Game of Thrones

[Fireplug]

Saw the first episode tonight. THIS is my kind of TV. Swords, sumptuous cinematography, Sean Bean being grim, beheadings, nonsensical fantasy plotline, the bloke who plays Conan in the new film acting hard, gratuitous tits out all over the place and even some interesting and adequately-acted characters. What's not to like? Top marks.

[savoirefaire]

I heard about this just on Tuesday. A friend of mine used to read the books and said watching it come to life was just mind-blowing. I will look into it

[penk]

We watched the first one the other day and I didn't really know what to make of it. It was pitched quite well in between seriousness and silliness and, being HBO, the production values and casting etc. were impressive. It just seemed to be lacking a bit of something: it suffered from that common fantasy problem of having too many people talking about too many incomprehensible things - often as exposition regarding slightly earlier, similarly incomprehensible conversations - and as a result never seemed to really get going.
Then again, a few past HBO shows have taken their time to kick into gear, and there were a few parts that showed promise. More tense, well-handled action scenes, more settled plotting and pacing, and more screentime for Peter Dinklage, and they'll be onto something.

[Velvis]

I'm loving it. So is my wife, who is usually more into historical drama than fantasy.

[BlueMeanie]

Just downloaded the first episode and will watch over the weekend. Fantasy is not really my thing, but there have been so many rave reviews that I thought I'd give it a go.

[Django]

I've recorded the first one, but haven't watched it yet. My only misgiving is that the books have got a terrible reputation for being padded and directionless. I hope the TV adaptation tidies things up a bit: still bruised from the Lost debacle, more padded and directionless TV I can do without.

[sensi]

I had it to watch on my Sky+ planner and bloody Sky did one yesterday so I had to have it reset and lost everything on my planner

[brassneck..]

gratuitous tits out all over the place and even some interesting and adequately-acted characters. What's not to like? Top marks.

It was absolutely cracking.

[BlueMeanie]

We had to let HBO and premium cable go a couple months ago as we were economizing to save money in case we had to move and they somehow didn't pay relocation -- which of course is exactly what happened. We're still economizing -- had to borrow money from all my family and my best friend to get us up to Portland and it's still going to be a real struggle for the first couple months due to setting up utilities and paying back the loans from family for the moving truck.

I'm hoping that once we get settled in Portland maybe by July we can add it back in in time to catch Breaking Bad and possibly find the episodes of other shows that we've missed available on demand. It's killing us missing out on Game of Thrones, Shameless, Archer and Justified. Jeff and I are both HUGE George R.R. Martin fans, so this thread is a sort of evil torture for me -- I can't read it until we get caught up for fear of spoilers, but the temptation to read it anyway is pretty compelling.

Why don't you download it? I know it's cheating, but it sounds like you've paid your dues, and as you say, it will only be temporary. I download nearly everything we watch as Scandinavian TV is rubbish. We still pay for cable, and an extortionate amount for a licence, so I have no guilt.

[pcqgod]

I'll try to catch an episode, but it's giving me a 'Legend of the Seeker' 3rd rate Tolkien rip-off vibe.

[Count Machuki]

I'll try to catch an episode, but it's giving me a 'Legend of the Seeker' 3rd rate Tolkien rip-off vibe.

I fucking love Legend of the Seeker...

[Rated B]

2nd episode much like the books get before too long.

Dull as fuck.

[Fireplug]

Episode 7 and it gets better every week. Best thing on telly. Far, far better than this sort of nonsense has any right to be.

[Belle Lettre]

I agree; I'm enjoying it far more now.

[pcqgod]

Sean Bean suffered slight injury when he was stabbed with broken glass in a bar fight. He just shrugged it off after some first aid.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20071083-10391698.html

[penk]

Watched episode nine last night. Didn't see that coming. Surely it's a trick...?

[Rated B]

It's got better as it has gone along, and the last but one (choppy choppy) episode was really good.

But I still think the books are dull.

[brassneck..]

It's seriously addictive, and really funny at times. Peter Dinklage makes it for me.

[Velvis]

Watched episode nine last night. Didn't see that coming. Surely it's a trick...?

Well....no.

[Fireplug]

I have no interest in ever reading another fantasy novel, especially one that's part of en epic series, but GoT is smashing telly. Dinklage is the best thing in it, obviously, though I suspect Charles Dance will have more to do as time goes on and I'm looking forward to that. Or maybe not -- it's great when you have no idea whether or not major characters will survive an episode.