shadowkat | Game of Thrones - Episode 4 -Quick Impressions

I continue to be blown away by the intricacy of this adaptation. And how well they are compressing the detailed multiple narratives of the books. But I feel an overwhelming desire to warn people that if you have serious issues with violent character deaths? You might want to stop now. George RR Martin makes Joss Whedon, JJ Abrahams and Kevin Williamson look like wimps when it comes to torturing and killing characters. I'm guessing from interviews and from reading the books, as well as watching the series - that Martin was a bit fed up with the romanticization and glamorization of the medieval period in fantasy novels. Knight's were chivarlous. Jousting cool. Etc. When in reality this time period as it exists both in fantasy novels and in reality - was brutal. They didn't call it the dark ages for nothing. Men ruled, women fought for survival. Because power was based purely on physical prowess and cunning. Martin also commented very heavily on the "code of honor" or the concept of honor found in Arthurian legends. The whole idea that killing in any form was honorable. The story is a fascinating depiction of what power is and what it does to people...and how one's sense of honor and moral code can get corrupted. Particularly those who believe they are right. I see things here that I didn't realize in the books...maybe because the books are so dense.

It is hard talking about this, because I am so spoiled - and part of me really wishes I wasn't. Trust me when I tell you that every single character in this story has a completely amazing and unpredictable arc. This is the most character driven fantasy novel series that I've ever read.

* Love, love, love Ayra. Particularly her exchange with her father.

Ned: You will be a lady with high lord, and many children, ruling over his house, while he protects you.

Ayra: No, I won't. Never. That's not who I am. Not what I want.

And the actress playing her is fiercely beautiful.

* The stories - there are three. My favorite is the one delivered by the excellent Aiden Gillian as Lord Littlefinger - about both his own name and the Hound and the Mountain. He got his name from being "too little" and "home being the Finger Lakes". Again the theme of someone physically "Weak" being overtaken and controlled by someone physically strong or bigger than theme. A major theme through the story - the physically weak struggling to survive and/or wield power amongst the physically strong who overpower them. Littlefinger - we've heard twice now is weaker physically. He lost Catelynn, because Brandon was physically stronger than him as is Ned. He's telling the tale to Sansa who is physically weaker and weaker in position. Then he tells the tale of the Hound and the Mountain. The Mountain who while still a boy, held his younger brother's face on burning coals until it melted just because the Hound was playing with his favorite toy.

*The other tale is the one Vicersy tells about the Dragons and his family. That they rode to power on the backs of Dragons, conguering Westeros for their own, from Valeria. During this tale - we see Vicerys lucid and insane. He has power. And we see the power-play between the girl he bought and him.
How she attempts to wield her power and he reasserts his.

*Oh, the mysteries. The Death of Jon Arryn and the attempt on Bran. The poor Starks are barking up the right trees, but not quite the right ones. The two mysteries are interconnected. And they are great. I love them. Against all warnings, Ned decides to wander down his mentor Jon Arryn's path, without knowing all the information. Littlefinger warns him that everyone has their spies, but Ned sees Littlefinger, the Spyder, and the Queen as weak - they are "physically" weaker than he is.
And they don't have Robert's favor, as he does. So he doesn't really pay attention. Except to trust Littlefinger and thank him. I love this exchange:

Ned: Thank you. I was wrong to mistrust you.
Littlefinger: On the contrary, that was the thing you were right about. (To give him credit, Littlefinger never lies to Ned - he lets him know upfront that he doesn't like him and why.)

Ned asks for the book on the ruling families, then goes off to see Robert's bastard son and asks about the boy's mother - who was blond. He discovers as Aryn did that Robert's seed is strong - which means in genetic terms that Robert's bloodline is dominant. All his children would look like him physically, dark hair, dark eyes. (Note the wording - seed is strong. Again power. Strong vs. weak. Physical power. That's the reason Martin chose fantasy and medieval times as the setting for his tale - it's a better venue to discuss this sort of power dichotomy.)

What he realizes is Cersei's greatest fear. Cersei even comes to him and warns him to back off. We can start again, she states. Be friendly. No need to be enemies. Then she accuses him of being little more than a solider, a follower. What she means, of course, is that he is unable to make the tough choices.

By now, we should realize what Ned has begun to - Joffrey is not Robert's son. (He's Jamie's.)
But is that why Jon Arryn died? And how did he die? By poison? A woman's choice of death - requires no physical strength.

* Jaime's exchange with Ned's guard - with more backstory, we learn more about the Greyjoy's who the Lannister's despise and why.

*Tyrion - oh, all the scenes with Tyrion are perfect. I love Tyrion. And his interaction with Rob and Theon Greyjoy is right on target. Great lines. Also love his scene with Catelynn, when he begins to realize she's trapping him.

Finally, Lord Snow and Samwell Tarwell - their odd friendship.

Off to bed with a smile.

Overall rating? A- (mostly because I still find the Danerys scenes a little on the campy side, I had issues with them in the first book too.)

[There may be Book spoilers in the comments but we are being incredibly vague.]