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Game of Thrones - Season 2 - George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire - Sundays on HBO

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Emerson

May contain jokes =>
[ASoS]
It's already being dubbed as "the Lannister song" on YouTube. That's all that's needed for non-book readers to understand what's happening once it starts playing during the Red Wedding.
.

That's fair enough, but considering how much this show likes to have people tell random stories, I still expect them to at some point actually give the backstory of what the song is about.
 
Since Season 1 is based on the first book, and this season is based on ACoK, is it worth it to read those books? I know it probably is, but I just want to catch up and read spoilers without fear.

Just to add to other peoples points, there also just great to read.
Originally I planned to only read each book after their series, I'm now on book 5 :D

How you watch the series will only slightly change, for me some of the actors are just great, so I don't think it'll take anything away from it.
 
I love the small changes to be honest. And I didn't miss the chain at all.

The chain had to go. It was impossible to do on their budget. Simple as that.
I only wish they'd made Tyrion the mastermind behind all of the wildfire stuff; seeing as he no longer masterminded the chain.
 

LuchaShaq

Banned
Why do Stannis's men stand back? Why is he leading such a small band over? Surely he'd be looking to line up for the attack? Going together, instead they allow Tyrion to capture the battering ram and reform at the gate.
\

The vast majority of Stannis' forces either.

A. Were fucked in the blackwater from wildfire, either burning or drowning from armor too heavy to swim in.

B. Turned their boats around when wildfire decimated Davos and co.

C. Saw "Renly" and changed sides immediately.

You have to remember than Dragonstone didn't/can't raise many men themselves, the majority of stannis' men were from the Stormlands/The reach that switched/died.

Queen bitch.

She's a lot like Robert with her drinking now.



Series spoiler

She is basically the worst elements of Robert and The mad king combined.

Robert
- Drinking, fucking to the detriment of the realm.
- Fucking over loyal family members (Kevan Lannister for her Stannis for him)
- Pride that causes her to abandon common sense/logic frequently

Aerys
- Obsession with fire
- Obsession with prophecy
- Paranoid
- General madness
 
Well, I'm off to Belfast today. I'm excited to get a chance to check the sets out and stuff. Hopefully I can get some under the table extras work but I doubt it, though I've grown my hair out and formed a ridiculous looking beard just in case.
 
Heh:

tNteZ.jpg


Also:

ibzwB2xL9MkJn1.gif


iR91eYt8ZYfBA.gif


i3R280Svg972G.gif
 

pulga

Banned
On a scale of 1 - 10 how epic was episode 9? I don't get to watch it for another 4 hours.

For those not expecting much going in, a solid 10. The show genuinely surprised me.


The chain had to go. It was impossible to do on their budget. Simple as that.
I only wish they'd made Tyrion the mastermind behind all of the wildfire stuff; seeing as he no longer masterminded the chain.

But he masterminded nuke-boat though, so all is forgiven. Tyrion's lack of planning and chain had been driving me crazy all season. Did not miss it at all. In fact, nuke boat >>> chain.
 

Famassu

Member
The chain had to go. It was impossible to do on their budget. Simple as that.
I only wish they'd made Tyrion the mastermind behind all of the wildfire stuff; seeing as he no longer masterminded the chain.
He was the mastermind on HOW the wildfire was used, not to even mention he helped keep up moral. Tyrion got his moment.
 
He was the mastermind on HOW the wildfire was used, not to even mention he helped keep up moral. Tyrion got his moment.

Oh I certainly don't disagree. I just think that also changing that would add even more to it.
Certainly hes the only sane person in the city and has great moments; they really did well to keep all the themes working within the battle and character moments.
 

f0lken

Member
He was the mastermind on HOW the wildfire was used, not to even mention he helped keep up moral. Tyrion got his moment.

Yeah, I bet Cersei's plan was throw the jars on the soldiers at the gate unaware that it will burn the city too.

This episode was awesome and perfect, solid 10 IMO
 
D

Deleted member 30609

Unconfirmed Member
I never finished last weeks episode, but I watched this one anyway and really enjoyed it. Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey and Rory McCann were amazing. I'm glad they left the Clegane confronting Sansa in her room scene in from the books.

The battle itself was fine. Most of it wasn't spectacular (there was a particularly bizarre, almost comical part where they kept cutting back and forth from soldiers to arrows being shot), and the ending was super abrupt, but the wildfire moment was excellent.

The battle wasn't what made this episode so much better than the rest of the season, though. The limited scope made this episode better than the rest of the season. No Dany. No Theon. No Jon. It's a shame that this will probably be a one-off, actually. An interpretation of the ASOIAF story that somehow managed to give each set of characters complete episodes to themselves to breath a little would be a much, much stronger TV show, I reckon.
 

Magnus

Member
Quite frankly, the chain always seemed ridiculous to me while I was reading. It never seemed...plausible? I don't know. Couldn't logistically make sense of it in my head without suspending a ton of disbelief. Maybe I don't understand how realistic a strategy it was, I'll admit.

A wildfire nuke was much more effective and awe-inspiring onscreen, I thought, though I do miss the daylight setting for the battle, and the notion of fighting on the ships themselves.
 

John Dunbar

correct about everything
Question about Stannis (series)
I've read all the books, but I don't remember it ever mentioned: Does Stannis actually have any skill at arms in the books? Robert obviously was pretty tough with his hammer, and Renly wasn't totally useless, but with Stannis I just remember talk of him commanding fleets and holding forts, but nothing about his abilities as a fighter.
 
Holy fuck, The Rains of Castamere is beyond perfect. (Storm of Swords Spoiler):
When that gets played at the end of Season 3 it's going to be one of the most memorable songs in TV history due to the reactions I think
.
 
Holy fuck, The Rains of Castamere is beyond perfect. (Storm of Swords Spoiler):
When that gets played at the end of Season 3 it's going to be one of the most memorable songs in TV history due to the reactions I think
.

It will be awesome, the Stark family permanently getting fucked by people around them.

One thing it will be interesting to see is how they bring out the more villainous side of Tywin

I also think HBO should have had a web series called "Conversations between Arya and Lord Tywin" where they talk about the history and narrate some of the tales that otherwise we don't hear in the show. Would be awesome.
 

Magnus

Member
Who actually wrote the melody for Rains of Castamere? Doesn't sound at all like I pictured it, though I dig the haunting rendition over the credits yesterday.

Where does it appear for the first time in the books?
 

Ripclawe

Banned
Which family is everyone rooting for? Starks? Lannisters? Baratheons? Targaryens?

I'm torn between the Starks and Targaryens. If I really had to choose it would be the Starks.

It's weird because I kinda like the Lannisters too.

Until the starks realize being noble and honorable in this land is a negative trait, I can't root for them
 

Amir0x

Banned
Quite frankly, the chain always seemed ridiculous to me while I was reading. It never seemed...plausible? I don't know. Couldn't logistically make sense of it in my head without suspending a ton of disbelief. Maybe I don't understand how realistic a strategy it was, I'll admit.

A wildfire nuke was much more effective and awe-inspiring onscreen, I thought, though I do miss the daylight setting for the battle, and the notion of fighting on the ships themselves.

preeeetty realistic actually: Hudson River Revolutionary War Chain

image of part of the chain

you should realize by now that many of the battle tactics shown in the book are stolen wholesale from actual history. GRRM has a thing for making things seem more plausible by connecting them to reality in this way
 
Which family is everyone rooting for? Starks? Lannisters? Baratheons? Targaryens?

I'm torn between the Starks and Targaryens. If I really had to choose it would be the Starks.

It's weird because I kinda like the Lannisters too.

Easy Answer SERIES SPOILERS/SPECULATION BEWARE

Both Stark and Targaryens...i.e. Jon Snow. Speculated to be the son of a Stark Lady and Targaryen Man
 

Fuu

Formerly Alaluef (not Aladuf)
preeeetty realistic actually: Hudson River Revolutionary War Chain

image of part of the chain

you should realize by now that many of the battle tactics shown in the book are stolen wholesale from actual history. GRRM has a thing for making things seem more plausible by connecting them to reality in this way
Yep, and there's an even earlier similar situation in actual history with a large chain (+ an incendiary solution, just like in ASOIAF), with even crazier shit going down like ships being rolled up the land with greased logs and then being deployed back to the harbor to circumvent the obstacle.

The Golden Horn (Keras) forms a deep natural harbor for the peninsula it encloses together with the Sea of Marmara. The Byzantine Empire had its naval headquarters there, and walls were built along the shoreline to protect the city of Constantinople from naval attacks. At the entrance to the Horn, there was a large chain pulled across from Constantinople to the old Tower of Galata (which was known as the Megàlos Pyrgos (meaning "Great Tower" in Greek, among the Byzantines) on the northern side, preventing unwanted ships from entering. This tower was largely destroyed by the Latin Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade (1204), but the Genoese built a new tower nearby, the famous Galata Tower (1348) which they called Christea Turris (Tower of Christ).

There were three notable times when the chain across the Horn was either broken or circumvented. In the 10th century the Kievan Rus' dragged their longships out of the Bosporus, around Galata, and relaunched them in the Horn; the Byzantines defeated them with Greek fire. In 1204, during the Fourth Crusade, Venetian ships were able to break the chain with a ram. In 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, having failed in his attempt to break the chain with brute force, instead used the same tactic as the Rus', towing his ships across Galata into the estuary over greased logs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Horn

http://www.davidpride.com/Other/Istanbul_08_454.htm
 
Question about Stannis (series)
I've read all the books, but I don't remember it ever mentioned: Does Stannis actually have any skill at arms in the books? Robert obviously was pretty tough with his hammer, and Renly wasn't totally useless, but with Stannis I just remember talk of him commanding fleets and holding forts, but nothing about his abilities as a fighter.

(Series)
In Clash, Davos is our guide through Blackwater, from the perspective of Stannis's forces. There's no POV that touches directly on Stannis's movements during the land battle. In Storm, he arrives at the Wall without much need to go into the fray. Given how Dance ends, we might get something more specific than usual with the battle for Winterfell in WoW. Since GRRM scripted this episode, I think we can take it as canon that Stannis has always been a badass, he just never trumpeted his prowess in battle. Like Tywin Lannister, although obviously not to his degree on several fronts, I suspect he's one of those lords that has a baseline competency at everything. But you wouldn't expect such a pragmatic leader to be the kind of general that intentionally fights in the vanguard. Perhaps, as with Tyrion, desperate circumstances demanded the flight of fancy for Blackwater alone. It's a fresh aspect of his character I was intrigued to see, too.
 
Question about Stannis (series)
I've read all the books, but I don't remember it ever mentioned: Does Stannis actually have any skill at arms in the books? Robert obviously was pretty tough with his hammer, and Renly wasn't totally useless, but with Stannis I just remember talk of him commanding fleets and holding forts, but nothing about his abilities as a fighter.

I thought most noblemen had superior fighting ability due to being trained from childhood with the best sword masters and equipment.
 

Violet_0

Banned
okay, quick question (because it was touched upon in the other thread)

could someone tell me which major battle in A Clash of Kings wasn't in the show?
 

Fuzzy

I would bang a hot farmer!
okay, quick question (because it was touched upon in the other thread)

could someone tell me which major battle in A Clash of Kings wasn't in the show?
It wasn't a Clash of Kings battle that wasn't shown, it was a Game of Thrones battle. Remember in the first season when Tyrion is knocked out right before a battle?
That didn't happen in the book and he actually fought in the battle and he was awesome.
 

EatChildren

Currently polling second in Australia's federal election (first in the Gold Coast), this feral may one day be your Bogan King.
Non-book reader. Fucking amazing episode. Absolutely loved every second. The entire
wildfire sequence
was perfect.
 

apana

Member
What an amazing episode. Fuck it, let GRRM write all of next season, not like he's writing WoW now anyways. :D

So glad to see the Hound get some good screen time. His "fuck the king" delivery was perfect. This episode gave me faith that they will do Book 3 great justice now that it'll have 20 episodes to breath with.

I'm obviously a huge fan of GRRM but I don't think he is the best writer on the show. I think the big bonuses with him are we know he won't change something essential and he understands the material better than anybody else. The battle was the core of the episode and the credit goes to the director Neil Marshall who had to pull it off.
 

Speevy

Banned
They should have an alternate battle sequence in which a few firecrackers are shot into the sky from the trojan horse ship.

Pigshit guy looks all proud of himself and Tyrion just stares at him in disbelief as all of Stannis' fleet touches down.
 

Fuzzy

I would bang a hot farmer!
They should have an alternate battle sequence in which a few firecrackers are shot into the sky from the trojan horse ship.

Pigshit guy looks all proud of himself and Tyrion just stares at him in disbelief as all of Stannis' fleet touches down.
Holy shit I'm dying over here. :lol
 

kitzkozan

Member
Non-book reader. Fucking amazing episode. Absolutely loved every second. The entire
wildfire sequence
was perfect.

Yeah, but that wasn't actually what captivated me the most.

I'm guessing this is the Cersei that most book readers expected, because I could totally feel the cold and monstrous bitch at work for once. A great performance I must say, but this is what I expected from Headey since season 1.

I hated Salsa in the first season, but not anymore. :] The girl is just a teenager and she's trying to survive while she's in deep shit. I won't even mention that she's destined to marry one of the most hated character ever created. :p The actress is doing a great job, the haters can fuck off lol.
 
I thought most noblemen had superior fighting ability due to being trained from childhood with the best sword masters and equipment.

Yeah pretty much.

I think that Stannis isn't supposed to be an amazing warrior like Robert was, but I think it was fitting that he makes easy work of those random soldiers.
 

apana

Member
Yeah, but that wasn't actually what captivated me the most.

I'm guessing this is the Cersei that most book readers expected, because I could totally feel the cold and monstrous bitch at work for once. A great performance I must say, but this is what I expected from Headey since season 1.

I hated Salsa in the first season, but not anymore. :] The girl is just a teenager and she's trying to survive while she's in deep shit. I won't even mention that she's destined to marry one of the most hated character ever created. :p The actress is doing a great job, the haters can fuck off lol.

I may have to call her this from now on.
 

bengraven

Member
It would have been cool to see but the time/cost/scale was probably too much.

Yeah, it's a pretty epic moment. I think it's the only thing missing from this season that made me underwhelmed. Still the best episode.

GRRM might be getting another writing Emmy soon.


How exactly do you get cut in the face like that from temple to cheek without the sword going through your nose/skull a bit?

O U
 

Fuzzy

I would bang a hot farmer!
tyrion book / series change
I feel as if he'll keep the scar, it would be too much work to keep the nose off.
Exactly,
Scar = a few extra minutes in the makeup chair each day. Missing nose = wasting money on SFX.
 
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