Game of Thrones HBO - Disappointments, discuss.

[Pedro Del Mar]

Enjoyed the episode last night, think Jerome Flynn's doing exceptional as Bronn. Arya was a pleasure to watch, she's really talented and Lena Heady really started to show how good an actress she is and how well I think she'll be able to bring Cersei to the screen

 

[svalbard]

No Tower of Joy scene. Very dissapointed about that in Eps 7. I can understand why they did not do it, but for me it was one of the great scenes in the series. They might include it later on through aother POV?

 

[Wybren]

I am enjoying the series so far, however, I have just started reading the books and something just jumped out at me that I have to mention. I was reading the descriptions of the Lannisters and Tyrion is said to have hair so blonde that it is almost white and eyes of mismatching colour. They went to the trouble of getting Dany and Viserys silvery hair right, They could have done the same for Tyrion, just a small nitpick though. Also I am a big fan of Harry Lloyd and I wish he could have been cast as a different character, so that he was in the series longer though he did a good job as Viserys.

 

[X'Nedra]

Well, even though I'm not a prude and can appreciate a sex scene here and there I'm actually starting to get the sh!ts with all the added sex scenes that aren't in the books.
It's just so blatant that it's really starting to put me off, and I'm wondering whether or not these writers (well, adapters) have any skill at all, or if they are merely throwing in as much shagging as possible to detract from the fact they don't actually get the books...

 

[Trey Greyjoy]

Well, even though I'm not a prude and can appreciate a sex scene here and there I'm actually starting to get the sh!ts with all the added sex scenes that aren't in the books.
It's just so blatant that it's really starting to put me off, and I'm wondering whether or not these writers (well, adapters) have any skill at all, or if they are merely throwing in as much shagging as possible to detract from the fact they don't actually get the books...

I agree. Im no prude at all but the Littlefinger-brothel-lesbian scene just seemed jammed in sideways for the sake of titillation. The "slurping" sound heard during the Loras/Renly scene also just seemed as if it were just someone's idea of "edgy". Maybe it's an HBO thing. I almost quite watching True Blood the first season just because it seemed like Vampire Porn instead of a story going anywhere. Glad I stuck with it.

Overall my only real disappointments with the series otherwise are the smallish/underwhelming sets. Particularly Winterfell and Vaes Dothrak.

Minor annoyances: The Dothraki seem too European, Varys should be fatter.
Other than that, I think the casting is spot-on. Save perhaps Renly. I always pictured him with more of Colin Farrell swagger to him.

 

[Koopa]

Yeah that littlefinger scene was annoying.
Truly the writers could have thought of a better way to make is all aware of Petyr's machinations.

I mean, the analogy he made with him coming to power by whoring himself to whatever major player that comes along, taking their coin to enrich himself wasn't that bad. But the scene was just a bit over the top.

 

[svalbard]

I thought it was ok. Not from a pervie view, but because as mentioned above it hammered the point home

Littlefinger is quickly becoming the character of the series for me.

 

[Boaz]

Is this a spoiler free thread? I forget. Well, anyway... SPOILER ALERT

Kiwi, I agree. I want to see acting, not faking orgasms.

Who'd have thought that The Sopranos would be the cleaner show? Not me.

My issue with the sex on HBO is that is seems obnoxiously gratuitious in comparison to the books. I think Martin's story racy, yet realistic. It's a cruel and brutal world where sex is used for procreation (Drogo and Dany), recreation (Tyrion and Shae), and domination (______ and the tavern girl). Sex takes on different forms... married couples, lovers, lords and mistresses, brother and sister, prostitution, rape, and lesbians. In Martin's world, there is also father and daughter marriage and gay sex although these are never depicted in the narrative.

I don't know how, but Martin never makes sex, sex talk, or descriptions of people's sexuality seem gratuitious. Lies, truth, illusions, delusions, power, status, murder, and national policies are all dealt with in the bedroom. It all seems like part of the vivid setting where life, death, love and hate start and stop sooner than expected.

For example, take the Stark children. Eddard and Catelyn think there will be time to share the details of the harsh realities of life to their children (and Jon) at a later time. But unfortunately, the Lannisters were hurrying the clock. As a result, all of them were unprepared for the realities of sex, romance, love, and duty in the bedroom. Robb.... oh, boy. Jon... he knew nothing. Sansa... life is not a dream, sweetling. Arya... there are some terrible things said in front of Arya... indeed, some terrible things are said to her. And she sees it all in Harrenhal. Bran... yes, he was only eight, but he paid dearly for his ignorance. Rickon seems the only one unaffected at the moment.

The only sex scenes (and I mean any scenes with nudity or sexual relations) that seemed non-gratuitous were all in the first episode, I think. Tyrion and the whores were a bit gratuitious, but it really served a purpose in introducing the characters and relationship between Jaime and Tyrion. I also thought the consumation of Drogo and Dany's wedding was needed. It showed the brutal reality of what this world is compared to Sansa's dream world. And though the sex between Jaime and Cersei seemed uninspired and unathletic, I thought the point was driven home that the Lannisters are baaaaaad.

No one considers themself a prude. But I think compared to most people, I probably am a prude.

 

[The Imp]

I agree. Im no prude at all but the Littlefinger-brothel-lesbian scene just seemed jammed in sideways for the sake of titillation. The "slurping" sound heard during the Loras/Renly scene also just seemed as if it were just someone's idea of "edgy". Maybe it's an HBO thing. I almost quite watching True Blood the first season just because it seemed like Vampire Porn instead of a story going anywhere. Glad I stuck with it.

Overall my only real disappointments with the series otherwise are the smallish/underwhelming sets. Particularly Winterfell and Vaes Dothrak.

Minor annoyances: The Dothraki seem too European, Varys should be fatter.
Other than that, I think the casting is spot-on. Save perhaps Renly. I always pictured him with more of Colin Farrell swagger to him.

To me the Dothraki look Middle Eastern. Varys should probably be a tad heavier, but the performance is pretty much spot on.

Renly is definitely problematic.

 

[Mesanna]

The only sex scenes (and I mean any scenes with nudity or sexual relations) that seemed non-gratuitous were all in the first episode, I think. Tyrion and the whores were a bit gratuitious, but it really served a purpose in introducing the characters and relationship between Jaime and Tyrion. I also thought the consumation of Drogo and Dany's wedding was needed. It showed the brutal reality of what this world is compared to Sansa's dream world. And though the sex between Jaime and Cersei seemed uninspired and unathletic, I thought the point was driven home that the Lannisters are baaaaaad.

I think you've basically hit it on the head Boaz. The sex in the book feels pertinent. Barring a couple of scenes, much of the sex in the show is utterly gratuitous. Why is it every single time they give us some back story, we have to get a sex scene to go with it? I spoke to a young guy at work who's been watching the show, and I don't think he picked up much of what Littlefinger was saying, cos he was far more interested in what the hotties were doing. Is this really what viewers want today? Are good acting and good storylines not enough?

On a side note, I think I'm turning into my mother.

 

[Boaz]

The sex in the book feels pertinent.

You've summed up my post in seven words. If I send you my password, will you post for me?

On a side note, I think I'm turning into my mother.

The crazy thing is that your mother had the exact same thought!

 

[svalbard]

5 sex scenes so far in the series to explain backstory. After episode 1 that is the sum total.

1. Renly/Loras 2. Dany/Servant 3. Theon/Roz 4. Viserys/Servant 5. Roz/ Prositute.

Sum total of showtime would be about 15-20 mins? What percentage is that in 6 hours of footage? (Not enough I hear someone shout )

It is far easier to do sex in a 'classier', even more pertinant way on page. On celluloid is will most always appear tawdry. In discussion with numerous people(non-readers) about the show and the sex does not even come up. All they can talk about is the twist and turns of the story.

 

[Wiggum]

I sooooo agree with svalbard.

What's a few sets of mammaries and a small stable of peni.

Neither of which are the proper plural, but it makes the point.

It is HBO.

It's well made fantasy.

With mammaries and peni.

 

[Culhwch]

It's well made fantasy.

Well, that's subjective.

Though this last episode was certainly a well-made teenage boy's fantasy.

 

[Wiggum]

It's subjective when you take out comparison to other stuff that's been made.

If you take it within the context of the canon of fantasy that's been made for both the large and small screen.........not so much.

It may be the episode of South Park where "The Simpsons Did It" in comparison to Peter Jackson and The Lord of the Rings, but that was still a brilliant episode of South Park.

I mean take an episode of Merlin, Camelot, Legend of The Seeker and Game of Thrones.....only one of those is going to trumpet the merits of making a decent translation of fantasy to television.

And it ain't Legend Of The Seeker.

 

[woodsman]

Merlin then?

My girl friend and housemate (non-readers) have given up on it. It's hard to defend the sex as nessecary, when it so clearly isn't. If I wanted to watch Porn I can, I don't need to buy HBO to do so and its a little more to the point.

Such a shame because I love everything else about the show.

 

[Chaoticheart]

And it ain't Legend Of The Seeker.

I felt the urge to post simply because of this comment. I love you Wiggum .

 

[Culhwch]

I mean take an episode of Merlin, Camelot, Legend of The Seeker and Game of Thrones.....only one of those is going to trumpet the merits of making a decent translation of fantasy to television.

But should we compare it to other fantasy series, or other television series in general? I think the latter, because otherwise we're making excuses. For me, the LotR film stand alongside great films of all genres. Game of Thrones does not stand up against great television of all genres. Doesn't go close.

Again, subjective. But I really don't like this attitude of we've got to like it 'cause it's the best we've got. Rather, we should take it for what it is, and critique it if necessary, and demand something better if need be. Something without needless T&A...

 

[woodsman]

Yeah, I'm with Cul.

I watch very little TV; a few comedies and documentaries when friends recommend them. The only HBO thing I'd watched before this was The Wire, which gave me high hopes for this.

Sadly I feel The Wire is orders of magnitude better.

 

[Ursa major]

The problem is, The Wire is orders of magnitude better than just about everything on the TV, which is why I don't watch much TV these days. When I was watching a lot, I was probably watching wall-to-wall drivel, but my critical senses were so damaged by it that I hardly noticed.

Now when I see something that looks good in Part 1 (of two, three or more), I can pretty much guarantee that all those premises that have been set up in a way to intrigue me will be resolved in a welter of more-than-unlikely coincidences and the actions of "damaged" characters, whose behaviour is determined by the need to tie up all the loose ends by the end of the show. They're generally "damaged" because even the writers and producers of the drivel can't expect the viewers to believe these characters' actions are the result of anything but deranged minds; but even here, the portrayal of madness is of the purely fictional kind.

(You might notice that what I do watch on TV is generally crime-related, both in subject matter and in production.)