401 replies to this topic

[mpbarnes]

The Red Wedding is one of the biggest and most shocking moments of the entire series.  D&D have talked about how much they want to showcase this moment on TV.  But where would the Red Wedding have the most impact, at the end of a Season 3 or at the beginning of a Season 4?

Initially I thought the Red Wedding would be best served as happening in an Episode 6 or 7 in a season.  Recently there's been word that GOT will be renewed for a third season and the GRRM is writing Ep. 7 titled "Autumn Storms."  It's also been reported that Season 3 will not adapt ALL of ASOS in one season, but will stretch out the storyline over two seasons.  We now know that Season 3 will be 10 episodes, just like 1 & 2.

With the title "Autumn Winds" for Ep. 7, many are spectulating that this title could refer to the RW or to events that occur before the RW, including Jon escaping the Wildlings and Arya being taken by the Hound.  If the latter is true, then the RW would be Ep. 9, keeping in line with major events in Seasons 1 & 2 occuring in Episode 9, with Episode 10 relating to the fall-out from those events.

The more I think about it, the less I like the RW as a season ending event.  This will absolutely crush the soul of a number of viewers, particularly if there is only 1 more episode and then a year to wait for anything else.  With ASOS, as soul crushing as the RW is for Stark fans, we still have almost 400 pages of non-stop action and a sense that anything can happen to the characters that we love.  In those last 400 pages we get even more major events, including the Purple Wedding, Dany in Meeren, Mance vs. Jon and later Stannis at the wall, Arya and the Hound, Sansa, Littlefinger and Lysa, Tyrion's trial + his escape and killing of Shae and Tywin, and finally the return of Un-Cat at the very end.  As a reader you leave ASOS feeling like you've beared witness to something truly epic after reading those last 400 pages from the RW to the end.  If the book had ended shortly after the RW (along with Ygritte's death) the impression would be very different.

That's why I'm hoping that D&D do the exceptionally brave and truly visionary thing and have the RW in the season premiere of Season 4.  Having it at the beginning of the season will absolutely shock many viewers.  But they will have 9 more episodes, full of the best action and twists and turns in the entire series, to follow.  RW at the start of the 4th season would confirm GOT as a truly visionary and unconventionary TV series and I think would cement the season and series as one of the best in  TV history.

I'm REALLY hoping that D&D recognize that, and go the truly unexpected route.  But what do other people think, should the RW be late in Season 3, or should it begin Season 4?

[*expletivedeleted*]

In Australia, ASOS was split into two parts. From what i recall, the RW occured towards the end of part one, but was NOT among the final chapters of the book.

[jim25]

While the Red Wedding would be more surprising if it were in the season premiere, was Robb's death so surprising in the book? I mean, yes, the manner in which is happened was surprising, but it's a moment I was dreading the entire time. I think putting it at the beginning of a season would undermine that sense of dread. It would be too jarring and tragic, I think. Whereas, with episode 9, you'd go in expecting worse, hoping for the best, only to have your heart torn out.

Plus, something to keep in mind, they're trying to make the TV season one thought, in so much as this season can be contained. So, they're gonna want to create a season with an arc. I think the plot of the season will be the end of the War of the Five Kings, and the fall of Robb Stark. It makes sense to end it with the Red Wedding. Yes, it'd be less shocking, but the event is shocking enough. I think it'd have more weight at the end of the season.

[redriver]

I would go with the RW around episode 8/9 of season 3 with the Purple around episode 4 of season 4 then building to Tyrion's escape in episode 9 or 10 of season 4.

[Arkash]

If they split Storm, the RW should be around the end of S3, the PW around episode 3 of Season 4, and they would eventually bring elements from Feast and Dance to the end of Season 4... and maybe finishing in on the Kingsmoot...

[The Monkey]

Arkash, on 16 April 2012 - 10:06 AM, said:

If they split Storm, the RW should be around the end of S3, the PW around episode 3 of Season 4, and they would eventually bring elements from Feast and Dance to the end of Season 4... and maybe finishing in on the Kingsmoot...

Finishing season 4 with Jon Snow being named Lord Commander of the Night's Watch seems suitably epic for a TV finale. That's not to say that they couldn't include The Kingsmoot and other FoC or DwD earlier in the season. Chronology isn't that important when the events are so far from eachother.

[Spidey]

With episode 3.07's working title being "Autumn Storms", I'd say the RW is pretty much set for season three, since it does happen during those storms. Maybe not 3.07 but 3.08 or 3.09 are very much possible.

[Aegnor]

There are two ways to go about it in my mind.

1) Have the RW be the season finale. Have the closing shot be Cat's end, or the Hound riding off with Arya.
2) Have the RW be episode 9, and have episode 10 be a denouement for the season similar to season 1.

I think the risk of pissed off viewers rebelling and quitting the series is overblown.  I'm sure some people will quit, just as some quit reading the books. But I think even more people will be attracted to the series because of it. I fully expect Twitter to blow up after the episode. That will create widespread interest in seeing this show that is getting everyone all riled up. And I definitely think it fits better towards the very end of the season, than at the beginning.

[Longspear Ryk]

I think the best way to end season 3 is with stannis and melisandre burning the leeches... Arya witb the hound, jon escaping the wildings, mybe bran and sam at the nightfort with coldhands coming into play

[House Balstroko]

If they do split ASOS into 2 seasons the RW would be best as the climax of season 3, as it would provide the right amount of tension, Having it as an opener wouldn't have the same effect. In seson 4, we could then have some elements of Feast make their way in.

[dtones520]

I think it is the perfect way to end Season 3. You build up the entire season and end it with one fell swoop with the RW. It leaves people talking about the season until season 4 airs. It also gives season 3 that major climatic moment and the episode that can win some awards.

Then season 4 starts out with Tyrion comforting a distraught Sansa, the Lannisters all happy prepping for Joffs wedding, get to episode 4-5, people are thinking the Lannisters are really going to pull this thing off. Joff has this big, grandiose wedding and then BOOM dead Joffrey. They need to sell this wedding of Joffrey like nothing is going to happen, everything is working out for him and the Lannisters and then comes their downfall.

The only thing I don't know is what they are going to do with Jaime, considering he is going to escape the Northerners this season, presumably. He doesn't get to KL til after Joffreys wedding, so he is going to be doing a lot of nothing for a while.

[atia-]

It happened at around like....I think 57% into aSoS.  I think season 3 episode 6/7 would be perfect.

[Blutrabe]

Aegnor, on 16 April 2012 - 06:04 PM, said:

1) Have the RW be the season finale. Have the closing shot be Cat's end, or the Hound riding off with Arya.

This. I would love that ending.

[int11]

D&D always wanted to get to season 3 so they could do this scene, so I guess it'll happen in season 3. I hope it's not at the very end, though. It would be a great "cliffhanger" for a week's wait, but not a whole year.

[PatrickStormborn]

I think that the Red Wedding should end episode 9. It would pretty much ensure a lot of hype for the season finale.

[Sasha Steelsong]

I'd actually rather the RW be at the beginning of Season 4 with Jofferys Wedding at the end of the season (so the deaths of the kings bracket the season) but don't think it will play out that way.  I don't think it should be the season finale but if they're chopping the book in two it seems like the most logical place.  That said I think the non-book fans willl HATE it.  They haven't gotten to HOTU in the show yet so we have no idea whether they will get the same warning the reader's got through Dany's vision (even if the vision wasn't actually the Red Wedding as some have speculated...it was what put the idea that Robb's time was running out into my head), but Robb is a much bigger character in the series than he is in the book and you don't have the same knowledge that he doesn't have a POV (which is obvious once the chapters start repeating in COK).  I would love it if the clifhangers for Season 3 were that the audience knows something is coming but that it doesn't hit till season four.  Part of it is also I think it plays better if the rage is fresh for the fans v.s. having to wait a year and half to see Joff bite it.

[oierem]

Season 3, episode 8. The best realistic option (assuming that it won't be in episode 7).

-Making the RW a season 4 opener would be great... in a way, but there are many problems: everyone would be spoiled (because Robb and Cat would not be part of the main cast, nor part of the behind-the-scenes stuff), and most importantly, a build-up towards that event is needed, to make the deaths meaningful. PLUS, Season 3 would be boring as hell, seriously, with literally no progress in the plot for any of the characters.

-Placing the RW in episode 9 or 10 of S3 would be predictable, because you obviously expect a great event towards the ending of the series. The great think about the RW is that is was totally unexpected, it wasn't meant to be a big scene... until it happens. So, assuming that "Autumm storms" refers to everyone is thinking, episode 8 would be the best option for me.

[oierem]

And, therefore, what would be the right climax for Season 3?
In my opinion, the PW, without a doubt, in episode 10, because it provides a nice ending for Sansa,Tyrion and Littlefinger.
(otherwise, what the heck will happen in KL in S3?)

[Thunderfist]

Tbh I´d like it if took place at the end of episode 10 of season 3

"Jaime Lannister sends his regards"

.... rolling credits .....

[The Lost Lord]

oierem, on 17 April 2012 - 04:56 PM, said:

In my opinion, the PW, without a doubt, in episode 10, because it provides a nice ending for Sansa,Tyrion and Littlefinger.
(otherwise, what the heck will happen in KL in S3?)

Yeah, this is a huge problem. Basically nothing happens in King's Landing in the first half of ASOS. It is all just a buildup to Joffrey's wedding.