The Blue Board

I'm really liking the change to Robb's love interest. Much more interesting than Jeyne Westerling.

They seem to be putting off the House of the Undying scene. Should have done it this week IMO, it deserves a decent amount of screen time.

Jaime and Brienne stuff is boring, glad they didn't dwell on that much.

Every scene with Tyrion is gold. I am also really starting to warm up to Ygritte, her conversations with Jon are entertaining.

Oh no it's cool. I was thinking he was a character that had been already introduced in the series.

I'm seriously considering whether or not to start reading the books. Not sure I can wait another year for season 3.

Book 3 is really one of the more interesting turning points in the series. It's really worth reading...

if you do at least start over at 2. The changes this season are very big and you would be confused starting at book 3

Agreed but HBO has to get the romance and the sex involved somehow.

I got the first 4 last week. You can get them on Amazon for just over $20. About 1/4 of the way through the first one and season 1 of the show is remarkably accurate to the book, particularly the dialogue, with a little bit here and there that wasn't in the show.

It's almost like they used to book dialogue as a script so far. I normally read slow and four 800+ page books seemed daunting, but it's making me want to catch up to show's current timeline quickly.

I feel like though it is deviating quite a bit, Season 2 is going to end with the characters pretty much in the same place as they are at the end of Book 2.

I too think they will basically end up in the same places as the books. It is not a big deal at all.

Also agree Tyrion isn't quite as good as the books but that would be hard to live up to.

IIRC, Martin has already told the producers how the series should end. He's adamant that he will not allow another writer to finish the books, but is fine with the show telling the story.

Per the Wiki Page for A Song of Ice and Fire (WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOKS):

With his (Martin's) stated goal to tell the story from beginning to end, he will not truncate the story to fit into an arbitrary number of volumes.[28] Martin is confident to have published the remaining books before the TV series overtakes him,[18] although he told major plot points to the two main Game of Thrones producers in case he should die.[18] (Aged 62 in 2011, Martin is by all accounts in robust health.)[52] However, Martin indicated he would not permit another writer to finish the series.[39] He knows the ending in broad strokes as well as the future of the main characters,[18] and will finish the series with bittersweet elements where not everyone will live happily ever after.[26] Martin hopes to write an ending similar to The Lord of the Rings that he felt gave the story a satisfying depth and resonance. On the other hand, Martin noted the challenge to avoid a situation like the finale of the TV series Lost, which left fans disappointed by deviating too far from their own theories and desires.[34]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire#Planned_novels_and_future

Robert Barratheon was pretty good and except for the difference in hair, the kid that plays Joffrey is perfect for a little, petulant, incest kid.

I wasn't a fan of the guy that played Robert Baratheon for whatever reason. Agree that Joffrey and Arya are pretty spot on.

Also the guy that has been killing for Arya. Can't remember how to spell it and I know I will butcher it. He is spot on too.

Jaqen H'gaar I believe.