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shadowkat1. At work this morning...over the sound system..
[Bwhahhehah! Apparently they can afford a web filtering system but not proper elevator maintenance. No wonder Software Engineers never want for work. You have a degree in computer tech, you've got it made. Elevator maintenance not so much.]
2. Trying to watch Once Upon a Time - "The Stable Boy", on my ipad, so far I have the annoying Hyundi car commercial memorized. I swear if I see it one more time I'm going to hire a hitman to take out the evil marketing people who created it or maybe just Hyundi.
Impressions? The casting of the Evil Queen's mother and Young Snow White are inspired. That kid looks and sounds like a young Jennifer Goodwin. She's also a tad annoying. I can sort of understand why the Evil Queen hates Snow. That kid would drive me homicidal too.
My mother liked this better than I did. Found it a little predictable, sort of figured out that storyline five episodes ago. But..it does explain why Regina hates Snow, and it is consistent plot and metaphor wise. The theme of the series seems to be about "lost children" or parents destructive tendencies towards their children in fairy tales.
The parallel structure between the lead characters is rather interesting.
*Snow loses her mother at an early age and tries to save Regina, her new friend, from a similar loss - which from Snow's perspective is far worse than losing a romantic attachment. No one should lose their mother. But Regina rips Emma from her mother (Snow), as she rips Henry from his (Emma). Regina thinks the worst thing she can do to Snow is separate her and Prince Charming. She belittles the love between parent and child. Doesn't understand it. Since she hated her own mother, and later sacrifices her love for her father to activate the curse. It's a thread throughout...she doesn't understand Hansel and Gretal and their father's love for each other, or Jefferson's love for his child. And she's blind to the fact that Snow and PC's child could be the one who ends up breaking the curse. That the parent/child bound may be stronger than anything even romantic love. It's ironic, because she is trying to use Henry to fill the void within herself, but she can't because...she doesn't understand that bond. Rumplestilskin similarly is tied with children - or the loss of, he keeps taking children from their families possibly to replace his own.
* Regina's mother believes that power is better than love. That love fades. True power endures. So she kills the stable-boy by ripping out his heart, much as Regina killed Emma's huntsman by ripping out his heart. (Hmmm...is Cora, Regina's Mom, the Queen of Hearts? Probably not. But there appears to be a lot of heart ripping in this series.)
There's lots of parents getting in the way of true romance. Granny trying to prevent Red from seeing the hunter, to protect the hunter not Red as it turns out. PC's adoptive father deprives him of Snow White - forcing him to marry Midas' daughter, in much the same way as Regina's mother forces her to marry Snow's father. Both crave power through children.
PC, Snow and Emma - all lose their families through the manipulations of Regina and Rumplestilskin. PC loses his mother, in a trade, Rumple makes a deal - in order for his mother's continued survival, PC will become the King's adoptive son. Snow's mother dies, and Regina kills her father. Emma's parents are ripped from her by Regina. In turn,
Rumple loses his son by embracing power, and Regina loses her father by embracing power.
Often the child in these stories must choose between parental love/duty to their parents and true/romantic love. In other tales, they have to choose between power/wealth and love.
Each believe the choice they make will lead to "happiness". But it never quite goes the way they planned.
I liked the ending, where they find Katherine wandering homeless and out of her mind in the alley. So whose heart was in the jewelry box?
3. Extended Review of Game of Thrones: 2.1 (Although I'm not sure I say much more than what has already been said elsewhere. Don't know about your flist, but Game is my flist's new fandom.)
Was a rather good episode last night. Granted I don't expect all that much from tv shows. Just a complicated and somewhat thought provoking plot, interesting and complex characters, strong female roles, good dialogue, not too much in your face realistic violence or torture. Nudity doesn't bug me as much as graphic violence. Nor for that matter does sex.
Plus, I admittedly like the tv series better than the books so far. The books are fascinating. Clearly I like them on some level or I wouldn't keep buying them. I have two copies of Feast of Crows - one in hard-cover and one on the Kindle. But...they do wander around a bit. And are in a desperate need of a good editor. Game of Thrones was by far the most tightly written. Although Storm had the most happen - that book is insane. Sort of makes Titus Andronicuous look like Little Boo Peep in comparison.
There's a lot of reasons I like the tv series better. The main one is the depiction of the following characters: Catelynne/Robb Stark, Stannis/Melisandra/Davros, Cersei/Joffrey and Sansa, Bran/Master Luewyllin, and Daenrys/Jorah. They all come across much better in the
tv series. Demonstrating what a good actor can do with a role. I love Lena Headley's Cersei...she's managed to make this character complicated. The other reason is - pacing.
It's better paced. Things that happened off stage, are now on stage, things that got far too much focus in the books - now are just quickly referenced. At times, when I read the books - I felt like Martin had done all this research on medieval times and felt the need to put all of it into his novels, he needed to tell me everything. Such as the grisely conditions of Jamie Lannister's cell. Or the various pieces of food each person was eating at a feast. You'd salivate over some of the courses. Meanwhile...we'd just get one or two quick sentences about Stannis sending out a missive regarding the parentage of King Joffrey. Or two quick sentences about Robb's war effort and what he was doing with Jamie.
But spend pages and pages describing a feast at King's Landing or the interior of Tyrion's quarters. This is why historical novels and well Dickens grated on my nerves and I prefer Shakspearean plays. Seriously, while I guess it's sort of interesting that they ate swan instead of chicken back then, I really don't need to know this. Any more than I care about the proper care of chain mail. I think Martin may be a frustrated historian sometimes. What he really wants to do is write a history of the War of the Roses, except with Dragons, and more battles.
Okay enough on the books. Not really spoilerly on books, because I barely remember Clash of Kings, outside of the last two chapters, and most of the stuff I remember from Storm is well the big events. And that's getting foggy too.
There's about six groups featured in this episode - the country has basically erupted in Civil War thanks to Ned Stark, demonstrating once again how the way to hell is paved with good intentions. If Ned had only listened to Robert and Cersei and played Hand instead of erstwhile detective...they wouldn't be in this mess. But nooo...he had to meddle and now we have a full-fledged Civil War on our hands. And yes, it is basically, okay maybe not quite all, Ned's fault. (Littlefinger, Varys, and Cersei did have a hand in it - as Tyrion points out.)
1) Stannis - Stannis is rather amusing in the tv series. I barely remember him in Clash. He's not really that prominent, he's more prominent in Storm actually. So I think they are blending a few things here. I loved that scene where he dictates the letter and keeps changing how to address Jaime. Stannis? Dude. Jamie doesn't care - he's too busy trying to stay alive, if not exactly clean, in Robb's keeping. But Stannis is a bit of pendant. Remember what Jamie told Ned, heck what Renly told Ned - "No one likes Stannis. Even Robert didn't like Stannis. Stannis is a solider. Not a king." But Ned didn't listen, that's the problem with self-righteous men, they don't listen. And so now, we have Stannis taking Ned Stark's place as "a justified" and "honorable" man. Think George W. Bush with a firey sword and a crazy soceress girlfriend (instead of Dick Cheney) rooting him on and you pretty much have Stannis.
The other characters at Storm-Hold or on the Rock, are Melisandra - the witch/sorceress.
That's the red-head. And Davros, the older guy, also known as the Onion King - he was a smuggler/pirate, who swore allegiance to Stannis during the first war. We're in Davros point of view here.
2. Robb Stark and Catelynn Stark. Robb is apparently carrying Jamie around with him, because he doesn't trust any of his bannerman enough to hold Jamie in their keeps. Not because they think he'll kill Jamie, but that they will sell him or trade him to the Lannisters for gold or something else of worth. In short, he knows his Bannermen are easily swayed by gold and a bit on the greedy side. Oh sure, we'll die on the battlefields with you Robb, but if we can make some gold on the side giving Jamie back to the Lannisters, we'll do it. Jamie rightly points out to Robb that winning three battles doesn't exactly win a War. Feeling a bit put out - Robb sycs his big direwolf on Jamie.
Which does scare the piss out of poor Jamie. But personally I saw it as a low blow on Robb's part not to mention an act of weakness - you have a chained up, dirty, prisoner, who is basically sitting in a mud-puddle in the middle of a wooden cell, and you decide to have your wolf scare him? Okay. Real mature, dude. I do however like the actor playing Robb quite a bit - he's hot. Still find Jamie more interesting though...Robb's not the brightest nor the most interesting of the Starks.
Robb does however convince his mother to go to Storm-hold to talk people into joining armies. And build up allies for the cause. Catelynn however, is more interested in her children's welfare than the war. She wants to either get Ayra and Sansa back from Cersei, or at the very least go check on Rickon and Bran up at Winterfell. But Robb would rather use her as a diplomat/ambassador.
Meanwhile Theon is trying to convince Robb to let him go home to the Iron Isles to build up support. Catelynn cautions Robb against that...Balon Greyjohn is not our friend. Theon is making more progress than Catelynn. Mainly because Robb has inherited his father's guile, wits and ability to trust in the right people.
3. Joffrey, Cersei, Tyrion and Sansa: the Kingslanding Scenes are fun.
* Joffrey is what happens when you like a sadistic teenager who likes to tear the wings off flies become King. I actually blame Robert Barratheon for how Joffrey turned out, more than Cersei. He blatantly ignored the boy. And lived it up. Who knows what Joffrey would have been like if Jamie had been permitted to be the boy's actual father? Probably not that much better. Considering.
- Sansa and Cersei both deal rather well with Joffrey. Sansa in some cases better, since she's afraid of him. She manipulates him neatly into letting a man go. Turning the man into a fool instead of a corspe. But the Hound does...to a degree help, by backing her up.
I seriously doubt that killing someone on your name day leads to bad luck in Westros.
I liked the whole name day bit. Because I'd researched that recently. Back in Medieval Times, one did not have a "birthday", one had a "name day". A name day is basically celebrating as your birthday the day that a specific Saint carrying your "name" was born.
Example, say your "name" is "Joseph" - then your name day is St. Joseph's birthday.
Not sure how Martin was doing it in this world - since they aren't Christian, so it may be a similar custom, just with different Gods or they are celebrating the day they were named or the birthday of the person they were named after.
Cersei slaps Joffrey. Not nearly as well as Tyrion did. Also, unlike Tyrion, Joffrey has power now and tells his mother if she does it again, he'll have her killed. Poor Cersei.
Figuring out that your son is a sadistic monster is bad enough. Having him tell you that your love for your brother and his real parentage is a foul rumor and if true, makes you a whore...is a bit trying. Not to mention the comment about Robert getting his pleasures elsewhere.
Joffrey also proves that he could care less what happens to Uncle Jaime.
*Tyrion does. Tyrion states to Cersei that if they expect to get Jamie back, they are going to have to barter the two girls. Cersei laments that she has no clue what happened to Arya. That Ayra disappeared. What? asks Tyrion, In a puff of smoke? Father would be disappointed. "I've done nothing," Cersei states. "Exactly," Tyrion states, "you've done nothing, that's why Ned Stark lost his head. You did nothing to stop it. And now, we are at war with Stark's, losing said war, I might add, and could lose Jamie. Instead of having Ned, Ayra, and Sansa to trade. Hmmm, must be a new experience for you, to be the disappointing child."
Peter Dinklage in some respects adds a level of cynicism and maturity to Tyrion that wasn't quite there in the books. Since he comes across as either the same age or somewhat older...he and Cersei feel more like equals here. And Cersei feels less..evil and cruel.
At any rate it works better.
The scenes in Kings Landing are important due to foreshadowing - they are building a few things here: 1) Sansa and the Hound's relationship is slowly being built up, their bonding and his support of her. 2) Tyrion's kindness to Sansa and realization that she's at the mercy of his despicable nephew. 3)Littlefinger's realization that Cersei is a force to be reckoned with, although he is right in one respect...knowledge is power. But as she puts it - much as she did with Ned Stark - not when I can slit the guy who has that knowledge - throat. (Honestly Little Finger did you learn nothing from Ned Stark? Don't show Cersei of all people your hand, she'll cut it off. Or at the very least the proof of it.) She also cleverly goes after each of the bastards - and has them killed. Although it's not clear whose idea this is, Cersei or Joffrey's. In the books I think it was Cersei's idea. Here, it could be Joffrey's. I honestly can't tell. There's two they miss. One is with Stannis, the other is with Ayra.
The problem with Martin's books wandering all over the place is you forget things. Like I can no longer remember the convoluted who-dunnit regarding who tried to kill Bran after he was dumped out the window. I'm not even sure who did it any longer and even if it is important. It's not at this point. Ned getting beheaded was so much worse. No one really cares all that much about Bran.
Finally, we have Tyrion and his whore Asha, who is well-cast. Tyrion states she can't be seen, while Asha clearly wants to be seen. She wants position. Keep in mind what Joffrey said about his father's "whoring" and how "whores" are seen and treated in the episode and perceived - either as Baelish's spies or as tools. In addition what Twyin stated...that Tyrion was not to bring his whore to Kings Landing. Twyin sees that as a weakness.
4. Bran/Maester Lluwein (whose name I can't spell) and the Wilding Woman (whose name I can't remember but I've seen the actress before). Rather like this bit...Bran's dreaming of being the Direwolf. By the way, Direwolf's grow to be three times the size of wolves.
So they still aren't fully grown yet. The connection between the kids and the Direwolves are asserting themselves. The wolves are to the Starks what Dragons are to the Taragyrn's.
(Oh no worries, Lluwyn isn't evil. Actually no one really is in these novels. They sort of just take turns doing insanely evil things. But he doesn't. Keep in mind he's old, it's not like he has much time to do it.)
5. Jon Snow, Maester Mormount, and the innbred Wildlings. Rather funny bit on who is a true Northerner. This reminds me of arguments in the US and Europe regarding the same things. Human beings, as my father likes to say, are weirdly parochial and provincial.
Florida by the way? Is not considered the South. Yes, I know it is South, but the true "South" is the area between the Carolinas and Missippi, including Georgia. Florida, Texas, New Mexico are considered not the South. You aren't a Southerner if you live in Arizona.
You are Westerner. People are weird about this. Sort of pissing contest by geographic location. Also if you live in NY, you don't live in the North - you only live in the North if you live in Main and New Hampshire. Oh, and Kansas is not the Midwest - it's the West.
The mid-west is Ohio through Missouri and includes Iowa but not Nebraska. It's rather entertaining. People are pedantic about this. (Just watch someone will correct my interpretation in the comments. Proving that last statement right.)
This group is creepy. The father basically marries all the girls, which yes are all his daughters and has kids by all of them. Sort of a self-perpetuating whore house. Can't remember why they don't band together to kill him, possibly scared to death to stay up there by themselves. Why the Night's Watch puts up with him not clear on either. And I honestly can't remember. I do know what happens to them, that I do remember but no worries, I won't tell you. Love Jon Snow's comment - "so what does he do to the boys?"
I honestly can't remember. Just that it's bad.
6. Dany and Jorah and her group...need to find water or a city or something soon. It's not surprising that Dany doesn't see Jorah as a romantic love interest - he's a lot older than she is and she's anything if not shallow. I mean come on, it's not like she doesn't have these hot Drothraki riders wandering about, including the one, she calls blood of my blood. I rather liked her bit. Love the dragons too...great CGI on that. And since we get them briefly this works.
Considering how much ground the series had to cover in the space of 60 minutes, they did a great job. Also I'm reminded once again what a true pleasure it is to watch a tv series with 0 commercial interruptions. The commercial interruptions on Once were about to drive me insane. At the very least they could have shown new commercials instead of the same one's over and over and over again.
No wasted time in that hour. Tight. Crisp. And unabashed power plays. Also the production continues to be top-notch as do the effects. Some of the weaknesses from last season seem to be less in evidence here - the sexposition scenes that HBO and Showtime are infamous for...seem to have been reduced or done away with completely. With the exception of a very brief bit in Baelish's whorehouse, prior to a raid, there really isn't one. Also, the wigs seem to look less like wigs, makeup and hair are bit more on target. The writing is tighter as well.
TV series unlike serial novels and comic books often get better as they go. The first season tends to be a bit more rough around the edges, the second smooths those edges out a bit...that's why I wish networks and audience's would give serial tv series at least two seasons before making a judgement. Granted I don't always give them that long either.
I gave up on Terra Nova five episodes in, and when Fringe first aired, did much the same thing. Too many tv shows too little time. Which is a problem, because tv shows do take time to build. That said, Game is amongst the few that started out well and continues to build momentum. Often you'll either start out great and pitter off or you'll start out hoo-hum and become great. (Examples - BSG started out great and lost steam half-way through and petered out. Joan of Arcadia is another example. While Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel started out sort of hoo hum, and became rather good (great in the case of Buffy) as the meandered on. Same with Farscape and to a degree DS9 and Babylon 5.).
If Game is anything like the books...it's going to get better. Maybe not tighter...but that's another story.
Sound System: ATTENTION...ATTENTION...THIS IS YOUR FIRE SAFETY DIRECTOR, THIS IS TO ANNOUNCE
BRler0ghathsgogo...elevator...
ME: What?
Coworkers: The elevator will be out of commission for the next 20 minutes.
Me: Oh, again? Okay.
Sound System: Attention...Attention...this is your Fire Safety director...This to announce that the elevator will be out of commission for the next fifteen minutes...we will let you know when it is operating again.
Co-workers: Well, if there's a fire we can't use the elevator.
Me: There's the stairs.
Sound System: Attention Attention...this is your Fire Safety Director...this is to announce that the elevator will be out of commission for the next five minutes...we will let you know when it is operating again.
.....
Sound System: Attention Attention...
Coworker/Cubicle wall mate: Oh for crying out loud! What now?
Sound System: This is you Fire Safety Director...the elevator will be out of commission for the next three minutes...we will let you know when it is functioning again, thank you for your patience.
[Bwhahhehah! Apparently they can afford a web filtering system but not proper elevator maintenance. No wonder Software Engineers never want for work. You have a degree in computer tech, you've got it made. Elevator maintenance not so much.]
2. Trying to watch Once Upon a Time - "The Stable Boy", on my ipad, so far I have the annoying Hyundi car commercial memorized. I swear if I see it one more time I'm going to hire a hitman to take out the evil marketing people who created it or maybe just Hyundi.
Impressions? The casting of the Evil Queen's mother and Young Snow White are inspired. That kid looks and sounds like a young Jennifer Goodwin. She's also a tad annoying. I can sort of understand why the Evil Queen hates Snow. That kid would drive me homicidal too.
My mother liked this better than I did. Found it a little predictable, sort of figured out that storyline five episodes ago. But..it does explain why Regina hates Snow, and it is consistent plot and metaphor wise. The theme of the series seems to be about "lost children" or parents destructive tendencies towards their children in fairy tales.
The parallel structure between the lead characters is rather interesting.
*Snow loses her mother at an early age and tries to save Regina, her new friend, from a similar loss - which from Snow's perspective is far worse than losing a romantic attachment. No one should lose their mother. But Regina rips Emma from her mother (Snow), as she rips Henry from his (Emma). Regina thinks the worst thing she can do to Snow is separate her and Prince Charming. She belittles the love between parent and child. Doesn't understand it. Since she hated her own mother, and later sacrifices her love for her father to activate the curse. It's a thread throughout...she doesn't understand Hansel and Gretal and their father's love for each other, or Jefferson's love for his child. And she's blind to the fact that Snow and PC's child could be the one who ends up breaking the curse. That the parent/child bound may be stronger than anything even romantic love. It's ironic, because she is trying to use Henry to fill the void within herself, but she can't because...she doesn't understand that bond. Rumplestilskin similarly is tied with children - or the loss of, he keeps taking children from their families possibly to replace his own.
* Regina's mother believes that power is better than love. That love fades. True power endures. So she kills the stable-boy by ripping out his heart, much as Regina killed Emma's huntsman by ripping out his heart. (Hmmm...is Cora, Regina's Mom, the Queen of Hearts? Probably not. But there appears to be a lot of heart ripping in this series.)
There's lots of parents getting in the way of true romance. Granny trying to prevent Red from seeing the hunter, to protect the hunter not Red as it turns out. PC's adoptive father deprives him of Snow White - forcing him to marry Midas' daughter, in much the same way as Regina's mother forces her to marry Snow's father. Both crave power through children.
PC, Snow and Emma - all lose their families through the manipulations of Regina and Rumplestilskin. PC loses his mother, in a trade, Rumple makes a deal - in order for his mother's continued survival, PC will become the King's adoptive son. Snow's mother dies, and Regina kills her father. Emma's parents are ripped from her by Regina. In turn,
Rumple loses his son by embracing power, and Regina loses her father by embracing power.
Often the child in these stories must choose between parental love/duty to their parents and true/romantic love. In other tales, they have to choose between power/wealth and love.
Each believe the choice they make will lead to "happiness". But it never quite goes the way they planned.
I liked the ending, where they find Katherine wandering homeless and out of her mind in the alley. So whose heart was in the jewelry box?
3. Extended Review of Game of Thrones: 2.1 (Although I'm not sure I say much more than what has already been said elsewhere. Don't know about your flist, but Game is my flist's new fandom.)
Was a rather good episode last night. Granted I don't expect all that much from tv shows. Just a complicated and somewhat thought provoking plot, interesting and complex characters, strong female roles, good dialogue, not too much in your face realistic violence or torture. Nudity doesn't bug me as much as graphic violence. Nor for that matter does sex.
Plus, I admittedly like the tv series better than the books so far. The books are fascinating. Clearly I like them on some level or I wouldn't keep buying them. I have two copies of Feast of Crows - one in hard-cover and one on the Kindle. But...they do wander around a bit. And are in a desperate need of a good editor. Game of Thrones was by far the most tightly written. Although Storm had the most happen - that book is insane. Sort of makes Titus Andronicuous look like Little Boo Peep in comparison.
There's a lot of reasons I like the tv series better. The main one is the depiction of the following characters: Catelynne/Robb Stark, Stannis/Melisandra/Davros, Cersei/Joffrey and Sansa, Bran/Master Luewyllin, and Daenrys/Jorah. They all come across much better in the
tv series. Demonstrating what a good actor can do with a role. I love Lena Headley's Cersei...she's managed to make this character complicated. The other reason is - pacing.
It's better paced. Things that happened off stage, are now on stage, things that got far too much focus in the books - now are just quickly referenced. At times, when I read the books - I felt like Martin had done all this research on medieval times and felt the need to put all of it into his novels, he needed to tell me everything. Such as the grisely conditions of Jamie Lannister's cell. Or the various pieces of food each person was eating at a feast. You'd salivate over some of the courses. Meanwhile...we'd just get one or two quick sentences about Stannis sending out a missive regarding the parentage of King Joffrey. Or two quick sentences about Robb's war effort and what he was doing with Jamie.
But spend pages and pages describing a feast at King's Landing or the interior of Tyrion's quarters. This is why historical novels and well Dickens grated on my nerves and I prefer Shakspearean plays. Seriously, while I guess it's sort of interesting that they ate swan instead of chicken back then, I really don't need to know this. Any more than I care about the proper care of chain mail. I think Martin may be a frustrated historian sometimes. What he really wants to do is write a history of the War of the Roses, except with Dragons, and more battles.
Okay enough on the books. Not really spoilerly on books, because I barely remember Clash of Kings, outside of the last two chapters, and most of the stuff I remember from Storm is well the big events. And that's getting foggy too.
There's about six groups featured in this episode - the country has basically erupted in Civil War thanks to Ned Stark, demonstrating once again how the way to hell is paved with good intentions. If Ned had only listened to Robert and Cersei and played Hand instead of erstwhile detective...they wouldn't be in this mess. But nooo...he had to meddle and now we have a full-fledged Civil War on our hands. And yes, it is basically, okay maybe not quite all, Ned's fault. (Littlefinger, Varys, and Cersei did have a hand in it - as Tyrion points out.)
1) Stannis - Stannis is rather amusing in the tv series. I barely remember him in Clash. He's not really that prominent, he's more prominent in Storm actually. So I think they are blending a few things here. I loved that scene where he dictates the letter and keeps changing how to address Jaime. Stannis? Dude. Jamie doesn't care - he's too busy trying to stay alive, if not exactly clean, in Robb's keeping. But Stannis is a bit of pendant. Remember what Jamie told Ned, heck what Renly told Ned - "No one likes Stannis. Even Robert didn't like Stannis. Stannis is a solider. Not a king." But Ned didn't listen, that's the problem with self-righteous men, they don't listen. And so now, we have Stannis taking Ned Stark's place as "a justified" and "honorable" man. Think George W. Bush with a firey sword and a crazy soceress girlfriend (instead of Dick Cheney) rooting him on and you pretty much have Stannis.
The other characters at Storm-Hold or on the Rock, are Melisandra - the witch/sorceress.
That's the red-head. And Davros, the older guy, also known as the Onion King - he was a smuggler/pirate, who swore allegiance to Stannis during the first war. We're in Davros point of view here.
2. Robb Stark and Catelynn Stark. Robb is apparently carrying Jamie around with him, because he doesn't trust any of his bannerman enough to hold Jamie in their keeps. Not because they think he'll kill Jamie, but that they will sell him or trade him to the Lannisters for gold or something else of worth. In short, he knows his Bannermen are easily swayed by gold and a bit on the greedy side. Oh sure, we'll die on the battlefields with you Robb, but if we can make some gold on the side giving Jamie back to the Lannisters, we'll do it. Jamie rightly points out to Robb that winning three battles doesn't exactly win a War. Feeling a bit put out - Robb sycs his big direwolf on Jamie.
Which does scare the piss out of poor Jamie. But personally I saw it as a low blow on Robb's part not to mention an act of weakness - you have a chained up, dirty, prisoner, who is basically sitting in a mud-puddle in the middle of a wooden cell, and you decide to have your wolf scare him? Okay. Real mature, dude. I do however like the actor playing Robb quite a bit - he's hot. Still find Jamie more interesting though...Robb's not the brightest nor the most interesting of the Starks.
Robb does however convince his mother to go to Storm-hold to talk people into joining armies. And build up allies for the cause. Catelynn however, is more interested in her children's welfare than the war. She wants to either get Ayra and Sansa back from Cersei, or at the very least go check on Rickon and Bran up at Winterfell. But Robb would rather use her as a diplomat/ambassador.
Meanwhile Theon is trying to convince Robb to let him go home to the Iron Isles to build up support. Catelynn cautions Robb against that...Balon Greyjohn is not our friend. Theon is making more progress than Catelynn. Mainly because Robb has inherited his father's guile, wits and ability to trust in the right people.
3. Joffrey, Cersei, Tyrion and Sansa: the Kingslanding Scenes are fun.
* Joffrey is what happens when you like a sadistic teenager who likes to tear the wings off flies become King. I actually blame Robert Barratheon for how Joffrey turned out, more than Cersei. He blatantly ignored the boy. And lived it up. Who knows what Joffrey would have been like if Jamie had been permitted to be the boy's actual father? Probably not that much better. Considering.
- Sansa and Cersei both deal rather well with Joffrey. Sansa in some cases better, since she's afraid of him. She manipulates him neatly into letting a man go. Turning the man into a fool instead of a corspe. But the Hound does...to a degree help, by backing her up.
I seriously doubt that killing someone on your name day leads to bad luck in Westros.
I liked the whole name day bit. Because I'd researched that recently. Back in Medieval Times, one did not have a "birthday", one had a "name day". A name day is basically celebrating as your birthday the day that a specific Saint carrying your "name" was born.
Example, say your "name" is "Joseph" - then your name day is St. Joseph's birthday.
Not sure how Martin was doing it in this world - since they aren't Christian, so it may be a similar custom, just with different Gods or they are celebrating the day they were named or the birthday of the person they were named after.
Cersei slaps Joffrey. Not nearly as well as Tyrion did. Also, unlike Tyrion, Joffrey has power now and tells his mother if she does it again, he'll have her killed. Poor Cersei.
Figuring out that your son is a sadistic monster is bad enough. Having him tell you that your love for your brother and his real parentage is a foul rumor and if true, makes you a whore...is a bit trying. Not to mention the comment about Robert getting his pleasures elsewhere.
Joffrey also proves that he could care less what happens to Uncle Jaime.
*Tyrion does. Tyrion states to Cersei that if they expect to get Jamie back, they are going to have to barter the two girls. Cersei laments that she has no clue what happened to Arya. That Ayra disappeared. What? asks Tyrion, In a puff of smoke? Father would be disappointed. "I've done nothing," Cersei states. "Exactly," Tyrion states, "you've done nothing, that's why Ned Stark lost his head. You did nothing to stop it. And now, we are at war with Stark's, losing said war, I might add, and could lose Jamie. Instead of having Ned, Ayra, and Sansa to trade. Hmmm, must be a new experience for you, to be the disappointing child."
Peter Dinklage in some respects adds a level of cynicism and maturity to Tyrion that wasn't quite there in the books. Since he comes across as either the same age or somewhat older...he and Cersei feel more like equals here. And Cersei feels less..evil and cruel.
At any rate it works better.
The scenes in Kings Landing are important due to foreshadowing - they are building a few things here: 1) Sansa and the Hound's relationship is slowly being built up, their bonding and his support of her. 2) Tyrion's kindness to Sansa and realization that she's at the mercy of his despicable nephew. 3)Littlefinger's realization that Cersei is a force to be reckoned with, although he is right in one respect...knowledge is power. But as she puts it - much as she did with Ned Stark - not when I can slit the guy who has that knowledge - throat. (Honestly Little Finger did you learn nothing from Ned Stark? Don't show Cersei of all people your hand, she'll cut it off. Or at the very least the proof of it.) She also cleverly goes after each of the bastards - and has them killed. Although it's not clear whose idea this is, Cersei or Joffrey's. In the books I think it was Cersei's idea. Here, it could be Joffrey's. I honestly can't tell. There's two they miss. One is with Stannis, the other is with Ayra.
The problem with Martin's books wandering all over the place is you forget things. Like I can no longer remember the convoluted who-dunnit regarding who tried to kill Bran after he was dumped out the window. I'm not even sure who did it any longer and even if it is important. It's not at this point. Ned getting beheaded was so much worse. No one really cares all that much about Bran.
Finally, we have Tyrion and his whore Asha, who is well-cast. Tyrion states she can't be seen, while Asha clearly wants to be seen. She wants position. Keep in mind what Joffrey said about his father's "whoring" and how "whores" are seen and treated in the episode and perceived - either as Baelish's spies or as tools. In addition what Twyin stated...that Tyrion was not to bring his whore to Kings Landing. Twyin sees that as a weakness.
4. Bran/Maester Lluwein (whose name I can't spell) and the Wilding Woman (whose name I can't remember but I've seen the actress before). Rather like this bit...Bran's dreaming of being the Direwolf. By the way, Direwolf's grow to be three times the size of wolves.
So they still aren't fully grown yet. The connection between the kids and the Direwolves are asserting themselves. The wolves are to the Starks what Dragons are to the Taragyrn's.
(Oh no worries, Lluwyn isn't evil. Actually no one really is in these novels. They sort of just take turns doing insanely evil things. But he doesn't. Keep in mind he's old, it's not like he has much time to do it.)
5. Jon Snow, Maester Mormount, and the innbred Wildlings. Rather funny bit on who is a true Northerner. This reminds me of arguments in the US and Europe regarding the same things. Human beings, as my father likes to say, are weirdly parochial and provincial.
Florida by the way? Is not considered the South. Yes, I know it is South, but the true "South" is the area between the Carolinas and Missippi, including Georgia. Florida, Texas, New Mexico are considered not the South. You aren't a Southerner if you live in Arizona.
You are Westerner. People are weird about this. Sort of pissing contest by geographic location. Also if you live in NY, you don't live in the North - you only live in the North if you live in Main and New Hampshire. Oh, and Kansas is not the Midwest - it's the West.
The mid-west is Ohio through Missouri and includes Iowa but not Nebraska. It's rather entertaining. People are pedantic about this. (Just watch someone will correct my interpretation in the comments. Proving that last statement right.)
This group is creepy. The father basically marries all the girls, which yes are all his daughters and has kids by all of them. Sort of a self-perpetuating whore house. Can't remember why they don't band together to kill him, possibly scared to death to stay up there by themselves. Why the Night's Watch puts up with him not clear on either. And I honestly can't remember. I do know what happens to them, that I do remember but no worries, I won't tell you. Love Jon Snow's comment - "so what does he do to the boys?"
I honestly can't remember. Just that it's bad.
6. Dany and Jorah and her group...need to find water or a city or something soon. It's not surprising that Dany doesn't see Jorah as a romantic love interest - he's a lot older than she is and she's anything if not shallow. I mean come on, it's not like she doesn't have these hot Drothraki riders wandering about, including the one, she calls blood of my blood. I rather liked her bit. Love the dragons too...great CGI on that. And since we get them briefly this works.
Considering how much ground the series had to cover in the space of 60 minutes, they did a great job. Also I'm reminded once again what a true pleasure it is to watch a tv series with 0 commercial interruptions. The commercial interruptions on Once were about to drive me insane. At the very least they could have shown new commercials instead of the same one's over and over and over again.
No wasted time in that hour. Tight. Crisp. And unabashed power plays. Also the production continues to be top-notch as do the effects. Some of the weaknesses from last season seem to be less in evidence here - the sexposition scenes that HBO and Showtime are infamous for...seem to have been reduced or done away with completely. With the exception of a very brief bit in Baelish's whorehouse, prior to a raid, there really isn't one. Also, the wigs seem to look less like wigs, makeup and hair are bit more on target. The writing is tighter as well.
TV series unlike serial novels and comic books often get better as they go. The first season tends to be a bit more rough around the edges, the second smooths those edges out a bit...that's why I wish networks and audience's would give serial tv series at least two seasons before making a judgement. Granted I don't always give them that long either.
I gave up on Terra Nova five episodes in, and when Fringe first aired, did much the same thing. Too many tv shows too little time. Which is a problem, because tv shows do take time to build. That said, Game is amongst the few that started out well and continues to build momentum. Often you'll either start out great and pitter off or you'll start out hoo-hum and become great. (Examples - BSG started out great and lost steam half-way through and petered out. Joan of Arcadia is another example. While Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel started out sort of hoo hum, and became rather good (great in the case of Buffy) as the meandered on. Same with Farscape and to a degree DS9 and Babylon 5.).
If Game is anything like the books...it's going to get better. Maybe not tighter...but that's another story.
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Date: 2012-04-03 03:53 am (UTC)I kind of loved the twist at the end: Rumplestiltskin/Gold said he would use magic, and I wonder if he did... At any rate it now makes it nakedly obviously that the Mayor was framing an innocent woman for murder (ie the heart may really have been Katherine's, and the DNA test may have been real, but now that Katherine can be seen as alive and well everyone will assume/believe that the Mayor faked the DNA test).
I really loved 'Game of Throne'! And the scene between Tryion and Cersei was one of my favorites, I really felt that they spoke the same language... like they really were brother and sister, and even if they didn't like each other, nevertheless they understood each other very well.
And I'm still crazy about the baby dragons! I should search out a baby dragon icon! LOL
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Date: 2012-04-04 02:01 am (UTC)Thoughts:
-With Robb, I suspect they want to lay in the foundation for him being a good leader and strategist but still a teenager who makes selfish or stupid decisions-- building up his later decision to marry the other girl and not the Frey girl. In the books that sort of came out of nowhere, so I see them wanting to build up his somewhat irresponsible nature. He has the potential to be a great leader, but he doesn't have Ned's many years of diplomatic skills, which is too bad, because Robb doesn't have quite the Honor Before Reason problem that Ned Stark did.
-I LOVE Tyrion. Peter Dinklage continues to do an amazing job with the role (although really all the actors are fantastic). I was looking forward to this season anyway because Tyrion gets to shine most in Clash when he is acting as the Hand of the King. It's a great contrast to Cersei, who thinks she is a god of political skill and power and in reality she just makes everything worse, constantly sabotaging herself. And wow, Joffrey here is even more out of control than book Joffrey. There's a lot of interesting power dynamics there. (Small note, the whore's name is Shae; Asha is Theon's sister who we haven't seen yet.)
-Uuugh Craster. I think in the books it was hinted that the Watch basically tolerated his awful habits because he provided them a convenient and relatively safe stopping point beyond the Wall. It's still incredibly gross though. Ick.
Overall I could understand the confusion from my friends, because there was a lot of jumping around and a lot to introduce, especially Stannis and Melisandre, and we haven't even gotten to Renly and his faction yet. But I'm looking forward to more. :D