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Game of Thrones: too many characters and subplots?

Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:19 am
Posted by Rex
Here, there, and nowhere
Member since Sep 2004
66001 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:19 am
Seriously, it's hard to keep up with all the Lannisters, Baratheons, Greyjoys, Starks, their pasts, their relationships, etc. One almost needs a written family tree and flowcharts to keep up.

How bad is the problem? In the most recent episode we didn't get even a single glimpse of that young blonde Dothraki queen leading her "horde" through the red wasteland.

I think less would have been better.
Posted by SaintEB
Member since Jul 2008
23348 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:22 am to
Nope. You have stated the important ones to follow. The rest fall in line.

quote:

One almost needs a written family tree and flowcharts to keep up.


There are many documents to this nature. I would say a simple google search would suffice, but that would probably lead to spoilers. The books, in the appendix, has a listing of the families histories and their bannermen. Also, HBOGo has a cool little interactive map with alot of this info too.

You just have to want it.
Posted by OMLandshark
Member since Apr 2009
117998 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:24 am to
quote:

Nope. You have stated the important ones to follow. The rest fall in line.



What about the Tyrells? They seem to be emerging greatly in importance, even if they're not directly competing for the throne.
Posted by SaintEB
Member since Jul 2008
23348 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:26 am to
quote:

What about the Tyrells?


I would agree to that. I haven't read all the books, but it seems as something is building.

ETA: I guess the point is the information is readily available, he just needs to look.
This post was edited on 4/18/12 at 10:28 am
Posted by tigerfan88
Member since Jan 2008
8448 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:29 am to
It does require some effort to watch the show if you haven't read the books. But then again alot of serial dramas are fairly complex. Fwiw the reason we didn't see Dany last episode is she didn't do anything. She's just waiting for her riders to hopefully come back with good news
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:30 am to
It wouldn't be hard if you simply read the books. The show would be 100 times better if you read the books.

However, if you haven't read the books, I can understand your confusion. So much happens in the book and so many families exist that the show does the best it can do to introduce everyone properly and somehow offer an explanation of who they are and why they're important.

If you had already read the books, you'd want to tell everyone how all of the families and characters relate to the story.

The show is simply amazing and that's because I've read the books...
Posted by Shiftyplus1
Regret nothing that made you smile
Member since Oct 2005
13914 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:30 am to
Pretty much all of the houses with money and power are keeping an eye on the throne in the wake of Robert's death.
Posted by constant cough
Lafayette
Member since Jun 2007
44788 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:31 am to
I just Wiki whatever I need to know about a character.
Posted by Books
BR
Member since Jun 2005
11174 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:32 am to
like he said, the rest fall in line. It's really not that hard to follow and there were episodes last season that didn't include 'main' characters. Jon wasn't in every episode of Season 1, neither was Dany. If they dumb down the storyline for people such as the OP, they'll be crippling the overall story arc. It rewards the audience members that pay attention.
Posted by Books
BR
Member since Jun 2005
11174 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:35 am to
quote:

I just Wiki whatever I need to know about a character.

that's asking for serious spoilers. Bookmark this instead
Posted by constant cough
Lafayette
Member since Jun 2007
44788 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:36 am to
Oh, I like the spoilers. I've already read the wiki pages for all the main characters as well as the wiki pages for each book.

But I'll forget a good bit of it and when stuff happens on screen it will still feel new.
This post was edited on 4/18/12 at 10:38 am
Posted by HeadChange
Abort gay babies
Member since May 2009
43899 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:37 am to
quote:

The show would be 100 times better if you read the books

Maybe. I like not knowing what's going to happen.

I don't find it all that hard to follow.
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:38 am to
There are times in the books when a major character isn't mentioned for over 100 pages. The show is following the books they very best that it can. Easily one of the very best movie adaptations to a book series. That's because George R.R. Martin consults the filmmakers.

In fact, Martin consulted in the Battle of Blackwater scenes. For those who haven't read the books, you have no idea what I'm talking about.

For those who have...well...you know how crazy shite's about to get!!!
Posted by Lester Earl
3rd Ward
Member since Nov 2003
285047 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:40 am to
i only found it hard because there was such a gap in seasons 1 and 2. it was hard to remember who everyone was in a show like this.

ive caught up though. just look at some of their bios on HBO website.
Posted by Napoleon
Kenna
Member since Dec 2007
70929 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:50 am to
quote:



What about the Tyrells? They seem to be emerging greatly in importance, even if they're not directly competing for the throne.



They lead the lands where the most food is produced and where the oldest city is. They wish to become part of royalty.
Posted by PsychTiger
Member since Jul 2004
104464 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 10:59 am to
quote:

If they dumb down the storyline for people such as the OP, they'll be crippling the overall story arc.


Considering Rex is the OP ...
Posted by DanglingFury
Living the dream
Member since Dec 2007
20461 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 11:03 am to
quote:

Seriously, it's hard to keep up


I'm rarely the smartest guy in the room, and I can do it.

quote:

How bad is the problem? In the most recent episode we didn't get even a single glimpse of that young blonde Dothraki queen


Other than she's hot, why is that a problem? I'd rather see the individual stories more fleshed out vs. super condensed stories just for the sake of squeezing every character into every episode.

quote:

I think less would have been better.


Nah.
This post was edited on 4/18/12 at 11:05 am
Posted by mizzoukills
Member since Aug 2011
40686 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 11:05 am to
quote:


Seriously, it's hard to keep up with all the Lannisters, Baratheons, Greyjoys, Starks, their pasts, their relationships, etc. One almost needs a written family tree and flowcharts to keep up.


Well, that's exactly what each book provides you with: A detailed map of Westeros and the eastern lands as well as family trees and flowcharts.

In the HBO series, they do at least start each episode with a detailed map of the world. Newbs don't pay attention to this as closely as they should. That map is really important. Each episode that introduces a new region such as Dragonstone or Pyke, those places will appear on the map.

Hasn't anyone noticed that the map at the beginning of each episode is including new lands and islands?
This post was edited on 4/18/12 at 11:07 am
Posted by CaptainBrannigan
Good Ole Rocky Top Tennessee
Member since Jan 2010
21644 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 11:08 am to
A wiki of Fire and Ice has family flowcharts.
Posted by PsychTiger
Member since Jul 2004
104464 posts
Posted on 4/18/12 at 11:08 am to
quote:

Hasn't anyone noticed that the map at the beginning of each episode is including new lands and islands?


I like what they did with Pyke. As the towers come up you even get to see the unsteady bridges bouncing between them.
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