People tuned in to see if it was the next Sopranos.. but found out that it wasn't. Still a good show though.
About Theon, Spoiler I think the TV treatment of him chances the tone of his future action abit. In the books, you never quite see the betrayal coming until his return to the Iron Islands. The TV series is really foreshadowing future events by highlighting why he feels disrepected... these weekly "**** on Theon" scenes (I think Ned and Cat never got snarky with him, but everyone else, including Robb, Tyrion, Luwin, Ros and Osha keep on reminding him he's a hostage) remind me of the long shots lingering on Dany's dragon eggs-- you are meant to think something is gonna go down from all this...
Spoiler I think we'll see a classic Martin turn of the character in the upcoming books. The first three books, Theon's a spoiled punk, chafing at imagined bonds with the Starks, then trying to please daddy with his actions. Now he's being tortured in the dreadfort by the Boltons. I think the producers/writers/directors of the show know this from Martin, hence the light they're showing Theon in.
Spoiler I was thinking the same thing. Especially since the comment from Martin about his upcoming book talks about the return of a POV character who hadn't been heard from in a while.
Spoiler I agree. Sort of like how Jamie became a much smarter and more sympathetic character once he lost his hand.
My SO was shocked at the ending of episode 7. I told her that she wouldn't be if she'd read the damned books! Just a great series. I can't say enough about the quality of HBO's productions. Kudos!
if i wasnt so shell shocked i'd click on all the spoilers and it would be just like reading the books
My wife was really, really pissed off that they killed King Robert because she loved his character so much. I must admit, I have enjoyed Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon much, MUCH more than I would have expected when I heard he was cast. His chemistry with Sean Bean has been outstanding. Spoiler I really, REALLY wanted to have the talk with her about not getting attached to characters, though. If she got that upset about the King dying, she's going to be furious when Ned loses his head. That's what got me in the books. I almost didn't continue reading the series after that since I had gotten so attached to Eddard. Glad I kept going. Oh, and someone mentioned earlier about the number of major characters that he been killed up to this point and mentioned Cat and Ned...am I missing something or is Rob somehow still alive and I missed it? He was killed at his wedding, I thought, and he was a pretty major character by that point.
Spoiler if you haven't read the first book!!! Last Warning!! Spoiler I'm curious what will happen to the rating when they kill off Ned(Sean Beans's character). I mean will people get pissed off and not watch the second season or they will have the same reaction as the readers and want to continue following the series? Killing off main character(s) is not a good thing when it comes to tv show especially based on rating.
there was a spoiler tag and a separate thread for people who haven't read the books, not much else we can do
Unfortunately they removed a few words from the night’s watch vow to get in that lesbian sex scene, the vows should read: Night gathers, and now my watch begins. It shall not end until my death… I shall live and die at my post. I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night’s Watch, for this night and all the nights to come. They also could have been well served to show Jon convincing Maester Aemon to make Sam a steward, which contains a discussion that explains what a maester is, about their chains, and what each link means. I also would have preferred the left in Ser Loras’s request to hunt the Mountain from last episode which Ned denies, which could have been followed this episode with Littlefinger’s chat with Sansa and Septa Mordaine where Sansa says father should have sent Ser Loras. Littlefinger agrees, but wants to know why Sansa thinks so. Sansa goes on to discuss how it is just like the songs, where the handsome hero knight defeats the evil villain. Littlefinger says that is not the reason I would have given, “Life is not a song, sweetling. Someday you may learn that,to your sorrow.” It’s not that I found the sex scene offensive, though I did think it was too long, but there were a lot of other good scenes from the books that were cut for this long scene which didn’t really fit my picture of Littlefinger from the books in the first place. So if it was added to give non-readers a better grasp of who Littlefinger is, I don’t think it paints a very book accurate picture. This is the same man who Spoiler has Sansa remain in character as Alayne even when they are alone just in case a servant or someone else walks in or over hears them talking. So it doesn't follow such a man would be discussing his most personal defeats and life lessons with a w**** who is audtioning for him. I also never got the impression that revenge was a primary motivation for Littlefinger. He betrays Ned because Ned refuses his advice and insists on backing Stannis who would have removed Littlefinger from power. This came across as self preservation more than revenge. I think he would have been equally, if not more happy, if Ned had listened and backed Joffrey while ruling as Hand reagent with Littlefinger as his chief advisor as Baelish advised. Littlefinger's character Spoiler Littlefinger always felt more like The Usual Suspects and Keyser Söze, “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he didn’t exist.” fits Littlefinger, who is accepted in the court by many different opposing factions because he has no armies and they believe he is no threat. Such a man isn’t likely to be advertising how he loves to "screw" people to strangers, even if it is true.
Don't do it. The spoilers in this thread deal with the books AFTER this season, and some conjecture about future books.