Tagged: game of thrones
Discussion: Books into TV Series
I may be in the minority for book readers, but I almost like the Game of Thrones show more than the books in some ways. I like how the show took out some of the more rambling storylines that happen in the fourth and fifth books; they did a really good job paring it down for a TV audience. At the same time, I really didn’t like the timeline shift that led to Jaime raping Cersei in the show and I didn’t like the entire Dorne storyline, which felt like it was going nowhere. But I’d still say that the Game of Thrones TV show has stayed true to the spirit of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.
One of the TV adaptations I was really impressed with was the adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen. I officially finished the first four episodes in a huge binge-watching session last night and was really happy with the way the books translated onto the screen. The actors and actresses are all very talented and the TV show stayed very true not only to the feel of Gregory’s series on the War of the Roses but also to a lot of the main plot events. You have Jacquetta working her magic, Elizabeth growing more and more ruthless toward Edward’s enemies and the poor Neville girls admiring the queen and yet being forced to become her rivals for power. It’s actually a very satisfying adaptation and on the whole I like it more overall than the Game of Thrones adaptation because it stays very true to the source material and the writing is consistently excellent.
So what I want to know now is this: Do you have any particular books that you’d like to see adapted into a TV series? Or, how has your experience been with seeing your favourite books adapted into TV shows? Was it good or bad? Why?
Lazy Sundays: Mother’s Mercy (Game of Thrones Episode 5.10)
Okay, wow, let’s get into this, shall we?
1. Yay Sansa and Theon for probably escaping! Theon finally stood up to Ramsay’s authority and Sansa was working on a plan to get out anyway. Now that the two are together on the run I really hope they’ll make it to safety.
2. The Meryn Trant scene was very, very disturbing I must admit. There’s something about a teenage girl killing a man slowly (and clearly enjoying it) that is disturbing, no matter how horrible a person the man in question was. I think Arya will never truly be a Faceless Man because she’s so attached to her identity as a Stark but she could be a pretty fearsome assassin one day.
3. And Stannis is dead! I never really liked Stannis in the books and I really, really didn’t like him in the show. After killing Shireen I had no doubt he’d die but I didn’t think it would be that soon. With Selyse and Shireen dead and Melisandre abandoning the cause, Stannis had nothing to live for.
4. Hmm…Brienne choosing revenge over duty to Sansa? I wonder what consequences that could have in the future…
5. That was quite the pity party with Daario, Jorah and Tyrion. I think it’s awesome that Daario and Jorah are going on a road trip despite the bad blood between them (“She’s in a good mood”, anyone?).
6. Two eunuchs, a dwarf and a woman ruling a city like Meereen that’s not known to be all that progressive? That will be very, very interesting next season. I really can’t wait to see Tyrion back in power.
7. And Daenerys got captured by a khalasar just like in the books. It does not bode well for her but at least she had the sense to drop her ring in case anyone is tracking her.
8. I can’t believe Myrcella died! Well, actually I was sort of wary after that moment between her and Jaime but I just didn’t expect the Sand Snakes to kill her. In the books they wanted to crown her, not kill her.
9. Cersei’s walk of shame was just as brutal as it was in the books and I think Lena Headey did such an amazing job with it. She didn’t overdo the emotion but you could clearly see her degrading mental status as the brutality of the mob got to her. I was so relieved when she finally made it to the Red Keep. At the same time, after she gets out of the streets there’s almost a look of determination in her face. Will she go completely soft like in the books or go on a murder spree and make sure she keeps her promise to that awful septa.
10. Ah, so we finally see Zombie Mountain. I wonder what role he’ll play in the future?
11. Poor Jon Snow; I think we all saw that coming (except for some people on Twitter, who were just totally shocked). But is he really dead? Sure, he was bleeding out and sure Kit Harington has said he’s truly dead but there has to be a reason for Melisandre coming back to Castle Black. Could she revive him in true Thoros of Myr style, believing him to be the new saviour instead of Stannis?
So what did you guys think of the finale? Are you as anxious as me for season 6?
Lazy Sundays: The Dance of Dragons (Game of Thrones Episode 5.09)
I wasn’t sure how the writers would top episode 8, ‘Hardhome’ but I think they did with this one so let’s get to it:
1. I knew Shireen was going to die from the minute Stannis started actually showing more affection toward her. After Ramsay’s night raid on their camp, I think Stannis is pushed to desperation with not enough food to go forward or back. In his mind he only has one choice.
2. I wonder how poor Ser Davos is going to react to his de facto little girl being burned alive by her own father?
3. Plus, I think the fact that Selyse wanted to stop the burning once it happened really shows that she’s a complicated character. She thinks she hates Shireen but I think she fears her because of the greyscale and sees her as a failure. I mean, out of all the children she had, only Shireen, the ‘deformed’ one survived to term?
4. For a second there I thought Ser Alliser wasn’t going to let Jon Snow and the wildlings through the gate. But since he did I think he’s angling to take over Jon’s job, forcibly if necessary. Showing the Night’s Watch their Lord Commander’s ‘greatest sin’ is just one way to really turn sentiment against him.
5. I knew Arya was going to see Ser Meryn in Braavos from the time Cersei sent him to escort Lord Tyrell. And after that disturbing brothel scene I think Ser Meryn’s days are numbered just the same as Arya’s time at the House of Black and White is numbered.
6. I’m glad Bronn and Jaime are making it out of Dorne with Myrcella and Trystane. But what is Ellaria playing at? I doubt she’s given up her dream of getting revenge for Oberyn’s death, no matter what she swears to Doran.
7. Wow, the look on Daenerys’ face when Ser Jorah appeared in the pit again was just perfect. As was her look when she thought he tried to kill Hizdahr but really just killed a Harpy.
8. On that note, I was kind of surprised they killed of Hizdahr even before their marriage. What was the purpose of that particular change from the books?
9. Also, the choreography in the fighting pit was just beautiful. Someone must have been drunk or high during that really awful Sand Snake fight scene because this was classic Game of Thrones.
10. Yay, Dany finally got to ride Drogon. But I wonder where Drogon will take her? Will she end up where she does in the books or will the show’s writers change that slightly?
So what did you guys think of this super-intense episode? I’m very, very excited for the finale this year!
Lazy Sundays: Hardhome (Game of Thrones Episode 5.08)
I can’t believe we only have two more episodes left in the season, but ‘Hardhome’ was definitely a doozy this week. Let’s get into it!
1. Ooh, Sansa! I think we’re going to see her snap and take care of Ramsay personally at some point. She stole that corkscrew from the construction and I think at this point she’s willing to use it, especially after Theon/Reek’s confession that he really didn’t kill her brothers.
2. Gah, poor Ser Jorah once again. Tyrion was totally right in a logical way (especially when you consider his greyscale) but his eyes when Daenerys told him to leave again were heartbreaking.
3. Sam and Gilly are so cute together. I think their relationship will end badly for both of them but I’m just enjoying it now.
4. Cersei is being set up to confess; we’re seeing her at an entirely new low. I think the season’s finale, Mother’s Mercy will have her carry out the High Sparrow’s special punishment.
5. Okay, I absolutely loved the battle at Hardhome. It was a well shot scene, not too terribly corny with the wildling council and the action was amazing. I loved seeing Night’s King stare at Jon Snow and just raise his hands, adding the dead wildlings to his army at the very end. It was incredibly chilling and the whole scene was just perfect. It definitely makes up for the really horrible Sand Snake fight scene.
So what did you guys think about this Sunday’s episode?
Lazy Sundays: The Gift (Game of Thrones Episode 5.07)
I actually missed Sunday because I was busy travelling but I’m backdating this post to make sure it actually sort of makes sense. Because I just can’t go a week without a proper Game of Thrones recap.
1. Jon is off to go and negotiate with the Free Folk over at Hardhome and as Ser Alliser points out, Sam is quickly losing friends.
2. On that note, awesome Sam! He’s finally realized that he loves Gilly enough to conquer his natural cowardice for her. Had Ghost not stepped in I have no doubt he would have charged those two guys again.
3. I thought the change from the books regarding Aemon’s death was interesting. I wonder how they’re going to get Sam and Gilly on a boat to the Citadel so Sam can be a maester?
4. Hmm…Sansa picked up what looked like a corkscrew when Ramsay was tormenting her. Now that Theon’s no longer a viable option for her, I wonder what she will be driven to do? The episode 8 trailer seems to hint at what she wants to do.
5. Good on Stannis for refusing to sacrifice Shireen. It shows that no matter how taken he is with Melisandre, he clearly loves his daughter more.
6. I honestly thought Bronn was going to die and the whole poison-antidote scene with Tyene seemed a little dumb to me. Sure, that’s her personality but it felt almost as contrived as that whole fight scene last episode.
7. Wow, the Jorah and Tyrion timelines are really going fast. Neither of them has really suffered under slavery the way they do in the books. Bam! They’re sold as slaves. Bam! They’re meeting Daenerys. Things are going to get ineresting very quickly here.
8. On that hand, as a purely physical attraction I admire Daenerys’ taste in men. But when you actually examine Daario as a person there are a LOT of red flags. Girl, you need to stop listening to him!
9. Poor Tommen. He really seems to want to help Margarey but at the same time he doesn’t have the leadership experience to make a complicated political maneuver in order to appease the Faith Militant without losing face.
10. Ha! Cersei finally got caught in her own trap. Things are going to get very, very interesting from here.
11. Lady Olenna may be the Queen of Thorns but she doesn’t seem to understand true religious fanatics very well. They don’t care what you do to them! They’ve got their god/gods on their side! And the High Sparrow is utterly devoted to his belief that every sinner is equal.
12. Hmm…I wonder what Littlefinger is up to now. I don’t think even he can put a leash back on the rabid dog that is the Faith Militant now, no matter what he seems to promise Lady Olenna.
So what did you guys think of this episode?