"Lord Snow"
Jun. 22nd, 2012 04:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
keep_countingReview of episode 1x03 of HBO's Game of Thrones.
Contains spoilers for the rest of the series as well, plus comparisons to the book, pic-spams and general flailing over all the pretty. I have just finished reading A Storm of Swords, so only spoilers up to that point.
One thing I always like, is when shows - especially medieval shows - make sure there are a lot of extras. Of course the gates to King's Landing are going to be stuffed with people, getting in and out of the city, doing their business. It's crowded and I love it.
First look at the Iron Throne! Imagine, all of these hardships and deaths, over one uncomfortable, hard chair made of swords. I love Jaime so casually sitting there on the steps - I hope one day they include a flashback of him killing Aerys, though there is a kind of omnious feeling exactly because we have never seen him on-screen, like we've never met him in the books either: but the show has kind of neglected a lot of things about Robert's rebellion up to this point (including the whole Rhaegar/Lyanna storyline) and they'll at least need to introduce some things about Elia of Dorne soon, for season 3. Of course, this episode in general is pretty Rebellion-heavy, but we'll get to that later.
Also a great shot: Jaime with the Throne behind him and to the left - he's standing in front of it, protecting it yes, but not obscuring it completely. He's already killed one King, and there is leeway to murder another should it become necessary. Jaime never joined the Kingsguard for the King's sake, and that is evident in a lot of his actions (including, but not limited to, killing the King he had sworn to protect of course)
Pretty throne-room is pretty:
Our first look a the Smallcouncil, yay! Petyr, Pycelle, Varys and Renly *hearts* Well, for Varys and Renly anyways. I will not gush too much on how I love Varys as a character, and how brilliant a job Conleth Hill is doing playing him, but now its out there. Varys is such a complex character, and for some bizarre reason I reallyreally hope he survives.
Grandmaester Pycelle! Your beard is still intact, gods be good:
Ned receives the Hand'sboy-scout badge pin:
One thing the show had an opportunity to do, and did well, is include scenes of the people that we don't feel any sympathy for in the books (as of book one anyway). For example, it is hard to feel any kind of connection with the Lannisters, when we are in the POV of their enemies (and they throw their enemies children out of windows). This scene doesn't exactly make us sympathize, but it does show us an interesting dynamic: Cersei as a clever, power-hungry woman who loves her children and - at this point - completely ignores their flaws, and Joffrey as a greedy, rage-filled little boy, even less fit to rule than Robert:
One of my favorite parts of the first book: Ned and Arya interacting, and talking about sword-play and how they need to stick together. Of course, this is also extremely upsetting, because later on, all of the Starks will be brutally torn apart from each other.
This scene always tears at my heart a little: such fine acting. 'I'd rather be dead' - 'Don't you ever say that' - 'I'd rather be dead!'
Catelyn arriving at King's Landing - looking back, this scene really helps show how much power through information Littlefinger really holds. He's one step ahead all the time.
And lets not forget the episode's title-character: ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lord Snow!
This is really the episode where he grows up a little - as he later says to Tyrion: 'they all knew what this [the Wall] was. They all knew, and no-one told me, except for you'. Jon was still so young when he left, young and naive and I don't really think he thought his decision to join the Night's Watch all the way through. He thought of glory and belonging, not of ice and wildlings and still finding cruelty among his new sworn brothers. I'd also like to add: Alliser Thorne, I hate you and you can go die. Now please.
This scene never fails to crack me up: Ned being all: 'NYGAHAJDH DON'T INSULT MY HONOR' Cat being all: 'Ned, please, chill out, I'm right here' and Petyr being all: 'graayrgh, strangling, strangled, dead' (well, he didn't die. it would have spared a lot of lives, including Ned's probably, if he had. Dammit Cat.)
And then the sweet, but oh-so sad goodbye. The way its played and filmed on the show, you can just TELL, even if you haven't been spoiled, that these two are not going to see each other again for a long, long time. If ever.
And here's Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard! Can we talk about Barristan for a moment? Because this man is a BAMF, I tell you, true BAMF. Yes, in the end he betrayed his King, only his King was already dead. I don't even know why I love him so much, but as soon as he dissapeared in the books, I kept waiting for him to return again: no-one escapes alive in Martin's books without a purpose. I think maybe its his name. Barristan Selmy. It makes me happy for reasons I can't explain.
BWAHAHAHAHA LANCEL YOU LOOK RIDICOLOUS. I WISH TYRION COULD SEE YOU NOW BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SO MUCH SNARK AND I AM SO BUSY LAUGHING AT YOU I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING COHERENT AND DEMEANING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR APPEARENCE. YOU'VE REDUCED ME TO TEARS.
I said we were going to talk about Robert's Rebellion and we are: because this is the first time the show tries to explain to us what happened with Mad King Aerys and why it happened: this is actually a rare and incredible insight into Jaime's train of thought that we don't get until book three, but are presented with much earlier in the show. Be happy, because this scene is frankly one of my favorites of the 'added' ones not in the book and it should be yours too, because... well. It's just great:
'And what were Aerys' [last words]? I never thought to ask. What was the last thing the Mad King said to you when you stabbed him in the back? Did he call ya' a traitor?'
'He said the same thing he'd been saying for hours. 'Burn them all''
Have a shot of my otp for your viewing pleasure (and mine):
And Viserys being an asshole:
Now's the time to come with the 'he's whipped'-jokes. Please!
And to finish off: Syrio Forell! Former First Sword of the Sealord of Bravoos and Arya Stark's Dancing Master.
'The steel must be part of your arm. Can you drop part of your arm?' Syrio, I've missed your shortness and your accent - and you running around with Arya and only being a head taller than a twelve-year old girl
Contains spoilers for the rest of the series as well, plus comparisons to the book, pic-spams and general flailing over all the pretty. I have just finished reading A Storm of Swords, so only spoilers up to that point.
One thing I always like, is when shows - especially medieval shows - make sure there are a lot of extras. Of course the gates to King's Landing are going to be stuffed with people, getting in and out of the city, doing their business. It's crowded and I love it.
First look at the Iron Throne! Imagine, all of these hardships and deaths, over one uncomfortable, hard chair made of swords. I love Jaime so casually sitting there on the steps - I hope one day they include a flashback of him killing Aerys, though there is a kind of omnious feeling exactly because we have never seen him on-screen, like we've never met him in the books either: but the show has kind of neglected a lot of things about Robert's rebellion up to this point (including the whole Rhaegar/Lyanna storyline) and they'll at least need to introduce some things about Elia of Dorne soon, for season 3. Of course, this episode in general is pretty Rebellion-heavy, but we'll get to that later.
Also a great shot: Jaime with the Throne behind him and to the left - he's standing in front of it, protecting it yes, but not obscuring it completely. He's already killed one King, and there is leeway to murder another should it become necessary. Jaime never joined the Kingsguard for the King's sake, and that is evident in a lot of his actions (including, but not limited to, killing the King he had sworn to protect of course)
Pretty throne-room is pretty:
Our first look a the Smallcouncil, yay! Petyr, Pycelle, Varys and Renly *hearts* Well, for Varys and Renly anyways. I will not gush too much on how I love Varys as a character, and how brilliant a job Conleth Hill is doing playing him, but now its out there. Varys is such a complex character, and for some bizarre reason I reallyreally hope he survives.
Grandmaester Pycelle! Your beard is still intact, gods be good:
Ned receives the Hand's
One thing the show had an opportunity to do, and did well, is include scenes of the people that we don't feel any sympathy for in the books (as of book one anyway). For example, it is hard to feel any kind of connection with the Lannisters, when we are in the POV of their enemies (and they throw their enemies children out of windows). This scene doesn't exactly make us sympathize, but it does show us an interesting dynamic: Cersei as a clever, power-hungry woman who loves her children and - at this point - completely ignores their flaws, and Joffrey as a greedy, rage-filled little boy, even less fit to rule than Robert:
One of my favorite parts of the first book: Ned and Arya interacting, and talking about sword-play and how they need to stick together. Of course, this is also extremely upsetting, because later on, all of the Starks will be brutally torn apart from each other.
This scene always tears at my heart a little: such fine acting. 'I'd rather be dead' - 'Don't you ever say that' - 'I'd rather be dead!'
Catelyn arriving at King's Landing - looking back, this scene really helps show how much power through information Littlefinger really holds. He's one step ahead all the time.
And lets not forget the episode's title-character: ladies and gentlemen, I give you Lord Snow!
This is really the episode where he grows up a little - as he later says to Tyrion: 'they all knew what this [the Wall] was. They all knew, and no-one told me, except for you'. Jon was still so young when he left, young and naive and I don't really think he thought his decision to join the Night's Watch all the way through. He thought of glory and belonging, not of ice and wildlings and still finding cruelty among his new sworn brothers. I'd also like to add: Alliser Thorne, I hate you and you can go die. Now please.
This scene never fails to crack me up: Ned being all: 'NYGAHAJDH DON'T INSULT MY HONOR' Cat being all: 'Ned, please, chill out, I'm right here' and Petyr being all: 'graayrgh, strangling, strangled, dead' (well, he didn't die. it would have spared a lot of lives, including Ned's probably, if he had. Dammit Cat.)
And then the sweet, but oh-so sad goodbye. The way its played and filmed on the show, you can just TELL, even if you haven't been spoiled, that these two are not going to see each other again for a long, long time. If ever.
And here's Ser Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard! Can we talk about Barristan for a moment? Because this man is a BAMF, I tell you, true BAMF. Yes, in the end he betrayed his King, only his King was already dead. I don't even know why I love him so much, but as soon as he dissapeared in the books, I kept waiting for him to return again: no-one escapes alive in Martin's books without a purpose. I think maybe its his name. Barristan Selmy. It makes me happy for reasons I can't explain.
BWAHAHAHAHA LANCEL YOU LOOK RIDICOLOUS. I WISH TYRION COULD SEE YOU NOW BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE SO MUCH SNARK AND I AM SO BUSY LAUGHING AT YOU I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING COHERENT AND DEMEANING TO SAY ABOUT YOUR APPEARENCE. YOU'VE REDUCED ME TO TEARS.
I said we were going to talk about Robert's Rebellion and we are: because this is the first time the show tries to explain to us what happened with Mad King Aerys and why it happened: this is actually a rare and incredible insight into Jaime's train of thought that we don't get until book three, but are presented with much earlier in the show. Be happy, because this scene is frankly one of my favorites of the 'added' ones not in the book and it should be yours too, because... well. It's just great:
'And what were Aerys' [last words]? I never thought to ask. What was the last thing the Mad King said to you when you stabbed him in the back? Did he call ya' a traitor?'
'He said the same thing he'd been saying for hours. 'Burn them all''
Have a shot of my otp for your viewing pleasure (and mine):
And Viserys being an asshole:
Now's the time to come with the 'he's whipped'-jokes. Please!
And to finish off: Syrio Forell! Former First Sword of the Sealord of Bravoos and Arya Stark's Dancing Master.
'The steel must be part of your arm. Can you drop part of your arm?' Syrio, I've missed your shortness and your accent - and you running around with Arya and only being a head taller than a twelve-year old girl
