I'm praying we don't get an entire season of Arya on a boat.
Number 1 on that list is the most presumptuous, speculative piece of bullshit. I don't even think they know what point they were arguing. They know the ending (broad strokes, not minute details) for the end of the series and every leading character. Martin is closely involved with the show, he is on the writing team. When the show inevitably overtakes the books, they have an endgame to work towards (and they've got a maximum of only 4 seasons left anyway) and Martin is on the freaking writing team. Questions can be asked.
For that matter, if people can't suspend disbelief with the child actors, then that's their stupidity.
For that matter, if people can't suspend disbelief with the child actors, then that's their stupidity.
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The books are good, but they need some patience. Book 1 is quite good (and similar to the show), but book 2 took some time to take shape, as it lacked a central character like Ned to tie in the stories and we have to wait for the other plots to be built. Book 3, again, is very, very good, the last half is packed with amazing moments. I'm reading book 4 now and it's by far the most boring, it focus on Theon's family, that I don't care for, Dorne, that I kind of care about but would rather have Daenerys and Tyrion, and Kings Landing, that doesn't have a lot going on if we're honest.
The idea that they would take years out from filming while waiting for George to catch-up is laughable. They cannot feasibly ask hundreds of people (actors, writers, producers, directors and the entire production team who all make the show what it is today) to leave the show, but then unconditionally drop everything they are doing in a few years time to come back and make one season, only to disband again until the seventh book. The show will persevere, regardless. At least George is an integral part of the writing team and oversees the show (although ironically, if they do begin to venture into uncharted territory, he'll end up having to devote even more time to the TV series, thus delaying Book 6 & 7 even further).
The books are amazing to begin with but lose their way the further you get. Basically they are in need of a REALLY good edit. There are way too many characters to keep track of especially as some disappear for hundreds of pages (And in one case 2 books) before reappearing as if nothing has happened and you're supposed to remember who they are and what they were last up to.
The last books are taken up with endless walking by almost all of the cast. Think Jon Snow beyond the wall, Brienne and Podrick wandering aimlessly and Bran looking for the 3 eyed raven, but withouit the TV's ability to speed stuff up. Everyone seems to be on a quest fo some sort with absolutely no resolution. It's ridiculously tedious. You also often get the impression that he doesn't know what to do with people so is just biding his time until he can pull all the strands together.
Having said that I absolutely devoured each book, usually reading them withina couple of days but they would be even better if he had just slimmed everything down a bit and stopped introducing dozens of new people and storylines when you're dying to know what's happened in the old ones.
Are you talking about the scene that introduces and whole new city, storyline and set of people only to disappear never to be heard of again?
What would be the point of introducing it other than to confuse everyone watching.
That's all really interesting and have been wondering the same things myself.
They do seem to be hurrying through everything extremely quickly considering how much source material they have and how little they have left.
The thing about the child actors is also ridiculous because every single child in the show was aged up from the books, Jon and Robb are meant to be 15 in the beginning! They're ages are never specified in the show, we're just given a general impression.
The only time it didn't work was the whole puberty thing for Sansa/Sophie Turner, but even then it didn't exactly harm the show.
I think the popularity of Oberyn this season (who's already become a very recognisable part of the show) will encourage them to introduce the rest of the Martells and place a lot of emphasis on them. Also intrigued to see what they'll do with the Greyjoy storyline
The only time it didn't work was the whole puberty thing for Sansa/Sophie Turner, but even then it didn't exactly harm the show.
I think the popularity of Oberyn this season (who's already become a very recognisable part of the show) will encourage them to introduce the rest of the Martells and place a lot of emphasis on them. Also intrigued to see what they'll do with the Greyjoy storyline
That's the prologue of Book Four - the epilogue of Book Three introduces Stoneheart. Which I think would logically fit much better midway through the next season, because it hasn't been set up in the show like it was in the books.
Of everything the directors have to tackle in Season Five, the Greyjoy plots are the ones that will translate the best to television - if they're handled correctly. In the book it felt like a slog because everything happened from the point of view of so many (new) characters, but it's actually incredibly intriguing and could be really striking, visually. It does all hinge on how sympathetic they make Yara though. If everyone on screen is a total bastard it doesn't make for the most arresting viewing: for every Kings Landing, you need a Tyrion, or - at the very least - a Jamie.
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The producers have clearly stated in interviews that there is not going to be a hiatus. I think they might pull the trick of splitting the seventh and final 'season' in half - as HBO did with The Sopranos, and more recently AMC have done with Mad Men and Breaking Bad. As for the child actors - it was blatantly obvious from the start that they were meant to be older than they are in the books.
The paragraph in the article that mentions production costs also misses the point. HBO's revenues are not tied to ratings, as they do not sell advertising space. Their profits come from international rights, DVD sales, merchandise etc. Not only is Thrones their highest-rated show by a wide margin, but you can bet it makes considerably more from those other revenue streams than any of the others.
The paragraph in the article that mentions production costs also misses the point. HBO's revenues are not tied to ratings, as they do not sell advertising space. Their profits come from international rights, DVD sales, merchandise etc. Not only is Thrones their highest-rated show by a wide margin, but you can bet it makes considerably more from those other revenue streams than any of the others.
HBO's profits are tied to ratings in that the more subscribers that watch the show and subscribe to HBO, the better.
And each season of Game of Thrones has rated considerably higher than the last, thanks to people catching up through streaming etc. and strongly suggesting that the show itself is driving people to subscribe. With only 10 episodes a year, I can't see this 'audience fatigue' that the writers of the article mention kicking in, especially not to the extent of threatening the show's future.
Oh yes, that article is a complete load of old bollocks - click-bait of the worst, space-filling kind.
People are not going to invest five or six years in this show and then turn around and say: "Nah, I can't be bothered to find out who ends up on the Iron Throne". It'll just continue to grow.
Shush. Don't mention that name.
I honestly can;t think of an ending that would feel finite for me. However it does end, I'd just think 'well there's obviously someone out there who believes they are the rightful heir and it will all kick off again'.
One of Arya or Jon Snow will take the throne I reckon.
It doesn't matter what the end is as long as it involves DRAGONS!!!