just a quick question, but what on earth are HBO upto?

I watched the first series and thought it was pretty good all told - a bit too much sexposition, and obviously less depth than the novel, but not bad.

This week's episode left me completely baffled though. What possible need is there for Alton Lannister? it would have taken one line at most to identify Cleos Frey properly. Rakharro's death was probably forced upon them by the actor wanting to move on, but why not just make Aggo or Jhogo the new blood rider to get screen time, instead of casting this new "Kovarro."

I believe it's been stated explicitly that "Yara" was renamed to stop viewers confusing Asha and Osha - which presumably means Theon won't be able to bemoan Osha's "treachery" to him later in the series, noting that she is as bad as his sister and "even their names sounded the same"

Who knocked Jon out at the end of the episode- was that Craster? dare we even ask why?

Was anyone else surprised when it wasn't Jacelyn Bywater who turned up to take Slynt away, but new commander of the Goldcloaks, Bronn?

Mathos Seaworth also seems to have acquired fresh prominence. Was there any reason they couldn't use Devan?

As for Ros, they seem to have moved beyond using her for sexposition to following her life in general, scenes that have no bearing on the overarching plot.

Ros. Cost 3, Power, Intrigue, strength 2, Ally.

Any phase. Pay two to choose a character. Until the end of the phase Ros gains that character's lines and scenes. Chosen character may have to sleep with Ramsay Snow at the end of season 2...

HBO is up to creating a TV show that has great marketing potential even in places where the books are not known and better where the books are known.

Most of these things are done to make this series not too complicated or slow-paced for the viewer, Yes I said complicated, but in this kind of media where its up to viewer to gain information from the visuals and sounds you have to do things differently. The more the series has characters the more confusing it becomes as there is not as much time for introduction than in books. I'm at same time happy and sad about the changes they have made. For a fact I know that I would have a lot fewer friends watching this show if all the side characters/scenes would be presented like in books. Heck currently we are pretty heavy on important characters for TV-show standards. With side characters you have to also remember that they are rarely seen in the books and often in the books they are given plenty of time in those few scenes, so what is a viewer supposed to do when some minor character from episode 2 and next time we see him/her when s/he is doing something in episode 6, when we take into account the limited time we have?

For the name changes. There is a few things on why they would do it, mostly making it easier for non-native English speakers to identify the character, but then it's a poorly executed as Yara is somewhat close to Arya in pronunciation sense.

I'm pretty happy that we have a Game of Thrones series as it is introducing well the world to the viewers. Also I'm currently very happy of how they have started season 2, this could have possibly taken a very slow-paced approach if it followed the second book too closely. The white raven scene for example was brilliant, it made it clear that winter is coming without the need to introduce many new side characters that aren't yet in any importance for the storyline.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but clearly this belongs in the Spoiler Space or the Off Topic forums, not in General Discussion. These subforums are there for a reason.

Mighty Jim said:

1. Adding Cleos Frey requires exposition they may not have time for. Random Lannister cousin does not. Last name tells you all you need to know.

2. Kovarro = Book Rakharo. Its disappointing that Rakharo (Book Jhogo) was written out but the most interesting things about the character is Elyes Gabel and he makes a great LCG card. After the first book, the bloodriders don't get alot of paper devoted to them. Oh well, tragic deaths happen in GoT. Just ask the Sean Bean fans.

3. Clarity matters. Although I think they could've done better than Yara.

4. When sacrificing one's children to the evil dead, its best to cover your tracks.

5. New minor character is unimportant. Jerome Flynn is important and interesting to watch.

6. Having Davos debate Rh'llor with someone he loves is more dynamic than with someone he dislikes (ie any Florent). Also Mathos dies in the book, so we'll see what happens. Giving him more screen time might make it more tragic. Or they might do something different.

7. I have no idea what they'll do with Ros. She's still a standin for non-book scenes to provide character "moments" for other people. Pycelle's scene with Ros in Ep10 is not in the book but does a terrific job of showing the real Pycelle.

Agreed that this does probably belong in a different section of the boards.

That said, the Kovarro thing bugs me, because I think that it shows little foresight. Why introduce a character that doesn't exist in the books to fill a role held be characters that do exist, then kill off the ones that do exist? I can understand if they felt that they needed to kill a bloodrider for this or that emotional impact or to drive home some point, but the method of choosing which one shows strange reasoning.

On the other hand, making Bronn commander of the the Goldcloaks makes sense. Though I really like Jacelyn Bywater, I wasn't under any particular assumption that a fairly minor character like him would survive, but changing it to Bronn continues to show his "upward mobility" and sets up another decision of his in book three to be a logical next step. That was well thought out.

But then we flip back to the Asha/Osha/Yara/Arya naming debacle. *sigh*

Just think it is funny they choose Yara when it sounds a lot like Arya.

I have not been watching the show, but I take it Crasters living up to expectations?

Stag Lord said:

The off-topic sub-forum says it's for things that aren't about Game of Thrones. It's a non-game of Thrones sub-forum in a Game of Thrones forum. NOTHING belongs there.

Mighty Jim said:

These forums generally are for discussion about A Game of Thrones LCG. The off-topic subforum is for all topics that forum members might wish to discuss which do not pertain to the LCG. Since it has nothing to do with the card game (aside from the IP both are based on), the HBO series should be and has always been discussed on the off-topic forum; there's a number of threads there pertaining to it. Only topics that have to do with the card game should be posted in General Discussion.

Please folks no more spoilers - I haven't read all the books and perosnally do not want to know who dies!

As for changes from the book to the series this doesn't bother me too much (if at all). That being said I am watching the series first then books after (so have read just book 1). I find it fairly easy to follow, and the advantage of knowing most the character names in advance from the cards. Changing names here and there makes sense. Writing out, or ignoring minor characters, is also not an issue. I guess Kavarro exists because his name is sufficientl different to avoid Jhogo/Drogo confusion. Written names are easier to distinguish than those only heard on screen.

Loving the show, best thing on TV by a mile (its what got me into the LCG after all). Also suprised at how faithful season 1 was to the book. If anything the serires has some advanmtages as it can show scenes away from the POV charatcers that strill add to the story/charatcers (and could still have happended in the book universe) such as Littlefinger and Varys sparring with each other in private.