# Game of Thrones, Fire and Blood, 6/19/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068 "2011-06-19T21:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/181 "2011-06-21T19:45:46Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > Stoid, I was just glad they didn’t screw up the CGI. The book readers were waiting for two scenes in particular–Ned’s execution and the birth of the dragons. And we knew the birth of the dragons would be the final scene of the season. It needed to be as powerful as it was in the book, and HBO succeeded. I think everyone was also waiting on Syrio’s exit scene as well. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![AlienVessels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba8739/32.png) [@AlienVessels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlienVessels)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/182 "2011-06-21T20:31:58Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > At least John Norman’s “Gor” novels had a rationale for the lack of techno progress (prevented by an advanced alien race known as the Preist Kings). You have to wonder about the Seven Kingdoms. Magic that works has a tendency to misdirect research in the fantasy genre. ---
**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:** [June 21, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/183 "2011-06-21T21:42:02Z")
That was #4 on my personal list, behind Viserys getting his crown. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/184 "2011-06-21T21:52:11Z")
I have a question regarding the books, but not about their content as it relates to the plot. I think I read someone say in this thread that some copies of the paperback book had chapters missing? Does anyone know which versions to stay away from? There’s a copy w/ Sean Bean on the cover, and another that is just a picture of a sword. Or was it some other paperback that was the offending copy? ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/185 "2011-06-21T23:22:36Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > At least John Norman’s “Gor” novels had a rationale for the lack of techno progress (prevented by an advanced alien race known as the Preist Kings). You have to wonder about the Seven Kingdoms. [Medieval Stasis.](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MedievalStasis) > [@](#): > > Medieval Stasis is a situation in which, as far as the technological, cultural, and sociopolitical level are concerned, thousands of years (and sometimes even tens of thousands) pass as if they were minutes. This is despite the fact that the Middle Ages lasted a mere thousand years, during which time everything in Europe changed drastically. Heck, the “castles and knights” period of Medieval Europe didn’t even make it to five hundred years, and compare these◊ three castles to get some idea of how much things changed even then.\* > > Furthermore, there have been no wars — between countries or civil wars — no redrawing of any national boundaries, no demographic changes (both population increase and epidemic driven population loss have, historically, caused major changes), no changes in dynasty, no new organizations of political or social significance (such as guilds), and no fashion changes, either in art or clothing. Despite these apparent centuries of peace, there will still be a professional warrior caste standing for the entire period. If the landscape changes at all, even in the course of 100,000 years, it won’t be due to geological processes, but due to magic. Otherwise, expect the landmarks and geography to remain identical across the eons. Look familiar? ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/186 "2011-06-22T01:16:19Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’ll read Game of Thrones but no further. I wish I had that kind of patience. I’m nearing the end of the first book now, and I expect I’ll read everything available before season two. I’m actually looking forward to material that I haven’t seen yet, using the same cast of faces and voices from the show in my minds eye. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/187 "2011-06-22T01:37:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > So we can look forward to _not_ seeing both cool dragons and big armies next season. :smack: Well, keep in mind that they’re baby dragons so you couldn’t really expect them to be doing anything super-cool anyway. As they said earlier in the season, those big skulls down below the castle were very old dragons. I have the impression that they grow slowly like some of our large lizard species. And unlike direwolves that quadruple in size from one week to the next. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/188 "2011-06-22T02:38:20Z")
The Direwolves didn’t grow all that much either. It made those claims about Robb’s wolf killing 12 men and as many horses a bit doubtful. Ghost looks like a mid sized dog at best. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/189 "2011-06-22T06:01:11Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’m not sure if this was posted into last week’s thread following Ned’s death scene, but I laughed my ass off. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owf6D2vfZqM](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owf6D2vfZqM) > > They killed his nigga Ned. Fuck the blond man! Maybe its just the name, but isnt he a doper ? Declan ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/190 "2011-06-22T06:02:23Z")
Um, funny cause I have read all the books out right now, but is Dany a female bastard ? She starts that spiel with I am Dany Storm something of the house targaryen blah blah. Declan ---
**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:** [June 22, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/191 "2011-06-22T06:10:48Z")
No, she was called “Stormborn” because she was born in the midst of a fierce storm (and figuratively, in the midst of the storm of Robert’s rebellion). She’s Aerys’s trueborn daughter, although twenty-odd years younger than her brother Rhaegar. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/192 "2011-06-22T06:12:38Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > The Direwolves didn’t grow all that much either. It made those claims about Robb’s wolf killing 12 men and as many horses a bit doubtful. Ghost looks like a mid sized dog at best. The direwolves were significant and fearsome avatars in the books and were about the size of ponies. The only full sized dire wolf shown so far was the huge dead mother in the first episode. The trained wolves (or whatever they are) in GOT aren’t all that big even for real wolves which can get pretty huge. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/193 "2011-06-22T06:19:56Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Regarding the live sacrifice to hatch the eggs, yeah, that didn’t occur to me until reading your posts but it does help explain why Dany didn’t need her screams, only her life. Yes that line suggests that Dany knew she needed a human death to hatch the dragon’s eggs. Also possibly, since there were three dragons, she needed three deaths; Drogo and her son were already dead and Mirri was the third. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/194 "2011-06-22T06:55:17Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > The Direwolves didn’t grow all that much either. It made those claims about Robb’s wolf killing 12 men and as many horses a bit doubtful. Ghost looks like a mid sized dog at best. They’re still pups just a few months old, though. Giant breed dogs and Maine Coon cats both take a few years to gain their full size, so it stands to reason that the direwolves aren’t supposed to be anywhere near full grown yet. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/195 "2011-06-22T07:13:48Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > Um, funny cause I have read all the books out right now, but is Dany a female bastard ? She starts that spiel with I am Dany Storm something of the house targaryen blah blah. Stormborn is an adopted epithet, not a bastard’s name. (I believe, were she a bastard, she’d be Daenarys Waters. Storm is the bastard name of the Stormlands - Baratheon lands, not Targaryen.) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/196 "2011-06-22T12:39:33Z")
I figured throwing that title out there when it was never even mentioned Dany was born during a massive storm that sank most of the Targaryen fleet would confuse people. Daenerys stormborn is what she goes by in the books for the most part. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/197 "2011-06-22T13:10:29Z")
If you wanna be queen, you gotta have a cool nickname. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/198 "2011-06-22T14:04:28Z")
> [@astro](#): > > The direwolves were significant and fearsome avatars in the books and were about the size of ponies. The only full sized dire wolf shown so far was the huge dead mother in the first episode. The trained wolves (or whatever they are) in GOT aren’t all that big even for real wolves which can get pretty huge. They aren’t wolves, they’re dogs. Apparently not a breed that’s easy to train. I was looking for more info on the specific breed & found [this recent story](http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s151/game-of-thrones/news/a325850/game-of-thrones-execs-want-more-battles-direwolves.html): > [@](#): > > Game of Thrones execs David Benioff and DB Weiss have claimed that they want more battle scenes and direwolves in the second season of the HBO fantasy drama. The producers admitted that the first season had been restrained because of the lack of financial clout that is needed to make “battles and creatures” of a sufficiently high standard for the small screen. > > “Ultimately we had to make some really tough decisions. We much rather have a great scene with our characters than a crappy version of the battle,” Benioff told EW. > > “We want to have some great battles, we’re working very hard to have great battles in season two. We’d like to have more direwolves too.” ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Baroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/76d3ee/32.png) [@Billy\_Baroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Baroo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/199 "2011-06-22T14:32:22Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Adding it all up, that’s a lot of cock for a single program. Especially when you figure in Hodor. Hodor has some fearful symmetry. A baby’s mind between his ears, and a baby’s arm between his legs. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068/200 "2011-06-22T14:35:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > If you wanna be queen, you gotta have a cool nickname. All hail Cersei the brother-fucker! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-fire-and-blood-6-19-11/586068.md?page=11)