The Fireside

So, here’s another article about this subject – since The Winds of Winter isn’t out yet, Game of Thrones will ‘pass’ the story. I’m writing this post as an opinion piece. We all know by now that Game of Thrones is based on an (as of now) incomplete book series by George R.R. Martin, called A Song of Ice and Fire . For (most) of the five seasons, the HBO series has followed the books, but not exactly to the T, and with some alterations created solely for the show. However, this upcoming season, Season 6, there won’t be a book out for the show to follow. Because of this, many book readers are worried that the show will reveal certain things before the next book is published. I would rather read something, than watch it for a 'reveal'. I’ve come to the realization (after much thought) that I’m not worried. I understand completely if others will stop watching the show because of that fact. What follows is why I’m not worried. Since the book isn’t out yet, we don...

Earlier this week, it has been confirmed from numerous news sources that Game of Thrones will continue for two more years [at least...?]. This is good, as the show runners were going for about 7-8 seasons or so anyway. Whether it will go "Season 7 will be 10 episodes, Season 8 will also be 10 episodes", or instead,  "Season 7 will be split into two, like Breaking Bad, Mad Men or Hell on Wheels " for the final year. However they format the last batch of episodes, despite changes from the book here and there (for better or for worse) I am confident that the creative crew will do their best to send the show off in the best way that they can. I am hoping that this announcement means that they are able to wrap up the story in a timely manner without rushing too much, as opposed to dragging it on like a good chunk of shows on network TV that have been around for at least six years, or longer. 

* Note: I've yet to watch Season 2 ( Gods of the Arena) as it is a prequel, made between Season 1 and Season 3. As you saw from my note above, I've finished the complete series of Starz' Spartacus - but only the content about Spartacus himself at this point. There are four seasons total. In the order in which they were made, they were: Blood and Sand (Season 1), Gods of the Arena (Season 2), Vengeance (Season 3) and War of the Damned (Season 4). Season 2 serves as a prequel and additional backstory, leading up to Season 1. Andy Whitfield, the original actor in Spartacus' role, passed away due to cancer. Before Liam McIntryre was cast in his stead, Starz continued the show, but opted to do a prequel, which did not focus on Spartacus. Because of this, I opted to skip the prequel (for now) and follow Spartacus' story. Now that is out of the way, I may begin (commence?) my review. There are a bevy of 'swords' shows out there - Vikings, Game of Thrones, C...

Wow, what a season! I am of the mind that a TV show is best viewed once all the episodes in a season are available at once, as opposed to waiting for bits and pieces of the season. Yes, I watched it week-by-week [the only show I do so]. But this method of watching TV needs to stop. All I'm saying is that some episodes were better than others, possibly due to this format. The season as a whole had great aspects, and twists and turns (how about the last 5 minutes of the finale eh?). There are some weak, and questionable moments. This may be in part to me being a book reader and scratching my head at some diversions. for the non-readers, I doubt anything 'huh?' will be going on. Dorne is so much better in the books, it feels like i could have, and should have, been much better. I said this review is spoiler free, and I'll stick by that. This season covers mostly the most recent book in the series of "A Song of Ice and Fire"; A Dance With Dragons . The rest ...

Well, it happened. The last episode of Game of Thrones: Season 5, Episode 10, marks the end of the published material being brought to the screen. Here and there, there could have been a few spots out of A Song of Ice and Fire: Book 6, The Winds of Winter ; but the show is so different from the books now, does that count? George seems to be doing everything he can to get that book out before Season 6 starts next March/April. If the book is not ready by then, fear not: the show won’t ‘ruin’ anything. As mentioned before, the show is so different from the books at this point, it matters not. Though it would be nice to READ ‘what happens next’ as opposed to SEEING it, no matter how similar it is or not. The show is going to last until AT LEAST Season 7. I’m hoping for a two-part season, like Breaking Bad and others, with Season 7 being two parts, of 7 episodes each; with the final episode being 2 hours long. No ‘movies’. Game of Thrones is a TV show, and it should stay on ...

 At long last, we are here - Game of Thrones: Season 5 . The 5th season (which looks to be the end of the currently published material brought to the screen, as of now) begins tonight with the episode titled "The Wars to Come". I will still follow the series, regardless of which books are or aren't out. "The text is the text, the show is the show" as George R.R. Martin had said on many occasions. Two separate continuities. If for whatever reason The Winds of Winter (Book Six) is not out next year, fear not. The show will spoil nothing. Did Dexter spoil the books because it was different? How about True Blood? Vampire Diaries? There are many books that got adapted as a TV series that have been different from the source material. Game of Thrones began as a near-flawless ,almost word-for-word adaption of the book way back when it first began. Now, it is quite a bit different than the books. George (the author and one of the producers) as well as the peopl...

While I don't watch it (yet...I may wait until Season 1 is complete, or, due to my other shows, when the entire show is finished), some of my friends and readers may, so: Outlander is now back with the 2015 episodes! This year's episodes will end on May 16.

Great news! I just saw IMDB TV that Vikings got renewed for a fourth season, which means that the raiding will continue next year. Whenever the series finishes, I hope that the creative crew knows ahead of time to plan a final season.   Aside from 'something to watch wile waiting for Game of Thrones to come back on, it is a really good series on its own. I look forward to watching Vikings: Season 3 once it finishes for the year.

At long last, Netflix has uploaded Turn: Season 1 . I've been waiting for this one for a while (and hoping), as now I can watch the show....properly, let's say. If you like historical dramas and suspense, give this one a go. It may be a week or two by the time I get to watching it myself, but I look forward to it.

So many shows that I watch are beginning to end! Mad Men. Downton Abbey. Hell on Wheels. I just finished watching Boardwalk Empire . And there are some that I watch that are still going: Vikings, Game of Thrones, Sherlock Homeland, and House of Cards. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to Netflix uploading Turn, Halt and Catch Fire , as well as their own Daredevil. I also see that Rectify is up there too. None of which I've seen yet. So what's next for me?? I am currently on Friends: Season 9 on Netflix. I will finish that as well as Season 10 and carry on with That '70s Show as my comedy. I have been quite keen on starting up The Killing, and very recently Netflix uploaded Spartacus . I would also like to start Sons of Anarchy, but that's further down the road.   So that's how TV is looking for me in the next little bit!

I have just finished watching Boardwalk Empire . The series ended at 5 seasons - thankfully, it wasn't canceled. If it was, they knew going in that 5 would be the last.  I won't waste my words and your time telling you what the series is about (there are other places on the internet for that), but it had a pretty strong start, and showed promising potential. Overall, the series was pretty good. It could have been better. Some characters / actors (actresses) annoyed me here and there, some episodes had a few too moments of filler, or stretched out, some episodes felt like filler....but on the whole, minor gripes aside, I enjoyed it. The show was very well produced and designed. At times the writing is a little bit "...hmm..." or "why?" but has been among the best on TV, even though if Boardwalk was overshadowed by other shows, in the pop-culture sense. Season 1, to me, has been the strongest. After that, 3 would be a close second. I believe part ...

The other day while on Netflix, I saw that they uploaded the complete series of Spartacus . All four seasons, ( Blood and Sand, Gods of the Arena, Vengeance, and War of the Damned ) are uploaded to Netflix Canada. I added it to my list, as i am interested and wanting to watch the series. Lately my TV plate has been full, but I've heard that the series is essentially ' 300 the TV series' so if you don't like 300 , you most likely won't enjoy this series.  Still, I wanted to let people know that it's up, and that someday I'll check it out - probably shortly after I finish watching Game of Thrones: Season 5 .

SHIELD. Gotham. Arrow. The Flash. There are many 'superhero shows' (some of which don't even have the heroes in them...) lately.  After watching the preview for Daredevil , which will begin on April 10th exclusive to Netflix, I am sold as this looks like the one super hero show that I will watch. It also looks to be Netflix's best show since House of Cards.   It is made by Marvel (as in, Marvel Studios) so it will be interesting to see how / if Daredevil will interact with other Marvel characters, and vice-versa. Here's hoping that the show is as good as the preview makes it out to be, and that it does well. After finishing House of Cards: Season 3, next on NetflixI look forward to Turn: Season 1 and Halt and Catch Fire: Season 1 being posted. I hope to finish them both by the time Daredevil: Season 1 gets uploaded....

Dear Netflix, You and I have been together for a couple years now. I am greatly fond of the time we spend together, and all the lovely things you give me. However, I need to ask for more. For you see, I don’t have cable. I don’t have satellite etc. Instead, I’ve got unlimited internet. Through you, I watch a great deal of shows (and some movies) the ‘proper’ way. I would like to ask you to provide me with a few things, though: - Homeland: Season 3 (and up) - Hell on Wheels: Season 4 (and the rest of the series once it ends) - AMC’s Turn . Since that you have The Walking Dead , Mad Men, Hell on Wheels and Breaking Bad , I hope to see Turn there sometime. - Rectify (keep up with that one) - American Hustle So if you get those for me, that would be great, as I am looking forward to spending some time with you, should you get them for me. I am looking forward to these, and hope that once I done House of Cards: Season 3 and Friends, some of what I asked f...