"Game of Thrones" - HBO Series Coming in 2011

[Ortega]

random image because it thought it was awesome.

[wurwolf]

We're not watching this season because we got rid of our cable last September, but I know what's going on because internet.

(Not that I'm complaining, I've read the books and don't care about spoilers so I'm actively seeking out season 4 Game of Thrones reviews/stills/etc. as each episode airs.)

I'm glad they bumped the Purple Wedding up to the beginning of season 4 instead of saving it for, say, episode 8. It would have been one long season of Joffrey being an increasingly troublesome shit and would have gone on way too long, much the way Theon's torture scenes were dragged out.

Major major props to Jack Gleeson as Joffrey. He completely nailed that role, to the point where people have been celebrating his character's death. Really nicely done, and sorry to hear he's giving up acting. What a swan song.

Surprised no one has posted this picture yet:

[JimJ]

So, this is the second time that I can remember that the show has taken a consensual sex scene from the books and made it a rape scene on the show.  The first being Dany and Drogo's wedding night.   I really don't get it at all, especially since they're in the process of trying to redeem Jaime's character.  In the book, Cersei resists for like a second, just because of where they are and fear of being caught, but she's almost literally begging for it in the next paragraph.

Other than that, I thought it was a really good episode, despite nothing huge happening.  Loved the scene with Tyrion and Pod.  The scene between Tywin and Tommen was a great way to get in some of the rich history of Westeros while also showing Tywin manipulating Tommen.  "A good king listens to his advisers." -Tommen's highest ranking adviser.

[wurwolf]

George R.R. Martin non-answers concerns over the Jaime/Cersei sex scene:

http://winteriscoming.net/2014/04/21/george-r-r-martin-responds-fans-concern-breaker-chains/

I thought the Drogo/Dany wedding night was a good change from the books, certainly a more appropriate reaction from a 13 year old virgin on her wedding night than what GRRM wrote. I am not sure how I feel about Jaime and Cersei's moment -- I can see why it would be a disappointment for the fans who were assuming Jaime was on a redemptive arc after his travels with Brienne (although I'm glad he's evidently not) but I wish they hadn't resorted to sexual violence.

[The Lurker]

[JimJ]

The whole episode just felt like the writers going "WHOA we have to slow down, too much shit is happening.  Let's have an episode or two where nothing occurs."

The whole Locke thing is just kind of pointless. They do this big sinister buildup and then bam, nothing.  The whole Craster's Keep storyline is just pointless padding.

But they did need to pad the story line at the Wall out some, and as padding goes I'll take the Craster's Keep stuff over Dany's "Give me back my dragons!" padding from season 2 any day.  I did hate how ridiculously over the top evil they were.  Drinking wine out of Mormont's skull and constant background rape, very fucking subtle.  That being said, I liked the fight between Karl and Jon, and Bran using Hodor to kill Locke was pretty interesting I thought.

[The Lurker]

[Rainbow Dash]

[Rainbow Dash]

I disliked the "only cat." change.  Not only was it quite a memorable line from the book, but it seems the only reason it was changed is the show runners think the non-book readers are all idiots and won't know who Cat is.  Just like them changing Asha's name to Yara.

[Rainbow Dash]

Fuck the ironborn and their shit storyline. I'm skipping those chapters on my re-read of AFFC.  So fucking dull.

But, Victarion is awesome!

[Rainbow Dash]

Given that Quentyn's storyline amounted to nothing, I think everyone could have done without it.  It didn't even lead to something, it was just pure, pointless filler.

[lassieface]

Given that Quentyn's storyline amounted to nothing, I think everyone could have done without it.  It didn't even lead to something, it was just pure, pointless filler.

If Cormac McCarthy wrote ASOIAF the whole series would be 300 pages long. GRRM does filler like no one else. Not complaining...he gives us awesome battles and political intrigue. I could do without all the food porn though.

[wurwolf]

So the list of new characters for season 5 has been announced, according to the AV Club, and I am putting the list under the spoiler tag for anyone who would rather not know.

• Prince Doran Martell – Doran is described as the major new player this year, appearing in multiple episodes. The fiftysomething prince uses a wheelchair, is reclusive, and rules wisely. It appears the show is looking to continue the trend it started with Pedro Pascal, and cast Latino actors for the Martell clan.

• Prince Trystane Martell – Trystane, the handsome fiance of Princess Myrcella, is being aged up to 18.

• Areo Hotah - Doran's personal bodyguard will appear throughout the season, assisting the prince with his duties. The show is particularly looking for a black actor to fill the role.

• Obara Sand – The eldest and most athletic Sand Snake will be having a major fight scene with a series regular character—not one who crosses her path in the books. This is an interesting change.

• Nymeria Sand – Nymeria is described as "mixed race," with her father being the fairer Oberyn and her mother being darker skinned. The second oldest of these Sand Snakes, she's beautiful, emotional, and very strong.

• Tyene Sand - The youngest of the Sand Snakes that we meet uses her wits and seductive powers, and is less of a physical fighter than the other Sand Snakes. She is just as deadly as her sisters, however, but her weapon is poison.

• High Sparrow - The books' pious head of a religious movement will be appearing in several episodes in season five.

• Septa Unella – The show is looking for a character actress to play the imposing and unrelenting Septa who spends a lot of time with a major series character next year.

• Maggy the Frog- A fortune teller in A Feast For Crows, she'll be in one episode next year.

• Lollys Stokeworth – Just last week in "Mockingbird," Bronn announced his intention to marry Lollys, whom Tyrion considers "dimwitted." It looks like the sellsword will still be around next year.

• Yezzan - A sleazy Meereenese slave owner.

• The Waif – The strange child from the books that Arya encounters will likely be played by an older actress, one in her later teens, and we understand the show is specifically looking for a woman of East Asian descent for the part.

So....

I know Imrahil hates Dorne, but he might take some cheer in the fact that Quentyn is nowhere in sight for at least one more season (if not altogether). I'm actually looking forward to the Dorne stuff because it kind of made my eyes glaze over in the books and I'm hoping the show will condense it all and make it a little more understandable.

Also, is Maggy the frog the fortune teller who gives Cersei her terrible prophecy?

[wurwolf]

But I didn't know Areo Hotah was black.

Perhaps they're just looking to fill roles that could be played by non-whites.

[JimJ]

Does Maggy The Frog being a character mean that the show will do a flashback scene?  I don't think they've ever done that before. They seem to prefer having characters tell the stories. I hope they don't move the prophecy up to present day, they'd have to totally rework it to make it fit.