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Paul_finch (Paul_finch)
Username: Paul_finch

Registered: 11-2009
Posted From: 92.5.38.35
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 - 11:24 am:   

(SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT)

I'm not sure if there's already been a thread on this HBO series, but I'm 7 episodes in and really enjoying it.

At first I thought "Ho-hum, more American fantasy TV." But it's now elevated itself far above that level, and has made me very keen - for the first time in decades - to go out and purchase some 'sword and sorcery' literature (it's George R.R. Martin after all, so it should be a cut above the sort of stuff you routinely win in the F'Con raffle and send to Ebay the next day).

In case anyone's interested, the diabolical 'Crown for a King' execution actually happened to a Saxon nobleman back in the England during the Dark Ages, though I forget which one.
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Seanmcd (Seanmcd)
Username: Seanmcd

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 193.113.57.163
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 - 02:36 pm:   

Paul, I highly recommend the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series of books on which 'A Game of Thrones' TV series is based. George R.R. Martin himself writes the screenplays, I believe, so they should adhere very tightly to his books. I am halfway through book 2 'A Clash of Kings'. They are addictive, very adult, gritty and right up there with 'Lord of the Rings' in presenting a fully realised world with unbelievable historical detail and characters we really learn to love and hate. The level of detail in 'The Seven Kingdoms' is mind boggling. Magic and the supernatural does exist in this world but only in the background as something which has been largely forgotten over the generations. Mark my words these are the books to beat for gritty medieval fantasy imo.
I can't wait to see the TV show. I don't have Sky unfortunately so will have to wait until the DVD release which will be a MUST HAVE for me given all the excellent 'Modern TV Classic' reviews it is getting.
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Paul_finch (Paul_finch)
Username: Paul_finch

Registered: 11-2009
Posted From: 92.5.38.35
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 - 02:42 pm:   

Sean ... I can pretty well guarantee that you won't be disappointed by the TV series.

I haven't read the books yet, as I've said, but I'm quite a tough judge when it comes to 'high fantasy'. Most of it, either on film or in book form, I disregard as unconvincing twaddle. But GAME OF THRONES has been truly excellent so far, with all the world-building detail and gritty realism that you mention from the novels. I actually resisted watching it, thinking that I wouldn't get through the first half-hour, but within 15 minutes I was hooked.

I love Dark Age and Medieval history, and though this is set in a fictional world, it's so close to early medieval England in termns of its fashion, culture and politics that it's almost eerie.
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John Forth (John)
Username: John

Registered: 05-2008
Posted From: 217.20.16.180
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 - 03:29 pm:   

I'm not much of a fantasy reader, but I'm eight episodes into the TV adaptation of Game of Thrones and can't recommend it highly enough. Best thing on TV for me at the moment.

Sean - George RR Martin hasn't written every episode, but he is contracted to write at least one episode every season.
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Rosswarren (Rosswarren)
Username: Rosswarren

Registered: 11-2009
Posted From: 135.196.120.43
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 - 03:36 pm:   

I'm loving the series too and have even got the wife in to it!

I'd suggest giving Joe Abercrombie's First Law series a go.
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Allybird (Allybird)
Username: Allybird

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 202.73.206.32
Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 - 11:21 pm:   

I was just getting into Games of Thrones when I left the U.K. I'll be buying it, hopefully, on DVD eventually.
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Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch)
Username: Mark_lynch

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 62.254.173.35
Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 05:06 pm:   

I saw a bit of one of the episodes. like all TV fantasy shows, the eyebrows let it down.

Same's true of CAMELOT.
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Stephen Theaker (Stephen_theaker)
Username: Stephen_theaker

Registered: 12-2009
Posted From: 92.232.184.206
Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 08:35 pm:   

I thoroughly enjoyed it. In tv/film fantasy it's pretty unusual in not having a quest structure. In some ways it reminds me more of Dune than The Lord of the Rings. Can't wait for the next season.
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Zed (Gary_mc)
Username: Gary_mc

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 81.96.253.77
Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 09:25 pm:   

Everyone I've spoken to about this has raved about it...I can't wait for the DVD!

Eyebrows? What the hell are you on about, Lynchy?
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Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch)
Username: Mark_lynch

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 92.40.254.26
Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 10:31 pm:   

Plucked and overtly groomed eyebrows, mate. All fantasy telly falls for it. Same with haircuts. I suppose they have to do it, otherwise everyone'd be moaning about the scruffy herberts. But they always reflect the time the TV show's been shot. Look at Robin of Sherwood, which holds up nicely apart from the eyebrows (and mullets).

I'm enjoying Camelot, and will certainly rent the GoTs dvd set when it hits the library.
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Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 04:43 am:   

So long, long after everyone else, I've finally watched but the pilot of this series, from a couple years back. Wow! The only real critique I have is that everyone looks a tad too perfectly coiffed (though they did try to explain this with the brief barber scene) for an essentially medieval world. The budget must be immense on this: SO many characters, so much set-design, costumes, details, etc. But it all adds up to the feel of a rich and authentic world—and a brutal, nasty, feuding, scheming one at that. I was surprised to see the series was co-created by David Benioff, the struck-it-rich screenplay writer who appeared out of nowhere with his giant-selling but virtually unseen spec for Stay (not a bad film); directed by Timothy Van Patten, who's directed just tons of shows for pay-TV ("Sopranos," "Boardwalk Empire," "Rome")—it shows, definitely movie quality. Sadly so: the last thing I need is to get addicted to another TV show....

Stevie, have you checked this out yet? I'd love to hear your take on it!
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Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - 03:23 am:   

And hey, while I'm on it, Stevie, what do you think of "Boardwalk Empire"? I'm halfway through Season 1—sheer entertainment!
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.31.1
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - 11:07 am:   

Haven't seen either of them, Craig, but they do sound wonderful and I'm still looking something DVD-wise to replace 'Fringe'. Only the last episode of the two part finale to Season 4 left to go and I almost can't bear to watch it. A monumental show and one of the very best genre TV series ever made.

So much bloody great TV out there to invest in and so little time!
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Craig (Craig)
Username: Craig

Registered: 03-2008
Posted From: 99.126.164.88
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - 04:26 pm:   

So much bloody great TV out there to invest in and so little time!

This is my constant lament, Stevie. We are in an age now where TV has reached a peak of excellence, unknown before. The amount of series to be viewed... too, too much.

But careful with "Boardwalk Empire"—you won't be able to stop: if you watch the pilot (directed by Martin Scorsese), you'll be compelled, obsessively, to run through them all; I am so right now, at least (it's too bad I'm not playing CoC: this show [despite being set a tad early, just as 1920 begins] is the perfect research tool!). I'm going to save the rest of the "Game of Thrones" until afterwards, by the sheerest force of will.

Hey, I just last week watched the pilot for "Fringe"! From a few years back—same show, right? Or is there a British version? Anyway, I dug it too, very "X-Files"-ish. Great story, enticing premise, good characters. Yet more on the plate....
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Stevie Walsh (Stephenw)
Username: Stephenw

Registered: 03-2009
Posted From: 194.32.31.1
Posted on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 - 05:01 pm:   

Season 1 of 'Fringe' is excellent X-Files-inspired entertainment, Season 2 is jaw-droppingly brilliant and that's when the mythology really gets its hooks into you, Season 3 is nothing short of pure bloody genius & Season 4 is like nothing in genre television I have experienced before... it turns everything that has gone before on its head and shows the writers had it planned all along right from the Pilot episode you just saw. I can't praise the show enough. It is perfect in every detail and improves exponentially on what Chris Carter attempted to do with 'The X Files'. Nuff said...

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