Worth watching if I've read the books?

ancapailldorcha

As the title says, I'm looking for show to get into and was wondering if this'd be a good choice given that I have already read all of the books. I've seen clips on Youtube and it looks to be of very high quality, no surprise given that it's HBO.

December2012

Abso freakin lutely!

Paddy Cow

Definitely. The first season pretty much follows book one and there are a few small changes in subsequent seasons but not enough deviation to ruin it (well not for me anyway).

You might find that your perception of some characters is different in the show to how you perceived them in the books. I was meh about Davos in the books but love him in the show and will be upset if anything happens to him.

Liam O

it seems to go either way. I don't like most of the changes from the books as I think most of them are pointless and it's getting to the stage where they're starting to creep into future book territory. I watch it because we have HBO here and the lads I live with are all show watchers bit the diversions from the books really get to me.

Then there's others, generally people who started off with the show I think but obviously not exclusively, who can look past the changes and appreciate the adaptation. Season 1 is fine on the changing things front, 2 I was thrown by a few things, 3 started to grate and 4 I'm shaking my head at most episodes due to the silly changes but a lot of readers don't seem to mind it.

Zillah

Show is better than the books.

Paddy Cow

Zillah wrote: »

Show is better than the books.

I feel the same way but I get the impression that we are in the minority.

Liam O

Zillah wrote: »

Show is better than the books.

In no way shape or form is this the case. There's so little character development that people who've only watched the show forget 80% of the characters, the characters that exist anyway. I don't see how anyone who's read the Red Wedding or Joffrey's death coukd come to the conclusion that the experience of reading it was inferior to watching it. The show spells literally everything out in such obvious ways it's cringeworthy at times and there is so little subtlety, they can't let people figure out things based on previous veiwing, they just get a character to have a very loud and silly conversation that gives it all away.

Sulla Felix

Zillah wrote: »

Show is better than the books.

Have to agree. I thought the books were amazing when I first read them. Re-reading them now having read Malazan, Black Company and a couple of other bits and pieces that put GRRM in the shade and they've definitely lost a bit of lustre.

calex71

Zillah wrote: »

Show is better than the books.

Personally I'm 6 of 1 half a dozen of the other at this stage, it's fun to watch and see how it plays out on screen but you know BIG moments from reading the books they don't work once you know whats coming, and it's hard to watch them leave stuff out or do differently on screen knowing how it is in the books and thinking it's better in the book. They have done a few things better on screen though I grant them that!!!! and tightened up the plot in some places.

One thing I will say though is I really am actually looking forward to them doing books 4 and 5 because they were a right pain to get through for me and many others I'd say and I actually think those will be better done on screen with a benefit of hindsight of the books. There is no way they will take the same time line in those and will merge them I'd say and add and remove a fair bit, but that said can they realistically do that not knowing whats coming in book 6 as in cut characters and add them

I know it's been specualted GMM has directed them to a degree in this regard but still the way he writes I would be horrified at the prospect of the show finishing before he does

Washington Irving

Liam O wrote: »

In no way shape or form is this the case. There's so little character development that people who've only watched the show forget 80% of the characters, the characters that exist anyway. I don't see how anyone who's read the Red Wedding or Joffrey's death could come to the conclusion that the experience of reading it was inferior to watching it. The show spells literally everything out in such obvious ways it's cringeworthy at times and there is so little subtlety, they can't let people figure out things based on previous viewing, they just get a character to have a very loud and silly conversation that gives it all away.

Completely agree, but some people just prefer to have it boiled down, excluding any 'extra' material that doesn't apply to the main plotlines/favourite characters. Particularly if they raced through the books and don't have a full understanding of some the plots, particularly post ASOS (which would explain why more book readers seem to have developed a preference for the show. Maybe that was always the case but I haven't heard any say it till season 4 began), while at the same time being familiar with the majority of characters and thus getting more out of the show than non readers who, as you said, forget many of the characters.

Of course, some people just like the visual medium of television more than books (especially more lengthy/detailed ones.)

Sulla Felix

Washington Irving wrote: »

Completely agree, but some people just prefer to have it boiled down, excluding any 'extra' material that doesn't apply to the main plotlines/favourite characters. Particularly if they raced through the books and don't have a full understanding of some the plots, particularly post ASOS (which would explain why more book readers seem to have developed a preference for the show. Maybe that was always the case but I haven't heard any say it till season 4 began), while at the same time being familiar with the majority of characters and thus getting more out of the show than non readers who, as you said, forget many of the characters.

Of course, some people just like the visual medium of television more than books (especially more lengthy/detailed ones.)

Hmm, my condescension-o-meter is reading a full 10/10 :rolleyes:

December2012

The books are brilliant books.

The tv show is a brilliant tv show.

Two versions of the same story in different media and not comparable to each other.

Washington Irving

Sulla Felix wrote: »

Hmm, my condescension-o-meter is reading a full 10/10 :rolleyes:

Wasn't intended that way, so sorry if that's how it came across. I'd hate for you to see what I typed originally

ibarelycare

Definitely worth it. I love the books but actually prefer the show.

Lady Spangles

Definitely worth watching the show. As someone stated, it's useless to compare them. But sometimes, I think the show's writers are the editors that GRRM needs.

Zillah

I enjoyed reading the books, but here are a few of my complaints with GRRM's writing style:

- Low on aesthetic detail. He often just runs through events in a bland, straight-forward way. There's no whimsy, passion or flavour to entire sections of the stories, it's as if I'm being given a very detailed report assembled by an official. The show overcomes a lot of this with fantastic sets and costumes.

- Meandering plot. He wanders off on the most irrelevant tangents at multiple points - for the majority of some books - and all I want to do is get back to the characters I actually have an interest in. The show tightens a lot of this up.

- Characters disappearing at length. Related to the above in regards to plot pacing: The show avoids GRRM's habit of abandoning characters for a very long time, leaving us wondering what the hell is going on.

Overall I found the show far more compelling and compensated for a lot of his weaknesses as a writer. They're good books, it's a better show. My overriding sensation watching the show was how superior a telling of the same story it was.

ancapailldorcha

I think I'll give it a go then so. I'm curious as to how they handle the fourth book. The opening aside, it's probably the most deary thing I've ever read.

TimeToShine

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

I think I'll give it a go then so. I'm curious as to how they handle the fourth book. The opening aside, it's probably the most deary thing I've ever read.

They'll skip a lot of it I'd say. Or make up little stuff that'll make it more interesting but ultimately leads to the same thing.

If I have to see

Brienne tell someone that she is looking for a "highborn maid of three-and-ten, with a fair face and auburn hair"

one more time I'll lose the plot. They need to cut a lot of that stuff out.

The show has, in my view, not been as good as the books up until now but if they deal with AFFC and ADWD properly it'll probably surpass it. The second half of ASOS is probably the best part of the books so it'd be tough for them to make it any better on screen. Season 5 and onwards is their chance to sway a lot of book readers.

ancapailldorcha

That's a good point. My main concern was aspects of the books being either reduced or cut entirely for budgetary reasons. At the same time, I don't need or enjoy Martin's lavish exposition detailing feasts and so on. Somethings definitely need addressing but I heard that they

completely left out Meera and Jojen Reed and then shoehorned them in after realising how important they are to Bran's story.

Grimebox

December2012 wrote: »

The books are brilliant books.

The tv show is a brilliant tv show.

Two versions of the same story in different media and not comparable to each other.

Sure they are. We are comparing them right now.

TimeToShine

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

That's a good point. My main concern was aspects of the books being either reduced or cut entirely for budgetary reasons. At the same time, I don't need or enjoy Martin's lavish exposition detailing feasts and so on. Somethings definitely need addressing but I heard that they

completely left out Meera and Jojen Reed and then shoehorned them in after realising how important they are to Bran's story.

They've given them adequate coverage IMO considering that

Their job was primarily just to escort Bran to Bloodraven.

I think what the show does do is trim what some would see as pointless meandering and get straight to business. It's the kind of thing that you would appreciate when reading but could easily bore you on screen.

All comparisons aside it's quite surprising to find a book reader that hasn't watched the show. It's definitely worth looking at, better to have two viewpoints than one.

Paddy Cow

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

That's a good point. My main concern was aspects of the books being either reduced or cut entirely for budgetary reasons. At the same time, I don't need or enjoy Martin's lavish exposition detailing feasts and so on. Somethings definitely need addressing but I heard that they

completely left out Meera and Jojen Reed and then shoehorned them in after realising how important they are to Bran's story.

I don't know where you heard that but it's not true. Non book readers are actually getting annoyed at how much time they have as they find the whole Bran storyline very confusing and don't see the point in it. To be fair, Bran's story is the hardest to get across on screen. Hopefully coldhands will make an appearance and make things more interesting.

ancapailldorcha

Paddy Cow wrote: »

I don't know where you heard that but it's not true. Non book readers are actually getting annoyed at how much time they have as they find the whole Bran storyline very confusing and don't see the point in it. To be fair, Bran's story is the hardest to get across on screen. Hopefully coldhands will make an appearance and make things more interesting.

Bran's story is nearly as bad as Daenerys' in terms of pacing.

Grimebox

Would it be outrageous to read the books and skip those chapters? (Bran and Daenerys)

I've only just started and I can't stand them from the TV show

TimeToShine

Grimebox wrote: »

Would it be outrageous to read the books and skip those chapters? (Bran and Daenerys)

I've only just started and I can't stand them from the TV show

Hard to say.

Daenerys is fine for the first three books, you should definitely read hers up until then. Although you should read them all I think the drop in quality comes after that.

Bran's arc really picks up in the 4th/5th book so if you are so inclined you may skip his story for the first few books anyway. I wouldn't recommend skipping any of it tbh but if you are pushed for time I'd cut out all of Brienne's from AFFC bar the last one as well as early Bran and late Dany!

ArmaniJeanss

Grimebox wrote: »

Would it be outrageous to read the books and skip those chapters? (Bran and Daenerys)

I've only just started and I can't stand them from the TV show

I'm no fan of Bran but some of his chapters in Winterfell are quite interesting - I particurly enjoyed it when Robb had gone to war and Bran was in charge with the whole politics of trying to keep the banner men (and women) onside. But once he leaves Winterfell I found him a drag. Could probably leave it out.

The Dany chapters are imo really good. Viserys is obviously fantastic in Book 1, and in Book 2 she is only in 4 chapters and they are all fairly kickass. The visit to the warlocks of the House of The Undying in Book 2 is probably the best chapter in the entire 5 books, much different to how the TV show interpreted it (not necessarily the fault of the show for various reasons which will become clear if you read it!)

In general (and I don't mean this in a snipey bad way) you should probably read the whole thing the way the author meant it to be read.

Princess Peach

I don't know if anyone can really say, as I think it's just a personality choice. I always prefer reading a book to TV or movies. I just love how the narration can develop characters in such a way few films can. I also tend to hate all adaptations of books to screen.

But some people then just prefer to see things visually and for story lines to progress faster. Nothing wrong with either preference, and you'll always find people on each side!

Give the show a go anyway if you have time! You'll only know yourself how you like it.