# Game of Thrones, Winter is Coming, 4/17/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781 "2011-04-18T01:17:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/81 "2011-04-18T21:25:50Z")
If you haven’t read the books and are trying to avoid spoilers, DON’T watch “Making Game of Thrones” because it is pretty chock-full of spoilers. In fact, it actually has more spoiler content than it has “making-of” content. Now, if you’re not the type who minds some spoilers, then you might want to watch, because it does give quite a bit of background and color to the characters and basic plot. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/82 "2011-04-18T21:56:22Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > If you haven’t read the books and are trying to avoid spoilers, DON’T watch “Making Game of Thrones” because it is pretty chock-full of spoilers. In fact, it actually has more spoiler content than it has “making-of” content. > > Now, if you’re not the type who minds some spoilers, then you might want to watch, because it does give quite a bit of background and color to the characters and basic plot. Good call; it might be good for folks who haven’t read it, as otherwise it’s jumping into the middle of a helluva stew. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/83 "2011-04-18T22:01:43Z")
There are too many characters and they all look the same. I have no idea what’s going on. It’s nice to look at though. Maybe I’ll watch the next episode with the sound turned off. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/84 "2011-04-18T22:22:01Z")
Ned Stark looks a lot like Boromir. Is it the same actor? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/85 "2011-04-18T22:30:10Z")
> [@Rasa](#): > > **Sampiro** : There’s some supernatural elements (like the Others, obviously) but I can’t think of any other blatant magic; it’s definitely not a wizards and magic fantasy series. I wouldn’t go that far. I’d say it is magic _light_ and with a couple of minor exceptions non-showy, but those elements do start creeping in gradually. However they generally aren’t at the center of the story. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Ned Stark looks a lot like Boromir. Is it the same actor? Yep. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/86 "2011-04-18T22:31:54Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Yep. He probably could re-use his costumes, too! ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/87 "2011-04-18T22:54:24Z")
I’m not a huge SoF&I fan, but I had read the first book and watched the premiere. I was pretty impressed by the quality of the adaptation. It was mostly dead-on, had some great visuals, and really respected the original work. I was a little miffed how glossed over the wolf pups were, since that’s one of the elements of the book I remembered most. I’m interested in seeing where it goes. Not sure I have room in my life for another hourlong drama, especially one that’s adapting a story I already know…but I’ll give it a chance. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/88 "2011-04-18T23:00:31Z")
Amazing to see it all come to life. Tyrion is even better than I imagined he’d be. So did they write Rickon out of the adaption? They still said “5 direwolves for 5 childen” but I didn’t see him. Don’t tell me they boosted Dany’s age up to the 20s just so they could film some T&A scenes. I don’t buy her actress at all. Agreed on the poor sound mixing…I wish I had subtitles available. I really want to hear some first impressions from dopers who haven’t read the books (ARE there any?) ---
**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:** [April 18, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/89 "2011-04-18T23:06:23Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Amazing to see it all come to life. Tyrion is even better than I imagined he’d be. > > So did they write Rickon out of the adaption? They still said “5 direwolves for 5 childen” but I didn’t see him. Robert mussed his hair after hugging Cat. He laughs at Bran when Bran’s shooting arrows. That’s a bigger part than he had in the book at this point. > [@](#): > > I really want to hear some first impressions from dopers who haven’t read the books (ARE there any?) There are a couple in this thread. Mostly confused but interested. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/90 "2011-04-18T23:11:00Z")
[QUOTE=fusoya] Don’t tell me they boosted Dany’s age up to the 20s just so they could film some T&A scenes. I don’t buy her actress at all. [/QUOTE] I don’t think that’s the reason…though she did give a nice ass shot in the creepy scene with her brother just before she took a bath. 😉 I think the main reason they changed her age is that people would have been even more creeped out by a 13 year old being married off to and taken by an adult nomadic barbarian. The T&A aspect was probably peripheral to that issue. -XT ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/91 "2011-04-18T23:18:04Z")
Oh, I was looking for a 3 year old. So I guess EVERYBODY had 5 years added to their age? 13 year olds got married all the time back then. I thought it was common knowledge. Even Jesus’s mother was 14 when he was born. Sorry, I opened this thread last night and never got around to reading it until I got home from work today, so I missed pages 2 and 3. The most amusing thing I find from non-readers is that (for episode 2) They think Bran is dead! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/92 "2011-04-18T23:19:48Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > I was a little miffed how glossed over the wolf pups were, since that’s one of the elements of the book I remembered most. That’s true enough, but we have yet to see how the wolves play out. Keep in mind, only two of the wolves have a role to play in this series. Bran’s plays the largest role in the (so far published) future, and it was the only one shown after the pups were found ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/93 "2011-04-18T23:21:49Z")
Intellectually most people accept that…but knowing intellectually that it happened is different than having it happen in an entertainment show. There was even a reaction to it in this thread, and by a poster who definitely knows that stuff like this happened in the past, but who still felt that having it in the book was really about GRRM being a closet pedophile or something along those lines. Imagine the flack HBO would have gotten if they portrayed the children at their true ages in the book…and all the horrible shit that is going to happen to them all. :eek: -XT ---
**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:** [April 18, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/94 "2011-04-18T23:23:53Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > That’s true enough, but we have yet to see how the wolves play out. > > Keep in mind, only two of the wolves have a role to play in this series. [spoiler] Ghost keeps Jon from leaving the watch Nymeria attacks Joffrey Lady dies, and in doing so exposes Robert for being a coward. Summer kills Bran’s assassin Grey Wind kills several men during the battle of the Whispering Wood Shaggydog (best name!) is the only one that doesn’t really do anything.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/95 "2011-04-18T23:41:07Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > That…doesn’t even SAY anything. And uses dumb words to not say it. 😕😕 Hilariously put, and 100% true. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/96 "2011-04-18T23:45:00Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Imagine the flack HBO would have gotten if they portrayed the children at their true ages in the book…and all the horrible shit that is going to happen to them all. :eek: I’ve no issue with HBO cranking up the ages a few years, given today’s standards in the US. That said, “underage sex” is not worldwide written in stone by US standards even today. ---
**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:** [April 18, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/97 "2011-04-18T23:46:46Z")
[http://screenrant.com/game-of-thrones/](http://screenrant.com/game-of-thrones/) There’s a spoiler free family tree. Lots that isn’t there, but it’s a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/98 "2011-04-18T23:50:33Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > [spoiler] > Ghost keeps Jon from leaving the watch > Nymeria attacks Joffrey > Lady dies, and in doing so exposes Robert for being a coward. > Summer kills Bran’s assassin > Grey Wind kills several men during the battle of the Whispering Wood > > Shaggydog (best name!) is the only one that doesn’t really do anything.[/spoiler] I don’t expect to see most of that. I expect to see: Nymeria – necessary for Arya’s personality. Summer – already mentioned. Could be wrong. But I only think I might be with Lady, and that will only be a cameo. I don’t think Ghost and Grey Wind will play a serious role until the second season. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/99 "2011-04-18T23:50:57Z")
Rickon is a toddler, there isn’t exactly much for him to do. He was there, on several scenes, mostly in the background. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/100 "2011-04-18T23:56:52Z")
Non-book reading viewer checking in. Watched this last night with the wife. Both thought it felt a touch slow, but I suppose that’s to be expected through the first couple episodes. Not sure if the wife will continue, but I’m willing to give it a few more episodes. So far, everyone I know who has read the books is pretty hard-core about how great they are, so here’s hoping. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781.md?page=6)