Games of Thrones 1x07 belated review

[ishtar79]

-In just how many ways are various characters going to express the “Ned Stark is an IDIOT” sentiment? It was impressive, in a way, the way he managed to do every single thing wrong in this one. I can't even remember all his blunders, I was too busy shaking my head and facepalming.

-The show is making it really hard for me not to sympathize with Cersei, despite all the horrible things she's done (and will do). Her scene in the courtyard was a thing of beauty, and not just because she had the most quotable line in the episode. She was probably the most honest she's ever been throughout the series, while still plotting circles around poor, clueless Ned.

-I think this is the first time I found gratuitous HBO sex/nudity jarring. It wasn't just that Littlefinger “directing” the girl-on-girl action served no purpose whatsoever, it was actually distracting from what was a pretty damn awesome look into Littlefinger's motivations. While everybody else was playing their game of thrones, he was playing the kind of long-term game ensuring survival.

-Class differences and the particularly the ultimate powerlessness of the underclass were a strong theme in this one, most notably in Theon's casually rapey intentions towards Osha and Pip's accounting his story of molesting lords to Jon and Sam. It's a nice reminder of all the unnamed masses reaping the consequences of all the political scheming without having any chance to affect the outcome.

-”King Robert Baratheon: murdered by a pig”. Can't say I'll miss Robert (at ALL), but as eulogies go, points for hilarity. And how hilarious was Robert finally coming around to Ned's opinion that Dany is not a threat, only for her to appear in the next scene attempting to convince Drogo to claim the Iron Throne for her. Poor Ned. He fails at...everything.

-Speaking of Dani, it was nice to see her interact one on one with her husband in a scene not involving sex. Though the gist of the scene pretty much was:

Dani: If you help me take the throne again, I'll make your hair look extra pretty!
Drogo: What is this “Tron” you speak of?
Dani: T-H-R-O-N-E. That kings sit on. And we need to get on ships to get there.
Drogo: I'm on a horse.

-Damn, I've read (the first three) books, but Jorah's motivation still confuses me.

-My patience with Jon's little fits on emo angst and brattish entitlement is wearing thin. I realize he had it bad compared to the legitimate Stark children growing up, but the way he was disparaging what he called “maid's work” and the fighting skills of his new brothers made me want to bitchslap him and tell him to snap out of it.

I loved that Sam actually had to spell out for him what his new position might mean. He might not bear the Stark name, but the apple doesn't fall far from the oblivious tree. Still, he's young, hopefully his changed circumstances will allow him to be more cunning than his dad.

-LOL, Renly. First attempting to make a grab for the throne, then running off with his boyfriend before the shit hit the fan. Now there's a man blessed with both common sense and flexibility, Ned.

-Was it just me, or did Dani look somewhat...flustered during Drogo's “conquer, imprison and rape” speech? Ok, I take back my reservations, the Targaeryen wacky is definitely strong in this one.

- “I did warn you not to trust me”. Oh, Petyr, you BAMF! With Tyrion absent in this one, he more than picked up the “the smartest and snarkiest of them all” mantle.

Comments

[lilacsigil]

Yes, Dany was definitely looking a bit heated watching Drogo swear to take the Iron Throne. Still, I give Ned points for trying not to kill Dany in the first place - if they'd listened to him then, they would never have caught the Khal's attention. He also gets points for sending his daughters home (presuming they actually made it out, I haven't read the books). But that's the only points he gets!

I really liked the "Jon is a privileged idiot" scenes - he is among smart people now, and maybe one day they'll convince him not to walk around with his mouth hanging open. Also, Jon, what did you think you'd be doing if you were legitimate but a younger son? You'd be a squire, you twit!

[ishtar79]

Dani was practically ready to jump Drogo in that scene.

Still, I give Ned points for trying not to kill Dany in the first place - if they'd listened to him then, they would never have caught the Khal's attention.

Good point. Ok, I suppose I can be charitable enough to give that one. He doesn't get a lot of points, the poor bastard.

I really liked the "Jon is a privileged idiot" scenes - he is among smart people now, and maybe one day they'll convince him not to walk around with his mouth hanging open. Also, Jon, what did you think you'd be doing if you were legitimate but a younger son? You'd be a squire, you twit!

With the lack of Tyrion to put the verbal smackdown on Jon, it's nice to see that Sam is picking up the slack.

[miranda_skye]

Every episode I find myself impressed with how much the actors seem to have thrown themselves into playing their characters - the majority of the characters are played with such relish they become incredibly vivid, real people. I agree that it's hard not to sympathise with Cersei despite her flaws, and I think a lot of that is down to the way she's played

[ishtar79]

I agree so much. There are a lot of things to love about this adaptation (the writing, the sets, those credits), but the best thing is probably the amazing cast.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Wasn't Jorah first spying for Varys but fell in love with Dany? (I believe the poisoning incident is the turning point because he was supposed to assist it? I might be wrong here).

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Sorry for butting in here but that's what I think too. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I am surprised how many things I actually do remember , having read the books 6 years ago!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks. I've only read up to the first part of Storm of Swords and my memory of it is fuzzy in places.

[christhegeek.livejournal.com]

I fast forwarded through the 'directed sex' (hurray for DVR!) and yeah, the Cersei character is definitely more likable in the series. I don't have a problem with that, though. Most of the changes have worked for it rather than against it. (Not that I would want the book changed)

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

the problem w/fast forwarding through the gratuitous sex was that you missed out on Littlefinger explaining how he manages to screw both the King's family and Ned while making everyone think they are on top (a better writer would have made the sex a shade more metaphorical and a lot less cringe-worthy, but this IS HBO).

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Another non-reader who has answered a question that has been plaguing me of late - did the Little Finger speech work for the non-readers and did they think it necessary to understand him.

I loved the speech, found the gratuitous sex to be distracting, jarring, and difficult to hear the great speech over. I kept wanting to put the moaning on mute.

But yep, it is HBO and they like to go overboard on the sex scenes, because they can. This is nothing.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I think this show is an excellent example of how to adapt a book into a show the right way. They're faithful but still leave some room for artistic license.

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

I've kind of decided that it would be a good thing if Ned's neck did get cut... because nobility while clueless can never be a good leader! LOL

OTOH I had to make an icon for Sam who is clearly way more clued in than everyone else around him! He manipulates and guides and still convinces people he is a dummy (you gotta love him!)

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

To be fair, none of the current candidates for King spell out good things for the realm.

Sam is an absolute sweetie. He's making the Jon scenes 100% better.

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Even I found that girl-on-girl sex scene ridiculous and you know I usually don't mind gratuitous sex. But Littlefinger and his motivations was awesome. I've lately found him more fascinating than even Tyrion or at least just as much. (In the books, I mean.)

It's a nice reminder of all the unnamed masses reaping the consequences of all the political scheming without having any chance to affect the outcome.

Yes. It's pretty evident in the books, too, probably even more so, and I love when I see it.

LOL at your Dany/Drogo scene retelling.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Damn, now I want to read the books to see what's up with Littlefinger. And to compare the gratuitous sex to the softcore HBO thing.

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Ah, another review I completely agree with. Although on Ser Jorah?
I figured out his motivation. He fell in love with Daenrys.

Word on Ned. The man is beyond clueless. Although I was ranting at him in the books too, also Sansa (they took out a scene so Sansa is actually more likable here).

Agreed on Cersei - far more likable here than in the books. I actually sympathized with her. And wanted to kick Ned.

Sigh, yes, Jon Snow. Whose more tolerable here actually, maybe because we're more in Sam's pov than Jon's.

The Dani scenes were sort of funny. And yes, I wondered about her too during Drago's rant - uh, Dany, he just said he'd go kill, rape the women, and enslave the children...shouldn't you look a little upset about that??

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Jorah's motivations were explained upthread, and it makes sense.

Ned is so frustrating. So was Sansa in the books, but she had the excuse of being a kid.

I think getting out of the character POVs in the books has definitely affected my perceptions of the characters.

Dani is getting a bit creepy with the bloodlust, definitely. But hey...at least her marriage is happy? Couples who massacre together stay together! ;)

[countouttheday.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the whore on whore sex was pretty gratuitous. But, um... also really hot so I guess I can forgive it. It was distracting, but I think at the same time, the distraction made the scene seem more fluid than just "massive information dump" which is what it is.

They are really making this whole Littlefinger = pimp connection clear, though. I always saw him more as a money lender with some pimping on the side in the books. Oh, HBO.

Other people have said what Jorah's motivation is... I think it eventually goes a little deeper than just crushing on her, but he's certainly gone from being desperate for pardon and home to being unable to see harm come to Dany if that's what it takes to achieve it.

Oh, Theon. You are so cute, but you got pwned by Luwin there. That was awesome. And, yeah, they're doing a great job of showing that and of using the opened up viewpoints of the show (versus the limits of the POV characters) to give us insight into the common folk, Cersei, Littlefinger, Jaime, and others far earlier than we did in the books, I think. Really well done stuff.

Oh, and Renly! Oh, Renly! He might be my favorite. He's certainly my favorite character that I'm not semi-ashamed to love as much as I do.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the whore on whore sex was pretty gratuitous. But, um... also really hot so I guess I can forgive it. It was distracting, but I think at the same time, the distraction made the scene seem more fluid than just "massive information dump" which is what it is.

Not denying the hotness, and yes, it did take away from the exposition-heavy feel of the scene (though I doubt that was the reason HBO put it in!).

So far I'm finding Jorah a lot more interesting than I did in the books.

And, yeah, they're doing a great job of showing that and of using the opened up viewpoints of the show (versus the limits of the POV characters) to give us insight into the common folk, Cersei, Littlefinger, Jaime, and others far earlier than we did in the books, I think. Really well done stuff.


That's my favourite change from the books. It's making all the characters come off as subtly different.

Oh, and Renly! Oh, Renly! He might be my favorite. He's certainly my favorite character that I'm not semi-ashamed to love as much as I do.

I don't remember enough about him from the books, but his storyline is definitely picking up.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

the apple doesn't fall far from the oblivious tree.

Heeeee! You made me laugh and laugh and laugh with that. I have to say that I like Show!Jon much more than Book!Jon because it seems that all Book!Jon does for about 75% of his POV chapters is whine about how horrible his life is and although he's only 15 in the books so maybe a bit more understandably Emo Teen Boy, I only have a limited amount of patience for that stuff.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm not crazy about Emo Teen Boy either, but he's definitely benefited onscreen by sharing his POV with characters like Tyrion and Sam. (though the show needs MOAR GHOST!)