Game of Thrones: Book vs Show

[horridporrid]

So I finished reading Game of Thrones and, as promised...somewhere, will now share my thoughts on the difference between book and tv-series. :) At the first impression, I think both methods stand very well on their own. (Which is kind of a 'duh' statement about the book, but I have run across books-into-film situations where seeing the movie kind

Comments

[sistermagpie]

I had very similar reactions, the ones I remember. (I read the book first--and I will not spoil the later ones!) But especially on the Drogo/Dany relationship.

I really loved the guy who played Viserys. I think he was one I liked better in the TV series.

[horridporrid]

With Viserys the actor definitely made it clear that the boy was suffering some sort of massive trauma - but the book is what told me exactly what happened to him. (I think the show kind of outlined, but how much he'd been chased, how systematically all of his supports were ripped from him, the book had the time to tell us.) But yeah, the actor really did well.

[duemidnight]

I've been dying to read this post, and since I finished watching the show last night I finally get to this! I don't know that I agree with you on all points, but that is probably because I came at these mediums from the exact opposite position - I read the book, then watched the show.

Totally agree with you on Bran. I was shattered when he fell in the book because I couldn't believe a character that was already my favorite could possibly be dead so soon.

Sansa - hated her in both mediums, but I do think they made her more human in the show. I look forward to who she becomes.

It's interesting to me how much you've written about Daenerys and Khal Drogo. In the book I enjoyed their parts mostly because I knew Jason would be playing him, but overall they didn't seem really... important somehow. That was certainly never the case while watching the show

[horridporrid]

I've been meaning to get to your lovely, lovely comment since forever but had an explosion of business (including back to back out of town guests). But finally I have the time to properly respond. :)

I don't know that I agree with you on all points, but that is probably because I came at these mediums from the exact opposite position - I read the book, then watched the show. That is totally something to not be underestimated. First impressions are huge and whatever comes after might reshape a character or action, but that original shape is still lurking underneath. Like with Sansa. If I'd read the book first, I strongly suspect I'd have read various actions differently. Book-Sansa is so stubbornly stupid, keeping herself willfully blind in a way that I found really, really frustrating. And if I'd come to the show with that picture of her already in mind, I'm not sure show-Sansa would have won me over