General grumpy GoT blather

[shapinglight]

The plasterer has turned up today, which is a relief (can't get much further with the house renovation till the plastering's done), so I'm sitting here , trying to look properly at LJ for the first time in ages and feeling a bit sad about how quiet it is.

More behind cut with vague spoilers for GoT.



Comments really have dropped off a lot, haven't they? Even last year I was getting about 40 comments (including my answers) on my Game of Thrones reviews. This year, I'm lucky if I get ten. Also, the GoT comms on LJ are just...dead. Hardly anyone is iconning or vidding any more - or if they are, they're doing it on Tumblr (a site I still can't get my head around and don't particularly want to).

The same is true of sb_fag_ends, which suddenly (you could almost date it to the day) went quiet at the beginning of this year and has never recovered.

Oh well. It's the way things go, I guess, and where GoT is concerned, it could well be down to the fact that people haven't liked this season as much. Must admit, though I'm still enjoying it, I'm sick of the way interesting characters keep getting killed off (Oberyn) and characters that are good together (I'm thinking more Jaime/Brienne and Tyrion/Bronn here than Dany/Jorah) keep getting split up. It may be what happens in the books, but it doesn't do the story in the show any good.

Anyway, I know I should be doing more to help keep LJ going, but my brother-in-law is coming back tomorrow so I'll be gone again, no idea how long for this time.

I should spam everyone with posts today, but I can't think of anything to say.

I'd better go and do something useful, like the ironing.

Whinge, whinge, whinge.

ETA: rebcake has started doing the 30 days of Buffy meme. I'd quite like to do it myself (have only done the short version before), but I realised when reading what she's written that I've actually forgotten an awful lot. I need to do a re-watch.

Except that I can't, because all my BtVS DVDs are in storage. Buggerit.

ETA 2: This post is exceptionally whingey, even for me. ;)

Comments

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

But I don't think its just LJ, although it is worse here. Even on Tumblr fandom seems to be struggling a bit.

Gifs aside, hardly anyone is doing anything creative and that make it hard for me to get enthused. I have written about 6,000 words this month (whoo!) but none of it was fannish or even stuff I am ever going to show anyone. I'm hoping the momentum can cross over back to my WIP...

[shapinglight]

But I don't think its just LJ, although it is worse here. Even on Tumblr fandom seems to be struggling a bit.

Really? That's odd. I can't believe fandom as a whole has just keeled over and died. Are they finding some other form of expression (I dunno, like giant art installations?) and we're just unaware of it, or is the whole phenomenon just withering on the vine?

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I think its a fandom thing. The ratings for GOT actually have gone up.

[shapinglight]

Yes, I understood that to be the case. I suppose I could understand if online fandom had turned against GoT, as its latest manifestation (from what I hear) on Tumblr is very young and has a very strong social justice agenda, so not so keen on the sex, violence etc, but it seems to be true of all fandoms.

What are people doing instead, I wonder?

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I know Tumblr is big but, like you, I simply cannot wrap my head around it.

I feel old.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

I admit to being MIA a whole lot. I am trying to make up for that by doing more "journal-y" posts about what I'm doing, but so far... Epic fail. :)

[shapinglight]

Well, I know I'm not helping by being largely absent, but I can't help it - at least, not until September.

However, even when I do have a bit of time for LJ, I find myself rather reluctant to post (probably because hardly anyone seems to be doing so).

[ex_peasant441]

What happened to Brienne? Last I recall she was off with Podrick, but I can't remember what they were doing or why.

I haven't commented on your last two GoT posts because the week before last sounded horrid and this week sounded like a battle. And there really isn't much to say about a battle.

My predictions for the finale (just to ensure it doesn't come true):
* That missing relative of the Starks in the Night Watch will turn up with News or as a game-changer in some way for the Northern story-lines.
* Stannis Baratheon will actually do something (who am I kidding).
* One of the major Lannisters will die. I'm assuming not Tyrion because getting executed would seem a very tame end to his story, but one of the others. Not sure which though or exactly how. Probably Tywin or Circe, maybe Jaime. I suspect Lannister on Lannister violence though more than an outside influence.
* The Tyrells will be pushed out of the game in some way. Possibly by the revelation that they were responsible for Jophrey's death.
* Something bad will happen to Danny as story-teller's payback for sending Jorah away. In-show it will be portrayed as one or more of the people she has hurt getting revenge.
* I also wonder if Sansa will die, but that is mainly because I saw the actress talking about her future projects and they seemed rather busy for someone with a part in the next season. If she does die it will presumably be minutes before Arya reaches her.

Glad the plasterer came back and hope he stays. Could you kidnap one or more of his children to hold hostage?

[shapinglight]

What happened to Brienne? Last I recall she was off with Podrick, but I can't remember what they were doing or why.

They'd gone looking for Sansa Stark and were heading towards the Eyrie, which happens to be where she is, but I doubt they'll get there until next season so we probably won't see them again this year.

Re: some of your suggestions, I'm not that spoilered but from what I understand two of those may actually happen. Well done.

* That missing relative of the Starks in the Night Watch will turn up with News or as a game-changer in some way for the Northern story-lines.

You're not alone in wondering what happened to him. I've asked around and no one seems to know. I suspect GRRM forgot about him.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Book Reader:

You've got two on the head.

[ex_peasant441]

It is typical of me that for once I predict something right and its in a show I'm not even watching. It's probably because reading other people's summaries and reviews means I have to focus on the things other people consider important for once so I am actually far more in tune with mainstream fandom thinking.

[kathyh]

I can't deal with Tumblr either.

LJ does seem to be exceptionally quiet at the moment but there doesn't seem to be one "big" fandom for people to squee about any more (and if there is it's on Tumblr where I can't be bothered to go). I must admit to feeling a bit disengaged from fandom myself at the moment and with other things going on I haven't been posting nearly so much. There's also the problem of watching things at different speeds. I still haven't seen all of Season 3 of GOT yet even though I have read the books.

Hope the house renovation is going as well as can be expected.

[shapinglight]

I can't deal with Tumblr either.

There are nice Tom Hiddleston pics occasionally.

I realise not everyone is interested in those.

but there doesn't seem to be one "big" fandom for people to squee about any more (and if there is it's on Tumblr where I can't be bothered to go)

This is true. The HP fandom, which was dominant for a long time has died off (at least on LJ) and nothing has really taken its place. Lots of the BtVS fans have left (inevitably, it's such an old show now) or moved on to other things. You do find some interesting stuff around. For instance, over on Dreamwidth, there's a comm that discusses The Americans. However (rather ironically) I find the posters a little offputting at times because they're all so clever and seem to know so much. I feel too stupid to join in. Here on LJ, chasingdemons below says SPN is still going great guns, which is nice, I suppose, if you like the show. Unfortunately for me, I don't. ;)

[ningloreth.livejournal.com]

I've not been commenting on your GOT posts because I've read the books -- all of the books! -- now, and I don't want to inadvertently spoil you, but I've been reading your posts. As usual, I've been saving the episodes unwatched, and then my brother, sister-in-law, and I will marathon them when the series ends -- SOON! It's very frustrating!

[shapinglight]

As usual, I've been saving the episodes unwatched, and then my brother, sister-in-law, and I will marathon them when the series ends -- SOON! It's very frustrating!

I hope you enjoy them, though a word of warning - unless you have a very strong stomach, don't watch the last minute or so of episode eight. It's pretty horrible.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I've been watching a SPN com on LJ just to look at the art. It is HOPPING! Posts and comments and fans galore. The energy level is pretty amazing. So it's not necessarily LJ. I guess I have to admit, it's our fandom. As for the reasons, there are probably many. But I do think, and I have always thought, lack of comments will kill a fandom much faster than lack of posts. I'm working on a couple pieces now that I will be posting eventually. I was kind of laughing to myself and thinking I probably won't get any comments at all. Unless you and Sue happen to be online and one or two other "regulars". But I'm kind of resolved. I'm still working happily along. Tra la la.

I can't do Tumblr. I just can't. I'm not in it to look at endless gifs. I want to see things that actually took some talent to create. And sadly, you have to wade through so much to find something that takes real work.

[shapinglight]

I've been watching a SPN com on LJ just to look at the art. It is HOPPING! Posts and comments and fans galore. The energy level is pretty amazing.

That's nice to know, I suppose. I wish I liked the show, but unfortunately for me I couldn't even get through the first season when I tried to watch it.

It is our fandom. It's very quiet. The quietness applies to people on my flist, though, who aren't in the BtVS fandom any more - unless they're off talking on other people's LJs in other fandoms, which is possible.

As for me, I keep thinking I've found another fandom, only to circle back around to BtVS again. It's my default, I guess. Was so chuffed when I actually managed to write a drabble. Looking forward to seeing your work when you get around to posting it.

[yourlibrarian]

Given how absent I've generally been (and it's been this year, specifically for me, where I'm having to make an effort just to read the flist) I haven't much noticed. But it could be that like me, many people have been unusually busy with things that keep them from leisure computer time.

OTOH, I haven't been doing many fandom things, period. I just had a chat this afternoon with someone who asked what fandom things I was up to and I said I was reading a variety of fanfic but otherwise hadn't really been active in a fandom for some time. I'm watching a lot of stuff and have liked things here and there but I haven't been super passionate about anything in the past year or so.

[shapinglight]

But it could be that like me, many people have been unusually busy with things that keep them from leisure computer time.

It could well be. That's certainly the case with me.

I'm watching a lot of stuff and have liked things here and there but I haven't been super passionate about anything in the past year or so.

I'm sure for lots of people it's just that they've 'grown out' of fandom, or 'got over' it, whichever is the more applicable description. It'll happen to me too one day, I'm sure - though I hope I don't then go on to regret all the time I spent immersed in it.

[lyr]

The hardest thing about GoT - in book or TV form - is that awful things happen pretty regularly to characters you've gotten to like. And when not-awful things happen, you get the distinct feeling that it's only to set the characters up so that more awfulness will seem even more intensely awful.

Just to say, though: even when I don't comment, I always enjoy your GoT reviews.

[shapinglight]

:)

I'm glad you enjoy my reviews. There have been a couple of times (usually after a Theon-heavy episode, or after Oberyn's horrible death) when I've enjoyed writing them rather more than I enjoyed the episode in question. ;)

The story is becoming frustrating to me in some ways, though. It has to follow a defined path to some extent, and when the originator of said path is still meandering around not really getting anywhere (or that's the impression I have from what other book-readers have said) that has implications for the TV show (not least how they're going to end it in seven years when GRRM hasn't nearly finished the books).

Not to mention TV works differently than books, and though the showrunners have handled the differences reasonably well, I think, I'm pretty sure some of the things they've done would not have been done were it an original TV series.

Oberyn's death is a case in point. You don't waste a character that good just to showcase the skills of your makeup department.

[ex_peasant441]

Maybe one of the problems is there just isn't a good fannish show around at the moment. It's a while now since Merlin ended and film series like Thor and The Hobbit can't really sustain a fandom. Something will come along eventually that fandom can coalesce around and then it will start up again somewhere.

Either that or the youth of today lack creativity because their minds have all been turned to mush by computer games and child-centred education. ;)

[shapinglight]

All education is child-centred. That's the point of education in schools - to educate children.

I'll give you the computer games, though. They've probably damaged people's brains so much they can't even cope with fandom these days.

[rbfvid.livejournal.com]

Well, it's old, tired and not the most active fandom. But people still write new things faster, then I manage to read them. So, I guess, LJ fandom is not dead (or I'm just extremely slow reader.)

[shapinglight]

No, we're still chugging along. And at least there's not quite as much drama as there used to be.