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SFA-OK

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Everything posted by SFA-OK

  1. 5/10. Hated, hated, hated all the jumping around, it seemed worse than usual. Not a fan of TV Brienne, I liked the book version much more. Same goes for Shae and multiply that by 100 and I didn't even like Shae in the books that much.
  2. 5/10. These writers just aren't very good. Nothing has been improved from the first two seasons. Boring and cliched direction, pacing, etc. Nothing has improved.
  3. I have to say that I find it more entertaining to read the reviews on here than actually watching the episodes this season, lol. From fans giving the show a 10 and then listing a number of faults with the episode to fans of the book like myself that bitch about the overall ho-hum quality of the TV show. Good stuff. I still haven't watched the final episode, not sure when that will be. The show's overall approach and it's writing is just too middle of the road and cliched. I was hoping the writing would improve this season but I think it's actually gotten worse in a lot of ways.
  4. 7/10. One of the better episodes. Some good, some bad. I thought Cersei, Sansa and Joffrey were all really good as usual. The explosion of the wildfire was really, really well done. The rest of the battle scene had some comical stuff thrown in, IMO, like the top of the guy's head getting chopped off. Minor gripe, but even with the budget constraints, would it have been too hard to throw in some far away or overhead shots to show more of the boats and Stannis' army? I think it would've just added a nice "epicness" to the battle, which has been missing throughout the show. Wasn't a fan of the Sansa/Hound scene. Book version, way better. It's actually one of my favorite parts of the book. I did like the Cersei/Sansa scene, though.
  5. Theon continues to do a great job. The riot scene seemed generic and cheesy. What's the deal with Littlefinger showing up everywhere? How many times was Dany called "Little Princess" by the Frank Black look-alike? Seemed like it was about 20. I don't even know what the hell is going on with that part of the story, not very interesting or coherent. The actor portraying Twyin is doing a great job, even though I'm not a big fan of some of the recent scenes he's been in.
  6. This is a great example of why I have a problem with the writing on the show vs. the book. It seems the writers on the show struggle with effectively stressing and pointing out strong parts of storylines and even characters. A lot of things seemed to be brushed aside and don't really stand out.
  7. I'll give it a good solid 6. Some entertaining scenes. I think the actor portraying Theon is doing a great job, same goes for Arya. Maybe my two favorite actors up to this point on the show. I hate how they continue to jump so quickly from scene to scene. It's driving me a little crazy. And with some scenes it seems as soon as things start getting interesting they cut away. There were a few scenes that seemed to last just 1 or 2 minutes before cutting away. Oh well, I guess they won't be changing that style anytime soon. I think the actress portraying Brienne is doing a decent job but there is something off there, not quite how I pictured her.
  8. gogorath, I think we just have different taste, you're a big Malick fan apparently, I am not, I think the Sopranos is easily one of the greatest shows on TV, you apparently do not. In a way, I think you are misunderstanding me. I never said the GoT show was bad or "done so poorly", just that it's average or mediocre in a lot of ways. And that kind of show is not what I was hoping for when I heard HBO was doing the adaptation. I'm not sure how it's relevant if there have or haven't been other better adaptions on TV or the movies. I never said I didn't think the Martin books weren't deep on some levels, I've specifically been talking about the show. As far as legitimate criticism goes I guess I could go through an episode and specifically critique what I didn't like in the direction, pacing and writing but who would care? It's just my opinion.
  9. gograth, I think you're putting too much stock into what "professional TV critics" think of the show. Most TV is pretty bad, I think you'd agree there. So what are these critics comparing the show to? Mostly bad shows. GoT isn't a bad show and it has pretty good production values, the content is an epic story, etc. Most critics were never going to give the show a negative review unless HBO really dropped the ball on it and did something horrible with it. And I'm not sure that your hypothesis is correct, could be, but definitely isn't the case with me. I've been accused of being a "book purist" on here but it simply isn't true and I think some people use that label on here when they don't like to hear criticisms of the show. I've only read the books once and don't remember some of the details. It seems that you are implying the writing on the GoT TV writing is on par or better than the Sopranos which I couldn't disagree more with. It simply comes down to this for me - The show, thus far, just isn't that entertaining or interesting, regardless of source material or comparisons to it. And the reasons for it - The writing, the writing, the writing, the pacing and direction (constant ADD jumping from scene to scene, etc.). Some of the casting and acting have been great though. But I stated last year that if I HADN'T read the books I would've stopped watching it already, the show is that middle of the road and mediocre in a lot of ways. But again, some fans are loving it which is cool.
  10. Nevermind, I don't even know what the Borgia saga is! lol.
  11. I am probably more critical of films and TV than most people are. I would say shows like Sopranos, Twin Peaks and The Wire blow away the writing that we've seen so far from the HBO GoT. Other shows that aren't dramas - Seinfeld, The Office (BBC version). I don't think there are very many really good TV shows, but that doesn't magically make the writing on the GoT adaptation better just because there aren't a lot of other really well written TV shows out there. I already posted this last year, but I think my expectations were simply too high after I saw that HBO was adapting the show and one of the writers actually said something along the lines of envisioning the show like a medieval Sopranos, which is EXACTLY how I view the books to a certain extent. But the writing isn't even in the same ballpark as the Sopranos. And it's not like the writers don't have source material to draw from. I understand time and budget constraints, but that's not really the problem, IMO, the writing is simply lacking in subtly, it's middle of the road, overly safe, characterization is lacking in places, dialogue pales in comparison to the dialogue from the book. It's like the writers (or HBO) are trying to adapt the books more to how other modern shows because they are afraid the show won't be well received otherwise, which sucks, IMO. As far as critics raving about it, I'm not saying the show is bad, not at all, but it's pretty irrelevant to me that critics think the show is better than most shows on TV when most shows on TV are mediocre at best. What is so great about the actual writing on the show? I don't get it. And no I am not a Terrence Malick fan, lol. Thin Red Line was horrible and pretentious, although some of his shots and direction are interesting and cool I guess.
  12. I think the show is just too boring for me. I've tried and tried and tried to get into it. I really wish the writing, direction and pacing were better. Oh well, at least some fans are loving it which is cool. I do like some of the acting.
  13. I agree that it was the best episode so far this season, still not great but an improvement. I'll give it a 6. Looks like they cast a good actress for Brienne. small nitpick but I always pictured her having long hair, not short. Maybe she had short hair in the book and I missed that. Actor playing Theon is doing a good job, same for Sansa. Shae and Asha = bad. It was cool to see a lot of people in a scene for once (the Brienne intro).
  14. I'm not quite ready to quit watching but I'm almost there. I'm not really a book purist, I'm just not a fan of heavy-handed/cliched/mediocre/middle-of-the-road writing which this show has an abundance of so far. Compare, for example, dialogue from the book to dialogue that the writer's of the show consistently use and there's no comparison. It's too bad there aren't other writers working on this show. I really didn't think HBO would be in favor of dumbing down a book adaptation after they did shows like the Sopranos but that's what is going on here, IMO. This show doesn't really even feel like it's on HBO (except for the nudity), it feels more like it's a basic cable type of a show.
  15. I've read (and am a big fan) of all the books and I thought it was boring! But I've thought the majority of the episodes so far have been fairly boring. For non-book readers I'm curious to know how many of them even know what is really going on with all the different storylines, especially with the way the show constantly jumps from scene to scene with quick bits of information being thrown out here and there.
  16. I had forgotten about that (there is so much stuff in the books), but TV Stannis is totally different so far than the book version and that scene, ugh. I didn't mind the nudity, though!
  17. They do? Because I sure as shit don't remember that, but I've only read the books one time so maybe I missed that part. But I always thought Stannis was a cold, non-sexual (almost impotent) character who was obsessed with being king and pretty much nothing else. The semen scene was just totally unnecessary and over the top, but that's just my two cents on it.
  18. I gave it a 4. I'm almost done watching the show. I was hoping it would improve from last season but if anything, it's gotten worse. Unnecessary changes, changes for the worse, characters acting out of character from the book, etc. The writing is just mediocre, there's no way around it. It's clear they are targeting a mass audience (which is understandable) but the show and the writing definitely suffers. I just don't get some of the changes, though. Melisandre and Stannis? What the hell, And that's just the tip of the iceberg. And I'm starting to think the show's producers/writers are just looking for excuses to show nudity, lol. Not that I would normally complain, but, the semen scene, wow.
  19. I feel pretty much the opposite. All the expository writing just makes me roll my eyes at this point. I know some of it is necessary but it could be done in a lot better, less obvious way. And just not a fan of most of the changes either or how they are all put together. Just seems so jumbled and mixed together. Even little stuff like Robb's direwolf snapping within an inch of Jaime's face, ugh.
  20. I'll give it a 5. Not a fan of any of the new casts so far except for maybe Davos, too early to tell maybe. I'm hoping the actress they cast for Brienne does a good job. I think maybe the two guys writing/adapting the books just aren't very good writers, pretty cliched stuff, IMO.
  21. 6 or 7. The actor playing Joffrey is pretty much perfect so far. Definitely do not like how they've handled Littlefinger or Varys. I liked how they handled the last scene, the dragons look cool. I think this episode showed maybe more than any other that more than 10 episodes was needed for the first season. It seemed like so much was condensed into this last episode. A lot of the scenes that set up the next book/season seemed really rushed, IMO.
  22. That's interesting, but as you said it's anecdotal evidence. But what conclusions did the non-readers come to exactly? There wasn't much to draw from that scene. I think the reason why some non-readers weren't shaking their heads at some of these scenes is because they obviously haven't read the books so they don't know what is even being omitted (ie, characterization, nuance, etc.). I agree with the bad way they've handled Jaime's character. Looking back, I think the fight scene between Ned and him was one of the worst scenes so far in the show. Here is a huge character who is known for being one of the greatest swordsman in the 7 Kingdoms but none of that has really been conveyed so far (Ned fight scene, Whispering Woods).
  23. That's an interesting point. Does anyone know how much of the 50M budget has been spent on marketing and advertising? And yes, parts of the show do look a little bit low-budget. (I think it's a combinations of low-budget and just bad design in some places). But if the first season's budget really is 50M then maybe people shouldn't be surprised it has a low-budget look in places. That seems to be a pretty low number for a story of this magnitude. HBO probably should've put a little more money into it. Hopefully next season.
  24. This is one of my main problems with the show so far. The pacing is too fast, when most scenes are just 2 or 3 minutes long, it's hard to put in information and depth that the audience can soak in and absorb, especially important scenes like Jaime getting captured. I posted it earlier, but I find it hard to believe that non-readers even really know what is going on in relation to Robb's army moving south, other than the fact that Robb's army is moving south to fight the Lannisters. I can understand it being OK with some, but it really pales in comparison to the details and depth of the book. It's not even close really.
  25. I noticed that as well. It didn't bother me too much. I find it a little strange how fans are rationalizing the exclusion of the battle scenes by saying it doesn't add to the story. It IS part of the story! It makes everything else more important.I think it's just an odd way to tell a story by excluding key parts that shape the plot of the books and then summing up the excluded parts in a matter or a minute or two in the show. Personally, I'm not asking for a 10,000 man fight scene that goes on for 30 minutes, but something more substantial is needed. I thought they did handle Tyrion's battle scene pretty well, but to exclude both scenes was strange. The Whispering Woods scene was just awful. As far as the budget goes, I don't think anyone is asking for LOTR-type battle scenes, just something more substantial than what is being shown, which is pretty much nothing. For example , is it too much to ask for 100-200 soldiers on screen at a time? I think that would be sufficient if filmed right. I'm just starting to find it a little ridiculous how there is always literally just 20-30 people in any given scene. I guess 50 million dollars doesn't go as far as it used to!
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