Game of Thrones
May. 8th, 2012 11:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ishtar79I'm finally caught up on GoT.
-The second series has more deviations from the books that the first, which makes sense: the first book was the most traditional in terms of storytelling format, and while I adore every single one of the books that followed, there are elements in them that don't necessarily translate well on TV (one bazillion new characters, a lot of time spent on specific locations and on things being very miserable, characters spending half the book trying to get somewhere and getting sidetracked by disaster along the way). Every single change has been a smart move without once detracting from the spirit of the books-in fact, some were an improvement.
-And speaking of improvement, having Tywin and Arya interact was GENIUS. I could watch a show just about the two of them, forever and ever.
-Failing that, I could watch a show only involving people slapping Joffrey (even Cersei joined in the fun this season, but Tyrion remains the Slapmaster General). On the topic of Joffrey, I can't decide if the series managed to make him even more repulsive than he is in the books, or if it's just the effect of seeing it and the actor's (stellar) performance. It's possible that I repressed a lot of the viler incidents in the books.
-I've found that in general, they've actually dialed back some of the more horrific book violence (which makes me wonder how they'll adapt some events from later books without going straight into horror territory), but what we do get...yikes. The last episode alone, between Ser Rodrick's beheading and the whole King's Landing scene was very hard to watch.
-Dany's storyline seems the most changed, what with the Surprise Dragon Abduction. I'm interested to see where they'll go with it.
-My thoughts on casting this season: Brienne is PERFECT. The fact they managed to find an actress that size is impressive in itself, and that they styled her in a way to make her appear as plain as possible even more so. Stannis looks exactly like an evil accountant, which is so appropriate and Davos has the right combination of honest face/ "common" features. Melissandre must have been tricky to cast, but I approve of the sheer OTT evilness of her and her fierce wardrobe.
-Oh look, Robb met a nice girl. I'm sure that will go so well.
-Margaery, you are the queen of my heart! <33333 I didn't really get into her character in the books, mostly because we only usually saw her through the eyes of characters who, er, might not necessarily hold her in the highest regard, but she was pretty bamfy on the show, from her casual attitude towards the whole Renly/Loras thing, her conversation with Littlefinger and, of course, "I want to be The Queen" (get in line, sister).
-Theon is every bit the asshole he is in the books, but now that I'm not too busy being surprised/appaled at his action, I find him more interesting to watch. The way the actor plays him like a petulant teen perpetually on the edge of a tantrum (in a much less psychotic way than Joffrey though) is very appropriate, since every single action of Theon is motivated by a dangerous complex of an inferiority complex and an over-inflated sense of his importance. I cheered when Asha, sorry, "Yarra" owned him.
-Jaqen is hot. That is all.
-Peter Dinklage continues to be a God among actors. Undoubtedly this is a season/book of great moments for Tyrion, but there's something about his snarky delivery that elevates every single one of his scenes to another level.
-The second series has more deviations from the books that the first, which makes sense: the first book was the most traditional in terms of storytelling format, and while I adore every single one of the books that followed, there are elements in them that don't necessarily translate well on TV (one bazillion new characters, a lot of time spent on specific locations and on things being very miserable, characters spending half the book trying to get somewhere and getting sidetracked by disaster along the way). Every single change has been a smart move without once detracting from the spirit of the books-in fact, some were an improvement.
-And speaking of improvement, having Tywin and Arya interact was GENIUS. I could watch a show just about the two of them, forever and ever.
-Failing that, I could watch a show only involving people slapping Joffrey (even Cersei joined in the fun this season, but Tyrion remains the Slapmaster General). On the topic of Joffrey, I can't decide if the series managed to make him even more repulsive than he is in the books, or if it's just the effect of seeing it and the actor's (stellar) performance. It's possible that I repressed a lot of the viler incidents in the books.
-I've found that in general, they've actually dialed back some of the more horrific book violence (which makes me wonder how they'll adapt some events from later books without going straight into horror territory), but what we do get...yikes. The last episode alone, between Ser Rodrick's beheading and the whole King's Landing scene was very hard to watch.
-Dany's storyline seems the most changed, what with the Surprise Dragon Abduction. I'm interested to see where they'll go with it.
-My thoughts on casting this season: Brienne is PERFECT. The fact they managed to find an actress that size is impressive in itself, and that they styled her in a way to make her appear as plain as possible even more so. Stannis looks exactly like an evil accountant, which is so appropriate and Davos has the right combination of honest face/ "common" features. Melissandre must have been tricky to cast, but I approve of the sheer OTT evilness of her and her fierce wardrobe.
-Oh look, Robb met a nice girl. I'm sure that will go so well.
-Margaery, you are the queen of my heart! <33333 I didn't really get into her character in the books, mostly because we only usually saw her through the eyes of characters who, er, might not necessarily hold her in the highest regard, but she was pretty bamfy on the show, from her casual attitude towards the whole Renly/Loras thing, her conversation with Littlefinger and, of course, "I want to be The Queen" (get in line, sister).
-Theon is every bit the asshole he is in the books, but now that I'm not too busy being surprised/appaled at his action, I find him more interesting to watch. The way the actor plays him like a petulant teen perpetually on the edge of a tantrum (in a much less psychotic way than Joffrey though) is very appropriate, since every single action of Theon is motivated by a dangerous complex of an inferiority complex and an over-inflated sense of his importance. I cheered when Asha, sorry, "Yarra" owned him.
-Jaqen is hot. That is all.
-Peter Dinklage continues to be a God among actors. Undoubtedly this is a season/book of great moments for Tyrion, but there's something about his snarky delivery that elevates every single one of his scenes to another level.