178 replies to this topic

[The Fan]

Tyrion Lannister, on 22 June 2011 - 09:53 PM, said:

You wouldn't need to hire well-known actors to play the Reeds, so I don't think having both would be very difficult in terms of budget.  But I think cutting or combining the roles is a real possibility, to keep the number of characters down if nothing else.  I could definitely see D&D keeping Meera and giving her Jojen's greendreams.

I get the feeling that HBO is quite happy with how well GoT was received, so D&D might not be under the budget strain they thought they might be 1/3-way through season 1.

I think the issue is going to come down to can they do it all in 10 hours. (Which I have a bone to pick with, why exactly, is HBO stuck with 10 episodes? Can they not just say 12 episodes, contracts can be tweaked likely easily enough, so why the bind?)

ASoS has an enormous amount of pivotal events within it, and I would hate to see anything cut from it so they can sausage-stuff the whole book into 10 hours, it should be at least 12, maybe up to 16... I hope that's not just my feeling about it.

[Kevin79]

The Fan, on 23 June 2011 - 02:46 AM, said:

I get the feeling that HBO is quite happy with how well GoT was received, so D&D might not be under the budget strain they thought they might be 1/3-way through season 1.

I think the issue is going to come down to can they do it all in 10 hours. (Which I have a bone to pick with, why exactly, is HBO stuck with 10 episodes? Can they not just say 12 episodes, contracts can be tweaked likely easily enough, so why the bind?)

ASoS has an enormous amount of pivotal events within it, and I would hate to see anything cut from it so they can sausage-stuff the whole book into 10 hours, it should be at least 12, maybe up to 16... I hope that's not just my feeling about it.

If A Clash of Kings was stretched to SIXTEEN episodes, it would be dreadful. It's a fantastic book, but there isn't a whole lot of plot progression that happens in it. It can be done in 10 episodes. There are a number of chapters that can be cut from Arya and Tyrion for sure. I'd prefer a 12 episode season, which is what every other show has, that way we can have some more really solid scenes that weren't in the book.

Also I believe that they're set on 10 episode seasons because of their schedule with other shows. For example, True Blood starts this Sunday because GoT ended last Sunday. Then once True Blood is done, Boardwalk Empire will start up again. 10 weeks might be all they can spare in their schedule, as they clearly love those other two shows more.

[Maginor]

If they need to cut somebody, let it be characters like Walder & Walder and Amory Lorch. Amory's small role in the start when attacking Yoren can easily be replaced by the Mountain. Then he basically does nothing except being the castellan of Harrenhal until he dies in the Weasel Soup Rebellion. The castellan of Harrenhal could just as well be some noname. The disadvantage with it would be to take away Aryas small victory of killing off somebody who matters, but I don't see that as important. You can combine several of Raff the Sweetling, Dunsen, Polliver, the Tickler etc. into a couple of characters as well.

You don't have to show Aeron or Victarion either so long as it is established that they exist.

But I find the Reeds too important to Brans arc to just leave them out.

[Completely Headless Ned]

Reeds seem to be pretty important, if only because they provide a connection to Howland.You can cut the Walders.

Edited by REID1990, 23 June 2011 - 12:26 PM.

[Tyrion Lannister]

Kevin79, on 23 June 2011 - 11:35 AM, said:

If A Clash of Kings was stretched to SIXTEEN episodes, it would be dreadful. It's a fantastic book, but there isn't a whole lot of plot progression that happens in it. It can be done in 10 episodes. There are a number of chapters that can be cut from Arya and Tyrion for sure. I'd prefer a 12 episode season, which is what every other show has, that way we can have some more really solid scenes that weren't in the book.

The post you quoted never suggested stretching Clash to 16 episodes; only 12 or so.  The 16-episode suggestion was for A Storm of Swords, which I think is perfectly reasonable.  There's just no way they could do ASoS in 10 episodes without cutting very important chunks out of the story.  Clash they might be able to do in 10, but not Storm, IMO.

[Pasha Pook]

I think keeping Lorch is important, because it is preety rare that after all the suffering we see in the series to get some payback for the bad guys.. I can go without Raff, Dunsen and Polliver, but the have to keep the Tickler (and I expect a casting of some nice actor, like Elijah Wood in Sin City;)). Vargo Hoat will also be important.

[The Fan]

Tyrion Lannister, on 23 June 2011 - 12:32 PM, said:

The post you quoted never suggested stretching Clash to 16 episodes; only 12 or so.  The 16-episode suggestion was for A Storm of Swords, which I think is perfectly reasonable.  There's just no way they could do ASoS in 10 episodes without cutting very important chunks out of the story.  Clash they might be able to do in 10, but not Storm, IMO.

Quite right... Now what about the idea of breaking up ASoS into two seasons, and/or pulling a few AFfC scenes into that second SoS season?  Could that work?

Anything to avoid Storm being chopped and hacked to fit in 10 short hours...

[Misanthrope]

Kevin79, on 23 June 2011 - 11:35 AM, said:

they clearly love those other two shows more.

GoT is quickly catching those two in ratings, so that may well change. In fact, I believe the GoT finale exceeded the finale of Boardwalk Empire. Boardwalk is also one of my favorite shows, but True Blood just isn't my cup of tea.

Edited by Misanthrope, 24 June 2011 - 03:53 AM.

[The Fan]

Misanthrope, on 24 June 2011 - 03:52 AM, said:

GoT is quickly catching those two in ratings, so that may well change. In fact, I believe the GoT finale exceeded the finale of Boardwalk Empire. Boardwalk is also one of my favorite shows, but True Blood just isn't my cup of tea.

Any season of TB, or this last one? I liked season 1 quite a bit, slightly less S2, and S3 really didn't do it for me, save a few parts, but S4 I have a feeling will rejuvenate the series.  I read the books as well, and they are a good distance from following the books at this point, so its no guarantee, but once the witches are introduced, quite a bit happens that should be a lot of fun to watch.

If not, I don't see how they will have a S5. Time will tell. Perhaps ideally, they shorten season 5 two weeks and let GoT(CoK) stretch its legs into 12 weeks....  

[Steel_Wind]

I'm not sure they will do this, and as I have posted elsewhere, casting two unknown kids is cheaper than paying for one reaosnably well known adult actor with Harry Potter film credits on her resume.

Still, it's possible I suppose. If they do decide to cut the Reeds (again, I don't think so) then Osha is the one who should be taking Bran north of the wall. Who takes Rickon?

Do we leave Maester Luwin alive then? Is he the one who takes Rickon? Does your answer change if Luwin, to protect Bran, deliberately chooses not to know where Osha and Hodor plan to take him?

An interesting departure from the books. I love the idea of Luwin surviving, too. His death seemed unavoidable -- but still sad.

I really don't think it is at all likely, however. Whatever the case, I guess that in 10 or 11 months or so (if not before then), we'll definitely know the answer.

Edited by Steel_Wind, 24 June 2011 - 12:48 PM.

[lukahnli]

Steel_Wind, on 24 June 2011 - 12:46 PM, said:

I'm not sure they will do this, and as I have posted elsewhere, casting two unknown kids is cheaper than paying for one reaosnably well known adult actor with Harry Potter film credits on her resume.

Still, it's possible I suppose. If they do decide to cut the Reeds (again, I don't think so) then Osha is the one who should be taking Bran north of the wall. Who takes Rickon?

Do we leave Maester Luwin alive then? Is he the one who takes Rickon? Does your answer change if Luwin, to protect Bran, deliberately chooses not to know where Osha and Hodor plan to take him?

An interesting departure from the books. I love the idea of Luwin surviving, too. His death seemed unavoidable -- but still sad.

I really don't think it is at all likely, however. Whatever the case, I guess that in 10 or 11 months or so (if not before then), we'll definitely know the answer.

Maybe Roz returns to Winterfell hoping to be reunited with Theon Greyjoy, but finds the Winterfell smoking ruins and Hodor, Osha, Bran and Rickon instead?  If so, score one for Rickon!!!!

Edited by lukahnli, 24 June 2011 - 01:09 PM.

[George Snow]

lukahnli, on 24 June 2011 - 01:09 PM, said:

Maybe Roz returns to Winterfell hoping to be reunited with Theon Greyjoy, but finds the Winterfell smoking ruins and Hodor, Osha, Bran and Rickon instead?  If so, score one for Rickon!!!!

I thought that in the books, Theon was having relations with Roz while he was King of Winterfell.  

GH

[Asha—Not Yara!]

I was so sad over Luwin's death in the books. I'd love to have Maester Luwin live so he could watch over Rickon while Osha takes Bran beyond the Wall. However, while I'd be fine with that change, I'd still really love to see the Reeds and I suspect they'll have a key role to play in upcoming events in later books. I do think they could combine them into one character. Either age up Jojen or give Meera greendreams.

Edited by Mellisandra, 25 June 2011 - 03:52 AM.

[Flou]

I really don't see them cutting both (or even one...) of the Reeds. They play a crucial part in Bran's story. And two teen/child actors won't take that much out of the casting budget which I'm sure has gone up from Season 1. If they are going to cut people from Bran's storyline it's most likely going be either both or one of the Walders and maybe few of the Lords that come swear fealty to Winterfell.

[lukahnli]

George Snow, on 24 June 2011 - 03:53 PM, said:

I thought that in the books, Theon was having relations with Roz while he was King of Winterfell.  

GH

Was it actually Roz in ACoK?  I don't recall and my father borrowed my copy of it.

[Duskfire]

Hell, I'll play Jojen for free. Just be awesome to be in the show (and have green moss colored eyes)

Anyway, obviously we dont know their importance, but I cant see them cutting them. For all we know, Bran marries Meera. And Jojen talking about how its not his time to die definetly speaks of a significiant event in the future. In any case, they would be up there in terms of importance I would say.

Besides, Bran isnt in book 2 and 3 all that much. Its not gunna be a massive cost to have both of them in. Granted thats something they could change, but if they did decide to have him around more, theres still really only four scenes that the kids need to appear in.

[superdeluxe]

Duskfire, on 25 June 2011 - 07:42 AM, said:

Hell, I'll play Jojen for free. Just be awesome to be in the show (and have green moss colored eyes)

Anyway, obviously we dont know their importance, but I cant see them cutting them. For all we know, Bran marries Meera. And Jojen talking about how its not his time to die definetly speaks of a significiant event in the future. In any case, they would be up there in terms of importance I would say.

Besides, Bran isnt in book 2 and 3 all that much. Its not gunna be a massive cost to have both of them in. Granted thats something they could change, but if they did decide to have him around more, theres still really only four scenes that the kids need to appear in.

Exactly, the hope is that GRRM knows how important the Reeds are to the story.  If not important in the 'end game' then maybe they would be cut.  If they are cast, then we might have a good idea that the Reeds play a greater role in the future books.

If D&D was lets say, to cut Blackfish, do you think GRRM would have approved if Blackfish was a key figure in the 'end game'?  I don't think so.

[PestilencE]

I'm not OK with this thread at all.

Why?

Well, it doesn't just discuss the possibility of Jojen and Meera getting cut, it flat out PROPOSES that it should be done so. (not necessarily OP, but others)

Are you fans of the book, men????

[Dragonfish]

lukahnli, on 25 June 2011 - 07:29 AM, said:

Was it actually Roz in ACoK?  I don't recall and my father borrowed my copy of it.

No, Ros is not a character in the books.

[Brienne the Beauty]

superdeluxe, on 25 June 2011 - 09:17 AM, said:

Exactly, the hope is that GRRM knows how important the Reeds are to the story.  If not important in the 'end game' then maybe they would be cut.  If they are cast, then we might have a good idea that the Reeds play a greater role in the future books.

The "end game" is probably of little concern to the showmakers. First of all it supposes that the show covers all the books - this would be nice, but TV is a harsh business, and the showmakers need to make it good *now* not in 6 seasons time. Secondly the TV people are creative - if the Reeds get cut and turn out to be important later on, they can just be introduced later in a different way, or another character can take on their vital role. Thirdly GRRM does not seem to have a rigid plan for the series - he seems to change things about with frequency according to new ideas he has (what happened to that 5 year gap?)

So whether they are cast or not says little about whether they are going to be important

I suspect the Reeds will get cast if they are considered interesting and there is time for them. I'd say the greatest plus to their existence in the TV show is that they are indeed interesting.