I’ve discovered after reading the books repeatedly that genetics do not work quite the same way in Westeros as our world. There doesn’t appear to be any birth defects associated with the inbreeding, instead they seem to get random male children who end being frakking nuts. That being said it still considered taboo for everyone, the Targaryens only got away with it because they had their dragons and every one knew not to mess with them so the populace ignored it. No one from any of the other houses would be allowed to get away with it. And the Targaryens only did it to keep their Valryian blood pure.
Ah, gotcha, Pike. I like the idea that there’s that narcissism that plays into Cersei and Jamie’s attraction to each other as not only siblings, but twin siblings…even though it’s taboo for them. (I mean, I sort of get why Cersei would be into Jaime, she’s stuck in her castle with a husband she couldn’t give two craps about and very few people around she trusts. But Jaime must have tons of options. He doesn’t need to bang his twin sister - unless for Jaime it’s entirely a power/loyalty to their house thing (by cutting Robert and thus the Baratheon’s out genetically entirely.)
Re: genetics. That’s true, I wonder if there is a difference between our world and Westeros. I mean, Ned reads all that stuff about Robert’s house having only had dark haired descendents, but I wonder if blonde is recessive like it is in our world (if so, then it’s not a definite prove that Cersei’s kids aren’t Robert’s because they’re blonde. It’s unlikely, of course, but it’s still not the iron clad proof Ned seeks.)
Anyhoo. Just watched Episode 6. Holy crap, Dany is FIERCE. I did not expect Viserys to die so early on though, but, eh, good riddance for abusing your only sister and treating her like something you own all these years. Douche. We don’t really know a lot about Drogo yet, but I enjoy his wit in giving Viserys his golden crown.
Random: I can’t imagine anyone else playing Tyrion but Dinklage, huh? It’s like the role was written with him in mind.
I wish I didn’t start this marathon til later, because I want to see the rest of the epiosdes, all of them, like right now. (Yes, I know, I can read the books. But I’m trying very hard to hold the books off …at least until after this season. The hiatus…yeah, I probably wouldn’t be able to help it. For those who have read the books, is the show sort of going in a one season=one book pace?)
ETA: This is one of the few shows I insist on watching the opening credits without ever FF through them, to my bf’s annoyance. But I love them.
Another ETA: Scratch my self control. Went by the bookstore just now to find that they’re out of stock (probably due to people just like me getting hooked on the show). I’m now wondering if I should order them (I was going to buy the first 3 first) or not, or is the universe trying to tell me not to spoil myself? 
Ooh, which reminds me, I have a question for the book readers. Is Storm of Swords split into two books, which means the first 3 books is really 4 books? (I think it’s the UK edition that I’d be buying.)
It pretty much was, at least the TV version. When they started the project they had two people they felt they needed to cast: Sean Bean as Ned and Peter Dinklage as Tyrion.
BTW, ep. 7 was released on HBO Go last night. So, if you TiVoed it or something… you can watch it early…
I started watching the show (having not read the books) with a big, Meh.
But now as I have just seen the latest episode I have to say HOLY F&^% !!!
I see what they are up to now. Starting off slow and building up till the last episodes are just kicking ass.
Also, Tyrion Lannister is, IMHO, the best character in the series. Peter Dinklage has always been one of my favorite actors.
Now that I have started reading the books I can clearly see the changes made. Not a bad adaptation to be sure, I have seen far worse, but I do prefer the books (no surprise there of course).
OMG. We watched ep 7 last night, and god, these cliffhangers at the end of every episode are killing me here. Manure is definitely hitting the fan now, and [spoiler]it was just sort of horrifying to watch Ned walk in that hornet’s nest and knowing he’s gonna be betrayed. Why didn’t he listen to Renly (though, heh, on his “I should be king” speech. Ah, everyone feels entitled.) but placed his trust in Littlefingers? ARGH!! (Also, great opening scene. I like how they introduced Daddy Lannister there, gutting a stag.)[/spoiler]
But…as it turns out, bf had the same idea (to buy the books), and so last night I took, I mean, borrowed his, and went to bed reading book 1. Ah, self control, I hardly knew ye. Or, maybe I’ll exercise them and stop when I’m closer to where I am on the tv show. I read just about up to the equivalent of the beginning of ep 3, so I should have a bit of a way to go before getting to the end of ep 7. Though, it’ll be 2 weeks til ep 8, which leaves way too much time for me to give up and just devour the books. This is torturous.
Anyway. Yeah, so, I’m really impressed with the show. (And also book 1 so far. I’m surprised that so much of the dialogue on the show are basically verbatim from the books.) I can’t remember the last time a new series has gotten me hooked this quickly. It’s a really impressive feat that they have managed to make the show so palatable to newbies, though now I wonder if veterans of the book series didn’t like the show as much because there’s too much exposition (which I ate up).
Episode 7 is being streamed now xfinity. Thought it was best episode so far.
I’m listening to the audiobooks and I’m really impressed with how well they are staying true to the source. I thot it was spruced up for TV. Some of the scenes are shot-for-shot. What an absolutely well-written work.
Yes. I live under a rock…with wi-fi…
There are already threads to discuss both the series on HBO, and the books.
Book 1 (from Book Club)
All books (spoilers)
HBO series
There are also frak parties for the individual episodes, should you be so inclined.
Thread posts moved.
This is also my view about all the people who watched the 7th episode of GoT!
I just reached the part of the audiobook where the last episode left off. Do I continue or wait?
I want to continue. I can’t wait!
I’m in the same boat
I’m one of those ‘book first’ people, so keep going!
Heh. Sorry about that.
And now I’m in the same boat too (ish). Ish because I read about 3 more chapters past the end of Ep.7, partially because of whose chapters they were and simply couldn’t just stop, and now am feeling the guilt.
And yet…I want to read on, like right now. This is awful. I don’t want it to ruin the experience of watching it by reading ahead, but to wait another week til after ep. 8 would be torture, and self torture at that.
And also, now I see what someone else was saying about how closely some of the scenes in the show followed the descriptions in the books.
I say keep going too. I have read the books, and am enjoying the HBO miniseries, even thought I know what is going to happen. About to go and turn it on now!
Video interviews with Emilia Clarke and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from a Monte Carlo festival: http://www.spoilertv.com/2011/06/game-of-thrones-interviews-with-coster.html
1x9
Well, the last 2 episodes have definitely proven that the show is still fantastic whether or not I know what will happen. It is no doubt my favorite new show, and definitely already has a place as one of my top 10 shows this year.
Even though the scene was much shorter (though, I suppose expected. I think all in all, they made more or less the right cuts from the book, even though the other scenes would have been great to see on the show too, if the show had more than 10 episodes/season), I think they’ve completely nailed (the late? :D) Lord Frey. He was exactly how I imagined him to be. Love the guy and his POV.
Even in real life, Sean Bean has to get stabbed in a fight…