Words of Winter

I wrote my critique before reading any comments. Kind of funny the comment directly before mine directly contradicts my argument. I believe parts of it didn't flow well but others do. Tomato-Tomato, I guess. Edit: grammar

I gave it a 9. Too much nudity. Brothel scene was fine. Ramsey scene did not add anything. He should have killed her after the act and then the blood on his chest would have been more disturbing and the scene would have meaning beyond bow-chicka-bow-ow. (perv quotient.) I understood the Yara/Asha scene was actually more to show the "death" of the Theon her brother, but the escape/retreat didn't flow well. It was a "WTF, did I miss something?" break, in my mind, similar to the poor introduction of Barriston Selmy last season. He shows up, fights Jorah and is 15 feet away with Jorah holding him and all of the sudden he daggers the mantacor. It didn't flow very well is what I'm saying. Tyrion and Davos saved the show for a 9.

I gave it an 8. It was solid. I did not like the Thenns. It will make an awkward situation if they follow the book. The Thenns were not cannibals, but I don't think it is absolutely necessary that a Thenn follows through with what is in the books. I think the Arya scene was about as good as they could do because it reintroduces the 2nd sword Stark named sword. Of course the first is now two Lannister swords.

In short, I don't think the scale of the RW translated well. It should have been more epoch. I gave it an 8. I was disappointed in their adaptation.

I don't see the resemblance and from the books we know Jaqen/Pate will be at the Citadel while Daario is across the world in Essos.

I don't know. I think we will get Balon because the S 3 preview had Yara/Asha walking and looking pissed. I assume that she is walking briskly because someone lost his balance. I know the a theory exists that a FM is responsible for the Balon's death and that that FM is Jaqen, but I have re read the books and I can't put it together. Does anyone know a good thread using book sources as evidence that a FM, and especially Jaqen is responsible?

I seem to recall Tywin in the show saying Cersei and Loras will wed after Joffrey's royal wedding so it doesn't take away from that. We know what happens at that wedding, so maybe Tywin doesn't force the issue or doesn't have time because his own son is accused of killing the king. Then he gets a really sharp pain in his bowels . . .

Maybe she just wanted some. I thought the nudity scene was too long. I was like, ok you're naked, awesome, but we got things to do as well. Stannis looked a little PO'd when his get-it-on woman was getting-in-on with Baratheon 2.0 which made up for it. you would think he would say Joffrey's name first, like in the books. In the books, there was some hesitation before throwing the Robb starck voo-doo leach in the fire. But TV =/= books. I need to keep telling myself this.

It is an American Holiday where we honor the fallen soldiers. It has also become the unofficial start to summer in the US. As such it is a 3 day weekend for most people and people travel, go to the beach, bar-b-que, etc while others remember those who have died in service to the country. As a practical matter, S2 Ep9, Blackwater, had the lowest ratings last year, even though it was one of the best because it was on memorial day weekend. Thus they are taking a 1 week hiatus.

I am writing this before reading any comments. I gave it a solid 8. A good solid hour of TV. Some low points, some high points, some other points ..., but overall a good solid hour of entertainment. Pros Sam the Slayer Hound/Arya, Wedding Raynes of Castamere detail (although slightly altered from the books) I even enjoyed TVyrion (TVyrion is the whitewashed TV Tyrion. I now consider him too different to be Tyrion.) Genealogy Web, not tree. (I'm sorry, but I'm a guy, liked the Dany and Mel scenes.) (Liked the rational for the Mel swooning Gendry to get unsullied ripe blood. I even like Dany teasing allegiance with her own nakedness) Baby naming - Craster - Sam's Face. Randall - Sam's response. In my head I heard him thinking, 'Gee, Gilly, some names are best not taken, like Craster, Randall, Adolf, Pol Pot, Lucifer.' Cons The Mel nakedness was a little too long. Daario feels kind of smarmy, but I guess that is how I should feel about him. Joffrey was a little overdone (especially his breathing at the knife scene) The Gendry sacrifice seemed anticlimactical or out of position regarding because leeches, not that big of deal. Did not mention they were going to burn him. Sansa -They should have upped the age or changed the reasoning. She looks way too old for 14, but I could be wrong. Meh Changes Riverrun to Twins - shortening the round about Hound Area journey. Changing up the details of the Raynes of Castamere. (I know the song is Rains of Castamere. Raynes is the family) At first I was meh about he baby name because it is bad luck to name a child till its 2nd name day, but it became kind of funny. (See above) Double Pro: Sam the Slayer - He has the best icebreaker around. Puddles RIP(ieces) FWIW: Ep 1 8+ | Ep 2 - 6 | Ep 3 - 9 | Ep 4 - 9+| Ep 5 -7 | Ep 6 - 4 | Ep 7 - 7 | Ep 8 - 8 |

I agree with people who complain about Tyrion's whitewashing. At this point, TV Tyrion is a completely different character than the book Tyrion. I will begin calling him TVyrion.

I was waffling between 7 and 8. I gave it a 7 because I was expecting more. I write this before reading other people's opinions so I am not influenced. Pros: Dragons are awesome. It is very hard to act around nothing pretending there is something. Emilia Clark does a fair job. Yunkai arc was solid. Glad they did not show the castration. Good decision. Mr. Winky's last stand was a good way (and a cruel way) to lead into that scene. (Oh and two women for his last ovation. Too bad they cut him off before he was finished.) (Pun's intended ;) ) Not trying to make the Tyrion/Sansa marriage be the same as the book. The book marriage makes sense, but if they were to run with that now in the TV show, it wouldn't. Instead, they are going with two people who mutually agree to accept but succumb (initially) to the marriage. (IMHO) Good TV but not Great Bear scene. It is really hard to work with animals and pretend you don't have the use of arm. The climbing was unrealistic because he was using both arms. Guess they couldn't kill the bear so they had to improvise. Loved how they ended with "The Rains of Castamere." TVyrion was good, but only as a TV character. Would have been much better if the actress playing Ros was playing Shae instead. The Shae actress is really bad with her lines, but I'll just pretend that is because the common tongue (westerosi "cough" english) is her second language. It liked book Tyrion better. The white washing was complete so Tyrion is now TVyrion. Joffrey scene wasn't as powerful as I think it should have been, but Tywin is still in command. Meh Bran/Osha. Explain the f***** backstory already. Rat King, ToJ, KoTLT. Anything other than fighting. The husband/wight story is good as giving Osha a backstory, but I don't care about Osha. (Sorry, the more she acts, the more I dislike her. Didn't in the beginning) I assume the fighting will be how they will have Osha and Rickon break away, but bring some substance as well. Puh-lease. I nearly forgot the Ayra story - so if it isn't memorable, it isn't impactful. Sansa/Margery - So she alludes to the carnal knowledge of Bow-chicka-Bow-wow Cons. VFX were great for the dragons, but Harrenhall and the bear pit suffered. The scratches were on the wrong side. Were they not? Harrenhall screamed "set" just like the wall did last episode. History Ep 1: 8+| Ep 2: 6| Ep 3: 9| Ep 4: 9+| Ep 5: 7| Ep 6: 4| Ep 7: 7|

:agree: I agree with everything you said. I too gave it a four. It's not the changes to the story so much that bother me, although they do a little, it is the poorly written substitute. If the quality was the same as the dialogue from the books, then it wouldn't bother me so much. The constant Loras/Renly treatment is so cliche and it lowers the whole episode. The cheesy ending was so badly done I expected little birds to flutter around them and have Ygritte break out in song. And to those who thought the snow/wall looked realistic, I have lived both in sub arctic climates and mountainous regions. It looked like styrofoam. Looking a it, I can tell they were on a set with a green screen background. Look at that snow versus the snow in the scenes taken in Iceland. One is natural, the other is high school prop design.

:agree: Sam could have been put in the next scene episode or extended this one, presumably so he They should have edited it out Loras/Sansa words and just cut to Cersei watching them below. We didn't need to know what they were talking about.

I thought that was very cheesy and unbecoming of GoT.

I gave it a 4. Worst scenes of the season. Worst acting of the season. Worst directing of the season. I could almost envision where the masking tape crosses on the the floor showing where Maisie was supposed to stand when protesting Gendry's capture. The FX was unbelievable at the wall. That is not a good thing. I nearly shouted "Green Screen" and "Wow, that looks like the painting on my wall. Maybe its middle earth." The changes to the story line I'll tolerate, but again, they make Jon = wimp ignoramus, Ygritte = badass w/ people smart. The opposite of the books. I'm am now agreeing with PatrickStormborn on a lot of these forums. They are assassinating the character of Loras and making him a caricature of a gay guy. I'm not gay but this is pissing me off. Way to go progressive HBO. Can you be any more stereotypical? We'll find out next week. :thumbsdown: Cons: - almost everything. Pros - Robb storyline of all things. Crazy. I've been giving his story a consistent 7 this season, but that is the high point of this episode. Usually it is the low point. Neutral - Sam PS What was the green dream? and what about the fighting? maybe they are setting up the Osha Rickon breakoff? ETA: My ratings thus far: EP1 = 8+ EP2 = 6 Ep3 = 9 Ep4 = 9+ Ep5 = 7 Ep6 = 4

FWIW, I give it a 7. Ep 1 - 8+ Ep 2 - 6 Ep 3 - 9 Ep 4 - 9+ Ep 5 - 7 Ayra was too weak emotionally. Understandable but it didn't fit the Ayra I conjure. No Patchface, although I like the songs at the end. Not how I thought they would sound. This may mess up any special meaning with PF, if there are any to be had. This was like chapters in a book. They are regrouping and setting things in motion. Other than Karstark, nothing big happened. You could tell both the backside nudity of Ygritte and Brienne were standins. At least that is how it appeared to me. The hair on Ygrittes head is different and it appears they weren't showing any body with the face for Brienne. I am not saying this is a bad thing, I just was taken out of the moment because I noticed its inconsistency. In the book, Robb knows he will loose the Karstarks, but he knows if he doesn't kill him, he looses his honor and other Northerners. This is the first time I really hated Talisa because it made Robb look less the tactician than he is in the books. Cat and Robb make the decision to woo the Frays back, not here, it's Robb with little Miss Volantis, who for hobbies, likes cutting off limbs and following war camps around. A little frustrated with this ep.

I understand your complaints. I wish they could have done a little more with each, but overall I was happy with what they did. I think if they drew out the Astaphor scene, it would have garnered complaints, like "common, get to it already" etc. They had to balance the TV audience's attention threshold with the scenes and the time HBO gave them. It's a lot harder than I think we give them credit for. Nevertheless, it was a strong episode.

Not outright, but there is a scene, ( I just reread it last night) where she mentions that 'she is her fathers only s--' and then Jamie berates that she was going to say son. She hates that she is not a son, just like Cersei. She wants honor, Cersei wants powe, but the society only gives them the option of marriage.

I hope not. I know that is one of the major questions in this show, but the PW episode 10 feels too contrived. My money would be on ep 3 or 4 of next season. But then again, I usually lose my bets so you're probably right. @#$% :)

I gave it a 9.25. Ep 1 --- 8+ Ep 2 --- 6 Ep 3 --- 9 Ep 4 --- 9.25 I just realized, there was no "HBO scene" in this one. Maybe they will see they don't need create scenes for T&A in every episode.

Well, I guess I'm criminal. Don't get me wrong, I want to give it a 10, but that means that this is as good as it gets. One of the best of the shows if not the best. The ending was epic. So I give it a 9.25. I still want them to get better. This episode had the most consistent acting from everyone, even Samwell, Sansa and Ros which had some weak outing of resent. Thank the gods, hee hee, Shae was not involved. It would have brought it down to 8. The only two cons I really saw was The segway to Vary's cutting story. It didn't flow into it well, but it was acted well nonetheless. Sansa and Loras was expected, even though it is not in the book. He reaction was well done. A little forced, but not enough for me to say in my head, "hey, she is just acting." Great job.

I gave it a 9/10. The highest for anything this season. Ep1 8 (on edge of 9) Ep 2 - 6. Pros: Jaime and Brienne. Well done. Musical chairs The Pod scenes - I think it will be important that he didn't pay. Now he owes a favor, maybe? Blackfish Catyln Dany scenes. Her scenes seem real strong compared to season 2. Neutral Ayra, Robb, funeral Cons Stannis scene. I would put this as the weak part of the show. Not sure I dislike it, but I don't like how emotionally destroyed and dependent he is in the show. Maybe without Melissandre, he will have to re-kindle (no pun intended) his relationship with Davos which makes him stronger Stannis. Don't know. Maybe they can pull it out. I honestly don't know how I feel about the Jaime hand scene versus the ending credits. I'm all over the place on it. It's unsettling and maybe that's why they used it here.

The trailer really made me pumped, but I was let down by the episode itself. I gave ep-1 an 8, with definite 9 potential. I give this one a 6. The Cat scene went off the rails when she mentioned how she may have caused the whole war. I could accept the changes in her character up until that point. It was like a train wreck, then cut scene. Arya should not have been so upfront with the, 'my grandpappy's the Lord of Riverrun' and then have Hot Pie react in the Inn when he hears about the Stark B* from the Hound. Something like "f* me, a Stark" with his mouth agape in astonishment. The duel was more about technique than a brawl, eh, whatever. The Sam scene was weak. I agree with a previous poster that they should have made it at night or even maybe dawn. He was exhausted, but I didn't really didn't feel that while watching. Shae, Shae, what can I say? If they want me to believe Shae is only a whore (sic), I am beginning to see it because her lines are so awful that it could only be good acting in, well, porn. I've tried not to assassinate the actor's character in the past, but the lines and her performance are cringe worthy and lacking and are actually getting worse. This is GoT. Surely you can kill her already and get her off the set. That said - I give the ep a 6 and hope not to be to let down in the future.

Agree with both. Butterbumps would have taken too much explaining and would have been a distraction for the Sansa's dramatic confession.