Game of Thrones VIII

[adamkungl]

Yeah but different books than the next ASOIAF one. Books 4 and 5 were trash anyway.

You should re-read books 4 and 5.

 

[Game_Breaker]

Yeah but different books than the next ASOIAF one. Books 4 and 5 were trash anyway.

Yeah, they’re prequel books
I assume that’s what the spin off prequel series will be based on, which is why he wrote them

 

[adamkungl]

Yeah, they’re prequel books
I assume that’s what the spin off prequel series will be based on, which is why he wrote them

The prequel histories are about the Targaryens in Westeros over the last 300 years.

Of the proposed prequel TV shows, the one that is currently in production is apparently about the Long Night of 8000 years ago, the origin of the White Walkers.
Presumably the last "Long Night" was longer than the single evening this one was.

 

[Game_Breaker]

The prequel histories are about the Targaryens in Westeros over the last 300 years.

Of the proposed prequel TV shows, the one that is currently in production is apparently about the Long Night of 8000 years ago, the origin of the White Walkers.
Presumably the last "Long Night" was longer than the single evening this one was.

There are also 2 other prequel concepts that are in still in their early stages too, whether they will take off is another matter

 

[thorson1987]

So glad that Missandei got her head chopped off. Such an annoying character.

 

[Timbo]

Oh yeah, I forgot about Edmure!
If that's the case though, Why would Cersei promise Riverrun to Bronn? didn't Edmure effectively side with Cersei when he surrendered the castle?

Seem's like the writers also forgot about Edmure

Maybe he'll make a cameo in the last battle, same goes with the Dornish and their unnamed prince and probably some Baratheon soldiers after Gendry "re-takes" Storms End off camera

Edmure was originally going to have a much larger role but Tobias Menzies was busy filming Outlander and The Terror. I think he was on the cast list released from this season though.

Whilst I am enjoying it, someone at my office just made the point that effectively the only reason (plot wise) that the White Walkers existed now is because if they didn't then there's no way Danerys' army would lose to Cersei and they needed a way to even the playing field.

Makes it a bit hollow.

 

[Springs09]

You should re-read books 4 and 5.

Why would I ever do that

 

[Springs09]

There are also 2 other prequel concepts that are in still in their early stages too, whether they will take off is another matter

There's apparently 5 total spin-offs. The Long Night one will film this year, two others are being scripted and the other two are still in early development.

 

[Matua]

So glad that Missandei got her head chopped off. Such an annoying character.

Huh? She was hot as F.

I'm 80% less interested now she's not a character.

 

[Vozzy]

Hadn't Bran already told Tyrion during the conversation we never saw. Sansa didn't really say it was Jon just that there was a better person for the throne. I actually believe Sansa wants it If Jon doesn't. She probably thinks she is next in line after Jon.

 

[thorson1987]

Huh? She was hot as F.

I'm 80% less interested now she's not a character.

Yeah she was hot, still annoying as f**k aswell.

 

[adamkungl]

Why would I ever do that

Most people got a lot more out of it on 2nd read, without the expectation that it would continue the cracking pace of book 3.

Books 4-5 wander at times, the plot slows down, the "heroes" are spread out and many at their lowest ebb. It can make for a tough read after coming off the ridiculous book 3.

But this is the cost of the massive upheaval events of book 3. Unlike what the show has become, the book narrative doesn't cut corners to deliver #epic twists.
Feast and Dance show the consequences of entire families being destroyed, of 4 kings being murdered, of wars reaching their climax and the world being left with the aftermath. Not just for a handful of main characters, but for the world, the other noble families, the common people. The story moves slowly but it's the deepest dive into Westeros, its characters, and its plots within plots within plots.

In short, they are the opposite of what the last season and a half have become. The only reason not to read them, really, would be if you believe book 6 will never come out anyway.

 

[Springs09]

Most people got a lot more out of it on 2nd read, without the expectation that it would continue the cracking pace of book 3.

Books 4-5 wander at times, the plot slows down, the "heroes" are spread out and many at their lowest ebb. It can make for a tough read after coming off the ridiculous book 3.

But this is the cost of the massive upheaval events of book 3. Unlike what the show has become, the book narrative doesn't cut corners to deliver #epic twists.
Feast and Dance show the consequences of entire families being destroyed, of 4 kings being murdered, of wars reaching their climax and the world being left with the aftermath. Not just for a handful of main characters, but for the world, the other noble families, the common people. The story moves slowly but it's the deepest dive into Westeros, its characters, and its plots within plots within plots.

In short, they are the opposite of what the last season and a half have become. The only reason not to read them, really, would be if you believe book 6 will never come out anyway.

I expected a slow pace going into it. I knew Martin had split the 4th book into 2 and then the 5th got away from him as well.

I found a lot of chapters told nothing, others were just retelling events that previously happened, some were complete wastes like I think it was Quentyn Martell's whole story and many of the main characters did nothing of note. There was also many pointless twists for the sake of it - like Mance Rayder - and instead of consolidating the storylines into somewhat of an ending for future books, he instead about doubled the total storylines and POV characters. By the time I got to near the end when, after having her meander about the whole book, devoted a few pages to Daenerys having diarrhoea, I was done.

Add to that I was growing tired of the whole grim-dark cynical rubbish that pervades the work and the novelty of the political schemes and genre subversions had worn off.

 

[adamkungl]

I expected a slow pace going into it. I knew Martin had split the 4th book into 2 and then the 5th got away from him as well.

I found a lot of chapters told nothing, others were just retelling events that previously happened, some were complete wastes like I think it was Quentyn Martell's whole story and many of the main characters did nothing of note. There was also many pointless twists for the sake of it - like Mance Rayder - and instead of consolidating the storylines into somewhat of an ending for future books, he instead about doubled the total storylines and POV characters. By the time I got to near the end when, after having her meander about the whole book, devoted a few pages to Daenerys having diarrhoea, I was done.

Add to that I was growing tired of the whole grim-dark cynical rubbish that pervades the work and the novelty of the political schemes and genre subversions had worn off.

Suit yourself. I found with the 2nd read, already knowing what was going to happen made it easy to appreciate the countless details. As for wastes or pointless plotlines, unlike the show, I have faith that the books won't spend hours on things that lead to absolutely nowhere. Dorne and Mance will play their part. Probably more significant than the role hero Jon managed to play in Winterfell.

 

[Timbo]

Yeah she was hot, still annoying as f**k aswell.

Maybe if she'd used the GodsEye to see where Euron was she wouldn't have been executed.

 

[Game_Breaker]

Hadn't Bran already told Tyrion during the conversation we never saw. Sansa didn't really say it was Jon just that there was a better person for the throne. I actually believe Sansa wants it If Jon doesn't. She probably thinks she is next in line after Jon.

Bran didn’t tell Sansa and Arya until Jon gave him permission to, it was his choice
So I think Bran won’t be telling Tyrion without Jon’s consent, it’s not his secret to tell

 

[Springs09]

Suit yourself. I found with the 2nd read, already knowing what was going to happen made it easy to appreciate the countless details. As for wastes or pointless plotlines, unlike the show, I have faith that the books won't spend hours on things that lead to absolutely nowhere. Dorne and Mance will play their part. Probably more significant than the role hero Jon managed to play in Winterfell.

Like I said, the books already spent hours on Quentyn Martell travelling around just so he could free the dragons and then die. Could have easily had that task accomplished by another character that didn't need several POV characters.

 

[adamkungl]

Dany is taking inspiration from Jon, rushing in blindly when doing nothing is clearly the better option to defeat Cersei.
1 - Cersei's main force is an extremely expensive mercenary group she can't hope to pay indefinitely.
2 - Most of the realm already hates her, bar her close advisors who are just clinging on for the power trip.
3 - Dany's forces need to recover and replenish, as literally everyone around her advised.

Staying put and ruling from her own throne in the north, with more than half of the realm on her side, is obviously the better option. Likely outcome would be goading Cersei into a rash attack. But the writers have decided to wrap it up quick so this is what we're left with.

 

[adamkungl]

Like I said, the books already spent hours on Quentyn Martell travelling around just so he could free the dragons and then die. Could have easily had that task accomplished by another character that didn't need several POV characters.

Quentyn had a total of 4 chapters out of the 74 in Dance.
ASOIAF is more a story of a world's war than it is individual characters. Every major house has agency, their own goals and plots, and GRRM tells them all. No major house is included to just be a dot on the map. Dorne can almost be considered a character.

On the other hand, not everything is there just to advance the main plot. ASOIAF is not a concise series. Some of the events in 4&5 serve as a short story within the larger story, to add depth to the world and use the existing set pieces to tell an interesting tale. You could look at Quentyns plot this way.

Imo, it adds depth to the characters and houses of Dorne who will undoubtedly play a significant part in the remaining 2 books.

 

[Timbo]

What was the explanation for needing to wrap it all up this season? Was it just the actors were getting over it or what? The viewing numbers certainly haven't declined.

They needed to let it breathe a bit. Everything has been so rushed.