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shadowkatWhoa...according to the news special report, Osma Bin Laden has just been killed in the Northwest region of Pakistan. Body in US custody . He was shot in a mansion in Pakistan, the DNA match made, and the body in US custody. (Not sure what to think or feel regarding this. Except it's nice to know he's gone. Will state the specifics of this are somewhat gruesome. They got Osma's dead sister's head and used a DNA sample from her brain to compare it to. I really hope they didn't kill her and she was already dead.)
Also, Game of Thrones rocked again tonight. It's just getting better and better.
Watching it reminds me a great deal of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings - the same production value, writing, and acting. Almost pitch perfect. Love it. Great depiction of how power works in a world ruled by men. Your Mileage May Vary - if so? Shoo.
They managed to cast this thing with people who literally fit how I envisioned the characters in my head while reading the books, which is rare. The only other person who has done that for a series of books was Peter Jackson for Lord of the Rings.
Also my issues with the books are blurred a bit by the series. I had a lot of problems with the smug self-righteousness of Ned Stark and Catelynn, who seemed blind to how their own actions propelled the action and how horrific Robert was as a King. But here...the self-righteousness is muted, along with the smugness by the actors performing the roles. Scean Bean lends a world-weariness to Ned Stark that seemed lacking in the first novel. And the actress portraying Catelynn lends a bitter strength to her role. I'm glad they replace Jennifer Ehle (who played Lizzie in the A&E Pride and Prejudice).
It's admittedly hard for me to discuss this series without discussing what I know will happen in Clash of Kings and Storm of Swords. The character arcs in these novels are so rich, so twisty, and so unpredictable. And in some cases, satisfying. Jamie's arc is amongst the best I've seen in literature, as is Danerys.
But sticking with what I've seen to date from the series?
We get yet more evidence that Ned wears blinders of nostalgia regarding King Robert and is due for a rude awakening. This is forshadowed by the committee meeting where it is revealed just how much power Robert has permitted the Lannisters to obtain over the Kingdom. Kings Landing is 6 million dollars in debt to the Lannister's and dead broke. Remind you of anyone? I kept wondering about the metaphor of King's Landing to the US when I read the books. Sitting in the lap of luxury and in deep debt.
Tywin Lannister the former Hand of the King - has paid for almost everything. And his children
are surrounding the King, Jamie guards him, and Cersei is the Queen.
We also get a bit more back story on the relationship between Robert, Ned Stark and Jamie Lannister.
Ned confronts Jamie in front of the Iron Throne - which is a painful throne to sit - a throne of spikes and thorns. And Jamie's responses are interesting - "would you have found it more honorable and respected me more if I stuck the King throw the belly as opposed to the back?" Or this one:
Jamie: Interesting we meet here in this room. Considering this is where I watched your father and brother die.
Ned: You stood by and watched the King Rhegars Tarragyn kill my father and my brother and did nothing.
Jamie: I and 500 people. 500 guardsmen stood silently by and did nothing. Did not lift a sword.
Ned: You guarded when it was comfortable and you kill when it is comfortable. No scratchs on your armor. You pick well.
Jamie: Would you have more respect for me if I stuck him through the belly instead of the back?
Later the King brings Jamie in to lance him with words, as he did to his cousin prior.
King Robert: Tell us of your first kill, Kingslayer, other than old men of course.
Jamie standing next to the head of the Kingsguard: It was an Outlaw.
The head of the Kingsguard: I remember that one, you were just a squire, no older than 16.
Jamie: You were there...and did a great job. I remember you did something incredibly difficult.
Kingsguard: I was lucky.
Robert (uncomfortable): What was his dying words?
Jamie: He didn't have any, I cut off his head.
Robert: What were the last words of the King when you stabbed him in the back? I always wondered.
Did he call you traitor, did he ask for a reprieve?
Jamie (haunted): He said the same thing he'd been uttering for hours...burn them, burn them all.
Martin's novels depict what violence and power do to people, how it corrupts slowly and eats away.
The series is doing an excellent novel of depicting that as well.
Then there's the great scene with Ayra learning how to sword fight with the dance master, having difficulty lifting the sword. Which is actually a wise move on Ned Stark's part. Catelynn is oddly left with the boys, and Ned with the girls. She visits Ned and they put their trust in Petyr Baylis
or Littlefinger. Who tells them that the dagger was his but he lost it in a bet to Tyrion Lannister.
Meanwhile Tyrion has some fascinating discussions with John Snow. In fact Cersei, Jamie and Tyrion conversations are interesting and provide insight into each character. Cersei cautions her son, the wicked Joffrey to not go after his enemies so soon. It will weaken him. But also states anyone who isn't us is our enemy - not sure who that includes. With Jamie - she accuses him of what exactly?
Not succeeding in killing 10 year old Bran or in attempting it? (She refers to the window push not the second attempt which they don't appear to know about). He says the boy won't say anything and if he does, he'll take care of it, he'll kill everyone until they are the only one's left. That
he'll go to war with Robert. Like Cersei, he cares about no one but his own family. And why is slowly being revealed. No black and white characters here. Even Cersei, a magnificient bitch...comes across as vulnerable in her cautioning of her son. She knows she has a delicate grasp on the throne.
And Tyrion tells Snow that the two boys he tells that he is better then, don't have the privileges he has. So he's the bastard boy? Pip was given a choice between his arm and the Night's Watch. Gren was left outside by his parents. Neither ever taught how to hold a sword or even given one until now.
It's a common theme here - don't judge until you walk a mile in each characters shows, and you do in this story, oh you do. Well with a few exceptions, Viserys and Joffrey.
I love the switches in point of view here, not as jarring as expected. And all part of the tapestry.
Ned Stark is further developed, we see how far out of his depth he is here. Ned never one for spying or sleight of hand...can't quite handle Littlefinger and the Lannisters with their court intrigues and politicking. Just as Robert is out of his depth. They are old warhorses - ruling, politics,
and Kingslanding is not what they are good at.
I can't wait until next week.
Also, Game of Thrones rocked again tonight. It's just getting better and better.
Watching it reminds me a great deal of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings - the same production value, writing, and acting. Almost pitch perfect. Love it. Great depiction of how power works in a world ruled by men. Your Mileage May Vary - if so? Shoo.
They managed to cast this thing with people who literally fit how I envisioned the characters in my head while reading the books, which is rare. The only other person who has done that for a series of books was Peter Jackson for Lord of the Rings.
Also my issues with the books are blurred a bit by the series. I had a lot of problems with the smug self-righteousness of Ned Stark and Catelynn, who seemed blind to how their own actions propelled the action and how horrific Robert was as a King. But here...the self-righteousness is muted, along with the smugness by the actors performing the roles. Scean Bean lends a world-weariness to Ned Stark that seemed lacking in the first novel. And the actress portraying Catelynn lends a bitter strength to her role. I'm glad they replace Jennifer Ehle (who played Lizzie in the A&E Pride and Prejudice).
It's admittedly hard for me to discuss this series without discussing what I know will happen in Clash of Kings and Storm of Swords. The character arcs in these novels are so rich, so twisty, and so unpredictable. And in some cases, satisfying. Jamie's arc is amongst the best I've seen in literature, as is Danerys.
But sticking with what I've seen to date from the series?
We get yet more evidence that Ned wears blinders of nostalgia regarding King Robert and is due for a rude awakening. This is forshadowed by the committee meeting where it is revealed just how much power Robert has permitted the Lannisters to obtain over the Kingdom. Kings Landing is 6 million dollars in debt to the Lannister's and dead broke. Remind you of anyone? I kept wondering about the metaphor of King's Landing to the US when I read the books. Sitting in the lap of luxury and in deep debt.
Tywin Lannister the former Hand of the King - has paid for almost everything. And his children
are surrounding the King, Jamie guards him, and Cersei is the Queen.
We also get a bit more back story on the relationship between Robert, Ned Stark and Jamie Lannister.
Ned confronts Jamie in front of the Iron Throne - which is a painful throne to sit - a throne of spikes and thorns. And Jamie's responses are interesting - "would you have found it more honorable and respected me more if I stuck the King throw the belly as opposed to the back?" Or this one:
Jamie: Interesting we meet here in this room. Considering this is where I watched your father and brother die.
Ned: You stood by and watched the King Rhegars Tarragyn kill my father and my brother and did nothing.
Jamie: I and 500 people. 500 guardsmen stood silently by and did nothing. Did not lift a sword.
Ned: You guarded when it was comfortable and you kill when it is comfortable. No scratchs on your armor. You pick well.
Jamie: Would you have more respect for me if I stuck him through the belly instead of the back?
Later the King brings Jamie in to lance him with words, as he did to his cousin prior.
King Robert: Tell us of your first kill, Kingslayer, other than old men of course.
Jamie standing next to the head of the Kingsguard: It was an Outlaw.
The head of the Kingsguard: I remember that one, you were just a squire, no older than 16.
Jamie: You were there...and did a great job. I remember you did something incredibly difficult.
Kingsguard: I was lucky.
Robert (uncomfortable): What was his dying words?
Jamie: He didn't have any, I cut off his head.
Robert: What were the last words of the King when you stabbed him in the back? I always wondered.
Did he call you traitor, did he ask for a reprieve?
Jamie (haunted): He said the same thing he'd been uttering for hours...burn them, burn them all.
Martin's novels depict what violence and power do to people, how it corrupts slowly and eats away.
The series is doing an excellent novel of depicting that as well.
Then there's the great scene with Ayra learning how to sword fight with the dance master, having difficulty lifting the sword. Which is actually a wise move on Ned Stark's part. Catelynn is oddly left with the boys, and Ned with the girls. She visits Ned and they put their trust in Petyr Baylis
or Littlefinger. Who tells them that the dagger was his but he lost it in a bet to Tyrion Lannister.
Meanwhile Tyrion has some fascinating discussions with John Snow. In fact Cersei, Jamie and Tyrion conversations are interesting and provide insight into each character. Cersei cautions her son, the wicked Joffrey to not go after his enemies so soon. It will weaken him. But also states anyone who isn't us is our enemy - not sure who that includes. With Jamie - she accuses him of what exactly?
Not succeeding in killing 10 year old Bran or in attempting it? (She refers to the window push not the second attempt which they don't appear to know about). He says the boy won't say anything and if he does, he'll take care of it, he'll kill everyone until they are the only one's left. That
he'll go to war with Robert. Like Cersei, he cares about no one but his own family. And why is slowly being revealed. No black and white characters here. Even Cersei, a magnificient bitch...comes across as vulnerable in her cautioning of her son. She knows she has a delicate grasp on the throne.
And Tyrion tells Snow that the two boys he tells that he is better then, don't have the privileges he has. So he's the bastard boy? Pip was given a choice between his arm and the Night's Watch. Gren was left outside by his parents. Neither ever taught how to hold a sword or even given one until now.
It's a common theme here - don't judge until you walk a mile in each characters shows, and you do in this story, oh you do. Well with a few exceptions, Viserys and Joffrey.
I love the switches in point of view here, not as jarring as expected. And all part of the tapestry.
Ned Stark is further developed, we see how far out of his depth he is here. Ned never one for spying or sleight of hand...can't quite handle Littlefinger and the Lannisters with their court intrigues and politicking. Just as Robert is out of his depth. They are old warhorses - ruling, politics,
and Kingslanding is not what they are good at.
I can't wait until next week.
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 03:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 11:26 am (UTC)I have a hard time believing in Jamie Lannister though, mostly because he looks like a mix of Prince Charming and a playboy, but he did have a good scene in front of Ned and then in front of the King, recalling the events of the Mad King's reign and his murdering him.
Not great yet but it's slowly growing on me...
no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 12:18 pm (UTC)(It's sort of like a Buffy fan who has watched S7 trying to explain to a new viewer the appeal of the Spike character after the new viewer only watched School Hard and is thinking, eh? one dimensional villain who looks pretty.) So...my view is so tainted by Storm of Swords.
Littlefinger is an interesting character. Seen the actor in quite a few things though.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 03:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 04:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 04:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 10:53 pm (UTC)I was admittedly uncertain about a couple of them prior to viewing the series ...but am astonished at how well it worked out.
Nicolai Costa-Walder who is from Amsterdam and plays Jamie - was one I was really uncertain about, but he's perfect. Was also uncertain about the kids - the kids are crucial to the story and it is important to get them exactly right.
The characters that are crucial to the story in Game: Tyrion, Jamie, Ned, Catelynn, John Snow, Ayra, Bran, Danerys, Jorah, Viserys, Joffrey, Cersei, Sansa, Bran, and Littlefinger.
You have to get them right or it fails. Oh, and some of that's not it - there's some great character actors coming up. Charles Dance has a major role. It's the British Character Actor hour just like Harry Potter was.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 11:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 04:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-02 10:55 pm (UTC)It's become my new favorite show. So worth the extra I'm paying for HBO to see it.