Game of Thrones, Starts tonight on Sky Atlantic Options

[Mister R]

Lord of the Rings has its moments but all three of them are far too long. Three was particularly bad because of its ridiculous number of false endings which just make it drag on forever.

[Rocky Raccoon]

It's based on this book series, which started in the 90ies so might very well be what you remembered, depending how old you are:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire

Cheers Astron. Now I remember where I saw this before - I copied the cover for an art project years ago!

The who is fucking who could get complicated cause they all seem to do it with just anyone. Even the 13 year old daughter/hussy was well up for it.

Sounds like Grey's Anatomy.

Lord of the Rings has its moments but all three of them are far too long. Three was particularly bad because of its ridiculous number of false endings which just make it drag on forever.

Don't even.

[mikes]

It's more like Dragon Age the series to be fair.

This post has been edited by mikes: Apr 19 2011, 11:04

[Mister R]

On a couple of ratings notes.

News in the US doesn't look to be good. HBO have delayed the reporting of the premier audience a couple of times now which is never a great sign. Early numbers have nearly half as many homes watching it as watched Broadwalk Empire's debut. (Note that's homes and not people)

In the UK the news is very good. 741k watched it on Sky Atlantic making it the most watched show in the short history of the channel. For a channel only available in Sky homes that's a good number and given the healthy timeshift viewing that Sky Atlantic in particular has seen I'd guess it'll top a million when all is said and done which is fantastic.

[Astron]

It's more like Dragon Age the series to be fair.

That is actually true.

[Nosferatu]

Opening viewing figures were a little low in the US but HBO have now released a statement confirming that there will be a second series.

This post has been edited by Nosferatu: Apr 19 2011, 15:54

[Astron]

Already after one episode?
Sweet!

[Modesty]

Opening viewing figures were a little low in the US but HBO have now released a statement confirming that there will be a second series.

I really enjoyed it, but then again I do like a fantasy film or TV series. Although i've read a lot of Steven Erikson, Terry Goodkind et al, I haven't read any of the Songs of Fire and Ice series and came to this with no preconceptions or character etc.

Pros: Early character introduction and sketching was good. Easy to work out who was who and how they related to each other.
Easily recognised that there were three stories going on and that no doubt they would mesh later.
thought casting and acting was pretty good, and the CGI wasn't overdone.

Cons: slightly generic, but that comes with the territory.
Lots of heaving breasts and not enough bums

I'll certainly be sticking with it.

Here's a post premier review of viewing figures etc.

The heavily hyped debut of Game of Thrones couldn’t come close to the premiere of HBO’s last big drama series, Boardwalk Empire, yet it still turned in a solid number Sunday night.

The first episode delivered a decent 2.2 million viewers for its premiere airing, then a rather strong 1.2 million for its first encore (the NBA playoff game between the Celtics and Knicks might have pushed some viewership to the second airing), and another 800,000 for the third telecast for an overall healthy total of 4.2 million. HBO then aired Thrones six times across all its channels Monday night, and those numbers will be added to this post later today.

Thrones first telecast was down 54 percent from the premiere of 2010′s Boardwalk (4.8 million) which received an immediate second season renewal. Yet HBO always takes into account what Sunday show was used to ramp up viewers to the new program’s premiere, and Thrones had a weak platform — Mildred Pierce, which averaged around 1 million viewers, a number Thrones more than doubled.

What’s perhaps the closest ratings comparison to a fantasy series like Thrones is HBO’s other genre drama, True Blood. A prestigious crime drama Boardwalk is much more in the traditional HBO viewership wheelhouse. Compared to the vampire show, Thrones did really well. Blood only opened with 1.4 million viewers, and similarly had no real platform to launch from, but then went on to grow week after week into a major hit for the network.

Also, and this is important, in the UK the premiere did really well — Thrones set a Sky Atlantic ratings record with 750,000 viewers, beating the previous record holder, which was … Boardwalk Empire.

So what does all this mean for Thrones? The premiere number is good, not great. HBO would have loved for the first airing of Thrones to have been in the 3 million range, but will definitely take anything in the 2s. The next question: How many viewers will stick around next week?

USA review round up - here http://www.zimbio.com/Game+of+Thrones/arti...Review+Round+Up

This post has been edited by Modesty: Apr 19 2011, 16:25

[Astron]

How ridiculous those "it's only for boys" critics are.
So what?

[jakeorjustin19]

when you consider shit like coronation street gets over 10 million viewers it amazes me so few people do seem great programmes like this.

glad to hear there'll be a second series, i think viewing figure will grow because of word of mouth if it continues to be as good as first episode.

ps - i love the lord of the rings trilogy, some of the most accomplished films ever in my opinion

[bravenewworld]

How ridiculous those "it's only for boys" critics are.
So what?

I was so looking forward to watch it online
I've read the first book a while back and had no time to catch up with the other volumes.
The series has a bunch of strong female characters which are far beyond the stereotypical "princess in need". The female characters are strong minded, intelligent,scheming,good,bad and very complex ,just like their male counterparts. I do think that you would have no problems to put these women into every feminist fantasy or sc/fi novel like those of Marion Zimmer Bradley for example.
Who used sex and violance in her Avalon series aswell.

[Astron]

Honest to god I almost fainted when Jason walked into that tent all naked.
What an ass (he has).
He is just so massive, he is not just freakishly tall he is also much wider and dunno just bigger without actually looking it (or his wife is incredibly small and skinny).
I never picked up on it during his Baywatch days. He's like a giant.
Lisa Bonet is one lucky woman.

So yeah shallow reasons aside I'm liking this show more and more. I like how there is soch much going on at the same time but they're doing a good job keeping it easy to follow.
Blonde obviously means evil in this show. I disliked the elven guy last week for selling out his sister but that royal family is just despicable. The prince has to die, he just has to, I hate him! And his horrible mother. You'd think she'd be like - fair enough I (basically) pushed one kid out of the window, it's only fair if my own get's a few scratches - but no, she's a proper bitch about it. I haven't actually hated TV characters in a long time.
Fun!
I like how the elven girl got a bit more pro-active this time, whiny pushover girl annoy me. Do I see romance blossom?
The same goes for Lady Stark and her youngest daughter, they're fierce.
Opposite with that second hussy daughter. If she was that upset about loosing her pet she should have just told the thruth and kick that arrogant bastards ass but she probably will continue to persue him.
How sad was it that the butchers son and the wolf had to die?
See I'm properly emotionally invested in this show now.

[Mister R]

Ratings down in the UK for week two. 531k

[Nosferatu]

Ratings down in the UK for week two. 531k

I guess the viewing figures are fairly irrelevant now that its already been re-commissioned. Even if they go down a bit more I doubt it'll completely tank.

[Mister R]

The UK ratings were always basically irrelevant anyway but you're right regardless of how it pans out Sky Atlantic will continue to air it.

[angelfan]

I caught the first episode last night on Anytime but wasn't greatly impressed. I found it a bit slow but hopefully it'll get better and there will be more male nudity (too much female nudity in the first episode).

[mikes]

I've come to accept it's "just a pair of tits" now.. Female nudity doesn't really bother me.


Second episode was fantastic.

[bravenewworld]

Honest to god I almost fainted when Jason walked into that tent all naked.
What an ass (he has).
He is just so massive, he is not just freakishly tall he is also much wider and dunno just bigger without actually looking it (or his wife is incredibly small and skinny).
I never picked up on it during his Baywatch days. He's like a giant.
Lisa Bonet is one lucky woman.

So yeah shallow reasons aside I'm liking this show more and more. I like how there is soch much going on at the same time but they're doing a good job keeping it easy to follow.
Blonde obviously means evil in this show. I disliked the elven guy last week for selling out his sister but that royal family is just despicable. The prince has to die, he just has to, I hate him! And his horrible mother. You'd think she'd be like - fair enough I (basically) pushed one kid out of the window, it's only fair if my own get's a few scratches - but no, she's a proper bitch about it. I haven't actually hated TV characters in a long time.
Fun!
I like how the elven girl got a bit more pro-active this time, whiny pushover girl annoy me. Do I see romance blossom?
The same goes for Lady Stark and her youngest daughter, they're fierce.
Opposite with that second hussy daughter. If she was that upset about loosing her pet she should have just told the thruth and kick that arrogant bastards ass but she probably will continue to persue him.
How sad was it that the butchers son and the wolf had to die?
See I'm properly emotionally invested in this show now.

I the 2nd episode!
Even tho nothing much happned on this episode, you can allready see how great these characters are!
I LOVE the Stark sons, especially the "bastard".
My favourites so far are Daenerys (the Princess who had to marry Khal Drogo) and Tyrion Lannister (the Dwarf) he is very intelligent,witty,easy to listen and it made me when he slapped his vile nephew, the prince!

This post has been edited by bravenewworld: Apr 26 2011, 21:06

[Boy1der]

I read the books and am finding this is following book I quite closely. My boyfriend has not read the books and is enjoying the series and told me after watching the second episode last night that he's getting even more into it.
We're both looking forward to the upcoming week.

[Modesty]

The UK ratings were always basically irrelevant anyway but you're right regardless of how it pans out Sky Atlantic will continue to air it.

US ratings held steady apparently:

First, the good news: Ratings for the second episode of "Game of Thrones" on Sunday (April 24) were basically identical to the premiere. The show drew 2.2 million viewers in its first airing and about 730,000 more in a replay, right in line with the premiere's numbers.

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/20...urn-notice.html

Also:
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/2...much-more/90557

While I posted the average viewership numbers earlier, The Game Of Thrones drew a 1.0 adults 18-49 rating, up a tenth from the premiere.