HBO's Game of Thrones - - - - - Part 14

[Crockett]

Lovely episode, Joffrey's got it coming for being rude and interrupting a Sigur Rós performance.

 

[Drizzle]

Is it weird that I felt a tiny bit bad for laughing really really hard [BLACKOUT]when Cersei was crying over Joffrey's body? [/BLACKOUT]

 

[Rowsdower!]

Loved see the little f***er die last night. Never has a TV character deserved a painful death more than Joffrey. Well, to be fair, there are a lot of shows I've yet to watch, but of all of the ones I've seen, I can't think of a more despicable character than Joffrey. I'm glad that his death was extremely painful, although probably not painful enough. Regardless though, I'm just glad the little SOB is dead. Sucks that Tyrion is getting blamed for it, but he's slick enough to figure a way out of his predicament.

 

[Great Mind(s)]

Question to book readers, how accurate were the Dreadfort scenes? I know Reek was supposed to be more f ed up...like not able to speak?

 

[Infinity9999x]

Maybe it's just me but I' think doing this big death after the Red wedding in a wedding a little lazy

I'm not really sure how its lazy. In terms of adaptation had they Waite any longer they would have been really stretching it. The Purple Wedding occurs in the same book as the Red Wedding, and they're not too far apart.

And if you think they played a climactic moment too soon, don't worry. There will be a lot mor this season.

 

[MiffaLadd_]

I never would have thought it until it happened but I'm actually going to miss the little bugger.

 

[Roose Bolton]

Question to book readers, how accurate were the Dreadfort scenes? I know Reek was supposed to be more f ed up...like not able to speak?

He was able to speak, but his hair was brittle and white from the trauma/stress. His teeth were smashed, he was missing two fingers one hand and the little one on his other. Several toes were flayed and cut off forcing his hobbled gait (though that seems to have been kept somewhat). His body was also extremely thin, given that Ramsay had been keeping him starved in a dungeon where he was forced to eat rats to survive. and of course the castration, though it's hinted that perhaps Ramsay kept his balls untouched.

The main thing though, is that Reek when we first met him (again) has had all this done to him for months, so it's more of a shock.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I don't know that he's more religious, the implication I got this episode was that he was simply putting up with it all because it suits his goals. His reaction to Selyse after the burning, and his dinner scene seemed to show his disdain for it. The main thing the show needs to do, is introduce the backstory of the character, like how he watched his mother and father die and his overall atheism.

The overall vibe this episode, that I got at least, was that Stannis was the saner individual amongst the cult of R'hllor. They also make a point of saying that they're on their last legs in terms of supplies. And given that we know

They should have stayed faithful to the book and have Stannis said he was burning Axel Florent for negotiating with the Lannisters behind his back.

 

[Roose Bolton]

I was expecting that line to come up when he and Davos walked off. The thing most people forget is that Stannis only condones burning people as a form of execution for a treason or some other form of capital offense. He makes that point to Davos in the first chapter he appears in ASOS. This would have been a cool time to use that speech.

 

[Mr.M]

Can someone whose read the books tell me if and when Tyrion's ****e gets weeded out by his sister or Tywin and murdered? Don't spoil the details, just give me a "stay tuned" in spoiler tags but don't tell me how it happens. Looks like Tyrion is gonna bear the brunt of the blame for Joffrey's death so...

Loved see the little f***er die last night. Never has a TV character deserved a painful death more than Joffrey. Well, to be fair, there are a lot of shows I've yet to watch, but of all of the ones I've seen, I can't think of a more despicable character than Joffrey. I'm glad that his death was extremely painful, although probably not painful enough. Regardless though, I'm just glad the little SOB is dead. Sucks that Tyrion is getting blamed for it, but he's slick enough to figure a way out of his predicament.

I thought Joffrey was pretty badass. Annoying little *****, but essential. The way he tortured the prostitutes in the earlier seasons was epic. Not to mention, "Bring me his head!" Entertaining stuff. It was a cheap death IMO, but I guess it is fitting.

 

[Drz]

I was expecting that line to come up when he and Davos walked off. The thing most people forget is that Stannis only condones burning people as a form of execution for a treason or some other form of capital offense. He makes that point to Davos in the first chapter he appears in ASOS. This would have been a cool time to use that speech.

But because there was no dialogue and the only reason for the burning we viewers (let's ignore book knowledge completely) get is that they we're infidels.

Davos is an infidel, why isn't he burned? We need more dialogue from Stannis, we should have learned those "infidels" tried to sell Shireen off.

 

[squeekness]

Can someone whose read the books tell me if and when Tyrion's ****e gets weeded out by his sister or Tywin and murdered? Don't spoil the details, just give me a "stay tuned" in spoiler tags but don't tell me how it happens. Looks like Tyrion is gonna bear the brunt of the blame for Joffrey's death so...

Spoiler

Stay tuned.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

I would have preferred that, I think. If Axel's death would have been for treason and not religion. Since I've started reading the second book, I've begun to better understand Stannis and get behind the legitimacy of his claim. But, there's things that keep me back from wanting to see him sit on the Iron Throne. Like, you know, burning people alive for believing in the seven gods.

Although, there did seem to be some small hope for Stannis in the episode. It felt tense in the dinner scene, where it almost seemed like Stannis could think that his wife may be willing to burn their daughter alive for being a "sinner", despite being just a child. I liked how he put his foot down about now striking his daughter. I liked seeing him take a stand, and hold it, like he did there.

I really enjoyed seeing Roose and Ramsay. There was a lot of good stuff there, from seeing the importance Roose saw in Theon, and how that's now ruined. But I got really excited at seeing them set up a showdown with Jon. Jon isn't supposed to be seeking vengeance for his brother, because of his vows. But, it looks like vengeance is going to be seeking him out if Bolton straight up makes a run at him. Which, like I said, I'm very excited for. And poor Theon. I just...poor Theon. This series really plays with your emotions, because you manage to feel bad even for the bad people. Theon had two innocent children murdered, as they reminded us. And yet, I feel bad for him. It's amazing how they're able to pull things off like that so well.

Oberyn had less screentime, and he didn't maim anyone this episode, but I've enjoyed all his scenes. He's really awesome to see onscreen, and he's got a sharp tongue.

The entire wedding, from the breakfast to the end, was amazing. Joffrey was on his worst behavior, and it worked well. Just seeing all of the different people being offended by the reenactment of the 'War of the Five Kings' was quite a sight. It was in that scene, where you pretty much saw how widespread Joffrey's venom hits. From Loras leaving the table in disgust over the jokes on Renly, Margery as well over those same jokes, Sansa, Tyrion, Oberyn, Varys. All of them weren't smiling in the least. And man....that gag on Robb. That was just brutal. It was heartbreaking how they held the camera on Sansa as she watched them mock the brutal death and desecration of her brother.

Funny thing too, about the reenactment was how the camera swept over the entire wedding, and we could see so many people laughing their asses off, while still being able see certain people not laughing. Almost like, everyone who isn't laughing isn't an *******. Oberyn, for example, looked very serious during it, which was interesting when you look at his conversation with Tywin and Cersei before. Especially considering that in the War of the Five Kings, he didn't have a stake in it and hadn't lost anyone during it. But, he still appeared disgusted at how they (the Lannisters) seemed to piss on the memories of those they've killed. Which, clearly, is something that gets to Oberyn. Really subtle, interesting storytelling going on all with just facial expressions (or lack thereof) with setting up characters and their motivations.

But, man...what an ending. I couldn't believe he was dying. I didn't actually believe it until his face started changing color. It was really fascinating how, despite being such a little **** that I wanted to see suffer, that I found pity for him at the end. That may have been the most pathetic death we've seen on the series, so far. Pathetic was the word I kept thinking of after he'd died. In the end, he died like a scared little boy in his mother's arms. He did seem to suffer quite a bit, too. I also thought it was funny that as his final prick move, Joffrey still managed to **** over Tyrion by doing the "you murdered me!" finger point as he was lying there, choking.

The Starks send their regards.

 

[DACrowe]

My reaction to last night's episode:

I have known that [blackout]Joffrey's death was coming[/blackout] tonight since they refused to give it to us in Season 3. And while the show chose to make it far less mysterious than in the book (it's obviously poison when blood is streaming from the eyes), it was still glorious!

It was so good that I had to watch it twice. Also the Red Viper and Margaery Tyrell's reactions to the whole wedding were hilarious. I'm sorry for Tyrion in the short-term, but that is easily the most satisfying episode of Game of Thrones since "His Watch Is Ended."

Also, it looks like the Ramsay Snow/Reek storyline from ADWD is moving up to this season. That's fine with me.

 

[DACrowe]

Question to book readers, how accurate were the Dreadfort scenes? I know Reek was supposed to be more f ed up...like not able to speak?

They surprisingly toned it down a bit. For starters, Reek spent months (I don't recall how many) in a cell with no light and two fingers missing, eating rats. That's why he is so grateful to Ramsay for letting him out in the books. Also, believe it or not, Ramsay's torture of women is even more brutal in the books, as they're all innocent women of Winterfell that he rapes and flays before feeding to his dogs.

I am very happy they toned down that last bit.

And to Alfie Allen's credit, he is perfect here. He completely sells a man so broken that there is nothing left in his head.

 

[Rowsdower!]

I really enjoyed seeing Roose and Ramsay. There was a lot of good stuff there, from seeing the importance Roose saw in Theon, and how that's now ruined. But I got really excited at seeing them set up a showdown with Jon. Jon isn't supposed to be seeking vengeance for his brother, because of his vows. But, it looks like vengeance is going to be seeking him out if Bolton straight up makes a run at him. Which, like I said, I'm very excited for.

Yeah, that is interesting. It looks like we're going to see a battle of the bastards. And it makes sense; Ramsey is sort of like the anti-Jon Snow. I truly hope Ramsay's death is as painful as Joffrey's, if not more so.

 

[Drizzle]

So that was definitely Axell that was burned at Dragonstone? I don't recall if they actually said his name, but they specifically said it was the Queen's brother, and Axell was her uncle in the books. I know that out of all the plotlines, Stannis's is the one that seems to have been changed the most, but Axell is still alive in the books. He wasn't necessarily an important character, but I guess it's just another character the show won't have to deal with, much like Strong Belwas (let's face it, not many of the Dragonstone players are important to the overall narrative besides Stannis, Davos and Melisandre. At least as of now).

 

[MMMMM...Pancakes]

My thoughts on last nights ep. Only spoilers if you hadn't seen it yet.

Spoiler

The little **** is finally dead! Surprised that it happened this soon and in this way. Nice to have a little mystery going here, like a "who shot JR/Mr. Burns" situation. I'll miss hating him, it was a fun ride, at least Ramsay is around to provide the "little ****-head" role and deliver the lulz.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Has the [BLACKOUT]death of a "child"[/BLACKOUT] ever brought so much mass appeal? No middle ground, clear celebration.

Is it weird that I felt a tiny bit bad for laughing really really hard [BLACKOUT]when Cersei was crying over Joffrey's body? [/BLACKOUT]

Yes it is weird. Because we all laughed really, really hard.

My reaction to last night's episode:

I have known that [blackout]Joffrey's death was coming[/blackout] tonight since they refused to give it to us in Season 3. And while the show chose to make it far less mysterious than in the book (it's obviously poison when blood is streaming from the eyes), it was still glorious!

It was so good that I had to watch it twice. Also the Red Viper and Margaery Tyrell's reactions to the whole wedding were hilarious. I'm sorry for Tyrion in the short-term, but that is easily the most satisfying episode of Game of Thrones since "His Watch Is Ended."

Also, it looks like the Ramsay Snow/Reek storyline from ADWD is moving up to this season. That's fine with me.

I watched the whole wedding 4 times last night.

 

[Kane52630]

 

[Drizzle]

Yes it is weird. Because we all laughed really, really hard.

Well I was already chuckling when [BLACKOUT]he started choking, but when she was sobbing, "My son!" I was just maniacally laughing at that point[/BLACKOUT]. I was all like:

[YT]R6MlHxAzLXA[/YT]

 

[747]

I actually thought I would feel more joyous at the pivotal moment than I did. Still, very satisfying.

Very focused and very good episode. Between the dinner at Dragonstone and the wedding at KL there was a lot of well done awkward atmosphere and cold tension going around. The wedding killed with the build-up – intertwining the holding and releasing of tension.

Apart from the big stuff, I also really liked Bran's heart tree vision – showing more of the surreal supernatural side of this world.

 

[jonathancrane]

That was a good episode. It was satisfying watching the little s*** go. I'm equally excited about seeing the fallout from said wedding.

[YT]QtD_71-3Ieo[/YT]

Ah. Thanx!

 

[Marvolo]

Maybe it's just me but I' think doing this big death after the Red wedding in a wedding a little lazy

From GRRM:

For me, one of the most brilliant things you did is that you kill off these major characters at a wedding, and then you kill off another major character a few chapters later — at another wedding! I never would have predicted that, precisely because of how much you like to vary things.

Martin: I don’t know how it comes across in the show, because I haven’t actually seen it yet, but the poison that is used to kill Joffrey is one that I introduce earlier in the books and its symptoms are similar to choking. So a feast is the perfect time to use this thing. I think the intent of the murderer is not to have this become another Red Wedding—the Red Wedding was very clearly murder and butchery. I think the idea with Joffrey’s death was to make it look like an accident — someone’s out celebrating, they haven’t invented the Heimlich maneuver, so when someone gets food caught in his throat, it’s very serious. I based it a little on the death of Eustace, the son of King Stephen of England. Stephen had usurped the crown from his cousin, the empress Maude, and they fought a long civil war and the anarchy and the war would be passed down to second generation, because Maude had a son and Henry and Stephen had a son. But Eustace choked to death at a feast. People are still debating a thousand of years later: Did he choke to death or was he poisoned? Because by removing Eustace, it brought about a peace that ended the English civil war. Eustace’s death was accepted [as accidental], and I think that’s what the murderers here were hoping for — the whole realm will see Joffrey choke to death on a piece of pie or something. But what they didn’t count on, was Cersei’s immediate assumption that this was murder. Cersei wasn’t fooled by this for a second. She doesn’t believe that it was an accidental death. You saw the scene filmed, does it come across as he could possibly be just choking or is it very clear he’s been poisoned?

The show makes it look definitely like poison so the justification for it being a wedding in the show the same. However, their are a number of specific reasons it needed to happen their. The killer will explain.

 

[ChrisBaleBatman]

From an interview with Alex Graves, who directed last night's episode: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/game-of-thrones-joffrey_n_5135715.html

So you think that if we rewatch the episode, we’ll be able to catch who the murderer is?
No, if you watch it again you won’t catch it. But if you analyze it, and you know who did it and how they did it -- which is another whole thing -- it tracks. And that’s all I can say.

Is the mystery of who killed Joffrey going to be resolved soon or play out all season?
You find out in the season is all I’ll say. And also, the thing I would say about Joffrey’s death, like any death on “Game of Thrones,” it’s an end, but it’s also a beginning of a story. The same with Ned Stark’s beginning.