I know there's been discussion on the books and TV show here, but only recently did I finally finish A Dance With Dragons.
Because I hadn't read the books before, I never really participated in any ASOIAF book discussion on BBI so I wanted to see how readers feel about the storylines/characters between the books and the show.
I absolutely loved the first two books in the series, but each book since has dragged on a bit and ADWD in particular was very hard for me to get through.
A lot of the plots in ADWD (and even some of AFFC before it) just dragged on too long and left me uninterested:
- Tyrion's ridiculously long journey to Mereen (good lord, it hasn't even been resolved yet by the end of ADWD!)
- The second secret Targaryen/Jon Connington
- The Quentyn Martell plot (I had to laugh at the end of his last chapter as it was painful to get through most of his plot, only to go down like a whimp) and Dorne as a whole, really
I'm sure I'll still read any books Martin ends up putting out just to see his spin on the end of the series. But, it's really given me an appreciation for some of the things the TV show has done with regards to simplifying/removing plots, as well as reducing characters and utilizing the characters that already exist.
Curious what everyone else's thoughts are.
The tv show is much better than them imo
Any in particular?
While I don't love how the TV show used Dorne or Dornish characters besides Oberyn Martell, I appreciate that they decided to quickly clear characters/plot lines out to advance the story, rather than dragging along characters who don't end up contributing much other than dying.
It will be interesting to see how Martin ties it all together though.
Completely agree. The later seasons just aren't doing the story justice. Production value is still exceptional, but the show is like a comic book now. I'll be happy when it over.
I have long been saying now that the show is making a lot of drawn out plot points and character arcs completely pointless. I'll read them if they come out, by it will be a lot less enthusiastically than I would have before.
Honestly, the fact that he was excluded from the TV series leads me to believe that he isn't really a Targaryen and ultimately is not a major part of the final conclusion.
I have long been saying now that the show is making a lot of drawn out plot points and character arcs completely pointless. I'll read them if they come out, by it will be a lot less enthusiastically than I would have before.
Right - it seems like most of those character arcs will have been for naught as they will just end up dead. Not unexpected with GoT, but I can't help but wonder if it's just Martin trying to add misdirection to keep the reader guessing.
And yet the series is still not finished.
I'm not sure GRRM will ever finish the series.
And yet the series is still not finished.
I'm not sure GRRM will ever finish the series.
Dave Brown, ha, puts it in perspective. I agree the book series will never be finished. Also agree "Storm of Swords" is fantastic. Best fantasy novel I have ever read. Shame we will never have a true end to the Song of Ice and Fire.
I enjoy the show quite a bit, but also agree it has been better in the earlier seasons. Although, I think they have done an incredible job with it, I think that they are right to try and end it in a couple more seasons. All the major story plots are coming to a close, which really makes me disaapointed that Martin hasn't produced anything for the fans. It's a shame, but whatever. He's gonna ruin his own story by letting someone else tell it, even if it is completely different than the books at this point.
I didn't like the Kings Landing story line (Sept destruction with the wildfire) in the show, nor did I like the whole Daenerys story line (her escape by roasting the Dothraki) played out, but none of us really knows how Martin intends/intended those story lines to go.
In the books Bran is paralyzed on what seemed like page 1 after watching siblings have sex and his father is beheaded ruthlessly (is there any other way?) halfway through book 1 in front of his daughters.
Seems like less good people die in the show or less sympathetic characters unless you count people like Loras or Margaery as sympathetic characters.
Quote:
The show was amazing when it was almost just mirroring the books, most of the changes have not been for the better.
Any in particular?
I can't forgive them for what they did to Stannis.
He's still the one true king.
I have long been saying now that the show is making a lot of drawn out plot points and character arcs completely pointless. I'll read them if they come out, by it will be a lot less enthusiastically than I would have before.
100%, on both the 3rd book and the wandering storylines since.
In the HBO special interview with the show creators after the season 6 finale, they basically admitted they remembered they had the wildfire available as a plot device and used it to kill off a bunch of characters as an easy way out of a lot of dull plot lines.
The episode itself was amazing and it served as a great Michael Corleone moment for Cersei, but it also means a significant part of seasons 4 and 5 now seem kinda pointless, and we know many characters just die off anyway without a lot of things being resolved. Yay for Lancel and Loras et al
AGOT - A game of thrones (book 1)
ACOK - A clash of kings (book 2)
ASOS - A strorm of swords (book 3)
AFFC - A feast for crows (book 4)
ADWD - A dance with dragons (book 5)