450 replies to this topic

[ShowOverBooks]

The Dragon King, on 12 December 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

It's interesting that you find it boring because of the actors race, I found the show fascinating because it was fantastic drama.

I'm a big fan of the movie "Mongol", they're all Asian in the movie and I didnt feel slighted because of the lack of other peoples, I just sat back and enjoyed the movie, too bad you can't do the same.

Hmm. SOMEONE wants to pick a fight.

I didn't say I found the show boring. I would not watch if I did. I said I found the lack of ethnic diversity boring.

A single movie is a long way from a tv show entering its third season. THAT is a whole lot of white bread.

Thanks so much for trying to make me a better person, though. Even though it isn't needed.

[The Dragon King]

ShowOverBooks, on 12 December 2012 - 08:14 PM, said:

Hmm. SOMEONE wants to pick a fight.

I didn't say I found the show boring. I would not watch if I did. I said I found the lack of ethnic diversity boring.

A single movie is a long way from a tv show entering its third season. THAT is a whole lot of white bread.

Thanks so much for trying to make me a better person, though. Even though it isn't needed.

Hmmm, I think I could easily watch an extremely well done series about any single ethnic group and not care in the slightest about whether there were too many of X group in it.  I'm amazing that the thought entered your mind in the first place.

[Nezzer]

ShowOverBooks, on 12 December 2012 - 12:18 PM, said:

Well, there ARE an awful lot of white people in GoT already. Some other races would be exotic and interesting (and yes, I AM white).

The Starks, Lannisters, Baratheon, Greyjoys, AND Targaryans are white in the show. Kinda boring, honestly. One of the things I DO like about the show is that it's not just Brits. Nicholas Waldau is fine as Jaime, and I really liked the dudes playing Ducksauce, Jaqen, and Salador Saan.

The show is a different universe - we're not reading lengthy descriptions of the physical traits of the various cultures, so "spice it up", I say.

But why should they change the appearance of the characters? Should Baratheons be black just for the sake of ethnic diversity?

[andrew_]

GRRM has described the dornish using ethnicities, plus it would be a easy and noticeable way of identifying the characters from one another, it would also make them stand out from the predominantly white cast. For non-readers of the book, it can be confusing keeping track of characters (I know many non-book readers who I have to help out with the who's who of Westeros) so intentionally choosing actors based on ethnicity/appearance isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Dornishemen are supposed to be different, hence why GRRM made them the way he did, so they can be easily identified amongst the people of Westeros. So stop complaining about people racially profiling and get on with the casting speculation.

Oded Fehr
Alexander Siddig
Naveen Andrews

My top three choices based on ethnicity and acting chops.

Edited by andrew02, 12 December 2012 - 10:29 PM.

[AdrianAegon]

Tyrion is american. Drogo was one too.
Jaime is danish
Melisandre is dutch
Shae and Jaquen are german
....
Oberyn a spaniard? Dorne was compared to Spain. Oh I love GoT for having diverse nationalities!

Edited by AdrianAegon, 13 December 2012 - 05:13 AM.

[ShowOverBooks]

Nezzer, on 12 December 2012 - 09:26 PM, said:

But why should they change the appearance of the characters? Should Baratheons be black just for the sake of ethnic diversity?

I would have been fine with that, but it might have caused some plot issues regarding Robert's 'children'.

[ShowOverBooks]

The Dragon King, on 12 December 2012 - 08:49 PM, said:

Hmmm, I think I could easily watch an extremely well done series about any single ethnic group and not care in the slightest about whether there were too many of X group in it.  I'm amazing that the thought entered your mind in the first place.

Variety is the spice of life.

[Drfunk]

The Dragon King, on 12 December 2012 - 08:49 PM, said:

Hmmm, I think I could easily watch an extremely well done series about any single ethnic group and not care in the slightest about whether there were too many of X group in it.  I'm amazing that the thought entered your mind in the first place.

You're not alone. There are however apparently a bunch of people who got a massive case of OCD in regards to skin colour. I would venture a guess and say they consider others who don't share their line of thought as racist. Does it matter that all those "white" people happen to have different nationality? What a joke really, so what i guess all the hispanics are the same and all the asians are the same as well since it's just by skin colour right? It's sad that whenever they do nominate someone that's non white it's mostly based on his looks. People have some really sad ideas when it comes to diversity, Westeros is pretty much medieval europe setting wise. Of course there's going to be more white people in it, that's like going to a Japanese restaurant and complaining you don't see enough steak and fries on their menu. Why not just trust the casting staff that they'll pick the best candidate and stop pestering them about skin colour.

[andrew_]

Drfunk, on 13 December 2012 - 07:28 PM, said:

You're not alone. There are however apparently a bunch of people who got a massive case of OCD in regards to skin colour. I would venture a guess and say they consider others who don't share their line of thought as racist. Does it matter that all those "white" people happen to have different nationality? What a joke really, so what i guess all the hispanics are the same and all the asians are the same as well since it's just by skin colour right? It's sad that whenever they do nominate someone that's non white it's mostly based on his looks. People have some really sad ideas when it comes to diversity, Westeros is pretty much medieval europe setting wise. Of course there's going to be more white people in it, that's like going to a Japanese restaurant and complaining you don't see enough steak and fries on their menu. Why not just trust the casting staff that they'll pick the best candidate and stop pestering them about skin colour.

You're than one who's making  big deal out of it lol. Stop trying to be an internet white knight and go save the world off this forum.

[NewJeffCT]

Westeros, however, is a lot bigger than Medieval Europe.  Size-wise, it's probably close to Europe & Africa combined, while Essos is Asia.

And, while most of the small towns in Medieval Europe were exclusively white, there were non-whites in Europe during that era - Moors in Spain and Sicily, Arabs along the Mediterranean, Huns/Mongols in the East, and descendants of North Africans that were part of the former Roman Empire.  Not to mention, those brought back from the Middle East by returning crusaders.

I also don't see the harm in changing a minor character like Salldor Saan from white to black  If the producers feel that having a few characters not be white in order to expand the appeal of the show, I think it's fine.  It's not the 1950s anymore where over 90% of the country is white - you're looking at over 30% of the potential audience being non-white now.

Additionally, many (but not all) Dornish are described in the book as having brown skin, which has led many to conclude that they're similar to Spanish/Middle Eastern/Indian persons.

[Ran]

Antonio Banderas. 'nuff said.

[Arkash]

Banderas would be great !

[Ingelheim]

Antonio Banderas. He is a great actor, and Spanish and Dornish men are similar. Olive skin, dark hair, strange accent.

Edited by Ingelheim, 14 December 2012 - 05:45 PM.

[Ryan the Drunkard]

Considering the distinction of salty Dornish brings to mind Spanish and not Middle Eastern, what about Oscar Jaenada from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Losers? He looks a little young but he's about forty.

http://www2.pictures...SXoT0INKPXl.jpg

http://images3.wikia...da-premiere.jpg

Edited by Ryan the Drunkard, 14 December 2012 - 09:32 PM.

[andrew_]

Ryan the Drunkard, on 14 December 2012 - 09:27 PM, said:

Considering the distinction of salty Dornish brings to mind Spanish and not Middle Eastern, what about Oscar Jaenada from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Losers? He looks a little young but he's about forty.

http://www2.pictures...SXoT0INKPXl.jpg

http://images3.wikia...da-premiere.jpg

yeh he looks the part, but can he act?

[Ryan the Drunkard]

andrew02, on 14 December 2012 - 09:34 PM, said:

yeh he looks the part, but can he act?

Ryan the Drunkard, on 14 December 2012 - 09:27 PM, said:

Considering the distinction of salty Dornish brings to mind Spanish and not Middle Eastern, what about Oscar Jaenada from Pirates of the Caribbean and The Losers? He looks a little young but he's about forty.

http://www2.pictures...SXoT0INKPXl.jpg

http://images3.wikia...da-premiere.jpg

I mostly know him from his Spanish work, but he is pretty accomplished there. He's very good in November and has been nominated for two and won one Goya (the equivalent of their Academy Awards). He's really just started getting into America in the past few years so his English could possibly be the only issue.

[Ingelheim]

andrew02, on 14 December 2012 - 09:34 PM, said:

yeh he looks the part, but can he act?

I'm spanish and he is one of the best in our country. He is not Javier Bardem, but he can act.

[Ser Dermett Corbray]

Going to throw out a wiiiiildcard...

Michael Imperioli

Won an Emmy for HBO in his role as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos back in the day. Can do both pathos and menacing, which is ideal for Oberyn. Not the tallest guy, but shit, neither is Oberyn compared to the Mountain. Would be quite the coup for a couple of guest appearances.

[Clariana]

For me it's an issue of bulk... Purefoy was gold as Mark Anthony, Banderas is the best... But I envision the Viper more as a lithe type, don't forget he dances around the Mountain stabbing and feinting with that spear, much like a bullfighter does with a bull, so Purefoy and Banderas are just not physically right.

I also envision the Viper as being more quiet than loud, he puts the weight on content rather than noisiness... Someone above has stated that the Viper was screaming "You killed Elia..." etc etc, couldn't disagree more, what he was saying was clearly audible and exquisitely prounced but no way was he screaming, so....

I really like the following suggestions in no particular order: Naveen Andrews, Alexander Siddig, these actors I know.

Oscar Jaenada, Oded Fehr are unknown quantities to me but they look really good for the part.

Oh yes, and Olmos for Doran!

Edited by Clariana, 29 December 2012 - 07:26 AM.

[Arkash]

Yes, let us not forget the viper aspect, light, gaunt, sneaky, elegant, exquisite; and let us not have, please, a bodybuilder.