gdp's Comments

Winter Is Coming : GRRM: Blackfish not in first season

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:42:52 +0000

I think it's mostly money. In season one you already have to build Winterfell, Winter town, Castle Black, Mole town, Pentos, Vaes Dothrak, Lhazareen town, multiple chunks of King's Landing, the Eyrie, Moat Cailin, the Crossroads Inn ... and even the Twins (if Walder Frey is indeed going to be in season one--he's certainly not leaving his home). Building Riverrun (exteriors, sets, digital screens, etc.) is yet another cost added to something that--let's be real--they're thus far only committing one season to. Do I think they'll go a second season and then build Riverrun? I'm pretty sure we'll get a second season. It'd have to be a literal disaster to not continue, especially since the above mentioned places will already be built. Season two will not have more sets to build than season one had (off the top of my head I'm thinking Riverrun, Harrenhal, Pyke, Dragonstone, Craster's home, Vaes Tolorro, Quarth ... that unnamed holdfast Amory Lorch attacks ...) So yeah, more than a few new locations, but not as many as season one. Hopefully by the time they decide how much to build they'll have an idea how successful the series will be. Just as important as subscriptions is how critically it's received. So people not screaming about Riverrun being moved to season two ... I certainly don't see it as "fanboi"ism so much as even-minded pragmatism. We want everything, sure--but we know we can't have everything. I'm personally more-than willing to let a few things go, and have thus far been pleasantly surprised by all they've kept. So long as the story is told, and told well, I'll be a happy dude.

Winter Is Coming : GRRM: Blackfish not in first season

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:57:44 +0000

My guess is they still end Robb's season one story arc with "KIng in the North!" It's far too iconic, and much too rousing a teaser for next season to be ignored. I would agree with Adam that they crown Robb prior to entering Riverrun--but I would even have them do it further away. No Riverrun in the backdrop, with few if any river lords in attendance. It always seemed a little odd, for me, how readily the river lords accepted Robb as their king; granted their lands are the ones being raped at the moment, and they would likely gravitate to a strong leader who seemed a savior of sorts. But another part of me thinks they might not want their own king based in Riverrun. That is unless they have almost no confidence in Edmure. Riverrun is the south, not the north.

Winter Is Coming : GRRM: Blackfish not in first season

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:34:42 +0000

Agreed. Sticking a "mystery knight" with a black trout cresting his helm (face hidden) in Whispering Wood wouldn't be that hard at all. It would suitably tease the character for the following season, and would give us (those in the know) a nice little surprise to cheer for. We need to start a "Tease the Blackfish!" movement.

Winter Is Coming : GRRM: Blackfish not in first season

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:56:09 +0000

I would actually hope that they play with canon a little more and give the Blackfish a proper and dramatic entrance. Just having him show up at the same time we meet Hoster feels a little anticlimactic. I would possibly do a flashback where we see the antipathy between the brothers first. Were I writing it. Which I'm not! If we're going to be without Hoster and Edmure, I would also put off the whole of Riverrun to season 2. The scene in which GRRM writes Catelyn's return to Riverrun feels both huge and cinematic--you can nearly smell the rust on the massive water gate as it lifts--and I would very much like to see that as Riverrun's debut in season two. I'd much rather "right" than "right now."

Winter Is Coming : GRRM: Blackfish not in first season

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:43:28 +0000

Desmond was officially dropped... our literal Ser Not Appearing In This Film... ... until last week when GRRM mentioned he was still in but had no lines. So as of this date we still have no actual cuts or omissions---just a lot of rapid movement on the ol' chess board. I should have a Character Cuts post up early next week; I'm just waiting for this weekend's news and any potential word on the Baratheon kids and bloodriders. Hoping for a Mirri Maz Duur announcement too, though that could come late, much like Tywin.

Winter Is Coming : Syrio training with Arya

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:11:28 +0000

It's all Greek to me.

Winter Is Coming : Syrio training with Arya

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:03:14 +0000

Love the enthusiasm! We already know how dedicated Maisie is to the arts (she now has "dance" lessons on top of her regular dance lessons), and to see someone as energetic and physically gifted as Miltos just leap right in (and he is clearly unafraid of getting advice from the masters) gives us an idea how motivated they are to get this just so. If the Syrio / Arya stuff turns out half as good as I think it can, another tip of the cap needs to go to Nina Gold, who time and time again not only finds the right actors for the parts, but seemingly the right people for the parts. Work ethic is as important as talent--if not more so.

Winter Is Coming : The Targaryen sibs as UK Stars of Tomorrow

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 06:18:56 +0000

His voice alone does it. This production would be made that much better with someone like Charles Dance attached. (I could also imagine the chaos GRRM might willfully and with great impunity sow by titling the announcement "DANCE IS IN!") As to Gillian Anderson, I think she has Michelle Fairley beat in the looks department, but Fairley basically destroys all competition for the "good posture" award. (That woman would go to the gallows perfectly erect; you could hang her with books balanced on the top of her head.) And both women can do "stoic shock" exceptionally well.

Winter Is Coming : The Targaryen sibs as UK Stars of Tomorrow

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:20:56 +0000

Hey, at least she used the opportunity to name-drop Game of Thrones at the end.

Winter Is Coming : The Targaryen sibs as UK Stars of Tomorrow

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:11:17 +0000

I've never touched foot upon the soil of Northern Ireland, but I have heard there are plenty of places that could double for "expansive grasslands." Though from what I know most aren't exactly flat; we ain't in Kansas anymore. It makes me wonder as to the wording of the agreement with N. Ireland. There may be a percentage of filming locations they have to use there in order to have gotten such a sweet deal.

Winter Is Coming : Breaking down the new cast members

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:14:18 +0000

RICKON THE DESTROYER. Awesome.

Winter Is Coming : Breaking down the new cast members

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:12:51 +0000

If so, that's a pretty spot-on looking Slynt.

Winter Is Coming : Breaking down the new cast members

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:11:53 +0000

Shagga has not been cast yet, but he's on the list. Neither has Rickon, Tommen, Myrcella, Grenn, Miri Maz Duur, Tywin, Shae... It's a huge cast, and we still have more than a few to go.

Winter Is Coming : GRRM hints at Osha

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:03:16 +0000

That's what I'd guess.

Winter Is Coming : Thrones fact sheet is a casting bonanza

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:04:33 +0000

Lysa is warm and welcoming to Catelyn for all of one paragraph ... and then the door closes, they are alone, and her inner freaking psycho comes right out. I think we're safe if this chick can fake "nice" for longer than fifteen seconds.

Winter Is Coming : Thrones fact sheet is a casting bonanza

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:40:50 +0000

Looks like Westeros stays white. And very British. But we pretty much knew that. Be interesting to see where they go with Dorne, however. Who is the first Dornishman we see? Besides Anguy.

Winter Is Coming : Thrones fact sheet is a casting bonanza

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:37:59 +0000

Mord and Mya---switched at birth! Brings up another name we've not seen or heard a word of: Mya Stone!

Winter Is Coming : Thrones fact sheet is a casting bonanza

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:33:46 +0000

I think other than Lysa they've pretty much gone with the book descriptions for the actors they've cast (hair colors aside). I will be interested to see whether or not Kate Dickie is the person GRRM mentioned as having completely changed his perception (and future thoughts) on the character ... though ... (SPOILER---) ... since Lysa is already dead there's not much that can be changed in the books. And, one could argue, being obese / anorexic are flip sides of the same coin. Lysa being fat isn't as important to her character as being believably out-of-her-mind loony. And with the credits and awards Dickie has wracked up, I don't doubt she can sell that. The only other thing I should add with today's news is: Good luck, Lexicopia!

Winter Is Coming : WiC readers figure out all THREE!

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:40:54 +0000

Tysnow with the win! Nice.

Winter Is Coming : Thrones fact sheet is a casting bonanza

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:23:48 +0000

Heh, wow. Our Bronn is a singer. This one blows me away: Pretty Woman You have to say he has a mercenary's face ... but this stuff is going to follow our resident badass for years to come. "So, Jerome, let's look at a clip of you killing a man---oh wait, that's the wrong clip!"