Now that Benioff and Weiss have given us the first and last lines of the pilot, we know where the episode begins and where it ends. One would assume that the story will follow all of the action in Winterfell up until the “things I do for love” ending. However what we still don’t know is whether Dany’s first chapter will be included in the pilot. For reference, here is the chapter summary, courtesy of Tower of the Hand.
Winter Is Coming: My opinion is that Daenerys doesn’t need to be in the pilot episode. There will be enough character introduction contained within the pilot already. Throwing Dany, who has nothing to do with the main narrative, into the mix may be a bit confusing. I would rather they spend time fleshing out the Stark and Lannister characters.
In addition, Dany’s first chapter doesn’t contain much action. A lot of introductory dialogue, establishing the characters and their back story. In my opinion, it would be better to combine her first chapter with her second chapter (which contains the wedding feast and her first “encounter” with Khal Drogo) and include it in the second episode. The challenge for David & Dan is going to be tying her storyline into the main action over in Westeros.
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29 Comments
Maybe this is a bit far-fatching and probably not very viable but maybe it would be nice if Daenerys’s story would be a ”spin-off” series as it can stand alone for quite some time. Of course, cost issues will probably see this not happening.
gabalQuote Reply
I fully agree. Dany in the pilot doesn’t make much sense.
Oeffinger FreidenkerQuote Reply
Sorry to say this, but I often find myself skimming her chapters! Tssss… don’t burn me for saying it!
AnonymousQuote Reply
The problem with that gabal (as mentioned in one of the discussions on Westeros), is that if you make Dany a late-comer she becomes a villain. Even if you were to go half the season it might be too late. See, if you don’t show her story, the audience gets attached and endeared to all the people of Westeros; then no matter how much you try to endear Dany, many in the audience will still see her as the invading villain, and an outsider. Introducing her early (and adding references like Robert’s order to assassinate her), and getting the audience attached to her give the audience the dilemma of choosing who to root for.
johnnybaowulfQuote Reply
I think they will solve this issue using a Heroes-esque format. Basically, one episode will focus primarily on one set of characters while the successive episode will focus on another set characters, while closing up the cliff hangers from the previous episode. This way you can get more story into one episode.
Also I would very surprised and dismayed if the do the series as a, “these characters are bad” and “these characters are good.” That is kinda flat not really how the style of the book is. I’m sure they will just develop the characters well enough so the viewer is able to decide who they like and hate and who is good or bad.
AnonymousQuote Reply
It is also worth noting that the last line of the script, “The things i do for love” is on page 85 of 807, in the version i have. If it were to include Dany’s chapter that would be over 10% of the book. Considering there are supposed to be 13 episodes, I would think that the 11 pages of Dany storyline are absent from the pilot script. That would put the coverage down to 9% of the book which makes a little more sense.
AnonymousQuote Reply
It will be interesting to see if the writers add any scenes to help establish the characters. If you cut Dany and end with Bran, I don’t know if that would fill 50-60 minutes of programming. As its written in the book, I suspect no scenes would be cut, theyre all pretty essential. But I suspect Jaime/Cersei, Ned/Catelyn and some of the flashback scenes will be embellished upon. At least I hope so anyways.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I agree with Johnny. They need to include Dany early on. Just because her story is separate from the main narrative doesn’t mean they can just skip the storyline. Obviously she is going to play a big part in the overall series so her character needs to be established early on to allow the viewers to connect with her.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
I have read the pilot script and can answer this question definitively (at least as of the draft dated July 12th, 2008).
Daenerys DOES appear in the pilot and her storyline is substantial with the action concluding on her wedding night with Khal Drogo.
AnonymousQuote Reply
If Martin is saying the adaptaion is faithful… combined with the interview on Second Life about a year and a half ago where the producers used the example of Dany as a standalone not really working… combined with Martin saying the best he could hope for was the Children of Dune Adaptation being brought to ASOIAF… I have some personal conclusions:
Dany will be in the pilot, and the series.
The first season will be a virtual literal adaptation of the book, ala Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.
This is not going to be a series shot on location, but exclusively on green screen like children of Dune.
I’m not saying this is good or bad, but this is the direction I think we’re heading. In other words a literal adaptation meant to appeal to ComiCon people only. not too expensive, but something that will appeal to the diehard book fans.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Dany in the pilot would probably be too much. Maybe just a hint at the end of what’s going on in the East.
But I can see the storylines going back and forth between Dany and Westeros or shifting the focus per season. First season with the focus on Westeros, with occasional glimpses of Dany. She could even be a complete mystery for most of the first season.
Then, in the second season, let her be the focus for a few episodes and only occassionally switch back to Westeros.
This makes me wonder… will they have each episode told out of a different character’s perspective?
derfinsterlingQuote Reply
I think Dany can’t be in the pilot. Unlike the anonymous poster who felt that without her, there wouldn’t be enough to fill 50ish minutes of television, I feel that even without her, it may feel rushed. Even before “The things I do for love,” you’ve got to cover the Wights, the direwolves, Robert’s arrival, some backstory on the Starks (namely, on who Lyanna was and how Jon is separated from the rest of the family), Lysa’s letter, Ned becoming Hand, and Bran falling, not to mention introducing all of the Starks, Robert, Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, and some of the world concepts, like the Kingsguard, the Seven Kingdoms, and the Wall. That seems like it’d be cramped as is, but to try and throw in some silver-haired little girl in an entirely different place would feel out of place at best.
Instead, I agree with those who say Dany needs to be in the second episode. I’m not sure if it was here or elsewhere, but I remember someone suggesting that Dany and Viserys ought to open the second episode, showing where they are and tying them back to Robert’s Rebellion in the same episode. I feel that the episode they appear, they need to talk about the rebellion from both sides. This would help to illustrate that the rebellion does have two very different perspectives on the same event. That then leads to Dany’s wedding and lets her pop up when it is most opportune. Especially given the later assassination order, she needs to be introduced early on so the audience feels the same as Ned and Selmy when the rest of the council authorizes an assassination against her. She just cannot logically go in the first episode, with all the chaos at Winterfell.
ZelyhonQuote Reply
I am telling you folks that Dany is WITHOUT QUESTION in the pilot! This is not speculation. The script is sitting on my lap as I type this.
Her storyline appears throughout. We cut to her and Viserys in Pentos right after Jon Snow discovers the albino direwolf pup.
The action consists of her betrothal, the gift of the dragon eggs her and marriage to Khal Drogo. We also meet Ser Jorah Mormont and Illyrio and the episode ends before Viserys can be “crowned”.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@Anon: You are one lucky SOB. I would love to get my hands on the pilot script.
Assuming Dany is in the pilot, like you say, did they cut any scenes from the Winterfell storyline? That seems like a lot of material to cover in 50+ minutes. How many pages is the script?
I’m not surprised to find out that they merged her first two chapters though. Is the sex scene included as well?
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
Will we get the prologue with the Others?
AnonymousQuote Reply
According to Benioff and Weiss, yes. The first line of the pilot is “We should start back” which comes from the prologue.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
What I want to know is, do we get an Eddard – Catelyn sex scene.
AnonymousQuote Reply
@WinterIsComing: the script draft that I have is 60 pages plus a cover. Very little was cut from the Winterfell in terms of content. This adaptation manages to be both very faithful and very skillful by way of inserting information into dialogue and setting. We still see Jon Snow and Tyrion’s interaction outside the banquet, Catelyn scolding Bran about his climbing, Eddard and Robert in the crypt, Eddard and Catelyn at the godswood, Robb sparring with Joffrey etc…
The Daenerys/Drogo sex scene is mostly present as well. He undresses her and we see her yield to him. End scene.
AnonymousQuote Reply
No Eddard/Catelyn sex scene but we do (of course) see the Lannister twins going at it before the fateful push.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Very cool. Thanks for the info! If I may ask, how did you come about the script? Do you work at HBO in some capacity?
I used to intern at a small, independent production studio and they would have all their optioned scripts out for any employees to take. Including lowly interns such as myself. So I do not doubt that quite a few people out there have a copy of the pilot script.
WinterIsComingQuote Reply
I am an entertainment professional but have no connection to either the show or the network. Just a ne’re-do-well who is passionate about the books and wanted to make certain that this adaptation was going to live up to my very high standards.
Thus far I am thrilled.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I still don’t see how they’ll be able through everything they need to in Westeros while giving all of it the time it deserves if they include Dany’s first two chapters. I’m not necessarily doubting that the Anon has the script, I’m more doubting that trying to include Dany in the episode where so much already needs to be done is the right choice.
ZelyhonQuote Reply
Given the word from GRRM and now this report (which I’ll take at face value), I think it sounds like they manage to get in Dany and every other important and semi-important point of note regarding the characters that leads us up to the reported last line of the script.
The real question is … does Tyrion do a somersault/handstand when he meets Jon? ;)
BalerionQuote Reply
Has it been confirmed that the pilot will be 50 minutes long (1 episode/one hour) ? A double episode (2 hours) seems much more logical to me.
AnonymousQuote Reply
The episode length will most like be 1 hour in keeping with other HBO shows. This is actually 1 hour though, no commercial time. There is some flexibility in the length though, Carnivale actually had a varying length which went from 43-59 mins.
Carnivale is also a really great example of how 2 different storylines can be brought together in one show. It actually mirrors ASoIaF compltely. It has one main cast where most of the episode takes place and then one sub-plot with one important character. The 2 story lines never come together to the end of season 2 and early on there seems little relation at all.
In carnivale the secondary story was included in every episode and it felt completely natural and not foreced or confusing.
Carnivale is also a period piece with a budget of $4M per episode and huge cast. It looked amazing and is probably some indication of the quality we can expect from Game of Thrones.
AnonymousQuote Reply
Forgive my skepticism, Anonymous, but if you really have a copy of this script, might you provide us with a simple photo of it, as proof of your claims? There need be nothing in the photo that would identify you, as you’d understandably want to remain anonymous. Just something so we know these claims have some basis in reality, rather than the rampant speculation Internet fan forums are notorious for.
AnonymousQuote Reply
I think that the perfect time to cut to the Dany storyline would be right after Ned and Robert finish talking about the mad king and people calling him usurper.
-H
AnonymousQuote Reply
michelle trachtenburg.:..poster at westeros strongly suggested her..,,she has the look…if she can act we have our Dany…she looks perfect for the roles
coltaine777Quote Reply
This is said to be a casting breakdown for Daenerys:
It came from IMDB here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/board/thread/144156435
The author claims to have taken it from here, but the link goes nowhere:
http://openbookcasting.blogspot.com/2009/07/new-york-breakdowns-wednes day-july-8.html
So I pass it on as unverifiable.
A GAME OF THRONES (N.Y. release — additional role)
Pilot
HBO
Exec. Producers/Writers: David Benioff, Dan Weiss
Co-Exec. Producers: Carolyn Strauss, Guymon Cassidy, Vincent Gerardis
Director: Tom McCarthy
Book Writer: George R.R. Martin
London Casting Director: Nina Gold
L.A. Casting Directors: Amy Berman, Carrie Frazier
L.A. Casting Associate: Michelle Taylor Spellman
N.Y. Casting Directors: Kerry Barden, Paul Schnee
N.Y. Casting Associate: Allison Estrin
Shooting Dates: October 12, 2009-November 6, 2009
Location: Northern Ireland
[DAENERYS] 18 (must be able to play younger), is an exiled princess, the daughter of the deceased King Aerys who was overthrown by King Robert many years before. She has spent her entire life in hiding with her brother Viserys, far away from Westeros on the Great Eastern Continent. She is exceptionally beautiful, but no one has ever told her that – her brother's cruelty and intimidation have made her fearful and awkward in her own skin. Still, Daenerys is a survivor who is destined to overcome her constraints and fight to reclaim the throne her family lost. Must be British or be able to do impeccable British accent. 9 Episodes. Entire series.
sevenwarlocksQuote Reply