# Valar Hiatus: The Game of Thrones offseason thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted\ **Created:** [June 5, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208 "2012-06-05T22:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 40
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/781 "2018-11-26T18:34:55Z")
has there ever been a major book series that was not finished as planned? (not counting examples where the author died before it was finished) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/782 "2018-11-26T19:05:52Z")
Well when the author dies is the only point at which one can say with certainty that the series wasn’t finished. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/783 "2018-11-26T19:33:00Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > has there ever been a major book series that was not finished as planned? (not counting examples where the author died before it was finished) Define “major.” There are any number of series that never got completed, for various reasons other than Author Existence Failure. Loss of interest, lack of sales…there have been treads galore around here over the years about that very thing. ---
**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:** [November 26, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/784 "2018-11-26T20:26:58Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > if book people are mad now, wait until it’s revealed next season that white walkers were created by having too many midichlorians 🙂 Quiet, you. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/785 "2018-11-26T20:51:45Z")
my 2 cents: for “major” book series I would define it as one written by an author who has written a best seller. Or an author who has won a book award such as a Pulitzer, Nebula, Hugo, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Smid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Smid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smid)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/786 "2018-11-26T21:51:39Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Is that established in the books somewhere? Because it strikes me as really unlikely. Every time Robert wanted a lance to go boar hunting he had to hike over to his private stash of weapons vs. telling some squire to go fetch it? Or when his sword needed sharpening, or the fancy hilt needed to be polished, Robert had to do that himself? > > And any underling can be bribed or threatened. It was Valyrian steel. Very valuable. Not for squires of the king to go and fetch on a bribe. In the books various viewpoints came to the conclusion it was Joffrey. However, if the TV series is the overall truth (ie: covers the same basic points), in which case it was Littlefinger. Is it? I’m not sure. The explanation doesn’t fit. However, like the other awfully written bit of the TV Series: Arya and the Serf attacking her, it was just what the show was: badly written fan fiction. “I’ve just left a group of international magical assassins without their consent, a group who everyone is chilled to the bone scared of. Let’s wander about Bravos confidently as if nothing happened. Get gutted, then run around for ages…” ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/787 "2018-11-26T22:36:27Z")
it seems that some people who think the show is bad fan fiction still watch it? Or am I reading that wrong? I think other shows are bad and I don’t watch them which I would think is the typical reaction someone has if they don’t like a show. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/788 "2018-11-26T23:37:14Z")
Didn’t say it was bad, just worse than the books and worse than it used to be when it was based on the books instead of made up. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2018, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/789 "2018-11-26T23:52:46Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Didn’t say it was bad, just worse than the books and worse than it used to be when it was based on the books instead of made up. The books being factual, of course.😉 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/790 "2018-11-27T00:24:32Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > if book people are mad now, wait until it’s revealed next season that white walkers were created by having too many midichlorians 🙂 I started to say, “At least we would know that the earliest possible Star Wars prequel was over and done.” But then I remembered that there is a GOT prequel currently in the works. :smack: :eek: :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/791 "2018-11-27T00:34:28Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > it seems that some people who think the show is bad fan fiction still watch it? Or am I reading that wrong? I began to feel this way last season at some point, though I still love the show. I’m not saying Martin won’t do it in his book, but these felt fan-fictiony: 1. The dragon dying and being brought back by the Walkers. 2. The hook-up with Jon Snow and Dany. Still think it is a great show, still think there is a lot to love about it, but it was pushing into “fans wrote this” territory for me. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/792 "2018-11-27T01:00:46Z")
Those points actually didn’t feel like fan-fic to me. I could easily see GRRM writing that, but the difference is that he’d come up with valid reasons for them to happen. What I think really characterized the drop in quality was the ridiculous machinations to drive the plot. As mentioned above, all sense of timelines was completely dropped and suddenly people traveled wherever they needed to be almost instantaneously. The _reason_ the dragons were north of the wall was idiotic. Cersie doesn’t believe the White Walkers are a threat? I know, we’ll take a small group and capture a wight, which will certainly convince her. And time is short, so instead of a boat that takes months to get there, we’ll (mumble mumble) just get there in a few days. Oops, danger! Send a crow for help! But we don’t have time for it to fly all the way to Dany, so (mumble mumble) make it arrive immediately. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/793 "2018-11-27T02:23:53Z")
A [few good giggles here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9VkARGrHGA) for those craving GOT. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2018, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/794 "2018-11-27T04:01:05Z")
Love the first one, with the Hound doing an ad for KFC! ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2018, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/795 "2018-11-27T12:08:10Z")
speaking of humor and the show going beyond the books [Nation Relieved Insufferable Little ‘Game Of Thrones’ Fans Don’t Have Book To Lord Over Them This Season](https://entertainment.theonion.com/nation-relieved-insufferable-little-game-of-thrones-f-1819578815) ---
**Author:** ![Fair\_Rarity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fair_rarity/32/153_2.png) [@Fair\_Rarity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fair_Rarity)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/796 "2018-11-28T01:27:31Z")
Oh, for anyone still deciding on the book, it stops at Aegon III. I thought it might based on chapter names, but I wasn’t sure if they were labeled correctly or if there was going to be a quick run through via a Maester’s perspective. “Maester what’s-his-name stopped writing here at Aegon, the third of his name. Here’s a brief summary of the rest of his reign up until Jaime Lannister slew Aerys.” But it just ended. Sequel hook. Will we get Fire and Blood part 2 or Winds of Winter first? I’ve been waiting longer for a novel, but I am curious about the Blackfyre Rebellion, Bloodraven, Summerhall… too bad no Mushroom was at Summerhall. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/797 "2018-11-28T15:26:28Z")
I love The Mountain’s Sodastream commercials. The one with the Shame Nun squicked me out a little though, considering he fucked her to death on the TV show. Fuck plastic bottles! ---
**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:** [November 28, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/798 "2018-11-28T15:45:04Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I love The Mountain’s Sodastream commercials. The one with the Shame Nun squicked me out a little though, considering he fucked her to death on the TV show. Fuck plastic bottles! There is no indication of the Mountain sexually assaulting her or of her being killed. All we know is that he made her scream. ---
**Author:** ![ben.sawyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@ben.sawyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ben.sawyer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/799 "2018-11-28T16:03:46Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > A [few good giggles here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9VkARGrHGA) for those craving GOT. hahaha but top comment is a winner!!! “They should have made one with old spice. Odor! Odor! Don’t have odor have old spice.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208/800 "2018-11-28T16:23:18Z")
Jesus christ that chicken looked delicious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208.md?page=39) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/valar-hiatus-the-game-of-thrones-offseason-thread/624208.md?page=41)