191 replies to this topic

[Noel Luperon]

OK, here's my thinking on the series, before I catch up of you fine folk's opinion on the thread.

This has to be some of the best put together writing in TV. The many moving parts, the biting dialogue, the plot twists and surprises. I am not familiar with the original novels at all, and being this dense a TV show, I'm going to assume the final product is a trimmed, streamlined version of the original. And after all of that, it's a great, complex, beautiful show.

What I thought at the end of Season 1 is the balls on the decision to kill Eddard Stark. He was the vehicle for the audience to introduce themselves in this world. That takes a lot of cojones. The only other time I remember something like that done, and working, was that first arc of the Runaways by Brian K. Vaughan.

But see, you're left just as the characters are left; confused, trying to pinpoint where the honorable people are, who has right to the throne, who has the power to take or hold it. It's confusing for the characters, it's confusing for us, there's no voice behind your head (not in mine at least) saying "don't worry, the Starks have been the most decent, they'll win at the end." Who knows how this mess is going to end for anybody. And upthread I said I didn't know how the Starks could have even more shit put on them. I guess I should have kept watching.

I'd say that the imp, Tyrion, is the closest thing to a likeable protagonist people will empathize with, especially in this Season 2. He's got a certain code of honor, he's got balls, he loves and cares for his woman, he's smart and witty, is an underdog most of the time, Lannister as he may be. I WANT him to win, whatever winning can possibly be for him, surviving some other House attacking and defeating the Lannisters, doing so himself, whatever.

The Khaleesi, Daenerys, is finally on her way to do something, anything, about these 2 seasons of claims to power. It had to happen, always far away from everything and before entering Qarth in a worse position than ever before meeting Drogo. Again, with no knowledge of the original material, 2 seasons of set up for this character and the ownership of what seemingly is the strongest weapon in the story's universe, she's got a good chance of, whether temporarily or finally, snatching the Iron Throne or assisting someone else with a stronger claim to it than hers, if she agrees with it.

I find myself thinking a lot about social mobility. For all the shit modern life gives us, we can make better things for ourselves. These characters, riffing off many real times and civilizations, most live and die in the same socioeconomic stratus they are born to. What a fucking nightmare, to be told where you stay no matter what you do. Democracies are not perfect, and sometimes these... leftover royal families are given far too much attention, but fuck kings and queens and their fucking kids, seriously.

Holy shit... what else? Nudity, yeah, hadn't seen that much on a TV show before, male or female. Needed? Maybe not, I chalk it up to making the show feel more real and move on, like the horrible gory deaths. The actual battling, may it be an issue of space in the story or budget, but I am glad they just simply jump to the results of a conflict most of times, with no actual fighting portrayed. Only the really important ones are given any time, like Stannis' attempt on King's Landing.

Visually, for a TV show, I'd say the effects are OK sometimes, impressive at other times. See, I thought it much cooler when the Qarth warlock multiplies himself and cut the throats of the 13 (12, I guess) that that final scene with the White Walkers at the close of Season 2. Speaking of which, these are the guys working on it, apparently the same that did some work on the Engineers of Prometheus: https://www.facebook...36210456&type=1




I have no idea how I'm going to make it to whenever Season 3 comes along. This, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Louie, what an awesome time for TV!

[Jim Ohara]

I live that you're loving it Noel. Everything that you feel is exactly the right thing. Trust me when I say it only gets better from here. This is awesome Tv, and you won't believe what happens next.

[steveuk]

Hodor's baby's arm was a prosthetic and Natalia spoke on the Thronecast about her and the make up woman playing with it (not while it was being worn)

I think it's been mentioned before that this sort of work is not uncommon in HBO productions. 'Boardwalk Empire' has had its share of merkins and CGI, as did 'Rome'.

[stephanie familiar]

In all fairness, Alfie Allen has gone full-frontal on the show, as have several other minor male characters, which is a degree of exposure higher, when compared with female full-frontal nudity. Then again, it may be a Spartacus-type deal, where CGI/prosthetics are available for performers with issues about going all out.

perhaps i was watching a different version, because i've never seen any male go full frontal on game of thrones, except for one scene in a completely desexualized situation. i think it might have been the giant that takes care of bran. as for theon, again, maybe i had a different version because all i saw was pubes. (and i'm not being bitchy, i'm seriously wondering if i saw an edited version)

does anyone know if a prosthetic breast was used in that scene where cat's sister is nursing her son?

[The Lorcan Nagle]

I believe it was a prosthetic breast in that scene.

And Little Theon is on full display in series 1, in the episode when he rants about his Iron Island heritage after having sex with Roz.

[Rory Abel]

I believe it was a prosthetic breast in that scene.

And Little Theon is on full display in series 1, in the episode when he rants about his Iron Island heritage after having sex with Roz.

Yeah my wife shouted "holy shit, that's a cock!" and then rewound it to watch it again.

[stephanie familiar]

I believe it was a prosthetic breast in that scene.

that makes me feel better.

Yeah my wife shouted "holy shit, that's a cock!" and then rewound it to watch it again.

.. must have been impressive.

[Scott Wilkinson]

Clive Russel been cast as Ser Bryndon Tully, the Blackfish . . . brilliant . . .

[Noel Luperon]

There's something I didn't understand at the close of season 2, why did Halfhand provoke Jon Snow into killing him? What did any of the two win from this? Was the idea that ONE should be alive for questioning and, should Halfhand die, they would definitely not kill Jon Snow?

[Chris D]

There's something I didn't understand at the close of season 2, why did Halfhand provoke Jon Snow into killing him? What did any of the two win from this? Was the idea that ONE should be alive for questioning and, should Halfhand die, they would definitely not kill Jon Snow?

I'm not sure if this is a spoiler, but I'll put it in spoilers just to be safe

Spoiler

Basically Halfhand figures that Jon might be able to earn their trust, but the only way to really do that it by killing him (Jon, by chance, had already done some of the work by sparing Ygrette). Otherwise both of them were as good as dead and it would all have been for nothing. Essentially it's a big gamble that Halfhand it taking, but he knows neither really has anything to lose at that point.

[Ricardo_C]

that makes me feel better.



.. must have been impressive.

Theon's a one-man Subway commercial, put it that way.

[stephanie familiar]

Theon's a one-man Subway commercial, put it that way.

maybe it was a prosthetic!

[Noel Luperon]

I'm not sure if this is a spoiler, but I'll put it in spoilers just to be safe

Spoiler

Basically Halfhand figures that Jon might be able to earn their trust, but the only way to really do that it by killing him (Jon, by chance, had already done some of the work by sparing Ygrette). Otherwise both of them were as good as dead and it would all have been for nothing. Essentially it's a big gamble that Halfhand it taking, but he knows neither really has anything to lose at that point.

Thank you,

Another Q to the audience about the final episode;

Spoiler

is it somehow implied that the leader of the White Walkers (if not a leader proper, the guy with the lance at the front, looking at Sam) is the dead and reanimated corpse of Benjen Stark? Or am I reading too much into it, should calm down now and just wait?

[steveuk]

Thank you,

Another Q to the audience about the final episode;

Spoiler

is it somehow implied that the leader of the White Walkers (if not a leader proper, the guy with the lance at the front, looking at Sam) is the dead and reanimated corpse of Benjen Stark? Or am I reading too much into it, should calm down now and just wait?

White Walkers (also called 'the Others') are not zombies, they are a separate, magical species.

They have the power to raise the dead as zombies or, to use the word Martin chose for the books, Wights.

The rider is the the first decent view the audience of the show has got of a White Walker and he's just that, he was never a human being.

I'm not sure if this is a spoiler, but I'll put it in spoilers just to be safe

Spoiler

Basically Halfhand figures that Jon might be able to earn their trust, but the only way to really do that it by killing him (Jon, by chance, had already done some of the work by sparing Ygrette). Otherwise both of them were as good as dead and it would all have been for nothing. Essentially it's a big gamble that Halfhand it taking, but he knows neither really has anything to lose at that point.

Agreed. Halfhand is a legend and the Wildings would definitely have killed him, but probably slowly and with a great deal of creativity.

[Noel Luperon]

Ah, see, I would've never guessed that. OK, so a species that recruits the dead for their purposes. So... new question... the girl at the opening of episode 1, that's a... WIGHT, I suppose, and not a walker, right?

And what, species-wise, picked up that baby sacrificed by the incestuous hut man north of the Wall?

[Chris D]

And what, species-wise, picked up that baby sacrificed by the incestuous hut man north of the Wall?

I'm pretty sure that was a White Walker.

[steveuk]

Tall, white haired, glowing eyes and it moved with more intelligence than the Wights.

Yep, White Walker.

EDIT:
I'm not a fan of the White Walker design, I think they look too 'undead' and, to my eyes, a bit cheap.

I think the TV show has given the Wights blue eyes and the White Walkers glowing blue eyes, to help differentiate them?

[stephanie familiar]

i think they both look cool, the wights especially.

why didn't that white walker kill sam when he saw him?

[steveuk]

Going back to Dany's dream/vision when she was in The House of the Undying, some people have suggested that the snow which falls in the broken hall of King's Landing is actually ash?

I think that's possible, but snow still seems more likely to me.

i think they both look cool, the wights especially.

why didn't that white walker kill sam when he saw him?

No idea.

If there's a commentary on the DVDs for Season 2, maybe we'll find out?

[stephanie familiar]

EDIT 2:
Going back to Dany's dream/vision when she was in The House of the Undying, some people have suggested that the snow which falls in the broken hall of King's Landing is actually ash?

I think that's possible, but snow still seems more likely to me.

i thought it was a vision of her taking over the iron throne, hence what i saw to be ash, and the holes in the ceiling were perhaps from her dragons. could have been snow though.