Game of Thrones, I Miss You!

[shapinglight]

I should be working on the next story in my Spike/Giles season 7 series (I'm posting one for summer_of_giles in a week's time and need to get on with its sequel as quickly as possible, because it really wouldn't be fair to leave the three or so people who're going to read it hanging for too long), but I can't get my head around it yet.

The fact of the matter is, I want more Game of Thrones, and I want it now! :stomp:

Spoilers for the show behind cut



I could read the books, I suppose, but - silly though it may sound - I don't want to be spoilered for the show. The only TV show I've ever wanted to be spoilered for was BtVS, and that was only after Seeing Red.

I don't think I've been quite so in love with a show since the halcyon days of BtVS season 5, despite the annoyingly ubiquitous Roz. Okay, I will forever maintain that The Wire is the best TV series in the whole universe ever, and I do enjoy True Blood in all its OTT silliness, and BSG was a great show for most of its run, and Mad Men is still a great show, and I really enjoyed season 1 of Dexter, but this is the first time since BtVS/AtS I've felt that intense frustration and excitement you experience when you feel you need to know what happens next right now!

Ironically, as noted above, I could, if I read the books. But I think I want to see what happens next through the characters as interpreted by the actors in the show, who are those characters as far as I'm concerned. So I will have to wait. And just when I'd discovered some wonderful new icon makers too.

It's bizarre. There's still a part of me that thinks this kind of po-faced, high fantasy is faintly ridiculous and deserves to be made fun of (a la the Gandalf the Tartan sketch about LoTR in Dead Ringers), but the show was just so well done, so well acted, that I can't do that.

I was going to try and write a post about my favourite character and invite anyone who felt like it to do the same, but I find I can't do it - partly because I still can't quite decide which is my favourite character. So instead, I'm going to try and go for favourite scene. But that's horribly difficult too. So many great ones to choose from (though none featuring Roz, have to say), and I'm sure that when I rewatch I'll change my mind, but for now I'm going to go with the final scene of the finale. Daenyrys and the dragons.

What's yours?

Comments

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

I've not been reading your spoilers, because I now have the entire series on my Sky box and my brother and sister-in-law are coming round on Saturday for a Game of Thrones day!

With pizza!

I'll let you know what we think :-)

[shapinglight]

Have you watched it already, or will this be the first time for all of you?

:tries to use non-spoilery icon:

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

No, this will be the first time.

[shapinglight]

Stupid LJ! It's taking so long to load the comments I've given up several times.

I hope you enjoy the show. It's been described as LotR with all the sex and violence left in. That isn't really accurate, but it is the same high fantasy-type setting.

[ruuger]

So do you feel like this could be a fandom that you could write fic for? I remember you said once that you hadn't found a fandom you could write since Buffyverse.

(I haven't watched Game of Thrones yet, because high fantasy isn't really my thing, but I'll probably give it a try if and when it appears on TV here)

[virushexe.livejournal.com]

What's my favourite scene...? Wow, that's a tough question. At first I didn't think it would be so difficult to choose, but on second thought there are so many:
- The Lannister family breakfast after Bran's fall
- Arya's first "dancing lesson" with Syrio
- Dany warning her brother about the possible loss of his hands
- Robert's und Cersei's conversation about their marriage holding the realm together
- Catelyn seizing Tyrion at the inn
- Viserys getting his "crown"
- Ned confronting Cersei about her and Jamie and the kids or more specifically Cersei's respond to said confrontation
- "And then we will kill them all!"
- Sansa planning to push Joffrey of that building
- Varys and Littlefinger meeting under the iron throne

The final scene with the dragons was also gorgeous of course, but I think I'll pick the last scene on the Wall as my favourite. Mormont's speech was awesome, Jon made the right decision and watching all those men from the Night's Watch ride into the tunnel felt rather epic.

Honorable mentions goes to... Tyrion slapping his nephew. THIS GIF NEVER GETS OLD!!!

[shapinglight]

So do you feel like this could be a fandom that you could write fic for? I remember you said once that you hadn't found a fandom you could write since Buffyverse.

I'm not sure. Doubtful, because it's based on a series of books, the ongoing story of which has got far beyond the point where the show ended. Fanfic based on what I've seen so far would probably get instantly whatever the G-o-T equivalent is of Jossed.

I fear I'm a one-trick pony where writing fanfic is concerned, but I'm sure that won't be true of everyone. It also wouldn't surprise me if the show spawned its own separate fandom, with its own fanon. ningloreth, who posted above writes in the LotR movie fandom, which I believe LotR book fandom people despise. The same could happen with GoT (though hopefully without the despising bit).

because high fantasy isn't really my thing

It isn't really mine either. I loved Tolkien and CS Lewis as a kid, but I'm not so keen on them now. I prefer my fantasy more culturally aware, like Ursula K Le Guin, or more humourous like Pratchett. I'd certainly never have dreamed of reading the books before seeing the show. However, I just loved it (apart from a few scenes featuring a particular character who I think got on everyone's nerves), which has taken me by surprise, but there you go.

[shapinglight]

but I think I'll pick the last scene on the Wall as my favourite. Mormont's speech was awesome, Jon made the right decision and watching all those men from the Night's Watch ride into the tunnel felt rather epic.

You're right, you're right! Now I want to change my own favourite scene, dammit. I loved all the ones you mention, with the possible exception of the 'crowning' scene, which I couldn't actually watch. Could tell what was going to happen and decided I was better off not seeing it.

Honorable mentions goes to... Tyrion slapping his nephew. THIS GIF NEVER GETS OLD!!!

I have an icon of that, courtesy of the wonderful beer_good_foamy. Now I want to pick that as my favourite scene.

[seadragonlady.livejournal.com]

As someone who has read all the books as they were published back in the day I loved the show too. Even though I know what is coming next. Seeing it on the screen has still been worth watching and very interesting. In seeing how someone interprets the words written by the author and that I have already created in my mind into this amazing world and characters.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book which is due next month after a 6 year wait.
My fav bit, sorry can't choose.

[virushexe.livejournal.com]

I loved all the ones you mention, with the possible exception of the 'crowning' scene, which I couldn't actually watch.

I can totally understand this. I've read the first book before GoT started and knew what was coming. I wasn't sure that I would be able to watch it, but when it actually happened the execution of that scene was just perfect in my opinion. Although I felt uncomfortable watching the atmosphere really got to me, therefore I like that scene probably more than I should.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Lots of good ones already mentioned, though I'd add

- Syrio's last stand. "Not today."
- Dany rising from the soot and ashes
- Ned's death and the opening of the next episode
- Tyrion's two confession scenes - first the one in court, and then the one to Bron and Shae

[shapinglight]

In fact, there were several scenes I couldn't watch apart from the 'crowning' one. It was all rather violent.

[shapinglight]

My fav bit, sorry can't choose.

Quite understandable. I keep choosing and then changing my mind. :)

[shapinglight]

- Syrio's last stand. "Not today."

God, yes! That was a good one. I'd probably add Saepta Mordain's quietly dignified last stand to the mix too. And I love Tyrion's confession scenes. They were both brilliant.

Damn, we're really spoilt for choice, aren't we?

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited that you fell in love with the show - I always wondered whether/how it would appeal to people who hadn't read the books and/or don't care so much for high fantasy and I'm delighted to read that it's main appeal - the glorious vivid characters - really came through for you. You are a lot more patient than I a because I would HAVE to see what happens next!! But I think on a lot of ways you're wise not to read the books yet! Patriot me sort of wished I could experience the show not knowing what came next (although ironically it's also likely that the passionate devotion of the book fans was a big factor in getting the series produced.). I hope the show goes on for many seasons, but if it doesn't, do you think you would want to read the novels just to find out what happens?)

[shapinglight]

and I'm delighted to read that it's main appeal - the glorious vivid characters - really came through for you.

Oh yes, but it could have been so different. Choose a different bunch of actors - your standard American network TV airbrushed, wrinkle-free mannequins, for instance - and it would never have held my interest. The cast is just amazing.

I hope the show goes on for many seasons, but if it doesn't, do you think you would want to read the novels just to find out what happens?)

Oh yes, definitely. I have to know now. I am patient, though. As long as I know I will find out eventually, I can wait and find out the way I want to. Ironically, from what I read, if the show does manage to run for five seasons or more, it will probably still end before GRRM manages to finish the last book. Or do you think the show will galvanise him into writing faster? It may have given him a new lease of life when dealing with the characters.

Another beautiful icon. Is it one of yours again? I do love the clarity.

[virushexe.livejournal.com]

It was. But the violence made everything more realistic, I think. It's something I miss in most medieval fantasy stories. I can take a lot of violence as long as they don't overdo it and I don't think GoT was ott in terms violence. (In terms of sex though...)

[shapinglight]

I agree that the level of violence was probably more realistic, but I do feel they overdid it occasionally. The jousting scene, for instance. I don't think they had to linger quite so long on the blood welling out of the dying man's throat.

I'm always reluctant to condemn a show for sex rather than violence, as for me violence is always more problematic, but I agree there was too much of it. However, the gratuitousness only crept in where Roz was involved. Remove every scene with her in it (except perhaps the first where we're introduced to Tyrion) and it would have been fine, IMO.

[lk737.livejournal.com]

you have caotured how i feel about this show too! i can't decide favorite character, i love them alls o much. well except for joeffry. that last scene with Cany took my breath away. but i love anything with Tyrion too. i have a few fave characters. Jon Snow and Sam, Tyrion, Arya. i just want t see them evolve and take back the power that has been taken from them. Sansa is becoming interesting too. in a way, Ned getting killed has put the focus, for me anyway, on the younger actors and characters. and i'm so excited to see what happens to them. i still don't have icons for this though! will have to search this weekend. :)

i do have a fave pairing tho - Jorrah and Dany. Unrequited love just melts me. *hugs you*

[shapinglight]

do have a fave pairing tho - Jorrah and Dany. Unrequited love just melts me. *hugs you*

We few, we happy few...

Actually, there are probably quite a lot of us. game_thrones did an actor love post and Jorah and Dany/Jorah seemed quite popular. :) As for icons, there are some great ones to choose from.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Ironically, as noted above, I could, if I read the books.

If it's any help... you probably couldn't. He's left book readers on a cliffhanger for 6 years. And, while the new book is coming out soon, I have every faith that it will end on a cliffhanger as well. :)

I'd have to say that book and show, Tyrion is my favorite character. Though I have many characters that I like a great deal such as Arya, Jon, Sam, Dany and even Sansa. I think that show Catelyn and show Robb are more enjoyable than in the books. And show Jorah is sexy! (Which is the actor because I didn't think of him that way in the books).

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Choose a different bunch of actors - your standard American network TV airbrushed, wrinkle-free mannequins, for instance - and it would never have held my interest. The cast is just amazing.


Yeah, Nina Gold, the casting director, was just superlative IMO. The cast is fantastic, even in the smaller roles, that would have been easier to neglect. This is why I'm not afraid for my second-favorite character, casting-wise. I'm sure they'll do a great job with season 2 as well!

Ironically, from what I read, if the show does manage to run for five seasons or more, it will probably still end before GRRM manages to finish the last book.

I think the first three books came out with just two years between each one. Hopefully, it was a change in his interim writing plans (he intended for their to be a five-year gap, that he subsequently filled in with two books, the fourth and fifth) that caused the delay with the fourth and fifth books, and the sixth and seventh won't take so long. In my dreams, every time the series finishes up a season, we get another new book, but in my heart of hearts, I know that I'm not getting book 6 in summer 2012 :P Apparently the showrunners actually do know the broad outlines of what he proposes with the ending of the series, so conceivably the show could finish before the books, but that would be weird and unprecedented I think. (Although I DO hope we get seven seasons!)

Yes, that's one of mine. Thank you so much! I'm still making icons from each episode, because it's just that beautiful of a show.

[coercion88.livejournal.com]

Hello, long time no speaky. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's faintly ridiculous to love this show so much - yet I do. I missed the first 3 eps and can't find them anywhere on line, so I may even be reduced to buying the series, something I haven't done since Buffy. Anyway, any series that has a finale of a naked woman covered in baby dragons is either potty or magnificent, and I'm going with the latter. I loved her hubby and his chest, I love anything with Tyrion in it... and I even love the guy with the melted face. I'm not as strong as you, I've got the first 2 books on order from Amazon x

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I know the feeling (even though I know what is going to happen). This show is so incredibly amazing. If been a fan of the books for overten years and friending GRRM here was one of the reasons I came to LJ.

But this show now? In a way it's even better than the books (except for Roz who is not in the them). The books are brilliant but if anything the show fleshes them out. There was this scene with Mirri Maz Dur last episode, where she tells Dany about life being worth nothing when everything else is gone and in the books she seems just mean and cruel. But here she has this undertone of pity and Dany is just made of steel.

I guess the price for my favorite scene goes to tyrion for his speech at the Eeyrie and price for the best line goes to Bronn for "you wouldn't know him".

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

I recommend reading the books after each season is over. To fill in the gaps and give you a bit more on the characters. For example - now that season 1 is over - pick up Book 1 - Game of Thrones. When S2 is over - pick up Book 1 Clash of Kings and maybe start Book 3 Storm...the books sort of fill in gaps.

It's one of the few times, I'd say that the tv series is a great complement to the series of novels in which it is based. Favorite scene? I oddly like the subtle ones, the scene with Varys and Ned and that torch,
Jamie and Barristan discussing their kills in front of the King, Bronn and Tyrion's talk in the woods, and
Tyrion's chat with Jon Snow...as well as Jon Snow's talk with Aemon.

By the way? It's going to get a lot better, it's like the Wire, the story becomes more complex, with more characters added, yet true to the originals arcs. I agree, I loved the tv series as well. But I won't spoil you..;-)