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[NO SPOILERS] EP101 Discussion


Ran

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Non-spoiler discussion of the show goes here, for those who've not read the books or those who have but are happy to not actually reference them at all in discussion, taking each episode as it comes.

This topic should open automatically when the pre-show (starting at 8:45PM) begins.

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Question.

Are the books as... porno and vulgar as the HBO series or is that Hollywood shining through? :lol:

I wouldn't describe it as porno and vulgar. I see it as a brutally honest and relentlessly fascinating take on the high fantasy genre that doesn't pull any punches.

And HBO may have added a random sex scene or two... but they've taken out at least I know of.

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So, my husband watched the first episode with me- he hasn't read the books- and he like it overall, but had a few issues.

1. He thought that Dothraki sounds like Klingon...

2. Though Jaime looked like that prince from Shrek.

3. Wasn't crazy about the music score- thought it was too typical of the genre (I agree, I'm not digging the score- the scene with Ned and Cat under the heart tree with the background harp music? :ack:) .

4. Was a bit confused in some conversations where back story is mentioned without explanation. Luckily he had me to explain some (particularly the scene in the crypt and the back story on Ned's dead sister and "him" who Robert hates so much). He (my husband) thinks if a viewer doesn't have someone who knows the novels around, they could feel a little lost, but basically understood that all backstories will eventually be revealed.

5. He thought there was a tad too much dog style sex (3 scenes), and I kind of agree but understand why the Dothraki do it that way. My problem is mainly with the last "things I do for love" scene- it would have been more in keeping with her character if she had been on top.

Otherwise he liked the show. I like it as well, but found the pace to be fast and choppy... But it's the pilot episode, so I expected it for the most part.

Edit: P.S. Am I the only one who doesn't think the opening credits are all that awesome?

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I adored the opening credits. Usually shows like these show knights jousting, dragons, etc. [Or maybe I'm just thinking of BBC's Merlin.] But I loved how the castles and everything was made of gears and how it showed the geography of Westeros and beyond. Simply fantastic. Also, I was really excited that Sean Bean's name was the first to appear. :D

I felt like some of the stuff would've been hard to understand, though. [Thank god I read the book]. My mom was watching it with me [terribly awkward] and didn't quite understand why the deserter had to die. I guess the show'll talk more about the oath and such in later episodes though. I ended up explaining the basic story behind everything to my mom though.

I really liked the dialogue in the scenes. Most of it matched fairly well with the book, so that was really exciting. As mentioned above though, I could deal with less of the boobs and such. But since it was included in the book, I guess the producers had to shove some of it into the show. :huh:

Fantastic beginning. I can't wait for the second ep.

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The back story regarding Robert and Ned's sister will, I am sure, be brought out as we go. That was designed to make viewers curious about what happened to her.

Doggie style sex was pretty much the norm up until not too terribly long ago. That's why they call the Missionary position the Missionary position.

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Question.

Are the books as... porno and vulgar as the HBO series or is that Hollywood shining through? :lol:

Well.... There is sex in the books for sure. and I didn't see anything that would have surprised me at all. The actors are definetly in charecter. HBO is right on I think.

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I can see how some parts would be confusing without having read the book. I watched it with someone who hadn't as well and it was kind of choppy when you start to hear their questions. It is easy to take it for granted since I've read AGOT 3 times and understand it very well.

However I think they stayed very true to the books, leaving nothing hugely important out, and had a great pace (if in face it goes 12 episodes [am i right?])

Hopefully in the next episode there are a few more "info dump" conversations and they can catch people up on a lot of the "why" type questions they left out in this one.

:thumpsup:

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Yes. They were awesome.

I'll have to watch it again, maybe I was distracted. I did like the gears/pop up of the city/Winterfell/Pentos, but found the zoom out to the sun thingy to be jarring- and didn't like the Game of Thrones title/font at the end of the credit sequence- looked a bit World of Warcraft-ish to me :dunno:.

Will watch again and review my initial impression.

Doggie style sex was pretty much the norm up until not too terribly long ago. That's why they call the Missionary position the Missionary position.

Uh, yeah ok. :lol: I don't think they were doing that position on the show to be historically accurate. Personally, I have no problem seeing it- neither does my husband, just seemed a bit over done.

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Question.

Are the books as... porno and vulgar as the HBO series or is that Hollywood shining through? :lol:

Well as they say, sex sells, however, I think in the HBO version it is more prominent than in the books. The books are incredibly large in scope and depth. It's Tolkien for adults. Martin (the author) deals with all kinds of topics and issues in a very adult and realistic way in that a lot of people are motivated by power, wealth or sex. There is certainly sex in the books but it never seemed gratuitous to me.

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I'm giving the premier a neutral. I liked the period detail. It's difficult to fathom why the bastard want's to volunteer to guard the wall after just seeing the terrified guard decapitated. The hard core sex among characters we don't know seems like porn. I was disappointed in the credits because sometimes HBO does a truly beautiful job with them. I was miffed at the writer for killing(?) a child character we'd just begun to have sympathy for. I won't be able to bond with the characters if there's a Soprano style whacking every episode. I'll watch again next week because I have faith in HBO.

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My dad had the same reaction many people had when he saw Will, Gared, and Waymar Royce emerge from the Wall...

"That guy looks like Mark Wahlberg" :P

Lol. Same thing the person I was watching with said. Marky Mark. :3

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