Its funny talking to people about the show who havent read the books. There is so much plot they seem to have missed. I keep having to explain things from the first couple episodes to help them understand what is happening now.
HBO's Game of Thrones
Very true - and you have to be so careful with spoilers. I was crining listening to a conversation about the series from a pack of noobs at the lcoal game store last night
Martin wrote last night's episode himself and I thought it was the best one yet. No sloppy sexposition scenes, and even though it didn't have a dramatic cliffhanger, I thought they fit a ton of stuff in.
Karazax said:
Martin wrote last night's episode himself and I thought it was the best one yet.
In my opinion it might be the worst one.
Rogue30 said:
In my opinion it might be the worst one.
Why do you say that?
One of my favorite episodes!
FATMOUSE said:
Why do you say that?
I had no "wow!" at the end as usual (I'm not talking about cliffhanger). Usually I am so happy after watching. This one was not exciting. I was disappointed by many changes and shortenings. The first few minutes when fighting began was cool, then excitement was gone (Syrio scene). Maybe I was thinking too much about stupid changes because of budget or other stupid things (e.g. Syrio was unable to stick his sword in the eye or throat of Ser Meryn?). I guess too many scenes didn't meet my expectations.
I thought last nights was fine but I had expected it would have ended with the execution so I was surprised by that. I watched it again this morning and it was much better now that I was not waiting for the axe to drop.
I thought it was an excellent episode. It did feel a little different from the other episodes, probably due to Martin penning it. I thought it was closer in spirit to the books than the rest of the episodes (Direwolves more prominent, and the characters in general just felt a little different and more "true" to the books, in my opinion).
I was really looking forward to seeing Tyrion and Tywin together, and I was not disappointed -- I thought their exchange was brilliant. Tywin was excellently cast. By the way, I was shocked by Timmett because he looked so different from the illustration on the card 
I also really liked Robb in the episode. I wasn't sure about him at first, but I think he's filling out the role quite nicely.
On a side note: did Dany's skin become darker? And Jorah is all in Dothraki garb now as well, showing his commitment to Dany.
The only thing I was disappointed by was the scene with Arya and the stable boy. He wasn't particularly convincing, and I thought it was poorly directed and/or edited.
Excellent eposide. The critics had it right - once this series got to episode Six, it took off like a rocket. Its just getting harder and harder to watch as we wait for iwnter to come for so mnay characters who have been visualized and acted so well.
I'm not a Conan fan - but that dude playing Khal Drogo was so good, I may check the mvie out. Tongue rip FTW!
Jason Momoa is awesome actor, he was one of my fave characters on Stargate Atlantis. He is doing amazing work as Drogo.
Toqtamish said:
Jason Momoa is awesome actor, he was one of my fave characters on Stargate Atlantis. He is doing amazing work as Drogo.
Hm, he's one of the few cast members I haven't been enjoying so far, although I liked him in the latest episode more than I did in any other. Aside from the fact that he looks like a raccoon, which isn't really his fault, I find his portrayal of Drogo comes across more cartoonish and silly rather than serious and intimidating.
@Saturnine I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks Drogo is generally coming off like that instead. On the other hand, this last episode was the best I've seen him so far.
I just want to take a moment to comment on Drogo letting the other Dothraki (Maego? can't recall the name) cut him. Because it had to be intentional, the way he avoided all of his other strikes. In the original story, he was wounded in the fighting, but here it becomes a more personal scene (and, in many way, a better scene. Watching that fight makes me incredibly excited to see Conan now). I know in the book the Mirri Maz Dur admits, somewhat, that she had hoped to kill Drogo while dressing his wound, but here it will be even more obvious. Drogo took that cut, because in his experience it would not have become an issue; the dothraki take wounds like this all the time. Heck, look at Strong Belwas, who gets cut on purpose in every fight.
I agree that the ending wasn't a major cliffhanger, but there was no way that a certain character was going to die in this episode; there is just too much story to tell yet (I still can't believe how much they have to cram into the last two episodes). Sure, certain chapter can be summed up in 2 minutes or so, but it still feels like everything is happening so fast. Which, in some ways, is not a bad thing; it makes everything so immediate. But it also means stuff gets missed. I'd rather have a few more episodes and take the times to explain things than force the story to fit the schedule. After all, the whole Lyanna/Rhaegar relationship, which is very major in the books, is compeltely glossed over here for Robert's version of the truth. And who knows if and how it can be told at a later date in the series.
@Rouge30, Syrio doesn't put his stick in the eye of Meryn Trant, but one of the guards. It would have been cool to see him kill them all with the wooden sword, but it appears the others start to get up at the end of the scene (or maybe just one of them).
Still, I am impressed by the series, they do a great job telling the story, the actors have all grown on me (though Peter and Maisie steal the show) and I don't think we could reasonably ask for a better version. With the way the quality has improved with every episode, I am really looking forward to next season.
JerusalemJones said:
Syrio doesn't put his stick in the eye of Meryn Trant, but one of the guards.
So? The point is, Syrio is poor water dancer in the movie. He even used his stick (no lead inside) to smash against the helmet of one of the guards. Yeah, right... Logically he would defeat Trant, because of his "full plate" armor wasn't full. Of course if he was really famous water dancer. Seems not. Apparently Ser Meryn Trant is much better than water dancer.
Just trying to point out what happened in the book, so you weren't confused about what actually happened
And, as in the book, we do not know what happened to Syrio. And there are many possible outcomes. 1) He is killed (not likely, but possible). 2) He is captured, and thrown in the Black Cells (and, possibly, becomes Jaqen H'gar). 3) If he is a Faceless Man, he kills Meryn Trant and takes his place. 4) He fights and escapes, somehow. 5) Insert your own theory here. All we know for sure is that after this fight, there is no more mention of Syrio, except in Arya's thoughts and memories.
Also, you're assuming that in the TV show Syrio is better than Trant. Judging from the books, that is the case. In the series, does Syrio even call himself "the First Sword of Bravos," and even if he did, who is to say he wasn't exaggerating. The show is a different interpretation of the book, and can never be as all-encompassing as the book.
JerusalemJones said:
Just trying to point out what happened in the book, so you weren't confused about what actually happened
Apparently we don't understand each other. I'm talking about lack of full plate armor and water dancing fighting style. You are talking about different things.
Syrio did refer to himself in the series as the First Sword of Braavos
Yeah - "the first Sword of Braavos does not run" (Which is why he's probably dead)
Meanwhile - Episode Eight drew 2.7 million viewers at 9:00 PM - and that was up aginst the CMT Awards. it was the highest rating yet, adn when you factor in the 11:00 airing - it did like 3.3 million for the night. Word of mouth on social networking (ick) is spreading and the numbers are up 22% from the Season premiere. Here's hoping Clash builds on this momentum.
Saturnine said:
Toqtamish said:
Jason Momoa is awesome actor, he was one of my fave characters on Stargate Atlantis. He is doing amazing work as Drogo.
Hm, he's one of the few cast members I haven't been enjoying so far, although I liked him in the latest episode more than I did in any other. Aside from the fact that he looks like a raccoon, which isn't really his fault, I find his portrayal of Drogo comes across more cartoonish and silly rather than serious and intimidating.
Actually. Looking like a racoon is Jason Momoas fault. He found out that nomadic people wear eyeliner to help against the sun so he lobbied for them to add it as a character trait for Drogo.
ingsve said:
Actually. Looking like a racoon is Jason Momoas fault. He found out that nomadic people wear eyeliner to help against the sun so he lobbied for them to add it as a character trait for Drogo.
Oh, interesting. So I can blame him for both performance *and* looks. 
Saturnine said:
Oh, interesting. So I can blame him for both performance *and* looks.
~Wait, so Martin is not responsible for everything?!
JerusalemJones said:
After all, the whole Lyanna/Rhaegar relationship, which is very major in the books, is compeltely glossed over here for Robert's version of the truth. And who knows if and how it can be told at a later date in the series.
But that's how it is in book one; only Robert's version gets clearly laid out in A Game of Thrones. Eddard's cryptic flashback's to his sister really don't do anything to offer a different version of the truth until coupled with details revealed in later books (at least, that's how I recall it and I just reread book one along with the HBO series). It does mean that when/if the series wants to delve into that other possible version of the truth, it'll likely just be served up on a platter to the viewers rather than the slow evolving uncertain revelation that happens in the books.
Okay I have read all the books, but what other version of the relationship ? Lyanna didn't want Rhaegar did she ? I thought he kidnapped her.
Well the Game of Thrones facebook page is going nuts over tonights episode lol. Even my fiance stormed out of the room saying she was not gonna watch it again. And it seems everyone missed the other deaths in this episode, its all "Oh Ned where art thou..."