Games of Thrones 1x09 review

[ishtar79]

-R.I.P., Ned. I know I've been mocking the character and his monumentally bad lack of judgment all season, but it was all done with love. And Sean Bean's performance in this one gave me chills. During his last conversation with Varys, I respected his line about having learnt how to die a long time ago, but respected his decision to betray all his principles for his family's sake even more. It was, of course, all in vain, but for once Ned's instincts weren't to blame for this turn of events.

-Despite expecting/dreading Ned's death for the whole season, the emotional impact of the scene still hit me like a ton of bricks. Ned locking eyes with Arya, Sansa's initial naïve optimism and subsequent raw despair, Ned's almost resigned look when everything went quiet...damn. And I'm glad they chose to cut away (er, no bad pun intended) for the beheading, I think the trademark HBO blood & gore would have cheapened what was a powerful moment.

-That Joffrey is a loathsome bastard who deserves to have his eyes and other soft bits pecked out by crows is not news to me. I did wonder about Cersei's protest at his decision (that part of the book is hazy to me). I wonder if she really meant it, as per Varys' assessment that Ned is more useful to her alive.

-Lord Walder Frey is more disgusting than Robert, Lysa and Viserys combined. I shuddered on Catelyn's behalf when he slobbered all over her hand. On a more plot-related note, it was interesting to see how much marriage is used as a bargaining tool (though Arya might have a few strong words on that arrangement). And again, Robb was asked for his consent (granted, it was very much perfunctory, given the circumstances), but a girl merits no such courtesy.

-Some good Jon scenes in this one, both with Commander Mormont and Maester Aemon. I found the latter interaction especially effective in highlighing the themes of duty versus family, especially because Aemon framed it as a choice up to Jon, rather than a command. Jon continues to have his self-absorbed emo moments (nobody UNDERSTANDS my pain!), so I loved how Aemon Targaryen proceeded to school him.

-I have no comments on the Dothraki scenes (it's hard at this point to talk about those events without inadvertently spoiling someone), but I thought it was hilarious that Dany went from a flat stomach to ready-to-pop seemingly overnight. How long exactly was Drogo's wound festering?

-I could watch Tyrion, Bronn and Shae playing drinking games forever. Shae is as awesome as I had hoped, and there's a calculating and secretive quality about her that makes her a hundred times better and more interesting than the previous Happy Hooker stereotypes we got.

-Damn, Jamie looked hot all dirty and bloodied up. /shallow>

-I liked that Robb refused to play his game, that he felt guilty about sacrificing his men, and that he's aware of the precariousness of the situation he's found himself in. And Greyjoy is tolerable as long as they keep his part to one-line reactions to Robb. And that his clothes stay firmly on.

I can't wait for the finale!

Comments

[lilacsigil]

While I was totally unspoiled for this, I assumed Ned was going to die simply because he was played by Sean Bean! I suspect Catelyn's request for Robb's consent was more because he's an adult and she's shoring up the other men's respect for him - no-one seemed to be asking the boy that Arya is meant to marry! And Shae was wonderfully refreshing - Tyrion cuts through other people's bullshit but has a fine line in it himself, but she cuts through that. So does Bronn.

Jon gets schooled AGAIN! How much more schooling does the boy need? I mean, it's great exposition, but wow he's a self-absorbed thickie.

[ishtar79]

And Shae was wonderfully refreshing - Tyrion cuts through other people's bullshit but has a fine line in it himself, but she cuts through that. So does Bronn.

Yes, that's it exactly. I find the interplay between the three fascinating-and I'm not gonna lie, after that drinking game scene, I kind of OT3 it.

Jon is not the fastest learner, is he. I'm cutting him some slack due to the handicap of those Stark genes.

[lilacsigil]

Robb is getting some brains on, or at least some common sense - Jon would have been fighting Jamie Lannister in five seconds flat. Arya mostly has common sense, but she was running through that crowd to rescue her dad anyway.

And I totally thought there was about to be a Tyrion/Bronn/Shae threesome on screen...then Bronn left!

[ishtar79]

Robb is getting some brains on, or at least some common sense - Jon would have been fighting Jamie Lannister in five seconds flat. Arya mostly has common sense, but she was running through that crowd to rescue her dad anyway.

True! Jon probably feels he has more to prove though, being a bastard, so he imitates Ned more...without any of Ned's experience and with the added mess of teenage impulses.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I did wonder about Cersei's protest at his decision (that part of the book is hazy to me). I wonder if she really meant it, as per Varys' assessment that Ned is more useful to her alive.

Yes, in Sansa's chapters there is a place where she remembers Cersei saying something to Joffrey at that point. I think Cersei was not that crazy yet as to kill Ned off.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Thanks for clarifying. I started rereading Game of Thrones, because clearly I need a refresher course.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I did wonder about Cersei's protest at his decision (that part of the book is hazy to me). I wonder if she really meant it, as per Varys' assessment that Ned is more useful to her alive.

yeah I think she totally meant it - she looks away and can't watch the whole thing go down - and I caught her hissing "Stannis!" at Joffrey when she was trying to argue with him. She can't afford Ned dead, because right now the Lannisters are fighting the Baratheon brothers AND the northmen. If Ned had been allowed to live having confessed his treason, Robb wouldn't really have a leg to stand on in terms of "rescuing" his father, the traitor, and Cersei could focus on dealing with Robert's brother.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I totally missed the Stannis mention-but then again the scene was too intense for me to take everything in.

So to summarize, not only is Joffrey a sadistic little psychopath, he's a stupid one to boot.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Thanks goodness for the Tyrion scenes. I needed something to comfort me with what was happening with Ned!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I know! I wanted to go into complete denial and imagine a show that's just about Tyrion, Bronn and Shae having threesomes fun evening of games and booze.

[go-back-chief.livejournal.com]

I did wonder about Cersei's protest at his decision (that part of the book is hazy to me). I wonder if she really meant it, as per Varys' assessment that Ned is more useful to her alive.

I'm pretty sure it's made explicitly clear in the book that she didn't want him executed. Iirc, she tells Tyrion as much, and she has no reason to lie to him.

I actually rather like Theon in the show. Didn't care for him much in the books, but the actor pretty much sold the character to me. I love his facial expressions.

[christhegeek.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that, too. The actor playing Theon has me completely believing he IS his character.

[go-back-chief.livejournal.com]

I'm really impressed with their casting overall.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

I need to reread the books, clearly. I've already started on GoT.

And I think the actor playing Theon is doing a great job-I just kind of hate him anyway.

[christhegeek.livejournal.com]

Robb not taking the bait was perfect. Jamie's look afterwards was ALMOST, "Well, I had to try..."

"Despite expecting/dreading Ned's death for the whole season, the emotional impact of the scene still hit me like a ton of bricks. "


Yes, yes yes...I knew it was coming, knew how it was coming and still it was so hard :( That scene was really well done. I mean, the show is really well done but there are some things that just need to be done with a touch of magnificence and that was it.

Also lulz at Tyrion, Shae and Bron playing Never-Have-I-Ever! Shae is perrrrfect.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Jamie's all-to-brief scene was one of the few moments in this that was *fun* to watch.

Ned. :( I'll miss him on the show.

Tyrion, Shae and Bron's drinking games=pure awesome.

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

I think the trademark HBO blood & gore would have cheapened what was a powerful moment.

Yes. It was the best choice. So very effective. Also true to keeping with Arya's POV, who didn't see the actual beheading thanks to Yoren turning her head the other way. I thought the whole scene was perfect. Made me all teary-eyed.

Joffrey is one of the most loathsome fictional characters EVER.

I love Robb and I'm really pleased with his portrayal on the show.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Also true to keeping with Arya's POV, who didn't see the actual beheading thanks to Yoren turning her head the other way.

Oh, good point, I missed that.

I feel bad for the actor playing Joffrey. I hope he doesn't google fan reactions.

Robb on the show has been an unexpected pleasure.

[go-back-chief.livejournal.com]

But people aren't ragging on the actor, are they? Because he's another one who I think is just brilliant down to the very last detail. For instance, his face when Ned said he was the one true heir, and he looked so genuinly happy, like all he ever really wanted was Ned's acknowledgement that he is, indeed, Robert's son. As though Ned saying it made it true or something. And in that teeny tiny moment, I almost, almost (but not quite) felt a teeniest drop of sympathy for him. Or rather might have, if I hadn't known that he would let loose his inner monster the very next second.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

But people aren't ragging on the actor, are they?
Oh, I know, but we get enthusiastic and...descriptive in our hatred.

I need to rewatch the episode to see the things I've missed-but then I would have to rewatch the episode.