Wasn't there some talk that they would be _extra_ long episodes? Like pushing 90 minutes or more?
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Game of Thrones (HBO)
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Wasn't there some talk that they would be _extra_ long episodes? Like pushing 90 minutes or more?
The series has felt kind of like fan fiction for the last 2 or 3 seasons. You can tell there was a shift somewhere along the way, as favorite characters seem to be avoiding death left and right now. I'll still watch the last seasons, but I'm not really super excited about it like I was previously.
I absolutely loved the books, and only started watching the series after I'd finished reading Dance with Dragons. It's disappointing that GRRM has fallen so behind with them as I really think the TV series also benefitted from the material in the books being there to use as a reference. The seasons where the books are ahead just seem fuller. I do worry that the TV series might go out on a damp note due to getting so far ahead. Hope I'm wrong.
That would help a little.
Although I critique it, it’s still one of the best TV shows ever. It’s just a shame that because of budgeting, it was short changed, the story in essence was buoyed by a mostly faithful to the first book, first season, but went downhill fast from there as far as far as telling a complete story. Because of the reality, the books will be the true legacy, fingers crossed we get them.
Rumored, yes. I wouldn’t hold my breath though.
A sound designer for the show alluded to the possibility back before season 7 aired, but it was never confirmed in any official capacity. Somehow “could” became “would” across the internet as the rumor spread like wildfire.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/game-of-thrones-season-8-feature-length-episodes
Yeah I think the way the series is set out suits the television episodes medium better than novels - the easier-to-digest story chunks of the show make keeping track of the multiple developing story threads much easier... obviously the trade off is you lose the depth which is the real draw of the series. Overall though I'd say up to season 6 (probably) they did the books reasonable justice they've just hit the skids a bit with 7 and I'm not sure how they're going to wrap it all up satisfactorily even given 9 hours of screen time (6x 90 min episodes) - there's a lot still to do if it's going to wrap everything up properly. If it came down to it, I think I'd rather they focused on wrapping up the main plot threads well and just papering over the lesser ones than stretching to try to cover more.That is kind of my description, GoT, the best Cliff Notes televised version of a book series ever! The best outline of a story, with acted out exerpts, obligatory sex scenes, and the majesty of 30 second battles.
There is nothing better than the books, the narrative is rich and complex, an amazing story. However, as you probably know in it’s condensed way, the TV series has passed the books by. I’m not up to date on GRRM’s book writing progress, but my impression is that they may never be finished, but who knows? I’d have to go back and reread the last published book to orient myself properly if they ever are completed.
Speculation about GoT book from Summer 2017:
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywoo...-finish-books-winds-of-winter-who-fears-death
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Six episode final season? Hmm. -_-
To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if the delay is because he's plotted himself into a tangle that's being a nightmare to straighten out... he seems to like to be two steps ahead with the plot and keeping that many plates spinning has to be a headache even without doing everything as in depth as he likes to. I guess taking his time and getting it right is ultimately more important than getting it out quickly and it being a disappointment, though as I said before, I feel he could definitely stand to do a little bit of ruthless pruning and editing to produce something that is more readably concise... sometimes it feels like he goes off on tangents which, while cool/ good world building, aren't actually that relevant to the core story he's trying to tell.
I think you can tell when a series is a real labour of love rather than something churned out just to make money, I think the book series is that through and through, and while I think the first couple of seasons of the TV show also fall largely into that category, I'm less confident history will judge the last couple of seasons the same way.
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I think it was a misconception that all characters could die at any time. It started with an ensemble cast for a story that was always plotted to come down to just a half dozen people, the trick was we didn't know who the main characters actually were yet. Ya, a LOT of people *could* die early on, and did, however that was never the point or the accomplishment of the thing. People fixate on that too much IMO.
That said, we have every reason to believe (including GRRM himself) that the ending will not be a happily-ever-after one, so I guess we need to wait (16 months) and see who actually makes it through to the end.
I also disagree. It's certainly a game of elimination that grinds toward a "last monarch standing" conclusion, but as to whether those who have survived to date are surviving because they've become favorites? Rather, they're survivors because they've been crafted to have our greatest favor (or disfavor). The biggest heroes/heroines vs. the biggest villains/villainesses.
I count just four characters of "mythic proportions," so we know they must survive 'til the final showdown. We're running low on secondary villains/villainesses - they'd have no role in the battle against The Dead (though it's a good thing there was nothing left of Ramsay Bolton to be resurrected), so they've been jettisoned sooner rather than later. We still have a fair crop of secondary heroes/heroines, so there's still room for more heartbreak, especially since our horror of the implacable, near-invincible Army of the Dead will be reinforced by such sacrifice. And if the tale is to end relatively happily, we must have at least a few good guys and gals capable of aiding the winner in picking up the pieces.
At this point Daenerys Targarian is the defacto winner... not so fast. Based on previous narrative decisions where strong lead characters are destroyed by the author, I can easily imagine her and her dragons going down in flames. But ultimately everyone is clamoring for a satisfying ending.
I'll be curious to see what the Studio's hand does here. I'm sure the ending will be satisfying, but I doubt it will be happy. GRRM called his ending "bittersweet", and there are theories that involve
Daenerys sacrificing herself to join the Night King as a dead queen in order to stop the war
Interesting spoiler. No clue!
HBO may go with the appealing ending and let Martin put his first choice for an ending in the book if he ever writes one and has it prblished.Some new information about the GoT spinoff is out. Set thousands of years before the timeline in the current series, with Jane Goldman (Kick-Ass, Kingsman: The Secret Service) as showrunner. George RR Martin is also involved, which begs the question of whether he'll ever complete the books.
Interesting. I am actually pulling for the "Walkers" in this show and I hope they all go down. But that is just me.
Sadly, I don't think it will go that way though.Surprise ending...aliens attack the remaining humans after the war, slice them up, and meat pack them into large refrigerated saucers and fly off. The earth is finally left in peace while Daenerys ends up as a rump roast for the alien lizards. The remaining Dragon is kept alive and worshipped.
So in a sense a sequel/prequel to Cowboys vs. Aliens?
It’s a dark one. You can read more here if interested:
After reading this, what surprised me the most is how old the series of books actually are and the original plan of having only three books to complete the series. While I have not read the books, yet, they are on my must read list, I could see myself after it is all said and done, sitting down and reading all the books as one rather large book.
When you read the books, you’ll realize the HBO series is the equivalent of Cliff notes with 3/4 of the story left out. Not a claim that the main framework is absent, but a claim that 3/4 of the rich narrative was eliminated. Having said that, Season 1 felt the most full and closest to the books. Then you’ll also see the shortcuts and consolidations made to abbreviate the HBO series.
That is to be expected. Just look at the James Bond, Jack Ryan, and Jason Bourne novels.
Expected, but a rich narrative is mostly lost in the conversion, especially for this story.