Readers of ASOIF: How stoked are you for Game of Thrones season 3? (SPOILERS)

[Psykoma]

Everything seemed to be moving too quickly with Dany - no wrap-up from Qarth, straight onto Astapor? Okay...

Just going to preface: I haven't seen the season premiere yet, going to be watching that tonight.
How did it start with Dany? Did it start with her actually at the city, or on the boat en route?

I felt the wrap-up of Qarth was done well enough last season. After showing her locking Xaro in the vault and Dany and her dothraki taking apart his palace for the gold and jewels and talking about buying a ship, we didn't really need to see them go around the docks and actually buy the ship, if her part this season opens up after she's bought the ship and is sailing somewhere, there'd be no transition issues with me.

Just like, that scene had a total sense of finality with Qarth - they were robbing the king of the city, kind of expect that they'd be elsewhere when the story starts up again.

Though if it opened with her already standing in Astapor with no real explanation on the travels, then yeah that'd be off.

 

[Zeke63]

i really liked how the ist ep continued the use of scenes not in the books like the margaery ones (not the harrenhal one so much prefer it the other way) though it is odd to see charity have an effect on geoffrey considering everything. Wonder how it will change the tone of the marriage feast climax and if this climax will be this season or next. (geoffereys wedding not the red)

 

[Zeke63]

I really enjoyed it. I share the opinion that they move at a weird pace (wasn't expecting that scene from Astapor in the first episode), but I am used to the series taking some liberties with the way they introduce situations and characters (to the point you can spoil parts of the book if you follow the show, even when reading ahead of the series).

Overall, I liked it. I hope that its better than the 2nd season, which was a little underwhelming; and I am looking forward to the red wedding (at this point is pretty much sure its the end of this season).

i thin the fact that two seasons will comprise the events of book 3 will ensure a lack of problems seen in 2. House of the undying sucked!

 

[Zeldias]

I wanna like the show but I have a hard time with it. If I'd read the books after seeing the show, I'd probably be really into it, but as it is now, the show seems to race through the story (which is understandable, but still) and it feels kinda brazenly sexual (I don't mind sexual stuff and all, but sometimes I feel like I was shown boobs just so I could have seen boobs). I also didn't really like how Renly and Loras went from having homoerotic undertones to just being straight up gay. I don't care about their sexuality but I liked the characterization a lot, so I was sad to see it go.

I may give it another go because I'd like to see the Red Wedding and stuff, but I currently just feel kinda meh about it.

 

[Goofguy]

I am really stoked to see what season 3 has in store. I'm most looking forward to the Blackfish and Dondarrion.

Okay. So I have a problem. I was watching episodes from the latter half of the series, and I couldn't help but feel that the way he's portrayed in the show makes Roose Bolton a total badass. And I hate myself for thinking it because I know exactly what the Boltons become later on. Am I alone in that, or did they nail the casting for him?

To be honest, I have my doubts as to how good the Bolton storyline will be. They've already skipped over Ramsay's capture of Winterfell and Roose's limited presence thus far would make his betrayal seem out of place.

 

[DugMachine]

I enjoyed the premiere. Hope they don't butcher too many important parts. If they can nail the red wedding I'll forgive them for not making Tormund talk about his member.

 

[Psykoma]

To be honest, I have my doubts as to how good the Bolton storyline will be. They've already skipped over Ramsay's capture of Winterfell and Roose's limited presence thus far would make his betrayal seem out of place.

Can't really say that they skipped over it seeing as how they didn't show anything in Winterfell after Theon was knocked out.
Could have just delayed it.

 

[Goofguy]

To be honest, I have my doubts as to how good the Bolton storyline will be. They've already skipped over Ramsay's capture of Winterfell and Roose's limited presence thus far would make his betrayal seem out of place.

Can't really say that they skipped over it seeing as how they didn't show anything in Winterfell after Theon was knocked out.
Could have just delayed it.

Except that they never introduce Ramsay Bolton. It was his betrayal (and murder) of Rodrik Cassel and the Northmen that allowed him to gain access to and sack Winterfell. Furthermore, he imprisons and tortures Theon to the point where he becomes a broken shell of a man. Nothing thus far in the show indicates that it's on track to even remotely follow this storyline.

 

[Psykoma]

To be honest, I have my doubts as to how good the Bolton storyline will be. They've already skipped over Ramsay's capture of Winterfell and Roose's limited presence thus far would make his betrayal seem out of place.

Can't really say that they skipped over it seeing as how they didn't show anything in Winterfell after Theon was knocked out.
Could have just delayed it.

Except that they never introduce Ramsay Bolton. It was his betrayal (and murder) of Rodrik Cassel and the Northmen that allowed him to gain access to and sack Winterfell. Furthermore, he imprisons and tortures Theon to the point where he becomes a broken shell of a man. Nothing thus far in the show indicates that it's on track to even remotely follow this storyline.

- Theon was knocked out, I highly doubt one staff blow to the head killed him - fully open to being imprisoned by Ramsay.
- When Bran and the others came out of the crypt and ran away, winterfell was sacked - can't tell me the ironmen would do that while trying to flee.
- It was well established that Bolton's bastard was leading the dreadfort force to retake winterfell, so what if they didn't refer to him specifically by name yet.

It's perfectly on track to follow the books storyline.

I just think a lot of people are being -very- needlessly critical of the show at this point.

 

[Goofguy]

snip

Agreed however, they've missed their chance at the great bait-and-switch of Ramsay as Reek. That was something I didn't see coming at all in the books and it was an incredibly powerful scene. When Theon opens the gates to Ramsay thinking him an ally only to have the tables turned on him a second time, it was both a great and tragic scene.

It may be on track to somewhat replicate the storyline but there is absolutely no way it can do so perfectly.

I wasn't trying to be critical in all of this. I enjoy the show immensely and am aware that it is a monumentally difficult task to adapt it to an episodic format. My original reply was merely to indicate that I have my doubts that the Bolton storyline will be faithful to the source material. Whether it does so or not does not bother me as long as it is coherent within the context of the show.

 

[Psykoma]

snip

Agreed however, they've missed their chance at the great bait-and-switch of Ramsay as Reek. That was something I didn't see coming at all in the books and it was an incredibly powerful scene. When Theon opens the gates to Ramsay thinking him an ally only to have the tables turned on him a second time, it was both a great and tragic scene.

It may be on track to somewhat replicate the storyline but there is absolutely no way it can do so perfectly.

I wasn't trying to be critical in all of this. I enjoy the show immensely and am aware that it is a monumentally difficult task to adapt it to an episodic format. My original reply was merely to indicate that I have my doubts that the Bolton storyline will be faithful to the source material. Whether it does so or not does not bother me as long as it is coherent within the context of the show.

I can understand that.
But I think the type of scene is still possible.
Just one option:
- Theon awakens in a winterfell cell.
- He discovers Reek is his cellmate - Audience who hasn't read the books doesn't know to associate Reek with Ramsay.
- The two become friends/conspirators, plot to escape.
- During the big escape, they come across some guards, Theon puts faith in Reek to get them out.
- Guards turn and stand to attention, "Lord Ramsay, is there anything we can assist you with?"
- Ramsay turns to Theon, huge evil smile growing on his face as Theon's face falls into complete shock and then despair.
- Ramsay says "That will not be necessary, I'm just taking Reek out for his first day of training"

That's one (admittedly far-fetched) possibility.
I just think that the entire Ramsay/Theon/Reek storyline is so wide open at this point that the Reek trust-turned scene is still entirely possible.
Though even if it isn't included, while it was a great scene it wasn't totally necessary to the plot and I think there might be enough going on this season that totally necessary may be the minimum required to be included.

Just don't know yet, and it's set up that they could go any way with it.

 

[Zeke17]

Really looking forward to The Red Wedding and for Jon to stop being such a damned emo pansy.

Question: I know this season is only suppose to follow the events until about mid way through book 3 (can't think of the title) are they going to mix in parts of book 4 too? The events in the two book happen simultaneously don't they? Or am I getting confused?

I think you're getting it confused with books four and five. The two which I very much hope will be the weakest in the series. I love the books, but four was really boring for long stretches and five was only slightly better.

 

[VladG]

Not very. They already started deviating from the books quite significantly in S2. And I'm not talking about the necessary TV adaptations. Yeah, some characters got removed, some plot lines slightly simplified, but that's normal, and they did it VERY well in S1. I'm talking about significant changes that completely alter the characters.

The season premier was ok, but then again not much happens in it, really. The highlight is probably the fact that I'm finally getting something out of my HBO sub.

If they can nail the red wedding I'll forgive them for not making Tormund talk about his member.

Har!

 

[Camaranth]

I think you're getting it confused with books four and five. The two which I very much hope will be the weakest in the series. I love the books, but four was really boring for long stretches and five was only slightly better.

It's books 4 (A feast for crows) and most of 5 (A dance of dragons) which happen simultaneously.

Thank you both for the correction, it's been a while since I last read them. I know a feast for Crows was a slog to read at times and I thought a Dance of Dragons only got better in the latter half even if I'm not a big fan of the new character that was introduced. Despite knowing that I'm seriously considering starting the series again...