Series hasn’t even started yet and this thread is a train-wreck already. Sometimes the people of the Dope are just a bit too much for me.
If you need me, I’ll be in the other threads.
So is this going to be thread for open discussion of the episode, but no discussion of the books?
I’m really confused.
This is the “the books don’t even exist” thread.
Ah, see, that was your mistake. You should have made the rules from Valeryan steel. 
It’ll settle in once the alternate spoiler-heavy threads start, and the show begins and there’s more to discuss. The last 4 of 5 episodic threads last year worked out pretty well, once we got that all hammered out.
And yes, this is the discussion that’s only about the TV show. No information is to be brought from outside the TV show. Not sure how this is confusing.
Don’t forget Renly Baratheon.
Also, Robb isn’t claiming the Iron Throne. He’s claiming to be King of the North.
The North and the Riverlands actually.
Everything north of The Neck I think.
I just can’t let this go. Huge rotten spoiler contained below:
[spoiler] Ned’s head.[spoiler]
It’s been a year now. That thing’s gotta be pretty ripe. You think they’ve put it on ice? Seriously though. Sean Bean is like the Kenny of fantasy series [/spoiler] [/spoiler]
No, of course not.No ice, just spike.
As a person who loves the show but will never ever pick up one of the books, I greatly appreciate the spoiler rules being laid out ahead of time by SenorBeef.
The worst thing last season were the winking little comments like “don’t get too attached to likable characters” and such. Ugh.
Wouldn’t really call that a spoiler since the event happened in the first season.
Also, they are all dipped in tar to preserve them.
Yeah, Ned’s head isn’t a spoiler, since we’re discussing everything that’s happened on the TV show up until now. So anything from season 1 is up for discussion.
Anyone heard anything about the budget for season 2? Increased, decreased from the first? Was the first season considered a big success? I know it got critical hype, but that doesn’t necesarily mean much.
Season 1 cost 60 mil apparently, which was less than other comparable HBO series (Rome cost 100-120 mil per season, a big factor in its cancellation). Season 2 got a bigger budget because of the massive success of season 1, but i have no idea how much bigger it actually is.
They did well with the budget - the set design, costumes, general production values were pretty great. They did have to skimp on certan things, like battle scenes. Hopefully their budget will allow more this season.
It seems like HBO is aware that they have a great thing on their hands, they have been promoting the show pretty heavily. I wish they would give it more episodes along with more budget though.
Moderator Note:
I just opened two threads for the other discussion of this thread and will shortly amend the OP to reflect the system we are going for. I would appreciate it if people reread the OP to be clear. As I can see the benefits of having a weekly discussion thread for each episode in the zero spoiler format, I’d also appreciate it if those rules were copy-pasted for each episode.
With regards,
Gukumatz
Game Room & IMHO Moderator
Consulting Game of Thrones Moderator
In the Entertainment Weekly article I read, they did increase the budget, a lot of which was spent on location. The producers did go back for more money for bigger battles but were turned down.
P.S., don’t read the article if you want to be comepletely unspoiled. They give away broad plot points.
This seems like the appropriate place to ask.
I read the first two books, but I have not seen any of the shows. I have heard such great things about the show. I would like to watch it, but would rather get the info from the books first. Does the first season only contain plot points for the first book? Or, should I read all of the published books before watching the first season?