# A Game of Thrones (HBO series) \[SPOILERS\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955 "2011-01-17T16:36:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/81 "2011-03-18T03:27:26Z")
Although not a guy, I think Brienne is pretty much entirely good (although not perfect; no one is). Great character. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/82 "2011-03-18T04:18:58Z")
Tyrion is pretty close to being a good guy. He’s obviously not perfect, but he does seem to try to do the right thing, which is made harder for him by his condition, given the kind of society he lives in. If you ignore the thorough emotional and mental twisting that Tywin put him through, I’d put him right after Brienne on the good-guy scale, among the adults, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/83 "2011-03-18T04:41:49Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Tyrion is pretty close to being a good guy. He’s obviously not perfect, but he does seem to try to do the right thing, which is made harder for him by his condition, given the kind of society he lives in. If you ignore the thorough emotional and mental twisting that Tywin put him through, I’d put him right after Brienne on the good-guy scale, among the adults, anyway. Eh, he murders his father. That pretty solidly puts him out of the “good guy” territory in most situations. He also backs him family which he knows to be in the wrong morally. Brienne is a good one. I was initially thinking only Jon. I had a reason to discount Ned, but now I can’t think of it. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/84 "2011-03-18T05:05:25Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Eh, he murders his father. His father was Tywin Lannister. If anything, murdering him puts a mark on Tyrion’s good list. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/85 "2011-03-18T06:28:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > His father was Tywin Lannister. If anything, murdering him puts a mark on Tyrion’s good list. Really? You think “I didn’t like him” is a good excuse for murder? Also, Tywin kept the realm from warring for the past 15 years. He was, arguably, one of the largest forces of good in the seven kingdoms. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/86 "2011-03-18T12:38:42Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Really? You think “I didn’t like him” is a good excuse for murder? > > Also, Tywin kept the realm from warring for the past 15 years. He was, arguably, one of the largest forces of good in the seven kingdoms. The only reason that Tywin kept the realm from warring is because his daughter was the Queen. I wouldn’t call that a force of good. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/87 "2011-03-18T13:32:09Z")
Hey, should we be having major spoilers like the last few posts in a new series thread? I have gotten close to the end of the first book and that hasn’t happened yet (subsequent book?). Now I know…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/88 "2011-03-18T14:29:35Z")
I think that since the thread is about the HBO series then it should be kept spoiler free from the books. It’s only fair to people new to the series. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/89 "2011-03-18T16:47:08Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > The only reason that Tywin kept the realm from warring is because his daughter was the Queen. I wouldn’t call that a force of good. Tywin was Hand under Aerys - Jon Arryn was Robert’s Hand. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/90 "2011-03-18T17:35:03Z")
Speaking of Littlefinger, wouldn’t Orson Welles in his [prime](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXL8XHpjfGI)(here playing Borgia) have been a fantastic Littlefinger. I am sure the HBO chap will be fine but that clip captures the essence of his character for me. I wonder if Martin modeled Littlefinger on Borgia. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/91 "2011-03-18T18:02:37Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Hmm. How spoilerific should this thread be? > > She only kills one person in the first book, right? If they continue on with the series it’ll be interesting to see how that looks on screen. A child killing in cold blood, not just in defense. I’m re-reading _Game of Thrones_ now. Arya kills a stableboy during her escape from the castle, but it’s in self-defense. He was planning to turn her in to the Lannisters. But I’m not finished with the book yet, so maybe she kills somebody else that I’ve forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/92 "2011-03-18T18:47:00Z")
So we’re spoilering everything now? :: Sigh :: OK. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/93 "2011-03-18T19:45:21Z")
It says SPOILERS in the thread title, folks. Make your own spoiler-free thread if you want, for Pet[yr]'s sake. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/94 "2011-03-18T20:06:15Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > It says SPOILERS in the thread title, folks. Make your own spoiler-free thread if you want, for Pet[yr]'s sake. 😛 That was just added. I do apologize to those that had things ruined. Really just the Tywin thing, right? That’s probably debatable how major that is, but still. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/95 "2011-03-18T21:14:41Z")
I’m sorry about that, too. I got carried away in the book conversation and forgot it was a thread about the new series. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/96 "2011-03-18T22:06:40Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > That was just added. Oops, sorry, I hadn’t noticed that. Personally, if I were anticipating seeing the miniseries and hadn’t read the books, I’d avoid any and all internet discussion until after the series airs. The books are huge and plot-heavy, characters evolve continuously, who someone appears to be at first glimpse is not usually who they are…it’s very difficult to talk about the books to someone who hasn’t read them without spoiling them. Storylines are very convoluted and the series hasn’t even ended yet, so it’s not like a LOTR-type story where a newbie can easily figure out what the outcome of the main story will be (e.g., will Frodo destroy the ring and save the world? Well, yes, duh, because that’s what happens in tales like these). ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/97 "2011-03-18T22:25:36Z")
I’m not a fan of Sandor’s makeup. I know it’s a TV show, and they can’t afford to do Two-Face effect from _ **The Dark Knight** _, (exactly what he should look like) but what he’s got in the show doesn’t really look that bad. He’s supposed to be DISFIGURED, not have a Zuko-style angst scar. Actually, while this was probably inevitable in a TV show, amost everyone is too good looking. Not just Tyrion, (Dinklage is short, sure, but he’s still pretty handsome) but everyone. Jamie, Cercei, and Dany are supposed to be beautiful enough to give them real power from that alone. They’re still beautiful, but they don’t really stand out from the rest of the cast. > [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > I’m re-reading _Game of Thrones_ now. Big spoiler. Don’t read. I mean it. Her next big step is, when escaping Harrenhall, she kills a northman. (that is, technically on the same side. It’s for a practical, even justified reason, but it’s a deliberate murder, not in the heat of the moment. At the end of the last book, she kills a guy for no practical reason other than she feels like it. Her justification is he was a deserter, but that was a transparent excuse, even to her. She wanted to lash out and he was available. There were a few others, like that stableboy and teenager she stabs while with the Hound, but those are the ones that stand out. – “Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father? Can’t be. They don’t even have the same last name!” ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/98 "2011-03-18T22:40:54Z")
> [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](#): > > [And this little sexy number - Fear and Blood](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bvwrC5X7iJI) Looks like they’re including all three major storylines. I felt sure they’d ditch at least one just to save money. And in related news, this thing looks like it costs a fortune. Three big sets (The Wall, Kings Landing, Dragos camp), three sets of only semi-related characters. Given more limited series like Rome and Deadwood ran into money problems, I have trouble figuring out how they think this thing is going to break even. Looks fun to watch though. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2011, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/99 "2011-03-18T23:15:44Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > I’m not a fan of Sandor’s makeup. I know it’s a TV show, and they can’t afford to do Two-Face effect from _ **The Dark Knight** _, (exactly what he should look like) but what he’s got in the show doesn’t really look that bad. He’s supposed to be DISFIGURED, not have a Zuko-style angst scar." We haven’t seen clips from the series that show his face. Just him in his makeup, right? It’s possible they add quite a bit in CGI. I don’t think he was supposed to look quite as bad as Two-Face. > [@](#): > > Actually, while this was probably inevitable in a TV show, amost everyone is too good looking. Not just Tyrion, (Dinklage is short, sure, but he’s still pretty handsome) but everyone. Jamie, Cercei, and Dany are supposed to be beautiful enough to give them real power from that alone. They’re still beautiful, but they don’t really stand out from the rest of the cast. So Tyrion is too good looking, Jamie, Cersei, and Dany aren’t good looking enough, so that means everyone is too good looking? I imagine it’s hard to find really ugly dwarf actors that fit all your standards. It’s not like Tyrion being super ugly is a plot point or anything either. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-game-of-thrones-hbo-series-spoilers/567955/100 "2011-03-19T02:00:06Z")
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