant take anything you say seriously OP. If this is really bad, then whats the state of any other TV show. If this is your barometer for bad TV you probably have bad taste, or youve seen only a handful of TV shows.
Wafflecakes
Member
You do bad job explaining what is exactly so stupid in these changes, except that they are different from the books. Comparing the show and the books is pointless since it isn't even trying to be entirely faithful. And you don't seem to understand that things need to be changed for the TV show since you bring jetpacks into it. But hey, you tried! I wish you would put this much effort in critiquing the show on it's own merits. But no, you start with "Remember in the books?" No I don't remember, I haven't read them. I watch the show because it's good.
...
And then goes off strictly about changes in the adaptation (and being way overblown in many cases, show Cercei per exemple is different but in no way depicted as you imply. And she did frame Margery because she is paranoid and jealous).
You can argue how good the show is all day in its own rights, but it is an adaptation.
A very successful one imo.
arglebargle
Member
i agree with you OP. i watch the show, partially to keep up with what people are talking about at work and partially because if you shut your brain off the spectacle can be fun. but the quality pales in comparison to the books.
I second this. The way the running theme about how destructive violence is to the perpetrator was submerged under the overriding theme of making characters badass is really unfortunate, because it was one of the most interesting ideas of the books and one /I think GRRM was able to get across most strongly.
The show has some nice confirmations of theories in it for book fans(R+L=J, and the use of Valyrian Steele against The Others), but the characters have become caricatures of themselves at this point.
Why is that ableist?
rootbeerafloat
Member
The scenes with the lesbian whores are my favorites. Really gets me going, man.
Orbis Tabula
Member
Op getting a lot of shitty rebuttals here.
I'm a fan of the book, but yeah, I agree with a lot of your points. The show isn't as good as I wish it were. I'm still gonna keep watching it, but I have the feeling I'll be sitting through more and more of the frustrations that have cropped up over the seasons. It's disappointing.
I'm a fan of the book, but yeah, I agree with a lot of your points. The show isn't as good as I wish it were. I'm still gonna keep watching it, but I have the feeling I'll be sitting through more and more of the frustrations that have cropped up over the seasons. It's disappointing.
WrenchNinja
Member
Only the first season is good
The title was extremely click-baitey, and a clear attempt at riling up GoT fans, which is low.
That said, it still doesn't justify the GameFaqs level one-liners.
Because they feel like they have some proprietary hold on the books they love, which is fine, but it gets old. Just wait until they make the Kingkiller books into a show and people will try to convince us that that garbage is precious and so much better bla bla bla.
History books are going to blow your mind.
Rimon-hanit
Member
It seems like you really like the show.
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
It gets worse.
just so Tyrion could rule.
The whole plot was a waste of time. Tyrion just basically got drunk and talked to the people with the least personality on the show. Once Varys left, there was no redeeming it.
They killed off Selmy
The whole plot was a waste of time. Tyrion just basically got drunk and talked to the people with the least personality on the show. Once Varys left, there was no redeeming it.
NoblesseOblige
Banned
He is a viewer favorite. So yeah. They probably are afraid to write him in a way to make him problematic. And I am partly glad because I really like Dinklage as an actor. He would get less time had they stuck with the source material. That said I also really wish they would do a better job with the female characters.
Welcome to TV adaptation?
Yet still the best show on tv.
Nothing more powerful than Jon Snow realizing he is about to die but won't go down with out a fight.
You'll never get this exact moment from a book
I think you can, or at least I remember being way more invested and exited when reading the battle on helms deep or at the gates of mordor in TLotR than watching the movie version, it all depends on how good the writer is and if you are up to visualize scenes in your mind with the info you are reading.
I guess this thread is making me want to read the books, I'll guess its better to wait for the tv show though
Barry is my fucking man, man. His POV chapters are some of my favourites. Such a wonderful character and the show ruined him.
Primethius
Banned
I dropped the show when it turned into garbage in S5 or 6, whenever they did that idiotic Barristan plot. Became a very typical "stuff happens cause it's convenient" rather than the world of the books which always felt a bit more natural.
torre_avenue
Banned
Funny how Mr. "penisGAF hates everything with a majority female audience" is being a dick in a thread about a feminist and valid interpretation of Game Of Thrones.
Zelenogorsk
Banned
I still enjoy the show.
Also I'm a fan of anime and Stephen King so I'm used to liking 'bad' things.
Also I'm a fan of anime and Stephen King so I'm used to liking 'bad' things.
I feel like you have plenty of actual things to say but it's a bit tough to hear over all the "remember how this was different in the books?", not to mention the hyperbole.
I think it's still a good show but a lot of characters seem to become more and more caricatures defined by one aspect the creators decided to cling to.
I think it's still a good show but a lot of characters seem to become more and more caricatures defined by one aspect the creators decided to cling to.
As a book reader I agree. Doesn't make it worse, just...different.
Now...having Jamie rape Cersei was a weird choice that wasn't in the book and doesn't make any sense whatsoever. So not saying that being different from the book is a blanket excuse.
The show changes a number of things for better (making Sansa an actual character instead of just the literal personification of an ill omen that is the cause of all that befalls the Starks) or worse (like ruining everything about Dorne) but that is expected of any adaptation.
krameriffic
Member
I found the video to be a better and more sober breakdown of the problems with the show. The OP has that glib tone of a Mr. Plinkett review which works when deriding something that everybody already hates... but not so much when it's something that everybody likes.
If anyone's curious to watch it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek2O6bVAIQQ
this
Camper Van Beethoven
Banned
I've never read the books. All I know is series 1 was pretty good and by series 5 I'd lost all interest and hated almost every character
Mr Fahrenheit
Member
Seems like you gave up after your Tyrion paragraph if I'm being honest, and that wasn't even very good to start with.
Regginator
Member
Didn't this happen in the books as well? I've only watched the show so I don't know the details, but what are the differences between TRW in the book and in the show?
Albino_Yeti
Member
You really thought they portrayed Cersei as sympathetic throughout the show? She spends all of seasons 1-4 shitting on Sansa and Tyrion and literally everyone she doesn't like.
Mr. Giggles
Member
I just finished season 1 last night...should I stop now? how quickly does the show decline? Is the scary stuff beyond the wall just a carrot that gets dangled with no further revelation? Will there be more dragons? Will there be more boobs?
Back-In-Black
Banned
The decline doesn't really become apparent until S4 and then S5 is mostly trash but the series starts to come around again in S6.
Hyperactivity
Banned
Yeah, I sort of agree. At least with season six they went full "fuck the books", because while it made it worse than the first couple of seasons, it was at least better than the mixed mess they had going on otherwise.
The issue isn't with the show being different from the books, it's with actions and consequences and character developments that make no sense with how the character's arc and position up until that point.
Season six was waaaay better when you sit down and think "ok, the show writers are basically going YOLO now". Because alot of season six doesn't make sense with what was being built up beforehand. It speeds up significantly, events move too quickly, it becomes semi-fanfiction, but hey, might as well look back and watch it for the action and pretty setpieces at this point.
The issue isn't with the show being different from the books, it's with actions and consequences and character developments that make no sense with how the character's arc and position up until that point.
Season six was waaaay better when you sit down and think "ok, the show writers are basically going YOLO now". Because alot of season six doesn't make sense with what was being built up beforehand. It speeds up significantly, events move too quickly, it becomes semi-fanfiction, but hey, might as well look back and watch it for the action and pretty setpieces at this point.
In the books, Robb goes to a place called the Crag and is wounded in battle. The lords of the area, the Westerlings, take him in until he recovers. While he's recovering he gets news of Theon burning Winterfell and "killing" Bran and Rickon. The Westerlings' daughter Jeyne "comforts" him and and he marries her to preserve her honour.
FusedAtoms
Member
I watched it recently while it may have worse writing then the books it's still leagues ahead of most other TV shows out there, also it's an ADAPTATION not everything has to be exactly the same.
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