A couple journalists who have been lucky enough to watch the first episode (and maybe more) of Game of Thrones have tweeted their reactions today.
First was Stuart Levine, TV and film journalist for Variety magazine. In response to a question asking whether he had seen the Thrones pilot he tweets, “Yes. Very good.”
Second, Kara Warner, of MTV News, tweets her enthusiastic reaction to watching Thrones:
For my GoT fanatics: I have seen @GameOfThrones and it is all that I wanted & more. I cried, cringed, shivered, cried again.
We can expect more reactions from critics to trickle out in the coming weeks as the premiere gets closer and probably even some full reviews once we get within spitting distance of April 17th.
Winter Is Coming: Nice to see some positive early buzz. I know Warner is a fan of the books, so her reaction is probably good news for many of the readers of our site. I’m not sure about Levine, but I don’t think he has read the books, so his positive reaction bodes well for newcomers and helps allay the fears that the complexity of the series may be a barrier to the uninitiated.
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59 Comments
This is very encouraging! I’m definitely excited (although, I’m always excited about GoT, so I guess that’s not saying much…).
EDIT:Ooooh, first comment. Perhaps I should have said something more meaningful?
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
Yes, very good?? He talks a lot, doesn’t he?
Saso AlaufQuote Reply
Man, following WiC on twitter really makes getting these early comments easy.
At this point, I’m not worried that the show will be good. It will be. It’s just a matter of degree.
theamberkeyQuote Reply
Still won’t believe untill I’ve seen it with my own eyes, but this post will make me sleep all the better though!
KnurkQuote Reply
Just thought I’d mention.. HBO OnDemand finally has many of the behind-the-scene featurettes available now (and in HD). So far there is: About GoT, Invitation to Westeros, Costumes, House Stark, House Lannister, and the trailer. I expect they’ll be adding more every few days.
VegaQuote Reply
Saso Alauf,
It’s Variety. They don’t even have time for definite and indefinite articles. They’re like the Hulk. “PILOT GOOD! SHOW WILL HIT! FIRE BURN!”
PranksterQuote Reply
Just got back from a trip to Vienna, and I came back to several clips and news articles. I came, often. Looking forward to april.
Petter Kristian VikestadQuote Reply
It all sounds deadly …
;)
I think to enjoy the show you got to stop holding a microglass to everything and then go check to see if it’s in the book.
If you can accept that this will be a different (and to me some what better) experience than the books, then it will probably be amazing.
Got to stop holding on so tightly and have a little faith Mates …
She’ll be apples!
(Means it’ll be okay)
Phantomwriter05Quote Reply
I want it I want it I wAnT iT!
No seriously. Me wantee.
Franny BeeQuote Reply
Saso Alauf,
Prankster,
Haha! Well he had copied the questioners tweet into his own, so he didn’t have many characters left to give his own thoughts. And really, they aren’t supposed to be talking about it yet…
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
What’s the date that reviews will be allowed to be published?
pualoQuote Reply
I think we’re at a point where some people are going to start becoming non-fans. As the Maester’s Path clips have shown us, some people are becoming increasingly worried and less pleased with each clip they see. Other people are having the opposite reaction. Our “gates” were nothing compared to the great divide that is sure to take place in the next couple of weeks.
This is only natural, of course, and I have always suspected that there will be some very disappointed fans. Anyone who thought we’re all be 100% pleased was fooling themselves.
It happened with LOTR, and it will happen with GOT.
LexQuote Reply
This bodes well,I am pleased…
Vic SageQuote Reply
I’m just insanely jealous that anyone’s seen the pilot already!! I see that they’re planning on a special screening in a movie theater for Houston (at least?); I remember going to see the first two episodes of “Rome” on a big screen in New York before the premiere of that show, and it was really awesome. It was very difficult to wait for the subsequent episodes after that.
Regina ThorneQuote Reply
Yes, yes. Everything is proceeding as planned
BrianQuote Reply
pualo, just whenever HBO sends out screeners, which they haven’t yet, or so I am told.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I’ve been able to watch the Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen extended vids (8 mins each), as well as the Costume feature (8 min) and a few shorter features (2 mins each) on TimeWarner’s HBO OnDemand menu as of Monday, 3/21 (I’m located in Los Angeles).
I’m really looking forward to some awesome premiere-party photos for this show in the next few weeks. I can’t wait to see Nicolaj, Emilia, Sean, Lena, Peter, and all the kids in their party duds! If anything exciting pops up in L.A. soon, please share, I can & will attend!
Carrie MeathrellQuote Reply
Vega,
I indoctrinated the wife with the ondemand stuff last night. She is officially hooked. I kept having to pause to explain “Wildings” and “White Walkers” but it is the price I will have to pay since she did not read the books.
MikeQuote Reply
I saw a new GoT TV trailer advertising Sky Atlantic here in the UK today – just a 30 second TV spot, using some of the footage and voiceovers I’d seen before, but cut together very fast-paced. And yeah, that and the most recent trailer I saw on Youtube have really stoked my anticipation to the next level, tbh ;D You can see how it’s all coming together, and how some of those early shots and stills that seemed a bit lacklustre to some people work in context, and with the extra months of postproduction and all that. So yes – I was already excited, but now I’m like excited… ;D
A Bear_A BearQuote Reply
Carrie Meathrell,
Yes! I was wondering how long it would take for HBO to get stuff up – especially after the xfintity clip barrage. This was the first time I got to see all the more polished content on the HD big screen except for the trailers and the making of thingy that was on a while back.
The extended house videos are awesome and they show quite a lot of what we can expect in terms of the look and feel of the show.
Also, as far as the acting being questioned in some the Maester Challenge rewards; after seeing most of the inserted show clips in these videos I am not worried. Even if some of the acting isn’t great (and those assumptions are based on thin evidence), nothing is leading me to believe that it will detract from the intention of the show. This is a huge ensemble cast and when it all starts to intertwine on screen the “weaker” performances are going to be absorbed into the “stronger” ones. Everyone can’t be on the talent level of Sean Bean, but from everything I glean from these snippets no one has jumped off the screen as incompetent enough to effect the flow of what we know is an awesome story.
Bottom line: at this point I have been shown enough by HBO to know that we have a quality show coming out and if it follows the overall story fairly well, has good (and some great) performances across the board, and top-notch set pieces (which seems evident) there will be little cause to complain even though I know that will not stop the hours of entertaining and lighthearted nit-picking of every detail .
vibesmootherQuote Reply
Dang it, I wish these things were online :(…
JoshQuote Reply
Gonna go rewatch them on my TV now. Brininging up my point from the last thread, is there any chance we get a listen to the themesong before the first episode airs (maybe the sneak peek)?
If ayone at HBO is reading this, I would love a taste. Music is a huge element that has been missing from any of the news we have gotten thusfar.
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
I’m surprised no one has mentioned or tweeted about the new preview that played this past Sunday (right before the Big Love finale). It was mostly the same as others we have seen, but there were a few new clips in there toward the end. The main ones that stuck out to me were:
1. Cat walks in on the assassin in Bran’s room holding the dagger, and he says in a creepy voice: “You weren’t supposed to be here” and then Cat charges toward him.
2. Drogo enters a large hut holding a torch and looks enraged. He angrily throws the torch down into a fire pit while walking quickly toward the viewer.
There were one or two other clips I hadn’t seen before, but these where the ones that I remember.
furreverQuote Reply
furrever, yeah, a lucky few people saw it and have mentioned it but we are waiting for HBO to post it online. Hopefully soon…
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
This is good news, but I’ll be happier when I hear thoughts from critics I know and trust. They are receiving screeners next week. Don’t expect any official reviews until Friday April 15. But people will start talking next week.
Important Critics: @tvoti @sepinwall @moryan @memles @kphipps3000 @scott_tobais @noelmu @zhandlen @televisionary @poniewozik @hitfixdaniel @tvmcgee @emilynussbaum
Justin Dean NelsonQuote Reply
furrever,
Check other recent posts. Plenty of people have mentioned the newer promo from Sunday night.
Steve the PirateQuote Reply
I saw this trailer before the Big Love finale, and I have to say it was my favorite one yet. Just a very well put together trailer, great pacing, most of the scenes we have already viewed but there were a handful of new ones. Liked the music also, best trailer yet in my opinion.
Ryan EQuote Reply
I dont know if WIC is aware but HBO has made a Littlefinger character trailer. I saw it on the main HBO channel earlier today. I cant find it anywhere on the internet though. It was pretty short but it had Adian Gillen talking about his character and saying he’s having a lot of fun and showed some new Littlefinger scenes.
JamesQuote Reply
Can someone record the extended Stark Featurette and post it on youtube :)
SensukiQuote Reply
Lord Ned’s Head,
I agree I want to see the credits and hear the music SOOOOO BAD!
I loved the new trailer, best scenes and music yet.
Zac BeachQuote Reply
Somebody please post the new trailer on youtube :(
TastesLikeTheSeaQuote Reply
Agree with your list there, but weren’t you the one who asked Stuart Levine about the first episode?
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Screeners are going out?
Leak will probably soon follow. Not condoning, just observing.
I will be subscribing to HBO for this soon anyway, as I want to see it in HD on my tv.
SerGaryColemanQuote Reply
A very appropriate comparison! I was thinking the same thing.
Larry D CurtisQuote Reply
Thanks for the heads up! I just saw the littlefinger character video using HBO iPad app. Pretty cool seeing some new scenes between Petyr and Sansa. Sansa was much more likable in that setting compared to her melodrama scenes in Winterfell.
John Winslow ColeQuote Reply
yeah but I read everyone, and this early I’ll take ANY feedback. I love reading any blog that takes criticism seriously. That list is just the big players, the ones I “know” and respect.
Justin Dean NelsonQuote Reply
James,
Littlefinger?! I must see it!
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
I think this video is new, with a few familiar shots and some new ones!
MegQuote Reply
Finally, the new promo’s online. I’m uploading it to youtube now, since the HBO media player is so annoyingly slow. Should be up in less than ten minutes.
Steve the PirateQuote Reply
Meg,
Yay, thanks for posting the link!
EggplantQuote Reply
That IS new, and very awesome!!!
Dave NeumannQuote Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tod9DorIASQ
For those who can’t/don’t use the HBO site.
Steve the PirateQuote Reply
Meg, Steve the Pirate:
Yep, that’s the one I was referring to. I think it may be the best preview yet. Seems each subsequent preview is doing a better job of introducing the series to new viewers unfamiliar with the books.
furreverQuote Reply
That “I am no child” line is SICK!
The DarkStarQuote Reply
The DarkStar,
And it’s from the same scene everyone has been complaining about. I don’t see the problem, I think Emilia will be great.
LexQuote Reply
Great, this’ll help me through the day! So much good stuff in the second part of this trailer: the scenic view of King’s Landing (?), Littlefinger’s eyebrow, Tywin’s voice, Dany’s “I am no child” line (this is the crop I hoped they’d use for the entire scene that we worried about yesterday – no arms=much better! Also, again, it seems to indicate that Emilia might be better at the non-vulnerable acting), Sansa’s cry, and last but not least, Cercei’s “I should wear the armor” line! Makes me think that they’re using some of the best bits in the shown and upcoming trailers and hadn’t much left for the 4th challenge reward :-)
Tar KidhoQuote Reply
Vega,
Vega, most of the GoT isn’t on HBO on Demand for Comcast at least. At least for me, it’s under its own category in Top Picks. There are like 15 different videos On Demand right now.
SteveQuote Reply
Hungary’s Comment.com owner, Sixx, tweeted after watching the press airing:
“Men, you’ll shit your ankles from Game of Thrones” :D
We are waiting impatiently… :)
FelagundQuote Reply
So… this is good, i reckon? Lol
sjweningsQuote Reply
It’s a Hungarian (slang) term for utmost awe :D
FelagundQuote Reply
Mike,
wildlings and white walkers confused me for a while, sort of like dementors and death eaters did in harry potter, since a dementor sounds like someone who would follow lord voldemort and a death eater sure as hell sounded like those things with hoods that would suck your soul out of you. but of course it is the opposite.
purplejillyQuote Reply
Felagund,
Shit your ankles, that’s one going into my vocabulary and is also the best review to date! Did he say anything else or just the one tweet?
KnurkQuote Reply
Reading this made me miss the Michael Sourcenator – “they didn’t like it…” days.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Knurk,
No, the tweet was just this, however, he keeps posting materals on his blog (comment.blog.hu) never forgetting to stress how cool this show will be.
He even made an interview with some of the main characters a week ago or so and stated that Jason Momoa is simply the coolest and nicest guy ever :)
(sadly these interviews can only be published after the premier… :|)
FelagundQuote Reply
Steve,
Ah-ha, you’re right. Looks like just about all the videos are under OnDemand Top Picks while there are only like 5 under the actual HBO section. Very strange, indeed.
VegaQuote Reply
I so wish those videos on HBO On Demand would be on youtube….sadly i can’t see them myself
Jéssica De Freitas MacielQuote Reply
Jéssica De Freitas Maciel,
They’re all on Youtube. These are all the same videos that WiC has been posting links to over the last week or so. All the House introductions and character featurettes.
VegaQuote Reply
Vega,
No, not all of them, unfortunatly.
sjweningsQuote Reply
James,
HBO page is a mess. Can someone send me a link that goes directly to the Littlefinger-vid please?
CarysQuote Reply