[Book Spoilers] Yara?

[House Balstroko]

The change from Asha to Yara was unecessary, but I like the portrayal of the character in the show. She looks cute, with a hint of fierceness and great pride.

[DaBillmann]

Someone else already said this, but I want to add my two cents. Unfortunately, "Yarra's" scenes were cut so much shorter on the show than they were in the book, it was hard to get ANY idea of her personality. This is not a case of bad acting, or evenbad writing, it is a case of underusing the character. let's give her a chance people.

as far as changeing the name, on the surface, it seems stupid to change the name to avoid confusion. But, I also must say, that in a series liek this, with SO many characters, it can be easy to confuse characters. I remember when I readthe Lord of the Rings, at one point Frodo says soemthing to Faramir, and I was thinking "Wait, Frodod is not with the Riders of Rohan!", for soem reason, I kept confusing Faramir anbd Eomar. AND there were points when I woudl confuse Asha with Doran Martell's daughter (can't think of her namne right now). I woudlbe talking to my friend about the Martell girl and refer to her as "Asha". Not trying to justify the name change, just saying, even when yo uare carefully reading/watching the series, yo ucna get soem characters confused.

[HyacinthGirl]

I think the changes depend so heavily on personal feeling towards the characters, for us readers. I've been very lucky because all of my favourites (Ned, Arya, Tyrion, Jon, Jaime, Davos) are portrayed perfectly, for me. (Some characters have even come across better for me on screen. Dany, for one. And Joffreys' better in the show than the books, IMO). And maybe if I was a massive Asha fan, it would really bother me that her name was changed, but... it doesn't, not really. Yeah, it's a little irritating, but... meh.

And of course, there are those shallow people bitching bout her not being hot enough. I've noticed that with fantasy, people tend to go to extremes with their imagination, but Asha is never described as being EXTREMELY HOT. Some readers must have thought "huh, daughter of a King AND fights in battles... I'm going to picture a super-hot girl in a metal bikini!" Seriously, where is it written that Asha is a mega-hot warrior princess? She's just an attractive girl, fierce, tough and capable. As far as I'm concerned, that's exactly how Yara came across in last week's episode.

Although when she appeared, not looking like a porn star in armour, I did worry about all the bashing she'd get. I was not wrong.

[ghost the direwolf]

I think the changes depend so heavily on personal feeling towards the characters, for us readers. I've been very lucky because all of my favourites (Ned, Arya, Tyrion, Jon, Jaime, Davos) are portrayed perfectly, for me. (Some characters have even come across better for me on screen. Dany, for one. And Joffreys' better in the show than the books, IMO). And maybe if I was a massive Asha fan, it would really bother me that her name was changed, but... it doesn't, not really. Yeah, it's a little irritating, but... meh.

And of course, there are those shallow people bitching bout her not being hot enough. I've noticed that with fantasy, people tend to go to extremes with their imagination, but Asha is never described as being EXTREMELY HOT. Some readers must have thought "huh, daughter of a King AND fights in battles... I'm going to picture a super-hot girl in a metal bikini!" Seriously, where is it written that Asha is a mega-hot warrior princess? She's just an attractive girl, fierce, tough and capable. As far as I'm concerned, that's exactly how Yara came across in last week's episode.

Although when she appeared, not looking like a porn star in armour, I did worry about all the bashing she'd get. I was not wrong.

:agree:

[Morrigan]

And of course, there are those shallow people bitching bout her not being hot enough. I've noticed that with fantasy, people tend to go to extremes with their imagination, but Asha is never described as being EXTREMELY HOT. Some readers must have thought "huh, daughter of a King AND fights in battles... I'm going to picture a super-hot girl in a metal bikini!" Seriously, where is it written that Asha is a mega-hot warrior princess? She's just an attractive girl, fierce, tough and capable. As far as I'm concerned, that's exactly how Yara came across in last week's episode.

Although when she appeared, not looking like a porn star in armour, I did worry about all the bashing she'd get. I was not wrong.

Indeed. I even saw an idiotic meme-pic about that. I was disgusted. Here it is (I warn you, it's very much retarded and pretty offensive)

http://i.imgur.com/relC9.jpg

I had to laugh at the retarded fanarts though. Other than Amoka's, they are all 100% inaccurate. Especially the 4th pic on the top row... seriously, who the HELL is that, because other than being female and roughly the same age, there's 0% in common with Asha here. :lol:

[The Non-Human]

You have to know her name! They told us she was Yara, but that was a lie. Her name is Asha.

Basically, this.

[HyacinthGirl]

Indeed. I even saw an idiotic meme-pic about that. I was disgusted. Here it is (I warn you, it's very much retarded and pretty offensive)

http://i.imgur.com/relC9.jpg

I had to laugh at the retarded fanarts though. Other than Amoka's, they are all 100% inaccurate. Especially the 4th pic on the top row... seriously, who the HELL is that, because other than being female and roughly the same age, there's 0% in common with Asha here. :lol:

Bahahahaha. That's hilarious! Who is drawing these? Amoka's is the best, you're right, the rest are just... :huh:

[SI Monster]

Indeed. I even saw an idiotic meme-pic about that. I was disgusted. Here it is (I warn you, it's very much retarded and pretty offensive)

http://i.imgur.com/relC9.jpg

I had to laugh at the retarded fanarts though. Other than Amoka's, they are all 100% inaccurate. Especially the 4th pic on the top row... seriously, who the HELL is that, because other than being female and roughly the same age, there's 0% in common with Asha here. :lol:

I'm going to eat all kinds of flack for this but: I don't have a problem with Yara's look. Some say she doesn't look athletic enough, but to be honest how 'athletic' should she look? Do you want Sarena Williams fit or Anna Kournikova fit? From meeting female sailors in the US Navy, she looks like someone who would be walking off a gangplank of a ship. To me, that's accurate for a seafarer. I am dissapointed that I didn't get the dinner scene from the book where she's seated over Theon, out drinks him and shows off her husband (axe) and suckling babe (dagger). I would pay real money to see that.

As far as the fan art displayed above, that's exactly that: a fan's depiction of what Asha Greyjoy looks like. If I was to peal open a grafic novel version of ACoK, I would go with the third on the bottom row. But for film, how many actors, or women, look like any of those pictures?

If people would like to see what a model looks like when you cast them as a warrior and how rediculous they look, check out the Olga Kurylenko in Centurion. She's supposed to be a badass warrior woman... but she looks like she weighs four pounds, half of that in her hair.

Sofar, Gemma Whelan's okay in the role. The only thing she's missing is a couple of throwing axes and a scene with her playing the finger game.

[Marjie Eilie Myatt]

Sometimes I think HBO makes minor changes in order to assert their copyright(s) and trademarks. The Stark sigil is described as a running direwolf when it's on a banner, not a head as illustrated in the TV series. Jamie and Joffrey should have long golden curls; Renly also should have long hair. Ned's hair should be darker--more like Jon Snow. Jorah should be dark brunette and have a hairy body. Some minor characters from the books have been turned into composites. Then Asha becomes Yara (horrible), plus she and Theon were cast more fair than as described in the books. The whole shaving-of-Renly's-chest-hair scene was stupid, and Loras doesn't look strong enough to fight off Brienne for even so much as a minute. Have you seen this actor's arms? Stereotyped homosexual.

All the children are aged up a couple of years, so it's not so gross to be thinking of their "flowering" and what-not (don't know why HBO couldn't keep that term) and so modern audiences can take them more seriously as commanders. (And older actors are more capable and probably they're cleared for adult subject matter.) But I can't picture Natalie Dormer having playdates with Tommen! She's too old, and HBO has given up Margaery's cunning too soon.

Some of the males I probably couldn't have taken seriously with the longer hair (remember Kevin Costner in Robin Hood; terrible). But as for Asha, I didn't need her to be pretty (she's not described as pretty, nor buxom) but I needed someone with a lanky physicality and charisma with a mannish haircut. The accuracy of the nose is not required; too difficult to cast.

But a more accurate nose should have been done on Rorge. His didn't appear to be chopped off; did I not get a good look?

I did expect Shae to be stupider. Not sure what's going on there.

[boojam]

Sometimes I think HBO makes minor changes in order to assert their copyright(s) and trademarks. The Stark sigil is described as a running direwolf when it's on a banner, not a head as illustrated in the TV series. Jamie and Joffrey should have long golden curls; Renly also should have long hair. Ned's hair should be darker--more like Jon Snow. Jorah should be dark brunette and have a hairy body. Some minor characters from the books have been turned into composites. Then Asha becomes Yara (horrible), plus she and Theon were cast more fair than as described in the books. The whole shaving-of-Renly's-chest-hair scene was stupid, and Loras doesn't look strong enough to fight off Brienne for even so much as a minute. Have you seen this actor's arms? Stereotyped homosexual.

All the children are aged up a couple of years, so it's not so gross to be thinking of their "flowering" and what-not (don't know why HBO couldn't keep that term) and so modern audiences can take them more seriously as commanders. (And older actors are more capable and probably they're cleared for adult subject matter.) But I can't picture Natalie Dormer having playdates with Tommen! She's too old, and HBO has given up Margaery's cunning too soon.

Some of the males I probably couldn't have taken seriously with the longer hair (remember Kevin Costner in Robin Hood; terrible). But as for Asha, I didn't need her to be pretty (she's not described as pretty, nor buxom) but I needed someone with a lanky physicality and charisma with a mannish haircut. The accuracy of the nose is not required; too difficult to cast.

But a more accurate nose should have been done on Rorge. His didn't appear to be chopped off; did I not get a good look?

I did expect Shae to be stupider. Not sure what's going on there.

Maybe we need a viewers guide around here!

For the 100th time ... on character ages... this show was not going to be shot in some third world country...so... film/tv production labor laws in developed countries prevent the hiring of actors under a certain age who are going to be on an adult show. In fact the number of hours they can work is also limited. Maybe this forum is going to have to present this fact a 1000 times before readers get through their heads that the actors in the show can not be the same age as the characters in the book, or the producers would have been arrested the first day.

The age thing , everybody: get over it!

{From my perspective I wish George had of dropped part of his 'European Middle Ages' template from the get go, he had in mind the series might make it to the visual media and he worked in the biz and knew the restrictions.}

As far as any character's physical appearance , the producers not only have to hire the best actors they can, who approximate the prose characters, but a once production and costume design take shape a certain visual aesthetic takes hold that dictates a consistent presentation.

I don't think HBO's trademark inclination had anything to do with it, even if it had been a running dire-wolf HBO would have still owned the design as a trademark.

Anyway I like the sigils D&D have approved better than artist concept I seen before the show. The House Targaryen one is the best of any I have seen anywhere.

Relax and enjoy the show on it's own terms , I am sure you can hold two fun concepts in your mind at the same time.

[Marjie Eilie Myatt]

No need to be so defensive on behalf of HBO, as if they are immune from critique. I have a good friend who works at HBO Entertainment myself; I am a fan. I also am FULLY aware of the working restrictions on child actors, being a broadcast industry employee myself, who's under-age nephew also works in the industry, and who nonetheless sees PLENTY of children cast in children's roles. They make it work when it's necessary, is what I'm saying, but it's not necessary nor even desirable for modern movie audiences to have to try to buy into the ages portrayed in Martin's books. I don't want them younger; I personally have nothing to "get over" (except for Margaery being played by Natalie Dormer, I admit it; and the characterization is so different that therefore Margaery's awareness doesn't sneak up on the audience, as it does in the books).

I also teach trademark and copyright law, so I've been thinking about the design elements for a while. I'm not saying that's the sole basis for design. Artists can't function that way. But I knew a guy who drew "Captain Jack Sparrow" for Disney comic books and coloring books, and he had to make the character NOT look like Johnny-Depp-as-Jack-Sparrow so that Disney wouldn't be paying Depp forever for appropriating his identity.

[The Non-Human]

{From my perspective I wish George had of dropped part of his 'European Middle Ages' template from the get go, he had in mind the series might make it to the visual media and he worked in the biz and knew the restrictions.}

Lol, you wish he had made the books different to accommodate the then-far-off possibility of a future show? really?

[boojam]

Lol, you wish he had made the books different to accommodate the then-far-off possibility of a future show? really?

Yeah I know George did not know for sure... but he has said himself that he knew if the books went to visual media those changes had to be made. It's no big deal ... but it did make it to HBO and I am tired of hearing about the aging up thing.

It's the way it had to be and so that's the way it is.

[boojam]

No need to be so defensive on behalf of HBO, as if they are immune from critique. I have a good friend who works at HBO Entertainment myself; I am a fan. I also am FULLY aware of the working restrictions on child actors, being a broadcast industry employee myself, who's under-age nephew also works in the industry, and who nonetheless sees PLENTY of children cast in children's roles. They make it work when it's necessary, is what I'm saying, but it's not necessary nor even desirable for modern movie audiences to have to try to buy into the ages portrayed in Martin's books. I don't want them younger; I personally have nothing to "get over" (except for Margaery being played by Natalie Dormer, I admit it; and the characterization is so different that therefore Margaery's awareness doesn't sneak up on the audience, as it does in the books).

I also teach trademark and copyright law, so I've been thinking about the design elements for a while. I'm not saying that's the sole basis for design. Artists can't function that way. But I knew a guy who drew "Captain Jack Sparrow" for Disney comic books and coloring books, and he had to make the character NOT look like Johnny-Depp-as-Jack-Sparrow so that Disney wouldn't be paying Depp forever for appropriating his identity.

We are on the same wavelength.

[LordofWinter]

.....isn't her full name ashara? which could be short formed to either asha or yara? i could be completely wrong

[mcbelfast]

I think the girl playing Yara/Asha is excellent but she's nothing like the character as described in the book. Asha is both dark haired and incredibly sexy.

[Acetabularia]

.....isn't her full name ashara? which could be short formed to either asha or yara? i could be completely wrong

That is actually a very good point, I never thought of that, and that is probably also true. The thing that bothers me with the name change is that Osha annoys Theon when he takes Winterfell and one of his thoughts is exactely that she reminds him of his sister and that even their names sound similar. That just bothers me.

As to her appearance, it doesn't bother me that much. I suppose they could've dyied her hair a bit darker and cut it a little shorter.

[Lady_D]

I think Asha was described prettier in the books than Yara now turned out in the series. I don't mean that disrespectfully to the actress portraying her, I guess it is a question of make up and costume, and I actually think it works better. For her to command men at sea and in battle and have their respect, she needs to be tough and hardened rather than pretty. A woman who appears too attractive might have difficulties to convincingly play the part of a warrior woman in a male-dominated society such as Westeros. That doesn't mean attractive women could not play a tough fighter or leader, but with Emilia's Daenerys already falling into the warrior-queen category, audiences might find it hard to accept two beautiful amazon characters on one show, not to forget Arya, who, were she older, would make it three. As far as Asha/Yara is concerned, it will depend on the following episodes.

your post makes me sad. god forbid we should have a tv show where there's more than one strong beautiful amazon woman. (sarcasm)

'yara' is plain and uninspiring. i'm scared about what they're going to do to arianne and the sandsnakes.

[SkaagosChef]

I'm looking forward to the scene from ADWD when Theon finally meets Asha / Yara and says "You have to know your name"

[Gwendolyn]

Reading through it, I have to tell one thing, I found out was a funny thing at last, I was watching the second season before we got them on German TV translated for us and was wondering when I somewhere read about the differences between the book's and the TV Series, and did read about the name Asha got be named Yara, here comes the funny thing, finally we got her on TV past week and in Germany they named her back to Asha so I was confused after reading the differences between book and TV Series but that could really confuse you, if you are watching the series in original, then in translation and reading the books, if one name changes and then changes back, it's not we don't have enough names to deal with :shocked: