54 replies to this topic

[Jon Wolfwalker]

th TV series finishes before the books and reveals the ending before you can read it?

For me that's a definite yes.

Edit: The only alternative I can see to stop it is a Dunk and Egg series in the meantime.

Edited by Jon Wolfwalker, 29 July 2012 - 09:07 PM.

[Jolene Brown]

I would be very very very very very very very very disappointed.  I don't think I'd know if it was going to ruin the book until I read it.  I do like spoilers, so maybe not?  It would just feel wrong.

[Jem]

Yeah, I'd be disappointed.

For me, it isn't so much about being spoiled. For me, I would question and be worried about authenticity/author's right/canon whatever you want to call it.

No matter what the TV show says - either now or in the future - only GRRM's word counts. So if the TV show 'guessed' the ending and that ending diverged too greatly from GRRM's ending, well it would be like a whole parallel universe opening up. It would completely ruin the show for me (and I do like the show, just in a different way to the books), and the show would become false and irrelevant.

So basically for me, if the TV show gets GRRM's ending exactly right, I'd be OK with it (even if I was spoiled), but if it deviates at all from GRRM's plan, then I'd totally hate it and try to erase the entire TV series from my mind because it would be completely wrong, like some evil not-quite-identical twin.

[Sevumar]

It would be a let down for me too. I want to see the story finished according to Martin's vision on paper before it's finished onscreen.

[lostcause]

It wouldn't ruin it for me no.
I would prefer that, to say them having to wait for years until he catches up with the books, and would have to replace almost all the actors.

The series has done a nice job of seperating itself from the books (especially the second season), with scenes and characters changed/left out. Should it end prior to the books, I am pretty sure I'd interpret it as a really really well thought out theory by a really big fan. And then see how close to the book ending his theory comes - which would be pretty close as they know stuff we do not yet!

[King Doug]

No question.....Huge disappointment. And a huge failure on GRRM's part.

[Stanmore]

Yeah. I started with the show, but the books have so much more depth. There's no way the show could wrap up all the plot threads from the books satisfactorily, and I'd really prefer to experience the End of the series as GRRM intends rather than have things spoiled for me beforehand.

[Hear me Meow]

If the show gets ahead of the books I won't be watching it, so its kind of a moot point for me.

I'd also question if HBO can really finish the show in a similar way to the book. GrrM may have told them the main plot points but that is not the same as adapting a book, which is what they've been doing so far. They'd still have to make stacks of shit up.

Personally, I think that as long as GrrM gets the WoW out before the show catches up, there is no danger of him being overtaken as I can't see the show lasting more than 7 seasons, if that.

[Fire Eater]

I never watch the show but it would. It's unlikely since the show is derived from the books, and GRRM hasn't finished TWoW yet so there is no material to provide for that season.

[King Doug]

Bran the Cute, on 29 July 2012 - 09:10 PM, said:

If the show gets ahead of the books I won't be watching it, so its kind of a moot point for me.

I'd also question if HBO can really finish the show in a similar way to the book. GrrM may have told them the main plot points but that is not the same as adapting a book, which is what they've been doing so far. They'd still have to make stacks of shit up.

Personally, I think that as long as GrrM gets the WoW out before the show catches up, there is no danger of him being overtaken as I can't see the show lasting more than 7 seasons, if that.

I skeptically agree with you. If that makes sense. On one hand I know that TV viewers are VERY fickle and the show probably won't last that long. But on the other hand it might. It's incredibly popular right now and we're only 2 season in. I don't think the popularity has hit it's pinnacle yet and it may very well continue to ascend through season 3. The big decision they have is how many season to make A Storm of Swords in to. I think we can all agree that a TON of stuff happened in that book.

Fire Eater, on 29 July 2012 - 09:20 PM, said:

I never watch the show but it would. It's unlikely since the show is derived from the books, and GRRM hasn't finished TWoW yet so there is no material to provide for that season.

They definitely wouldn't have the little details and nuances we all love so much in the books since they are unwritten. But GRRM has told D&D the ending, just in case something happens to him.

[Jon Wolfwalker]

Fire Eater, on 29 July 2012 - 09:20 PM, said:

I never watch the show but it would. It's unlikely since the show is derived from the books, and GRRM hasn't finished TWoW yet so there is no material to provide for that season.

I'd say he gave them some details. I don't see him sayin "Take my work and butcher it up so that it ends in no way, shape, or form as I thought of it."

[lostcause]

Jon Wolfwalker, on 29 July 2012 - 09:26 PM, said:

I'd say he gave them some details. I don't see him sayin "Take my work and butcher it up so that it ends in no way, shape, or form as I thought of it."

The show runners have said they have gotten. or at least been promised by Marting, that if they catch up to him, he will make sure they get the info needed to move on.

I do not think he's just given them all of his notes, but rather should the day come, he'll sit down with them and they'll get to a mutual agreement on the ending.

[poortheon]

there is no way the tv series would finish before the books, but on the incredibly low percentage chance that it does.. i would be so angry.  the books are so much better than the series (case & point: season 2)

[genegirl]

I cannot imagine the series would end before the books.  I can see the series stopping and waiting to catch up.  It would be difficult but worth the wait.

[Patrick Durden]

Nope. I just want to know how everything ends. Reading or watching makes no difference.

[Tyrion The Imp Lannister]

I have to agree it would be a huge let down if the Tv series was to over take the books , that said I would just  not watch the TV series ( as hard as it would be ) .

ThE ImP

[King Doug]

genegirl, on 29 July 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

I cannot imagine the series would end before the books.  I can see the series stopping and waiting to catch up.  It would be difficult but worth the wait.

Honestly, if the show makes it to the 7th season and they have caught up with the books, no way they are going to stop and wait for GRRM. TV viewers are already fickle enough. You can't wait a few years and let the viewers' curiosity cool.

However, there very well could be something in the contract about not letting the show overtake the books. That way GRRM isn't rushed and forced to publish something he's not happy with. And it doesn't piss off the bulk of his fans, the readers.

[Jon Wolfwalker]

genegirl, on 29 July 2012 - 11:18 PM, said:

I cannot imagine the series would end before the books.  I can see the series stopping and waiting to catch up.  It would be difficult but worth the wait.

At the rate HBO is going it will run roughshod over the books. I cant recall a tv series which takes a many yeared break and still gets the fans returning, hence the Dunk and Egg stuff. They need a filler otherwise the series will spoil the books.

poortheon, on 29 July 2012 - 09:54 PM, said:

there is no way the tv series would finish before the books, but on the incredibly low percentage chance that it does.. i would be so angry.  the books are so much better than the series (case & point: season 2)

Season 2 to me was about as enjoyable as a root canal to me. You have a perfectly good story and yet you want to gut it for new audience members to easily understand. Blah.

Edited by Jon Wolfwalker, 29 July 2012 - 11:52 PM.

[Quentyn the Blazed]

It would suck, and I think this is the one thing that would get GRRM to speed up his slow writing pace. id imagine the show surpassing him and spoiling things he whispered in their ear would be a huge disappointment for him as the storys creator.

Also, two seasons for book three, then who the fuck knows what they do with books 4 and 5

That's five or six years, and this time GRRM won't spend years re writing a failed time gap

[Gannicus]

That would be great. We might be able to know how this thing ends before we die.

In truth, I like the show even better than the books. The books have more depth sure, but the changes have been excellent so far and we have to deal with less of the boring bs. It's a rare case of the show outdoing the book, but imho AFFC and ADWD just were not that good.

Edited by Gannicus, 30 July 2012 - 12:09 AM.