Comprehension dawns

[kilroy]

After watching this week's Game of Thrones, it finally hit me:

They're all screwed, aren't they. Every single character. All of them. Screwed. Irrevocably.

For whatever reason I hadn't realized I was watching a post-modern Shakespearean tragedy.

Comments

[amyshy]

Yes, I am coming to realize this as well. Have you not read the books prior to watching the show? I haden't. I'm acctually reading GoT in tandem with the show, which is making for an interesting experience. The show is staying fairly true to the book so it makes for a deeper understanding of what is happening on the screen. I'm enjoying both!

[kilroy]

I had not. But I'm glad there's a good harmonic between the show and the book. :-)

[amyshy]

George RR Matrin is pretty heavily involved in the series, so I'm not suprised at how true to the books they are keeping. I'm surprised you haven't read them. For me it was a series I kept meaning to get to and it took the show debuting (and dating a big fan of the books) to finally push it up my list. :)

[brigid]

That character you like? Yeah, that one. The cool one? Probably gonna die. That other character, that you also like? Dead. That one you dislike? Dead. Most likely. That supporting character? Dead. That charming child? Dead. The comic relief guy? Dead. That other comic relief guy? Not dead, but complains unceasingly about how unfair it is he isn't dead. That dude right there? Dead, then undead. That totally awesome character there... no, that other one. Yeah. That's the one. Oh god. Worse than dead. :C

[kilroy]

Arrrrrrgh.

This whole realization is making me want to not read the books, like, ever.

[brigid]

They aren't senseless deaths, and they drive the story. Like LMBujold, GRRM allows his characters to make mistakes and act foolishly. Also: there are wars going on. There is a lot of betrayal and the negative part of human nature, and he is very VERY down on The Patriarchy and how it negatively affects (oftentimes ruinously) anyone who isn't an able bodied politically connected wealthy dude.

I do wish you'd read the books just so I could discuss them with you, mostly the political and feminist/patriarchal stuff. But I can absolutely see why one would not want to read them, either. They ARE grim, but there is also a heavy dash of hope throughout, and there are a LOT of people who strive for justice... including some people who are presented, initially, as villains.

[amyshy]

"That dude right there? Dead, then undead."

LOL Love that. :)

This certainly is a grim series. I'm going to keep reading and watching, but it is with a sense of growing dread. Dispite the grim outlook, it is a very compelling story and well told.

[cereta]

Yyyyyyyyep. They're really, really not kidding when they say, "Winter is coming."

[kilroy]

I get the feeling the mantra is going to be "Wait, it gets worse? How could it possibly get worse?" for a while. And then it will.