A question about Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire

[wolffe]

This is going to contain spoilers for both the first three books and the HBO series, so if you don't want them don't

Okay, so I just made it more than halfway through the HBO series (thank the gods for the torrent) and was shocked that they have Lord Renly and Ser Floras as lovers. I can't remember even an inkling of them being homosexual in the book. The only hints to that I can remember were that Margaery remains a virgin when Renly dies and Floras makes a comment to Sansa about having loved and lost.

So what gives? Did I miss something or did HBO make that up for extra drama?


I'll be starting the 4th book when I get back from the farm next week. I'd start it now, but I don't want to take it to the farm with me.

Comments

[mellusions]

The way I saw it, it was only *barely* hinted at in the books re: his being gay. He has his whole Rainbow Guard and his wife was a virgin, etc. but there was nothing about him having an actual gay relationship. HBO does like it's nekkid peoples so I guess they just decided to be equal opportunity with it. lol

[wolffe]

LOL That's exactly what Mom and I said. That I guess they had to throw a gay couple in there for the dramaz. I figured that's why they had the later lesbian sex scene in Littlefinger's brothel too.

We were nonplussed because we figured the people wouldn't have loved Renly so much if everyone knew he was gay. And I think both he and Loras were a bit miscast. Neither of them are how I pictured them.

And while I'm on that subject I wish they had given Syrio the big, waxed handlebar mustache I pictured him with. :D That was the only thing lacking with that actor IMO.

[mellusions]

I was just MEH on the tv show. Didn't hate it but won't mind waiting a year for it to come around again either. /shrug

HBO has had some of my most favorite tv shows ever (The Wire, Sex and the City, Six Feet Under...I could go on..) but these last two series based on books (True Blood being the other) I really don't care for at all. I need to stop reading the books first, I guess, if I want to get into it. lol

[wolffe]

Oh, as is usually the case the books are infinitely better. Although I couldn't get past the first True Blood book, so I might like the series. lol

[labradors.livejournal.com]

OMG! That scene was like.. wtf? Keith hadn't been watching the series but I swear every time he walked past the tv, people were going at it doggie style. (I started calling it 'a game of nipples' in my head.) And for THAT scene he happened to be sitting on the couch. I was like.. uh... just so you know that wasn't in the book.
I was dissappointed in how both Loras and Renly were portrayed. Renly is supposed to be a younger, leaner version of Robert, but he looks like an office clerk. And Loras is supposed to be HOT and... he is greasy and wimpy and kind of gross. I was sad.

I ended up googling around after that episode and there were a lot of people who'd read all the books who were equally confused.

I re-read the books after watching the series and you have to be REALLY paying attention to pick up on the homosexual theme between the two. There are a few comments here and there from Jaimie and maybe Tyrion? Everyone knew but no one really said anything. And they mention during Renly's and Margaery's wedding that Renly was talking more to Loras during the dinner.

Overall I am a little disappointed in how much gratuitous sex HBO added. There's a scene later on where Littlefinger is yakking away at two of his prostitutes while they are on each other. I guess I'm turning into a prude in my old age...

[wolffe]

That was one scene I actually caught on HBO during a free preview weekend or some such. The gratuitous sex is a bit much for me too. I mean, it's in the books but it's not so overt and certainly not with the gay/lesbian stuff. I think they just had to put extra scenes in to explain things quickly, and they decided to do it with sex in the background. I didn't like that they put in scenes with Varys and Littlefinger espousing at length to one another either.

And I REALLY didn't like the first sex scene with Dany and Drogo. They had him saying "no" like he was supposed to, but they didn't let her say "yes" in the end. Instead, they made him seem like a total savage. Makes you wonder why she falls in love with him, whereas in the books it's obvious he's kind and gentle with her.

[labradors.livejournal.com]

Mostly what bothers me is that none of the sex scenes have actually been... sexy.

This cracked me up a bit. http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6579356/game-of-thrones-rpg

[wolffe]

I saw that from a tweet, and snickered. :)