HBO/Helen Sloan
I say this as the co-host of a podcast called A Storm of Spoilers, in which a few book readers (myself included) have been laying down spoilers for Game of Thrones: turnabout is fair play, especially when you’re playing the Game of Thrones.
In a recent appearance at Oxford Union, Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff confirmed that the TV version of the Westeros-set drama will eventually catch up to the A Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin (that’s already happened in some places). More importantly, both the books and the show are headed for the same ultimate outcome. Here’s what Benioff had to say: “And so we’ll eventually, basically, meet up at pretty much the same place where George is going; there might be a few deviations along the route, but we’re heading towards the same destination.”
…we’ll eventually, basically, meet up at pretty much the same place where George is going.
So the paths may be a little different but the ultimate ending will be the same. Which is fine, as too much deviation would forever yield an argument between book purists and show devotees as to which version is better. That argument will likely still exist, but with less substance thanks to a shared endpoint. Am I frightened by the prospect of being spoiled, having been a fan of the books? Not really. My days of watching friends squirm through The Red Wedding not knowing it was coming are behind me. However, they remain fond memories. Where we are headed is to uncharted and exciting territory. The kind of territory that will be brought to life in vivid detail by a show that has not only hit its stride, it’s also found enough success that HBO has lined up dump trucks full of money to make the biggest and most badass product possible. There’s nothing wrong with that.
For more from Benioff alongside co-creator D.B. Weiss and actors Kit Harrington and John Bradley, watch the full talk from Oxford Union below:
Related Topics: Game of Thrones
