Game of Thrones Season 1 | Season 2 & Collector's ED

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Snicket

No, I meant what I said, it was the original. Our english teacher was a nut for that sort of thing.

Your High School English teacher taught your class how to read and understand Anglo Saxon? Unless you went to High School on Mars I don't really believe that. It would take literally years to learn to read and understand - it would be easier to teach someone Latin. It isn't something you're taught casually in High School English class.

Originally Posted by KoukiR

GRRM has said countless times that ASoIF is set in Medievil Europe. It's just in an alternate universe. I don't really see what the big deal about the word is anyways and why people get so offended by it. It's just a four letter word.

GRRM has never said this once, let alone countless times. He said certain events were inspired by the War of the Roses but ASoIaF is not set in an alternate version of "Medieval Europe." That makes absolutely no sense geographically, racially, linguistically, or realistically (considering there are dragons.... and Magic beings, etc.)

It's not set in an alternate version of Europe... that's the territory of stuff like The Pillars of the Earth. ASoIaF is set in a completely fictional world.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Definitely not an alternate history of Europe. It's a secondary world, just like Tolkien's Middle Earth. Here's an excerpt from an Entertainment Weekly interview with Martin last year.

This may be a silly question, but: When you think of the world you’ve created, where seasons last for years, where is it? It is another planet?

It’s what Tolkien wrote was “the secondary world.” It’s not another planet. It’s Earth. But it’s not our Earth. If you wanted to do a science fiction approach, you could call it an alternate world, but that sounds too science fictional. Tolkien really pioneered that with Middle Earth. He put in some vague things about tying it to our past, but that doesn’t really hold up. I have people constantly writing me with science fiction theories about the seasons — “It’s a double star system with a black dwarf and that would explain–” It’s fantasy, man, it’s magic.

Here's some more about Tolkien's concept of the "Secondary World" via Tolkien Gateway:

Secondary world is a term used by Tolkien to refer to a consistent, fictional world or setting, created by a man, also called subcreation, in contrast to the Reality, called Primary world. The world of Arda and generally the setting of the legendarium is Tolkien's Secondary World. His views regarding the "Secondary World" can be found in the essays The Monsters and the Critics.

Tolkien claimed that the author should respect his creation and grant it internal consistency, and let it obtain 'life' of its own. The tales should have several dimensions: geography, characters, languages, timeline, all being inter-dependant. The "scenery" should seem able to sustain the events and characters it hosts, and this would make the effect credible to the reader.

Nowadays the concept is better known as conworld or fictional universe.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

He's not saying it takes place in an alternate timeline of any actual place or time period that occurs or has occured on our planet.... just like Middle Earth wasn't an alternate timeline of any period on our planet. In fantasy it's called a "parallel world" and is used all the time.

ASoIaF is not an alternate version of "Europe." Like I said, that's the difference between stuff like this and LotR vs. stuff like The Pillars of the Earth. In ASoIaF there is no "Europe."

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

I know that. I agree with you. I was just posting the quote since it's interesting. I love that he subscribes to Tolkien's notion of the "Secondary World" (which is not limited at all by the "Primary World").

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

I know that. I agree with you.

[Show spoiler]

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

Your High School English teacher taught your class how to read and understand Anglo Saxon? Unless you went to High School on Mars I don't really believe that. It would take literally years to learn to read and understand - it would be easier to teach someone Latin. It isn't something you're taught casually in High School English class.


.

You are over thinking it. She just made us read a verse in the original then in English. Dunno why, probably because she thought it was cool. There was no understanding involved.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Stinky-Dinkins

[Show spoiler]

Well, just wanted to make sure I was clear about that.

I've long been in love with Tolkien's philosophy on the "Secondary World". The man placed so much importance on the human mind's ability to "imagine" and the creation of the collective "subcreation" that lives inside the minds of authors and readers alike.

Of course, try and explain this to non-readers, or at least non-fantasy readers, and they look at you like you're a lunatic.

[KoukiR]

I didn't say anything about it actually being in MedEurope but I have read a few things somewhere and he says that it would be set in those times. Idk why you are getting so defensive about it. Your thinking way to into actual reality. Just because it would be set in a medievil time bases doesn't mean there can't be dragons and magic.

[Stinky-Dinkins]

Hahaha, I'm not getting defensive about anything man. I'm just saying, it's not set in an alternate version of Europe. You might think you read that somewhere, but you didn't. Like I said, he drew from the War of the Roses for inspiration but apart from that it's not meant to be based on our history in any way, it just isn't analogous. It's straight high fantasy, just like LotR. Like Aragorn84 just said, that might be odd to wrap your mind around if you're not a reader of high fantasy.

[dcowboy7]

Wonder why they only did a commentary for 7 of the 10 eps.

[Clippins]

OK, finally decided to go with the generic packaged version rather than the Stark or Targaryn packaging. Pre-order is in! Can't wait to watch these all over again on bluray before season 2 begins!

[Cplhicks]

Originally Posted by Clippins

OK, finally decided to go with the generic packaged version rather than the Stark or Targaryn packaging. Pre-order is in! Can't wait to watch these all over again on bluray before season 2 begins!

What made you decide that? I've been debating myself for some time which one to go with, so I still don't have a preorder in.

[kernel_thai]

Originally Posted by Ken Brown

Ah! I read over it again and again but had a feeling I was missing at least one mistake somewhere. And to miss an entire Stark...

Thanks for catching the error. It's been corrected. I also took your advice on the placement of Snow in the list. Good suggestion

It was a small mistake as he is the smallest Stark.

Originally Posted by rickah88

This is true, but the opposite effect can be had here. Instead of a long episode season getting drawn out, and shorted one can go too fast and leave viewers(esp readers of the book) scratching their heads.
Again, I'm all for this show lasting as long as possible and being uber-successful in my greedy hopes that it paves the way for someone to pick up the Wheel of Time series!!

It would be much harder to do WoT tho we can dream. WoT would need to be a multi media deal combining tv, movies and maybe even web. Red Eagle Entertainment was still in pre-production on Eye of the World last time I spoke with anyone in the know.

Originally Posted by Snicket

I watched the first episode sampler and one thing that really threw me for a loop was the constant usage of the F-word. Was it in use at that time? It really pulled me out of the experience, and it seemed really silly for them to be using it. But it kinda made me want to research the history of the F-word.

There has been a slang word for doing it almost as long as they have been doing it. Im also sure that they were using a word for it long before anyone decided there was something wrong with using that word.

Originally Posted by Aragorn84

Definitely not an alternate history of Europe. It's a secondary world, just like Tolkien's Middle Earth. Here's an excerpt from an Entertainment Weekly interview with Martin last year.



Here's some more about Tolkien's concept of the "Secondary World" via Tolkien Gateway:

World building is extremely difficult and most fictional worlds tend to be patterned after historical places. Katherine Kurtz stories about Gwynedd for example r patterned closely after British history and locales.

[Clippins]

Originally Posted by Cplhicks

What made you decide that? I've been debating myself for some time which one to go with, so I still don't have a preorder in.

I think the reason why is because the image of Eddard Stark sitting atop the Iron Throne is classic and does a pretty good job of really underlying what the show is about with that simple image. If I had gone with the Stark or Targaryn packaging, I'd be representing just one of the many houses involved in The Game of Thrones when I put it on display. While it would be cool to have the dragon or dire wolf up on the shelf, ultimately I prefer the image of the Iron Throne for the power it holds over everyone.

[ikms]

Originally Posted by rickah88

Where did you read this? Or do you mean the actual books as in novels? ;-)

I meant the novels. The 3rd & 4th season will be book three, books 4 & 5 are planned to be 1 and 2 seasons respectively (maybe reversed, or mixed... would have to dig up the quotes) which covers years 5,6,7. Hence "on the books." Seasons 8,9,10... 11? ect are dependent on the last two novel releases.

EDIT:

http://www.vulture.com/2011/07/game-...ca-martin.html

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/28/hb...throne-cancel/

Basically, this will go on as long as the series needs to go on ("Hope it lasts 20 years"!!!). If HBO doesn't go under, or people stop watching completely, we will have another decade of GOTS to entertain us.

[moodybynature]

Forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong place, but does anyone know how someone in the UK might order the Best Buy exclusive Stark cover? They don't ship to the UK, I guess my only hope is to scour eBay? Or does anyone have experience with the mail forwarding type companies that give you your own US address?

Cheers.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by ikms

I meant the novels. The 3rd & 4th season will be book three, books 4 & 5 are planned to be 1 and 2 seasons respectively (maybe reversed, or mixed... would have to dig up the quotes) which covers years 5,6,7. Hence "on the books." Seasons 8,9,10... 11? ect are dependent on the last two novel releases.

EDIT:

http://www.vulture.com/2011/07/game-...ca-martin.html

http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/07/28/hb...throne-cancel/

Basically, this will go on as long as the series needs to go on ("Hope it lasts 20 years"!!!). If HBO doesn't go under, or people stop watching completely, we will have another decade of GOTS to entertain us.

Thanks for the links! Here's my take on GoT's longevity:
I'm all for it....BUT, HBO is a business and that's a fact. Like most any business, they are not in the business of airing shows with a declining viewership...again fact. So I'll take both those articles with a grain of salt, as I've seen many a'good show get cancelled early in it's run.
If GoT goes on for 10-20yrs as some are suggesting, hey fantastic....but I'm more inclined to believe it won't. So I will enjoy it while I can!

[TotoroDragon]

Its clearly a fictional World based on Scotland,England,France and Spain/Med.

Thats my two sence and im sticking to it.

Its only recently The UK citizens have been made to be branded European when we are clearly a seperate entity.

Its like saying America and Cuba are one.

[ikms]

Originally Posted by rickah88

HBO is a business and that's a fact

And to tie it in with this site... even if the viewership/subscriptions aren't enough to finance the show, annual worldwide sales of 1 million+ DVD/BR sets (totally out of my @$$ here, but this is an international hit show, and apparently the best BD of the year) will go a long way to mollifying ratings concerns.

Other than the president of HBO offering up his first born son as collateral, I am not sure how much more "proof" could be put up pointing to GOTS as the closest we have to a "sure thing" in long term drama forecasts. There is no precedent to be followed here because there simply is no precedent for this kind of "TV series."

[Ji Young]

Originally Posted by moodybynature

Forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong place, but does anyone know how someone in the UK might order the Best Buy exclusive Stark cover? They don't ship to the UK, I guess my only hope is to scour eBay? Or does anyone have experience with the mail forwarding type companies that give you your own US address?

Cheers.

HBO has provided the current list of international retailers that will offer the alternate DVD/Blu-Ray packaging.

Netherlands: e-retailer Bol.com
Brazil: e-retailer Submariono.com.br
Germany: All retailers will be selling the sleeves
Spain: El Corte Inglés will offer the Stark sleeve and FNAC will have the Targaryen sleeve
Australia: Sanity
UK: HMV will offer the Stark sleeve