Friday at Comic-Con: Moving Around Part 2 of 3

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

We left off after The Walking Dead, so we enter on the Game of Thrones Panel and Q&A, which was one of the more-hyped panels of the day, especially by those who attended their panel last year. I waited in line earlier in the day with some folks dressed like characters from the show, so I'm sure they sat through multiple panels they didn't necessary care about in order to get to this one.

Photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

And, while I didn't enjoy it as thoroughly as last year's (so many more questions related to the book/series last time!), it was still good, and the reveal of the new cast members was a highlight for many. For me, however, I'm most excited to announce that they gave out EVEN BETTER SWAG than last year! PLUS, because TheTalkingBox had two representatives at this panel (thanks to the fact that the line for Ballroom 20 and Firefly changed some plans), we've got twice as much to give away! Stay tuned, as we'll be starting the new round of giveaways before the month is over, but for now, enjoy some picks from the panel (which included Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke, Michelle Fairley, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Richard Madden, and Carolyn Strauss, and was moderated by the one and only George R. R. Martin):

Photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

- they shoot simultaneously in four different countries.
- the detail in the costumes is incredible and cameras can't capture it all - truly a shame. And, it's the costumes that really put most of the actors in character.
- Michelle Fairley most enjoyed working with Richard Madden this season, though a scene with Alan Taylor was also particularly good.

Photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

Photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

Photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

Photo: Jonathan Bredemeyer

In order to get over to the line for Falling Skies: The Battle Is Just Getting Started, I did leave the GoT panel a few minutes early, and I was really glad that I did! Not only was I misdirected regarding where the end of the line was (this happens often at Comic-Con, so study up the line guides), but had I gotten there much later, I may not have gotten into the room! As it was, I had to wait three times while they counted for people to go in when only like 50 people were visible in front of me. Well, attending the panel (made up of Noah Wyle, Moon Bloodgold, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Colin Cunningham, Sarah Carter, Connor Jessup, Greg Beeman, and Remi Aubuchon) was probably the best thing I could have done during that time, but it was, by no means, as wonderful as last year's. In fact, I enjoyed the show's booth experience on the exhibit hall floor more than I enjoyed the panel! A lot of that had to do with the clips that were shown, as it was mentioned that they weren't taking place in the far-off future, but there was more to it. Another let-down was the fact that the swag was a bracelet... after they gave us hoodies last year! Another part was that I wasn't in-love with the questions being asked. I mean, see for yourself...

- Pope is Wil Wheaton's favorite character on the show.
- if you were in doubt, the Charleston that they're heading to is the one in South Carolina. That pilgrimage is the "skeleton" to the second half of this season. Charleston is not going to be what the 2nd Mass expects, but they declines to answer as to whether it would be similar to the "concentration camps" Tom was told about aboard the spaceship.
- a "fairly major" character will die this year.
- there may be some piloting of the Mecs in the future.
- "Maggie's past is a hard pill to swallow." - Sarah Carter

Photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

Spartacus: War of the Damned was up next in the same room. I saw this panel last year at Comic-Con and heard about it some more at TCA as well, so I'm fairly familiar with it even though I don't regularly tune in. The panel started off with a trailer before jumping right into the Q&A, with Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Steven S. DeKnight, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lucy Lawless, and a few surprise actors as well. Some highlights:

Photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer

- Liam McIntyre explained that they actually had to ration the blood at the end of last season!
- they know that the show is not historically accurate, so nobody should try to base a paper on what they see, though they could consider it "historically adjacent," but are straying further from the truth as time goes on.
- There will not be a replica of the "I am Spartacus" scene, but they might "tip their hat" to it.

Photo: Amy K. Bredemeyer