179 replies to this topic

[Scott Wilkinson]

So obviously Littlefinger recognised Arya . . . and said nothing to Tywin . . .
I was worried Maester Luwin was in for it . . . got a feeling he'll be needed for a journey now . . .

Cheers for the title edit . . . realised I'd missed the spoiler from the title and didn't know how to add it . . .

Edited by Scott Wilkinson, 07 May 2012 - 05:13 PM.

[Ricardo_C]

Because no one likes having the last post in a closed thread...

Joffrey-slapping episode! Drinks are on me!

Having Ser Rodrik die during Theon's takeover was a powerful change from the books. And Theon's botching the job brought home the ugliness of his treason much more strongly than if they had stuck to the books, where mostly tertiary Winterfell denizens suffer the consequences of Theon's excesses.

Glad to see Roose is becoming more prominent, and that Ramsay got a mention, as I feared they might blend them into one character to streamline the plot.

Sansa's near-rape was very disturbing, especially considering how young the actress is. Clegane's rescue was almost cathartic. Great job with the chemistry between those two.

Really like the way they're handling Robb and Talissa. Once again, a welcome change.

Arya and Tywin owned their scenes together once more. Curse you, show, for making me like TV Tywin!

And Jamie's dyslexic? Who knew?

Jon Snow may know nothing, but I think he's about to get to know morning wood really well.

[Kaan Emirler]

I hope to god they're going to climax the 2nd season properly, it has been a tad bit disjointed for me.

I always hated Theon, in the last episode when he took over the Sea Bitch, possibilities went off in my head, where he could turn into a likeable villain, but this last episode put him right there with Joffrey in the red zone of my disdain-o-meter. Props to both actors for rocking their roles though. I think British actors will be my first choice in anything I do from now on.

Can't wait to finish the 2nd season and start reading the book.

I'm scared to come to back back to this thread to read possible replies to my post spoiling what's coming. :P

Edited by Kaan Emirler, 07 May 2012 - 05:53 PM.

[Mike]

This thread should only ever have spoilers for up to the most recent episode in the clear; anything that talks in detail about future plots from the books should be clearly marked as spoilers.

There's a separate thread for discussion of the books.

[Mike]

I'm pretty happy with how the TV writers are tightening the novel's plots for the adaptation, but I'm a bit worried that they're not going to have anything at all in the budget for big battles this season - Theon taking Winterfell by standing on a pier with a glint in his eye last episode and then walking into Bran's bedroom this episode was even more of an elision than I was expecting.

Talissa is an interesting way to achieve the comparable plot point from the books, and I wonder if she is intended to further more plots than her book counterpart.

I think they're also going a good way to making Daenery's plots a lot more compact, and I wonder if her story from both the second and third books is going to be compressed into the second TV series. It'd certainly make the longer arc of her story easier to translate.

I liked a lot of individual bits about this episode, but there was something a bit lacking in the direction. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think it's to do with some of the key scenes feeling flatter than they should have done, lacking a sense of urgency.

[Sarah Horrocks]

So wait, are they not having Jojen and Meera Reed in the TV series? They were two of my favorite characters from the books, and I thought they visited Bran before now.

[Mike]

I don't think they've been cast, no.

[Chris D]

So wait, are they not having Jojen and Meera Reed in the TV series? They were two of my favorite characters from the books, and I thought they visited Bran before now.

Looks like Osha will be filling their roles, at least for now. I did like them in the books, it was nice to have Bran around some people close to his age, but I understand why they might have been streamlined out for now.

[Scott Wilkinson]

Looks like Osha will be filling their roles, at least for now. I did like them in the books, it was nice to have Bran around some people close to his age, but I understand why they might have been streamlined out for now.

Book Spoiler . . .

Spoiler

I think Osha will now fill in for the Reeds and accompany Bran North which leaves Rickon with no guide for his journey . . . I'm thinking Maester Luwin will survive and take Rickon to Skagos . . . the producers and Martin have said how much they liked both actors and wanted to give them more to do . . .

[Chris D]

Book Spoiler . . .

Spoiler

I think Osha will now fill in for the Reeds and accompany Bran North which leaves Rickon with no guide for his journey . . . I'm thinking Maester Luwin will survive and take Rickon to Skagos . . . the producers and Martin have said how much they liked both actors and wanted to give them more to do . . .

It honestly makes more sense from a storytelling perspective anyway. Continuing with the book spoilers

Spoiler

while I like the Reeds, having Osha go North with Bran and Luwin take Rickon is more logical. Because Osha knows the North. That's where she's from, so she'd be a natural choice to help Bran on his journey beyond the wall.

[The Lorcan Nagle]

I'm digging a lot of the changes from book to screen this year, Alfie Allen really nailed the scene where he executed Ser Rodrick. Also, the volume of awesome Irish actors in the show helps

[Paul F]

The Iceland scenes this season look amazing. They must be incredibly expensive to shoot, but I love them.

Spoiler

I guess Reek and Ramsay are gone from the show too? It will be interestingly how they handle that stuff later on.

I'm pretty happy with how the TV writers are tightening the novel's plots for the adaptation, but I'm a bit worried that they're not going to have anything at all in the budget for big battles this season - Theon taking Winterfell by standing on a pier with a glint in his eye last episode and then walking into Bran's bedroom this episode was even more of an elision than I was expecting.

I'm hoping they're saving up their budget for episode 9.

[Chris D]

The Iceland scenes this season look amazing. They must be incredibly expensive to shoot, but I love them.

Spoiler

I guess Reek and Ramsay are gone from the show too? It will be interestingly how they handle that stuff later on.

I don't think so. Roose Bolton mentioned to Robb that he would send word to his bastard son to help take Winterfell back so that Robb wouldn't abandoned the war against the Lanisters.

[Scott Wilkinson]

I'm digging a lot of the changes from book to screen this year, Alfie Allen really nailed the scene where he executed Ser Rodrick. Also, the volume of awesome Irish actors in the show helps

I'm looking forwards to the reaction to what he does next . . . if it remains the same . . .

Trailer for episode 7 . . .

Edited by Scott Wilkinson, 08 May 2012 - 05:16 AM.

[Sarah Horrocks]

It's weird because I think Allen brought something a little extra to that that wasn't in the books for me. In that scene in the books I was just horrified and absolutely hated Theon. But in the show you can kind of see him working through a lot of different pressures and it's not quite as inhuman as something that Joffrey does. You're just like "that guy is in over his head making really terrible decisions", as opposed to "he is a monster who must die". I wonder how that will play out.

It probably helps that the show is so much more condensed so you get Theon's motovations like literally an hour before he does something with them.

I feel like season 2 is a lot more fast paced and condensed than Season 1. A lot of things happening. You almost don't have time to breathe. Should be really good for the Danearys arc which stretched on for forever.

I can forsee them ending up with problems with that arc farther down the line though, similar to the ones that Martin had writing it--but for the opposite reasons(getting there too quickly that we don't believe her actions later on).

The actress who plays Brienne of Tarth is so awesome. Complete force of nature. She's actually more imposing than in the books.

[steveuk]

[garjones]

It's weird because I think Allen brought something a little extra to that that wasn't in the books for me. In that scene in the books I was just horrified and absolutely hated Theon. But in the show you can kind of see him working through a lot of different pressures and it's not quite as inhuman as something that Joffrey does. You're just like "that guy is in over his head making really terrible decisions", as opposed to "he is a monster who must die". I wonder how that will play out. It probably helps that the show is so much more condensed so you get Theon's motovations like literally an hour before he does something with them.

I agree, I don't think Theon is being 'Joffrey'd' at all. You see his father emasculating him and forcing him to try and prove himself and he is left in a situation where he has no option to betray, either his father or the Starks. He's clearly conflicted and out of his depth and I thought the execution scene was wonderfully acted.

[Martin Smith]

Am I alone in thinking that Alfie Allen's not really doing that well in the role? Theon has one of the best character arcs in the books and so far I don't think he's really got the hang of the character.

[Kaan Emirler]

On that episode seven trailer, did I just saw Shea stabbing Sansa or is it just me? Oh Kaif, is it all coming together for me? Well played Cersei, well played.

[garjones]

Am I alone in thinking that Alfie Allen's not really doing that well in the role? Theon has one of the best character arcs in the books and so far I don't think he's really got the hang of the character.

As someone who hasn't read the books I'm enjoying his performance a lot but often it's difficult if you have a set character in your mind that doesn't match on screen.