Welp.

[rogueslayer452]

++ Welp, we just got confirmation from the writer's of Game of Thrones themselves how they are basically talentless hacks. I mean, we been knew for a long time, but the fact that they openly and proudly admitted to their incompetence is astounding. Definitely read through the whole thread completely because it just gets worse and worse. I'm not surprised, but it is rather shocking that they would be so blase in their answers and the fact that they even still have careers. It's unbelievable that anyone would want to work with them after what was revealed here.

++ In other news, it appears that Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series may be in talks of getting an adaptation on STARZ.

I tried reading the first book, Kushiel's Dart, many years ago and I just couldn't get into it because the writing style was difficult for me to get through. But I do know that the series came highly recommended and many seemed to like it, and if it gets adapted into a television series it might translate a bit better for someone like me to understand. This, of course, depends on the right person who understands the source material to translate it from page to screen, as usual. Although I will say that my fancasting for Phèdre nó Delaunay was always Morena Baccarin, even though I know she's not the correct age especially now many years later. But still, that's how I always kind of envisioned her. And if this is to be on STARZ and we know how television casting works, they will most likely age up the character, or at least have an older actress portray her.

Comments

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

It was everyone else around the writers -- actors and production crew, etc -- that were doing great, but the writers themselves were awful. Even if the actors did the best they could with the material they were given, the showrunners/main writers were just not good and it got worse and worse as the show went on. The last season is especially proof of this, as plenty of other examples throughout the years.

I would say the reason why Game of Thrones was successful was because of everyone else except for the writers.

[perpetual.livejournal.com]

I don't really think that's possible. They weren't the best, but shows with outright terrible writers don't survive. The show gets cancelled or the writers get replaced.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Normally that would be true, about them being replaced since it does happen all the time in television, but for whatever reason that wasn't an option. Benioff and Weiss wanted full control of things and it was either their way or the highway (ex: they delayed the final season and wanted it shorter so they could move onto other things, HBO/GRRM begged for more with an unlimited budget or to hand the show to someone else to take over, but they flat out refused). There were just so many things wrong with the way they handled things, not just with the writing but with the actors, the crew, etc.

I think GOT is a unique case all on its own. It's the fault of the showrunners/writers, it's the fault of HBO for going through with the show if they hated the script they provided for the pilot, it's also GRRM fault for hiring these two inexperienced and incompetent people to begin with. I just think, overall, while the show had good moments and didn't start off so terribly, it definitely went downhill fast and should serve as a cautionary tale.

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

The problem is, the weakness of D&D's own writing only became this apparent late in the game. The best parts of Game of Thrones had always been adapted from the books. D&D's fumbles had been noted by fans before (changes to the Shae and Dorne storylines, for instance), but hadn't been able to accumulate too much. And they rushed this last season to a conclusion.

I can write (and am writing) a document's worth on all the non-subjective writing fumbles and failures of logic of this last season. One problem seen with every character in the season is the utter lack of allowing them to have character development. Everyone became one-note simplified versions of themselves like you would see in a fanfic.

[perpetual.livejournal.com]

The show was never going to be as good as the books. People watched it for the eye candy and the soap opera drama, so it's not a surprise (or even a fault, in my opinion) that the showrunners leaned into those aspects rather than attempt the intricacy of GRRM's writing.

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

I mean not even the minimum amount of character development you see in any typical TV show. Regression, even, where what evolution they had already had wasn't allowed to stick. It's beyond the norm and violates the core tenets of good writing.

[perpetual.livejournal.com]

Well, the DVDs are out in December, so I suppose I'll find out soon. Since I've always viewed it as more of an illustration than a story of its own, though, I doubt I'll be very disappointed.

[noybusiness.livejournal.com]

To quote Daenerys about the Army of the Dead in Season 7, "You have to see it to know."