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[Madness]

I don't think you should be disappointed. His hands were bound, he's tired and has been malnourished for a good bit, and he was unarmored fighting a giant opponent in full armor. That's a lot of disadvantages, there.

His quote about there only being 3 swords in the kingdoms equal to his is stretching the truth a bit. He's a Lannister, afterall.

Didn't Ned almost beat him before one of Jamie's men intervened? I just think that no one had ever given Brienne a chance to prove herself. If Jamie was healthy, had his armor and it was a legitimate fight, he'd probably have won. You don't become a kingsguard and be the Kingslayer and challenge Ned who has a Valyrian steel sword unless you're confident you can win. Who knows though.

Margaery seems nice enough, but she's smart and is playing the game of thrones, either you win or you die. I don't think she has malice in her heart like Cersei does.

 

[Steelyuhas]

Content Roundup: Dark Wings, Dark Words

Reviews and Recaps:
AV Club review (for non-book readers)
Sepinwall (Hitflix) review
IGN Review
Huff Post recap
Rolling Stone recap
Wall Street Journal recap
Hollywood Reporter recap
Grantland recap
WiC's non-book reader recap

HBO Content:
Inside the Episode: Dark Wings, Dark Words (will update with Youtube link)
"Walk of Punishment" Preview (Please Spoiler Tag any Preview Discussion)

I will update this post will more content tomorrow, as well as add it to the episodes section in the OP.

 

[Dennis]

This show just flies by.

"The end already? - aw fack, now its another week"

 

[luxarific]

Are the wolves CGI or real, or a combo (my guess is real, at least for the close-ups, but CGI for a least part of the scenes where the whole body is shown)?

 

[televator]

Man I was sooooo into the fight at the end.... then the credits rolled. Instant frown on my face. MOAR! Give me MOAR!!!!!

 

[Kozak]

Didn't Ned almost beat him before one of Jamie's men intervened? I just think that no one had ever given Brienne a chance to prove herself. If Jamie was healthy, had his armor and it was a legitimate fight, he'd probably have won. You don't become a kingsguard and be the Kingslayer and challenge Ned who has a Valyrian steel sword unless you're confident you can win. Who knows though.

Margaery seems nice enough, but she's smart and is playing the game of thrones, either you win or you die. I don't think she has malice in her heart like Cersei does.

He chose his opponents wisely.

edit:

I loved Catelyns honesty about the Jon Snow situation. Never would have expected it.

 

[Jay Shadow]

Are the wolves CGI or real, or a combo (my guess is real, at least for the close-ups, but CGI for a least part of the scenes where the whole body is shown)?

Real all the time, I believe. They film them on green screen then blow them up and add them in.

 

[Animator]

Real all the time, I believe. They film them on green screen then blow them up and add them in.

Not all the time.

 

[timetokill]

Brienne is a great swordsman, one that won Renly's tournament.

The Kingslayer isn't exactly in top form. He's chained, malnourished, wearing no armor, tired, haggard, etc. She simply wore him down.

 

[Koko]

I wonder if Bran can control the wolves of his brothers. Great episode by the way.

 

[Hours Left]

Helloooooooooooooooooooo puberty.

-Bran

 

[Kak.efes]

Scientists need to discover a way to stop child actors from aging for the sake of our television viewing pleasure.

Puberty's got them all looking and sounding pretty awkward. It's become a distraction.

 

[jediyoshi]

natalie dormer still waifu material.

 

[Moaradin]

Scientists need to discover a way to stop child actors from aging for the sake of our television viewing pleasure.

Puberty's got them all looking and sounding pretty awkward. It's become a distraction.

Joffrey seems to have it. Dude is 20 years old and will forever look 15.

 

[Loofy]

Scientists need to discover a way to stop child actors from aging for the sake of our television viewing pleasure.

Puberty's got them all looking and sounding pretty awkward. It's become a distraction.

I think they need to grow faster. Arya in particular is still so tiny, hope shes not like daniel radcliffe and doesnt grow at all.

 

[lastplayed]

Loved Margaery's reaction when Sansa called Joffrey a monster. She don't care.

 

[Nemesis121]

Started watching this few days ago, finish season 1, gotta say I can do with less whore scene and more story development, I feel like those scenes are just filler garbage but then again i have never read the books so i don't know if they are in there, hoping that changes in season 2, otherwise this show is fucking awesome...

 

[Devolution]

Loved Margaery's reaction when Sansa called Joffrey a monster. She don't care.

She already knows how to play him.

 

[televator]

Started watching this few days ago, finish season 1, gotta say I can do with less whore scene and more story development, I feel like those scenes are just filler garbage but then again i have never read the books so i don't know if they are in there, hoping that changes in season 2, otherwise this show is fucking awesome...

Spoiler

Hahaha...

 

[Vashetti]

Gosh that Margaery/Grandmother/Sansa scene was so tense.

Margaery is amazing, she knows exactly how to push Joffrey's buttons.

 

[TheOddOne]

Cross posting from the thread that shall not be named:

 

[Mashing]

They sure do film a ton of diverse locations.

 

[Kave_Man]

True, but Jaime is hyped as the best of the best -- though he ranks himself as such and stated only 3 men could match or beat him. Her beating him with relative ease was just disappointing to see.

Hyped as the best of the best but remembering from season 1 it seems a lot of people aren't really in fear of his swordsmanship. Not to say he's not a top tier fighter but I remember Ned and a few others making cracks at him stabbing the mad king in the back and getting his nickname.

He definitely is one of the best swordsman in the land I'm sure but not THE best.

 

[Yonafunu]

Hyped as the best of the best but remembering from season 1 it seems a lot of people aren't really in fear of his swordsmanship. Not to say he's not a top tier fighter but I remember Ned and a few others making cracks at him stabbing the mad king in the back and getting his nickname.

He definitely is one of the best swordsman in the land I'm sure but not THE best.

This doesn't really have anything to do with his skills though. That's just his 'lack of honour' they're commenting on.

 

[Funky Papa]

Random musings:

• I can see some people being put off by the quickly increasing amount of fantasy stuff. I don't mind it too much, but with the exception of dragons and direwolves (which are pretty much standard fare in this kind of genre) things were quite "normal" until very recently.
• Margaery is amazing. I liked her in S2, but she's kicking it out of the park in S3. She has a bit of Tyrion's manipulative character coupled with some good looks and an actual position of power, which I think it could put her at the very top of the game. She's playing her cards exceedingly well. Even Cersei can see it. I bet she's pissy.
• Marg's grann is incredible. I love her already.
• Brann is all grown up, man. He even sounds different.
• I loved the Reed kids. I know nothing about them, but they don't seem to be terrible people. I liked the actors, too. Whoever is picking the young talent in this show is doing a hell of a job.
• Arya is in a bit of pickle, isn't she? I got the impression that the gang she encountered in the forest is going to be somewhat important in S3, but I don't really know how that's going to play out if the Hound is around them... He doesn't strike me like the kind of bruh he'd turn into a bandit or something like that.
• Those Bolton guys... they are not sending me good vibes, but I definitely don't want Brienne to kill any Stark ally so that piece of shit Jaimie can escape. Fuck.

This show just flies by.

"The end already? - aw fack, now its another week"

Ain't that the truth? :_(

Hyped as the best of the best but remembering from season 1 it seems a lot of people aren't really in fear of his swordsmanship. Not to say he's not a top tier fighter but I remember Ned and a few others making cracks at him stabbing the mad king in the back and getting his nickname.

He definitely is one of the best swordsman in the land I'm sure but not THE best.

He's considered one of the best swordmen in Westeros, probably only second to Ser Barristan. But he's been tied, malnourished and deprived of good sleep for way too long. He's just too tired to face a worthy adversaire like Brienne.

Having said that, I also liked Brienne's swordplay. They didn't bother with some fancy choreography or anything, she's a tank and fights like one. At some point she was fencing Jaimie with just one hand.

 

[Lothar]

Started watching this few days ago, finish season 1, gotta say I can do with less whore scene and more story development, I feel like those scenes are just filler garbage but then again i have never read the books so i don't know if they are in there, hoping that changes in season 2, otherwise this show is fucking awesome...

I don't see any harm in saying that all of the whore scenes are inventions for HBO other than Tyrion/Shae. It gets worse in the beginning of Season 2 but then it gets better. There doesn't seem to be that many anymore. Hopefully they listened to criticism.

 

[Funky Papa]

Also, Osha is the realest.

 

[Uncle]

Was that the first time they've shown Bolton's banner/sigil?

 

[Forkball]

[*]Those Bolton guys... they are not sending me good vibes, but I definitely don't want Brienne to kill any Stark ally so that piece of shit Jaimie can escape. Fuck.

She already cut up three Stark people last season. SHE DON'T CURR.

 

[Funky Papa]

Was that the first time they've shown Bolton's banner?

I think it's engraved in Bolton's armour, although it's the first time I've seen a proper banner.

She already cut up three Stark people last season. SHE DON'T CURR.

I forgot about that. I love but I also hate how nobody is completely clean in this show. Sigh.

 

[Neki]

He's considered one of the best swordmen in Westeros, probably only second to Ser Barristan. But he's been tied, malnourished and deprived of good sleep for way too long. He's just too tired to face a worthy adversaire like Brienne.

Having said that, I also liked Brienne's swordplay. They didn't bother with some fancy choreography or anything, she's a tank and fights like one. At some point she was fencing Jaimie with just one hand.

Bronn could beat Jaimie, npnp.

 

[Uncle]

I think it's engraved in Bolton's armour, although it's the first time I've seen a proper banner.

Oh yeah. I've never noticed that.

 

[Funky Papa]

Bronn could beat Jaimie, npnp.

Bronn: Great skill, no honor.

 

[Brashnir]

Started watching this few days ago, finish season 1, gotta say I can do with less whore scene and more story development, I feel like those scenes are just filler garbage but then again i have never read the books so i don't know if they are in there, hoping that changes in season 2, otherwise this show is fucking awesome...

If you pay attention, most of the whore scenes involve people talking about a lot of expository stuff. A lot of them are huge info dumps of thing that were inner monologues in the books. They're basically, "Here's some tits while we drop a huge pile of background info on you," scenes.

 

[Neki]

I also found Bran 20x more tolerable with a more mature voice

I don't know why, before he had a whiny voice and it really rubbed me the wrong way

then again, he was a kid so I should be expecting that

 

[Funky Papa]

Bran is all grown out, but Sansa looked positively gigantic when she was being dressed by Shae.

Gurrrl, you need to get some flat shoes.

 

[Phonomezer]

I'm almost tempted to miss the rest of the season so I can watch it all at once at the end. Almost.

 

[Rootbeer]

The Stark kids getting older is distracting as a book fan. It can't be helped but it's hard not to notice. On book vs. show ages in season 3 (not a spoiler):

Spoiler

For the benefit of show-only fans, at the beginning of book 3 Bran is still only 8ish (!!!) years old. So yeah it is quite a discrepancy.

Still, I really applaud HBO for going with child actors in the first place instead of aging everyone substantially more.

 

[Violet_0]

pretty cool episode, tension is building up

rather obvious observation regarding Jaime's and Brienne's situation: they're on a bridge, so they're going to jump into the river to escape, duh

 

[Phonomezer]

Brienne is my spirit animal.

 

[Blader]

Didn't Ned almost beat him before one of Jamie's men intervened? I just think that no one had ever given Brienne a chance to prove herself. If Jamie was healthy, had his armor and it was a legitimate fight, he'd probably have won. You don't become a kingsguard and be the Kingslayer and challenge Ned who has a Valyrian steel sword unless you're confident you can win. Who knows though.

Unless Jamie killed the mad king in a one-on-one fight, then being the Kingslayer isn't really an endorsement of skill.

 

[Violet_0]

I forgot about that. I love but I also hate how nobody is completely clean in this show. Sigh.

well, they hanged the women before so that was kind of justified. She's still the GoT equivalent of a lawful good paladin at this point

 

[Uncle]

pretty cool episode, tension is building up

rather obvious observation regarding Jaime's and Brienne's situation: they're on a bridge, so they're going to jump into the river to escape, duh

One is chained and the other wearing armor.

 

[Violet_0]

One is chained and the other wearing armor.

yeah, but they can't fight them and they can't outrun them, so that's still their best chance

 

[Victory Red]

He chose his opponents wisely.

edit:

I loved Catelyns honesty about the Jon Snow situation. Never would have expected it.

Can you elaborate on what she said exactly. I didn't catch that part, my girlfriend was yapping or something.

 

[Brashnir]

The Stark kids getting older is distracting as a book fan. It can't be helped but it's hard not to notice. On book vs. show ages in season 3 (not a spoiler):

Spoiler

For the benefit of show-only fans, at the beginning of book 3 Bran is still only 8ish (!!!) years old. So yeah it is quite a discrepancy.

Still, I really applaud HBO for going with child actors in the first place instead of aging everyone substantially more.

Not really a spoiler either, but just in case...

Spoiler

They all started a bit older too. Aging them up in the beginning made more sense to modern eyes, and also gave them a better pool of actors.

 

[xenist]

One: The rack Theon's torturers use does not seem so by accident. Bolton's bastard has him. Which means Bolton's men torched Winterfell and killed everyone. I can only deduce one thing. The Boltons, at least, are in Tywin's pocket. Rob better watch his back.

Two: Margery is fucking shrewd. She can play people like no one else. However, so was Cersei and she found that her creation is not too easily controlled. Joffrey is too nuts. She's playing a very dangerous game. I hope Diana Rigg has her coached well.

Three: Watching poor Sansa being taken advantage of by everyone in Kind's Landing is sad as hell. She's like a baby deer forced to keep company with wolves.

As for everyone else, there's too little info for me to able to guess. Oh, and I loved Brienne knocking some humility into Jamie.

 

[Violet_0]

also, Arya really has the worst luck constantly running into old acquaintances

 

[xenist]

Can you elaborate on what she said exactly. I didn't catch that part, my girlfriend was yapping or something.

Ned came back from the war with a bastard. She prayed for the baby to die. The baby fell sick. She felt responsible and prayed to all seven gods for the baby's salvation promising to love it as her own. She didn't keep her promise and now she feels the bad things that happened to her family are the gods punishing her for breaking it.

 

[Brashnir]

Three: Watching poor Sansa being taken advantage of by everyone in Kind's Landing is sad as hell. She's like a baby deer forced to keep company with wolves.

That's what makes her a great character. It also makes her a frustrating character to watch, which is why I think a lot of people don't like her, but she's almost the embodiment of a modern carefree teenager transported back into these ruthless times.