Apt, on 13 July 2016 - 08:11 PM, said:
Finally gave up on my decision to not watch Game of Thrones until the book series is done. Let's be honest the polar icecaps will melt before that series is done. Also avoiding GOT spoilers on the internet is like navigating a minefield.
To my surprise, the series is actually every bit as good as the hype suggested. I had trouble getting into the first episodes, they were far too familiar, but once it got going it's a very well made show. The attention to detail, casting and production values are impressive.
Also the fact that it's in a TV-format means that more tedious chapters, like everything related to Sansa, becomes a breeze. It's also helped me better visualize certain aspects of the books I never thought about. Like palm trees in the capital or the absurdity of the northern wall.
Right, so expanding on my earlier post.
I probably need some distance to think about it but I think the TV-adaption of Song of Ice and Fire is perhaps one of the greatest works of fiction I have ever experienced. I have pretty much done nothing but binge watching GOT the past week and am now about to begin season 5. I am absolutely enraptured by this show.
The show draws on the strength of Martin's writing but creates something far more entertaining because everything is condensed. Long, tedious chapters of the books are reduced to short segments in episodes that seem capable of taking the viewer everywhere, never compromising, always going for the heart. Even better is the shows willingness to spend seasons slowly building up characters only to sacrifice them in an instant for the benefit of the episode. It's the kind of show that suggests to me that maybe the Malazan Book of the Fallen could be adapted to TV.
One thing that I do wonder about is how my perception of the characters have changed. It might be because the show (obviously) chooses talented, charismatic or beautiful actors for the roles, instead of the ugly creatures that populate the books, but I find myself liking every single character. I remember hating the Lannisters in the books and now I have nothing but admiration for the kind of people they are. Hell I've come to appreciate Sansa Stark of all people.
What really sells the show for me though is the settings and the quality. Even when I recognize it has to be a stage and CGI I am watching, the show uses every trick in the book to trick me into believing I am really there. I just watched the scene where
Season 4 spoilers:
And I was amazed at how expensive the whole thing looks. This show looks like it has the budget of a Michael Bay movie and it spent it all on costumes and armor and awesome fight scenes. It's fucking gorgeous.
I am now past the events I read in the books and looking forward to seeing what kind of craziness happens next.
This post has been edited by Apt: 16 July 2016 - 04:36 PM
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