Game of Thrones begins....

[Habbaku]

They've said eight I believe.

Eight?  I've only seen mention of them committing to seven.  Where did you hear 8?

[Valmy]

They've said eight I believe.

Eight?  I've only seen mention of them committing to seven.  Where did you hear 8?

Well let's see they are going to finish book three and do a bit of book for this season.  I figure season 5 and six to finish books four and five.  Then at least two seasons for the final two...but since they are going to be massive doorstops if ever written I figure three.  How could it be seven?  Unless one is a twenty episode season or something.

[Habbaku]

Your reasoning, while devoid of commas and something I agree with, doesn't answer my question.  I did, however, find an old source that says they want eight.  I still think that would be too few.  Nine would likely suffice.

http://screenrant.com/game-of-thrones-final-season-3-8/

[Valmy]

I don't do commas.   

[katmai]

Your reasoning, while devoid of commas and something I agree with, doesn't answer my question.  I did, however, find an old source that says they want eight.  I still think that would be too few.  Nine would likely suffice.

http://screenrant.com/game-of-thrones-final-season-3-8/

From EW back in march.

The seven season goal-line has been floated in the media before, but the writer-producers of the acclaimed fantasy hit series says they're firmer than before that three more seasons sounds about right.

"I would say it's the goal we've had from the beginning," Benioff says. "It was our unstated goal, because to start on a show and say your goal is seven seasons is the height of lunacy. Once we got to the point where we felt like we're going to be able to tell this tale to its conclusion, that became [an even clearer] goal. Seven gods, seven kingdoms, seven seasons. It feels right to us."

Seven sounds okay to HBO, as well. Or perhaps eight. "I'm expecting to be sitting down with Dan and David to talk season 5 and we'll talk about how things are looking," says HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. "We're all very mindful that they're having conversations all the time with [author George R.R. Martin]. I think they do feel bullish enough that there's enough story to deliver through season 7. I hate to sound greedy, but our longest shows have gone 7 or 8 seasons, so seven is a nice long run for us."

[Habbaku]

That's the commentary I was referring to when I made my first post questioning Tim.

[katmai]

That's the commentary I was referring to when I made my first post questioning Tim.

Don't confuse me with your facts Habbu!

[Grey Fox]

Back in season 1, they were speculating 20 seasons.

Assholes are backing down once again.

[grumbler]

I think that planning for seven seasons is about right.  They really should remain independent of the number of books, because in a proper publishing atmosphere a lot of what makes it into print in the books would be edited out.  Pacing is the single most important attribute of a book (or series of books) and TV shows (or series of TV shows), and Martin has gone from a master of pacing to a tyro of pacing.  More than eight seasons is likely to be boring.  Writers and producers start to burn out after about six seasons.  Stargate SG-1 is an excellent example of a show that went on too long. Six good seasons, a coupla okay ones, and then the descent into crap.

At some point, probably after this season, HBO needs to divorce their story from Martin's and start to work towards their own ending.  They can, and should, include those slices of Martin that are relevant and exciting, but should let him work towards his own ending at hos own pace.  By the end of season 4, they will have filmed probably 80% of the JRRM stuff worth filming in the whole series (including the stuff he plans to write).  HBO doesn't need him any more.

[Josquius]

Yes, I'm very curious about how the show will diverge.
So far they've remained quite amazingly close to the books, I've never seen something closer, but there's no way forward like that...

[crazy canuck]

At some point, probably after this season, HBO needs to divorce their story from Martin's and start to work towards their own ending.  They can, and should, include those slices of Martin that are relevant and exciting, but should let him work towards his own ending at hos own pace.  By the end of season 4, they will have filmed probably 80% of the JRRM stuff worth filming in the whole series (including the stuff he plans to write).  HBO doesn't need him any more.

Agreed.  I would like to see them do what was done with Walking Dead.  Use the written material as background and go their own way.  Martin's source material in the last two books are largely unuseable without significant editing in any event.

[Valmy]

At some point, probably after this season, HBO needs to divorce their story from Martin's and start to work towards their own ending.  They can, and should, include those slices of Martin that are relevant and exciting, but should let him work towards his own ending at hos own pace.  By the end of season 4, they will have filmed probably 80% of the JRRM stuff worth filming in the whole series (including the stuff he plans to write).  HBO doesn't need him any more.

Pretty sure Martin has a say in the content and did not fully sign away total creative control to HBO.  I mean heck he writes an episode a season.

[Valmy]

Agreed.

Woah.  That just happened.

[garbon]

Agreed.

Woah.  That just happened.

[Viking]

D&D and Martin have use the metaphor of a road trip for how Martin has laid out the story. He knows where he is going he just doesn't have all the details worked out. Considering how many details get left out of the story compared to the books in the show I don't think it will be a problem for the show to lap the books. It wasn't a problem when the books spoiled the show, the converse shouldn't be an issue.

Remember the show completely skipped Ned's flashbacks to the Tower of Joy, in fact almost EVERY SINGLE hint that R+L=J from the books has been erased in the show.