Image via Access Hollywood
So yes, I caved. I read the first two books of the ‘Song of Ice and Fire’ series but then I couldn’t do it anymore. They were too long for me and enough out of my genre that I couldn’t keep my interest held the whole time. I caved and watched Season 1. I watched the whole thing with my husband in about a week. Yes, it’s safe to say I’m impressed.
Things I Thought Were Awesome
How close this was to the books. I was really shocked that it was so similar. I kept waiting for something obvious to have changed, but there wasn’t anything. I’m glad Martin insisted on waiting until his books could be done as a TV series, they did them justice.
Dothraki language. I watched the extra features on the DVD that went deeper into this. The language creation and how the actors learned to speak it fascinates me. I was a Spanish language major in school so I find linguistics fascinating. I have so much respect for the man who put it together. Kudos.
Changes That Didn’t Really Bother Me
Less focus on the maesters and septas. While some of these characters serve important roles, to be sure, I felt that there was too much detail placed on them in the books. Maybe it’s coming in future installments, but I got them all mixed up in the book and found that focusing less on them (especially those who didn’t make it, cough) was better for me.
Cover image via Goodreads.com
Things That Were Taken Out and I’m Still Wondering Why
Tyrion in the battles. Maybe I’m wrong, but I thought Tyrion was more involved in the battles with Tywin toward the end. I wanted to see him fight on his pony but had to settle for him being knocked unconscious. I remember him being very involved in battles in the second book/season so maybe they’re running together in my mind.
Things That Changed Too Much
All the extra sex. It was a bit too much for me. It seems obvious this was to make it more ‘appealing’ on TV, but the books were risqué enough without adding more. There was too much focus on the whore houses in my opinion.
I’ve already started Season 2. I’m really enjoying this now. Is there any dissenting opinion? Do you all like the TV adaptation of A Game of Thrones?
Until next time, write on.
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Taking On a World of Words 
I think the entire series is excellent 🙂 I know there is an excessive amount of sex/scenes in the whore house the first few seasons, but it does lessen over time. I’m jealous you are experiencing it for the first time!
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I’m glad to hear it backs off. Just because you can get away with it on HBO doesn’t mean you should! I’m looking forward to watching more this weekend.
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I’m encouraged by your review Sam to give the TV series another go. I watched the first episode (badgered by my kids who think it’s great!) but was left cold by the gratuitous sex, violence and passive portrayal of the women. I’m told that the women become stronger and the story gets better and better with each series. So maybe I need to give it another go – a long cold dark winter with plenty of time for viewing ….?!
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The women definitely get stronger!! That was something I enjoyed from the books. The violence was a bit much and the wars continue through the book so I don’t know about that changing. Another commenter told me the sex backs off a bit as the series goes. Happy watching!
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Oh, I am jealous of you seeing GOT for the first time, you have so much to look forward to! 🙂
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I’m excited to keep watching!
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I tried listening to the audiobooks but stopped when I realized I was starting to zone out for large chunks of it. But the show is epic! According to my dad, who has read all the books so far, the changes in the TV adaptation start slow but have a cumulative effect. By whatever season we’re on now, it’s pretty different.
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I’ve heard the recent seasons are completely off the books. I’m looking forward to it still. Maybe I’ll one day get to the books and see how different they are. Happy watching!
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The first season is the closest to the books. As the plotting gets more complex in the books, the show simplifies and combines characters and makes up their own stuff. Some choices make sense, it should be somewhat different because it’s an adaptation, but other changes are baffling. I think I heard somewhere that the reason the battle scenes were shortened for Tyrion is that the battle scenes are very expensive to film. I don’t know how much money they had for the first season.
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Shortening the battles makes sense. I’m looking forward to the battle at Kings Landing in season two! Happy watching.
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I have a love/hate relationship with this show. The women do get stronger and it’s very suspenseful and original. I think Martin is a brilliant world builder and creator or memorable characters. But the violence is too much. I have to avert my eyes regularly. I might do better reading the books, but I haven’t tried that yet.
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I avert my eyes a lot. I have my husband tell me when the bloody parts are over. The books were easier to read but still a bit gory. Happy watching!
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I’ve not read the books but got as far as Bran via audio book. I have seen all the episodes of the show. I understand a great deal of the books were cut during season one. Even the beginning of the series left out stuff from the books. I hope you enjoy the rest of the series.
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I didn’t notice too much dropped from Season One. What were the things they cut that are brought up most?
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I just noticed the beginning of the books and the start to season one were the same but not too much into detail. I do like the way it played out though. I didn’t like the house of the undying scene with Dany wasn’t as revealing as in the books
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I’m really looking forward to that scene in season two. It was one of my favorites in the book.
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It’s one of mine as well.
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