Game of Thrones, episode four:
May. 8th, 2011 11:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marinessSo! Since I did the last episode late, I figured I'd throw my comments in about this one early! Warning for those reading this on tiny iPhone screens: comments are mildly spoilery for both the first AND the second book. The second book part isn't my fault: blame HBO for throwing it in there. And now, the comments!
1. Seriously, HBO. First, the endless shots of dragon eggs, then, an entire scene in a bathtub, talking about dragons. WE GOT IT. The naked stuff isn't that distracting, and as I mentioned last time, your buildup has left people rather impatient. They want little baby dragons now. Little baby dragons eating Viserys.
2. But I gotta admit, I got all happy with the mention of the Faceless Men AND Salladhor Saan, although since Salladhor doesn't show up until the second book I really have no idea what that was doing there except to make me happy. Meanwhile, the sudden and frankly unnecessary mention of the Faceless Men at this point in the series made me suddenly reverse course and decide that Syrio Forel just might be a Faceless Man after all, because otherwise, what was this doing getting brought up in a bathtub? Well, ok, to show us some nice naked bits and fun stuff that can be done with candles. But OTHERWISE?
3. And I am now wondering if Doreah (the girl in the bathtub) is going to be following the same plot line that she does in the book, given that her role seems to have been definitely expanded…
4. Liked Samwell Tarly a lot.
5. And, yay, HBO, for aging up Jon Snow so we could have that little discussion about his sex life. Or, perhaps, not. On a related note, Ros seems like one busy girl, hmm?
6. Also on a related note, liked the way that Ser Alister Thorne (for those lost by this, he was the guy training the boys of the Night's Watch) actually seemed a bit humanized here while still remaining an asshole.
Mild book spoiler: in the books, we see Alister only from the hostile perspective of Tyrion, Jon and Sam. The camera, of course, is more neutral, and I think it worked well here.
7. Less certain about the other big change: having Littlefinger, not Sandor, tell the story of Sandor and Gregor. (Not to mention the failure to give the rest of Gregor Cledane's very unsavory backstory.) On the one hand, THANK YOU HBO for making this be only ONE creepy older guy chasing after Sansa instead of TWO creepy older guys chasing after Sansa. On the other hand, I think this was a more powerful scene coming from Sandor, and, let's face it, I have no idea how Littlefinger would know this, which meant that the entire episode did nothing except make Littlefinger EVEN MORE CREEPY.
8. Moving past the pedophile bit….What? We only got one joust out of that tournament? You built it all up and we didn't even get to see the Knight of Flowers? (Who has been cast, so, yes, presumably he's showing up soon enough.) SIGH.
9. Also, why was Arya at the tournament? So that we wouldn't ask, "Why isn't Arya at the tournament?" Or to just, you know, encourage her taste for blood?
10. Also, still tournament ranting…for the record, HBO, both of the viewers with me entirely missed that the knight who was killed was the same knight that Ned Stark wanted to question. And one of the viewers had even read the book.
11. On the other hand – nice added scene between Tyrion and Theon (and thank you for naming Theon at last) giving Theon's backstory, and nice added scene between Jaime and Jory expanding on this. Not particularly needed for this season, but very much needed for season two to make any sense at all.
I'm highly amused that Tyrion and Jaime immediately distrust Theon, and all of the Starks trust Theon and of course discount the opinions of Tyrion and Jaime because what would the Lannisters know about betrayal? Heh, heh.
12. Oh, and good to see the direwolves again. I've decided I want one. And good to hear the praise of cats. I have one on me right now, who does not care if I want him or not. (scratches cat)
13. And, you know, I found myself yelling at Catelyn in the books, and I found myself yelling at her even more here: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? I had hoped it would play out more sensibly on the show, but NOT AT ALL. Grrr, Catelyn, grr.
1. Seriously, HBO. First, the endless shots of dragon eggs, then, an entire scene in a bathtub, talking about dragons. WE GOT IT. The naked stuff isn't that distracting, and as I mentioned last time, your buildup has left people rather impatient. They want little baby dragons now. Little baby dragons eating Viserys.
2. But I gotta admit, I got all happy with the mention of the Faceless Men AND Salladhor Saan, although since Salladhor doesn't show up until the second book I really have no idea what that was doing there except to make me happy. Meanwhile, the sudden and frankly unnecessary mention of the Faceless Men at this point in the series made me suddenly reverse course and decide that Syrio Forel just might be a Faceless Man after all, because otherwise, what was this doing getting brought up in a bathtub? Well, ok, to show us some nice naked bits and fun stuff that can be done with candles. But OTHERWISE?
3. And I am now wondering if Doreah (the girl in the bathtub) is going to be following the same plot line that she does in the book, given that her role seems to have been definitely expanded…
4. Liked Samwell Tarly a lot.
5. And, yay, HBO, for aging up Jon Snow so we could have that little discussion about his sex life. Or, perhaps, not. On a related note, Ros seems like one busy girl, hmm?
6. Also on a related note, liked the way that Ser Alister Thorne (for those lost by this, he was the guy training the boys of the Night's Watch) actually seemed a bit humanized here while still remaining an asshole.
Mild book spoiler: in the books, we see Alister only from the hostile perspective of Tyrion, Jon and Sam. The camera, of course, is more neutral, and I think it worked well here.
7. Less certain about the other big change: having Littlefinger, not Sandor, tell the story of Sandor and Gregor. (Not to mention the failure to give the rest of Gregor Cledane's very unsavory backstory.) On the one hand, THANK YOU HBO for making this be only ONE creepy older guy chasing after Sansa instead of TWO creepy older guys chasing after Sansa. On the other hand, I think this was a more powerful scene coming from Sandor, and, let's face it, I have no idea how Littlefinger would know this, which meant that the entire episode did nothing except make Littlefinger EVEN MORE CREEPY.
8. Moving past the pedophile bit….What? We only got one joust out of that tournament? You built it all up and we didn't even get to see the Knight of Flowers? (Who has been cast, so, yes, presumably he's showing up soon enough.) SIGH.
9. Also, why was Arya at the tournament? So that we wouldn't ask, "Why isn't Arya at the tournament?" Or to just, you know, encourage her taste for blood?
10. Also, still tournament ranting…for the record, HBO, both of the viewers with me entirely missed that the knight who was killed was the same knight that Ned Stark wanted to question. And one of the viewers had even read the book.
11. On the other hand – nice added scene between Tyrion and Theon (and thank you for naming Theon at last) giving Theon's backstory, and nice added scene between Jaime and Jory expanding on this. Not particularly needed for this season, but very much needed for season two to make any sense at all.
I'm highly amused that Tyrion and Jaime immediately distrust Theon, and all of the Starks trust Theon and of course discount the opinions of Tyrion and Jaime because what would the Lannisters know about betrayal? Heh, heh.
12. Oh, and good to see the direwolves again. I've decided I want one. And good to hear the praise of cats. I have one on me right now, who does not care if I want him or not. (scratches cat)
13. And, you know, I found myself yelling at Catelyn in the books, and I found myself yelling at her even more here: WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? I had hoped it would play out more sensibly on the show, but NOT AT ALL. Grrr, Catelyn, grr.