Cool News
HBO Greenlights To Series A GAME OF THRONES!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
I am – Hercules!!
HBO has greenlit a series based on George R.R. Martin’s series of “A Song of Ice and Fire” fantasy novels .
The plan is to adapt one novel each season, starting with 1996’s “A Game of Thrones.”
“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” star Lena Headey will play the duplicitous Cersei Lannister, twin sister of Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Virtuality”), with whom she indulges an incestuous relationship that spans decades. Along the way she marries the hard-drinking King Robert Baratheon, played by Mark Addy (“Still Standing”).
Also cast in the project are Sean Bean (“Crusoe”) as Ned Stark, Kit Harrington as Jon Snow, Jack Gleeson (“Batman Begins”) as Joffrey Baratheon, Harry Lloyd (“Robin Hood”) as Viserys Targaryen, Jennifer Ehle (“Possession”) as Catelyn Stark, Iain Glen ("Resident Evil: Extinction") as Ser Jorah Mormont, Tamzin Merchant (2005's "Pride and Prejudice") as Daenerys, Richard Madden (the BBC's "Hope Springs") as Robb Stark, Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark, Maisie Williams as Arya Stark and Alfie Allen ("The Other Boleyn Girl") as Theon.
“The Visitor” director Tom McCarthy is reuniting with his “Station Agent” star, Peter Dinklage (who plays Tyrion Lannister), for the project. Screenwriter David Benioff ("The 25th Hour," "Troy," "Stay," "The Kite Runner," "X-Men Origins: Wolverine") is scripting.
Find the scoop from the Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd here.
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The Blu-ray Amok-Babel-Tribble-enhanced second season of “Star Trek,” $67.99 just a couple days ago, just fell to an all-time low of $39.99!! (69% Off!!)
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NICE picture, Herc.
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Figured they were going to greenlight this. Now the question is when will we be seeing anything? 2011? Hopefully Martin finishes the final novels soon but I have a feeling they will hold off on the final books so they can gain a wider audience for book sales.
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Guess George R.R. Martin better get off his fat ass and finish the series if they plan to do one book a season.
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Who plays Bran? When is it coming? How many seasons into it will they cancel?
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Although she needs to be put over my knee for a right spanking after that dreadful crap that was Tell Tale. Bad girl. Bad dirty girl.
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At the current rate that the novels are being released we will be lucky if they have a book to base season five off of when the time comes around.
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This is the coolest news in weeks!
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Mar 02, 2010 2:17:04 PM CST
Some of the best books ever! I hope they don't screw it up!
by snake foreskin
If HBO handles this like they did Rome, it will make for truly epic television! I will have to subscribe to HBO again after years of disgust.
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HBO probably will lose interest quickly enough, but I'm crossing my fingers for this adaptation. It doesn't bode well for the book series' timely completion, what with George R. R. Martin's understandable enthusiasm for the TV show. I know, I know, Martin isn't our bitch--I'm just saying that a finished book series would be very nice. In other news, has anybody else noticed the interest similarities between the AGW movement's ongoing disintegration and Tiger Woods' fall from grace? Tiger was 100% clean until that weird drunk driving female-on-male spousal abuse incident, and then all hell broke loose and we quickly found out what a scoundrel he is. The Climate Change equivalent to that incident is the leaked CRU e-mail and source code. The AGW case went from "settled science" to... whatever the hell it is. Given that Tiger's situation has progressed a bit faster than the Climate Change one has, are we due to see an IPCC equivalent to Tiger's awkward "I have lusted in my heart" confessional press conference? I doubt it, but it will be interesting to see.
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Wouldn't want it to be cancelled before its time like other notable HBO fare (Carnivale, Deadwood, Rome)
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and if he doesn't finish this series I'm gonna fuck him like a bitch.
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I have to think that HBO wouldn't ok the series w/o having a committment that Martin will finish it. Of course, the last book was something of a disappointment so whether the rest of the series lives up to the first 3 books is open to question.
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Mar 02, 2010 2:32:59 PM CST
Disappointment? Even a disappointing novel from him...
by snake foreskin
is a thousand times better than most other writers can manage!
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Dude, you fucking weenies who just watch movies and shows need to read these books! A lot harder than popping in a DVD, but well worth it.
OURS IS THE FURY!!! -
Martin is going to wig out at this news and he is in no shape to do such things. Hope his heart can handle the excitement. GULP!!
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The biggest problem is that George RR Martin is quite heavy and fairly old. Probability is he will drop dead before he finishes these things. Hell, the act of finishing them may kill him.
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seriously though, it's about fucking time.
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and Skycells and 700 ft walls of Ice and Hodor!!!
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production!!!
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... and just take the stories in its own direction. Can't be unfaithful to the books if the books don't exist, after all. :D
Also, at some point to stay on the air it's going to have to refuse to extend the cast. That whole desert royal family was a bad idea.
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let's get one thing straight right now, folks: this series WILL NOT go longer than 3 seasons, if that.
so worry about the fifth book for its own sake, but don't be foolish enough to think the tv series will ever make it that far. -
not overly interesting but better than nothing.There's also a link to a list of the cast with photos (in case you were wondering what the actors looked like) or you can see it here:http://tinyurl.com/ygnesbr
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. . . if he would just quit describing what the characters are wearing and eating.
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He is close to finishing Dance With Dragons...if you have been reading his Not A Blog site. And he has chapters for the 6th book already written as well. He is only 60 though he is a plump and robust 60. Look for an announcement by the spring that book 5 is done. The fan base for this series is so huge HBO will make all 7 seasons. The books have been published in just about every language and country there is. It has the potential to make the Sopranos look like Small Wonder.
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I'm not kidding, forget this Coaxial shit down the right side, A Game Of Thrones actually happening should be in giant text right at the top of the page. This is the biggest geek news of the month without question - we're basically getting the best fantasy series around by the only network that can do it justice.
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Seriously though, they know he is only writing book 5 of 7 for the last three years now. I get a weird feeling this will be a three season deal.
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This could be excellent!
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This will knock the geek socks off of everyone.
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1) The script for the pilot is available online, and it's pretty good. Very concise and well-done (although I wish/hope they don't include the arrogant Jaime scene confronting Eddard about his father and brother's "tragedy," becuase if you read the later books it becomes clear that Jaime Lannister is not quite the cold-hearted super-asshole you've been led to believe he is.
2)Maybe with the TV series I'll now know how some of the names are pronounced, particularly Tyrion (in my head, it rhymes with "lion," which I always found appropriate because of his family's heraldry). -
I've seen GRRM in person. He looks a lot better and healthier than in any of his photographs. He's spry, not as heavy as you probably think (the beard makes him look bigger than he is, I think). The gray beard also makes him look older than he is.
Book 5 is close to completion. The main issue is working out some complex details involving Dany's story, which he has called the Meereenese Knot. A lot has to do with making the movements of several characters to and from the place sensible in terms of the time-line. I think it's more than just that, but that's a big part of it. -
Not really. It should have been edited more, a little too much filler, but there was a lot of really good stuff in there, too.
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The amount of worrying over GRRM health is pretty silly, he's a big dude without question but I don't have see him dropping dead tomorrow. His last update on the 5th book has been very good, nearing completion of the hardest part for him to write, and I have little doubt we'll see it this year. And hell, as disappointed as I'd be if the TV series only makes it halfway through the books - that third season will simply blow every other show away it's not even funny. I can't wait for this show to take off - and I swear on it, by the end of the first season I will not be at all surprised to see Harry himself giving his own thoughts on each episode as they premiere. Mark my words, this show will have AICN bending over backwords with any news they get on it in no time...
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Lena as Cersei? LOVE IT.
That's great casting. -
As Bran. Poor kid didn't get mentioned.
And GRRM seems to be making progress with the books. Let's just hope the Merreenese Knot doesn't cut off his nose again... -
Now don't fuck it up or I'll kill Harry.
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I looked at the cast list and noticed some folks who weren't in the books (Ros?). No worries, it just surprises me that the inclusion of new characters would be necessary for a TV adaptation. The books contain an enormous cast, so I guess the new characters will be amalgamations of several existing characters.This will cause me to subscribe to HBO, and this is the biggest geek news of the week (possibly the year to date).
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It's so sad what geeks have become in the wake of Hollywood suddenlly seeing them for the cash-ready demographic they often are. If Hollywood hasn't told them to see it, read the comic book or watch the reruns of the ORIGINAL show; geeks today just don't know about it. Geeks are so hand-fed there diet that they don't even try to "seek out" anything that hasn't had a corporate stamp of approval on it first. I remember when geeks used to read books (hey comic book nerds, remember those?) without pictures and let the movie play in there minds and if every geek today would pick up a good genre read, Hollywood blockbusters would go out of buisiness real fucking fast. And that of course, brings me to Game of Thrones. Some of us still do read novels that don't have the word "graphic" before it. That's why all of us who have read this book knows that all of you comic book reading, comic-con goin', Heroes-watchin; coporate co-opted geeks are about to have your fucking minds blown and then some. There's not going to be any "huge star" attatched to make you think it's cool. Their won't be a comic book tie in to explain loose threads of the plot. There won't be a clueless studio exec showing up at a convention trying to woo you to see this. They won't be doing any of these things because they don't have to. They just have to air it and wait for all of you to tune in and wonder why the fuck you didn't know about it earlier. And maybe after that, you may suddenly realize that the real "good stuff" has been sitting right in front of you all along. All you had to do was read.
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George RR Martin wil cold cock all your asses.
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@OptimusCrime
Ros is just a bit part. Through a lot of the casting Esme Bianco's character was just known as the "Red-Headed Whore." -
Have no idea about this. They haven't read the books, haven't heard too much about it, probably no set visits for the first year... No clue. I wish I could see Harry's face after the last shot of the first season. I can just see him speechless with eyes as wide as saucers... yeah, even the writers here... no fucking clue what's commin.
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In Bellfast is starting construction and renting shit out. They'll be shooting the 9 episodes for the first season pretty soon here.
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As Lady Stark, and even predicted her to be cast as soon as Terminator was canceled. I guess I was part right.
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Um...you do know the Hedge Knight short stories were made into comics, right? And GRRM's Fevre Dream is being addapted into one starting this month. Just saying, don't count that out yet.
But seriously guys, if you like fantasy read these books. Don't let the prologue fool you, they're amazing. -
They were adapted from short stories though and people read them because they read the novels and wanted more while waiting for the next book. And they're great by the way. Love the artwork.
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...IIRC, is how we are introduced to Tyrion in the pilot (at least in the script). She is, shall we say, making use of her mouth? Tyrion loves his whores. And seniorspeilbergio - you're dead right. The end of the first season should be a shocker. And if it lasts to the Red Wedding...goddamn is that gonna be great.
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Harry will put his foot through his television. Can't wait to read the article on that one.
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Fucking yes. Fuck yeah!
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He's calling them truly terrible writing!
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That shit is seared into my memory!
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GRRM has written that he has gotten death threats over some of the things that his characters go through. I can think of 5 or 6 things off the top of my head that will piss people off. The Red Wedding is only the beginning...
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The guy's taste-level tanks outside of the medium of film. He spent too much time doing cocaine and thinks that every opinion he has is some sort of vision from God.
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and it is, for 10 year old kids.
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if hbo does it right.
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X-Men Origins: Wolverine
/p
Ouch. -
8-hour miniseries!
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Which is exactly what that site is full of. The books aren't the greatest thing ever written, but they are not terrible. Terrible is being an internet columnist who criticizes films, books and TV without every picking up to pen to write something creative.
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Mar 02, 2010 5:29:33 PM CST
possibly the coolest thing since Jackson took on Lord of the rin
by adamdiran
The material is there to do something truly memorable. And HBO is the right place to do it. These are not kids books. But there are currently 4 books, a 5th thats been almost done for FOUR YEARS. If they want that 5th book plus the last two books within seven years they're going to need to chain Martin to a desk. I mean that literally not figuratively.
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This is going to kick untold amounts of ass. Those of you who have not read the books are in for a helluva treat. And I thought everyone knew that Devin from CHUD is the very antithesis of good taste? The fact that he doesn't like ASOIAF is honestly the best praise CHUD could give this.
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These are by far my favorite books of all time and I read A LOT. So excited for this I hope it lasts.
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BUT WINTER IS COMING.
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Since that fat troll is never going to write another book, I might as well watch the movie version.
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and so am I!
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Don't believe Martin's bullshit. When he was running late with book 4, he basically said he had to split the book in half and that books 4 and 5 were basically done. That's five fucking years that fat little fucker has been working on book 5. He's so busy selling miniatures, licensing swords, going to conventions, working on a screenplay, and giving insipid NY football updates on his blog that the little gelatinous blob will NEVER finish this series. I just wish his books sucked so I didn't have to care about whether his books will ever get done.
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I can't wait to see this!
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just so I can see how they plan to air stories about Brothers and Sisters screwing and 14 year old girls getting fucked like animals by nomadic horselords before they start chowing their handmaids box. The 10 year old kid who still breasat feeds should make a good scene to.
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...and I had to deal with whining "fans" like Itchy, I'd rather spend my free time enjoying life rather than hustle to finish a book in order to cater to entitled babies, too.
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More like Bitchy...AM I RIGHT?!
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Never have a read a series with more unbelievable shocks and twists than this one. If it's anything like the books, this may be the most violent series ever aired on television.
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Mar 02, 2010 6:21:49 PM CST
Game of Thrones is a reimagining of medieval history.
by stereotypical evil archer
A lot of the controversial stuff in the books actually happened in history. Arranged marriages for 13 year-olds, incest, political intrigue, assassinations... and what have you
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Game of Thrones is the epitome of HBO's future.
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...and I totally sound like a badass and not a complete nerd when I say that! Yee-haw!!! Anyway this is cool news. Hopefully the series does well enough (and isn't too expensive) to get the other books/seasons greenlit as well.
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...to HBO. Hopefully, this seris is given the producton budget and creative leeway it deserves.
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You can't really say Winter is Coming, knowing the context, and not sound like a badass...ya smarmy dickbag.
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Hodor? Hodor.
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As Bronn ! or the hound, but I think he's already cast
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Now I have to get HBO!!!
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I read the books, so I know what the context is, but rock on with your "badass" self
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Here's the whole cast, from the pilot at least, with pics.
http://tiny url.com/ygnesbr -
How far into the novel's more controversial elements can HBO delve without having an ax thrown at them?
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...Littlefinger?
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A great artist needs time to think. I am pretty sure Martin is taking his time so that the final books are really good ones.
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On HBO, there's pretty much no limits. Since it is a pay channel, it's not subject to the same FCC regulations that the over the air networks are subject to.
HBO could show hard-core x-rated movies if they wanted to, it's not going to get them a fine (but might cause some subscribers to cancel). -
Littlefinger hasn't been cast yet. They only cast the pilot episode so far, and Littlefinger doesn't appear until a bit later in the series. Only those characters showing up in the pilot were cast. One was cut from the pilot (Pycell), but apparently the role was cast before this and the actor (still unknown, but possibly Roy Dotrice) has committed to do the role with the greenlight.
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Tamzin Merchant, the actress playing Daenerys, turns 23 in two days, so they can do whatever they want. In the pilot script Dany is listed as 15, Khal Drogo 30, which is Jason Momoa's real age.
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Littlefinger doesn't appear in the pilot, so he has not been cast yet. Shooting starts in June, lots of cool casting info will be arriving soon.
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Thanks for the info, you've satisfied a long held curiousity.
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I actually think that would be pretty good casting, except I'd have trouble seeing him as such a devious little shit. Callis always played Baltar with that pathetic humor....I don't know if he could pull off what is pretty much the most loathesome character in the books.
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I read PofE over the summer and into fall. I normally finish books pretty quickly, but I labored through that one, because it really is mediocre. The historical accuracy is impressive, as is the research that must've gone into it....but after reading a lot of just outstanding authors over the past year (McCarthy, Steinbeck, et al), Pillars was really tough. It's not very good writing.
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Do you happen to know the production budget?
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But I do know the BBC is co-financing it with HBO, as they did with Rome. Also, one of the reasons they chose Belfast, aside from the exterior locations and castles, is that they will get some tax breaks. It will undoubtedly be among the most expensive TV productions ever, if not the most.
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No budget has been announced, but from what has been pieced together it will probably be more than Showtime's The Tudors, but less than Rome. Rome wasted a lot of money on poor production choices (the set cost too much and Italy is an expensive place to shoot), among other things. They've done a great job on this one of cutting costs, like a super sweetheart deal for the main production facility in N. Ireland: they are getting 4 huge sound stages for free in return for the production happening in Belfast. The N. Irish govt. gave it free cause it means a lot of money spent on the show there, and the tax revenue from all of the workers there: win-win for everyone. So, with a smaller budget they could well have equal or greater production values to that of "Rome."
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until the book he said would be done 6 months from the day they published #4 pushed it's deadline for the 3rd time and became a 5 year ordeal. I feel like the guy is selling snake oil. Meanwhile in that time , Steven Erikson has published about 7500 words in 5 volumes of the equally awesome Malazan series.
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I'm reading a Game of Thrones as we speak and it's an awesome yarn. If it emulates the standards set forth by HBO's best shows, then this could seriously do for fantasy what Sopranos did for the mob. Sean Bean is perfectly cast as the hero of the story. And Lena Hedy is so sexy she just frightens me. I don't think I could be in the room with her without my heart rate doubling. I heard this story about how Sharon Stone gave Joe Eszterhas a one night stand for writing Basic Instinct. Someday, I hope I write Lena Hedy the greatest role ever written for a female actress then get her really drunk at a party...
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...and all I can think about is vandalizing that asscrack like tomorrow is the armageddon.
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Where do you even start? The greatest fantasy series ever written, better then LOTR (Yep, I said it), with literally every chapter having a scene that would be considered the coolest scene in any other book. Where do you even start? "Your pretty fast for a dancing master" "And your pretty slow for a knight". "Say her name!! SAY HER NAME!!". And my personal all time favorite, in book two after the Hound saves Sansa's ass in utterly and completely bad ass fashion from a mob of hundreds, and she mentions that if they had simply rushed him all at once, he would be dead (paraphrasing here): "Thats why they are who they are, and I am who I am. The wolf doesn't fear the sheep".
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Thats exactly what he is. Arrogant, cold, heartless, and a general all around miserable fuck. However, hes also utterly fearless in battle, more then willing to sacrifice himself, and one of the most skilled warriors in Westeros. Such is the genius of Martin, no character is ever all one thing or another.
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More good news. I've heard about the relatively low costs of shooting in North Ireland. It looks like HBO/BBC have assembled a good team that's making the right choices. I have very high hopes for this series.
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get butt zeked in this story?
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How can I be cool like you? I must know.
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Nuff Said
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I don't really see how this can work as television beyond the first book. (Mild Spoilers) After that the main cast are flung far and wide all over the map and rarely get to interact again, new characters are constantly introduced, and (most difficult) as of the most recently published book - Dany hasn't been anywhere near any of the other key players. You essentially have the Westeros show and the Dany show, and as far as we know, never the twain shall meet until season 5 at the earliest. (End Spoilers) Which works in the novels but might be very frustrating for TV viewers.Hope they pull it off though, there's some phenomenal stuff in there.
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Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories are the greatest fantasy series ever, with Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber a close second.
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never taking his eyes off Sandor Clegane. It was the easiest thing in the world for Arya to step up behind him and stab him. [/p]
"Is there gold hidden in the village?" she shouted as she drove the blade up through his back. "Is there silver? Gems?" She stabbed twice more. "Is there food? Where is Lord Beric?" She was on top of him by then, still stabbing. "Where did he go? How many men were with him? How many knights? How many bowmen? How many, how many, how many, how many, how many, how many? Is there GOLD in the village?" -
my vote goes to The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever
The first two series had such awesome extravagant moments
Don't know about the 3rd series
Waiting until it's complete to read it
So I can burn through it in a sitting
And no waity time in between books
Waited 25 years for the 3rd series, I can Wait a bit more -
... is that no character is safe. NO ONE! I love that, and the fact that they all get the screws turned on them in major ways. Now, if only HBO were to go and make Stephen Donaldson's Gap Series, I would die a happy geek.
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Characters are safe, Arya will never die.
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having an incestuous relationship with her twin sister??! Sold! This sounds almost like my favorite episode of Gilmore Girls that never happened. And yes, I'm a very sick man.
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this is Arya.
http://tiny url.com/ykzderx -
Which I loved. Wanted to read these books for a while. This is a good reason.
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Trumpetting that the script is by the writer of 'Xmen Origins - Wolverine' isn't really the way to induce confidence, is it? Especially considering the quality of the source material.Kinda like asking Stephen Hawking to deliver a Shakespearian soliloquy, IMHO...
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I hope it WILL be like that!! Although this will be like Kings's drug addict, street fighting ex-con stepbrother.
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Considering the entire first book is just one endless rape scene, literally, I'm doubting that will ever see the light of day on TV. Just a guess. Besides, you are going to have Walking Dead and SOIAF on TV at the same time, anything more and my head might explode.
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That's your name? On AICN? Yeah, nevermind. I'm pretty sure there's no way anyone could make you feel worse about yourself. So just, y'know, keep, um...rockin it
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Although Rutger Hauer would be awesome, too.
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No, now it ends... :) (People who've read it knows what I'm talking about.) Woot!
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I think Arya is destined to die actually. But not before she comes back to Westeros to murder some Freys and such. She is going down a slippery slope now and she did not completely leave her old self behind her before joining the guild, which was a requirement. We shall see.
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I am just trying real hard to be optimistic. If you look at all his books, they average around 4-5 years in between. So Dragons will be on par with that. I just read the series for the 1st time last year so I have not been waiting as long as those who have been on board since 1996 so I can't appreciate your frustrations. Still, he is 1300+ pages into book 5 and he keeps posting updates instead of bitching about impatient fans. That has to be a good sign.
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(Spoiler) Ser Barristan goes to help her.
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...would make a great Tywin.
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I was a fraid we'd end up with maybe a bootleg copy of the pilot. Now at least we get one whole season.
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Looks EXACTLY like I pictured Tywin Lannister in the books. Discuss.
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If it was too expensive for HBO to keep up with Carnivale and Rome, no way in hell that they can afford to maintain a series as epic as this.
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...Bran will never die(though I wish he would).
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Carnivale had low ratings, and they admitted they made a mistake with Rome and regret canceling it now that the see how well DVD sales are doing. With the BBC helping finance, as long as people are watching I think they'll stick it out with an eye on future merchandise.
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I was legitimately worried that it wouldn't get picked up. So excited and the cast seems spot on looks wise with some nice talent as well. This is gonna be a slow year.
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ASOIAF has a global fan base and has been written in almost every language in most countries. It's not just America. GRRM has a worldwide fanbase. This could/will be huge for GRRM and HBO. I cannot wait to see how they treat the Wall. And the direwolves. NOOCH!!!
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Why the Bran hate? I think he and the Reeds are very interesting. Now that he is controling his abilities, he could have a very large role in all of this. I still want to know where Rickon is and what will become of him.
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Heartily agree about that asscrack. I could wear her tush like a hockey mask!
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Patrick Stewart is my favorite actor being mentioned in wish lists for the role, and Bill Nighy is awesome, but the role is absolutely perfect for Alan Dale. Maybe it's obvious type casting, but he oozes calculating menace as well as anyone.
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Pycelle is kind of a weak character. (spoiler) Tyrion should have killed his ass.
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I love Arya. I hope she doesn't die, but with Martin, you never know.
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to "persuade" RR Martin to actually finish the series.
Feast of Crows was on par with the worst of the Jordan books. Too much of nothing going on.
I am glad about this news though as I refuse to pick up another Martin book until the series is done. -
But I saw Bill Nighy as soon as he appeared and spoke in the books. I just can't shake that image.
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Is PERFECT for Ned Stark!!!!!!! Best casting decision EVER!!! So excited to see this. I love the books. Martin just now needs to finish "A Dance With Dragons" already!! Sheeesh!!!
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..And I'd even put Ian McShane on the list. But those traits described of Tywin of brooding, calculating evil and a gaze that can turn your blood cold from fear. I think Rutger Hauer has all those characteristics down pat, I mean, even his voice is scary.
http://tinyurl.com/yg6hsur
But yeah, Rome, The Tudors, are all good, but they nothing over on these books.
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After scanning the comments above, I STILL have no idea what this series is about. If it's anything like "Lord of the Rings," I'll be rather disappointed that HBO deems fit throwing loads of money at a shitty fantasy series but not footing the bill for an extra season or two of "Deadwood."
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Mar 03, 2010 12:13:49 PM CST
Toe Jam, it is only superficially like Lord of the Rings.
by colonelfatheart
Think THE WIRE meets ROME in Middle Earth, but based heavily on medieval history. Lots of blood, lots of sex, lots of betrayals, lots of deliciously witty dialogue and lots of shattering character moments. It's perfect for HBO. Hopefully they learned their lesson after giving ROME and DEADWOOD the short shrift.
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Badass fucking dragons.
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no need to worry about a "Rome situation" here. They learned their lesson. Italy is notoriously expensive to shoot in. They also up there prices whenever they see Hollywood coming. Bellfast is a totally different story. They're getting use of the Paint Hall Soundstage for free. This stage is massive. They use to buid ships there before they converted it. It's where the Titanic was built! In exchange, the production has to crew up with 50% locals or something. Add to that, all the free production value of the scottish moors and old castles and historical sites which they've already used for the pilot. On top of that, they're recycling sets from other historical dramas like when they shot in Morroco for all the Dany scenes and used standing sets left over from Kingdom of Heaven and the sets for Your Highness in Bellfast. Now throw into the mix the rabid fan base and many, many people planning on subscribing to HBO just for this and this show is almost an assured hit. And as far as audiences disconnecting with Dany for being seperated from everyone else, i don't think there's any concern at all. TV audiences have adjusted to the fact that tv shows are now one, long, continuous story rather than the unconnected, week to week adventures of the 70's and 80's. In this context, i think if anything; audiences will be on the edge of there seat wondering when she's going to show up in Westeros and lay waste to the seven kingdoms. If anything, it's a hook to keep you watching.
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I just don't like the character. I find his chapters boring and he allowed Witerfell to be taken. Jaime should have pushed him harder.
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is by far the weakest most least interesting character in the entire series, and unfortunately your right, he will probably never die because GRRM seems to like writing Bran's tediously dull plot line. The more I read the series the more I liked Jaime for what he does in book one.
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See the Red Wedding. As much as I love Arya and Tyrion as characters I suspect one or both will get killed off in book five just to reinforce the lack of safety.
Only character I think is really safe is Danerys, at least till she steps foot on Westeros.
P.S. Anyone else think that Jon Snow is NOT Ned Stark's bastard? -
I'm with you. I think Jon Snow is Ned Stark's nephew and is the illegitimate son of Ned's younger sister and the Targaryen prince who was also Dany's father.
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I'm really getting out there now, but I think Tyrion is also the bastard son of the Targaryen prince (he was qutie the player) and that's why old man Lannister hated him so much.
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A game of thrones is a fantasy series set in a world (at least initially) without magic. 99% of the story would work just fine if it had been reset in renisance Itally. Its a stroy about a kingdom made up of seven smaller kingdoms that falls into civil war. Each book of the series is longer (word count wise) than the entire lord of the rings trilogy. (These are HUGE books)
The books are bloody, and a key feature is that the characters aren't safe. Lots of time is spent foreshadowing the great destinys of people, who then get killed off. -
"once they were a marvel, a shining lesson to the world(kingsguard)...The finest knight I ever saw was Ser Arthur Dayne, who fought with a blade called Dawn, forged from the heart of a fallen star. They called him the Sword of the Morning" - Bran remembering something Eddard had told him, A Clash of Kings
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I agree on the parentage, but given everything thats happened in these books, what makes you so sure he's illigitimate... (see what happened to Sansa)
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Rhaegar Targaryen.
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A lot of Game of Thrones was inspired by the War of the Roses which took place from 1455 and 1485 in England.
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He seems to old, frail and lanky to me. I picture Tywin as being still able to kick just about anyone's ass even though he is in his 50's. The military badass from Avatar would be a great Tywin also.
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I agree with you on Jon Snow, but I believe Tywin hates Tyrion so much because he's an ugly dwarf and more importantly, that the love of his life died giving birth to him.
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I agree with you on Jon Snow, but I believe Tywin hates Tyrion so much because he's an ugly dwarf and more importantly, that the love of his life died giving birth to him.
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Interesting to see that the actor playing King Robert has fair colored hair, while the actors playing the "golden" Lannisters all have dark hair. One of the most important story threads centers on the genetic attributes of the various families... I hope that Lena Heady and Peter Dinklage are able to look convincingly blonde enough (and that Mark Addy can deal with super black hair dye) to suspend the disbelief for that part of the story, as I don't think it would work if they kept their natural hair color. -
It would be way too obvious that he is Rheagar and Lyanna's son. He also dreams of wolves and is a warg. He looks just like Ned and has no Targeryan traits. Targeryan's dream of dragons. And we learn who Jon's mother is in Book 2 or 3 when Arya speaks to Beric Dondarrion's squire. The squire (a Dayne) and Jon were milk brothers and the mother (Wylla) was the milk maid. Howland Reed is the only one left alive who knows for sure. I also think Tyrion is a head of the dragon since he dreams of dragons. But isn't he too old to have been Rhaegar's son? Maybe his father was the Mad King?
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...watching the enemy knights cross the burning river. "Those are brave men," he told Ser Balon in admiration. "Let's go kill them."
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But GRRM throws a lot of other historical things in the books as well. Remember the Fists of the First Men? 300 Black Brothers against 30,000 Wildlings? Just like the 300 Spartans versus the Persians. The man has too many references to pick up. He's a mad man.
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"Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fought bravely. And Rhaegar died." - Jorah Mormont
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...hope he keps it up, least we won't be treated to the daily raspberry we were getting about leno's prime time show.
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Great news all around, though.
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Heh. Funny subject line. Anyway, this would be one great series indeed if I could ever apply "it destroys Rome" to it. The two seasons HBO produced of that series set a very high bar.
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CANNOT wait to see that scene.
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I hope they don't fuck up the dragons. This is HBO's first effects heavy show.
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is when they describe the final Kingsguard battle, where you see just how much of a badass Arthur Dayne was when he makes his last stand (the greatest knight of his age, its implied), and how he would have killed Ned if Howland Reed hadnt intervened in quasi-shady fashion.
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his chapters are tedious and endless, but they are like The Siege Of The Wall compared to the unbearable, suicide-watch boredom that is Brienne's chapters in book 4.
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I don't think Jon being Rheagar and Lyanna's son is too obvious, but I do think it is without a doubt true. First, he dreams of wolves because he is a Stark (through Lyanna), so no harm there. Second, Jon's "mother" is part of Ned's cover for him and the rest of Starfall was told that story which is why Beric's squire knows it. Third, as you said Wylla was his milk mother, not his biological mother which is fine because when Ned was in Starfall Jon was an infant. Fourth, he is the right age since Ned brings him back coming back from the war after retrieving Lyanna from the Kingsguard.Fifth, all of Ned's true sons look like Tully's, except Jon who has the Stark features. These books stress family traits so much that I don't think that is an accident. Sixth, when Ned finds Lyanna she is lying in a "bed of blood" dying from natural causes and being protected by the three greatest Kingguards (Dayne, Hightower, etc), one of whom (Dayne) was Rheagar's best friend. And finally, if Jon is Ned's true son, then what did Lyanna swear Ned to secrecy about on her deathbed? Something that Ned constantly thinks about, including while he was imprisoned and hoped to talk to Jon about? There is no doubt that Jon is a Targ and rightful heir to the throne.
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For Tywinn, I would really like to see Charles Dance, who played Tulkinghorn in the BBC production of "Bleak House." Amazingly scary, mean, tall and proud. His face and coloring are perfect for the role. Great actor.
skycrapper, that "Rhaegar fought..." quote is among my favorites, too.
ebonic_plague: changing an actor's hair color for a role is pretty much the easiest thing ever. it's done more in movies, TV and theater than most people realize.
ColonelFatheart, Conquest of Astapor...yeah: "Freedom!!!" Gives me chills just thinking about it. -
Tyrion charging into war at The Battle of the Blcakwater. A little person inspiring a bunch of knights who he leads into battle as they chant "halfman!" That's going to be so badass. If Dinkledge plays this character as well as he was written, the emmy's pretty much in the bag for the guy.
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Yeah, Jon's Rheagers' son, no doubt. Ned kept it a secret because he knew Robert would waste no time in killing him. He did it to keep his sisters' son alive. So, this series is going to end with Dany and Jon sitting on the Iron Throne as king and queen, right?
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Wear leather jackets? Kick some jukeboxes and go "Ayyyyyy"? Seriously though, you assume I think I'm cool; I was just saying that fanboys of any stripe have a tendency to get carried away, which doesn't seem like that radical of a concept.
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Is that were she lets loose the Unsullied because I can't wait to see Drogo spit fire in that one dudes face and have him running around with his head ablaze. That will be awesome!
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would have been great in that role. And Bill Nighy is too "wimpy" and frail to play Tywin. I can't see him doing the unscrupulous, hard stare that guy has.
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But I disagree about Bill Nighy. He is not frail. He has a very, very strong presence, and his stare is hard and unblinking. He looks very much like a lord in repose. Still strong and vital, yes, but into his lion in winter years. Haha! Lion!
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If this series turns out great and transcends (a la Sopranos), he will be elevated into the genre pantheon. I HEAR his voice when Tyrion speaks in the books.
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I have to say that Bran's chapters are, in fact, boring. I think GRRM is holding onto his story as a Trump Card because he wants to use him as a Deus Ex Machina to reveal Jamie and Cersei's longstanding incestuous relationship, which he is an eyewitness to. Bran could be an interesting character if developed better. Also, the Reeds with whom he travels are somewhat interesting and likewise have potential. The problem is, nothing really much is happening with them. They are just traveling North without much incident or excitement.*****The character that I have found even more boring than Bran is Sansa. She has been consistently vapid, dull, and treacly. I think that she has been highlighted by GRRM because at least, unlike Bran, she has been physically at the center of much of the intrigue in King's Landing (or had been, for much of the story). This at least allows interesting things to occur around her, even if she is an uninteresting character herself, with her silly, fantasy princess style dreams and inner monologue. Maybe GRRM featured her to appeal to a younger female audience. Ultimately, though, since she has been taken in by Littlefinger, she has changed, and has become tougher, older, more mature, and is developing a capacity for duplicity and intrigue herself. So, while I disliked the character originally, GRRM is developing her into a more interesting character. Maybe he will do likewise with Bran, and grow him up into a tougher, more interesting character.*****As far as Jon Snow being someone else's son: I think that he is what everyone n the book says he is: Ned Stark's bastard. The only thing that might contradict this is if he is, in fact, the bastard son of Ned's brother, who is a Black Brother. Since Black Brother's can not have wives or families, if Ned's brother did have an illegitimate son, that fact would have to be hidden, and the boy would neeed to be sent somewhere to be raised properly. Logically, that task would fall to Ned Stark. The only reason this moght be true from a plot standpoint, is that it might mean that Jon Snow's father is actually still alive somewhere, lost beyond the Wall. That could have some interesting story complications.*****Anyway, that HBO is committing to this story is great, great news. Song of Fire and Ice is a really good read, and will make a good series if handled properly. Hopefully we will see the next book, A Dance With Dragons, soon.
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It would be a crime if GRRM ultimately killed off Arya. She is easily the most sympathetic character in the series, both tough and vulnerable, trying to fight her way back home after tragedy. She is an interesting, engaging, and fun character, and her story has provided a lot of the best that the series has to offer. The reader roots for her, I think. She is basically a tough kid with a lot of heart, and it would be awful if her story ended tragically.*****Tyrion is another favorite character, but his story is already inherently tragic and serio-comic, so death or some other similar indignity would not be a dischordant note to end his story with.*****Jon Snow is another favorite as well. The character is the closest that the novels have to a classic fantasy protagonist (at least, amongst those characters still living), and it would be great for him to emerge as some sort of ultimate victor in the story, or at least as close as one can get in a story tolld by GRRM. He has both classic fantasy hero and anti-hero characteristics, and the character has already done great and heroic things in the North, and promises to do even more. While Arya provides a character with heart, and Tyrion provides pathos, Jon Snow provides heroism. As a reader, I am intent on finding out the end of that character's story.*****There are, of course, other notable and interesting characters in this series of novels, but these three are the prime ones in my mind. I'm looking forward to the rest of their stories.*****
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The Dragons vs. the Others, right? Ice vs. Fire, R'hllor vs. whatever the dark cold god is called...I predict all the fighting for the Iron Throne will prove folly once the Others bring down the Wall.
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The Brienne chapters are indeed a bore, and the Iron Islands subplot, until their reason is revealed, read more like an interesting side story that should have been in a separate volume. I would love to see more of Crow's Eye. There's lots of potential in that character.
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Yeah, it's going that way, although I wouldn't be surprised if there's some kind of "balance" achieved through a marriage of Jon Snow (if indeed he is the son of Rhaegar, as suggested by many fans) and Dany.
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might be the tragic hero of the series. I wouldn't count on him lasting the whole way. Could be wrong though.
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Martin has created an environment where anybody can go at any time, and we'd just have to deal with it. The Red Wedding ... the Red fucking Wedding ...
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The N. Ireland Culture Minister mentioned in a blog post that the budget for a single season of the show would be about £30 million, which is equal to about $45 million. This is a similar budget to the Tudors (also shot in N. Ireland), maybe a bit more. ( http://tinyurl.com/yk3ac96 ) This is less than I expected it to be, but hey, if they can make it look good on less money, I won't complain.
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The name is me being deliberately post-ironic in the most pathetic way possible on a geek movie site frequented by mostly male geeks. Partly for shits & giggles, but mainly because I share the same surname as one of the Pythons.Sorry it went over your head there, fella...
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Which goat are you, then. Grigg or Vargo?
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Obviously one way to look at that is Dragons vs Others, but also there's Jon Snow himself. A product of Lyanna Stark (ice) and Rheagar Targaryean (fire). Personally, I think Jon survives the series but Dany is the one that meets her end pre-maturely.
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First of all, great handle. That is my favorite part in PINEAPPLE EXPRESS. Secondly, good point about Jon. "His is a song of Ice and Fire ... "
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I'm pretty much calling it that Bran will be around for awhile, and learn to use his warg-abilities to control Dany's dragons somewhere down the line. That is how she will meet her premature end, looking at her prized dragon in confusion as it rips her to pieces. This would be after Dany's army slays Sansa or Arya or Jon (although, much like one of the above posters...I believe the "song" is about Jon specifically) and the world will rejoice in one of the most badass chapters in the entire series.
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His story is starting to become interesting. It seems he's on his way to becoming a mystic of some sorts. When he transforms completely into this, I think he'll have a lot more to offer the story.
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GRRM has said that the Bran chapters are the hardest for him to write and that if he had it to do over again, he'd probably make several of the child characters somewhat older. He doesn't like writing child characters, he's found, something he didn't realize when he started the series. The Bran chapters are my least favorite, too, but I find that many of them still have some great moments. I think that by the end of Swords they were getting quite interesting again, especially once they got to the wall.
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Ho-o-dor! Ho-dor Ho-dor Ho-dor!HO-O-ODORRR!
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Here are something I can see which other people have brought up. Danny and Jon will meet and possibly be a couple. I do think Danny will marry the one Islander before meeting Jon. He and the rest of the Islanders will die brutally when the Dragons come. The Wall will not fall. Ceresi will live through the series, but will never gain power again. Lady Stark will build a rag tag army to destroy the capital and all of the Lannistars expect Ceresi who she will leave all alone. Bran will become King after the Red Lady and her king are killed during an Others attack. The Wall will be the new capital. Aryan will remain blind and become a Kane from Kung-Fu character. She will never return to the Wall, but she will help Lady Stark. The Flays, the old man and his inbreed family will be Lady Stark's first victims. Tyrion will be one of the few left alive as will Bran, Lady Stark, Ceresi, Aryan and Jon. Kingslayer will die heroically stopping the Others. The Others vs. Dragon fight will be amazing. I will end saying if they do get to the Red Wedding, people will lose their collective minds if they didn't already read the spoilers online.
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Sounds like some pretty good reading. I haven't checked out a new (to me) fantasy series in about 8 years.
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Arse like that needs a good pokin
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Tywin: "...and if these councillors are playing us false..." Tyrion: "Spikes..heads...walls..."
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That's how I got into them. There was a similar TB to this when the pilot was greenlit, and the enthusiasm on the board made me want to check them out. I hadn't read fantasy since LOTR when I was a kid and it blew me away. Got totally addicted and chain read them in record time. They're big books but you just swallow them up.
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in between getting blow jobs from his grand daughter (or whatever the fuck she is)
Does this story have a magik kneegrow? or at least a voice over that keeps Morgan in knob jobs? -
This is fucking amazing news!
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How can you have gotten this far into the series with a total inability to actually read?Who are Danny, The Flays, Aryan and Ceresi?
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So, roughly $5-million an episode, depending upon content. That's a fair enough production budget for a cable series. If McCarthy and co can stretch the budget, I don't foresee a problem. The fact that they're filming in North Ireland indicates a move in the right direction. Thanks again for the info.
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about that line is that Tyrion is being sarcastic, like "yeah yeah spikes and all, i get it" LOL Tyrion rules
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Dinklage telling Shagga "What happened to the goat?" Should be hilarious.
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I also thought Jon Snow was Lyanna and Rhaegar's kid. SOmeone also had a vision of a blue rose in a wall of ice. Lyanna loved blue roses. But the dreams are what makes it impossible. ONLY TARGERYANS DREAM OF DRAGONS. ONLY STARKS DREAM OF WOLVES. Jon is a warg and has a direwolf. He is all Stark. No Targeryan blood in him. No purple eyes. No white-blone hair. Not a single trait of a Targeryan. I think it is way too obvious to think he is Lyanna's son. GRRM is too clever for that. The theory about Job being the son of Ben Stark is good though. I have not thought of that. That would make some sense. As for Ned's promise to Lyanna, who knows? It could be anything. Howland Reed is the only one left alive who would know. Remember Robert's Rebellion was b/c he thought Rhaegar kidnapped Lyanna. Lyanna would have looked pregnant long before the rebellion for her to have a son that lived. She was in blood on a table but nobody knows why. Could Dany be their child? Right age. Born during the Rebellion. Easy to get her out of there and onto a ship.
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Sansa chapters were boring but when you read them again, they are much better. She is becoming a better, stronger character. I think she is destined to kill Cersi. Remember that Cersi was told that a beautiful woman would kill her. Sansa is the most beautiful woman in the realm right now. Bran's chapters rock. I love HODOR and the Reeds. And I love watching how Bran is learning to use his abilities. As for another theory up there, Jon and Arya look like a Stark so not all of Ned's "true" kids look Tully.
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I can't stop now. He will become Jon Stark and take Winterfell. Remember that was King Robb's decree in his letter. Robb legitamized him. And Jon has dreamed of that since he was a child. He is destined to be Lord of Winterfell.
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What's wrong with having enthusiasm for something awesome? To me and apparently a lot of the people on this board, this news is fucking HUGE. It's worthy of much, much excitement and enthusiasm, so I was just calling you out for being a dick about it and trying to come off all cooler than. Have you read the books?
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And there are three young dragons....which means there will be three riders when all's said and done. Dany, JS, and Bran? Or is Jon left out of the picture?
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Dany, Tyrion, and ? Remember there are characters we do not know yet. A new character can be introduced at any time. It is not going to be Jon Snow. I think it is possible that the other head is being kept hidden by Howland Reed. Just a theory.
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She was already born before the Rebellion. So much for that theory. I have to go to work. Check y'all later. I love the theory discussions about these books!!
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swore an oath to guard the Wall. He will not be Lord of Winterfell, he would never break that oath. If anything, Winterfell will be ruled by an adult Bran.
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If not, you need to get on it, its awesome and sheds alot of light on events leading to the books.
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to breaking his oath...but he is the lord commander now.
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I read both stories and both graphic novel versions and loved them but only remember some brief references of relevance to the current stories.
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The wildlings are already in Westeros now. Stannis has the horn that can bring down the wall (supposedly). Everyone thinks the wall is destined to fall. If it does, Jon Snow is free to become Jon Stark, which he technically is but does not know it yet since Robb's letter is missing. What about the horns? There are 3. Sam has one, which supposedly wakes the sleepers (the dead in Winterfell's crypts?). Stannis has the horn of winter (the wall). And Euron has the horn to control the dragons, which I think he will blow and get burnt to a crisp for using like the guy he made use it when he came back to the iron men to claim his father's seat. Too much going on in these books. Sheesh.
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I think when the Wall comes down (which it will), Jon will be freed of his oaths and can eventually team up with Dany when she arrives. Jon is no doubt one of the heads (and a Targ, as well as a Stark). I think Tyrion is the 3rd head (possible product of Aerys raping Tywin's wife). As for Winterfell, I think that is the reason why Rickon exists. In the prologue of the series I expect an older Rickon to return the Starks to power in the North, along with Shaggydog of course.
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One of my favorite moments in the books. I think you guys are right. The Wall will come down which, by the end of the series; will be fine. The dragons will smoke the Others who will finally be defeated which means there will be no purpose for the Wall to exist. But what really intruiges me about this tale is the backstory. ALL of this has something to do with The Children of the Forest who were wiped out but I personally think is behind the Others or ARE THE OTHERS. But yeah, that pre-history backstory is the key. What do you guys think?
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The Children of the Forest traditionally fought the Others with their dragon glassed weapons, which Jon has recently discovered. My guess is that the 3-Eyed Crow has some link to the Children of the Forest and will play a major role in helping Jon and Dany overcome the Others, then again maybe the 3-Eyed Crow is linked with the Others...
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It also occured to me that once Jon has become King of Winterfell (after being the briefest Lord Commander of the Wall ever)he will probably be a kind of ambassador/envoy between the Seven Kingdoms and the Children of the Forest. He'll probably be the most significant Lord in the Seven Kingdoms. He's right on the frontier between the two cultures.
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Daenerys is supposively barren, so if she gains the Iron Throne she still needs a Targ heir... A Targ bastard will have to do, unless some magic makes her unbarren. (note there are descendents of Daemon Blackfyre still around in locations near Dany) Bran may become Lord of Winterfell, but his injuries probably makes it impossible for him to have kids. But Rickon is still alive, most likely to grow up into a berserker warrior someday with that temper of his. Sansa has the next claim on Winterfell. I think Jon is The Prince That Was Promised, son of Lyanna and Rhaergar, and once the Wall comes down will be free to rule Westeros, assuming he hits it off with his aunt Dany. Tyrion as the third head of the dragon makes sense -- not all the heads have to be Targ blood according to GRRM, but I think it possible Tyrion is Aerys's bastard.
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I never knew there were so many fans...
I couldn't be happier about these books being adapted on CABLE as a TV SERIES and not a movie or a miniseries on ABC.
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Something major had to go down for Tywin to leave as the Hand but there was nothing he could do or Aerys would have killed Jaime, which is why he brought Jaime into the Kingsguard anyway. That makes sense. And Tyrion dreams of dragons. And Tyrion is now overseas with Ilyrio, the same guy who helped hide Dany and her brother. As for Jon, I think he is what he is. Ned's bastard. Nothing points to him being anything more than that. He is too involved in the north and in Winterfell. He's a warg, has wolf dreams, and has a direwof, the Stark symbol. He has his father's beliefs and sense of responsibility. We need to hear from Howland Reed about what went down when Ned and he killed the Sword of the Morning and found Lyanna dying. As for Rickon, he's going to be a wildling for sure. Perhaps the other head of the dragon might be one of Robert's bastards? The Baratheons have Targ blood in them afterall. Who knows? Gendry could be the Prince who is Promised. Or the other one that Davos rescued from Melisandra and Stannis. Only GRRM knows for sure I guess.
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Glad to see that this is finally going to happen. As already stated by other TBs, I hope this gets JRR Martin off his ass so he can finally finish the next book. Maybe we'll get it before Season 5 of the show.
And my only objection with the casting of Lena is that Cersei Lannister is supposed to be a blonde. I am sure a bit of hair dye or a wig will suffice. At least they got the part right that she's supposed to be gorgeous. I may need to get HBO when this show airs. -
And believe me, that's saying a lot. Also, the Hedge KNights graphic novels are terrific.
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Robert's Rebellion lasted about a year, so it's very possible that Lyanna became with child after she was taken by Rhaegar. Whatever the case, many women don't show much at all until their very last few months, so even if it only lasted a 3 or 4 months it would be possible for her to have not shown before she was taken. I'm definitely in the R+L=J camp, and I think that somehow he'll be a Head of the Dragon. Tyrion probably also, but I don't think he is in anyway related to the Targaryens (unless by some old lineage of either his Lannister or mother's). I think another important element is the place of House Dayne in all of this. I think Dawn is probably really Lightbringer and that they have been watching over it as guardians all this time. It's probably some sort of great family secret, sort of like how the Sinclairs of Roslin Castle are supposedly the secret guardians of the Holy Grail. The Swords of the Morning are those occasional members of the family entrusted to actually wield Lightbringer/Dawn as their sword (GRRM has stated that there have been other Swords of the Morning in the past, that wasn't just Arthur Dayne's nickname, it's more of a title).
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The most compelling part of the whole theory is that three members of the Kingsguard were left to guard the tower, which unless Rhaegar had married Lyanna makes absolutely no sense. The Kingsguard are sworn to protect the King, the royal heir, and the royal family (in that order) for 3, and arguably the best 3, to guard some girl the prince was infatuated with is idiotic with a continent-wide civil war going on, the royal city under siege and the royal heir charging into battle.
Also, working out a timeline that allows Ned to hook up with Wylla is practically impossible, not to mention highly improbable.
Add in the "promise me", the letter he wanted to write while in prison but knew Varys would read and possibly never deliver, Dany's vision of the blue rose, Ned specifically saying 'my blood' and not 'my son' when talking to Catelyn, and a thousand other little details and I have no doubt whatsoever that Lyanna and Rhaegar had a son, and that Ned's story is a cover, most likely for the aforementioned child, who is most likely Jon. -
That weird guy in the cloak who rescues Sam Tarly? At first I thought he might be Benjen but now I'm thinking he may be a Children of the Forest.
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But who knows? That part of the story hasn't even been close to being covered yet.
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With high quality broadcast network sf/f dramas going the way of the dodo post-2010, HBO's Apple-centric POV stands to clean up from the desocalination of the post-American narrative (and that's dutch, not Jobs, in case you want to be cute again). Zelazny's Amber has a strong cosmopolitan vibe in it, King's Dark Tower would obviously be the most crowd-pleasing (uh...if they showed it after 10pm...just sayin); but my personal hope is that the largely east-coast set WILD CARDS series could be adapted (and to some extent whittled down) into a 7 season version of what NBC's Heroes could have (should have) been. If Song of Ice & Fire receives the high ratings it's story deserves, HBO may - hopefully - greenlight a Wild Cards series circa 2012. Only a cable-TV option like HBO or Showtime would allow for dialog dealing with characters like Sleeper,the tantric subplot, etc.
Another thing SIF on HBO has going for it (much like BSG on SciFi) is that the audience will tolerate signifigant breaks in between seasons as long as the story is good enough to bring them back. Martin's is, so if he takes an extra minute to finish the series, I'd like to think HBO will accomodate that. -
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