Okay, let’s see what else is out there:
- Do not miss this video of quick cuts from the show aired at the end of the 15 minute first episode preview on HBO.
- In one of the more awesome marketing initiatives from HBO, they have erected a giant video screen at Hollywood & Highland in LA that periodically plays a short promo clip. Check out this video of the massive screen in action by Kyle from APOIAF.
- Both Variety and the Wall Street Journal have reported that international interest in Thrones has been stellar, with the WSJ claiming it has been HBO’s best-selling project to date overseas.
- The Wall Street Journal article also notes that HBO plans, in an unprecedented move, to release some episodes online via their HBO Go service prior to them airing on TV.
- George R. R. Martin attended a recent screening of the first two episodes of Game of Thrones in LA. You can read his impressions on the show over at his Not A Blog.
- David Peterson, creator of the Dothraki language, also attended the screening. You can read his report here.
- The New York Times has an interesting article giving an overview of the production and its path from book to screen.
- LA Times has a nice profile piece on Sean Bean, focusing on his role as Ned in Thrones and his career as a whole. The Time Colonist has a similar article.
- In the same vein, Herald Scotland profiles Richard Madden in this article about Thrones and what it will do for his career.
- We also have another Canadian video interview with Kit Harington, just as good as the two published before. Kit is really on a roll!
- Salon.com has posted a Game of Thrones primer/refresher course full of spoilers from the entire book series, so in that sense it is mainly geared towards those who have read it. Still, the introduction is safe to read, and full of good promotional soundbites.
- IGN TV has also posted a preview of Thrones that highlights the more risque aspects of the series. In response, Myles McNutt posted an essay arguing that the tone of the article is detrimental in attracting new viewers.
- Access Hollywood has published full interview videos (link to the Peter Dinklage one) from TCA in January.
- Here we have a comparison of the new ‘medieval’ tv shows.
- Here’s a further positive first episode review from a reader’s perspective by blogger and commenter Andy Gavin.
- In case you missed them, here are HBO’s sigil wallpapers, and an inevitable humourous re-interpretation of one of them.
- There are two more Podcasts of Ice and Fire out there now, guest hosted by your favourite WiC.net contributors Hear Me Roar and Fire and Blood, respectively.
- The webcomic Half Assed has seemingly become WiC.net’s unofficial comic. Check out their latest strip where they work to design Houge Gatewatch’s sigil.
- Last but not least, a mini-scoop: Vincent McCabe will play lord Rickard Karstark as a featured extra (and also filling the shoes of some unnamed extra roles on the side).
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93 Comments
Wait, wait, wait. We have a Glover, a Bracken and now a Karstark…
…But no Roose Bolton? Heresy!
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
I’m glad someone finally linked us to the Andy Gavin review….
My biggest worry about HBO releasing the episodes in advance is the ratings…
MirriMazQuote Reply
Here’s a further positive first episode review from a reader’s perspective by blogger and commenter Andy Gavin.
Really dude? Minus one million points to house Hear Me Roar.
stevelabnyQuote Reply
LA times with a nice cheat sheet as well, I think these are good for people that have never read the books or need a refresher:
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
So now that his review has been posted in the quick hits do you think Andy Gavin will stop linking it in the comments of every post? :-P
Satisfied?Quote Reply
Did y’all see the new clip of the king’s arrival? If you have comcast, you can watch it online here: http://xfinitytv.comcast.net/tv/Game-of-Thrones/106696/1871993797/Early-Access-Scene%3A-The-King-s-Arrival-%28HBO%29/videos
Sorry if this is old news, I can’t keep up with all the comments!
sarahQuote Reply
stevelabny,
For those who don’t read comments :) We report complete and impartial information.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Oh, that first preview on there I saw in a movie yesterday!
It was the highlight of the movie, it actually played during previews, I nerded out to my friend about it.
TylerQuote Reply
Why is there an Emilia Clarke tag? Am I missing something? :D
FelagundQuote Reply
A mistake on my part, fixed. Thanks!
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Satisfied?, that’s the hope. ;)
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Really good news that they’ve already made ~2.4 million per episode back just from international sales already.
REALLY good sign for future seasons (and possibly less cuts *fingers crossed*)
Jordan HealeyQuote Reply
Some random thoughts.
stevelabny,
No. You got it all wrong. HUGE POINTS for Hear Me Roar! Now, the dude should stop. If he doesn’t, well, then the poor boy needs help.
Speaking of people who need help, I hereby demand that a full English to Dothraki dictionary be posted online forthwith.
I seriously think the only thing HBO is worried about is what to do after they finish with the seventh book.
For a guy playing a bastard, Kit’s got really nice hair.
I would be great if WIC.net and/or Half Assed sold House Gatewatch “We Support The Bottom” t-shirts with the the proceeds going to charity.
Is it possible to lace cannabis with Tears of Lys?
Mike ChairQuote Reply
stevelabny,
lol, seriously. I might consider reading it except for the fact that I’d hate myself a bit for even giving one extra hit to his website.
ZackQuote Reply
Ah, people, it’s a decent review ;)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Damn, I would really have been happy to read a “Erotic pics of Emilia Clarke leaked”-type news… :?
:D:D
FelagundQuote Reply
Oh, God, I never liked Headleys’ Cercei. From the 1st pictures and wig-brows gate she looked liked an off element in the series. But now I’ve come to the point were I just can’t stand her acting anymore, and the series has not aired yet :-(
It’s not just that I don’t like her. Her constant constipated I suffer so much faces actually make me screech!
hiijaQuote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Oh yeah the review itself isn’t bad at all. When he first posted it I was happy to read it.
What got annoying was the relentless self promoting. I’m fine with you linking to a review that also links to the book you wrote once but don’t keep doing it again and again. (its kind of like the people that kept trying to get followers in the comments, either I’ve already signed up or I’m not gonna)
Satisfied?Quote Reply
Does anyone know when those episodes will be available on HBO Go?
James HawkinsQuote Reply
That’s a BIG screen :o
LiesieQuote Reply
A bit OT but we have Sports Center on in the break room and what do I see when I walk in. GOT ads. Pretty cool to see. I think there was even a couple of new quick shots I hadn’t seen yet. The hype machine is in full press this week.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Maybe you want to add this “new” trailer to the post? I know, not many new stuff and it has been posted in the comments two times but I realy think it´s worth posting it.
Btw, I am a little confused. Are the Access Hollywood-videos just a repost or what? Because they were posted back in the old days a long long time ago. ;-)
AbyssQuote Reply
Not sure if you’ve seen the gallery feature on Television Without Pity about GoT’s cast’s geek credentials – http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/show/game_of_thrones/game_of_thrones_the_casts_geek.php (sorry if it’s already been posted; can’t quite keep up with all the news!)
SnarkmaidenQuote Reply
Hah I love the sigil! The gate totally fits in with the style of the HBO designs.
I want to break out my old screenprinting kit and make myself a House Gatewatch shirt. Of course, if I wore it, everyone would think I was crazy. BUT, if I ever ran into another Gatewatcher while wearing it, that would be one of the most awesome moments ever!
LinaQuote Reply
Ok you guys have convinced me, Hear Mr Roar is awarded 1 million and ten “We’ll Try it Your Way” points.
This is why I couldn’t do this. :D
stevelabnyQuote Reply
Hypothesis: The less deeply rooted a series is in terms of modern day America as the cultural setting and context for the show, the more accessible the series is to many international audiences, especially European viewers.
If current international orders have already offset more than one third of Game of Thrones production costs (and those orders reflect that the show is the *most* successful in terms of foreign orders to date in the history of the network?) then that is VERY good news indeed in terms of subsequent season orders.
In fact, I have not read better news concerning the future of GoT from any source at any time! Awesome news!!
As long as the series delivers in the way we all hope it will, I think GoT is in the clear for a 2nd season almost certainly. It would have to be a monumental ratings failure for the 2nd season not to be greenlit.
Steel_WindQuote Reply
Abyss,
it’s right there.
KnurkQuote Reply
Abyss,
First bullet point.
The videos are extended version, as promised in Jan, and as explained in the post.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
I think there is little doubt that there will be a second season — even such relatively underperforming (but critically acclaimed) HBO shows as Deadwood, Rome, and Carnivale got at least two seasons. The real question is not whether there will be a second season, but whether we’ll see the entire saga.
TulseQuote Reply
Knurk,
Mh, your are right…
I should see with my eyes, I think… Just so!
AbyssQuote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Ok, could be that I am just dumb to day (as Knurk and you already pointed out :-)) but a cant see what is extended about the videos. Peter and Emilia are for sure the same as the ones I loaded up to youtube month ago.
Would be nice of you to take a look at my canal and tell my if I am crazy…
AbyssQuote Reply
That’s actually a class idea! I would defo buy one of those. You saying bastards generally don’t have nice hair?! :L
BroQuote Reply
I am of the opinion that even a monumental ratings failure would not dissuade HBO from greenlighting the second season. They will green light it and then in the press release talk about having a “commitment to quality” and that they see it as the next True Blood in terms of starting out with low ratings and gaining viewers over time.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Yeah. I’d pay … more than I usually would for a t-shirt.
I didn’t say bastards generally don’t have nice hair. I implied that actors who are cast as bastards usually don’t. :-)
Mike ChairQuote Reply
I hope this is a hit here in the U.S. so we get to A Storm of Swords. That book is so freaking amazing from pretty much every POV.
Jessica C.Quote Reply
Hehe, I love the House Gatewatch comic :)
Also: Six days?!?! Feels like only yesterday it was years away…
KangaQuote Reply
PSH, you are way too late, Half Assed!
KGQuote Reply
The Half-Assed thing is funny, but I’m surprised some people are unaware that House Gatewatch already has a sigil (AND a t-shirt).
LexQuote Reply
With regards to this bit:
“The Wall Street Journal article also notes that HBO plans, in an unprecedented move, to release some episodes online via their HBO Go service prior to them airing on TV.”
I assume that it will still be limited to current HBO subscribers? They’re not changing anything that allows anyone to buy access to just HBO Go? (for those of us who can’t afford the whole cable + hbo package)
bgrahamboQuote Reply
Lex, I know KG had developed a sigil, but where is there a t-shirt?
bgrahambo, correct, HBO Go is still only accessible by being an HBO subscriber.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I never knew there were shirts!
Also, those sweatpants with words across the rear would really be some House Gatewatch merchandise that supports the bottom. Just kidding! (kind of).
LinaQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
http://www.cafepress.com/S_the_B
Right here in the HBO style lol
KGQuote Reply
Jessica C.,
I’ve said in the past that if we get three good seasons, I’ll be happy. However, I’m starting to feel like a fourth is vital.
See, there is lots (LOTS) in A Feast for Crows that is happening concurrently with the action of the latter half of A Storm of Swords. For example; the entirety of the Iron Islands scenes and the earliest Dorne scenes.
I have this feeling that they will move those scenes up to season three and move everything following Joffrey’s wedding to the fourth season, with Jon, Dany, Cat, Bran, Sam, Arya and Davos getting their full plot threads in. The Iron Islands scenes will be included in Season Three, and Season Four will include the final 9 chapters of A Storm of Swords, intercut with the earlier Dorne scenes, and the latter half of Season Four will include the Jaime/Cersei POV’s from A Feast for Crows, along with the POV’s for Brienne, Arya, Sansa and Sam. Also, I think the Theon Scenes from A Dance with Dragons will be included, and of course we’ll want to see the first half of the plots for Tyrion, Jon, Dany and Davos.
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
I think sweatpants would be hilarious!
LexQuote Reply
Awesome story from the Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2011/04/game-of-thrones-hbo-shows-the-ugly-edge-of-fantasy/237033/#
SuperdeluxeQuote Reply
:) I agree. Maybe I’ll add that later today!
KGQuote Reply
Lex,
I have a plan involving an old pair of shorts, fabric dye and a paintbrush :)
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
I really think the Salon article does a major disservice to new viewers. It spoils Robert’s death in the first bullet point, along with the existence of Dragons, giants and mammoths all before the spoiler warning. Seems like it’s only use is for a reader who wants a refresher. I don’t understand the point of spoilers being posted in a guide when the surprise of the spoilers are what makes the story great
TCQuote Reply
Interesting, they say that in the days ahead they will be featuring “five different takes on the show.”
LexQuote Reply
Inconceivable! :P
I think we differ on the meaning of “monumental“. Your interpretation of that word is probably within a context of a reasonable “worst case scenario” where, as you suggest, the 2nd season goes ahead and HBO tries to build a season #2 on the strength of the DVD/Blu-Ray sales and the word of mouth that launched True Blood as a bona fide hit in season #2.
All of that is completely plausible and, if it were to come to pass, I expect matters would develop more or less as you reasonably suggest.
If, otoh, the ratings were utterly dismal, and FAR less than 1,000,000 people watch (perhaps half that) and people complained to HBO or canceled subscriptions as result, then all bets are off and GoT dies an untimely death as HBO drown the series in the bathtub. Frankly, the only way I could see such a result at this stage is if the show were to be completely dreadful. And if for some reason the show IS that dreadful, then who cares if it is cancelled? I won’t. I’ll just be angry that they screwed it up so badly that it was cancelled.
I would agree that the current “worst case scenario” does not suggest that such an utterly dismal showing is even plausible at this stage. “We’ll see”, but yeah, right now?
Right now it looks like it’s all good. :)
Steel_WindQuote Reply
I hereby Support that Bottom!
EdQuote Reply
Good post!
EdQuote Reply
Superdeluxe,
Thanks for the link–good commentary in that Atlantic article and hopefully more to come in the next few days.
PamoyaQuote Reply
That was excellent reading.
Amir MishaliQuote Reply
From the New York Times article:
So… what was the right answer??!!
HodorQuote Reply
I love it that after all these previews nobody is even the least curious about the final reward of the maester’s path we will be getting today.
KnurkQuote Reply
Such as? Im curious now! Course you’re definition of “not nice” hair might not be the same as mine! But I think we’re majorly off topic, not that people will care, I think… :L It’s fun to talk about silly things like hair!
Ha, completely forgot about that!
BroQuote Reply
I know I am. Got my 5 novices and everything.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
@Knurk: totally forgot about the final Maester’s Path reward! Really curious now, but I should really go to bed early, seeing that I’m ill and that I need to take a early flight to London tomorrow morning..
D.D.Quote Reply
Superdeluxe,
awesome indeed. too bad i dont know “the wire”. but seeing how serious they take it and what conclusions they draw (i liked that sansa vs. arya topic) is a delight after those shallow anti-fanatsy-criticism we´ve had lately.
BeneQuote Reply
Knurk,
Oh I certainly am. It would be really cool if they gave us the main titles as that would stick out a bit from the other clips.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
New ABC news article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13349385&page=1
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
new maester’s path reward is up… well, not what i expected.
Amir MishaliQuote Reply
New article, HBO gambles on fantasy with “Game of Thrones”.
LexQuote Reply
Well well well, the final reward is up! Before people start asking it to upload it to youtube, that’s not worth it.
KnurkQuote Reply
Superdeluxe,
Very good article that certainly showed some interesting thoughts on what GoT does for the genre, and how themes transcends genres. Also reminds me yet again that I need to watch The Wire.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Is it just me bitching cause I am sooooo jealous? Or does anyone else think Vincent McCabe (impressive though his CV is) looks to old to be Lord Karstark? I had pictured him as a large muscular man in his late 30`s or early 40`s. I don`t know what age Vincent is but he looks old enough to have had his grandsons fighting with Robb.(no offence intended). It sure must be sweet to be cast as a featured extra though…………I live in hope.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
What’s there?
Alexander DubrovskyQuote Reply
The final reward for the Maester’s Path is now online.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Yeah man, some Support the Bottom sweatpants for snuggling right into Chairgate. It’s clearly meant to be.
It would also definitely draw a much more confused/amused/awesome reaction than the ones you see in the mall with “PINK!” written across the back.
LinaQuote Reply
Two Feathers,
Not I. I always pictured him as a man in is mid-fifties to early sixties. It doesn’t really give an age for him, but something about the length of his beard and the amount of grey in it had me thinking of him as older.
As for the idea that he would have grandsons old enough to fight with Rob, there are a number of explanations; he was a late bloomer, he had older sons that died, or even maybe for this series those ARE his grandsons, and his sons are the dead ones.
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
OT but Herc over at Ain’t it Cool News said in the talkbacks that Game of Thrones was “Amazing”. So we can look forward to another good review it seems.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
I don’t give a White-Walker’s fart about the Maester’s path, but I must ask something…
In the series, have the Maester’s chains been changed to belts? I thought I saw ring-like links on Luwin’s belt in one shot (or was it Aemon?) which explains why shots that only show them from the chest up don’t show a chain.
If they have, I don’t really care; it doesn’t change their significance, but I am curious.
Josh ParkerQuote Reply
new tidbit from TV Guide’s Matt Roush halfway down this weeks’s Ask Matt column:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ask-Matt-Killing-1031686.aspx
“And where Game of Thrones is concerned, my review appears in the issue of TV Guide Magazine hitting stands this week, and I’ll post a version of that later this week. In summary: I loved the books and am happy to say the series so far is more than living up to my expectations.”
PurplePeoQuote Reply
Josh Parker,
You say tom ate o….I say tom at o…Its not an easy role by any means, good luck to the guy.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
The Torontoist blog’s weekly post about TV has a paragraph about GoT, and the illustration leading it off is of Peter Dinklage.
“Peter Dinklage is awesome. Game of Thrones is awesome. We are totally biased about this and that is awesome.”
Scroll down to “The Weekend” for their full description. Warning: the word “nerds” appears, but given the above statement, I think the author includes himself.
Carol WittQuote Reply
Oh yeah Josh I just remembered about the Maesters chains, I had the pleasure of working on set, and on two seperate locations with Donald Sumptor,who as I am sure you will know plays Maester Luwin. His chain was made up of large oval rings(Approx. 2″ -3″ long and maybe 1.5″ wide), And he wore it round his neck for sure. I don`t really know why this hasn`t been clearly visible in footage we have seen of other Maesters, all will become clear soon I guess.
Two FeathersQuote Reply
New Firewall & Iceberg podcast is up, with a hefty chunk about Game of Thrones at the end.
http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching/posts/firewall-iceberg-podcast-episode-68-game-of-thrones-the-paul-reiser-show-happy-endings-and-more
PamoyaQuote Reply
Tywin’s Bastard,
I decided to watch The Wire due to comments on here, and I just have to say that it is so totally worth watching! The bf and I just started season 5. I felt like the first season started a bit slow, not bad just slow, but it really draws you in. :)
MiraxQuote Reply
The Wire is the greatest television show ever. . . for 6 more days.
the goatQuote Reply
Hodor,
I was surprised by this comment in the NYT article which actually seemed rather revealing to me. I knew they had been told the ending, but if they correctly guessed the parentage, that confirms to me that it’s in line with all the hints in the books.
But I don’t keep up with every last comment TPTB & GRRM have made so perhaps there are similar almost-spoilers out there.
t_flowersQuote Reply
the goat,
LOL, it’s about to get de-THRONED!
LexQuote Reply
Lex,
“It’s all in the Game.”
the goatQuote Reply
Both Myles Mcnutt and Alyssa Rosenberg offer well written, thoughful pieces.
obsidianQuote Reply
“…of Thrones”
Johan SporreQuote Reply
I laughed aloud at that!
BroQuote Reply
Ia anyone else at the point where you don’t want to read, comment, talk, or see anymore about it or your head is going to explode?
I JUST WANT IT TO BE SUNDAY ALREADY!
MetalgoddessAMBQuote Reply
Ok Weird! right after my last post, I just caught a commercial (another trailer) that was just advertised on NBC between their “entertainment” shows at 7:30 for Game Of Thrones that had a bunch of new scenes in it…The one scene I remember is Robert saying something like “I can’t rule this kingdom if the Starks and The Lannisters are at each others throats.”
MetalgoddessAMBQuote Reply
The reason I watched The Wire was because of the comments here. And yes, it is really the best tv show I’ve ever watched. Season 4 has got to have the best child actors, don’t know if the Stark kids will be able to replace them.
AskelladdQuote Reply
The great thing about the sigil’s of House Gatewatch is that to support the bottom, you can have your pick! Be it the Chair, the actual gate, or what-have-you, there’s no officially official one.
I would love to make it a tee shirt which the proceeds can be donated to charity. Any ideas on what charity or what logos you guys would want to see or wear on your person, be it as a shirt or across your bottom?
Mike RosenzweigQuote Reply
Dunno if anyone is interested, but I put more items up :)
http://www.cafepress.com/S_the_B
Bad news? No sweatpants :C
Good news, they have underwear! Your bottom CAN find support!
By the way I only make around a dollar per item (Sue me, I have Lannister tendencies!) I can switch to no-profit though. I just want everyone to be stylish!
KGQuote Reply
I’m sorely tented by the underwear… I’d add a tiny “House Gatewatch” emblem on the front in a corner, though, you know, like D&G, Prada etc.
(Joking. Don’t have any underwear by the above. Oh yeah, an Emporio Armani outfit which was on discount at 50%) :D
I’m waiting for hoodies, though! I’m hoodie-dependent.
I think KG’s idea deserves a post by itself!
(together with a post on a Blackfish casting, nag nag nag)
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Nice work! I’m still holding out for the sweatpants (ever since I thought of it I’ve really wanted them), but the underwear are a great compromise. Good job!! Does this make you the official tailor of House Gatewatch? ;)
LinaQuote Reply