If I could get over the writing cliches and the sinking feeling I was watching 12 yr old boy fantasies , I might not feel so underwhelmed by Game of Thrones Episode 1... here is to hoping episode 2 is better. And what was with the over repeating of the phrase "winter is coming"?
I actually thought it was pretty good, considering the fact that nothing on film ever lives up to the book it was based upon. I agree that they kind of used the "winter is coming" phrase too often, but only because I don't think they made it clear that it's the motto of House Stark (as far as I remember anyway). As far as the nudity, I've sort of come to expect that from anything on HBO, at least the shows that aren't set in the last 200 years (because apparently hedonism was rampant before that). In this case though, most of the nudity that I can think of was straight out of the book, with the exception of the scenes with Tyrion, and I think they were set up to establish his character quickly. That way when he meets Shae, their relationship may have more context, because we won't have a narrative to explain its nature. The fact that he keeps her around after seeing him with the others in the past will help to convey things to people who aren't familiar with the books.
I guess I found the nudity off putting as it seemed really unbalanced between the sexes (clothed men having sex with nearly naked women) and a glorified/romanticized rape scene. It will be interesting to see the next episode plays out.
George's latest post on his "Not a blog" suggests that A Dance with Dragons is finally done! It's a picture of a dead King Kong, which has been his nickname for the book.
Danmick should feel justified by this article from OverthinkingIt.com. The article itself talks about how the series has "flattened" the female characters, robbing them of the depth they had in the book. One of the examples has to do with Catelyn's reaction to Ned being offerred the position of the Hand.
Quoted Text
In the book, when Robert Baratheon offers Ned the position of King’s Hand, his wife Catelyn is the one who tells him that he has to accept it. She’s an uncompromising realist, is Catelyn. It’s not that she wants Ned to go, it’s just that she understands that you can’t turn down this kind of offer without insulting the king… and she’s not blind to the opportunities this would create for her husband, herself, and their family. She’s no glory hound, but she’s an aristocrat. Part of her job, part of being Lady Stark, is increasing the status of house Stark whenever possible. The film version jettisons this interesting element of her character, in favor of a woman that just wants her man to stay at home with her (although I do love that line they gave her where she’s like “I’ll say, ‘Listen, fat man, you can’t take my husband’”). Then when they learn that John Arryn’s death was not an accident, Cat suddenly becomes terrified and desperate for Ned to stay — oh no wait, that’s the version from the series. In the book, she’s even more insistent that he go to King’s Landing, not because they need to stay on the King’s good side, not because of the increased opportunity (which under these circumstances she couldn’t care less about), but because an old and dear friend has been murdered under circumstances that point to a treasonous conspiracy. She wants justice for her own sake, and as the Lady Stark, she wants to defend the realm! And while there are certainly more self-actualized ways for a woman to handle these problems than to stay home and watch the kids while she sends her husband off to actually handle the problem, this is still a more progressive, and a far more interesting characterization than the one in the series, where she’s again all like “Oh no, Ned, don’t enter public life! Stay home with me and take care of our baaaabiiieeees!” The book version of Catelyn does consider begging Ned not to go, once, after Bran has fallen from the tower. But she immediately squashes that thought as unworthy and weak: none of the reasons that Ned has to go have changed, and she knows that, so she keeps a stiff upper lip. Not like in the series, where she breaks down sobbing, begs him to stay, and when he says he has no choice bitterly tells him “You do have a choice! And you MADE it!” The actress delivers it splendidly, but it’s a terrible damn line. And in the book, remember, she is the first one to realize that he has no choice.
I agree with the things that the author of the article says here, but there's actually a bit more depth to the reason I wish they had stayed a bit more true to the story line in this particular area. I can't really discuss them in too much detail without giving certain events away, particularly her role in the fourth book. Basically however, she sort of watches her world fall down around her, and much of the tragedy that befalls her can be traced to her own involvement, in indirect ways (for example, none of it would be happening if not for her insistence on Ned going to King's Landing). I think that the cumulative effects of her actions, and the grief they cause, are a driving force behind the person she eventually becomes. Watering down some of these details takes some of the oomph out of that part of the story.
On the other hand, the series has been well written so far, and I'm sure they'll find a way to bring back some of the impact without having to harp on some of these nuances.
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