Game of Thrones - HBO part 2 - Part 3

[Matt]

I actually enjoyed last night's episode. Things finally seemed to be happening. That said, it is not without it's pacing issues and it once again ended on an underwhelming note (a bit character getting killed? B.F.D.). Yes I understand that it is development for Arya and setting things up for her and her new found bit of power, but it isn't really an exciting ending either. I think a better ending would've been [blackout]the beginning of Theon's invasion of Winterfell[/blackout] as it raises the stakes significantly. The scenes with Dany wasted a lot of time and only a few of them were essential, IMO. The stealing the statue scene was especially wasteful, IMO. Yes Spidey-Bat, I know what you're going to say, but we already knew everything about the Dothraki that the scene established. And while it did show Dany's growing authority, I think that has also been fairly well established and could've been shown in other ways down the road.

Oh well, a better episode than any other this season as things actually happened for once. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

 

[smashmode]

I saw that too, she was totally checking him out.

 

[DACrowe]

I actually enjoyed last night's episode. Things finally seemed to be happening. That said, it is not without it's pacing issues and it once again ended on an underwhelming note (a bit character getting killed? B.F.D.). Yes I understand that it is development for Arya and setting things up for her and her new found bit of power, but it isn't really an exciting ending either. I think a better ending would've been [blackout]the beginning of Theon's invasion of Winterfell[/blackout] as it raises the stakes significantly. The scenes with Dany wasted a lot of time and only a few of them were essential, IMO. The stealing the statue scene was especially wasteful, IMO. Yes Spidey-Bat, I know what you're going to say, but we already knew everything about the Dothraki that the scene established. And while it did show Dany's growing authority, I think that has also been fairly well established and could've been shown in other ways down the road.

Oh well, a better episode than any other this season as things actually happened for once. I look forward to seeing where it goes.

Fair enough. I thought the last two episodes were better, but I agree a lot is happening. I can understand them stretching the Winterfell stuff out and you'll get something akin to you want likely at the end of Episode 7.

I think the golden statue thing was just comic relief. I actually think Dany's story is more interesting here than it was in the second book.

 

[DACrowe]

I think Renly's death is intentionally at the beginning and quick. In the grand scheme of things, he was just another pretender to the throne made relevant only by his men.

One thing I didn't like was that he basically agreed to an alliance with Cat. Whereas in the book, she just wants to leave after he becomes set on defeating Stannis, he tells her she will after the battle so she can tell Robb what he does to his enemies. He never really had an interest in being allies with Robb since he thought he could take King's Landing on his own.

It was done so viewers would like Renly more. The war will be over "in a fortnight?" That's terrific. Sansa pack your bags. Happy days are here....oh ****.

I think they did a good job developing Renly more in the show than the book. If the scene was creepier, audiences would have had a better reaction.

 

[Matt]

Fair enough. I thought the last two episodes were better, but I agree a lot is happening. I can understand them stretching the Winterfell stuff out and you'll get something akin to you want likely at the end of Episode 7.

I think the golden statue thing was just comic relief. I actually think Dany's story is more interesting here than it was in the second book.

I just find Dany to be so effin boring. It is so damn detached. I understand that in later books it becomes more intertwined but at this point, it is as if for 15 minutes per episode, there is an entirely different show on between scenes. I suppose the same critique could be given to Jon's storyline, but frankly, I find the actors involved in that story to be more dynamic and Jon at least has some established connection to the other characters (as does Dany, but we've never seen it as we did with Jon).

 

[Thundercrack85]

They did touch on that a bit. They even asked her what she's doing, and she just gives a sort of "well, I have to go conquer Westeros... cause it's expected of me or something". She doesn't seem very motivated.

 

[Matt]

No, she doesn't. And if she doesn't care, why should the audience? That is another problem. The actress playing Dany just isn't that charismatic. She is kind of stiff. It is hard to get excited about something like that. It is easily the worst acted role on the show (including the children and that says something).

 

[DACrowe]

So what are your favorite storylines this season? Surely, there are some you must like.

 

[Matt]

I'm loving Tyrion. Though I think that the two previous episodes (3 and 4) could've been combined into one as it is essentially just him consolidating his power in King's Landing. Cut a bit of each out and combine would be the way to go, I think.

I also enjoy Stannis and Renly. I am sad to see Renly go as he is probably the best candidate to be king. He is far more pragmatic than either Joffrey or Stannis and the people seem to love him. Though I'm told that incidents such as his early demise are something I'll need to get used to when GRRM's writing is involved.

Hell, I really like all of the stories and characters except Dany. It is just moving too slowly and nothing really happened before last night's episode.

 

[ChickenScratch]

Show's moving too slow? Try waiting around for the books. lol

 

[DACrowe]

I did like Renly, as well.

I think the show has done a good job of making Tyrion and Arya (the best parts of book 2) shine. Theon may not be a lovable character, but his story is also incredibly compelling. I think they've done a good job of making Dany more interesting than in the book and hope they can do the same for Jon starting next week.

I hope they give more scenes to Sansa though and less to Ros in future episodes.

 

[Havok83]

Ros You gotta love her though...lol

 

[Speedball]

Gendry was already one of my favorite characters from the books, and Joe Dempsie is making me like him even more. He was so scrawny in Skins, and now he's all grown up.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I just realized Rickon was in this episode. He sort of snuck into the show.

Even though Theon is an ass, you can't help but feel bad for him. Everyone treats him like dirt.

 

[Matt Mortem]

I just realized Rickon was in this episode. He sort of snuck into the show.

Even though Theon is an ass, you can't help but feel bad for him. Everyone treats him like dirt.

I never liked Theon so seeing him getting ****** treatment is A-OK with me.

 

[Speedball]

I just realized Rickon was in this episode. He sort of snuck into the show.

Even though Theon is an ass, you can't help but feel bad for him. Everyone treats him like dirt.

That's because he is dirt.
Poor Rickon is the only Stark kid relegated to supporting character, and I hope that Martin writes more for him in the upcoming books.

 

[Sawyer]

[YT]y_fQGq2sy1A[/YT]
100% applies to Rickon.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Just wait and see, he'll be the one who ends up on the Iron Throne.

 

[corby]

^
[YT]kdhhQhqi_AE[/YT]

 

[Primal Slayer]

It's kind of funny how similar Margaery and Anne Boleyn are. Natalie Dormer knows how to pick them.

 

[Jordacar]

If only she was as good at picking her dresses.

 

[Bruce Malone]

The shadow being killing renly seemed sort of like a deus ex machina device to me. Hopefully without giving up too much details from the book, what exactly is to stop stanis from using that same shadow creature to just kill joffrey and rob etc?

Why not do the same to them all and be done with it? war over man.

 

[def28]

The prostitute beating is not in the book.

Gotcha, thanks.

I actually think S2 has been much better than S1 at this point. I don't think S1 really took off until episode 6 ("golden crown"). Until then, it felt like all set-up. I think S2 took off either in episode 3 (Yoren's death) or last week. It's moving much faster than S1 did and it's not all about building to only a certain character losing his head like last year.

There will be battles in episode 9 and 10 of this season The first of which is supposed to be pretty big for TV from what I hear.

Its probably unfair for me to judge half way through the season. Season 1 just caught me by surprise, I had no idea about the world or the characters and was really amazed by the the storytelling and production. By the end of season 1 I had high expectations and guess expected things to be focused on a bit different and other things resolved quicker. Im learning quickly thats not the case with the story haha. Overall still great. I have few complaints.

Looking forward to those battles.

 

[def28]

The shadow being killing renly seemed sort of like a deus ex machina device to me. Hopefully without giving up too much details from the book, what exactly is to stop stanis from using that same shadow creature to just kill joffrey and rob etc?

Why not do the same to them all and be done with it? war over man.

Took from the last ep that Stannis felt a bit challenged when Davos said he shouldnt use Melisandre for the victory. I havnt read the books, but magic usually comes at a price. I would assume there are rules or tolls it will take on them that havnt been revealed yet.

 

[Clu]

they cant use the shadow much because it feeds off of stanis. if they abuse it, it will kill him.