Game of Thrones (HBO pace/no book spoilers)

[IotV]

I'm racing through the books right now. They really did a wonderful job adapting the story.

I hope that if it's successful, a network might consider doing a "Wheel of Time" series.

I would love that! WoT is probably tied with ASOIAF for me.

[David_X]

This built itself a level of hype it could never hope to contend with, but even putting the hype aside I actually found it pretty weak. The cast is simply too big, at the end I had to pause it to remember who the two blondes actually were!

I'll see how it all unfolds but if that's the only episode critics had I don't know why they're all fawning themselves over it. "Fantasy for people who don't like fantasy" - my arse. Thus far it's formulaic medieval fantasy with lots of tits for 2011.

Not very impressed with the hype machine.

[IotV]

Critics had episodes 1-6.

[benm]

THAT ending.

What an amazing show, I hope the quality of the pilot can be sustained. Why are they all incestuous freaks though?

It was surprisingly good and I usually would not watch something like this.The only thing is the actress who plays Sean Beans wife looks haggard.Loved the Dwarf character and the ending was very good.

[Kingdom]

I really enjoyed the first episode, the scenery (especially the snow covered forest at the start) was stunning. But I felt that it would have been better if the first episode was a feature length. They have a large cast, so it would have been useful to establish the characters in more depth.

Apart from that I know I'm going to love this series, HBO always deliver great TV.

[JakeMagnus]

SPOILERS

Can we let that be the one and only spoiler in this thread? Because even with the warning it's hard not to read it accidentally. And there's stuff coming up that would spoil the whole series if you'd know it too soon.

[Charley]

Exactly, despite the spoiler warning you couldn't not see the spoiler.

I've now deleted it.

In the future let's apply the same rules as io9's recaps of the show:

This recap will give away absolutely everything that happened in last night's episode — but not anything that's happening in future episodes, or in future books of the series. We ask that everyone in comments adhere to the same rule — spoilers for the already-aired episode, but not spoilers for what's going to happen three years from now. Okay? Great.

Thanks!

[Baby Clyde]

I liked the first episode but have a feeling I'll like the book more so have just bought the first one. I'm now undecided where ther to read it before continuing, watch the show before reading the book or do both concurrently.

Thought?

[IotV]

Mmm, read the book first. It explains things that the TV series doesn't make apparent (Dany and Drogo's wedding night for one; I was so annoyed about this).

[Blackout 2.0]

What's the book called? I might read it, dunno.

[soratami]

The first book's called A Game of Thrones. It's really good. There are 3 sequels out already, and the 4th comes out in July.

[mikejmc5580]

I liked the first episode but have a feeling I'll like the book more so have just bought the first one. I'm now undecided where ther to read it before continuing, watch the show before reading the book or do both concurrently.

Thought?

I've deliberately avoided the True Blood books for this very reason. I don't want to risk spoiling anything - as I see it, there's plenty of time to read the books later.

[soratami]

When movies/tv shows are based on books, I always prefer to read the books first rather than after. It makes for a much more entertaining experience seeing a book you read on the tv instead of just reading the story of a tv show you watched.

[David_X]

With films, you need to read the book first. With TV shows, you can't read them until the show is over. These are the rules!

[jk-ennedy]

So glad it's being received well. My sister is an extra, the Queen's hand maiden and she spent about a month of Summer 2010 filming all over Northern Ireland. How are the ratings looking?

[IotV]

The ratings have been very good, and the international audience is fantastic, so it's pretty much been a massive success. DVD sales will be huge too.

The second episode was pretty good - more of a plot builder though. Arya really is perfectly cast, but Sansa isn't really how I imagined her.

[Baby Clyde]

With films, you need to read the book first. With TV shows, you can't read them until the show is over. These are the rules!

This actually makes some weird sense.

[Blackout 2.0]

Episode 2 was good, if only for the violent tussle between the Queen of Winterfell and the killer, then the dog attacked him...AMAZING. I was actually falling asleep until that happened and basically it was great thereafter. The storyline with the younger cast is very interesting too, that sort of struggle of honesty towards the end when the sisters were called upon the king and queen was pretty much stellar.

We already know how much the ginger one wants to marry the prince and yet there she was realising the family she is potentially about to marry into are going to kill her own dog, but minutes before that she was willing to lie for them and go against her own sister at that expense. Wow. Basically I'm loving the little developments and can't wait to see how it all grows within the coming weeks!

P.S Louise from Hollyoaks!

[David_X]

Much better than the first episode. The whole shebang between Prince Dickhead and Aria was fantastic...the poor butcher's boy.

[Blackout 2.0]

Prince Dickhead

This must be his new name from now on. He's such a little cunt.

[David_X]

He's one of the reasons why i'm scoffing at all the hype...'complex characters'? I doubt a single thought went into his character other than ' huge undebatable twat'. I bet they'll try and make us feel sorry for him when he finds out his mummy's slamming her brother but I will refuse.

[JakeMagnus]

Yeah, he's the only character that I really really hate. Well except for Sansa.

[Blackout 2.0]

I know we only saw him for all of 3 minutes but I absolutely loathed whoever that prick was that came to kill that little boy. Conversely my favourite characters are the wolfdogs and I really rather want one of my own now.

[IotV]

He's one of the reasons why i'm scoffing at all the hype...'complex characters'? I doubt a single thought went into his character other than ' huge undebatable twat'. I bet they'll try and make us feel sorry for him when he finds out his mummy's slamming her brother but I will refuse.

You really know nothing about the books if you don't think the characters aren't complex. Even if you've only seen the first two episodes that should be enough!

[soratami]

Joffrey really is the most hate inducing character in the whole cast, and he only gets worse and worse as the story progresses.