Games of Thrones 1x08 review

[ishtar79]

-Master Syrio officially had the most EPIC last stand! I knew it was coming, but it still got to me. Another actor who did a stellar job with the characters.

-Oh, my Arya! She was so reluctant to leave her dancing teacher's side. And I'm sounding like a broken record here, but I'm still beyond impressed with the young actresses. She had some intense scenes in this one, but she never went the OTT/precocious route other child actors might have gone.

-“Why is it no one ever trusts the eunuch?” GOSH, VARYS, I WONDER WHY!!!!

-Arya managing to hide even from Varys' men is a detail that fills me with glee. She's as sneaky as the rest of the Starks are...not.

-Watching the conversation between Varys and Ned was certainly an interesting experience. It's nice to see that Ned hasn't lost his perpetual lack of perspective and cluelessness as to how much shit he's in despite being shackled in a dungeon with all of his men dead. He might be a bullheaded fool, but never let it be said he's not a consistent one.

- Heh, the irony of Sansa telling Cersei she's be a Queen not hatching any plots, just like her.

-Poor Sansa. She gets a lot of flack in fandom for essentially having inherited her father's instincts and excellent judgement of character, but really, a thirteen year old girl being manipulated in tandem by Cersei, Littlefinger and Varys? How is that fair?

-I'm not sure I agree with Theon's pronouncement of Robb as “not stupid” quite yet, but at least he seems aware of the depth of the sea of excrement he's currently swimming in, and wants to challenge the Lannisters armed with more than his power of righteousness, unlike some Stark men who shall remain shackled.

-It was difficult to concentrate on the dialogue between Catelyn and Lysa because I kept expecting to revisited by the horror of Extremely Inappropriate Breastfeeding.

-The really depressing thing is that CrazyEyes!Lysa with her disturbingly Oedipal family values and her remote Castle Of Horrors? Still has more common sense than the Starks.

-Tyrion's negotiating skills are so epic, they're practically a superpower.

-I have to say the Wights lose some of their terrifying quality on screen and almost look goofy at times. Still, the fight scene with Jon was effective enough, and I was just thrilled with the Ghost sighting.

-I'm was surprised that HBO didn't go all out with extended rape scenes during the pillaging, but then remember Martin wrote the episode. Can't he write the whole show?

-My love for Dany grows with her every new appearance. No, she doesn't have a “gentle heart”-what she's got now is the bearing of queen. And I'm amused at how quickly she became an expert in subtly manipulating Drogo (because let's face it, logical arguments are not the way to go with him). It's not about letting his wound be cleaned because he's in risk of infection, it's that seing him in pain makes her hurt.

-Khal Drogo: so badass he can kill his enemies through the awesome power of his pecs. That fight scene was kind of hot, and I don't think anybody but Jason Momoa could have sold it without going into complete camp territory (those Dothraki, they love their posturing).

-I have to say, this is the first time that show Robb has been semi-interesting to me and come off as something more than a pale imitation of Ned.

-Just when I was shouting “presuming he can find him” after Robb's request that Bran look out for his brother (perhaps he meant it in a “keep an eye out on in case you spot him” way), the little missing in action!Starklet amused me by showing up merely to drop a dose of reality that sadly eludes the rest of the family, and leaving again. They probably keep him stashed somewhere because his Uncomfortable Truths bum the rest of the family out.

-I loved Catelyn almost reaching out to hug Robb but stopping herself at the last moment, to avoid hugging her son in front of the troops. You could almost see the mental adjustment to treating him like a man rather than a boy now.

-Really, Tywin, stop it with the emotional outburst at seeing your son alive, you're embarrassing yourself.

-Sansa might not be a fighter like the rest of her siblings, but it took some serious guts to plead for her father's life in public among her enemies. Having said that, I wonder how many unspoiled viewers think Ned will compromise his honor to save his hide. Show of hands, anyone?

Comments

[lilacsigil]

Arya and Sansa FTW! Sansa is using every weapon she has - and she's fighting Cersei's sword with a pin, but she's still doing it. She held Joffrey's gaze like a champ. I'm unspoiled and the only way I can see Ned compromising is if someone is about to kill one of his kids RIGHT NOW (not just threatening to do so in the future) but that's about it. Good luck, Sansa!

Oh Tyrion! The look on his face when he realised that his father had the chance to send him into battle! It's perfect for Tywin - Tyrion might handily die a noble death, AND he gets some battle-hardened warriors, AND he doesn't have to pay them yet!

[ishtar79]

I love Arya and Sansa, and especially love how different they are. As much as I love Arya kicking ass and taking name, I have so much sympathy for the position Sansa has found herself in, and her attempts at navigating it.

I loved the parallels between Tywin's scene with Jamie last episode and this week's scene with Tyrion. Not exactly winning any awards for Father Of The Year.

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

I think that wasn't an Other Jon was fighting but just a wight? Gah, why can't I remember? *googles* Yep, just a wight. (http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Others) (Nothing but the vaguest spoilers in that asoiaf wiki entry as far as I can see.) But yes, even as a wight, it wasn't terrifying enough. Loved the scene, though, as well as the whole episode!

Can't he write the whole show?

I really wish he could! Though I'd rather he were writing the next books. ;)

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Ack, you're right. Fixed it. I really need to reread the books (and now I CAN!).

Heh, in my fantasy universe, he writes the books and show. But yeah, at this point, I'll settle for the series being completed.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

LOL! This was the best recap.

I have a friend who just loves Ned (or Eddard, as she calls him) and she's on pins and needles every week wondering if he dies. I just keep my mouth shut. Because what's funny is in some ways Ned is just like her. She'd probably compromise her principles to live, of course, but she's gotten herself into similar trouble because her instincts are the same.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Heh, it must be an interesting experience watching this show with someone unspoiled. This is not a canon where it's a good idea to get attached to any characters and pairings.

The next two episodes should be intense, I can't wait!

[nrrrdy-grrrl.livejournal.com]

I was on the edge of my seat!!!!!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

This episode was pretty much perfection-there wasn't a single scene that didn't work for me.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Oh, the unspoiled are making me quite sad, because someone suggested to me that Syrio wasn't dead and was going to rescue Ned in the next episode. Another candidate for rescuing Ned (or joining Robb Stark's armies) is Barristan Selmy (which ignores the fact that he has no real love for the Starks or reason to ally himself with them!) Also, people are speculating that Tyrion will ditch HIS family and join the Starks. (You know, because all the good characters have to be on the same side, because that's how real life works :P)

Even when I was 100% unspoiled and didn't know Ned's fate, I never thought that random members of other great families were going to join Ned, particularly not Tyrion, seeing as he blames Catelyn and her sister for nearly getting him killed.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

My unspoiled friend at work keeps saying that Ned is going to be fine. She actually seems to think that this is going to end well for everyone. I think people are just too used to good endings.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Wow, the next two episodes should be...interesting for your friend.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I'm amazed at all the candidates for rescuing the Starks fandom is coming up with. Not that they don't need rescuing from their lack of common sense, but come on!

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

Your review cracks me up! I'm totally in love with Tryion, I want a poster for over my bed... or a T-shirt (yeah, that would be cool!).

I too was nervously expecting the inappropriate breast feeding (it definitely adds to the creep factor, which is already high enough when in the Castle of Horrors).

And speaking as an unspoiled viewer: I'm only surprised that Ned isn't dead yet. Of course maybe he is needed to insure that his clever political machinations will kill off his entire family before he goes.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Tyrion rocks my world. (As does Sam!)

And speaking as an unspoiled viewer: I'm only surprised that Ned isn't dead yet. Of course maybe he is needed to insure that his clever political machinations will kill off his entire family before he goes.

LOL!!! A perfect assessment of the character.