For this season of Game of Thrones, I won’t be writing a straightforward review, but offering some of my thoughts about each show . ~ PK
1) The first scene, in which Ned Stark’s sword is melted down by Tywin Lannister, is a good way of telling the viewer that the show will be focusing on the Lannister clan instead of the few remaining members of the Starks.
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2) Most of the episode deals with the Lannisters, especially Jamie, as we see his conversations with Tywin, Cersei, King Joffrey and Brienne of Tarth. None of these talks goes well, with his family members showing contempt for the man now missing one hand. It seems Jamie will have a difficult time trying to find a place for himself at King’s Landing.
3) King Joffrey only gets a few minutes of screen time here, but every word and action he gives has a wonderful touch of slimy disdain. You always get new reasons to hate Joffrey.
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4) Meanwhile his opposite, Daenerys, commands the adoration of her people, soldiers and inner circle. It seems like she can do no wrong, but we get hints that trouble is to come as her dragons are growing fast and cannot be treated as pets, even by their ‘mother’. It looks like they will be going after another city in order to free their slaves, and at this point I have little doubt that this will be just another stepping stone for Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.
5) If you were a little confused, as I was, about her lieutenant Daario Naharis, he was played last year by a different actor. The two men don’t even remotely resemble like each other, and the new Daario has a very nondescript appearance.
6) Back in King’s Landing, we are introduced to what seems to be major character #4382 Prince Oberyn Martell. He gives the appearance of a man that could be dangerous and he has some serious desires for revenge on the Lannisters, so this could be an interesting character to watch.
7) In the North it looks as if they are trying to make the Wildlings out to be more of a threat. We are introduced to some cannibals who seem like they will be much more of a challenge to the Night’s Watch. However, Jon Snow has been able to discover and report their entire plan, and as long as the commanders of the Night Watch are not arrogant enough to dismiss it they should be able to easily handle this horde of savages.
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8) They give an interesting contrast of how Sansa Stark and Jon Snow handle the news of what happened to Robb and Catelyn at the Red Wedding. Having Sansa act petulant and not really doing anything about it is totally keeping with her character – you can sympathize with her plight but at the same time you know she really does not have the will to get revenge (I’m placing bets on her Arya for that job). Meanwhile Jon is somewhat stoic about the news, as he says a few lines about his brother but then goes back to doing his own work.
9) I really enjoyed the scene between Sansa and Ser Dontos – it certainly seems like a small scene that could have been edited out of the show, but it reminds me that some people in Westeros are still kind and nice to each other.
10) The show ends with a great scene between Arya and the Hound – the best odd couple there is in Game of Thrones. You really, really want to see Polliver get killed, and this show knows how to deliver revenge. I liked how they had Arya enter the fight by knocking a guy in the head with a jug, which is a very typical Hollywood portrayal of how a medieval woman fights, but then they have her calmly grabbing a sword and skewering him. She is not going to be some little helpless lady, but rather a clever and cool killer. She gets her sword back and a horse, and the Hound gets his chicken – a rare ‘happy’ ending for Game of Thrones.
For this season of Game of Thrones, I won’t be writing a straightforward review, but offering some of my thoughts about each show . ~ PK
1) The first scene, in which Ned Stark’s sword is melted down by Tywin Lannister, is a good way of telling the viewer that the show will be focusing on the Lannister clan instead of the few remaining members of the Starks.
2) Most of the episode deals with the Lannisters, especially Jamie, as we see his conversations with Tywin, Cersei, King Joffrey and Brienne of Tarth. None of these talks goes well, with his family members showing contempt for the man now missing one hand. It seems Jamie will have a difficult time trying to find a place for himself at King’s Landing.
3) King Joffrey only gets a few minutes of screen time here, but every word and action he gives has a wonderful touch of slimy disdain. You always get new reasons to hate Joffrey.
4) Meanwhile his opposite, Daenerys, commands the adoration of her people, soldiers and inner circle. It seems like she can do no wrong, but we get hints that trouble is to come as her dragons are growing fast and cannot be treated as pets, even by their ‘mother’. It looks like they will be going after another city in order to free their slaves, and at this point I have little doubt that this will be just another stepping stone for Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons.
5) If you were a little confused, as I was, about her lieutenant Daario Naharis, he was played last year by a different actor. The two men don’t even remotely resemble like each other, and the new Daario has a very nondescript appearance.
6) Back in King’s Landing, we are introduced to what seems to be major character #4382 Prince Oberyn Martell. He gives the appearance of a man that could be dangerous and he has some serious desires for revenge on the Lannisters, so this could be an interesting character to watch.
7) In the North it looks as if they are trying to make the Wildlings out to be more of a threat. We are introduced to some cannibals who seem like they will be much more of a challenge to the Night’s Watch. However, Jon Snow has been able to discover and report their entire plan, and as long as the commanders of the Night Watch are not arrogant enough to dismiss it they should be able to easily handle this horde of savages.
8) They give an interesting contrast of how Sansa Stark and Jon Snow handle the news of what happened to Robb and Catelyn at the Red Wedding. Having Sansa act petulant and not really doing anything about it is totally keeping with her character – you can sympathize with her plight but at the same time you know she really does not have the will to get revenge (I’m placing bets on her Arya for that job). Meanwhile Jon is somewhat stoic about the news, as he says a few lines about his brother but then goes back to doing his own work.
9) I really enjoyed the scene between Sansa and Ser Dontos – it certainly seems like a small scene that could have been edited out of the show, but it reminds me that some people in Westeros are still kind and nice to each other.
10) The show ends with a great scene between Arya and the Hound – the best odd couple there is in Game of Thrones. You really, really want to see Polliver get killed, and this show knows how to deliver revenge. I liked how they had Arya enter the fight by knocking a guy in the head with a jug, which is a very typical Hollywood portrayal of how a medieval woman fights, but then they have her calmly grabbing a sword and skewering him. She is not going to be some little helpless lady, but rather a clever and cool killer. She gets her sword back and a horse, and the Hound gets his chicken – a rare ‘happy’ ending for Game of Thrones.
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