Games of Thrones 1x10 review

[ishtar79]

-Rickon is a deeply creepy little kid. Though given how he's left to pretty much to fend for himself (with just Shaggydog for company), it's no wonder he sees dead people and lurks in crypts. Rickon: Westeros' first goth.

-I expected for Arya and Sansa to break my heart on this one, but there was something about Bran's quiet moment of realization I found most effective. Poor Stark kids!

-I loved everything about Cat and Robb's grieving scene, and there was something about the way Cat vowed to kill them all...chills!

-Good lord, just when you think Joffrey couldn't be more of a sociopath, he outdoes himself. Even Cersei was giving him a weary look (behold the results of your stellar parenting!). I should praise the actor though-the point is for Joffrey to be loathsome, and he certainly delivers.

-Sansa was AMAZING. The way she composed herself to look at Ned's head, the newfound steel in her voice when she said Robb might bring her Joffrey's head instead, her clear impulse to throw Joffrey over the bridge...there's my girl.

-Sandor/Sansa scenes ftw! It seemed to me like he clearly guessed her plan and stopped her without drawing attention to her. Their dynamic is hitting so many of my bulletproof kink buttons.

-Heh, nobody really asked Robb whether he wanted to be king before they proceeded with the dramatic declarations of loyalty. Robb is clearly NOT thrilled.

-How is it that the filthier/bloodier Jamie gets, the sexier he becomes? One thing he cannot be accused of is being a coward-an arrogant ass without a lick of self-preservation, sure. But not a coward. I did like that moment when Cat walked away, when all the bravado and lecherous act dropped, and there was a moment of contemplation...and dare I say guilt?

-Are there any (handsome, blond) relative Cersei isn't fucking?

-Tywin pouring Tyrion wine (after withholding it several times in the past) was a great visual payoff to show the shift in their relationship and his newfound respect for his son's strategic mind.

-While I felt for poor Dany, who seemed to be the protagonist of her very own horror movie, I appreciated the focus on the witch woman's motivation. I loved how she recounted all that the Dothraki did to her and her village in that passionless tone, and how she tore apart all of Dany's saviour delusions. It's a harsh lesson, but one she needed to learn.

-You know, I'd sympathize with John's pain a lot more if he hadn't spent much of the season whining about something or the other. And sweet, clever Sam bravely standing in his way!

-I loved Jon's nightwatch brothers chasing him down and smacking some sense into him. What did he do to deserve friends like this?

-I'll miss having Jason Momoa on the show. Where will I get my dose of pretty now? Though I cracked up inappropriately while Dany was talking to him. Yeah, remember our first ride? Right before you raped me? Good times!

-In a weird way, I'm sort of shipping Baelish/Varys now. Their snarkoffs are a thing of beauty.

-There's not much that can keep Arya Stark down, is there? For a moment when she was surrounded by the little thugs, she looked like the scared little kid she is, but then she proceeded to show them who's the biggest BAMF around.

-Also, for a haircut Yoren roughly admnistered with a sword, the result was rather artfully gamineish, wasn't it?

-Chris Will GENDRY!

-Nothing escapes Mormont, does it? “I didn't say it was your honour.” HA! I love the Old Bear.

-This is not a show where characters end up anywhere near where they started off, to put it mildly, but Dany's evolution has been the most impressive. From the timid, checked-out girl at the season premiere to the strength and serenity she showed in this one (from finding the strength to end Drogo's half-life to the way she decided to forge her own path with the new Khaleesar), it's a brand new world.

-Baaaaaaaby dragons! Is it next season yet?

Comments

[lilacsigil]

Why is it not next season yet? Whyyyyy?

[ishtar79]

I know!

At least we'll get a new book between now and then.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Sandor/Sansa scenes ftw! It seemed to me like he clearly guessed her plan and stopped her without drawing attention to her. Their dynamic is hitting so many of my bulletproof kink buttons.Heh, nobody really asked Robb whether he wanted to be king before they proceeded with the dramatic declarations of loyalty. Robb is clearly NOT thrilled.

It was such a good moment for everyone to agree and go home in peace. Such a missed opportunity. I feel for Robb here.

Baby dragons were so so cute!!!!!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

It was such a good moment for everyone to agree and go home in peace. Such a missed opportunity. I feel for Robb here.

Sure, but it wouldn't make much of a book, would it? :P

The baby dragons were excellent, and thankfully very convincing.

[go-back-chief.livejournal.com]

I should praise the actor though-the point is for Joffrey to be loathsome, and he certainly delivers.

Yeah, for a kid that young to play such a believable little sociopath. I feel safe betting they couldn't possibly have found anyone more fitting for that character.

Sandor comes across as much nicer in the show than he does in the book. He was always creeping me out in the book, epsecially in his scenes with Sansa, but they seem to have pretty much removed the creepiness of his character. I wonder if that's deliberate and what's up with that in that case? Are they setting up an actual Sandor/Sansa ship? Not sure how I feel about that...

I do feel they've rushed Dany's storyline too much in the show, which is one of the few gripes I have with the adaption. Also, after last week's ending, the dragon-birth felt somewhat anti-climactic, even though that scene gave me shivers in the book. But maybe it would have been different if I hadn't read the books, I've read at least one reaction from a tv viewer that matched the one I had when reading the book.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Yeah, for a kid that young to play such a believable little sociopath. I feel safe betting they couldn't possibly have found anyone more fitting for that character.

He even had that villain charisma going in this episode. Not that it makes him more likeable, even in a "love to hate" way, but I always say if you're going to be an evil asshole, you'd better commit to it.

I'm rereading GoT right now, so I definitely see the softening of Sandor, but I don't mind much. A lot of characters have subtly been tweaked for the screen, and for the most part it works, because without the extra insight of povs a lot could have come off as...well, cartoonish. I doubt they'll actually go there with Sandor/Sansa, at least not beyond the unrequited/subtextual thing.

I actually liked the dragon birth (hey, it's TV, and it could have looked laugh-out fake), but I agree Dany's storyline has lost most of its coherence onscreen.

[go-back-chief.livejournal.com]

I don't think I can bring myself to reread all those thousands of pages, even though I probably should if Dances with dragons really does come this year...


Anyway, I see in the comments that is was your birthday the other day, so I'll give you delayed best wishes. ♥

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Tywin pouring Tyrion wine (after withholding it several times in the past) was a great visual payoff to show the shift in their relationship and his newfound respect for his son's strategic mind.


I thought it was his realization that he has one son left. And that's Tyrion. In the book, it's a powerful moment for Tyrion because he realizes Tywin has given up Jaime for dead. It's not that Tywin wouldn't throw Tyrion over in a heartbeat if Jaime returned, it's just that right now, he's run out of sons. And it helps that TYrion isn't a fool.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

It's been a while since I read the books, so I may be way off, but I didn't necessarily mean Tywin was all "SONNY BOY!". Of course the absence of Jamie played a pivotal role, but I don't think he'd give Tyrion any responsibility if he didn't know, on some level, that he is more than up to the task.

And I desperately need to get a Tyrion icon.

leadership and kingliness....

[embers-log.livejournal.com]

"I loved Jon's nightwatch brothers chasing him down and smacking some sense into him. What did he do to deserve friends like this?"
Well he did train them all, something which will probably save their lives in the future... in fact he probably already saved Sam's life when he declared Sam his brother and under his protection.... So their loyalty to him made sense to me (hopefully he'll stop whining now and start to show some real leadership).

Last night's episode seemed like they were setting up the crowned heads... crazy creepy little Joffrey is wearing the crown, but he has clearly lost the support of his Mother and his future bride (BTW do you figure he has learned all about sex at his Mother's 'knee'? She screws everyone else in the family!). And of course he never had the loyalty of his 'Lords' (that conversation was hilarious!).

And you're right... Robb looks very uncomfortable with the crown that has been theoretically thrust upon him by the loudly proclaimed loyalty of those around him....

And Tyrion looked a little uncomfortable with the brand new responsibility given to him by his Father.... He clearly has a strategic mind, but nothing of importance (except his own life) has ever depended upon his abilities/intelligence. NOW he is going to have to command respect and make decisions that effect a nation.

Finally we have Dany: it was interesting that they started with the assumption that she was going to commit suicide by throwing herself on the fire... in fact I didn't guess (and I should have seen it coming when she laid the dragon eggs down) that she had figured out the necessary 'magic'. She needed the fire, and she needed a death (the old woman was just a convenient victim, someone had to die and it might as well be her) to get the eggs to hatch. Genius.

And baby dragons are the best!!! I want the rest of the story NOW!

Re: leadership and kingliness....

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Well he did train them all, something which will probably save their lives in the future... in fact he probably already saved Sam's life when he declared Sam his brother and under his protection.... So their loyalty to him made sense to me (hopefully he'll stop whining now and start to show some real leadership).

Oh, I know all that. I'm just at the end of my patience with Jon's whining (really was about halfway through the show), so I just want him to get over himself already. And he actually did even more in the books, for Sam in particular. You should take the hiatus as a chance to read them, they're really excellent.

And yeah, this episode pretty much emphasized the name of the book...though Cersei's "you win, or you die" line should be kept in mind.

And Tyrion looked a little uncomfortable with the brand new responsibility given to him by his Father.... He clearly has a strategic mind, but nothing of importance (except his own life) has ever depended upon his abilities/intelligence. NOW he is going to have to command respect and make decisions that effect a nation.

Damn, I wish I could comment on this properly without spoiling you. But hey, Tyrion is awesome, no spoilers in that.

Finally we have Dany: it was interesting that they started with the assumption that she was going to commit suicide by throwing herself on the fire... in fact I didn't guess (and I should have seen it coming when she laid the dragon eggs down) that she had figured out the necessary 'magic'. She needed the fire, and she needed a death (the old woman was just a convenient victim, someone had to die and it might as well be her) to get the eggs to hatch. Genius.

There were some bits in her pov in the books that explained her logic and reasoning slightly better, though that scene was still shocking and unexpected.

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Arya, Sansa, Bran, Catelyn, Robb - all the Starks were awesome!

Good lord, just when you think Joffrey couldn't be more of a sociopath, he outdoes himself.

Yeah. And just when I thought I couldn't hate Joffrey more... my hatred for him reaches new, ever higher levels!

I appreciated the focus on the witch woman's motivation.

Me too.

Ditto on I'll miss having Jason Momoa on the show.

for a haircut Yoren roughly admnistered with a sword, the result was rather artfully gamineish, wasn't it?

YOREN THE GREAT HAIRDRESSER.

Old Mormont is kind of awesome. <3

Baaaaaaaby dragons!

I'm kind of imagining you now feeding a baby dragon instead of a baby kitten. ;)

[christhegeek.livejournal.com]

YOREN THE GREAT HAIRDRESSER

I kinda want to make that an icon, now

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Haha, I'd love to see such an icon!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Haha, it's kind of hard to think of what to say to your comment after the marathon analysis fest we had last night. We really said it all?

YOREN THE GREAT HAIRDRESSER.

LOL LOL LOL, so maybe not "all". Christhegeek's right, this is begging to be iconed.

[ackonrad.livejournal.com]

Totally OT, because I haven't watched TV for ages and have no idea about the show - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I hope you'll be having a great time tonight with your mum and friends, and wish you all the best! Good luck with getting your degree and a new job, and I still secretly hope that the baby kitten will win you over. ;-6

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie!

And it's not a question of the kitten winning me over, my mum won't have a cat on a full-time basis. But we'll figure some kind of home out for it...I hope! I will miss it when it's gone though (I won't miss getting up in the middle of the night to give it its bottle-sheesh, it's like having a bloody KID!).

[lilith-morgana.livejournal.com]

OMGWTF!

So great.

THE JAIME/CATELYN SCENE OMG OMG. Er. I mean - what a well-acted scene with perfect delivery of one of my favourite lines: "There are no men like me. Only me." I'm seriously, seriously impressed with the acting there. When he looks away, there's this shadow of the Jaime from the books and gah, can't wait for the 12th of July or the next season!

Jorah Mormont is one of my favourite characters on the show, he's perfect. (And yes, I do have a special place in my heart for Jorah/Dany. Their little scene before she walks into the fire, aw. "Is that what you fear?")

Also loved that they touch on the motivations for war - both past and present. "Robert started a war to bring her back." Yeah. And what a good choice that was!

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

THE JAIME/CATELYN SCENE OMG OMG. Er. I mean - what a well-acted scene with perfect delivery of one of my favourite lines: "There are no men like me. Only me." I'm seriously, seriously impressed with the acting there. When he looks away, there's this shadow of the Jaime from the books and gah, can't wait for the 12th of July or the next season!

That scene was especially awesome in an overall tight finale. Jamie is teh sex.

Jorah Mormont is one of my favourite characters on the show, he's perfect. (And yes, I do have a special place in my heart for Jorah/Dany. Their little scene before she walks into the fire, aw. "Is that what you fear?")

I'm kind of shipping it too. What is it with us and the crossgen pairings?

Also loved that they touch on the motivations for war - both past and present. "Robert started a war to bring her back." Yeah. And what a good choice that was!

I'm sure the common folk who have to deal with all the killing and pillaging are *very* impressed with the motivations for war kings have.