[Book Spoilers] EP301 Discussion

[King Tyrion I]

I thought that my girl Cersei totally held her own. I wish she had done a AFFC and thrown the content of her wine cup at her son.

But she didn't. Her son just didn't know how to make conversation.

The dinner scene was so awkward

I. Loved. It.

Me too. So very intense.

[Lord Godric]

Do people think we'll see Loras become a member of the Kingsguard still this season? I certainly hope we do.

[JJB]

Now I want to cry. A Storm of Swords was such a GREAT book. Best book in the series by far. The show disappoints a LOT with so many changes. I was expecting something else. I was expecting at least the key points from the books to be made in an exact mode or closer.

Sam is a very important character in the books. He was supposed to kill the creature with the dragonglass not GHOST. Wth?

Mance didnt mention the bastard story. Why?

Charles Dance is a great actor but not for Tywin. And the scene was not as powerful as the one from the book. Where is Tywin's NEVER? In the books he is so angered by Tyrion's request while in the show is calm and says everything in a robotic way. Tyrion was supposed to be HIDEOUS. With a horror scar and no nose. Peter is good looking either way.

Where are Jaime and Brienne? Arya?

Didnt like the Small Council scene. Also Margaery scenes were ODD. Cersei is telling her things that were not in the book. At least NOT in this one. Joffrey is not intelligent, wise, mature. He is supposed to be a sadic, cocky, spoiled brat.

Davos scenes were close to the book. Probably the only thing I liked.

Sansa and Shae are not friends. Why they act like they are in the show? Also, Shae isnt that nice in the books.

Daenerys is acting too mature and wise. Selmy and Jorah acted like they know each other TOO soon.

Now my question is: Why these books have to be butchered like that? HBO is a shame. No more comments.

[Lord Godric]

Now my question is: Why these books have to be butchered like that? HBO is a shame. No more comments.

If you think HBO is a shame, you'd probably murder if anyone else besides HBO made the show. HBO is going to do the best job anyone would do.

[King Tyrion I]

If you think HBO is a shame, you'd probably murder if anyone else besides HBO made the show. HBO is going to do the best job anyone would do.

:agree:

[Nudu]

Now I want to cry. A Storm of Swords was such a GREAT book. Best book in the series by far. The show disappoints a LOT with so many changes. I was expecting something else. I was expecting at least the key points from the books to be made in an exact mode or closer.

Sam is a very important character in the books. He was supposed to kill the creature with the dragonglass not GHOST. Wth?

Mance didnt mention the bastard story. Why?

Charles Dance is a great actor but not for Tywin. And the scene was not as powerful as the one from the book. Where is Tywin's NEVER? In the books he is so angered by Tyrion's request while in the show is calm and says everything in a robotic way. Tyrion was supposed to be HIDEOUS. With a horror scar and no nose. Peter is good looking either way.

Where are Jaime and Brienne? Arya?

Didnt like the Small Council scene. Also Margaery scenes were ODD. Cersei is telling her things that were not in the book. At least NOT in this one. Joffrey is not intelligent, wise, mature. He is supposed to be a sadic, cocky, spoiled brat.

Davos scenes were close to the book. Probably the only thing I liked.

Sansa and Shae are not friends. Why they act like they are in the show? Also, Shae isnt that nice in the books.

Daenerys is acting too mature and wise. Selmy and Jorah acted like they know each other TOO soon.

Now my question is: Why these books have to be butchered like that? HBO is a shame. No more comments.

Sam slew an other LATER. And it was i wight, not an other.

It wasn't small concuil. Just a dinner.

Davos's scene had nothinh to do with books. It was the most disappointing scene for me. They took Davos directly to the dungeons in the books.

[Loras]

Now I want to cry. A Storm of Swords was such a GREAT book. Best book in the series by far. The show disappoints a LOT with so many changes. I was expecting something else. I was expecting at least the key points from the books to be made in an exact mode or closer.

Sam is a very important character in the books. He was supposed to kill the creature with the dragonglass not GHOST. Wth?

That creature was a Wight - he was never meant to kill that AT ALL in the books.

Mance didnt mention the bastard story. Why?

Time constraints, I imagine.

Tyrion was supposed to be HIDEOUS. With a horror scar and no nose. Peter is good looking either way.

Did you watch the S2 finale, it was clear from that moment what Tyrion was going to look like. We have nearly had a year to get used to it.

Where are Jaime and Brienne? Arya?

Episode 2

Didnt like the Small Council scene.

There wasn't one..

Sansa and Shae are not friends. Why they act like they are in the show? Also, Shae isnt that nice in the books.

Again, this has been going on since S2 E04 - the reason is probably to give Shae someone to interact with other than Tyrion.

Selmy and Jorah acted like they know each other TOO soon.

But they do know each other...

I don't mean to be rude but it looks like you are trying to find things to complain about. Things might have diverted from the books - but the books are the books and the TV show is the TV show. Two separate entities.

[anexanhume]

Strong Belwas: In Memoriam

- You made perhaps the best fighter in Westeros your squire

- To you, the terrifying Dothraki are merely "horse boys"

- You withstood the mounted charge of the Meereenese champion, quickly dispatched him, and decided the next most appropriate step was to shit on the battlefield.

- You ate a bowlful of poisoned locusts. Sure you got sick and lost some weight, but no locust can defeat Strong Belwas.

Strong Belwas you will be missed. I do hope D&D ate liver and onions after writing this episode.

I thought I remember reading that Belwas will be in the show eventually. I can't find it though. You have to admit that with the show not having Arstan hide his identity, Belwas wasn't really needed initially.

[Ser Wun Wun]

I don't think HBO is painting itself into a corner with Shae. All they have to do is include one scene where Cersei confronts Shae and threatens her if she doesn't testify against Tyrion. Then we are left hanging on what Shae decides to do until we see her called to the stand in the trial scene. It will be fucking heartbreaking, even more so than in the book (b/c book Shae was clearly only in it for the money anyway).

It's won't even be out of character for tv Shae imo, she told Sansa not to trust anyone ever. She's a survivor at heart, she'll do what she has to to make it out. I think the show has communicated that about her effectively, personally.

[pleonasm]

A couple of quick thoughts:

1. Kudos the special effects and production design folks (set designers, costumes, etc...). Most of the work in this episode far supassed anything that they have done in the last two seasons. Joffrey's Dining Room and Tywin's chamber were great new additions. I also loved a number of the effects shots (The Wildling Camp, Robb's troops, the Giant, and Danny's dragons). It wasn't perfect, the manticore was silly and I didn't care for the opening sequence with the NIght Watch -- it felt very 'green screened', but nonetheless they are really hitting alot of stuff out of the ballpark.

2. I am convinced Benioff and Weiss, while great fans, and kudos for them for convincing HBO to film the unfilmable series, are still learning on the job how to write 'great' television. There was a couple of very good scenes/interactions (Tywin and Tyrion, Ros and Shae, etc...), but they still haven't put together a great episode yet. I really wish they could write and film action sequences. The cold open was laughably bad in capturing the threat that White Walkers and their zombie army is supposed to pose. Yes - Some of its budget, but a confusing mass panic night attack, with a hand held camera, and some great sound/musical cues would have been so much more compelling that Mormont standing around some extras with a little blood on them. I'm just not convinced they have a strong sense of how to use visuals to better tell some parts of the story.

3. Overall - I'd give a B-. It's an encouraging improvement from the trainwreck that was Season 2. Its solid television. But not great.

[-Ghost-]

Very disappointed with the opening scene. We didnt get to sree the battle at the Fist at all?

Seriously, how did Sam escape??? No real explanation, it just happened.

Wasnt happy with Mance's intro either. They changed both Jon and Mance's stories that they tell for absolutely no reason I can think of. Mance telling his story allows you to get to know and understand him.

The giant was siiick!

Charles Dance is amazing.

I dont likre how they changed Davos's part when he finally gets back to Stannis. Mel punked out Davos and Stannis kinda came off dickish.

Barristan was AWESOME. That whole scene with the creepy warlock girl was great.

[rohit39]

Its a decent episode. 7/10 in my book.

A small query. What about the reveal that Dany can actually understand Valyrian? That's surely coming up in the later episodes right? Or are they gonna work around it somehow?

[Lord Godric]

I don't think HBO is painting itself into a corner with Shae. All they have to do is include one scene where Cersei confronts Shae and threatens her if she doesn't testify against Tyrion. Then we are left hanging on what Shae decides to do until we see her called to the stand in the trial scene. It will be fucking heartbreaking, even more so than in the book (b/c book Shae was clearly only in it for the money anyway).

It's won't even be out of character for tv Shae imo, she told Sansa not to trust anyone ever. She's a survivor at heart, she'll do what she has to to make it out. I think the show has communicated that about her effectively, personally.

And once Tyrion is sentenced and she is revealed for who she really was, I can't imagine they'd just have her continue serving in the castle, she'll probably have to resort back to being a common whore. And Tywin being the sick fuck he is, would have no qualms about paying her.

[Lord Godric]

Its a decent episode. 7/10 in my book.

A small query. What about the reveal that Dany can actually understand Valyrian? That's surely coming up in the later episodes right? Or are they gonna work around it somehow?

I think she very obviously understood what was being said, and I imagine it's something we'll hear when they decided to take Missandei with them.

[Wun Drop]

Its a decent episode. 7/10 in my book.

A small query. What about the reveal that Dany can actually understand Valyrian? That's surely coming up in the later episodes right? Or are they gonna work around it somehow?

I bet the reveal will come moments before she kills the slaver. :)

[-Ghost-]

Sam slew an other LATER. And it was i wight, not an other.

Sam killed an Other.

[King Tyrion I]

Sam killed an Other.

Yepp, with dragonglass.

[-Ghost-]

Why isnt Ghost with Jon? Didnt he have him in season 2, or no?

[Maester Hodor]

Can anyone tell me if the actor who played Barristan in Season 1 is playing him in Season 3 too? I thought he looked the same but sounded a little different from what I remember.

[Stallion That Mounts Texas]

Could anyone make out some of what Tywin was writing? If I'm not mistaken he knows that Jaime is free already.