A good start to the so far. Though, they were pretty much just setting up the conflicts for the rest season, so not much happened. One thing I didn't care for was the bit in the end were the guards were killing Robert's bastards. The scene in the throne room between Cersei and Joffrey implied that it was Joffrey that was having them killed, but it was made fairly clear in the books that it was Cersei that did it. Basically, they're setting up Cersei as a more sympathetic character, but she's only barely better than Joffrey in the books. I'm not sure I like the change.
A good start to the so far. Though, they were pretty much just setting up the conflicts for the rest season, so not much happened. One thing I didn't care for was the bit in the end were the guards were killing Robert's bastards. The scene in the throne room between Cersei and Joffrey implied that it was Joffrey that was having them killed, but it was made fairly clear in the books that it was Cersei that did it. Basically, they're setting up Cersei as a more sympathetic character, but she's only barely better than Joffrey in the books. I'm not sure I like the change.
I figured it was Cersei doing it because Joffrey found out about them all. Or some combination of the two. Cersei was shown with more control over the guards than Joffrey through out the episode. Cersei had the access to the information, and who knew what. Joffrey seemed a bit ignorant of it all.
I've not read the books so yeah, I thought it was Joffrey who ordered the killings. Either or though, because I don't like either one of them (which is kind of the point, I know, haha).
Also, I wanted to know more about D and her dragons. And if she's so worried about them being hungry... um, hello? Dead horse right here!
I've not read the books so yeah, I thought it was Joffrey who ordered the killings. Either or though, because I don't like either one of them (which is kind of the point, I know, haha).
Also, I wanted to know more about D and her dragons. And if she's so worried about them being hungry... um, hello? Dead horse right here!
I thought for sure they were going to eat the horse. That they needed fresh meat, not what ever she was trying to give them. I also haven't read the books. I really just didn't think Joffrey knew anything beyond rumors that Robert had numerous bastards.
I did enjoy the little bit between Cersei and the other guy (forgot his name), the "Knowledge is Power" "No, Power is Power".
Also, I wanted to know more about D and her dragons. And if she's so worried about them being hungry... um, hello? Dead horse right here!
A thousand times this.
As I said over in the Asylum, I was surprised at the pace of the first episode. I know that there are several story lines to follow, and they have to touch on them all to set up the action going forward, but they jumped into the Stannis arc without any setup or preamble whatsoever. Melisandre shows up literally out of nowhere and starts talking about the prophecies of R'hllor (who wasn't even mentioned) without first being introduced to Stannis through his wife, and Davos is introduced without any dialogue to explain who he is and what his relationship to Stannis is (something that is stressed very strongly in the book).
This isn't to say I didn't enjoy it, but I've read the books and know what's going on in each of these cases. I imagine those that haven't read any of the books were rather lost during that sequence.
Also, I wanted to know more about D and her dragons. And if she's so worried about them being hungry... um, hello? Dead horse right here!
A thousand times this.
As I said over in the Asylum, I was surprised at the pace of the first episode. I know that there are several story lines to follow, and they have to touch on them all to set up the action going forward, but they jumped into the Stannis arc without any setup or preamble whatsoever. Melisandre shows up literally out of nowhere and starts talking about the prophecies of R'hllor (who wasn't even mentioned) without first being introduced to Stannis through his wife, and Davos is introduced without any dialogue to explain who he is and what his relationship to Stannis is (something that is stressed very strongly in the book).
All of that was a "fill in the blank" moment for me. I kind of got the jist of what was going on, but it took me a second. Especially since this was the first we're seeing any of these characters. Maybe they plan on talking more about it in the next few episodes.
Another story line that's taking too long to develop is the creatures north of the wall. Yeah, yeah, it's cold, it's lonely, there's a sick old man porking his daughters... what's up with the creepy zombie things that we haven't seen since the beginning of S1?!?
Another story line that's taking too long to develop is the creatures north of the wall. Yeah, yeah, it's cold, it's lonely, there's a sick old man porking his daughters... what's up with the creepy zombie things that we haven't seen since the beginning of S1?!?
They don't show up in the books again until much later (4th or 5th book), and still don't play a significant role through those volumes. One has to assume that they're being saved (by the books' author, not the show's creators) as a "final boss fight" once the monarchy of Westeros has been sorted out.
Another story line that's taking too long to develop is the creatures north of the wall. Yeah, yeah, it's cold, it's lonely, there's a sick old man porking his daughters... what's up with the creepy zombie things that we haven't seen since the beginning of S1?!?
They don't show up in the books again until much later (4th or 5th book), and still don't play a significant role through those volumes. One has to assume that they're being saved (by the books' author, not the show's creators) as a "final boss fight" once the monarchy of Westeros has been sorted out.
I figured that they would end up breaking through while all the **** is still going on without the monarchy having been sorted out, adding another level of complexity to what is going on. Probably some sort of temporary alliance to deal with the menace, with extra opportunities for backstabbing and jockeying for position.
Another story line that's taking too long to develop is the creatures north of the wall. Yeah, yeah, it's cold, it's lonely, there's a sick old man porking his daughters... what's up with the creepy zombie things that we haven't seen since the beginning of S1?!?
They don't show up in the books again until much later (4th or 5th book), and still don't play a significant role through those volumes. One has to assume that they're being saved (by the books' author, not the show's creators) as a "final boss fight" once the monarchy of Westeros has been sorted out.
I figured that they would end up breaking through while all the sh*t is still going on without the monarchy having been sorted out, adding another level of complexity to what is going on. Probably some sort of temporary alliance to deal with the menace, with extra opportunities for backstabbing and jockeying for position.
I think the white walkers are actually the good guys.
It wasn't about her not having meat to feed them. She actually had a bit of it in her hand and was trying to feed it to one of them during the discussion. They won't eat uncooked meat, something she hasn't figured out yet. As to the White Walkers, they don't show up directly in this book, but they do send their undead minions to attack the group from the Night's Watch near the end.
They (White Walkers)don't show up in the books again until much later (4th or 5th book), and still don't play a significant role through those volumes. One has to assume that they're being saved (by the books' author, not the show's creators) as a "final boss fight" once the monarchy of Westeros has been sorted out.
Actually, I think they'll show up this season for the battle that kills many of the Night Watch, including the Commander. He's gotta die before John gets to be in charge of the Wall. Depending on how they handle Bran, there could be more of them this season too.
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"The Rich are there to take all of the money & pay none of the taxes, the middle class is there to do all the work and pay all the taxes, and the poor are there to scare the crap out of the middle class." -George Carlin
They (White Walkers)don't show up in the books again until much later (4th or 5th book), and still don't play a significant role through those volumes. One has to assume that they're being saved (by the books' author, not the show's creators) as a "final boss fight" once the monarchy of Westeros has been sorted out.
Actually, I think they'll show up this season for the battle that kills many of the Night Watch, including the Commander. He's gotta die before John gets to be in charge of the Wall. Depending on how they handle Bran, there could be more of them this season too.
Those are just the run-of-the-mill zombies. And a lot still has to happen north of the Wall to lead up to that point.
Basically, the second and third book (i.e. the immediately forthcoming story) largely deal with the South, and with the various claimants to the various thrones (Stannis, Renly, Robb, Euron Greyjoy, Danearys), with just a sprinkling of Brienne and Jaime.
I was happy for a first season episode that reminded us of all the separate storylines and introduced the major new one. I'm happy enough with the extremely abrupt introduction of Melisandre, Stannos and Davros. It's so obvious that they have to discard at least 95% of the books going forward, in order to fit them into the TV season lengths. Basically these three show up as is and we work out what's up with them by the context of what's going on.
A sharp viewer who has never read the books will have picked up:
Melisandre is a pastor/preistess of a cult religion that is in opposition to the mainstream religion of the old gods. It's actively trying to convert new members and depose the old religion. It converts and dominates through fear (the night is dark and full of terrors) and promises light (and salvation) through fire. Melisandre has something going up with her, because she knowingly took a poisoned cup and drank it, surviving it while an educated Maestor who defends the old religion does not survive the poison. Good propaganda! And how did she manage that? Hopefully caught that Stannis is the middle child after Robert Baratheon, and after the death of Robert, if Robert has no legitimate children and did not will otherwise, Stannis should automatically legally be the new King, not Renly his youngest brother. Even if more people like Renly over Stannis. Should have caught that Stannis has lots of ships, which are needed to attack King's Landing. Might not have caught that Stannis's fortress is on an island. Caught that Davros has an influential relationship with Stannis, which gives him some power in his community. But that Davros doesn't dare to directly challenge Melisandre, so she obviously has MORE influence with Stannis.
Melisandre said something about a prophecy about drawing a sword from flame. She duly had Stannis perform said prophecy. This reminded me of when John burnt his hand. did he burn his hand while going for a weapon, or am I misremembering?
Speaking of HBO GO, Comcast hasn't released that to the Xbox yet, so I'm still having to use it on my PC which sucks, because I only have a desktop. I've been trying to finally get caught up on Big Love, but I don't like to sit at my computer desk and watch TV.
Second episode of season two was interesting, mostly because I don't recall any of Dany's bloodriders getting killed in the books. I also thought that they spent a bit too much time characterizing Littlefinger. We know he's a cretin already; let's move it along.
They also changed the name of Theon's sister (in the book, her name is Asha), which completely perplexes me.
Second episode of season two was interesting, mostly because I don't recall any of Dany's bloodriders getting killed in the books. I also thought that they spent a bit too much time characterizing Littlefinger. We know he's a cretin already; let's move it along.
They also changed the name of Theon's sister (in the book, her name is Asha), which completely perplexes me.
The change to Asha's name was done to make it more readily distinguishable for non-book readers who might otherwise confuse her with Osha (sp?), the wildling that gets captured by the Starks. Makes sense to me. Also, the actress playing her looks almost exactly like my soon-to-be sister-in-law. A little less so in the series than in her IMDB portrait, but it's still uncanny.
Agreed on the Littlefinger bit; it seemed wholly unnecessary. Also, I'm just not interested in Ros, so any scenes with her strike me as tedious already, which made that part doubly boring for me.
And yeah, I believe the bloodrider bit was new. Probably shouldn't affect anything, since they don't really have much more text devoted to them in the books, IIRC. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but Bronn never gets named captain of the gold cloaks in the books, right?
IIRC, Bronn serves as captain of the gold cloaks until the battle with Stannis' forces outside of King's Landing, at which point he's made Lord of some estate in the south. He continues to serve both positions until Tyrion is imprisoned for poisoning Joffrey, at which point Bronn marries the lady that got raped/impregnated during the Bread Riots.
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Also, I'm just not interested in Ros, so any scenes with her strike me as tedious already, which made that part doubly boring for me.
I always wondered who the hell she was, as I couldn't recall her from the books. I just looked it up, and apparently she's not in the books. So, umm... why introduce her at all?
IIRC, Bronn serves as captain of the gold cloaks until the battle with Stannis' forces outside of King's Landing, at which point he's made Lord of some estate in the south. He continues to serve both positions until Tyrion is imprisoned for poisoning Joffrey, at which point Bronn marries the lady that got raped/impregnated during the Bread Riots.
Ah, okay. I always liked Bronn. He seemed to have caught on to the best way to succeed in GRRM's universe:
1) Look out for #1 2) Hitch yourself to a rising figure 3) ??? 4) Profit 5) Cash out before you attract someone's ire 6) Get the @#%^ out of Dodge
They also changed the name of Theon's sister (in the book, her name is Asha), which completely perplexes me.
I believe it was to help alleviate confusion with other characters with similar names, primarily Osha. She's one of my favorite characters in the books. I'm hoping she has a more central role going forward.