George RR Martin on How the Show Compares to the Books

[@mrmacedon]

Tyrion Season 1-5: Im not questioning your honour im denying its existence! Tyrion season 8: LoL VaRyS nO DicC!

[@mrmacedon]

@FORREST GUMP everything was ruined

[@uncleclem7381]

Mr. Macedon Wow, how original.

[@carancole5974]

@FORREST GUMP what was bad in season 5 and season 6?

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

He changed after murdering his father and the woman he loved... I wonder why he changed... hmmm

[@carancole5974]

@FORREST GUMP Its very funny to me when people stopped liking stannis when he burned shereen alive. He was burning people alive way before that and killed his own brother by cucking his wife with a witch which is required for dark magic assassination but hey all of that is ok😂

[@Kay2be2mr]

I actually applaud actors that confront writers and say "my character wouldn't say or behave like this." Sometimes it's necessary. There are usually many writers involved in American shows. Much more than there are in British television. But it's been the same one actor portraying that character since day one. So usually the actor's concerns are valid.

[@TommyCurrell]

Mark Hamil had concerns his character in the last Jedi but I think it fell on deaf ears

[@silversnail1413]

"Who said it was your character?" David Chase, creator of The Sopranos.

[@samtagg8754]

He did get some of the dialogue in star wars changed though

[@justineharper3346]

@@TommyCurrell that was immediately where my mind went as well. Rian should have listened to Mark #notmylukeskywalker

[@hitmontree3736]

@@TommyCurrell Hamill was right!

[@concernedspectator]

Seasons 1-4 are such classics that it's heartbreaking what happened. Almost overnight the show ceased to matter. But there is one silver lining: it made me all the more excited for the books.

[@borysvengerov3398]

Hear, hear. For me the motivation for reading the books was to find out what would happen in S5-S8 if they were done properly. But the books turned out to be infinitely better than expected!

[@monsieurdeblah-blooh-blah4917]

That is not a silver lining, it's an even bigger tragedy. Cuz the books aren't going to be finished.

[@luke-wn3el]

@@monsieurdeblah-blooh-blah4917 they will, maybe not by hime but they will be finished

[@DoctorJammer]

@@luke-wn3el GRRM said he didn't want anyone to finish the books if he died and told his wife to burn his notes and microwave his hard drives.

[@billyguyjoe1858]

@@DoctorJammer source?

[@insomniacbritgaming1632]

GRRM wanted atleast 10-12 seasons... you could tell D&D got bored of it by Season 5... sometimes you need new directors and creators every few seasons

[@thebigcnel]

The failure of the last 2-3 seasons falls solely on D&D and their narcissism and selfishness. You're absolutely right and they should have handed it off but they wouldn't because they wanted to be sole creators and be able to say it was only their show. They ruined the best show ever because of it. It seems like everything good these days gets ruined by people.

[@xellos5262]

Don't think even that it was their boredom. I just don't think those two are very creative. The moment they lost the source material and had to come up with their own dialogues, twists and turns, it became stale. I think the main problem was that GoT happened too early. You have to finish the show, but the source material will never be in time for it. If you wait for the source material, your actors will become an issue (think of child actors growing up, or old ones dying) With luck there will be another GoT in 10 years, when the books are done. If they're done in 10 years :D

[@cdr861532]

@@xellos5262 I highly doubt there will be a remake of GOT......There are allegedly some spin offs (or shows about other GRRM books) coming, but who knows really. GRRM had time to write the last book.....He had over 6 years ( or however long the show was) to write it. I think that in the last few season he was no longer a write on the show, which hurt as well. Even without the book, you could have GRRM help write the characters dialogue since he was the one that created the characters in the first place.

[@xellos5262]

@@cdr861532 Almost everything gets a remake. Things from Pop-Culture get multiple. Think Superheros like Spiderman, Batman, etc. Think Ghostbusters, or even simple classics like The Producers. Everything gets remakes somehow. As for the writing thing. GRRM refused to write more than one episode per season, as it would take him too long. After season 5, where his books ended he dropped out completely, because it would eat away even more time to write one. His books took priority.

[@alexx3914]

D&D didn’t want other writers working on it.

[@artvrrvtra5235]

He is trying to be nice so that David and Dan won't spoil all the other plot twists he told them.

[@ChopTopSawyer]

Artvr Rvtra He’s sounds like Sansa. “Dan and david are the one true writers, I’m to be their queen”

[@m0zric]

Is it important to you that GRRM, personally or otherwise, holds Dan and Dave in contempt? If so, why?

[@artvrrvtra5235]

​@@m0zric okay don't act like some internet Dalai Lama. First of all how can anybody hold someone in contempt not personally? Your sentence makes no sense. Second of all, if you really want to hear it, then yeah, D&D wasted the potential of the incredible story and we will most likely never in this reality have a chance of fixing their mistake. They deserve to die for spitting on the art, just like barbarians that burned scrolls of Alexandrian Library deserve to be turned into ashes as well. I am 100% sure that GRRM is - to say the least - irritated by that situation, it was clear from the moment when they spoiled Hodor reveal and George was clearly saddened for not being able to make that reveal himself. Destroying the rest of his legacy - in cinematic version - definitely made him angry. Because of that I would prefer that he said the truth about his feelings about this bullshit instead of trying to be nice to those two jackasses out of his professional courtesy. But that is his call. I dont know if you aimed that question at me but that is the answer. If talentless people will keep getting away with ruining a true beauty we will soon wake up in the world as colorful as concrete. To not let that to happen, a personal backlash is necessary.

[@m0zric]

Artvr Rvtra Holding someone in contempt publically is different from keeping it a private matter, so yes it does make sense. Wasting the potential of something is quite different than burning something to the ground, or erasing knowledge from the human zeitgeist. GRRM’s novels are not to the like of the historical documents that have been destroyed as a means of ethnic cleansing, nor do D&D deserve to die for failing to satisfy your expectations of a TV-show, you fucking lunatic. It’s not hard to imagine why GRRM hasn’t released a continuation of his series with fanatics like you breathing down his neck, as if he’s the next Shakespeare. Nothing is destroyed, nothing is erased. What the fuck is wrong with you? You are not the arbiter of artistic beauty.

[@m0zric]

Eagle Not in the slightest. People who spend their time wishing harm on D&D as if they did something criminal for finishing their TV-show in an unfulfilling way, deserve to know their psychopathology, though. It’s pathetic to a degree where it would be harmful to not confront their absolute mania.

[@satorugojo6579]

“How does GoT compare to ASOIAF?” “Well you see there are two type of writers, the architect and the gardeners.”

[@roryedward2631]

You're so clever, making the same comment as everyone else on every interview. lol

[@jaimelannister1797]

"Well you see there are two types of writers, competent writers and incompetent writers"

[@MR-kf5hd]

problem is d&d are neither

[@ktk44man]

​@@roryedward2631 not everyone can be GRRM. David and Dan proved that well enough LOL

[@ShadowPa1adin]

One of the great things about good authors is like Martin is how mellow they are and unlike the crazed, obsessive fans of their work.

[@ClaireYunFarronXIII]

True.

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

He's a very sweet guy

[@zarmiodrag]

Are you talking about fans of his work, meaning ASOIAF, or fans of Benioff&Weiss' work, meaning GoT? If former, then you can't be further from the truth, because actually ASOIAF fans have been constantly attacked by crazed fans of the show for every single complaint they made, regardless of how legitimate the complaint may have been (and most of them were pretty legitimate). If latter, then first, no, it's not his work, and second, those same fans who eventually turned against Benioff and Weiss have been equally (if not more!) crazed and obsessive in their support for the show, but funny enough people like you didn't complain against it back then.

[@BabyConan41]

Martin is especially understanding because he worked in TV. I'm sure with the benefit of hindsight, if D&D could go back they would have taken HBO's offer for another season. Even if it cost them star wars. I think they honestly thought they could tell this story in the time they gave themselves. Big whoops.

[@dev2puffpass]

@@zarmiodrag stop writing essays to strangers on the internet

[@horaceb2614]

KZbin vid: George RR Martin on (literally anything) Thumbnail: strokey strokey beard beard

[@ihaveacar]

They started changing stuff that weakened the story right from the very first scene of the pilot with the 3 Night's Watch rangers north of the wall finding the dead wildlings. In the book it isn't the young skinny thief guy that survives and Ned executes it is the older guy who had been in the night's watch longer than everyone except Maester Aemon so nobody could believe that he had abandoned the watch. And he was still so scared he couldn't form a complete sentence unlike in the show when the skinny guy is just acting normal like "I know what I done was wrong I abandoned the watch but I seen what I seen. Tell my family I'm sorry."

[@azzurriblue65]

It can't be identical to the book, they're so dense and detailed, it would take 20 seasons to respectfully depict GRRM's writing word for word. The opening of the book is incredibly action packed and fear inducing, but i think the pilot gets that across quite well without having to resort to an overdependence on violence/action.

[@lamedame1213]

Honestly the show had good parts as well, Arya and Tywin’s exchanges were extraordinary.

[@azzurriblue65]

@Beizs I know, I think eight 10 episode seasons would have sufficed but unfortunately, that didn't happen. I still love the show, it has some hiccups toward the end but it's still one of if not my favourite show ever.

[@dzzzzzt]

@Weedz420 You mean the old man Ned executes at the start is the old guy from the very first chapter, the prologue?

[@danijellino1921]

@@azzurriblue65 Hiccups? Bro the show barfed all over itself starting from season 5.

[@Pradeep_889]

They are very different. I started to read books after season 2 ended. I couldn't wait myself for another year to learn about the white walkers. So I skipped first two books and started to read from book 3. After couple of chapters, I realized that show had cut out so many characters and the fight against white walkers (in books they are called 'Others') happened in a very different setup. So I went back to book one and I didn't stop until I finished all 5 books.

[@joanavitorino1436]

@Jim P They use both. Sometimes they seem to mean the same, sometimes they seem to mean different things. It's part of the mysteries, enigmas, misunderstandings, that make ASOIAF different than GOT

[@Longshanks1690]

It doesn't compare. GOT and ASOIAF had so little in common with each other by the end, it was quite beyond belief how this happened. The kind of thing that should be taught in media courses about how not to make a show, literature courses about how not to tell a story and management courses about how not to run a property. End of discussion.

[@lordodysseus]

This is a great comment. I've had this idea for so long. "How not to tell a story." That's something that can be said about a lot of modern Hollywood.

[@Longshanks1690]

@Bulwort Baggins Slide and dice, brother.

[@rvanzo925]

I believe the end will be the same. GRR Martin is no genius.

[@al-bot1094]

Reality and budget is why they are different. It shouldn't be that hard to understand.

[@ruifigueiredo5486]

@@al-bot1094 nonsense, fAegon, the Dorne plot, lady stoneheart and jeyne poole can all be achieved without stretching your budget and considering the last season alone cost 100 million dollars i don't see how money was an issue

[@Spumoon]

4:47 and yet this collaboration and respect for an actor's opinion has created iconic lines like Han Solo's "I know." I think Emilia Clarke herself could have written a better ending for Dany after so many years spent getting into the character's head.

[@ACinemafanatic]

It’s sad she put so much in Dany while goin through her brain aneurysms she’s really a trooper and she looked so heartbroken after finding out the fate of Dany in the last season. D&D are terrible writers one of them wrote x men origins Wolverine and decided to make Deadpool that way which didn’t work.

[@lirfrank]

Yeah I don't agree with him there either.

[@gms610]

@@ACinemafanatic do you really think a characters fate should be decided based off sympathy for the actor's personal life? that's not a good way to write stories lol that's just fan service

[@thejordanbrandandibleedpan1545]

For all the people who have the patience to read the books we are getting the full Game of Thrones experience truly amazing

[@georget3953]

the difference in quality is genuinely SHOCKING like it hurt seeing what they’d done with such an amazing book

[@Hannibal082]

1:48 that joke didnt really land well

[@Nobodyyoucarabout]

yikesssss

[@coqui9879]

Ozzie Solo oof

[@bayremdridi5131]

This one didn't land at all 9:28

[@saqlainalvi5485]

@@bayremdridi5131 i dont know had me rolling

[@bromixsr]

I don't know how much he was attempting a joke, but regardless...Dan is one of the few people to interview George who doesn't come off as an absolute cringeworthy ass. Writers seem to know how to talk with writers.

[@juanpabueno]

I'm rereading the books. Wow there's so much content, they could've done 2 seasons per book and fit everything by the time he finished the next book. What a missed opportunity, they could've literally printed money

[@darrenfleming7901]

except the actors don't want to spend 20 years of their lives on the same project, and also the actor age because they are real people, for example Arya's actress would be 25 years old if they shot a new season today, It's kinda hard to portray a 12 year old character when you're 25.

[@juanpabueno]

@@darrenfleming7901 they made mark Hamill younger, I'm sure the most expensive show in the Planet could've done something similar or even better, i guess we'll never know

[@intergalactic92]

Love that this is basically George telling us that it’s ok for adaptations to not match the books they are based on, because this is something I have been saying for years. It’s only a problem when a change makes something worse.

[@scorpiusbalthazar4327]

It's the exact same thing with football, it's only wrong if it doesn't work.

[@CARLSOLBERG]

It made everything worse :(

[@gingerbell07]

“David and Dan have done a great job...” 😂😂😂

[@romainburgy908]

I think he meant they had done a great job adapting his book for 4 seasons, but when season 5 began to differ a lot from the books he let the show go its own route

[@muhammadgalal98]

They have when they were adapting his books..

[@gingerbell07]

Up until the ending of ASOS when they diverged, anyway.

[@gingerbell07]

Don’t forget that terrible and pointless dialogue towards the end of season 4, between Tyrion and Jaime, about a Lannister moron who smashed bugs. That should’ve been Jaime confessing about Tysha, fueling a dark turn for Tyrion.

[@theironchair9109]

Yeh and lady stoneheart what the fuck season 1 ' 3 were great 4 good 5 - 8 trash

[@darriusbethea2373]

Anyone who has read the books knows he being polite about the show 🤣🤣🤣 show is hot garbage compared to the books especially towards the latter seasons.

[@186bingo]

Pinkaugust yeah it had gold moments when they had the book material to base it off of.

[@schmebulockjizz]

Show was always bad. Since the very beginning.

[@DurpyKraken]

Nah it’s just book fanboys being picky bitches. I hope people like you realIze how hard it is to put words into reality

[@yossarian8561]

@@DurpyKraken mate they butchered it.

[@Johannnnnnnnnnnnn]

@@schmebulockjizz Well 1st seasons are Masterpiece level Its clearly One of the greatest ever

[@lordodysseus]

I've never heard George swear before. Oddly enough.

[@mirarstudios]

seemed strangely uncouth to my ears when he did!

[@tjhall9377]

There's a really good one where he says "wieners" and "boobies" in response to when South Park did their GoT parody...late 2013 I think.

[@Drew-jy7dl]

Lots of sweating within his writing though haha

[@workhard.nerdharder.3518]

He famous asked Stephen King "How the fuck do you write so fast?!"

[@LokiTheClever]

@@workhard.nerdharder.3518 Simple quantity over quality

[@anniketimmermans1900]

I have to say, as far as I have read them, the books are very well written with great detail. It is almost always impossible to make a tv show or movie, that completely covers everything written in the books. There are some shows and movies, that are able to capture the feel and, to some extend, are really good depictions of a book. I, for one, look at what a great job Peter Jackson and crew did with LOTR, or the Poldark series, based on the books of the Cornwall saga. Overall I loved Game of Thrones, watched the whole thing twice. I also think GRR Martin may not be too heartbroken about how the show ended, given that many of us have now purchased his books and are eagerly awaiting the next installment.

[@sandhyak8232]

R

[@KevTheImpaler]

George RR Martin can turn a crummy question into a good question.

[@maxr1826]

this is one of the most honest answers ive seen him give

[@tammymartinez7488]

When he mentioned beauty and the beast it brought back memories. I loved that tv show!!!

[@robertkelley1837]

Most of the Game of Thrones viewers probably have no clue how great that show actually was or for that matter what it even is, lol...God I feel old.

[@sydnitheromantictaylor112]

George finish the ASOIAF series PLEASE! GOT left a bad taste in my mouth, his story can't be that BAD I refuse to believe it and I don't mean the endgame I meant how it got there and how it was executed in the last two seasons.

[@Victor-ge8cs]

Of course the books won’t be that bad

[@Carlos-ln8fd]

I'd recommend reading the sample chapters of Winds of Winter, like 20% of the book is available online for free and it's absolutely genius

[@Victor-ge8cs]

monokhem I think he will be finish when he feels it is good enough to to get out there. All of us whining is hurting his creative process. If we want we’ll written books we should let him take his time. I’d rather wait a few more years than have a shitted out story.

[@MasterPoppers]

@monokhem I fully believe Winds will be released before he dies. Dream of Spring? That's up in the air at the moment.

[@reneelasswell3734]

Amen. I was a huge Daenerys fan but I could have gotten behind her turning to tyranny had it been done properly. She could have been a fascinating villain had it not happened in just two episodes.

[@constantinvasiliev2065]

He is ALWAYS interesting to listen to

[@Justifyingrandomness22]

"Look how they massacre my boy" -George R R Martin towards GOT tv show

[@jovedo27]

Lmao

[@darth856]

Should have gotten Winds of Winter out faster then

[@TheReasonableLiberal-hn2rs]

@@darth856 Well do you want quality or do you want shit? The man takes the time to plan is story out and get it right.

[@chblegendary165]

Great Godfather reference

[@sonyabadass]

D&D Mistakes are: Don't have enough material and stubborn they just want 7 seasons, (to be fair their writing is good as long they have GRRM complete material) GRRM Mistake: Procrastination

[@anarchist_parable]

Tikus Keriting There's enough source material to have made 12 seasons. They edited so much out, cut so many characters and added others, left important storylines unexplored to just touch on a handful of major plot points that actually spanned across all five books. Then having hit all of those they started making shit up and couldn't even keep track of themselves. George is definitely dragging along in finishing the series but it didn't need to be finished for Dan & Dave to have done a better job. They clearly just didn't have the passion for it or the respect for the time fans of the series had invested into the story they were telling.

[@Eleni1002]

Hyacinth Miles It was extremely hard to include all those in 10 episodes. Martin had to stop writing chapters for five main characters in order to develop the storylines you are talking about. It's not easy to do the same in a TV show. Plus no matter what, they would've still ran out of source material.

[@SRosenberg203]

The Pitch Meeting for Season 8 really says it perfectly. HBO offered them more episodes SO many times, and they were just bored with the show and didn't care anymore. And then they complained that it sucked so much, because they only had 6 episodes to tell a book and a half worth of story.

[@ЛивияФилипова]

@@SRosenberg203 Dumb and Dumber is the best definition of these two. It could be epic ending in TV history. Instead it was as if five-year old wrote it.

[@SRosenberg203]

@@ЛивияФилипова kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHLLfIKMaNN8o7M This is the video I meant. I originally said Honest Trailer, but I meant Pitch Meeting.

[@marynu9637]

He gives the best interviews

[@HierophanticRose]

That's a very diplomatic answer from GRRM I feel. It is bizarre he would allude to the "Death of the Author" as an Author and Worldbuilder of the old school variety

[@1243fad]

Everything that happened in season 7 and 8 could’ve and should’ve been stretched out to 2 more seasons minimum. The man said so himself. That’s the whole point, that’s why the show ended badly. Period.

[@LeahTargaryen]

eric banks the show ended badly because the major plot points made no sense. Even if bullshit is strung out, it’s still bullshit.

[@borysvengerov3398]

@@LeahTargaryen All of it COULD make sense, if properly set up. Theoretically it was possible to do this in a couple seasons. The show has omitted a lot (most?) of character insights, and throwing in some smartly done flashbacks to fill in the void would provide some internal conflict and the basis for their unexpected decisions. Mad Dany, Stupified Varys, Simp-turn-hitman Jon, Smug King Bran - all these plot twists are salvageable with a proper setup. Granted, it's hard to do for a dumb person and even harder for a one which is dumber 😑

[@andriasperils1832]

"Dan and Dave have done a great job." Naw fam. They literally shat all over the wonderful job you've done with the books, and all over the viewers intelligence 😒

[@AleksandarIvanov69]

He is obligated to say that dude... He knows the truth and we know the truth. Stick to the books and you'll be fine

[@-few-fernando11]

You dont understand. D&D kind of forgot

[@drewkavi6327]

Made one of the most critically acclaimed TV shows of all time, cut them some slack. Most people probably wouldn’t know about ASOIAF if not for the show

[@andriasperils1832]

@@drewkavi6327 they made an absolutely amazing first 6 seasons, I'll give them that much. But seasons 7 and 8 were horrendous in quality compared to the previous ones.

[@smithgdwg]

@@andriasperils1832 It just shows they are good at adapting a story to the screen. When they have to come up with their own material, they were not up to the task.

[@Jose-wq4zr]

Hes basically saying in the nicest way possible "it's now how I'd have done it" lol

[@samiullah102]

the person who will never bore you if you are reader or writer

[@Influx27]

To steal a line from George, "How many children does Cersei Lannister have?" According to the books and season 5 onward, it's Three, but according to season 1-4, it's Four. George is pointing to continuity as the issue, but the problem is that the show doesn't even follow its own continuity.

[@jesuschrist8178]

when does it say cersei has 4 children

[@CKSiLoYT]

@@jesuschrist8178 In the show she tells Catelyn about a child she had with Big Robbo whilst Bran is recovering from getting dropped from the watchtower by Jaime no less

[@iiADIDASx]

CKSiLo the child died tho

[@Influx27]

@@iiADIDASx and? So do all her other children and a number of Robert's bastard children.

[@CKSiLoYT]

He did, and remains her child nonetheless

[@leroloralarlora]

5:16 you are the god man it's your work idk how he doesn't have the biggest authority in the writers' room

[@pumpy7001]

Never fear guys. George will finish his books. I have deemed it so. I know it may not sound like much. But I promise the books will be done.

[@borysvengerov3398]

The books are finished: Pumpy the Dreamer has seen it in his visions. The books are finished in the future, but what is in the future - comes to the past. It is known.

[@Stakhanovites]

It is known.

[@alexarias5717]

I used to think people just kept asking George the same exact questions for years now but now i'm starting to think he gives the same damn answers on purpose ughhh

[@turtleanton6539]

Yeeejh

[@Dtown3]

I do think a few characters in the books were actually improved in the show if from nothing more than great casting. The Hound, Tywin, Jorah, Bronn < all better in the show. S1-S4 were exceptional.

[@snuffles5451]

Yeah the casting was good. Like Charles Dance, he is fucking awesome. However, Dave and Dan were still smudging stuff in season 1-4. If you want a true Dave and Dan character from season 1-4 look no further than Shae. True she was in the books, but her personality was recreated by Dave and Dan. And her personality is exactly the same as the Sand Snakes. Loose Hollywood Tsundere type. Makes decisions that don't make sense for no reason other than to drive the plot.

[@jamie_d0g978]

All the secondary characters are better in the show, because we actually see them. The Pov style in the books is great, but let a lot of characters almost out of the history in certain points.

[@TheOnlyEstebenloco]

Many years ago I was able to go to a book signing for Christopher Paulini, the author of the Inheritance Cycle. As you might also remember, a movie was made that was pretty fucking trash. His response when asked if he was happy with the film adaptation, he said something similar to what GRRM said here. "They did a great job with what they had". I'm glad authors are a lot more mellow than their fans.

[@jasonwhyttes1679]

7:04 I farted right as the host looked up and it caught me off guard.

[@had1254]

I didn't watch this series until recently and had already heard all the hype about the ending. For nine years this cast and crew provided amazing entertainment for millions of people. It may not have ended the way some wanted it to but I loved it. I was expecting this ending as the characters in the final season seemed to stay point on as they had been through out the final season. I couldn't conceive writing a story with so many different characters, places, plots, you name it. Thank you to all involved in this tremendous creative process and for bringing it into our homes. Wish all of you the very best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@michiru95]

MY QUEEN DESERVED BETTER.

[@ExtraVictory]

I dont think you understand how this works lmfao. You aren't actually in charge of what GRRM characters deserve. D&D aren't either. GRRM told them the ending. That was confirmed by GRRM and by D&D. And GRRM said himself his ending won't be different than the show ending. He said there will be slight tweaks but no major changes. So yeah lol everyone got the major outcome that they were intended to by the only guy who's opinion matters.

[@katokianimation]

@@ExtraVictory i think you are seeing too much inte a simple sentence and making a fool out of yoursel by writting this stupid essay

[@AlexCole272]

Remember the three-eyed Raven told Bran he’ll fly, only thing he flew was some eagles, I really thought he was going to take control of one the dragons so he can help save Jon from the other dragon and help out. I thought Jon was going to face the generals and night king with 2 other people.

[@dantemcgill2126]

The way I like to see is that Game of Thrones is an account in a book within Westeros, whereas ASOIAF is the true account of events which, if anyone knows history, is far longer.

[@ConnorJara]

4:27 "Is it distracting?" This struck me as really rude or tone deaf from the interviewer. Like we all know what he's getting at. Might as well ask why haven't you finished the books George, its been years George!! Rude. George's response leads me to beleive it struck a nerve. He's sort of saying that Game of Thrones was never his whole life, he was always involved in tons of different stuff since the 70's. He wants for people to leave him alone and to let him chase what he's interested in. Fanbases these days are crazy entitled. Like I get they want the series finished, but if i were George, I wouldn't want to finish it if everyone was questioning my work ethic, or saying I'd die before i finish the series. Either way, he helped create Elden ring so I'll forever love him for his contribution to that game. George is an incredible imagination.

[@vanferuli3]

Scarlett *-* love her si much

[@had1254]

I read tons of books, not a big fan on reading sci-fi books but even with that said, I have rarely if ever read a book that was made into a movie/series,etc.....where they did not change something important and leave out much more information. It would be extremely difficult to strictly stick to the books. This series may have changed my mind on reading sci-fi/fantasy books though.

[@azzurriblue65]

I'm very interested in seeing how GRRM finishes the books off, as allegedly most of the MAIN plot points in the series that people hate are actually GRRM's ideas. I'd love to see Dany's slow spiralling descent into insanity unfurl in his literature, or the real final fight with The Night King. Exciting stuff. I love the shows and books. smd.

[@fyraltari1889]

Martin said that the Night's King will never appear on page. As it is, the book one is a very different character from the TV show's anyway.

[@jamie_d0g978]

I don't think Danny is going to be that mad in the books. She will probably burn kings landing by accident. The Night King doesn't exist and I don't even think there's going to be a battle against the others

[@pan7374]

Damn the pressure he’s under to finish these books is insane. It’s probably a lot harder to write these later ones too, because it’s one thing to write the setup but it’s another thing entirely to write an epic battle/conclusion. Especially with zombies I bet.

[@IHaveNoNamePeriod]

dude they're White Walkers/Others, not mere zombies.....have some respect for the writing

[@Harrytc7]

@@IHaveNoNamePeriod 😂😂

[@Bratzismylife]

People need to read the books instead. I’m glad I could read his books, absolutely a great author.

[@erenjeager6583]

it kinda piss me off when people claim got as greatest tv series i mean it is a good show but when compared with books it literally stands nowhere

[@Bratzismylife]

@@erenjeager6583 I agree, books are always better. It felt like I watching an ad for the book tbh.

[@davidcoleman757]

I'm not going near ASOIAF until George proves he can spot the landing. If the books end the same way as the show I'm not interested. I'm not knocking the scale and detail of his creation, it's staggering, but you have to know how to wrap it up. I will not be revisiting the TV show. Ever.

[@PrivateEyeYiYi]

He’s completely right about different versions being equally true. Compare the movie Bladeruuner with the book its based on (Do Androids Dream…). Completely different in some respects, identical in others, but both movie and book are valid.

[@chuecan2007]

George is such a diplomat

[@Abc-tx4zr]

Even the people who never read a book watched the got finale and were like what in the fuck

[@Minnastina]

That interview really proves that the only writing in games of thrones that was good was ONLY what George RR Martin wrote. Coz he says he wrote an episode for the first few seasons, which was easy for him, coz they were still just adaptations from his book, but from season 5 onward, the story had changed from the books too much... & that's basically where GOT went down hill, season 5!

[@KhalDrogo76]

I think the question is how are the rest of the books yet to be released going to fit into the completed show's plot???? The show had already diverged from the books (no Catelyn Stark post Red Wedding in the show, no Victarion Greyjoy, no AEGON TARGARYEN that Varys smuggled out/not Jon Snow!) there are gigantic differences between the books and the show.....so how are the books going to progress at this point from a plot standpoint, that is; if we ever get the books......

[@KrytoRift]

Idk, I was practically a super fan of both but the shows ending has ruined me ever rewatching it again or recommending it to anyone and I so stinking tired of waiting on the book that I probably won't even be bothered reading it. I've moved on..

[@Story2ScreenMovieReviewPodcast]

The lesson to be learned here is not adapt a series of literature when, 1; it's not complete, 2; the incomplete complexity of the novels, 3; don't hire egotistical hacks who are pursuing self glory because eventually it leads to disaster, (which DandD are now disgraced due to the Austin Film Festival). There are various other reasons but this three are the main ones.

[@kvothethebloodless7555]

I would love to know which episodes he wrote in every season. Where can I find that out?

[@jerrycleave]

this interviewers hands r crazy , i could not stop laughing

[@joebrookscomedy]

Man don’t lie to me on a thumbnail

[@joelthomas6517]

Well it's more like the books and the TV show are completely different continuities. Well, I say that but it's more like they're alternate universes.

[@Lee_Lee73]

I feel like if WOW isn't released soon, it will never be released. How much longer must we anticipate!! It's torturous lol

[@danielolsson7134]

My only gripe with the A Song of Ice and Fire Books are the lack of a proper chapter index.

[@lordofcastamere9376]

that could spoil things in the current way. After the red wedding, there is no more cathelyn chapters. That might give away she's dead.

[@anabel76]

I seriusly wonder if his will is so strong to endure the amount of criticism that may come once the his books are finished. Despite the fact that the TV show's final seasons were an utter disaster in many ways, much of the serious criticism the endind received had to do with the themes of the story. Scarlet had 3 childern in the book, one in the movie but was a terrible mother in both. The message was the same :savy business women are terrible mothers, women should stay at home and let men run the world.

[@Diamondsrfvr]

I agree with you. If he still writes an ending where Dany commits genocide, where Jon kills Dany, where they choose Bran, and send Jon to the wall......It will remain a cynical, devastating, nihilistic ending. I don't know if anyone would find it satisfying.

[@ivanrenic4243]

@@Diamondsrfvr the main idea for the ending is great because that's Game of Thrones, a realistic and a not always just and happy story. That's exactly what the ending is. Jon was sent to the wall or there would've been another war, besides Jon never wanted to be king or lord. Sansa learned about the game of thrones and became the lady queen of Winterfell, Dany fought her whole life not to become her father but failed in the end. The only problem I have is: Why Bran as king? And why is he so evil in the last season, like he actually plotted to become king. And the south is now basically just a colony of the north? And I have a problem with how it's executed. I think the story needed at least 2 seasons more to make the changes of the characters' personalities and emotions more realistic and believeable.

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

@@Diamondsrfvr Oh, come now, read the Daenerys chapters again. She learned about the world from her brother, all she was taught is that she deserves Westeros. She was then carried around the world with no control, still with a very black and white mentality. Then, when Jorah suggest to buy slaves, she accept, doesn't see someting wrong. It is only when she learns about their terrible life conditions that she hesitates. She tries to dehumanize them(they are not men). It doesn't work, she decides to kill the slave master. She orders the death of any slave master except children under 12. No time to judge, just get rid of them all. She continues to Yunkai, then to Meeren. When she see 163 children crucified, she impulsively takes the decision to kill the same number in Meeren, without knowing who did that(this is why separation of power is good, people). Then, after Barristan told her about Aerys and the people she freed are starving, she decides to stay and reign, to clear the mess she created. In book 5, she tries her best, ends up making compromise even. But when she sees Drogon in danger, she choose to go with him-and kills hundred people in the process. She also realise her husband tried to kill her. In her mind, this fail means her task was impossible, the country to "barbaric". Do you think that after all this, she will be as inclined to be diplomatic, hum?

[@legrandliseurtri7495]

Ah yes, because men were showed to be great ruler? It's not like the most clever player are an ennuque and a comically short men. It's not like the handsome, tall, blond patriach Tywin is a complete monster who won the war more by luck then anything-and got what he deserved.

[@ivanrenic4243]

@@legrandliseurtri7495 if anyone won wars with intelligence and not with luck, it's gotta be Tywin

[@Liz-with-a-smile]

I disagree. Just because something is fiction, doesn't mean that all fictional variations are equally true. The very concept of "cannon" is that there is a true form of fictional universe and an alternate form. If Martin is content to call Game of Thrones equally true to his novel series, that's his pejorative, but not all fiction works that way. I'm certain the author of Gone With the Wind would disagree that Scarlett only has one child and also has 3. The author wrote 3 children, that's what's true. The movie is an adaption, not an exact translation of her work. As a writer, I'd have to disagree with his stance completely.

[@sabrinakrisb4672]

Who decides what this "true form" is? Everyone reading something will interpret it with their own subjective imagination.

[@Liz-with-a-smile]

@@sabrinakrisb4672 The author.

[@sabrinakrisb4672]

@@Liz-with-a-smile The author makes the creation from their own ideas, but everyone reading the work will interpret the story, characters, and meanings in their own subjective, individual ways.

[@Liz-with-a-smile]

@@sabrinakrisb4672 Of course, but just as I have a specific intention behind every word i use when I speak, an author has a specific intention behind every word they use when they write. There is a correct meaning behind what they say and an interpreted meaning that the reader will think. The reader is not the right one...the author is. Readers always see interpretions... never the full reality of the intended meaning.

[@sabrinakrisb4672]

@@Liz-with-a-smile Doesnt that mean that the author can never completely, truly communicate their real ideas to the reader though?

[@PaisleySundance]

It's the Great British Castle's guy!

[@playermartin286]

Garbage - Brillance

[@thegirlwholovesmusic]

I respect GRRM so much for not shitting on D&D like all the fans and appreciating all the years of relentless work they put into GoT.

[@TJ-fe7rr]

He's not gonna do that because that would be rude.

[@rajeshbiswas7847]

Samuel Tarley in sixties.

[@paulmegna210]

The fact that Martin is a true writer of fictional book series, on par easily with Tolkien and Dan and Dave were able to convince Martin to run and write the show...I think if their publicist or someone else in their inner circle shoulda told them to show up and defend themselves a bit more, minus self flagellation, how does that help...they sound like they got burnt out possibly in every way u can be. That they are young and privileged white guys don’t assume anyone else gave D and D RRrrrrrs OK,but yea, they were lucky that he didn’t ask them more before he decided they were good enough to not only write and run a great show, but do so consistently, especially in the final season, but seasons 5 thru 7 needed work too....a lot. Still I give them an overall A - ,on their job on the show minus 8; with 8, I give this series a B, still pretty good. I will read the books and am sure as long as Rrrrrrrrr is still alive we will get a more appropriate ending to this one of a kind epic saga.

[@kwenelemazibuko9966]

Just came from Marc Simonetti's Iron Throne illustration. *How George RR Martin saw it in his vision* . That alone is enough to say the show can't even begin to compare to the books

[@Anony298]

It just shows that a TV show adaptation of the books was never a good idea, an RPG video game would have been a better way to make it mainstream imo

[@jasonfrancese8359]

It sucks. Because the I feel like it would’ve been better if they just waited till the books were done. But if they hadn’t, the cast that we got wouldn’t have been chosen. Especially for a lot of the younger characters. So I don’t know which is more worth it. So many actors so perfectly cast, and now with more of a chance to do other roles. Or a more complete show. I supposed they could always try to do an animated version using the same cast. Something that looks like Arcane, really photorealistic yet with a bit of style to it.

[@xLukaz]

First time i heard him swear lol

[@matr1x.]

George's laugh should be the voice of Dyanmike from Brawl Stars ))))))

[@oliviawilliams6204]

George is too kind to D&D

[@joem3082]

He just doesn't agree with you, you delusional moron

[@oliviawilliams6204]

@@joem3082 right to the personal attack. Nice. Way to get me to take you seriously.

[@henrycrabs3497]

@@oliviawilliams6204 what did he say

[@oliviawilliams6204]

@@henrycrabs3497 I guess you mean Joe, i don't remember.

[@landofthehazymist]

Perhaps asoiaf should have an animated series/anime.....

[@subfreak1996]

This is actually the first time I've heard him curse

[@farhansyabibi170]

Im waiting for AI technology to be so good that anyone can just open/scan any books, provide the tv series' visual, the cast faces. Then ask the AI to make any episode

[@mufalmewww]

He is politically courteous, but his slams are subtle.. he said its all made up anything can. “True”, (12 children bit), thats what distinguishes great writing from bad writing, PLAUSIBILITY! Song of ice n fire is plausible, D&D are playing GIJOEs.... out of a hat at every turn...

[@theman2788ha]

I’m really mad at myself for not reading the books, I’m not much of a reader but feel as if I’m missing out on some of the most interesting books I’ll ever read. Which GRRM novels would you guys recommend ?

[@hepzibahhez9965]

Well since the shows were a trainwreck you now have the entire Song of Ice and Fire series to read to know how it really ends. Also there's a GRR Martin retrospective book that collects all his shortstories.

[@fyraltari1889]

I really recommend the three short stories "the tales of Dunk and Egg". They're a lighter prequel to ASOIAF and very good.

[@FreedomCinema88]

D&D proved that it's all about the destination not the journey 😂 P. S. I still love 95 % of Game of Thrones

[@maulvath4832]

its kinda funny how George R.R martin used to say that fanfictions are basically trash but with money involved he seemed to have very much revised his opinion. The TV serie is nothing but a fanfiction at this point

[@highlandus]

Only it's not in any way shape or form but cool story

[@bjrnbrynemo9059]

9:25 D&D have done a great job... messing up the final seasons

[@LordDomSnow]

Just listening to this it’s pretty clear the ending in the show is gonna be close to the books end. He may take a different route to get there but we definitely looking at a similar ending for the major 5 characters. Much as ppl hate D&d you might want to get use to that ending bc Grrm may never finish the books. 10 years and still no WOW.. and there’s one more after that… the show ending is the ending. It may not be exactly what grrm has in mind but I’m sure it’s pretty close. D&d didn’t execute it right but this is what it is

[@KaaptnIglo]

GRR Martin takes the time to explain how complicated a creative process is, especially for showrunners who have so many variables to deal with (having the money, getting the consensus among so many stakeholders, etc.). And yet, you still have people posting messages full of hate towards D&D, calling them "Dumb and Dumber" etc. God damn, I disliked season 6-7, I hated season 8, but I still have respect for those who made it, including D&D. Creating a show of this scale is already a miracle, no matter the plot holes or debattable character development. YES, they have done their job. Don't be demeaning because you did not like the final result. And as a side note: All the righteous fans who claim to be the true defenders of Martin's work by trashing the show: you are probably scaring the s*** out of him and are probably one of the reason why HIS creative process is even slower now than it was in the past.

[@ianshongtrs]

The problem with the series was it was not true to itself. It protected all the main protagonists and gave them Hollywood endings. The show was unpredictable and it committed the worst sin. Being predictable. Whether it was true to GRRM’s vision was not the issue.

[@jamomma7296]

I hate when he says that Scarlett O Hara shit. It’s a cop out, he has these answers he goes to for tough questions that don’t answer anything at all.

[@michaelmichaelson7518]

Was this after season 8?

[@reeyees50]

4:33 what he really thinks about the show

[@erikstam1]

Too bad George lost creative control. In hindsight it would've been far better to have waited for the final novels. The show started to suck the very moment it was no longer based on the books.

[@spartanelite6639]

George RR Martin has the identical laugh as Warren Buffet!

[@gunargundarson1626]

Every season of GoT was like a specific cut of steak, sometimes it was bad, sometimes chewy, but I'd rather have the whole cow than one cut.

[@boricualink]

I personally feel that strict adherence to cannon is ruining most franchises. Creators cant create new stories without fear of stepping on some part of the fandoms toes. So they have to stick to what was done on the past and cant innovate or tell new and interesting stories. At a certain point we have to to be willing to allow these stories to change and evolve.

[@garlantyrell8030]

Dude, please give us Winds of Winter!

[@lartisteautravail]

*coughs* and a dream of spring *coughs*

[@EZM7]

Chill it takes time to make it great which is what he wants to do - not release it as far as possible

[@user-vj6ws1op4u]

I really wish he was the captain of the ship when it came to thrones

[@Coolcat3]

in hindsight he should have made the chow first priorit my because the show suffered when he stepped away and the books never came out anyways. concentrating on the show would have made for a better show overall

[@jamiejamie9549]

I want to 're read the books but I'm scared to do it until they're finished...

[@IHaveNoNamePeriod]

Well, it dpeends. How old are you? :)

[@cyberdinedog2097]

After Season 6 everything fell apart.

[@yoseppi]

There were warning signs from season 2 but things remained very impressive and consistent until season 5. Then there were some glaring issues but the show was still entertaining. And then season 7 happened... AND THEN SEASON 8 HAPPENED

[@ilqar887]

Yeah

[@TheBerylknight]

I thought season 7 was great and had some of the best scenes of the entire series. Watching Daenarys kick ass with her dragons or the epic way the Queen of Thorns went out were all incredibly well done. Tyrion is the character that suffered the most once the show veered away from the books. D&D had no understanding of that character at all. But I'll agree in season 8 the whole show just went to shit. They ruined nearly every character and applied some of the laziest dumbest writing I've ever seen.

[@ilqar887]

@@TheBerylknight season 7 was shit ..yes there was good fight scenes ..but they were all fights for the sake of fight

[@TheBerylknight]

@@ilqar887 7 made perfect sense to me. Dany was taking out the Lannister armies because she wanted to rule Westeros. What's hard to understand about that?