But NOTHING prepared me for what happened last night on GOT, an episode referred to by fans as the "Red Wedding."
I quite literally sat in my chair with my jaw open, unable to fathom the carnage that spilled over the screen.
Everybody that I had come to really care about in the show was suddenly being butchered like cattle right before my eyes.
I kid you not that it took me much of the morning to start to type about anything as mundane as politics while my heart ached for imaginary characters in a mythical land, that seemed to me, at least for the moment, so much MORE important than what was happening in the actual world.
And as you can see that was a reaction shared by many others.
Okay well now that I have shared my pain with all of you poor people we can move on to more important things. If you are not a GOT fan then I apologize for the distraction. But then again seriously, why aren't you?
Didn't watch it but I know how you felt, I felt the same watching "Lost" - I got a bit overly invested in those characters. And after the last episode, I admit I felt, for a few days after, like I had lost a pet.
ReplyDeleteGryphen, I love ya, but I can't get behind Game of Thrones. I've tried reading the books and watching the show, and I'm a very open-minded TV viewer. I don't mind shocking stuff, but not this.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest issue is that the show is just rape, rape, and more rape, followed by unnecessary carnage. That would be fine if the show had a larger point to make, or if it elicited an intelligent response from its audience--such as with The Wire or Breaking Bad, where the violence teaches us something about our culture.
Instead, all this most recent episode did was make GoT viewers want MORE pointless violence, in the form of revenge against last night's perpetrators. It's the fantastical equivalent of torture porn, or maybe a bad rap video. So I won't watch or read. I don't like being manipulated like that.
I'm sorry the episode had such a negative effect on you. Perhaps you, like many others, might let this show go now that it has (almost literally) ripped your heart out for no good reason.
One of Martin's goals when writing the books was to present a less sanitized plot than has come to be the norm in this era and genre. He felt it needed to be violent and have nobler characters die because it was a more accurate depiction of feudal life.
DeleteYeah, once there's dragons and zombies all claims about accuracy are ridivulous.
DeleteAlso, funny how he picked rape as his method of dirtying up fantasy. Who's fantasies is he catering to, exactly?
LOL Ah yes, the shocker. The pain is just beginning. No one is safe.
ReplyDeleteNo character is safe in this series. I started reading the books and so I knew it was coming but it still sucks to see a pregnant woman stabbed in the stomach. More surprises to come.
ReplyDeleteGlad I missed it. Not into gratuitous violence.
DeleteSorry, but I got rid of TV service 4 years ago. I found nothing of interest and when the channels I DID watch began showing nothing but ghosts or religious crap I decided to put my money to better use!
ReplyDelete(Now I spend my time on the net reading YOU and just random Goggle searches!)
That's kind of where I'm at too. I got rid of tv years ago when I decided I didn't want to police all the garbage that was being put out for my kids to watch. Haven't missed it a bit. I can see everything I want on that series of tubes they call the internet and get to skip the commercials. Oh yeah, that was another really big reason I stopped watching tv.
DeleteHa, I go for those Goggle searches too. Google's not bad either.
Gee, that video was fun.
DeleteGlad to hear the TV version isn't bowdlerizing Martin's excellent books. The Red Wedding was no less shocking in print.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, good guys NEVER died in the movies or on TV. That made for very boring entertainment....
I tried the book and I've tried the series... and yeah, it's the rapes. I get that it's fantasy, but I don't understand why Martin couldn't fantasize a world without rape. No: he put it in deliberately.
ReplyDeleteIvyfree
I agree. It's like he ENJOYS writing that stuff. Really awful. I know "a world without rape" is unrealistic," so how about just "a world where the violation of women (and men!) isn't par for the course in every single episode"?
DeleteAlso, in the books, Daenarys Targaren is fourteen when she's married off to her husband. FOURTEEN. It's just sick.
Not much of a TV watcher either so I have never even heard of this program, but comments about this particular episode were all over the place this AM! So I checked it out. Not my cup of blood. :)
ReplyDeleteI.WILL.NOT.WATCH.THIS.EPISODE.
ReplyDeleteI FREAKED OUT DUDE! what the hell is going to happen to poor little Arya Stark? That girl and her sister have had every bad thing happen to them. I guess I have to go all in on Dani making it across that sea with the dragons.
ReplyDeleteThat was epic last night, and no I've never read the book so no spoilers. At least I'll have True Blood and Dexter to look forward to.
Virginia Voter
Thanks Gryphen! I'm still trying to shake this episode...here are a couple of links to the two interviews by "Robb Stark" and his "mom" "Catelyn"...even these two actors were shocked and upset!
ReplyDeletehttp://insidetv.ew.com/2013/06/02/robb-stark-wedding/
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/06/03/catelyn-red-wedding/
Here's a recap of the episode by Entertainment Weekly....
http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/game-of-thrones-recap-red-wedding-castamere/
I'll be glued to the TV next Sunday for the season finale! Maybe King Joffrey will finally meet Dany's "babies"....LOL!!!
Viewers Go Ballistic Over Last Night's Unreal 'Game Of Thrones' Episode
Deletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/game-of-thrones-red-wedding-episode-was-amazing-2013-6
Reactions To 'Game Of Thrones' 'Red Wedding' (PIE CHART)
DeleteIf you watched last night's "Game Of Thrones," we know how you feel. If you didn't, don't worry, there are no spoilers here. Just a lot of angst, aggravation, heartbreak, and, of course, book-snobbery.
Below is a pie chart of the most common reactions we saw on social media last night.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/reactions-to-game-of-thrones-red-wedding_n_3378632.html
I always record the show and watch when there are no distractions. Holy crap! I just watched it an hour ago, still freaking out. I thought losing Ned was bad, but wow. At least they didn't get little Arya, at least not yet. Can't believe I have gotten so into a show. Now I'm waiting for Newsroom after the final episode of GOT.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked at last night's ending.
ReplyDeleteExpected to see daughter reunite with mother and brother.
The thing about GoT is that in the end, everyone dies.
ReplyDeleteEVERYONE.
And most of the deaths are violent.
It's all the stuff of fantasy genre.
I knew George RR Martin back in the very early days (for those who don't know, he was instrumental as writer/story consultant/producer for programs like the revamped Twilight Zone, Max Headroom and Beauty and the Beast) and the fantasy genre has always been this way. The big difference is TV and films where we get to meet the characters and get "attached" to some while despising others, and sometimes it gets difficult to separate emotions in regards to fantasy vs reality.
Martin's characters are flawed. They make bad decisions and pay for their mistakes. A lot of times very brutally. That's what I like about his work, he really keeps you guessing as to what is going to happen next and as you remarked, NO ONE IS SAFE!
DeleteAnd ya'll thought Downton Abbey was full of death and despair!
"If you are not a GOT fan then I apologize for the distraction. But then again seriously, why aren't you?"
ReplyDeleteI don't pay extra for HBO, so maybe that's one reason I don't watch this show. But I've seen a couple of episodes in friends' homes, and I don't like what I've seen. The brutality and butchering that goes on is too much for me. Not interested. There's way too much violence already in the world; I don't have pay extra to HBO just to watch vast quantities of butchering and rape on my t.v. in my own home.
I subscribed to HBO purely to watch this show. Last night was AMAZING. I didn't/don't find myself upset because it all just "worked". It's a bummer of course, but it's so different to see a show kill off so many of it's most likeable characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm a R.R. Martin fan and so have read all the books and am eagerly awaiting the release of the last two books in the Song of Ice and Fire Series, "Winds of Winter" and "Song of Spring".
ReplyDeleteFor me the HBO series has been a lot of fun as I'm not inflexible and understand that translation from written word to TV cannot be a perfect thing. It's been interesting to see how they would condense events and cast characters.
I knew what was coming on this episode and was curious as to how it would be handled. The one glaring difference in how HBO portrayed this event is that Rob's wife was not supposed to be at the Twin Castles. In the book she was sent to another stronghold to be kept safe because she was pregnant. Perhaps this character doesn't have much else going on with her and so they killed her off early. As Martin is consulting on the HBO production, he must have given it his o.k.
Loved the fighting scenes with Grey Worm, Ser Jorah and Daario. Looking forward to more with them!
While I don't have HBO I have read the books and couldn't wait to see people's reactions when the series reached the Red Wedding (btw -- that term is used in the books when referring back to these events).
ReplyDeleteWith 2 more books left (and the sixth installment later this year) there is still plenty of game left.
I've read all the books, so I knew it was coming. I've had fun watching other people's reactions, though! It was interesting to see it played out instead of just reading it, though.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, though, in the books, things just keep chugging along, and other characters pick up where they left off. It's kind of like in the first season where they killed off Ned, things seem weird for a bit, but you get over it and there's plenty of new intrigue to keep you occupied.
Besides, Danearys and Tyrion both kick ass!
I haven't read the books and refuse to do so until they're all written, but I had to cheat and look ahead to see what went on with the plotline. My mother says she will stop watching it if anything happens to Tyrion, so I had to see if he made it through. So far, he has, and I suspect if Martin does anything to him before the very end of the last book, his fans may mutiny - something that seems to have happened to the author of the Sookie StackHouse books. I'm guessing that Jon Snow, Bran, Arya, Tyrion, Danearys, and a few others will still be around in the last book. (As an indie author myself, I suspect that even Martin recognizes how much he has invested in them and will not waste their possibilities before that final book.)
Deletehere you go gryph:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/reactions-to-game-of-thrones-red-wedding_n_3378632.html
"...But then again seriously, why aren't you?"
ReplyDeleteI have a life.
Killjoy.
Delete'The Newsroom' Trailer: Cast Stands Alone In The Desert Of TV (VIDEO)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/03/the-newsroom-trailer-cast-desert_n_3377685.html?utm_hp_ref=media&ir=Media
I also read the books and knew it was coming...but Rob's wife wasn't there, a change they decided on to end the speculation I guess. They aren't done with the remaining Starks...so stock up on your tissues. I am hoping the end next week includes the end of Joeffrey, and there is alot more about Danny to come.
ReplyDeleteThe insult to Frey was about honor, and Rob screwed up...I think Martin is a genius depicting a violent world. My only beef is there is sooooo many story lines going on, each week only has a snipit. I have been watching the Soprano reruns everyday and it is amazing how much actual story they had every damn week. I wish they would rerun 6 feet under...that was a great show, I was working in the funeral industry at the time and it was super accurate. Bravo to HBO.
Oh me too! I'm hoping we have the big wedding next week!
DeleteThat poor dog in the one series of clips...he can't figure out why his human is upset.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Game of Thrones fan because it is on a cable channel I do not get because I would have to pay even more and I can't afford it.
ReplyDeleteIs that something on the teevee machine?
ReplyDeleteGryphen, have you seen this reaction?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1Z0Tv40RSs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I had the same reaction and I read the books before seeing the show. Can't wait for the next two books to be released, mext week's episode is going to be a doozie!
ReplyDeleteI have read all the books before the T.V. series was made so knew what was coming. Just like in Harry Potter changes are made and some people are merged to fit into a movie or series. Let's face it the mid-evil times lives were cruel, women were chattel and often raped everyday, especially during war. Even the old testament of the bible is filled with death and rape. Women were property of their fathers or husbands.
ReplyDeleteMartin reflects the reality of the times and does not glorify war like most films do. Reality sucks sometimes.
I gave up when the last book came out, and it was obvious that George elevated himself beyond the perceived need of editorial assistance. Just seems to be nothing but shock value anymore. Haven't watched for awhile, and I wish he'd get back to writing, and ditch the self-anointed king schlock.
ReplyDelete