The Game of Thrones news is flowing this week! Here are a few more tidbits to enjoy:
- Sophie Turner is featured in the newest edition of Town & Country. In the in-depth profile, Sophie discusses what it was like growing up on GoT.
Sansa and I have grown up together for the past five years and so when I’m reading the script and something happens to her, I cry all the time. There is a real connection between us – I feel everything she feels. I’d come on set and see something like Ned’s beheading, a heavy, heavy scene to shoot. Having my mum on set for the first three years was really important back then. Because if you get too wrapped up in that darkness, it can really damage you.
Sophie also addressed the show’s infamous nudity and whether she would ever take part in it. “I know that if they took me in that direction, it would only be because it was very necessary. David and Dan are like big brothers to me. I think if a scene like that was filmed with Sansa, it would make them feel very uncomfortable because they still see me as a 13-year-old girl.”
- In non-ASOIAF George R.R. Martin news, Variety reports that Milla Jovovich is starring in In The Lost Lands, an adaptation of some Martin short stories. Jovovich is said to be a fan of Game of Thrones, and GRRM is very excited about the project.
- The Season 4 DVD release party at the Hôtel de Glace in Quebec City, Canada was celebrated with its very own icy throne. WotW reader Lavignac visited the hotel and snapped a few pics of the throne at the event.
The artisans took time-lapse video footage of the making of the ice throne. The throne looks even better under lights at night. Check it out!
- Another creative Season 4 DVD/Blu-ray release party is happening across the ocean in London, at the hotel Andaz. The Evening Standard reports that HBO has created The All Men Must Dine restaurant, open from February 13th to February 15th. The menu will offer meals and cocktails inspired by Westeros. Fans have until tonight at 11:59PM (GMT) to enter for a chance to attend the special event, at HBO UK.
[insert puzzling complaint here]
[insert whinging here]
[insert ranting about how D&D are ruining everything here]
[insert link irrelevant to the conversation here]
[insert spoiler without the spoiler tags here]
Jon Snowdor
And Sophie Turner talks some more: “If you thought it couldn’t get any more action packed, it does, and then…the storylines crossover and there’s some really unexpected things going on.”
http://www.accesshollywood.com/sophie-turner-there-are-some-really-unexpected-things-in-game-of-thrones-s5_article_103559
What does she mean by “story lines crossover”? Does she mean Sansa’s story or someone else’s? Get opinionated, people!
Well, after reading that and seeing the trailer and realizing that Sophie Turner recently turned 18, yeah it`s just a matter of time before we see her naked. I know she`s gorgeous and all but it`d be pretty weird since she started the show as a kid. And i guess it`s better to watch her get naked on the show than in some leaked video (or porn LOL). If it`s not gratuitous i`ll definetely respect the scene.
Wow that icy throne is impressive. I can’t imagine that ice sculpting is a walk in the park.
A GRRM-based feature film should be interesting. I haven’t read the short stories, but I hope it will surpass the usual run-of-the-mill SFX centric, watered down fantasy action template.
hola,
Is it April yet?
Um, I would take pretty much the opposite from that.
The handling of sex on this show is gratuitous and generally juvenile, but I’ve never understood why so many people were convinced that D&D were counting down the seconds until Sophie (and Maisie, for that matter) can take their clothes off. They hired them as kids.
Who cares about Sophie? What about Maisie Williams? According to the books Arya has a nude scene in AFFC when she decide to stay in THAT place.
W,
Still not allowed to do nudity, even if the show wanted to (which, again, I doubt).
Brilliant.
OT: When’s writing for season 6 starting?
GeekFurious,
Congrats! You went two for five. Cooperstown awaits.
Anyone else read “cocktails inspired by Westeros” and cringe?
GeekFurious,
[insert overly-defensive retaliation here]
Regarding, Ms. Turner’s comment above…By playing a young Jean Grey, she will have plenty opportunity to face death and darkness…and even…(wait for it)…resurrection!
It must be the backwards cap and thug pose.
Canis Dirus,
Ha!
I love the Ice Throne and I can’t wait for the Blu-Ray release of season 4.
Also, “A Day in the Life” is coming this Sunday 😀
I also finished playing the second episode of Telltale’s GoT and if there are still people thinking if they should give the game a chance: go ahead, you won’t regret it! It also helps ease the wait for season 5
GeekFurious,
You’re the worst lol
Sophie Turner, Natalie Dormer and the now-former castmember Richard Madden are all featured in Vanity Fair‘s “British Invasion” photoseries/video.
http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2015/02/hollywood-portfolio-short-film-jason-bell?mbid=social_tumblr
Sophie looks better in those fashion outfits than the runway models.
That Ice Throne is amazing – I wonder if people were allowed to sit on it for pictures? Maybe not.
I hope so too. The three stories it’s based on sound good, but the movie could end up as an inferior GoT knockoff, like that upcoming movie Seventh Son (it looks really tacky to me, sorry).
Sean C.,
She is most certainly allowed to do nudity (not that I’d want to see it as she is still very young) because this is considered art and not porn. You probably missed it in a prior thread but there are a couple movies where young females have been nude (Milla Jovovich in Return to Blue Lagoon & Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby).
I agree with you that they won’t have her do it but they could if they wanted to and she/her parents agreed.
So that’s why they’re everywhere
“I know, step on the fucking pallet.”
#EllieCantSwim
#TheLastOfUs
Those commenting on “waiting for” Maisie/Sophie to remove their clothes, please, can you stop? Just, just, just…ick. ICK.
serum,
I believe there was some talk a while back about there being a law in the UK which prevents one from appearing nude on tv/film, even if he/she is 18+, if the character she is portraying is below legal age, which would include both Sansa and Arya. Anyone confirm?
Has this been covered yet?
http://winteriscoming.net/2015/02/04/season-5-casting-zahary-baharov-cast-thenn/#respond
Why does everyone always lose their shit over nudity…on both sides of the argument? It’s just a bit of skin people. Get a hold of yourselves…not like that.
The laws have changed since those films were made.
serum,
This has been mentioned a while ago but UK law, which covers where some of the programme is filmed as well as being one of its viewer markets, is that sexual activity isn’t allowed to be shown when characters are apparently under the age of consent (16). It applies equally whether their age in the programme/film is mentioned or they just look young but are actually supposed to be older. The age of the actor is irrelevant (although obviously if they are under the age of consent themselves it is also probably illegal). This is apparently the current law, I don’t know how long it has been in force as actors under 16 have appeared in various states of undress before, as people have mentioned. It may be that degrees of nudity are allowed, such as being apparently topless but breasts covered from view.
In fact I work with lawyers and this issue has come up a few times on here so I’m going to ask some and try to find a definitive answer on how it works. It could be that the law has become more restrictive over time rather than less as one might imagine? Not sure about laws in the USA (which HBO is presumably governed by) but they may well be similar? I shall report back on what I find….
EDIT: while I was typing several others posted about this too. I shall attempt to find out once and for all what the position is. Wish me luck, I have a feeling it’s quite complicated as anyone who has seen actual legislation written down verbatim could tell you! :O(
This comment is meant to have spoiler tags, please help if they don’t work.
hola,
Well obviously I’m going to take this as further support of my Lady Bolton of Winterfell theory. 🙂
But it could just be a reference to the already-leaked meeting of Sansa and Brienne.
Lulu’s Mum,
Thanks for the info, appreciate the clarification!
TheTouchOfFrost,
I’m also curious to know more about Gordy.
Challenge accepted!
The Definitive (Read: off the top of my head) Ranking of GoT Nudity, from Least to Most Gratuitous/Juvenile:
LEAST:
–All Danaerys scenes with Khal Drogo (establishes their relationship and how it changes)
–Robb/Talisa first time they go for it (cathartic. Both featured naked, though of course more Talisa.)
–Jon/Ygritte in the cave (also catharsis involved, and Ygritte pushing Jon to “break his vows.” Important for the scene to take that step.)
–Melisandre and Selyse (Serves as a way of Selyse looking at how she doesn’t measure up to this person who she has given her husband permission to have sex with…her look at her skeletal features vs. Melisandre’s amazing body important)
–Jaime and Brienne’s butts, in the bath (No, this isn’t gratuitous. Shows them revealing themselves to each other and letting down their defenses. Important on both sides.)
–Dany to Daario: “Take off your clothes.” (We rarely get to see the ‘female gaze,’ as it were. A bit of balance, even though nothing full-frontal. So not gratuitous.)
–Lysa Arryn nursing her 7-year-old: (Not gratuitous. Creepy and awful, yes, on all levels. Not gratuitous.)
–Grey Worm and Missandei in the watering hole: A bit gratuitous, yes. Does address character development, so not entirely.
–Most of the rest of the Melisandre scenes (C’mon, she’s a fiery red Priest of R’hillor, it makes sense)
–Shae undressing for Tyrion (makes sense in a way, though again, it’s one-sided)
–Margaery offering herself up to Renly (Getting a bit on the gratuitous side here. I mean, yeah, it makes sense in a way, but let’s just admit that Natalie Dormer is a hottie and move on.)
–Salladhor Saan in the tub. Kind of leaning into the gratuitousness here, but at least with Salla it’s a good time.
–Theon and Ros: Kinda pointless, but gets a few points for featuring full-frontal for both.
–Osha offering herself to Theon: A bit much, methinks, despite Natalia Tena’s nice bod.
–Talisa lying in bed: “Attack, attack.” Eesh. Not the most ridiculous, but kind of, yeah.
(This is where it starts to really turn)
–Oberyn examining his prospects: Yes, ridiculous. Not as egregious as the others because he’s the Red Viper, and because he had his paramour in the mix too, and she’s clothed.
–Pycelle and an athletic, well-proportioned prostitute before he’s thrown into the Black Cells: Unnecessary.
–Bronn in the leadup to Blackwater, and at the open of Season 3: Why, just, why.
–Naked hooker eye-fucking Jory Cassel. Oy, good grief. Why?
–Theon pleasured by two Playboy-looking whores before getting his Greyjoy removed: Ugh, ugh, ugh. Why? I mean, yes, I get it, but the full-frontal?
–Littlefinger’s “Not that way…” speech from “You Win Or You Die.” Totally indefensible and gratuitous.
–The “Pod the Rod” intro of his three assigned serving ladies: Totally and utterly gratuitous Skinemax-style stuff; only doesn’t get the lowest spot b/c of the clever use of “Meereenese Knot.”
–The peeping-hole-daisy chain involving reverse cowgirl and errant sperm on a whore’s lips: Terrible. Just ridiculous. There’s a reason the SNL skit went after this one. Unnecessary and gross.
–Craster’s Rape Keep, featuring jiggling boobs: This one’s the worst offender. Not only is it unnecessary, it’s shot in a somewhat titillating fashion that amps up the crudeness and gratuitousness as well. It’s just gross on all levels, and we already knew the NW mutineers were awful people.
How cute is Sophie Turner? What a beautiful and talented young lady (and how lucky we are to have her on the show).
Greatjon of Slumber,
Wow, Greatjon…you are a true “ass”et. 🙂 Thx! Oz might differ with you regarding Lysa.
– Wasn’t the prosty with Pycelle actually Ros?
– Hodor full frontal!
Nudity has not been always about sex. As such, the very, very least gratuitous, in my opinion, is Daenerys in the Season 1 finale, with the hatched baby dragons. Another one of Daenerys is with Daario in Season 3, when she gets out of her bath and asks him to swear allegiance.
Sansa in Winterfell confirmed : http://winteriscoming.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Sansa-proof-of-Winterfell-doors.jpg
(Can’t spoiler tag this I don’t know why)
I think Sansa’s and Brienne’s story lines.
Wacky and adorable! Fun for any movie lover.
Sophie is lovely. That red hair has become so much a part of her look that I can’t imagine what she would look like with her natural blonde.
Looking forward to the featurette this weekend and to reading its dissection here on WotW. Hang in there, folks. April is coming!
The Hound,
Or she’s somewhere with the same interior designer. Quite possibly that the architecture in Winterfell and most places in the Riverlands and the standard buildings in Westeros share a design. The Vale is different and ornate as they are quite far up their own arse there! But , hey it could be Winterfell, but I worry what she’s doing up there when the story in that part of the world is already strong without changing things.
Wait…Whaaaat?? Wow! That would definitely be a surprise to all! Or a case of recycled props.
The Hound,
That’s a considerable ways from “confirmed”.
Sean C.,
Yeah, this is WiC we’re talking about. I would take whatever they say with a massive pinch of salf. Very clickbaity title
W,
Well, the season 5 trailer should dispel that.
The Hound,
How about no? It’s probably just a recycled set.
The Hound,
Possibly, though I find it more likely that they just redressed the Winterfell sets to stand in for another location. We’ll see.
The Hound,
Pffft. Totally goofy. The only possible way Sansa gets back to WF is if Stannis gets there first and feeds Ramsay & Roose to the ice river clans. This ain’t no fArya storyline.
Hodor’s Bastard,
Hodor full frontal was all good!
The prostitute w/ Pycelle when thrown into Black Cells was not Ros. It was in “Fire in Blood.”
Kay,
Agreed. I neglected (somehow) to include the Dany shot that closes Season 1, which is about as non-gratuitous as it gets.
TheTouchOfFrost,
I also don’t get why they’re comparing the doors on the Eyrie to the doors at Winterfell, seeing as they left the Eyrie at the end of season 4, so obviously it’s not there.
GeekFurious,
[insert tab here]
Greatjon of Slumber,
Ah! Hodor’s nude scene with the schlong from Boogie Nights was not gratuitous! It was pure art and delight (at least from Osha’s point of view).
Sean C.,
My guess is the Finger, Colonel.
“and GRRM is very excited about the project.”
Err, what about that other project? We soon will be calling it…
the lost 6th book
Sean C.,
Probably because it still makes much more sense that they turn around and go back at some point during the season than it does them ending up at WF this season. It’s also possible I suppose that they are trying to suggest that the Eyrie is typical for other Vale architecture. Personally though I too adhere to the reused set pieces train of thought.
They tore down the Eyrie’s high hall set at the end of last season, so I don’t think we’re going to be seeing that location again (that doesn’t mean you can’t visit the Eyrie without it, of course, but that’s the most recognizable location in it, so I doubt they have any plans to go back there).
Sean C.,
Oh I know, I don’t think they’ll be back either. The creator of that comparison might not know though, or might assume it’s viewers don’t know, so including the Eyrie pics is not the stupidest thing about it is all I’m saying. And despite them tearing down the set, it’s still more likely than WF.
The Hound,
Nah, those can be Erie doors. Look at 0:54 behind Lysa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UO5aV0rEi4
Tormund’s Woman,
Nicely done. I posted your find in the WIC thread (with proper accreditation to you).
Sophie is lovely(and doubtless even lovelier with her clothes off), but given Sansa’s(not Sophie’s) age, the show would probably be wise to tread lightly when it comes to sexy/nude scenes. For the record, I think GOT has used nudity well(with a handful of glaring exceptions), but it would be difficult for any such scenes involving Sansa to not feel exploitative.
Mormont,
It is already done, as they are in the process of story boarding season 6 right now, according to Amanda Peet, David Benioff’s wife.
Tormund’s Woman,
Here’s a screencap for people who can’t see video:
http://imgur.com/qqw7IXc
I do think anything is possible right now story-wise, but yeah, calling the doors a confirmation is pretty laughable. They reuse doors and set pieces all over the place. We’ll just have to wait and see if they are going in that direction.
Sean C.,
I mean they could quite easily go back to the Eyrie this season but I’m not sure what it would serve. I think Sansa will be rolling around the Vale/Riverlands. Don’t really see what business she’ll have in Winterfell…yet.
They could just be… you know, reusing a door, because she’ll be somewhere in the North maybe, or close enough in the Vale or the Riverlands. Winterfell? I doubt it.
From the Sophie Turner article:
“Crucially, more than 60 per cent of Martin’s readership is female (in the US, at least).”
Now, I’m aware of the fact that both Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire have an IMMENSE and vibrant female fanbase, but when I read this number it shocked me. Does anybody have any idea where they are getting this statistic from, because while if true this is a very good thing, I am extremely hesitant to believe that the percentage is that high without some form of evidence.
serum,
You’re most welcome! I had to read through an Act of Parliament (law) once and they are really very dull and obviously use lots of legal terms, hardly entertaining. But right at the beginning it included the phrase “most excellent majesty” (referring to the Queen) which instantly made me think of Bill and Ted of Excellent Adventure and Bogus Journey fame. Reading it in a “woah dude” Californian accent livened it up no end 🙂
Luka Nieto,
Maybe while Littlefinger is away she’ll practice using his jetpack.
I’m sure they will surprise us.
“Confirmed” was just sarcasm on my part, I should have make it more clear. my fault
But this Winterfell theory is plausible. I don’t see Sansa staying in the Vale for the whole season,
Flora Linden,
Nudity topics aside, let me get back to my pictures.
Unfortunately the throne was cordoned off, otherwise I WOULD have given you my portrait on it. Totally unrecognizable for I was dressed for a full day of a bitter cold carnival! But I think they had to stop people from sitting on it otherwise it would soon be shattered and in pieces on the snow. There were plenty of opportunities to sit and take pictures in the nearby Bonhomme Carnaval’s Ice Castle, on less delicate sculptures. Of course of no GOT interest.
Well, I’m off to the IMAX tonight, see what I’ve missed last weekend!
Here’s a short but sweet Sophia interview…
http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/game_of_thrones_sansa_stark_new_mentality_season_5-2015-02
Most of you probably already read it but the more I think about what Sophia says the more I believe D&D do plan on merging some aspects of LS into Sansa…
“”Obviously things aren’t turning that great because it’s ‘Game of Thrones,’ but Sansa has this whole new mentality to her and she’s shed this innocent, vulnerable skin,” Sophie Turner tells Zap2it at a screening of “Game of Thrones” in IMAX. “She goes through a lot of hardships this season, but she approaches it very differently and it’s really interesting to watch.””
“I hope people start to rally behind her and see her as a badass”
How does any of that suggest that they are “merging some aspects of LS into Sansa”?
Arthur,
Sophia? hahaha Thanks for the laugh, man!
Annara Snow,
ROTFLMAO
Oh, the quality of journalism on WiC. I haven’t checked the website for a few weeks, looks like I haven’t missed anything. I guess when they aren’t mixing up Ramsay’s Myranda and Myranda Royce in their ridiculous speculation articles, they are living in the belief that sets never get recycled (and they also have never heard that the Eyrie set has been dismantled).
Annara Snow,
God that broke my heart to see it torn down. The Eyrie is my favorite set.
Forget about nude Sansa… when are we getting nude fat Walda 🙂
More importantly, when are we getting nude Sam and his fat pink mast?
Max,
One thing that is important to remember is the females account for the majority of readers overall. Not only that, but on average, a female reader will read 40% more books a year than a male reader. So, GRRM having a 60% female audience isn’t really saying much.
(http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2014/01/PIP_E-reading_011614.pdf)
Ryoko Masaki,
You know what? It is significant, because people are constantly acting like women don’t like fantasy and action, and as though Game of Thrones/ASOIAF is more masculine. Hence all the descriptions of “Outlander” as “Game of Thrones” for women. (Dime a dozen around the time Outlander premiered.) So there’s statistical proof that more women than men read A Song of Ice and Fire. That’s pretty cool.
If only she would sit on my face.
That is probably a hold-over from the fact that Tolkien fandom was so heavily male-biased for so long. (The Lord of the Rings films changed that, at least temporarily.) However, Lord of the Rings really is not representative of modern fantasy: most fantasy novels are novels first. Sure, there are fantasy elements, but it’s about the characters and how they cope with figuring out themselves. Unlike Rings, usually somewhere around half of those characters are women: and (also unlike Rings!) the men usually are trying to work out themselves regarding women. Add to this that there are several prominent female fantasy writers out there, and the old Tolkien-fanbase paradigm does not apply anymore.
At any rate, whereas Lord of the Rings would have scored a zero on the Bechdel test, most modern fantasy novels would score reasonably well. Thrones does OK there, particularly away from the Wall.
Lavignac,
Thanks for the info. I was curious if sitting was allowed, but you’re right, the sculpture wouldn’t have lasted long with so many people doing that.
Cue massive eye roll. Not at you, Sue the Fury, at these opinions.
Eh, I don’t get it. So men can’t enjoy Outlander and women can’t enjoy ASOIF? The franchises are their own thing, they have nothing to do with the other. They’re about people and human nature, everyone can relate to that.
True: but the stereotype (stemming, it seems, largely from Lord of the Rings) is that fantasies are faux epics about Good and Evil, rather than novels/character dramas about human nature. Moreover, the stereotype (again stemming from Lord of the Rings) is that they are largely female-free zones, with women bordering on nonexistent in the narratives.
Nice to see some GRRM short stories being adapted, though the director doesn’t seem to have a stellar track record. Dreamsongs: Vol 1 is a great read that I’d highly recommend. So are Tuf Voyaging and Dying of the Light.
The descriptions of “Outlander” as “Game of Thrones” for women is lazy. Ultimately, the viewership for both shows varies slightly. In 2011, Nielsen found that GoT viewership was 58% male, 42% female, with equal engagement on social media: http://www.wired.com/2013/06/women-game-of-thrones/
Outlander viewership, meanwhile, only skewed 51% female. So much for that. Both shows, obviously, are adaptations of previously written material. What’s a marketing MBA to do for product placement? We won’t see The Most Interesting Man in the World hawking Arbor red wine or a cosmetics company inserting 1940s vintage beauty care products. [Note: I am a marketing MBA]
HBO and Starz want you to watch, and they want viewership engaged. Buy the blu-ray/dvd sets, etc. Beyond the commercialism, fandom engagement matters. I’m struck by how often I see people on Twitter that are discovering either series in book or show format only now. (Pity about spoilers. I’m a strong advocate for reading the books.)
Neither series is finished. Diana Gabaldon: “There’s one more. I’ve never been willing to commit to more than one at a time, because I just don’t know — I don’t plan the books out ahead of time. So I have no idea how much ground we’ll cover in each book. But there is certainly one more book, because I wasn’t finished telling the story at the end of number 8.”
Will the strong female viewership influence Benioff and Weiss to have Kit Harrington go the Full Monty? I’m dreading the potential for the Tarly/Gilly relationship, but as John Bradley joked at the last ComicCon: “The good thing about me and male nudity is that everybody is served because it will still get the boob count up.” Brace yourselves.
GeekFurious,
Excellent summary!
Yeah, “In The Lost Lands” is a great story, but I have a good bit of trepidation regarding the folks involved.