To be fair, Ciaran Hinds was so wasted on the show. One of the rare casting misfires on the show, he just didn't fit the character at all.
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*UNMARKED SPOILERS ALL BOOKS* Game of Thrones |OT| - Season 7 - Sundays on HBO
- Thread starter Cornballer
- Start date
To be fair, Ciaran Hinds was so wasted on the show. One of the rare casting misfires on the show, he just didn't fit the character at all.
I certainly didn't remember.
It's funny that she completes Murri Maz Duur's prophecy from the book there even though the infertile bit was taken out of the show. So I wonder if a lot of the show watcher confusion came after that episode. It's like the writers tried to sneak it in with no explanation because they knew readers would fill in the blanks.
adamsappel
Member
Also, wasn't Thoros drinking wine from his wineskin? (I believe rum is the only distilled liquor mentioned in the books, and isn't it only from Dorne?) Yet they're able to pour it on his corpse and set it on fire.
Oldest Snake
Member
I think it was said to be rum back in S07E01, when he offered some to The Hound.
DarkJediKnight
Member
Serious question here. Do you feel the show runners focused more on the fantasy elements (magic, dragons, etc) once the show left the books?
I feel the first few seasons were very grounded in strictly politics and drama and we'd see no hint of magic until there's a dragon scene.
I wonder if the books (if they ever come out) will play with fantasy elements as much as the show has.
I feel the first few seasons were very grounded in strictly politics and drama and we'd see no hint of magic until there's a dragon scene.
I wonder if the books (if they ever come out) will play with fantasy elements as much as the show has.
The books have always had an undercurrent of the reemergence of magic in the world. The rebirth of the dragons being the most notable - and I remember thinking that it wasn't clear whether the dragons brought back magic or magic brought back dragons - but there's a ton of other stuff too like the efficiency of wildfire incantations, red priest resurrections, the actual magic in the House of the Undying vs. it's long held perception, etc.
As best I can remember, serious magic was effectively dead at the start of the series. That might not be totally accurate, especially when it comes to stuff like the Faceless men, but it was at least diminished enough for most people to scoff at the idea of magic in general. It's been ramping up since then, so I would definitely expect the books to keep up that trajectory.
I feel like the show uses magic a lot less than the books. In the show, there are dragons, zombies, a few prophecies and not much else.
The books have more prophecies and the characters behind visions (Quaithe, Marwyn, etc), glass candles, warging, fire wraiths, etc. The show made magic like in every other story whereas the books interweave it in everything so you're not quite sure what's real or who's pulling the strings.
It was inevitable the show would have more fantasy toward the end as the white walkers and dragons became more important, but it seems like the show is avoiding most other magic. Just look at Euron or the lack of warging as obvious examples.
The books have more prophecies and the characters behind visions (Quaithe, Marwyn, etc), glass candles, warging, fire wraiths, etc. The show made magic like in every other story whereas the books interweave it in everything so you're not quite sure what's real or who's pulling the strings.
It was inevitable the show would have more fantasy toward the end as the white walkers and dragons became more important, but it seems like the show is avoiding most other magic. Just look at Euron or the lack of warging as obvious examples.
It was done on purpose to give the show an even more grounded feel compared to the books to attract mainstream audiences. Same can be said about the clothes (as described in the books) and use of color.
It doesn't really matter now, of course, but the show's tone is set.
ToyMachine228
Member
The suggestion of Val Kilmer for Jaime Lannister is one of the most laughable suggestions I've ever heard. Have you guys seen Val Kilmer lately?
Yeah, I have a buddy who does not want magic in the show at all and was pissed last season when it became more prominent. Granted, the first scene in season one was ice demons but it really was about the politics for years and years. Pretty big shift now.
DarkJediKnight
Member
That's because people think of celebrities from their fav movies. Val Kilmer doesn't look like he did in Top Gun. lol.
The Greek Freak
Member
100%
Remember the cave with the children of the forrest? Motherfuckers were straight up throwing fireballs at the skeletons (that looked nothing like wights, they were just straight up diablo skeletons).
Also see them pretending the wolves don't exist most of the time.
At least he's not fat any more.
I'm pretty sure he was in 09 when that was posted. Id post pics but that seems cruel. I'll just sit here laughing to myself imagining fat 50 year old Val Kilmer playing opposite Lena headey
edit; sorry had to:
nailed it
bitbydeath
Member
Anyone else feel like HBO cheaped out on the show?
Vikings which is no where near as popular had a 10 episode season one with a total budget of 40m.
Season 4 is now 20 episodes long and still is no where near as popular, the production values have also gone up a long way since the first season.
Vikings is also very good at battle scenes, something GOT has never been the best at.
Vikings which is no where near as popular had a 10 episode season one with a total budget of 40m.
Season 4 is now 20 episodes long and still is no where near as popular, the production values have also gone up a long way since the first season.
Vikings is also very good at battle scenes, something GOT has never been the best at.
Psychoward
Banned
My friend is watching Vikings right now and is saying how good the battles and production is. Kind of amazing that a history channel show has better production values than an HBO one.
the fuck?
The main actors alone have probably gotten insanely expensive to keep around already.
The Greek Freak
Member
Most of them either have awful fight choreography or has hilariously bad strategic elements like B.O.B.
bitbydeath
Member
Season 1 - Tyrion gets knocked out, no battle
Season 2 - Battle of Black Water, nothing compared to the books, also where are the horses?
Season 3 - Robb vs the Lannisters, yep didn't happen
Etc
Have you seen the battles in Vikings? They are decent and well shot but they lack a lot a style. The production is also noticeably much smaller in scale and easy to spot the shortcuts. There is also a hell of a lot of shaky cam. They are nowhere near Game of Thrones in production or originality.
Here is a selection of Vikings scenes.
https://www.inverse.com/article/11626-ranking-the-7-best-battles-of-vikings
bitbydeath
Member
Really? What do you think is the best GOT battle scene?
hardhome battle of bastards (spoils of war to an extent)
GoT does one-on-one fights better that battles. Bronn vs. that Vale knight was rad as was Viper vs. The Mountain. Those are series highlights for me.
Though Loot Train was really good.
H.Cornerstone
Member
Comparing Vikings to Game of Thrones is apple to oranges. Vikings is depicting in comparison small skirmishes.
Oh and there are no Dragons
Although, I've been most impressed with the Last kingdom and how they've done medieval battles.
Oh and there are no Dragons
Although, I've been most impressed with the Last kingdom and how they've done medieval battles.
I'm surprised that thread made 90 pages, while when I started reading in 2010 I knew ASOIAF was "popular" amongst fantasy nerds, it was Sanderson-levels popular, not mainstream.
bitbydeath
Member
My point was Vikings looks to have a far larger budget than GOT yet not the same viewership, hence why HBO are cheaping out.
H.Cornerstone
Member
I'd disagree, CGI Dragons, bears, and Castles aren't cheap, and others have said, actor salaries
Another reason they should have killed off Tyrion years ago.
HBO are definitely not cheaping out. Have you watched this season? The budget is on full display.
Cornballer
Member
Huh? GoT had a higher budget than Vikings every single season. The first season of GoT was in the 50-60M range and it's only gone up from there. S6 was around 100M.
bitbydeath
Member
As per my previous post Vikings was 40m first season with 10 episodes and the latest season is 20 episodes and production has gone up a lot.
Even if we low ball it GOT should still get a much larger budget in comparison.
Steelyuhas
Member
GoT is at least $10M per episode in the last few years, you're saying that Vikings is $4M per episode.
DarkJediKnight
Member
It takes them 3 months to create the dragons.
That costs money. Vikings can't touch the sets and costumes of GOT.
Also, battle of the bastards is better than any viking fight
Some of the costumes. The Tyrell army's armor was pretty lame.
bitbydeath
Member
That was the first season, even if that same figure (highly unlikely given the production jump) that's still.
GOT = 100M
Vikings = 80M
Don't forget Peter Dinklage as Tyrion was also on first page.
Lol "what happens when HBO reaches the fourth book". Even a decade ago book readers were jaded as fuck with Martin.
broncobuster
Banned
The relationship between martin, his writing speed and his fans seems to have been a meme longer than a decade at this point, heck Neil Gaimen even took it upon himself to tell the readers "George R.R. Martin is not your bitch."
This is simply because the show is ahead of the books.
The books will pivot more toward the greater battle between man and the Others as it goes along.
The main theme of A Song of Ice and Fire is an anti-war story that stresses that the petty political conflicts between men, the "Game of Thrones", are irrelevant in contrast to the much greater and more significant broad struggles of the small folk.
Blue Ninja
Member
Just noticed the soundtrack is up on Spotify. TIME TO LISTEN.
Iterestingly, it feels like HBO also held back with Rome despite the stories about the insane production budget. I mean, aside from the first episode they straight up skipped every battle.
Cpt.Underpants
Member
See You for What You Are