Game of Thrones

[Episteme]

I've heard alot of good things about this series but I'm yet to see it, should I read the novel first?

 

[Pessimism]

The show is great on its own. But in my opinion, as someone coming from the "I read the books" camp, I think it would be a good idea to read them. The show can be hard to follow at times, what with the billion different characters, and on top of that the pacing is pretty awful (half the time you cannot tell how much time has passed between scenes). If you know the book, you can actually gauge how the show is progressing in both these regards and it makes things a bit easier. Plus there are just a lot of damned good scenes in the book that couldn't appear in the show due to budget/time constraints.

The best thing about this show is the casting, and with the intimate knowledge of the characters from the book that you'll have, you will really become invested in the show.

Now it's certainly not necessary to read the books. The show on its own has been more than capable in all regards, and despite the flaws above it is actually one of the better television adaptations I have ever seen. Jump in without the novels if you want to, just be sure not to read any forums or opinions on the series until you have finished watching the first season. Spoilers really will kill a lot of things for you here.

 

[Dak]

I think the biggest short falling of the show is that due to time constraints, many important and very powerful/ significant scenes like the Great Jon scene or the Berristan scene seem rather random or unimportant to someone who hasn't read the books.

 

[Pessimism]

I can almost taste the tears of television viewers everywhere.

 

[Valerie]

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

 

[Pessimism]

Drogo the demonic centaur shall invade Westeros come episode 10. YEAAAAASSS.

 

[Jimmy... Dead.]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OofPjpBVvEA&feature=relmfu[/ame]

 

[Valerie]

possible spoiler but cute picture

 

[Pessimism]

Huge spoiler, but damn it was cute! Now to wait for this thread to be necro'd one year from today,

 

[Valerie]

One whole year until season 2, maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.

Well at least that's plenty of time to read the books. Already ordered #1

 

[Pessimism]

 

[Pessimism]

 

[Valerie]

 

[rockmanxpr]

Passion man, Passion...

 

[Dak]

 

[Krigloch the Furious]

just finished the show. man it's so good!

 

[voilenoir]

I just started watching this last night. I am hooked. Very good.

 

[Pessimism]

I suggest reading the books, they're addictive and pretty damn well written. On the plus side, it makes the episodes THAT MUCH BETTER.

 

[voilenoir]

Oh hell yes. I will look into getting the books for sure.

 

[Valerie]