Game of Thrones

[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

[aishah]

i thought it was pretty funny (and awesome) that the second episode got leaked...but it just means i have to wait longer for the third one! lol

[EnderD_503]

Yeah, I was so excited to watch the second season that when I saw there was more than one available already I readily watched them both. But then it was a buzz kill at the end to realise that that only means I have to wait until next week for another episode, lol. Ah well. I'm just happy it doesn't seem like there will be any huge gaps again between episodes this season. I really hate when good series do that and you have more than a month to wait for a new episode. If GoT started doing that I'd die of impatience.

On a side note, the scene between Arya and Gendry in The Night Lands was hilariously done. I still think she was one of the best cast characters.

[kittygrrl]

wow, I am so envious some were able to view the 2nd episode..how lucky!..evenso looking forward to tomorrow part 2

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by kittygrrl

wow, I am so envious some were able to view the 2nd episode..how lucky!..evenso looking forward to tomorrow part 2

And you can, too, if you embrace pirate bay as your friend But then it's airing tomorrow night, so I guess it's not as worth it as it was a few days ago, lol.