Game of Thrones begins....

[Josephus]

Take a look at the shitstorm that is going on IMDB...

And people are going to be even more freaked when Drogo *also* dies next episode (since in this one there's some hope that he might make it).

LOL...Like this one:

I am so pissed off! Sean Bean is the reason why I started watching this show! How can you take such a experienced and great actor and kill his character?!!! I wanted the story line to end with him being King. Sean Bean brought this series strength. STUPID MOVIE, HBO!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[Slargos]

I wonder if the death of Ned has the same impact to the show audience that it does to the reading audience.

It doesn't seem like Ned has the same primacy of position in the shows that he does in the book.

On the contrary. The mooncricket is not terribly eloquent, but he did touch on several key aspects of Sean Bean in GoT:

- He's the currently "biggest" actor on the cast. The only A-list, really.
- He's been featured very prominently in much (most?) of the advertizing.
- He's been shown in a way during the episodes as to mark him (and the Starks) as the "main" protagonists of the show.

I think, additionally, that it's probably easier for a person watching the show to identify emotionally with a character than it is for a reader.

Was the execution a big shock for readers? Certainly.

Was it any less so for viewers? I don't think so. I would wager most people following the show who hadn't already been spoiled, "knew" that some plot device would be pulled out that would get Bean out of the Dungeon and back in the saddle, killing Lannister dogs. It's the way this story is Supposed to go, after all.

[Berkut]

Hehe, cool, because the death of Ned is really awesome - I am glad the viewers can "enjoy" it as much as I did.

[viper37]

Winter is coming.
But is it coming only to Starkland or all of the kingdoms?  What about the eastern continent, will they be affected by winter too?

[Valmy]

Winter is coming.
But is it coming only to Starkland or all of the kingdoms?

The second one.

What about the eastern continent, will they be affected by winter too?

Don't know.

[Grey Fox]

I knew that Neddy was going to die & now that it's done I wonder who will carry the show. It seems this will fall on Peter Dinklage or this show will die after 2 seasons.

[Martinus]

- He's the currently "biggest" actor on the cast. The only A-list, really.

That's the fucking point. When shows like this take on a big screen name, they usually do so for a character that is not going to be a major recurring one, for obvious reasons (not just costs, mind you - Sean Bean said in a number of interviews that he would not have accepted the role if he had to commit for more than one season, due to other commitments).

[Martinus]

I knew that Neddy was going to die & now that it's done I wonder who will carry the show. It seems this will fall on Peter Dinklage or this show will die after 2 seasons.

Like in the books, it will be carried by the Lannister siblings, Jon Snow and Danny.

[Viking]

I knew that Neddy was going to die & now that it's done I wonder who will carry the show. It seems this will fall on Peter Dinklage or this show will die after 2 seasons.

AGOT - Ned is good guy protagonist
COK - Robb/Dany/Jon is good guy protagonist
SOS - Robb/Dany/Jon is good guy protagonist
FFC/DWD - it all gets very complicated...

If anything, Sean Bean is setting it up by getting us involved with the help of Star Power and then letting to story take over. Like Drew Barrymore in Scream.

[Martinus]

For the record, while I think Sean Bean was pretty well cast and I enjoyed his performance, the character of Ned (both in the books and as delivered on screen) is pretty bland and definitely not the "main lead" for the show, imo. He may have been positioned by the author to be in the centre of attention for a while, but I wouldn't call him someone who "carried" the story.

[Josquius]

Bean as Ned is great. Everyone just assumes he's the star, the main character, therefore nothing bad will ever happen to him....
My dad is expecting Robb's army to smash down the doors of the palace, rescue Ned and then Ned will have a rematch with Jamie and kick his arse.

I watch GoT on UK TV so have to wait until tonight to see it. Looking forward to it.

[Viking]

Plot Armor FTL.

[Grey Fox]

For the record, while I think Sean Bean was pretty well cast and I enjoyed his performance, the character of Ned (both in the books and as delivered on screen) is pretty bland and definitely not the "main lead" for the show, imo. He may have been positioned by the author to be in the centre of attention for a while, but I wouldn't call him someone who "carried" the story.

Oh I agree, Ned was a piss poor character but Boromir is god. Losing him early, AGAIN, hurts. Damn it.

It's going to be weird to start liking Jaime.

[Berkut]

Oh, one little touch I liked.

When Jory Mormont was fighting, he used his armor to win the fight. I liked that they made it clear that yeah, having a shitload of armor really is a lot better than not having a shitload of armor.

[viper37]

I knew that Neddy was going to die & now that it's done I wonder who will carry the show. It seems this will fall on Peter Dinklage or this show will die after 2 seasons.

The Imp for King!  Damn it, I love this little guy!
He could have been Robert's son, in a way