Game of Thrones

Anyone else watching this? This is totally down my alley. I read that the show is sticking very close to the book. Since I'm totally impatient, I've gone and got the books which I'll be able to read faster than the series runs.

I'm really enjoying it thus far, although at first I was struggling to get it sorted out as to who was who.  I had to google it and read through the characters.  I almost wish they had maybe left a few characters to be introduced in the 2nd or 3rd episode rather than dumping everyone on us all at once, but I've got it straight now so I guess it doesn't really matter anyway. 

I definitely want to read the books now, as does BF, because you can just tell there is so much more to it that is probably really cool, like the super long seasons.  Though he is not as taken with the show as I am.  I think he was expecting something a bit more gothic, and without the copious amounts of random nudity and sex scenes.  I believe he said something along the lines of "Now don't get me wrong, I love tatas as much as anyone, but it's distracting and not necessary every 5 minutes!". 

The one thing I can't get past is Aiden Gillen.  I just keep seeing him as Carcetti from The Wire in fancy dress.   

I have several episodes on my Sky + box to watch thanks for the heads up on the excessive tatas on show!!   

I really like it. 

As for the nudity, my dh came through the room while I was watching and said "HBO?"  It has about as much nudity as all the other HBO/Showtime sort of shows like True Blood. 

Yeah, I'm not bothered about the nudity. Like bookgrl said, it's the same as any other HBO show. If you think it's bad here, you should watch Spartacus (Blood and Sand/Gods of the Arena). They take liberal sex scenes to a whole new level.

Should have said, I'm about 30-40 pages into the first book and the show has stuck seriously to the book. I think the only thing that was different in the book to the show was where Dany meets the Khal for the first time and the size of the carriage that the Queen and her children arrive in when visiting the Starks in Winterfell. It's like watching the first show in my head.

Oh no, I lie. The ages are different. Dany is 13 in the book but the show she is obviously grown. And the Stark kids are a few years younger. And Ned Stark is supposed to be 35. I love Sean Bean but he can't pass for a 35 year old anymore.

We started it before our US trip and have recorded all the episodes so we can gorge on it this weekend.  Dh loves the books and has read them many times.  I got about 3/4 of the way through the first one and really enjoyed it.  I can't even remember why I put it down.  It's such a great piece of fiction that captures the essence of the Medieval world I think.  Glad others like it too!   

Yeah, the nudity doesn't bother me either, more so my BF.  We watch/have watched plenty of other HBO stuff like The Sopranos, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, The Tudors, etc.  It just seems like they use nudity differently in those than they do in this one, if that makes sense? 

It's not even really the sex scenes that he has a problem with, because ultimately they factor into the story regardless of how they are depicted.  It's that there seems to be more instances of using nudity just because they can rather than for a reason.  It's like, ok, you can show boobs, great, we get it, but do we really need those 5 seconds of topless prostitutes in the beginning of a scene, or lingering in the background?  I can see his point, it's not really all that crucial to the telling of the story or to set a scene.  I think to him, it cheapens it a bit.  But he's also become kind of a snob when it comes to TV.  I'll watch just about anything and don't really care.   

Now I'm really wanting to read the books since you guys keep talking about it!

It just seems like they use nudity differently in those than they do in this one, if that makes sense? 

I think the sex scenes they've shown so far have been uneasy ones because they tend to be violent or taboo. Dany and Drogo's first night, the Lannister twins, Dany's brother and the prostitute. It just seems like they never show nice loving sex scenes. I've not really noticed half nude prostitutes everywhere. I must be blind to it.

I think the sex scenes they've shown so far have been uneasy ones because they tend to be violent or taboo. Dany and Drogo's first night, the Lannister twins, Dany's brother and the prostitute. It just seems like they never show nice loving sex scenes. I've not really noticed half nude prostitutes everywhere. I must be blind to it.

I agree with that analysis!  And I probably wouldn't have noticed the nudity so much myself if I didn't have the peanut gallery sitting next to me commenting on it so much.   

That said, though, I watched the latest episode last night and there was pretty much none, so maybe it was a strategy to be a bit more racy in the first few episodes, maybe to draw more viewers at the start?  Who knows....

Anywho, I'm really enjoying how Viserys is getting put in his place by his sister.  He's such a prat!  I'm also growing to like the Tyrion Lannister character quite a bit.  I think I might order the books this week, because I am also finding that I can't really wait for the next episode.  I've run out of books to read anyway, or that's what I'm going to tell myself to justify it. 

Anywho, I'm really enjoying how Viserys is getting put in his place by his sister.  He's such a prat!  I'm also growing to like the Tyrion Lannister character quite a bit. 

Tryion is one of my favorites. I get the feeling that he's going to turn out to be a good guy, despite his family. And I agree with you re Viserys. I also really like Dany. Stunning girl they got to play for her but I like how she's growing stronger.

We love it.  Mr A is getting me the book as I've not read it.  I am usually not into fantasy, but when I fall for something from the genre, I usually fall hard.

HOLY COW THIS WEEK'S EPISODE!  Well, more so the bit about the "crown of gold".   

Also, I'm thinking something is going to happen with those dragon eggs...

Also, I'm thinking something is going to happen with those dragon eggs...

  Maybe.....

I just watched the pilot last night and I loved it. My DF got bored during the credits and stopped watching so it'll be one of my "watch while he's at work" shows.

As far as who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, if you read the books there are some really surprising characters who turn out to be "likeable" after you've written them off as the scum of the earth. The books are chapter-by-chapter from different characters PoV and GRRM says no one thinks they're evil inside their own heads so when you finally see inside their heads, their motives and issues, they're a lot more sympathetic.

There's a blog on Tor (the series publisher)'s website where a woman is reading the chapters at a fairly reasonable pace, so if you've read the books but want a refresher or more details while watching the show, you can follow along:
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/03/a-read-of-ice-and-fire-a-game-of-thrones-part-1

We just watched about half of the latest episode.  Mr A had to go to bed.  How great is Tyrion Lannister? I loved his answer to how he wanted to die.  He has to be my favourite character.  I am also glad I've NOT read the books at this point, as it is totally spoiler free for me.  I guess when I go to read the books, I will wish that I had read them first.