BananaHands
Staff member
"You insulted my house, Obama."
"You insulted my house, Obama."
BananaHands
Staff member
I'm just really digging on Bronn in this show.
Dave
Staff member
I have a lot to say about this episode and not all of it is good. I mean, I know some things are going to change between the book and the show - that's just logic. But while some things add to the whole feel of the thing - Arya & Tywin Lannister having their little stare-down - some things are just infuriating me.
First, all the nudity bothers me. Not the stuff that I feel stays true to the books, but the scenes like the brothel where Littlefinger did his exposition while instructing the whores. The annoyed me. A lot. I realize they are HBO but the shit should make sense not just be there because BEWBS!! (Yes, the SNL skit was right on the money.)
Which brings me to Littlefinger the character. In the books he is very, very subtle and very much behind the scenes. In the show he is very blunt and hardly subtle at all. Yes, he has whore houses, but they are only a small part of what he deals in. He would NEVER stoop so far to go instruct the girls on their trade. Dealing with them on that level would be beneath him.
But the absolute worst thing they did in the show was to take the actions of Tyrion and make them either lessened or not at all.
And the latest transgression was last night.
Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but why they feel the need to change certain things is beyond me.
First, all the nudity bothers me. Not the stuff that I feel stays true to the books, but the scenes like the brothel where Littlefinger did his exposition while instructing the whores. The annoyed me. A lot. I realize they are HBO but the shit should make sense not just be there because BEWBS!! (Yes, the SNL skit was right on the money.)
Which brings me to Littlefinger the character. In the books he is very, very subtle and very much behind the scenes. In the show he is very blunt and hardly subtle at all. Yes, he has whore houses, but they are only a small part of what he deals in. He would NEVER stoop so far to go instruct the girls on their trade. Dealing with them on that level would be beneath him.
But the absolute worst thing they did in the show was to take the actions of Tyrion and make them either lessened or not at all.
The battle where he fought beside the Hill People in the books had him wielding an axe and becoming a damned fine fighter. In the show he inexplicably hit his head and did not participate in the battle at all! The fighting he did solidified his position wit the Hill People, who valued his prowess and called him "Half-Man" as a term of respect. There's no way they'd follow the Imp without that. It made no sense the way they did it!
And the latest transgression was last night.
Cersei had been talking to the Alchemists? WHAT?!? Tyrion poisoned Cersei to keep her out of the way while he saw to the defense of the city! HE is the one who went to the Alchemists! HE'S the one who had the great ideas! Why are they trying to make it look like he just kind of fell in to the whole Alchemist idea? Why do they keep feeling they have to denut Tyrion? His fall from grace is so much more tragic when he did everything he could to save the city in spite of Cersei and the king than it will be in the show.
Don't get me wrong, I love the show, but why they feel the need to change certain things is beyond me.
While I love Jaquen H'ghar and his actor thus far by buy having Jaquen H'ghar kill The Tickler, they got rid of the best scene where Arya kills him herself. You know, where she stabs him while screaming the lines he used to question people.
They are taking far too many liberties now. I still like the show but jesus christ...
BananaHands
Staff member
BananaHands
Staff member
And can someone tell me if Book 4 gets better? I'm struggling to stay interested in some of the characters.
I agree that they are taking liberties, but I don't think they have cut anything so major that it's problematic. The important story beats are still there.
Also, on Littlefinger, most of what's happening to him in the story right now occurred off page and we find out what he was doing only when the Lannisters do. Which may have something to do with the perception that he is not being subtle.
They are going to have to trim the fat on some of these books. Details that seem awesome in the book might not translate well to the screen and adjustments need to be made. I judge the series based on the reaction of my friend who has never read the books and he is thoroughly engaged, not lost at all following the story, and loving the show.
Also, on Littlefinger, most of what's happening to him in the story right now occurred off page and we find out what he was doing only when the Lannisters do. Which may have something to do with the perception that he is not being subtle.
Last night for instance showed him paving the way for a new alliance with the Tyrells, something that in the book we don't find out until after the fact much later in a Tyrion chapter I believe.
They are going to have to trim the fat on some of these books. Details that seem awesome in the book might not translate well to the screen and adjustments need to be made. I judge the series based on the reaction of my friend who has never read the books and he is thoroughly engaged, not lost at all following the story, and loving the show.
Nope. The 4th book is the weakest of them all. Feel bloated. When a Bran chapter follows a Daenarys chapter..... ugh
I don't know if it's that they're trying to denut Tyrion so much as prop up Cersei. They keep trying to make her sympathetic.
Yeah, that's kind of my annoyance button currently too. HBO MATURE prerogative is fucking irritating too.
They could have easily have squeezed another episode or two out of this season. Flesh out some characters, keep it closer to the books... the last 2-3 episodes have been harder to watch. Far too many liberties being taken.
For example, I understand making Bronn more intriguing and have a bigger part than he had in the book and not to have more characters to deal with but to completely make it look like Cersei was thinking ahead of time and planning the city defense? That's a cruel jape, for Cersei is a character without forethought and reacts to things as they are presented to her. She's predictable and ruthless and do what it takes to get it her way. To think ahead of time like this? Impossible.
BTW Love Stannis' Theme
For example, I understand making Bronn more intriguing and have a bigger part than he had in the book and not to have more characters to deal with but to completely make it look like Cersei was thinking ahead of time and planning the city defense? That's a cruel jape, for Cersei is a character without forethought and reacts to things as they are presented to her. She's predictable and ruthless and do what it takes to get it her way. To think ahead of time like this? Impossible.
BTW Love Stannis' Theme
Liberties don't bother me too much. I'd definitely prefer they stop playing down Tyrion and Arya, the two best characters in the whole thing, but honestly even after playing them down, they're still the two best characters in the whole thing.
It's a different medium, and I may not agree with the changes, but at least it keeps me a bit on my toes. And it means my friends who are still holding out on the books until after the show will get to enjoy them all the more.
Show's just a companion to the book series, and even with all the changes so far it still remains remarkably close the source material compared to many other book to television/ film adaptations out there.
It's a different medium, and I may not agree with the changes, but at least it keeps me a bit on my toes. And it means my friends who are still holding out on the books until after the show will get to enjoy them all the more.
Show's just a companion to the book series, and even with all the changes so far it still remains remarkably close the source material compared to many other book to television/ film adaptations out there.
That's Book 5... Just sayin.
Also, Jaqen mentioned the Red God needing his due and I was like "WTF DID THEY WRITE OUT THE MANY FACED GOD TOO?! NOOOOOOOOOOO."
I'm really wondering who Arya's 2 other deaths are going to be, because there is no Weese, and Roose Bolton seems to still be with Robb...
I'm really wondering who Arya's 2 other deaths are going to be, because there is no Weese, and Roose Bolton seems to still be with Robb...
BananaHands
Staff member
No, you are right on the money, I'd much rather see nudity that fits the story rather than them shoe-horning it in just to have it. I feel the same about violence, it needs to fit the story, you don't throw it in just to throw it in.
This one threw me for a loop. I don't get it. Why did they change this? It makes zero sense from a story standpoint. Maybe it will make a difference later but... it seems like a really odd change.
Overall I still love the show (although currently Mad Men is heads and shoulders above it and everything else on TV), it's struggling under the weight of so many story lines and characters. This was always my worry and I fear it may get worse as they try to fit to much into to few episodes.
I was trying to figure out where I recognized the woman playing Margary Tyrell from.
She was the chick that Peggy Carter saw making out with Steve Rogers in Captain America.
She was the chick that Peggy Carter saw making out with Steve Rogers in Captain America.
BananaHands
Staff member
Eh, the show is a different entity. I'd be more upset if they killed and/or let a character live than changing the order of things.
But they seriously better keep weasel soup in it.
Please rant about this in detail for those of us without HBO.
North_Ranger
Staff member
Frankly, I'd rather not hear all the juicy details. Without expensive movie channels, I'll have to wait a few months before I get to watch the shit out of this season.