[Corwin]

Thread for discussing Season 3 and the books.



So from the most recent trailers we get to see thatTwo characters meet who never meet in the book.

Melisandre and Thoros of Myr. It will be interesting to see how the two very different Red Priests/Priestess' interact with each other.

Speculation is that Mel needing Kings Blood travels to the Riverlands to collect Gendry (as Edric Storm does not seemingly exist in the TV Verse) and has to convince Thoros to hand him over.

[PerpetualAscent]

Can't see I'm a huge fan of this change (if it does indeen happen), it would have been better if they'd just cast Edric Storm imo but I think Gendry is a popular character so I see why they'd want to give him more screen time. How would Mel know about Gendry though?

It just occurred to me that if they have Davos ship Gendry off to Essos they might somehow have him meet Arya in Bravos. I hope not though.

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by PerpetualAscent

How would Mel know about Gendry though?

Probably sees him in the Flames.

[vicky2424]

It's a shame we aren't getting Edric, but if it means more Gendry then I don't mind

[Cadiva]

Originally Posted by Corwin

So from the most recent trailers we get to see thatTwo characters meet who never meet in the book.

Melisandre and Thoros of Myr. It will be interesting to see how the two very different Red Priests/Priestess' interact with each other.

Speculation is that Mel needing Kings Blood travels to the Riverlands to collect Gendry (as Edric Storm does not seemingly exist in the TV Verse) and has to convince Thoros to hand him over.

Another interesting deviation from the books which will no doubt cause huge debate across the Westeros fan base. Sometimes I think it's as well for them to merge various different plots into one single story narrative where it makes sense to do so, this is one of them imho where the audience can learn more about Melisandre's blood magic and the fact that there are still various Baratheon bastards who did escape the purge. It also provides background into the Religion of the Red God and how Melisandre seems to interpret and use it in a completely different way to Thoros.

[Shute]

I think we'll have to wait and see. Let's face it the books contain a formidable number of characters which would confuse many viewers (simply due to the reduced time frame). So from that point of view it makes sense to use known faces where in terms of developing plot line a new face really won't make much of a difference.

So far the changes have worked because the scriptwriters clearly know and love the books and GRRM etc is able to add his tuppenceworth as well.

Anyone else caught Paul Kaye trying out his Thoros of Myr beard on Stella?

[srhDS]

Originally Posted by Corwin

Melisandre and Thoros of Myr. It will be interesting to see how the two very different Red Priests/Priestess' interact with each other.

I always figured they'd meet eventually. Wonder what she'll make of his flaming sword, she is trying to make out that Stannis' sword is the true flaming sword.

As of simplifying the tv characters, I see no harm in that. I think the Dorme storyline in season 4 / 5 will need to be simplified quite a bit for tv.

[O'Neill]

That's an interesting change, and makes sense really. I'm a little disappointed Vargo Hoat has been changed into a different character though.

[ally08]

So far I have been pleased with the characters they have chosen to give more screen time to, Bron, Margaery, Tywin etc so I'm willing to give them a huge amount of leeway with these things.

Well apart from Littlefinger turning up all over the bloody place.

[intransigence]

I think people need to stop getting their knickers in a twist about changes. If you go back to the original reasons Martin started to write the books you see it was partly because he was fed up with the limitations of TV. He could add a sheer scale to both the setting and volume/complexity of the characters that wouldn't be possible with TV.

So, it's not exactly a shock to see the TV programme (as brilliant as it is) to start to change...as much for practical reasons as anything else. At least, if there are more marked changes people won't continue to hold on to the (false) hope of a totally faithful adaptation.

For me, the very worst thing would be for the TV programme to seep into the writing of the last two books. I'd hate to think that Martin might make changes to his original ideas because of the impact they could have to the series. If he wants to have some huge apocolyptic event hit Westeros that couldn't possibly be filmed, then fine...please don't change it for HBO's sake.

[srhDS]

Originally Posted by intransigence

...worst thing would be for the TV programme to seep into the writing of the last two books....

I expect to learn the ultimate fate of these characters on screen rather than on a page. The tv series will have to simplify the story to keep a coherent tv narrative and this means that there are maybe four or five more years of material for tv. There may be one book out in the next four year but there certainly won't be two. that book would give a couple of more years of material of tv but another book won't be out in that time going on the current rate of release.

[Corwin]

A Major twist has Dany and her Dragons travel to America

[Yobaba**]

Hmm. I am okay with that change to the story. It will make the storyline tighter and more coherent, as well as most importantly giving Melisandre some more screen-time.

[Shute]

Originally Posted by intransigence

For me, the very worst thing would be for the TV programme to seep into the writing of the last two books. I'd hate to think that Martin might make changes to his original ideas because of the impact they could have to the series. If he wants to have some huge apocolyptic event hit Westeros that couldn't possibly be filmed, then fine...please don't change it for HBO's sake.

I sincerely hope he doesn't. I don't think he would...

That said, it doesn't seem to have affected other writers. Take the Trueblood series - the TV series is only around 30% faithful to the books and that percentage seems to reduce with each series. It doesn't appear to have affected the author who continues to follow her book plot developments with the scriptwriters cherry picking what they want for each series.

I've read some of the books and watched some of the TV series and enjoyed both in very different ways without getting the hump about one not being faithful to the other.

That said I think there would be far more of an outcry if GOT the TV series altered radically from the books. But what they've done is generally so faithful to the books the odd tweak seems to work and so far they've got away with it.

But no Vargo Hoat? Does that mean Jaime remains completely "hands on"?

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by Shute

But no Vargo Hoat? Does that mean Jaime remains completely "hands on"?

While there is no Vargo Hoat he's replaced by a character called Locke (a bannerhouse to House Bolton in the books).

So rather than have a mercenary band that changes sides a couple of times we have a group that is loyal to House Bolton from the start.

[PerpetualAscent]

Originally Posted by intransigence

For me, the very worst thing would be for the TV programme to seep into the writing of the last two books. I'd hate to think that Martin might make changes to his original ideas because of the impact they could have to the series. If he wants to have some huge apocolyptic event hit Westeros that couldn't possibly be filmed, then fine...please don't change it for HBO's sake.

I think GRRM once said that he liked the way Natalia Tena plays Osha so much he might give her a more interesting role in the books. I doubt he'd change anything major plot-wise though.

[srhDS]

Originally Posted by PerpetualAscent

I think GRRM once said that he liked the way Natalia Tena plays Osha so much he might give her a more interesting role in the books. I doubt he'd change anything major plot-wise though.

yeah, and that would be a good thing, Osha is a great character. Her role in season 3 onwards will diverge quite a bit from the books, seeing as she and Rickon vanish off early in book 3.
I don't think any major plot lines will change as they have already been decided and GRRM has discussed them with the tv show producers. So the tv version can continue the story without any more books and still be true to his vision.

[ally08]

I saw an something from GRR Martin about how they came to him with an idea to kill someone off, someone popular but not, as they saw it, massively integral to the plot, and he replied by telling them to go for it but that they would be totally unable to film the sixth book if they did.

It seems like they have the best kind of partnership really, they are in charge of the show but are not going to do anything to mess with the overall arc of the books and Martin isn't going to continue to lend his name and expertise to the show if they threaten to undermine his lifes work.

Makes me very happy.

[zort70]

The 2nd season completely caught me off guard with some of the things they changed. The complete abscence of the chain was one of those.

Do we know where this season is going to end ? i.e. is it split like the paperback version or is it going to try and do the whole thing in a few episodes ?

By the way, slightly off topic (but not completely) I have a GOT inspired faith of the seven t-shirt for sale from 10pm tonight for 24hours only -

Link to an image with the details -

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by zort70

Do we know where this season is going to end ? i.e. is it split like the paperback version or is it going to try and do the whole thing in a few episodes ?

Roughly half of book 3 (probably nearer 60% I would guess) will be in this season however that doesn't mean it will just be split down the middle.

Some plotlines will be taken further than others. For example speculation is that Jons story gets as far as him returning to Castle Black to warn of the Wildling attack (which is roughly half way through the book), however that means that most (possibly even all) of Brans Book 3 story will be in this season as Bran needs to be at Queenscrown the same time as Jon but after that only has (I think) one more chapter in the book.

There's also the introduction of the Tullys. Reeds and Ramsay to fit into the season, all of which happened in Book 2.


The showrunners have basically said that from now on it won't be one book per season and to tell the story over 10 episode seasons may involve taking elements from different books.

[ally08]

Originally Posted by Corwin

Roughly half of book 3 (probably nearer 60% I would guess) will be in this season however that doesn't mean it will just be split down the middle.

Some plotlines will be taken further than others. For example speculation is that Jons story gets as far as him returning to Castle Black to warn of the Wildling attack (which is roughly half way through the book), however that means that most (possibly even all) of Brans Book 3 story will be in this season as Bran needs to be at Queenscrown the same time as Jon but after that only has (I think) one more chapter in the book.

There's also the introduction of the Tullys. Reeds and Ramsay to fit into the season, all of which happened in Book 2.


The showrunners have basically said that from now on it won't be one book per season and to tell the story over 10 episode seasons may involve taking elements from different books.

Damn you have just reminded me how quickly the next 10 weeks are going to go and then how long the wait for the next season will be.

Would it be too much to ask for it to be on 40 weeks a year?

[Corwin]

Latest trailer gives us our first glimpse of the RW and unlike the book it seems Robb Stark took advantage of the Plus One on his invitation.

[zort70]

Originally Posted by Corwin

Roughly half of book 3 (probably nearer 60% I would guess) will be in this season however that doesn't mean it will just be split down the middle.

Some plotlines will be taken further than others. For example speculation is that Jons story gets as far as him returning to Castle Black to warn of the Wildling attack (which is roughly half way through the book), however that means that most (possibly even all) of Brans Book 3 story will be in this season as Bran needs to be at Queenscrown the same time as Jon but after that only has (I think) one more chapter in the book.

There's also the introduction of the Tullys. Reeds and Ramsay to fit into the season, all of which happened in Book 2.


The showrunners have basically said that from now on it won't be one book per season and to tell the story over 10 episode seasons may involve taking elements from different books.

Thanks for that, it could definitely get a bit confusing for us that have read the books.

I think that would definitely be the right place to end the next set of episodes.

[Gene the Cow]

Originally Posted by Corwin

Latest trailer gives us our first glimpse of the RW and unlike the book it seems Robb Stark took advantage of the Plus One on his invitation.

That looks like it could also be from the funeral at Riverrun!

[augusta92]

watching the second series, ive given up trying to relate the story line to the books....

To me they are becoming very different. Why has littlefinger started to appear everywhere?

Who is Robb Starks apparent girlfriend, the doctor lady...?

Does Sansa leave the castle with the Dog character, cos if so what is going to happen about Arya and Dog character?
And has the religion of the house with no name been changed or adapted?

And what is then going to happen re Littlefinger and Sansa?

And they have changed the tone of Tyrion to make him appear much more of a heroic kind of character, so I cant really imagine his storyline following that of the books that closely....