A Song of Ice and Fire (Book discussion)

[Tyrath]

Good luck avoiding spoilers for the most popular TV show around lol

[EternityEnd]

I'm not too concerned about the show spoiling the books, given the poor quality of last season's writing and story arcs. As the show's quality declines, it's less and less an accurate parallel to the books on a micro level.

It's going to spoil obvious things, like Jon Snow's parentage, but the way in which that's revealed is likely going to be different. The entire Northern theater of the story has been turned on its head and simplified in the show - no Howland, Manderly, Lady Dustin, Skagos, Stannis, Asha, etc.

When it comes down to it, the journey's the main enjoyment, and all those crazy minor theories. Does anyone really care if Jon Snow's revealed to be Rhaegar and Lyanna's child on the show? Moreover, will anyone really be surprised? It's an unfortunate fuck you to George, that the very secret he quizzed the showrunners on will be revealed by their work, rather than his own, but that's all it is.

[BaneTheBrawler]

what ill be most disappointed with is the big reveal about the actual main storyline, like what all this has been building to. new treaty with the white walkers? drogon burning them? we don't know, and ive never heard any theories that had particularly compelling evidence, like the R+L=J thing does.

[Cutriss]

I wonder if the irony is lost on Martin that lots of people were staying up, waiting for the Winds of Winter post, and it took forever because he was busy writing posts about Wild Cards, Santa Fe, awards, conventions, etc.

[TheDirtyHobo]

Does anyone really care if Jon Snow's revealed to be Rhaegar and Lyanna's child on the show? Moreover, will anyone really be surprised?.

The only people who will care are the ones who read the books. People who've only watched the show barely have an idea of who Rhaegar and Lyanna are, or the importance of the whole 'tptwp' prophecy is, because there's less screen time dedicated to all 3 of those things combined than there is to Ros.

I'll probably skip the show until the book's out, myself. I don't care about getting major events spoiled, as I'm more interested in seeing the details that lead up to it, but the show has been notoriously bad at providing those details correctly in-line with the book.

Edit: Reading through the livejournal thing, and this caught my eye.

Look, I never thought the series could possibly catch up with the books, but it has. The show moved faster than I anticipated

Was 1 book per season, 1 season per year anything less than the expectation from day 1? It didn't move any faster than anyone should've anticipated.

[Senji]

I'll probably skip the show until the book's out, myself. I don't care about getting major events spoiled, as I'm more interested in seeing the details that lead up to it, but the show has been notoriously bad at providing those details correctly in-line with the book.

So basically you're saying there isn't any reason to avoid the show and wait for the books.

[TheDirtyHobo]

I would rather first experience those elements in detailed text from the author than brushed over by a second-hand source. Or to put it another way, I don't want any erroneous influences on my perception of the details.

I want to be able to be properly outraged by all the little things they fuck up.

[Tyrath]

I want to be able to be properly outraged by all the little things they fuck up.

This alone tells me by seeing the show first you will end up enjoying it more.

I know I enjoyed the seasons I watched before reading way more than the ones afterwards.

[Siatdiat]

I honestly have lost interest in the show and the books. I enjoyed all the butt kissing comments on his livejournal (speaking of, what the fuck? Livejournal? Does he use Myspace also?). There is no way that there was no comments from people letting him know he's an idiot for thinking the show wouldn't pass the books. He also toots his own horn big time at the end of the post.

[Krandor]

He writes on a DOS computer and backs his shit up on floppy disks. Using LiveJournal is high tech for a guy like him.

[TheDirtyHobo]

I know I enjoyed the seasons I watched before reading way more than the ones afterwards.

That could just be coincidental timing. S1-2 were actually pretty good adaptations of the source material barring the HBO-bait sex scenes. It started really going off the rails in S4 and just went full retard in S5. It's still a decent show, it just feels less and less like the books as it goes along.

[BaneTheBrawler]

s1 was an admirable adaptation from page to screen. each season after that introduced flaws, each of which snowballed.

it's its own thing, now. by the end, the only thing i'm really sure will have much resemblance to the books will be the ultimate storyline we've barely touched on. everything else... meh. they might keep arya alive, they might kill her off, but either way, i'll be extremely wary when GRRM finally churns out the last books.

that's not really a bad thing. just a thing.

[Tyrath]

Hey at least the show can't spoil Jaime, Brienne and Lady Stoneheart for me lol

[Cutriss]

I enjoyed all the butt kissing comments on his livejournal (speaking of, what the fuck? Livejournal? Does he use Myspace also?). There is no way that there was no comments from people letting him know he's an idiot for thinking the show wouldn't pass the books. He also toots his own horn big time at the end of the post.

All his posts have comments moderated, so yes, he only publishes the supportive ones, though supposedly he still reads them all and gets butthurt over them.

[Zetanio]

I got a response to my drunk email to GRRM.

LOL.

[BaneTheBrawler]

poidh

[Tyrath]

I got a response to my drunk email to GRRM.

LOL.

So you gonna share it or wot?

[Churchill]

hes gotta type it first

[Zetanio]

OMG SPOILERS

Just kidding.

[Zetanio]

Wrote it 3 days ago, it was pretty lame.