Game of Thrones

[The JD]

Great first episode!

Thoughts on new characters (I've read all the books): I like Davos and Stannis- they come off well, or at least as I imagined. Melisandre doesn't seem nearly as commanding and foreboding though. And Craster is much too well groomed.

Oh, and the baby dragons (well, dragon, only got to see one) are so cute. I want one!

[aishah]

davos and stannis were well-cast...i'm also iffy on craster. i agree with you jd that melisandre is not nearly as commanding as i thought she'd be.

i didn't think the actor playing jaime really fit his character well in the first season, but he grew on me in the first episode of this season. i liked his portrayal before, it just didn't feel true to the character in the books.

i love the exchange between dany and her bloodriders in this episode and jorah as well. it's kind of funny,

spoiler for the books/later storylines
the whole dany/jorah unrequited love thing in the book bored me half to death, to be honest. but the chemistry between emilia clarke and iain glenn in the first season made me a hardcore dany/jorah shipper. now i'm going to have a huge huge sad when it goes into the unrequited love bit later

tyrion was amazing in the first episode

[foxyshaman]

I thought it was a great first episode. I love the series. Tyrion was great. I love his character. And Peter is a fabo actor!! And I just want to hang Joffrey. Don't spoil it for me... those who have read the story already. Psychopath... that was my first diagnosis.

I am halfway through the first book. It has been AGES since I have read a fiction book, but... I am not giving up. I am enjoying the "fill in the blanks" aspect of the book.

I think this is going to be A GREAT SEASON!!!

[Rockinonahigh]

HBO is running a month long free bee so im watching Game of Thrones for the first time.I find it intresting but would like less gore,even polishing it up a bit then putting a more current time span,it could easly be the present day.No matter what century it is people have been doing the same things to be bigger,more powerful or just plane be a hard ass for what ever reason.

[aishah]

it would be cool if it was set in modern day, but it would be a total break from the fantasy genre. it is kind of funny and weird how fantasy is always assumed to be in a medieval england sort of setting though. there's an interesting article about game of thrones and accents...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17554816

But Game of Thrones, much of which was filmed in Northern Ireland, has only one American actor as a central character, Peter Dinklage. He does his part with a rather posh English accent.

"A New York accent wouldn't work," Dinklage, who was born in New Jersey and plays scheming Tyrion Lannister, recently explained to the Calgary Herald. "It doesn't sound right."

And if you go on the forums you see American fans' expectations have been met.

"I'm not an expert by any means, but what I find interesting is that they sound to my American ears to be not only British accents, but regional British accents," writes Independent George on the Ice and Fire Forum.

"The North sounds vaguely Scottish to me, Robert sounded like he was from Northern England, I know the DVD commentary track to episode six said that the Vale was cast as predominantly Welsh (though I couldn't identify a Welsh accent if my life depended on it)."

He adds: "Hopefully one of our British readers can set me straight. For natives, it could be as jarring as watching a western where everybody's speaking Italian. Oh, wait... "

Martin, the creator of the Song of Ice And Fire series of books, was inspired a great deal by European Medieval history," says Stephen Tierney, administrator of the Game of Thrones UK fansite.

"As such his characters reflect that and if you read the books and listen to the cadence of the characters' voices you will find that they do sound more regionally British than they do American.

"Since it is a mediaeval fantasy saga with more emphasis on the characters than on witches and wizards I do think the regional British accents work very well. The show does place a lot of emphasis on a north/south divide and seeing the northern House Stark going up against the distinctly southern House Lannister provides a great contrast and helps the viewers know which side everyone is on."

It's not just fantasy that has developed a British accent default setting, even for American audiences. For ancient Greece and Rome - as seen in everything from Spartacus to HBO/BBC's Rome series - audiences again expect UK accents. One has only to cast one's mind back to Joaquin Phoenix's accent in Gladiator for a classic example.

Some have a simple explanation for the British invasion of fantasy land - Kevin Costner.

Although not strictly part of the genre, his US/British accent in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves was so jarring, and out of historical context, that it stood as a warning to all future directors. Or so the theory goes.

Martin has said English accents work best for fantasy, as the genre is rooted in the Middle Ages.

"It's full of castles and lords and swords and knights and all the other trappings that we associate with England in this country. It seems natural. It would be hard to do with a group of actors who had thick Southern accents," he has commented.

"You would think why not just film it in the states with famous American actors, especially since George RR Martin, who wrote the books originally, has been called the American Tolkien? You would think this is an American thing," says Dan Wright, producer of UK-based Game of Thrones fan show Thronecast.

"But originally the books were sourced and based around at least a working knowledge of British history, the War of the Roses and things like that, and that certainly comes out in the way the royal family is structured and that sort of thing."

But Game of Thrones is on a premium cable channel. There is still a long way to go before British actors are allowed to use their own accents on network television in mainstream roles.

[thedivahrrrself]

Three words: WINTER IS COMING.

I'm so happy this show is back on!!

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by thedivahrrrself

Three words: WINTER IS COMING.

qft

I am seriously hyped as shit that it's back on. I watched the first two episodes today. Loved The Night Lands as things start to get rolling again

For those looking to watch it online, two words: Pirate Bay

[Arwen]

Craster, for me, was far too young and hearty. I also wasn't sold on Stannis who I felt needed to be larger but I loved Davos. And Melisandre was perfection.

I adore the Imp. He's the reason I savor that show. He's got heart and isn't afraid to show it.

Can't wait for more!

[kittygrrl]

Really enjoyed the first episode altho it wasn't nearly long enough