redriver

Re: Bran's story, you know one thing I miss? I miss the Liddle. It would have been a nice, vaguely mysterious scene to drop into the show, to show that there are northmen who are loyal, who tell them a bit of what's going on further south... and then we can get Jojen's line, "The wolves will come again."

Maybe they can work it into one of the final episodes.

I agree with this.And perhaps he could be used to tell Bran that Ramsay is inquiring about him.

Really enjoyed the episodes, there's just one problem I have. Sometimes the way Margaery walks she just starts throwing her shoulders around and looks very weird. It happens in this episode in the scene with Sansa.

I know.Margery and her shoulder throwing almost ruined it for me.

10.Simply astonishing.

On the re watches little touches kick in,-Varys to Tyrion "You will have your revenge...if you have the stomach for it."

Well,it's too late now.I've read them all twenty times.I can't unread them,nor squeeze milk back up a cow's udder.And no,the Ramsay reveal will happen,and be more devastating for the viewer,when the time is ripe.

My jaw dropped when I saw Gazza!! yea I think he's the man who's gonna stick it to Craster

I thought they dragged Rast back for that.Gorman is too big a name and too good an actor for a bit part like that.But,he's wandering around like he belongs and no one is questioning his presence,so yes it looks like he's the Craster killer,not Coldhands.

Odd,though.

Has anyone figured out why Burn Gorman was wandering round Craster's Crib?Is he Coldhands?

10.Great episode.Not sure it's my favourite though but it's close.

10 minutes to go here in Oireland.Hope you guys haven't overhyped it!!!!

Quick question about the Rains of Castamere. Were the lyrics of the song ever mentioned in the books? I always remember at feasts like Joff's wedding that the song would be played, but I don't remember a specific instance where the lyrics were spelt out. Anyone have an idea?

The Red Wedding.

9.49999

So many good lines.

Anyone else want to see a show where Bronn, Tyrion, and Varys drive around the country in a van solving mysteries? Anyone? Because I would pay cash money for that.

Read this 12 hours ago,and I'm still laughing. :lmao:

Jaime ,as he was being led away after being recaptured,to Cat "Why you've turned into a she-wolf in your old age.There's no more fish left in you".

ETA At least that's what I think I heard??

Gave it a 10.Lot of posters not liking the Jon scenes,but I think Ygritte redeems them with her piss taking humor.

Made a post in the discussion thread about why I like it,so I won't repeat it here.

We always seem to focus on deviations from the books but there are other components which make this fantastic TV.

The striking thing for me is how it looks.I think the sets,the locations,the costumes,attention to detail,the lighting the cinematography are all really top class.I know HD television in itself improves the visual experience,but it looks to me the HBO are taking full advantage of the technology.

The acting,both individual and ensemble,has been top class.Stand outs for me have been Dinklage,Allen,Heady,Malahide,but I really can't find anyone to criticize.Coster-Waldau was outstanding in this episode,and the good news is we're going to see much more of him from now on.

I don't mind the plot deviations as long as they resolve themselves correctly,and time will tell on that score.Dany's changes look to be an improvement imo.

This is compelling,top class television.

Tywin knows Arya is highborn, but doesn't know she's Stark. Arya's been very poor at playing lowborn scum in the show. There's no way a stonemason's daughter knows how to read at her age, especially not script that illuminated manuscripts would have on them. There's also no way that a stonemason brings his daughter south with him en route to war. I still think Williams is nailing the role, I think she's playing it just the way it should be played.

Joffrey was, again, a tremendous piece of feces.

Sansa in the book was learning by this time. Sansa in the show is still in Fairy Tale Land.

Jon doesn't know how to tie someone up. Ygritte still had a lot of freedom of movement for her hands. If they wake up like nothing happened, I'll be a bit disappointed. Maybe he wouldn't be able to fall fully asleep, but she's a warrior and has loose ropes already around her hands, with plenty of slack to wrap around his neck or to grab a weapon.

Rodrick was perfect...right to the bitter end. And Theon was exactly how I pictured him - unsure and cocky, wrapped in petulance and dreams of glory.

Changes are okay of course, and I'm not trying to complain, but I missed the part of the scene where Cersei actually takes Tyrion's side in the keep, after they get out of the riot.

Is Dany starting to realize that she's the Beggar Queen, to her brother's Beggar King? Is it possible they're setting up to keep her away from the Slave Cities boondoggle?

About stonemasons.These are the guys who write inscriptions in stone.In our world they've been doing it since the Sumerian civilization.

They were deemed to be highly skilled and,of necessity,literate.They formed a guild called the Stonemasons which still survives today,known as the Masons.

It's not improbable that they passed their knowledge on to their children either here or in Westeros.

So,cleverly played by Arya.

Since Morrigan clearly has my back in this fight, I gotta return the favor to my hommie:

1. We do not "bitch" about every deviation from the books. I personally loved the scenes that add depth and substance to the characters- most notably in season 1 the scene between Robert and Cersei; I loved the circumvention of the Reeds (not as critical as people think) and I have stated (really until I am blue in the face) just how amazing the Tywin-Arya scenes are. I am amazed at how incredible Maergery has become. even the additions with LF are fine by me. Anything that adds to the universe I enjoy. Also, some changing of the original was done to conserve time- the conflation of the shadow baby/Stannis Shadow;

But it comes with a price: a season of ten hours- no more. For everything that is added, something must be taken away. And I insist that the people who make those choices... chose wisely. And do not mistake me- the vast majority of changes have been for the positive. But that does not excuse the few that have been cringe-worthy (most notably the life-less parlay between Stannis and Renly).

2.I watch because its a great show about a great series I enjoy a great deal. I honestly thought my 6K posts on this message board would have tipped you off to that.

3. When I watch the show, I enjoy it as a "Alternate Universe" of Westeroes/ Game of Thrones. And as an alternate, some changes must be made. Most changes do fit the overall mold of the show. Most changes to not dramatically alter the landscape of the overall story. But you must concede that some changes can still be bad changes, . If a change is poorly done; or is misguided; or slows down the pace of the story; or makes me question what the show is doing, etc, I have every right to criticize. Take the Jon Snow scene where he spares Ygritte then chases her because he ... is going to free her later?... maybe... but may want to bring her back to Halfhand... but Halfhand said he wanted her dead... ANYWAY... if that scene happened in the books, I would have thought it bizarre and poorly done (but because Martin is a proven writer with a dramatic track record, that rarely happens). In other words, the fact that its a change is NOT reason enough to dislike something. However, if its a bad change then pipping that changes can be good cannot justify it, either. A good change would be a good; a bad one bad. And if I take each change and judge each one on its merits (which I believe I do), then I cannot be (fairly) accused of being a "purist" or a "nitpicker." If a scene is a bad scene it matters NOT AT ALL if its straight from the books or if its newly imagined. Its still bad.

That's why I criticized the Jon/Ygritte retelling (and because its a waste of limited time); its why I love other scenes. Not every complaint about a change is nitpicking; not every defense of a change is somehow open-mindedness. Each one must be evaluated on its own merits. And nobody should b complaining about that.

Valid points.But I think the time to judge TV deviations from the books is at the end of the series.

We have to give them time to play out.For example,the dragon theft has raised a few eyebrows round here.But I'm thinking it adds drama to a drama free passage in Dany's arc,apart from the HOTU chapter itself.

Do you think the episodes improve on re-viewing?

Cracking episode.Gave it a 9,only because I'm saving my 10's for later.I'm not bothered by the deviations from the books.

If they seem a bit odd now,I'm sure they will work ultimately,including the theft of the dragons.

I laughed out loud at the Lorch death.I'm hoping it was meant to be funny.

Cranked it up to a 9 for this episode.But one quibble,I thought it was customary for the ladies in Qarth to leave one breast exposed?I hate it when they deviate from the authenticity of the books. :drool:

Oooh, they are gonna explore Joffrey's sexual life now? Was it ever established if he died a virgin in the books? It's not necessarily a bad change from the books, but perhaps it would be best to save the creepy sexual stuff for the Bastard of Bolton?

It's in the books.Sorry bud.

Don't know why but the scene where Sansa is reflected in a misty mirror got me,,,

......and I still hate Shae.What was Tyrion thinking of?

Cranking it up to a 9 now.

The tension is gearing up.Tyrion excells as usual.

And alas,poor Yoren,we knew him well.

One example of the TV being better than the books.

From an Irish perspective,no confusion.No real need for the name change.

Then again the name change is no big deal to me.

ETA Should have quoted-talking about the Asha/Yara thing

Haven't read all 18 pages of this thread, but are we sure Rakharo is dead? There was something about that scene, like not quite showing his head out of that bag, that made me thinking they might be trying to pull something up.

Dunno. Not in denial or anything, just seems odd to kill a character that lives all the way to ADWD.

Yes.It states in the English translation of the Dothraki that "Rakharo will ride with his ancestors tonight".

Yoren- "I sharpened my knife before breakfast.I could shave a spider's arse if I wanted to".Another genius line.

Arya looks Japanese anime with those big eyes.

Alton Lannister looks very like Gendry.Related in real life?

Let's see... The First Greyjoy rebellion took place 9 years before the starting of GOT and Theon was already 10 years old (with him being Balon youngest son). Theons elder brothers both took part in the rebellion, so the oldest of them should be at least 15 (at this age Balon himself killed his first man) then he was killed. So inclining that he fathered his first son at the age of what... 16? We'll have this sum - 16+15+9= The Iron King should be at least 40 years old - and you should keep in mind, that in the middle ages people didn't just lived happily till the age of 88 like in our times, and they looked older - especially a seasoned reaver like Balon, who's whole life was dedicated to warfare and permanent stress.

He shouldn't look as old as Maester Aemon of cause, but still - in the series he looks a bit too young.

Sooo,you've worked out that Balon is in his forties and then concluded that a 67yr old is too young looking to play him?

Ookay....... :dunno: