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shadowkatComfortably numb - if I can't use aleve, two glasses of apple wine and a massage cushin works.
Watched the first two episodes of S3 Game of Thrones last night - can't really tell you how it differs from the books, because I don't remember Storm of Swords that well (except for a few key moments which are unforgettable (an understatement) plus, just in case I do forget them, Martin keeps reminding me of them in the latter books, but those moments haven't happened yet in the tv series).
That said? Is this season spoiling me on Theon Greyjoy arc in Dance of Dragons? I can't remember the character being in Storm of Swords. (Keep in mind, I read Storm of Swords in 2010...it's been a while.) [ETA: According to the comments? That would be a resounding YES!
By the way, don't read the comments if you are unspoiled for the books past Clash. We have spoilers up to ADWD, which I'm reading as we speak. Poor Theon. I didn't like the character, but seriously no one deserves what he got. GRRM is one sadistic writer - he can give Stephen King a run for his money, and I honestly didn't think that was possible, actually he can give Joss Whedon, Vince Gilligan, the guy writing Walking Dead, and most of the Saw movies a run for their money. So if you have issues with that sort of thing? Stop now. Don't say I didn't warn you.]
The nice thing about the tv series is it has clarified who certain characters are...because I have a tendency to lose track of them in the books or rather track of who they are exactly.
Not surprising. There's a lot of characters in these books. I also have lost track of who people are in the tv series at times, but the writers are nice and remind me.
* Theon is being tortured on a cross by somebody. I don't know who. For a bit I thought it was his own family, but somehow I doubt it. Will state it is gruesome and sort of outside my tolerance level for torture scenes. (I don't like torture scenes - they bother me. I can't watch people being emotionally, physically, or mentally tortured, without fast-forwarding or leaving the room. It's actually why I can't handle a lot of American sitcoms.) Also...I do not remember this being in the book at all. (Actually I don't remember much of Theon's arc in books 1-3, because I found the character to be grating so admittedly skimmed. Oddly I remember Davos arc better. ) What I want to know? Is the tv series spoiling me on Theon's arc in Dance with Dragons? Are they bringing things forward? And can anyone tell me without spoiling me on Theon's arc in Dance with Dragons?
* Ciarin Hinds as Mance Ryder is much better casting than I'd thought. I admittedly imagined him differently in the books - but he is rather perfect for this role. To date - there have been no missteps in the casting department, everyone is pitch perfect - even if I imagined some the characters slightly differently in my head. (Jamie was prettier, Sansa younger and lot smaller in build, and Stannis far less attractive.)
* Am loving Dany's arc in the series - much more than in the books. In part because I know who people are, and what's going on, I never was quite sure in the books - we spend a lot of time in her head pondering things that have already happened or what she should do or which slave girl is best to sleep with in the books. It's all rather dull. So I skimmed. Also, in the books, her relationship with Jorah squicked me, here, oddly, I find their relationship hot and filled with sexual tension. I love them together on screen. Also Jorah Mormount is far more attractive and sympathetic then he was in the books for some reason - it must be the actor?
At any rate - Selby Barriston saves Dany's life. And I'm thinking - oh, so that is who Dany's advisor is? I couldn't figure out who he was in the books. Just that he had some link to King's Landing. But, it turns out, that he was the head of the Kings Guard - before King Joffrey fired him. Joffrey wanted to do more than that - but Barristan isn't someone the King's Guard wanted to fight or execute. Even Jamie revered him - as an amazing fighter.
So Barristan takes off...and saves Dany from the deadly (and rather cool looking) scorpion - which the little girl assassin attempted to kill her with. Wander if the girl is one of the Faceless Assassins? That was a wonderful scene. Jorah isn't too happy with Barristan's appearance - I can't quite remember why though.
* Tyrion continues to amuse and dig himself deeper into hell. He's surrounded by people with their own agendas. Tyrion and Sansa are - actually. I rather adored his dialogues with Cersei, Tywin, Bronne (who is the only one who knows how to banter with Tyrion), and Shae.
Shae: I was told not to trust Lord Baelish.
Tyrion: Littlefinger? No one with half a brain trusts LittleFinger. You don't get very far if you do. (True, just ask Ned and Catelynn Stark). Who told you?
Shae: His friend.
Tyrion: Littlefinger doesn't have any friends.
Shae: I don't know if she's his friend, just the woman who is with him or works for him, reddish hair.
Tyrion: Roz? (So..that's who she is! YAY! Thank you show. I'd forgotten. Hey, I can't remember the names of half the people I work with.)
Shae: You know her? How would you ...you slept with her.
Tyrion: Well..
Shae: You did. (Oh come on Shae, of course he did, she was a whore.)
Tyrion: Once.
Shae: Once?
Tyrion: Okay, maybe twice...but it was before I met you.
I rather like Shae. Also like Shae's concern for Sansa, who she is attempting to protect. Although I don't remember Shae trying to protect Sansa in the books, just the opposite actually. Shae was not nice in the books and a bit whiny. Here she is much more likable.
Sansa also is coming across as a bit brighter than I remember. She's trying to say as little as possible. The Queen of Thorns (okay Diana Rigg) sort of coaxes the truth about Joffrey out of her. Honestly, I don't know why...it's not like Joffrey won't show his stripes soon on his own. Joffrey, methinks, has the hots for Margarey, who is a far better and much deadlier match than Sansa. Joffrey was actually safer with Sansa. Margarey wants power and to be Queen. The scene with Margarey and Joffrey playing with Joffrey's new bow which he got to win over Margarey...was intriguing. In the space of ten minutes, the writers got across two things: 1) Joffrey can be seduced and wants Margarey, and 2) Maragrey is planning on killing Joffrey the first chance she gets...he's basically married his mother. Talk about just desserts.
* The actors playing the kids in this series are rather talented. Bran - is a marvel, beautiful kid and very expressive, as is Jojen and his sister, Mirrin (who are two of my favorite characters in the books). So too is Ayra - love the actress playing that character, also love the character.
* Jamie and Breen's sword-fight was shorter, but well done, she was beating him. Which is what obtains Jamie's respect. They have an interesting relationship. And I adore the actress they cast as Breen. The actors also have chemistry, and she is so much bigger than he is, which is striking - since he's not a small man. Watching him bug her and do everything possible to get her to break down her guard, so he can get a chance to escape - was interesting and well written. They managed to shorten it a bit, in part because they got rid of the cousin in the last season. In the books, Jamie is traveling with Breen and his cousin. They end up in a boat, almost get killed, but survive. Jamie shaves his head so he won't be recognized and grows a beard. Then the find a village, where the cousin gets himself killed, it's here that Jamie breaks free finally and fights Breen - until they are captured by the Goat. In the tv series - it doesn't take nearly as long and is more compelling. Although Jamie, admittedly, comes out nicer and less of an asshole in the books.
(ie. He didn't kill his cousin to escape a cell and actually mourns the man's loss.)
Eh...don't have much more to say. Am sort of hot, with a dull head-ache that I can't take anything for, and a bit of a back-ache. So will stop now. And watch tv.
Watched the first two episodes of S3 Game of Thrones last night - can't really tell you how it differs from the books, because I don't remember Storm of Swords that well (except for a few key moments which are unforgettable (an understatement) plus, just in case I do forget them, Martin keeps reminding me of them in the latter books, but those moments haven't happened yet in the tv series).
That said? Is this season spoiling me on Theon Greyjoy arc in Dance of Dragons? I can't remember the character being in Storm of Swords. (Keep in mind, I read Storm of Swords in 2010...it's been a while.) [ETA: According to the comments? That would be a resounding YES!
By the way, don't read the comments if you are unspoiled for the books past Clash. We have spoilers up to ADWD, which I'm reading as we speak. Poor Theon. I didn't like the character, but seriously no one deserves what he got. GRRM is one sadistic writer - he can give Stephen King a run for his money, and I honestly didn't think that was possible, actually he can give Joss Whedon, Vince Gilligan, the guy writing Walking Dead, and most of the Saw movies a run for their money. So if you have issues with that sort of thing? Stop now. Don't say I didn't warn you.]
The nice thing about the tv series is it has clarified who certain characters are...because I have a tendency to lose track of them in the books or rather track of who they are exactly.
Not surprising. There's a lot of characters in these books. I also have lost track of who people are in the tv series at times, but the writers are nice and remind me.
* Theon is being tortured on a cross by somebody. I don't know who. For a bit I thought it was his own family, but somehow I doubt it. Will state it is gruesome and sort of outside my tolerance level for torture scenes. (I don't like torture scenes - they bother me. I can't watch people being emotionally, physically, or mentally tortured, without fast-forwarding or leaving the room. It's actually why I can't handle a lot of American sitcoms.) Also...I do not remember this being in the book at all. (Actually I don't remember much of Theon's arc in books 1-3, because I found the character to be grating so admittedly skimmed. Oddly I remember Davos arc better. ) What I want to know? Is the tv series spoiling me on Theon's arc in Dance with Dragons? Are they bringing things forward? And can anyone tell me without spoiling me on Theon's arc in Dance with Dragons?
* Ciarin Hinds as Mance Ryder is much better casting than I'd thought. I admittedly imagined him differently in the books - but he is rather perfect for this role. To date - there have been no missteps in the casting department, everyone is pitch perfect - even if I imagined some the characters slightly differently in my head. (Jamie was prettier, Sansa younger and lot smaller in build, and Stannis far less attractive.)
* Am loving Dany's arc in the series - much more than in the books. In part because I know who people are, and what's going on, I never was quite sure in the books - we spend a lot of time in her head pondering things that have already happened or what she should do or which slave girl is best to sleep with in the books. It's all rather dull. So I skimmed. Also, in the books, her relationship with Jorah squicked me, here, oddly, I find their relationship hot and filled with sexual tension. I love them together on screen. Also Jorah Mormount is far more attractive and sympathetic then he was in the books for some reason - it must be the actor?
At any rate - Selby Barriston saves Dany's life. And I'm thinking - oh, so that is who Dany's advisor is? I couldn't figure out who he was in the books. Just that he had some link to King's Landing. But, it turns out, that he was the head of the Kings Guard - before King Joffrey fired him. Joffrey wanted to do more than that - but Barristan isn't someone the King's Guard wanted to fight or execute. Even Jamie revered him - as an amazing fighter.
So Barristan takes off...and saves Dany from the deadly (and rather cool looking) scorpion - which the little girl assassin attempted to kill her with. Wander if the girl is one of the Faceless Assassins? That was a wonderful scene. Jorah isn't too happy with Barristan's appearance - I can't quite remember why though.
* Tyrion continues to amuse and dig himself deeper into hell. He's surrounded by people with their own agendas. Tyrion and Sansa are - actually. I rather adored his dialogues with Cersei, Tywin, Bronne (who is the only one who knows how to banter with Tyrion), and Shae.
Shae: I was told not to trust Lord Baelish.
Tyrion: Littlefinger? No one with half a brain trusts LittleFinger. You don't get very far if you do. (True, just ask Ned and Catelynn Stark). Who told you?
Shae: His friend.
Tyrion: Littlefinger doesn't have any friends.
Shae: I don't know if she's his friend, just the woman who is with him or works for him, reddish hair.
Tyrion: Roz? (So..that's who she is! YAY! Thank you show. I'd forgotten. Hey, I can't remember the names of half the people I work with.)
Shae: You know her? How would you ...you slept with her.
Tyrion: Well..
Shae: You did. (Oh come on Shae, of course he did, she was a whore.)
Tyrion: Once.
Shae: Once?
Tyrion: Okay, maybe twice...but it was before I met you.
I rather like Shae. Also like Shae's concern for Sansa, who she is attempting to protect. Although I don't remember Shae trying to protect Sansa in the books, just the opposite actually. Shae was not nice in the books and a bit whiny. Here she is much more likable.
Sansa also is coming across as a bit brighter than I remember. She's trying to say as little as possible. The Queen of Thorns (okay Diana Rigg) sort of coaxes the truth about Joffrey out of her. Honestly, I don't know why...it's not like Joffrey won't show his stripes soon on his own. Joffrey, methinks, has the hots for Margarey, who is a far better and much deadlier match than Sansa. Joffrey was actually safer with Sansa. Margarey wants power and to be Queen. The scene with Margarey and Joffrey playing with Joffrey's new bow which he got to win over Margarey...was intriguing. In the space of ten minutes, the writers got across two things: 1) Joffrey can be seduced and wants Margarey, and 2) Maragrey is planning on killing Joffrey the first chance she gets...he's basically married his mother. Talk about just desserts.
* The actors playing the kids in this series are rather talented. Bran - is a marvel, beautiful kid and very expressive, as is Jojen and his sister, Mirrin (who are two of my favorite characters in the books). So too is Ayra - love the actress playing that character, also love the character.
* Jamie and Breen's sword-fight was shorter, but well done, she was beating him. Which is what obtains Jamie's respect. They have an interesting relationship. And I adore the actress they cast as Breen. The actors also have chemistry, and she is so much bigger than he is, which is striking - since he's not a small man. Watching him bug her and do everything possible to get her to break down her guard, so he can get a chance to escape - was interesting and well written. They managed to shorten it a bit, in part because they got rid of the cousin in the last season. In the books, Jamie is traveling with Breen and his cousin. They end up in a boat, almost get killed, but survive. Jamie shaves his head so he won't be recognized and grows a beard. Then the find a village, where the cousin gets himself killed, it's here that Jamie breaks free finally and fights Breen - until they are captured by the Goat. In the tv series - it doesn't take nearly as long and is more compelling. Although Jamie, admittedly, comes out nicer and less of an asshole in the books.
(ie. He didn't kill his cousin to escape a cell and actually mourns the man's loss.)
Eh...don't have much more to say. Am sort of hot, with a dull head-ache that I can't take anything for, and a bit of a back-ache. So will stop now. And watch tv.
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Date: 2013-04-10 11:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-04-10 10:33 pm (UTC)Clash of Kings was not a memorable novel and hell to get through. I ended up reading parts of Storm, to deal with Clash (was so bored). (Which is why my co-worker who completely skipped Storm but read Clash and Feast, blows my mind. I even told him this - "You realize you skipped the best book in the series right? Granted it is gruesome in places, but still..He didn't mind.)
Natalie Dormier is great as Margery and the character is actually better developed and has more screen time in the tv series. We are a bit hampered by pov in the books - Martin is obsessed with third person close pov, while the tv series is third person distant like all tv series - and in a way it provides a better scope. We get more characters points of view. We see both Cersei and Joffrey, then Joffrey and Margery. While in the books - all we got was Sansa's take on Margery and Tyrion's , which were incredibly limiting.
Same with Shae - here we get to see things a little from Shae and Bronn's pov, while in the books, it was just Sansa and Tyrion, who were limiting and unreliable. Tyrion loves women but is insecure, due to being beaten down as a dwarf and bullied. People who have been bullied tend to be really snarky and stoic = as a defense mechanism. (Sane people). You can always tell to a degree which characters have been bullied. He doesn't quite trust Shae's feelings for him, and worries. Also his reaction is typical male. LOL! (I love Peter Dinklage in this role - he's amazing.)
And oh you are so right about the important info on Littlefinger and Sansa. Tyrion isn't paying attention - because he doesn't see Sansa as his problem. (Incredibly self-absorbed is Tyrion.) He should be paying attention.
Actually, I'm hoping they change Shae's arc in the series, I hated it in the books.
And we got more Brienne who is awesome and I'm loving even more than in the books which I didn't think was possible.
So agree. I didn't think it was possible either. But in some respects it works better. The actress is bigger than I envisioned her and tougher, yet at the same time more attractive.
It's actually what I like about GRRM is the depiction of various female characters, with various body-types. He doesn't do just one. His characters are a broad range. Rare in fantasy and genre.