Also, Cat was a terrible envoy. All her dialogue was good to set the scene, but those were just her thoughts, not actually what she said in the book, right? Imma come down, not kneel, and then piss all over your army in the process. And in front of everybody, too. It was kind of funny though.
Great episode tonight. Yoren was a badass, and I'm glad they changed it. Also loved Theon's note. Tyrion's sleuthing scenes were excellent in execution and had me and my friend laughing. Also, Bran/Summer scene was awesome. Not looking forward to the week wait
Uh oh. What he did was basically the equivalent of eating dinner with some family that has a son overseas in the military and asking them what they'd do if he died, except worse considering the context.
XD That might be my favorite episode so far. Loved it.
I was practically cheering at the look on Tyrion's face when he snowed them all.
Yoren was a boss.
she just came off as someone who desperately wants to be at Renly's side.
Her intro worked pretty well in my opinion. What I thought didn't work as well was the battle with Yoren and the group.
I can only assume that they are saving their epic battle budget for the battle at Blackwater, but I couldn't help but feel let down. I wanted to see Arya screaming Winterfell! I was also curious as to who she cleaved between the legs with an axe (if i remember the scene in the book correctly) It was written in such a way that I actually assumed that it may have been someone she knew.
It just seemed like it was over all to quickly and anticlimactically.
XD That might be my favorite episode so far. Loved it.
I was practically cheering at the look on Tyrion's face when he snowed them all.
Yoren was a boss.
I'm not saying that's how she came across in this episode, just that I hope that doesn't happen in the future. We didn't get much of an opportunity to see her personality there, she barely spoke and had a helmet on half of the time.
I won't make a long review post, but the one thing I do want to talk about (that few seem to be mentioning) is how great Maester Luwin has been this season. I love the fatherly role he has taken in the absence of Ned. That scene with Bran was great. What a great, warm performance
Definitely a step up from last episode (which had it's fair share of nitpicky stuff).
Loved what they're doing with Margaery. She's incredibly conscious of her role in all this. Episode made me feel sorry for Sansa... which the books never did. Well, apart from the (ACOK)
strip down scene
.
The new scene with Yoren and Arya was great. (small series spoiler)
Can't wait until Arya starts reciting her nightly prayers.
she just came off as someone who desperately wants to be at Renly's side.
Her intro worked pretty well in my opinion. What I thought didn't work as well was the battle with Yoren and the group.
I can only assume that they are saving their epic battle budget for the battle at Blackwater, but I couldn't help but feel let down. I wanted to see Arya screaming Winterfell! I was also curious as to who she cleaved between the legs with an axe (if i remember the scene in the book correctly) It was written in such a way that I actually assumed that it may have been someone she knew.
It just seemed like it was over all to quickly and anticlimactically.
I won't make a long review post, but the one thing I do want to talk about (that few seem to be mentioning) is how great Maester Luwin has been this season. I love the fatherly role he has taken in the absence of Ned. That scene with Bran was great. What a great, warm performance
I won't make a long review post, but the one thing I do want to talk about (that few seem to be mentioning) is how great Maester Luwin has been this season. I love the fatherly role he has taken in the absence of Ned. That scene with Bran was great. What a great, warm performance
I'm watching it again, and there's an unmistakable tear out of Theon's left eye as he turns to glance at his family post-baptism. Little detail, love it.
I also thought this episode was written significantly better than the previous ones (which is not to say the first two eps were bad, I thought the first was great and the second was good). Bryan Cogman just gets the series, and its characters. There were more than a few book changes in the episode yet each felt like a well done change meant to speed things up (without feeling too fast). Also his handling of exposition was impressive, and there was no ridiculous sex (although Weiss/Benioff would have given us a Renly/Loras/Margery threesome...I wouldn't be mad at that)
I also liked the strict focus on just a handful of characters. Jon and Sam had a few scenes but ultimately this episode was about Tyrion, Theon, and Renly - with Arya ending the episode. The show works pretty well when it manages to have an underlining theme, and this week the focus was again on power/ruling. Be it the compromises involved with being a king (Renly and Margery's "relationship"), the consolidation of power (Tyrion), or the ambition and betrayal power can create (Theon); the Night Watch's alliance with Craster struck me as another example of compromise, but of ideals/morality.
I think Yara is the first casting choice I don't like. Not because she's fat or whatever, I think she looks great. She needs to own that character though, she is way too quiet and broody.
I think she looks awful, and her performance hasn't won me over. Her posture is terrible and doesn't show off Asha's trademark confidence. Her facial expression is also pretty grim and dour and she comes across as some schoolyard bully. Asha in the books has a more fiery confidence, but even when dealing with Theon you could tell there's at least some warmth there, even if she openly mocks him.
One last point: the fight choreography is greatly improved in this season. From the Hound's battle in ep1 to the melee and final skirmish (well, "battle" according to Hot Pie), the movement looks far more fluid than the rather slow fighting shown throughout S1 (especially the Ned v Jamie battle). The Night's Watch ambush actually reminded me of the mountain ambush in S1 to some degrees; I thought that was the best fight scene in the first season, and tonight was like an even better version. Yoren was kicking major ass
I also thought this episode was written significantly better than the previous ones (which is not to say the first two eps were bad, I thought the first was great and the second was good). Bryan Cogman just gets the series, and its characters. There were more than a few book changes in the episode yet each felt like a well done change meant to speed things up (without feeling too fast). Also his handling of exposition was impressive, and there was no ridiculous sex (although Weiss/Benioff would have given us a Renly/Loras/Margery threesome...I wouldn't be mad at that)
It's interesting, because I recall the episode he wrote for season 1 being one of the weaker episodes of the season, while this episode was great. And Cogman wrote the sexposition scene with Viserys in the tub.
Maybe... I mean don't get me wrong, the scene obviously played out better than Tyrion's battle with Robb's auxiliary army played out in Season 1, but still, time or money constraints, it still sort of disappointed me. I can't help but feel that the shows audience (as in those that never read the books) are missing out on a lot of what makes Arya's character who she is. The shit she goes through is integral to who she becomes and it is made only that much more powerful given her age in all of this! But at the same time, i guess if you haven't read the book than it really isn't that big of a deal since this is the character you attach yourself to.
It's interesting, because I recall the episode he wrote for season 1 being one of the weaker episodes of the season, while this episode was great. And he wrote the sexposition scene with Viserys in the tub.
I'm not even going to read anything in this thread because I don't want ANY spoilers.
But.
I have been seeing how popular this show is on GAF and heard a few people in my day to day life mention the show is pretty good.
I bought the blu-ray box set on Friday night, and I was out of town on Saturday, but I watched the first two episodes on Friday night, then my wife made me re-watch them tonight and I finally got to see epsode 3.
THIS FUCKING SHOW!
I just cannot get enough, it is amazing, I'm completely engrossed in the story and the characters and the settings.
I went into this not knowing a damn thing about what it was about, and I'm completely hooked.
I'm seething to see more of scenes showcasing north of the great wall, cannot wait man.
I won't make a long review post, but the one thing I do want to talk about (that few seem to be mentioning) is how great Maester Luwin has been this season. I love the fatherly role he has taken in the absence of Ned. That scene with Bran was great. What a great, warm performance
I agree with you a hundred percent about Maester Luwin. I keep thinking they are not going to pay attention to Bran this season but they are just nailing his scenes. Isaac is a talented little actor as well, it is hard to play that part right. Lommy's death was a bit strange though, it would have worked better if they hadn't so obviously broadcasted it before it was about to happen. Also I still love Hot Pie. ACOK spoiler:
All of the sexposition from season 1 seemed unneeded and boring. At least that one had the hottest girl in the show and it seemed the most "natural" to me.
Loved what they did with margery here. Great introduction and played very well. She is a woman who knows what kind of role she has and is a willing player. The opposite of sansa at this point.
What was good about this episode was that most of the scenes were emotional. We need some of that, even though cynicism prevails in this show - and in the face of a fast moving plot it's absolutely essential to get inside characters' heads like in this episod.
Maybe... I mean don't get me wrong, the scene obviously played out better than Tyrion's battle with Robb's auxiliary army played out in Season 1, but still, time or money constraints, it still sort of disappointed me. I can't help but feel that the shows audience (as in those that never read the books) are missing out on a lot of what makes Arya's character who she is. The shit she goes through is integral to who she becomes and it is made only that much more powerful given her age in all of this! But at the same time, i guess if you haven't read the book than it really isn't that big of a deal since this is the character you attach yourself to.
I think that's why they added that scene of her and Yoren. They are trying to solidify her character in other ways. I think they have done a decent job of it, maybe not great. Where they go from here becomes important though.
I thought they pretty much ruined that ending scene with Arya/Gendry/Yoren etc. It's a shame they're going to cut so damn much out of Arya's storyline, but even so the way they did it was kind of ridiculous.
I mean, really, some random dude just trips and sets the thing on fire near the wagon? They're not going to hold out in the keep/fort and have a battle? No screaming "Winterfell!" or "Hot Pie!"? No escape for them for a while, trying to get away on their own?
The only real plus was they made Yoren seem like a real badass, but other than that it felt so timid and weak compared to what was presented in the books.
And once again they take away another of Arya's chances to show how much of a badass she is. First they take away the scene of her beating the crap out of Hot Pie (I think?), then they take away the scene of her killing dudes during this battle. All she seems to do is stumble around and lose her sword, which makes the whole stuff with Syrio before seem like he just wasted his time on her.
Argh. I get the budgetary concerns but ... *sigh*
Okay, other thoughts:
+ Tyrion scene handled well
+ Loved Littlefinger's performance, really sold his distaste for being played while hinting at his aspirations
+ Brienne came off well, she did a great job with a very masculine performance
+ Theon was great in this episode. Great performance, they did a good job at getting into his character.
+ Loved the Bran scene, all of his scenes make me happy. Luwin doing a good job too.
- Still don't like "Yara"
- Still very worried about (Bran-related, CoK)
the non-casting of Jojen and Meera and what that means for Bran's wolf dream developments.