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[SouthernDragon]

God's Beard, there's a massive reveal that is likely coming soon in the book series but so far I've seen nary a hint in the tv series. There are quite a few Chekov's guns strewn throughout, and a lot of them lie in dreams, prophesies, songs, and visions; stuff that is left out of the tv series. Hell, Dany's Undying sequence in the books lays out major plot points that we're about to hit in The Winds of Winter.

Read the books, man.

 

[Enosh]

reading aSoS, is there a "reading the books, but spoilers" thread? I see the general aSoIaF thread but it says "unmarked spoilers" so hell no to that one

Spoiler

yo guys, lets sell all our highly trained elite troops who are our only real defense since our own troops sucks ass and we barely have any to a crazy woman, what could go wrong?

 

[gutshot]

I don't blame the writers when, for example, only 20 peasants show up to the Hand's Tournament or when Robert hunts boar on foot and with an entourage of like 3 dudes. That's a production constraint, and while it sucks it is understandable. I do blame the writers when the writing sucks.

Simple enough.

But it's not that simple though. Production constraints also can cause problems with the writing. For example, lots of people didn't like the way Arya was captured by Amory Lorch. They felt it was lazy writing, full of plot holes; not to mention much less exciting, dramatic and realistic than the scene in the book. But guess what? The way that scene was originally written was much closer to the book's version. But production constraints (ie not enough time and money) forced them to do some last-minute rewrites to get a workable scene on film. Some may look at that scene and say it's the writers fault, but it's really the fault of trying to do an epic fantasy on a TV series budget and time schedule.

Note: I'm not saying all poorly written scenes or storylines are due to production constraints (the Jon/Qhorin storyline in particular seems to have been bungled for no reason other than the writers screwed it up), but many of them can be chalked up to production constraints forcing last minute rewrites. So I tend to give the writers the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Gregorn]

reading aSoS, is there a "reading the books, but spoilers" thread? I see the general aSoIaF thread but it says "unmarked spoilers" so hell no to that one

Spoiler

yo guys, lets sell all our highly trained elite troops who are our only real defense since our own troops sucks ass and we barely have any to a crazy woman, what could go wrong?

The OK nerds, you win thread is spoiler tagged.

 

[gutshot]

The reason I liked the show so much is because all those details were implied instead of told to me. The book has all these nice subtle little conversations, then ruins it with "but so and so doesn't trust such and such" between exchanges. Definitely annoys me, when dishonestly and subversion is such a huge deal and there's these glowing lines of text that say "oh btw, this guy is a liar". I can decide for mysef that vicerys is a dumbass, thank you.

Wow. I think you are the first person ever to feel that the show is more subtle than the books. Most book readers feel like the show is way too overt in its characterization (Littlefinger goes from dubious schemer to mustache-twirling villain, for example).

 

[M.D]

Was it ever mentioned in the show that Sandor and Gregor are brothers? I just read the part with him and Sansa last night... I was surprised at first, but then I realized they are both Clegane!

 

[superdeluxe]

http://winteriscoming.net/2012/06/season-three-to-start-filming-july-9th/


According to wic. Filming starts on July 9th, which means casting news will be fast and furious

 

[gutshot]

Was it ever mentioned in the show that Sandor and Gregor are brothers? I just read the part with him and Sansa last night... I was surprised at first, but then I realized they are both Clegane!

Yes, when we first meet Gregor, Littlefinger tells Sansa the story of how Sandor got his scars. Fun fact: Sandor's name has never been mentioned in the show. He has only been referred to as "the Hound" or "Clegane" or "dog".

 

[M.D]

Yes, when we first meet Gregor, Littlefinger tells Sansa the story of how Sandor got his scars. Fun fact: Sandor's name has never been mentioned in the show. He has only been referred to as "the Hound" or "Clegane" or "dog".

I must have missed it, like a lot of other things
I really wonder what Sandor is like after reading this part with Sansa and seeing that he offered her to come with in this season. I like him!

I don't think Cersei name has been mentioned either? I only remember people calling her "Queen", or Joffrey calling her "Mother"

 

[Fuzzy]

I don't think Cersei name has been mentioned either? I only remember people calling her "Queen", or Joffrey calling her "Mother"

Plenty of times.

 

[Admiral Bone to Pick]

Just finished season 2.

Loved the last two episodes, but this season bugged me. Not any deviation from the books (which I haven't read), but just the sheer number of boring scenes throughout each episode. Did every minor character need some vapid monologue or story? Blackwater was by far my favorite episode of the season just because it focused on area and it didn't cut around to boring scenes with minor characters. It felt focused and it had impact.

 

[M.D]

Plenty of times.

Really? my memory must be bad

Question for any book readers - Do you also find it hard to keep track of all the minor characters and all the different houses and such? I can only imagine it gets harder in the next books.

 

[DrForester]

I don't think Cersei name has been mentioned either? I only remember people calling her "Queen", or Joffrey calling her "Mother"

Tyrion refers to her as Cersei quite a bit.

 

[fallout]

Was it ever mentioned in the show that Sandor and Gregor are brothers? I just read the part with him and Sansa last night... I was surprised at first, but then I realized they are both Clegane!

It took me 2 books to get Gregor and Sandor straight. :|

 

[Steelyuhas]

http://winteriscoming.net/2012/06/season-three-to-start-filming-july-9th/


According to wic. Filming starts on July 9th, which means casting news will be fast and furious

Yay! Can't wait to hear casting news.

Question for any book readers - Do you also find it hard to keep track of all the minor characters and all the different houses and such? I can only imagine it gets harder in the next books.

Only in certain plotlines/areas where there is seemingly a million minor characters with a bunch of unpronounceable names.

 

[Cornballer]

- Via WiC.net: Tower of the Hand takes a look at S2 of GoT in a roundtable discussion *spoilers through ADwD*

 

[Forsaken82]

AFFC stuff:

I've shared the usual complaints about AFCC as others (slow, not paying attention to the right characters, etc etc) until I got about 60% into the book and (minor spoilers) read the chapter

Spoiler

where Jaime enters the camp at Rivverrun and has a talk with his Aunt. Ho-ly-shit! That was one of the better chapters in the book and possibly even the series. She is one savvy woman and one of the few Lannisters I liked besides Tyrion. And the megaton she drops on him at the end: "...but Tyrion is Tywin's son, not you." Got-dayum! It was a great dialog and a great narrative. I really love Jaime's character arc so far - not quite a redemption story yet, but about as close as I think GRRM is going to come for any of his characters.

This was pretty much how I felt about Feast. Those first 600 pages were like running face first into a brick wall repeatedly, but once you get past it, its some of the best writing that the series had to offer.

Was it ever mentioned in the show that Sandor and Gregor are brothers? I just read the part with him and Sansa last night... I was surprised at first, but then I realized they are both Clegane!

Pretty sure when Littlefinger is telling the story about the Hound to sansa at the joust in season 1. Gahh beaten

Spoiler

No i will not do a "like Sansa/Joffrey/Ros quip!

 

[Cornballer]

- Corona Coming Attractions with: A Clash of Perspectives: Roundtabling Season Two of Game of Thrones (Part 1)

There’s so much to wrap one’s head around, in fact, that a tidy little roundtable I had planned tripled in size and had to be split in two halves. For this first part, a crack panel of George R.R. Martin stalkers and TV critics tackled the inherent quality of the source material, A Clash of Kings; the filmmaking chops of Game of Thrones showrunners Dan Weiss and David Benioff; and the dopiness – or lack thereof – of the average HBO viewer.

Dramatis personae:

• Marc N. Kleinhenz – freelancer and author of It Is Known: An Analysis of Thrones, Vol. I.
• Elio García – co-founder and editor of Westeros.org and co-author, with Martin himself, of the upcoming The World of Ice and Fire.
• David Barr Kirtley – author and writer at Wired magazine.
• James Poniewozik – editor of Time magazine’s Tuned In blog.
• Doug Cohen – author, blogger, and former editor at Realms of Fantasy magazine.
• Amin Javadi – co-host of A Podcast of Ice and Fire.
• Maureen Ryan – TV critic with the Huffington Post (formerly with the Chicago Tribune).

 

[bodyofanamerican]

When did casting start for season 2? Should we be hearing anything soon?

 

[Cornballer]

When did casting start for season 2? Should we be hearing anything soon?

Based on their shooting schedule and the last couple of years, we should start hearing things in the next couple weeks.

 

[Trojita]

Nevermind.

 

[neorej]

I'm going to pretend this includes Dany so I can excuse her poor acting.

I'm now picturing her on a street corner shouting "WHERE ARE MY DRAGONS?"

Her bath-scene excuses everything.

 

[AlimNassor]

I just found out one of the most strangest of facts. Sibel Kekilli was once a pornstar named Dilara

I've seen her videos. Very nice.

 

[UraMallas]

AFFC stuff:

I've shared the usual complaints about AFCC as others (slow, not paying attention to the right characters, etc etc) until I got about 60% into the book and (minor spoilers) read the chapter

Spoiler

where Jaime enters the camp at Rivverrun and has a talk with his Aunt. Ho-ly-shit! That was one of the better chapters in the book and possibly even the series. She is one savvy woman and one of the few Lannisters I liked besides Tyrion. And the megaton she drops on him at the end: "...but Tyrion is Tywin's son, not you." Got-dayum! It was a great dialog and a great narrative. I really love Jaime's character arc so far - not quite a redemption story yet, but about as close as I think GRRM is going to come for any of his characters.

That's not really a bomb. [AFFC]

Spoiler

I took that as meaning that Tyrion is more like Tywin than Jaime is. Nothing more.

 

[Arment]

That's not really a bomb. [AFFC]

Spoiler

I took that as meaning that Tyrion is more like Tywin than Jaime is. Nothing more.

That is indeed what was meant.

 

[Cornballer]

- HBO Press release via Westeros.org:

Season 3 of Game of Thrones will start production in early July. The production continues to be based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and will shoot in Belfast and other Northern Ireland locations. Additionally, it is confirmed that Game of Thrones will return once again to Croatia and Iceland for additional production. This season, a fourth location, Morocco, will be added to the schedule.

The following directors have been set for Season 3. They are: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, Alex Graves, Michelle MacLaren, Dan Minahan, David Nutter and Alik Sakharov. Writers returning for this season are: David Benioff & D.B. Weiss, Bryan Cogman, George R.R. Martin and Vanessa Taylor.

Casting is underway and will be announced soon.

Based on the bestselling fantasy book series by George R.R. Martin, GAME OF THRONES is an epic drama set in the world of Westeros, where ambitious men and women of both honor and ill-repute live in a land whose summers and winters can last years. The Emmy®- and Golden Globe-winning fantasy series aired its ten-episode second season Sunday, April 1-June 3, 2012.

 

[Fuzzy]

So I guess it's safe to assume that Morocco will be used for [ASoS]

Spoiler

the slave cities Dany conquers

?

 

[Steelyuhas]

- HBO Press release via Westeros.org:

After losing Alan Taylor, I was very concerned about the directors for season 3, and I'm still not thrilled about David Nutter directing the final two episodes of the season, but the rest of the directors sound nice. Great to have Dan Minahan back, thought he did very well in his season 1 episodes. Really thought Sakharov is a great job with his season 2 episode, good to see him return. Michelle MacLaren has apparently done great directorial work on Breaking Bad and is also an executive producer for that show. Alex Graves is another veteran TV director, with 34 West Wing episodes to his credit. Lastly, it will be interesting to see what D&D do behind the camera.

 

[Jarmel]

Really want that Ryder news.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

Really want that Ryder news.

 

[PhoenixDark]

But it's not that simple though. Production constraints also can cause problems with the writing. For example, lots of people didn't like the way Arya was captured by Amory Lorch. They felt it was lazy writing, full of plot holes; not to mention much less exciting, dramatic and realistic than the scene in the book. But guess what? The way that scene was originally written was much closer to the book's version. But production constraints (ie not enough time and money) forced them to do some last-minute rewrites to get a workable scene on film. Some may look at that scene and say it's the writers fault, but it's really the fault of trying to do an epic fantasy on a TV series budget and time schedule.

Note: I'm not saying all poorly written scenes or storylines are due to production constraints (the Jon/Qhorin storyline in particular seems to have been bungled for no reason other than the writers screwed it up), but many of them can be chalked up to production constraints forcing last minute rewrites. So I tend to give the writers the benefit of the doubt.

I really can't say that justifies throwing shit at a wall. It wouldn't be hard to think of a multitude of better scenes that could have been done with the constraints. For instance,Lorch takes the letter immediately and has two guards hold her - one of them being Jaqhen - then starts walking to give the letter to Tywin. Arya gives Jaqhen a look, he lets her go/leaves his post (give him some witty or not so witty line in response to the other guard asking why he's disobeying orders). Seconds later, Lorch takes a spill.

 

[Iksenpets]

I must have missed it, like a lot of other things
I really wonder what Sandor is like after reading this part with Sansa and seeing that he offered her to come with in this season. I like him!

I don't think Cersei name has been mentioned either? I only remember people calling her "Queen", or Joffrey calling her "Mother"

This is pretty unrelated, but posting about names reminded me of it. I noticed a while back that while Catelyn is regularly called Lady Stark, none of the other women seem to take married names. Cersei is still Cersei Lannister, Margaery is still Margaery Tyrell, and I know there are others. Does anyone remember if it was the same in the books, or did the show writers just refer to her as Lady Stark for the ease of viewers?

It's a really stupid thing for me to have picked up on, but now I'm super curious about Westerosi women's naming customs.

 

[DrForester]

I must have missed it, like a lot of other things
I really wonder what Sandor is like after reading this part with Sansa and seeing that he offered her to come with in this season. I like him!

I don't think Cersei name has been mentioned either? I only remember people calling her "Queen", or Joffrey calling her "Mother"

Sandor is really an odd character. Even at the end of the 2nd book, and TV series, I still have no clue what his deal is or where Martin is going with the character. Look forward to finding out though.

 

[Cpt.Underpants]

White walker make-up

edit: Cornballer says its ok so...

loving those three pronged nails

 

[Emerson]

Had no idea that was makeup.

 

[Cornballer]

Spoilers: White walker make-up

Whoa! That was a practical effect? I thought it was CGI.

Btw, no worries if anyone wants to embed the images since it's already aired.

 

[Subitai]

- Corona Coming Attractions with: A Clash of Perspectives: Roundtabling Season Two of Game of Thrones (Part 1)

Still haven't had a chance to look at this X(

 

[fallout]

edit: Cornballer says its ok so...

Looks like he should be the frontman of a black metal band.

 

[Trojita]

<3

 

[Speevy]

The Lannister house sigil is a lion, but I haven't seen any lions in the TV series.

Where do they live?

 

[Snake]

The Lannister house sigil is a lion, but I haven't seen any lions in the TV series.

Where do they live?

*minor ACOK spoilers*

Spoiler

There's a story in book 2 about Tywin's father having encountered a Lioness in the Westerlands. That's the only mention of lions in Westeros to my knowledge, and there's no indication as to whether they're commonly or rarely seen.

 

[bluemax]

The Lannister house sigil is a lion, but I haven't seen any lions in the TV series.

Where do they live?

Perhaps they live where whores go.

 

[Emerson]

The Lannister house sigil is a lion, but I haven't seen any lions in the TV series.

Where do they live?

According to Wiki, the lions are thought to have died off in Westeros, so the one Tywin supposedly encountered was probably a rare find.

There are another breed of lions that live across the sea though.

 

[Wray]

White walker make-up



edit: Cornballer says its ok so...

loving those three pronged nails

Wow that's awesome. I thought the Walker was totally CG. Though it's clear he was touched up with CG in the final shot. But love the fact that was mostly a traditionally effect.

I hope

Spoiler

the one Sam encounters and kills in SoS will have some different features. Plus I'd love to see a female White Walker. Get some Night's King action going on. Speaking of which, would anybody else kill to read a White Walker POV in Winds of Winter? What a perfect way to introduce The Lands of Always Winter and White Walker psychology to the reader.

 

[Cornballer]

Just watched Quantum of Solace for the first time. Didn't realize that Oona Chaplin had a small part in it.

 

[bengraven]

I don't know man.

Mistaking CGI for practical = every animator's dream

Mistaking practical for CGI = every sculptor's nightmare

Just watched Quantum of Solace for the first time. Didn't realize that Oona Chaplin had a small part in it.

Oona's everywhere these days.

Except where she belongs.

Spoiler

my pants

 

[Admiral Bone to Pick]

Yes, just got this poster from Amazon:

It was between Jaime or Tyrion but this one looked better.

 

[Steelyuhas]

Whoa! That was a practical effect? I thought it was CGI.

Btw, no worries if anyone wants to embed the images since it's already aired.

Damn, I thought it was all CGI as well. That is awesome/

The Lannister house sigil is a lion, but I haven't seen any lions in the TV series.

Where do they live?

There are no mountain lions in these woods.

Oona's everywhere these days.

Except where she belongs.

Spoiler

my pants

SHE BELONGS TO ME!

Yes, just got this poster from Amazon:

It was between Jaime or Tyrion but this one looked better.

What size was it?

I love "The North Remembers" one of Robb.

 

[PhoenixDark]

- HBO Press release via Westeros.org:

Michelle MacLaren has directed some of absolute best episodes of Breaking Bad, including 4 Days Out and Fly. I was not impressed with the direction in S2 (or S1) outside of Alan Taylor and Alik Sakharov so this move is definitely welcome news.

 

[Admiral Bone to Pick]

What size was it?

I love "The North Remembers" one of Robb.

11 x 17

It was this one.

I was looking so hard for a Tywin poster but he's too minor of a character unfortunately.