Game of Thrones

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

We don't have HBO here, but they air Game of Thrones on some cable channel later, and now, a year later, season one is on a national network.

[Alelou]

Do they cut out some of the hot and heavy stuff when they air it?

Although I have to say I remember "Scenes from a Marriage" being fairly hot and heavy back in the day... and that was a tv mini-series, wasn't it?

[Kotik]

Since Sweden is considered rather liberal in Europe, I would hazard a guess that they don't cut anything out. In general the rules over here in Europeland are somewhat more relaxed than on the other side of the puddle. Films that contain steamy stuff are categorized either FSK-16 or FSK-18 in Germany. FSK-16 movies, suitable for people at or over the age of 16, may contain implied violence or full nudity in non-sexual context (like sunbathing, skinny dipping or changing clothes). FSK-18 movies are those featuring graphic violence or what is usually considered soft-porn, meaning, they may show intercourse but not in too graphic detail, which usually leads to rather funny scenes. For instance blowjobs are usually filmed with the camera directly opposite of the male, with the female cowering in front of him minding her business. You know what she's doing, but you don't actually see it as all you're looking at is a male with a goofy look and a womans's hairdo bobbing back and forth in his lap

Rule in Germany is that FSK-16 movies can be shown between 8pm and 6am and FSK-18 movies may be shown between 10pm and 6am. Public broadcasters regularly show FSK-16 stuff, so encountering a movie with some people strutting their stuff in the nude on a free channel is not exactly uncommon. Private broadcasters in Germany are notorious for shameless tittilation. The German sports-channel usually shows all-female strip-poker matches, naked bowling and naked trampolin jumping all through the night. If you are in need of such stuff you don't need pay-TV over here.

I remember some hillarious exchanges with people from Bayer MaterialScience in Pittsburgh, when they were in Germany two years ago. They thought they'd watched some pay-TV boobie channel, when all they had seen was one of our free TV channels

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Do they cut out some of the hot and heavy stuff when they air it?

I dunno, since I watch it on DVD and through, ehum... "other means". But I wouldn't think so, for the reasons Kotik explained.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Not really surprising, but still... Yay!

'Game of Thrones' Renewed for Season 3

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Just realized I hadn't commented on the second ep. Oh well, too late now.

Some scattered observations from episode three:

• Gilly and Sam are kinda sweet, if awkward.
• The realization when Jon learns that Mormont already knew about Craster and the sacrifice of his sins...
• Man, Brienne is one tall woman, especially standing by Catelyn.
• Wow, Maraery is one cleavaged queen. Not that I mind. I've always liked Natalie Dormer (from The Tudors). She has this odd look about her, but still pretty.
• I can almost sympathize with Theon Greyjoy. Almost... And his father is such an a*****e. Theon was right to scold him. Still, I hate the Ironborn. I sort of liked Asha in the books, but I don't care for this "Yara" version.
• I think it's safe to say that I'll never warm up to this version of Shae. And they toss her in as Sansa's maid just so she'll have something to do. What does Tyrion see in Shae here?
• But Tyrion freakin' rules here! Playing off Pycelle, Littlefinger and Varys. Excellent! And I really like Varys too.
• Aidan Gillen is very uneven as Littlefinger. Sometimes he's pitch perfect but lately I come to think he's that so often as he ought to be.
• Margaery really knows how to play the game of thrones. I like her!
• Maise Williams continues to rock as Arya! And poor Yoren. But where was the Mountain?
• The captives are already going to Harrenhal. I gather they're cutting down on all the wanderings around the Riverlands. Might as well, wandering around that area almost becomes tedious in the later books.
• No Dany this week, or Robb.
• And no Stannis either, despite Dragonstone being in the credits.

[Alelou]

Saturday Night Live explains the nudity in Game of Thrones:

http://gawker.com/5902076/snl-explains- ... of-thrones

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

^

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

So thoughts on the fourth episode.

• Despite showing the Wall, Pyke and Winterfell in the credits, there were no scenes with Jon, Theon or Bran. They should have substituted with Storm's End, especially since they've left out the Reach, and it's unclear to viewers where Renly's host is.
• So they've also decided to ditch Jeyne Westering for no good reason, diving the part to some Talisa of Volantis. Still, actually seeing Robb's romance will be interesting.
• First glimpse of Roose Bolton and Vargo Hoat (at least I think that's who the torturer at Harrenhal is supposed to be). And finally we meet the Mountain again, but we still need to see how despicable he is - killing, torturing and raping.
• The horrors of war is pretty evident in the post-battle scene with Robb and Arya's experiences at Harrenhal. "Nice" touches even if they didn't show all the horrors, like the amputation and the torturing.
• Just when you thought Joffrey couldn't become more of a bastard, we see him tormenting poor Sansa, and that was just him getting started. He's a sadistic voyeur when he has Ros beating a poor whore (in an added scene). Now I actually have sympathy for Ros.
• Tyrion continues to own everything and everyone, from Joffrey to Meryn Trant to Lancel. God I love his character!
• You could see that the Hound flinched at was happening to Sansa. When will we get a scene with them?
• Clever Littlefinger. he couldn't sway Renly, but he sort of did plant a thought in Cat's head about exchanging Jaime for her daughters. And his talk with Margaery foreshadows the change in allegiance for house Tyrell.
• Qarth sure looks like a nice place.
• Dany's little outburst against the Qartheen does seem to lack any credible threat considering her pitiful little band.
• Davos is a good man, with an excellent performance from Liam Cunningham. Too bad all the good men in Westeros serve different sides.
• That was some creepy shadow baby Melisandre gave birth to.

[Distracted]

Yeah, what was up with the "shadow baby"? I thought the king had impregnated her. What's the deal there?

Speaking of impregnation, I'm now curious as to whether the wife of the gay king will succeed in getting knocked up by him. She sure is giving it a good try. The idea of recruiting her gay brother to "help" kinda creeps me out, but it makes sense, I guess, since he's the king's lover. Guess nobody in this story has heard of turkey basters.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

^ I could answer all that, but that would be spoiling you...

[Rigil Kent]

Tyrion continues to own everything and everyone, from Joffrey to Meryn Trant to Lancel. God I love his character!

Yes, indeed. "That was a threat. Do you see the difference?"

Peter Dinklage is a god amongst men and I love that he has top billing now.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Being away for a few days at my parents I didn't get a chance to see the fifth episode until now. Some stray thoughts:

• Already halfway through this season! It's going to be a long year until next season after this one ends.
• I love the fact that Harrenhal is the only place that's not moving in the credits. Says a lot about it.
• Wow, no pointless sex scenes. No sex period!
• Renly's death was as shocking and surprising here as in the book. I get why the show didn't waste time with the shadow baby first appearance at Storm's End, but why was it necessary to smuggle Melisandre to that barred cave when they could have just snuck by Renly's encampment?
• I like this assertive and ambitious version of Margaery, who wants to be the Queen, not just a Queen. But I hope this doesn't mean we won't get to see the Queen of Thorns later on (next season?)
• Heh! Tyrion likes Myrcella and "doesn't blame her at all" for her mother Cersei. Still, he sells her of to the Dornish.
• Heh! Tyrion doesn't even think it's fun to torture Lancel.
• I feel rather sorry for Tyrion getting a bad reputation among the people in King's Landing.
• At the same time as I can feel for Theon not fitting in with the Ironborn, I also loathe him.
• Asha (or Yara as she's called here) is quite unsympathetic. She's a bully and not at all the charismatic gal I got from the books. She's not even "tomboy pretty".
• I see why they made Arya the cup-bearer for Tywin. A lot of possibilities to inform her and the viewers from his war councils.
• OK, I get that the Tickler (that I mistook for Vargo Hoat last week) is a twisted man, but I think that Arya wasted a lot of her wishes about which people Jaqen should kill.
• Nice shot of the Fist of the First Men and Ghost looking out over the Night's Watch camp.
• Dany's dragon is adorable. And so is Doreah (whom I'm thankful is still alive in the show).
• And Dany herself looks smokin' when she's cleaned up and nicely dressed.
• Bran is and will be a good lord of Winterfell, despite falling for Theon's trap, as he says why their bannermen should protect them if they can't protect their bannermen.

[Silverbullet]

Game of Thrones is an interesting series. I really like the character of the Drawf, peter Dinklage (SP) I hope he lasts through the entire series.

I think that one needs a scorecard to keep track of all the different story lines and characters.

Torture seems to be a favorite indoor and outdoor sport with the people in the series.

SB

[Rigil Kent]

[*]I feel rather sorry for Tyrion getting a bad reputation among the people in King's Landing.

The comment "demon monkey" cracked me up.

And so is Doreah (whom I'm thankful is still alive in the show).

Truthfully, I think she's the most attractive female on the show, but that's just me.