Television opinions

[winter]

In brief:

Game of Thrones - I didn't read the books, and I think that might be why I'm so repelled; I don't know who those people are, and instead of making me care (with the exception of small humanising moments for Clan Stark), HBO's going through the predictable checklist of "let's shock people!!!" that made me stop watching True Blood, combined with stock political fantasy material. Unless the second episode presents a dramatic departure, that'll be it for me.

The Borgias - This, on the other hand, I like lots. My kind of murderous priests, and the storytelling is aces ♥ Doesn't hurt that Jeremy Irons is having the time of his life, and Cesare-guy is adorable when he goes all threatening. (And the women - Giulia Farnese in particular, possibly the first time in American television I've seen the other woman done as a sympathetic character.)

Castle - Still watching, still enjoying :) This and Mentalist remain my mostly-mindless entertainment shows. (And White Collar, when it's on.)

Doctor Who - WHY ISN'T IT EASTER YET?

Comments

[seraphim-grace.livejournal.com]

I loved the books and found the ep a little cold
Dany loves Khal Drogo and he tries to move mountains for her and that was poorly done
but one thing I did love about the books and it's too early to show is that just because you think you have someone pegged doesn't mean anything, villains can be good people, good people can be villains
there was also, because House Stark has six kids, this sort of wide brush of going on, apart from Bran, Arya and Sansa there was little effort in explaining the other kids
who are all very important.
the whole white walkers thing is Jon's story
but it's a cast of hundreds in the books, each of which has their own stories and motivations and at the moment it's just too soon
I really liked the books, and it's not a radically different translation like True Blood, it's quite close
but it's not Legend of the seeker so I'm considering that a win!

If they stick to the politics of the books it should be a good show, but there are so many characters and so many twists and snags and betrayals it might be too much
also don't get attached to anyone!

and jon snow is not ned stark's bastard, he's his bastard nephew after his sister's rape, which was only vaguely suggested in the scene with the king in the tomb.

[winter]

See, that thing with Jon Snow, I missed completely. I think they're just going way too fast for anyone who hasn't read the books to keep up.

[littleshebear.livejournal.com]

For the purposes of the show, Jon is Ned's bastard son, who he fathered during the war against the Targaryens with some peasant called Wylla. that's why Catelyn can't stand him.

Yes, there's a suggestion in the books that he's not Ned's son but his sister's (Whether or not it was rape is still unclear, there are hints that she ran off with Rhaegar willingly). That suggestion hasn't been introduced in the show yet and I'm glad for that. I think to try and introduce that in the show at this stage would be a mistake, there are enough characters and plotlines to get to grips with as it is.

[winter]

I'm starting to think that starting the series without the books is akin to watching Star Trek Nemesis and trying to make sense of it ~.~ They definitely dive in far too fast.

[littleshebear.livejournal.com]

But what I'm saying is you actually haven't missed anything about Jon Snow. If you got that he's Ned's bastard, that's all you need to know right now.

The reviews I've been reading say that the first two episodes are the weakest because there is a lot of set up to get through. After that they get really good apparently.

The setting is pretty Grim-Dark (which I love, personally) but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

[winter]

I don't mind Grim-Dark as long as things make sense and people have motivation beyond "look how edgy I am" or "my boobs are hanging out" ;) We'll see...