Game of Thrones

I actually love the name 'Game of Thrones' because from someone who hasn't read the books, after watching 2 episodes, it fits what I feel I am getting from the series so far. I don't see anything yet that speaks of 'Fire and Ice', although given I don't know where the story goes, maybe I'll change my mind when it gets there! :)

I also LOVE what the Alexa is producing. After watching 2 episodes I had to go online and see what they used to shoot it. Fantastic quality.
 
Will Clegg said:
I love it so far. I wish the tv series was named after the series of books ("A Song of Fire and Ice") - "Game of Thrones" kind of puts me off, not sure why. "A Song of Fire and Ice" is just so much more epic. Maybe even just "Fire and Ice" if they are into the whole brevity thing.
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Even as a fan of the books, I've always thought that "A Song of Ice and Fire" was kind of a cheesy label for the series. It makes the series sound a lot more fantasy than it actually is.

I like the title "Game of Thrones," and I understand why they changed it.

I wouldn't mind it if they called the ensuing seasons "Clash of Kings", "Storm of Swords", etc, but I completely understand if they keep it "Game of Thrones," as it's still the most descriptive title of the series as a whole.
 
I don't know why this show isn't doing it for me yet. I can see how well done it is from an objective standpoint, but I am not hooked into any one character. I feel like I am watching a bunch of chess pieces being moved about, which can be fascinating, but not emotionally compelling. I think it's because the show has no strong focus, whether it be a character or a situation. Mad Men has Don Draper, The Sopranos had Tony, Breaking Bad has Walt, Spartacus had Spartacus. Battlestar Galactica is more of an ensemble piece like this one, but it had a very strong central situation with an immediate and compelling dramatic hook -- the remainder of humanity on the run in a starship. This story has not given me any reason to keep watching so far other than the gorgeous production work, and some interesting ideas that have yet to bear fruit. I'll give it a bit more time, and certainly the last scene of last night's episode was promising, but I'm going to need more meat soon and less appetizers.
 
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I'm the opposite, I'm drawn to all the characters, finding them all very interesting. It's definitely Sean Bean's show, also sympathetic toward the white haired chick. And the little dwarf dude is already pulling some strings.
 
tmnt said:
I'm the opposite, I'm drawn to all the characters, finding them all very interesting. It's definitely Sean Bean's show, also sympathetic toward the white haired chick. And the little dwarf dude is already pulling some strings.
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I think Sean Bean's character is kind of dull to be honest. Mark Addy's King is more interesting. They have all the elements there to be sure, I just don't think they've done anything with them yet. Maybe it's a slow burn show that will ignite at some point, but it's still just smoldering, and I don't know how many episodes I can wait until I decide the show isn't worth my time.
 
I like the dwarf as well, he is one of my favorite characters. I am with tmnt, I find all the characters pulling at me for different reasons. I feel like it is building up and building up, which with that many characters, I think is a good thing. That way, when some serious action goes down, you'll be REALLY into the characters.

I can definitely see the Battlestar Galactica reference, in the way the characters are done, which I loved. I think maybe the problem is, the story itself is building out of nothing, if you will. In that, it was everyday life when the film started, and then, you are seeing the events unfold and this huge battle coming just as all the characters are experiencing it and all they are giving up, or sacrificing, for what is coming?
 
Rick Burnett said:
I think maybe the problem is, the story itself is building out of nothing, if you will. In that, it was everyday life when the film started, and then, you are seeing the events unfold and this huge battle coming just as all the characters are experiencing it and all they are giving up, or sacrificing, for what is coming?
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This is true. When people complain the show is slow, I think this is what they mean. There isn't much urgency yet. People are just kind of hanging around. All we know is that winter is coming. I wish it would come already.
 
Batutta said:
This is true. When people complain the show is slow, I think this is what they mean. There isn't much urgency yet. People are just kind of hanging around. All we know is that winter is coming. I wish it would come already.
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I really think you should wait until the end of the season before watching any more episodes, and then watch the season straight through. In my opinion, the beginning episodes play better when watched back-to-back.
 
agcohn said:
I really think you should wait until the end of the season before watching any more episodes, and then watch the season straight through. In my opinion, the beginning episodes play better when watched back-to-back.
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Could be, but this is the format they are delivering the show in. They should have me not being able to wait to see the next episode. Right now I'm just mildly curious to see how it shakes out. On a basic what's gonna happen next level, the show doesn't have its hooks in me...I'll allow the creators of the show this. What they are trying to do is pretty damn difficult and I admire them for trying. It's not like I hate the show or anything. But I'm losing patience with it.
 
I find this more engaging than Boardwalk Empire. I found the characters in that much more flat. This feels much more strong and I am with a lot of the characters. They're drawn pretty vividly.
 
I like this show alot...dont find it moving to fast. Havent read the book or books either.

The cursing and use of boobies is like giving the show a new edge of that period...remember when in the new Robin Hood prince of thieves( Kevin Costner) and later Braveheart filmmakers started to show more blood and beheadings....they used big axes and knives in that period so it was more bloodier then we thought.
The shocking tricks form the earlier period films was someone getting shot by an arrow ..which now we can see that they just caught them. hehehe.
So Im thinking producers/filmmakers must now give another edge or maybe even truth to these period shows, because I dont think many people had manners in those days...and its HBO so they got to top Taxi cab confessions somehow

Even Xena & Hercules was showing semi nakedness..no cursing though ...I felt some warmth wacthing those shows :)

And the Alexa produces some great looking images.
 
This last episode was promising, had more things going on than in previous ones. I think what's been bothering me about the show from a basic directorial standpoint is that there's too many static scenes of characters just sitting or standing in one spot and delivering pages of dialogue. The coverage isn't very dynamic which makes the show feel slower than it is. When they break out of that with more interesting locales and scenes that move, as they did this past episode, it works better.
 
Finally, an episode that delivered on the hype for me. This one was great from start to finish, and it confirmed my feeling that the writing and directing was keeping the show from reaching its potential. Series TV veteran Jane Espenson (Buffy, BSG among others) co-scripted this episode, and Daniel Minahan took over the directing reins. I could tell the difference from scene one. Too bad the season is more than half over.
 
Batutta said:
Finally, an episode that delivered on the hype for me. This one was great from start to finish, and it confirmed my feeling that the writing and directing was keeping the show from reaching its potential. Series TV veteran Jane Espenson (Buffy, BSG among others) co-scripted this episode, and Daniel Minahan took over the directing reins. I could tell the difference from scene one. Too bad the season is more than half over.
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It's just the nature of the first book. "A Game of Thrones" is mostly setup for the rest of the books. I couldn't tell any difference between the writing / direction in Episode 6, other than that the story is getting to the meatier parts of the first book.
 
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