Spiderbite

Not really related to this thread but I figured with all the GOT discussion I could get some opinions. I was going to listen to the audio books and was curious if I should go thru them first and then start the series or listen concurrently while watching the series (book 1, season 1, etc.)

I have already seen the first two seasons but had a hard time really getting into them. They were okay but I never felt that they were the godsend that people act like they are. So I want to give them another chance but want to also check into the books since so many people swear on those over the show. Thoughts?

Dave99

what everyone else said. Walking dead is generally good entertainment, GoT is all time television.

TomOpus

I gave TWD a vote, it was looking lonely.

Plus, because zombies.

slop101

They have these things called DVDs (I think there may be a thread or two about them here...), that are released by season after each season is over, where you can watch the show.

I honestly think that the books feel like the rough draft of the stories, with the show being a tightened, more cohesive final draft. Almost every change from the books has been for the better. But if you didn't like the first two seasons, even though the 3rd and 4th seasons are better, then the show may not be for you.

davidh777

I realized that maybe the OP was talking about the Telltale games, which would be a more even match.

I haven't read the books, but I believe the books will give you more depth and background on the characters and houses. if you have access to the BDs, they have a lot of bonus features that will help as well. For me, it took a while to get into because I wasn't sure exactly who everyone was and why they were doing things, but rewatching and doing some research proved well worth the time.

(Note also that as I understand it the books and show diverge a bit as the series goes along, maybe starting in season 3. The action is mostly the same, but rearranged so it doesn't lay out cleanly book to season.)

superdeluxe

Game of Thrones for me, I really like The Walking Dead...but Game of Thrones is my favorite show.

superdeluxe

I've read the books, the books definitely gives you much more flavor, I know some have really disliked some of the changes, I think for the most part feel some of the changes were a necessary evil, and actually make the show work. Although there are a potential for a couple of changes upcoming one day that I might seriously dislike

DeputyDave

I am probably one of the few that think Martin is a bit overrated as a writer. Now I am a huge reader (100+ books a year) and have never preferred movie adaptions over the books (although some, like Shawshank Redemption come very close) but I am in the small camp that greatly prefer the show to the books. So much so that I quit reading the books so I could better enjoy the series. The "Red Wedding" episode convinced me to. As good as that episode was I could only imagine how good it could have been had I not known what was going to happen.

Oh, and back on topic. I like TWD but it isn't even close to GoT.

mcnabb

Of course Game of Thrones is better, but I love them both for what they are. The Walking Dead is sort of my 'guilty pleasure' show, so I would never compare to it to a more indepthed show like Game of Thrones.

creekdipper

Good point...it's like comparing an epic miniseries with sprawling cast of characters & locations to a small, self-contained drama. Of course, TWD is a long journey itself but has a much smaller cast & you don't get 'the big picture' as much (although flashbacks & backstories are becoming more prominent than in earlier seasons). Of course, "sprawling" epics are tricky to pull off & maintain focus, too. Both GoT and TWD have been criticized by some for being "too slow" on occasion.

I disagree with about 1/2 of the changes (mostly in Season 2) and feel that the impact was far greater in the books with many big events (although budget considerations & pacing obviously have to come into play). On the other hand, some changes/additions over the last two seasons have been heartily welcomed.

I do expect that the next season will be superior to Books 4 & 5, which lagged (should have been one book). And I also wish I had watched the show & then read the books (the procedure followed in Season One). My wife did that, and she got to enjoy the surprise of not knowing what was coming (RW, etc.) while enjoying the fuller versions of the books.

Might be a moot point after next season if they forge on ahead of Martin rather than wait or play a delaying action with back stories, prequels, etc., which I think they've said they don't intend to do. I know they have the outline & his stated ending, but it makes me wonder if Martin wouldn't perversely decide to completely switch up things & change the plot drastically in case they strike out independently. It would certainly offset any book sales that might have been lost due to the ending already being shown.

mcnabb

Exactly. It would be like saying which is better: Raiders of the Lost Ark or Braveheart? Both great movies, but 2 totally different types of movies when trying to compare against each other.

rocket1312

I get what you're saying, but then you have to ask yourself which show is better at being what it is. Even when you look at it that way Game of Thrones destroys The Walking Dead. Of course given the constant turnover at the top, The Walking Dead has had a hard time even deciding just what it is. I'm of the opinion that despite some good moments through out the first couple of seasons, The Walking Dead didn't really figure out what it was and get good until Gimple took over.

johnnysd

Wow, it's like comparing Seinfeld to Bad Judge.

Game of Thrones by such a wide margin it is ridiculous. TWD is a terrible show, but in a genre it has all to itself and for some reason zombies are super popular. Game of Thrones is better on every level.

mcnabb

I actually think the first 2 seasons were the best:

FantasticVSDoom

Yeah pretty much the same here... I liked the first "mini" season of TWD, but had to give up halfway through the 2nd season for how bad it was.

rocket1312

I would probably prefer the version of the show from the early seasons if it had been done well. As far as I'm concerned, outside of a few moments here and there it was not done well.

madcougar

Enjoy them both, but GofT is much better.

Shannon Nutt

Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad would have been a better poll...but I guess we can try that one after GOT finishes its run.

mattysemo247

We just finished season 2 of Game of Thrones and are currently halfway through season 2 of The Walking Dead. Walking Dead has been hit and miss so far (S2 started off strong but now we are struggling to finish it) but Game of Thrones has been fantastic. It can be difficult to follow at times (especially with the locations), but like others have said, it feels like it's a show that rewards you for actually paying attention.

Troy Stiffler

Too poor to buy DVD's right now.

I'll catch it on Netflix.

davidh777

Netflix doesn't have GOT. Amazon Prime has HBO, but not their newer stuff, and certainly not GOT because it's too valuable for HBO to allow it on streaming. You might check your local library.

DynamicKnight

Definitely Game of Thrones. It actually took me a while to get into it since i'm not a big fan of fantasy movies or TV shows, but I liked the fact that it was more mature than most. I do really like The Walking Dead, but the frustration sometimes overpowers my enjoyment, but despite that, it's still addictive as fuck.

And something both have in common, the fans of the books/comics that won't shut the fuck up about every little goddamn change that happens in the show.

mcnabb

I think the one thing that makes Game of Thrones great is that they never expanded to more then 10 episodes per season. Each season is 10 episodes, so there isn't alot of filler, and I think it keeps the quality and the anticipation for the next season.

Whereas, Walking Dead had expanded to 16 episodes by Season 3, and I think it created alot of filler episodes which sometimes hurts the quality overall. I have always said the best season was the 2nd season as that had only 13 episodes.

arminius

I watched GOT on netflix dvds. Not sure if they still have them.

superdeluxe

HBO I believe will also be offering a streaming service as well.