Game of Thrones ep 6 (the clueless about the books POV)

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Just watched this. Still bouncing off the ceiling a bit.

Spoilers within



I have the vague feeling (not sure why) that I'm not supposed to think this episode scales the heights of the previous episode's awesomeness, but I loved it (even though I had to look away several times, notably at the end - could see that one coming and decided I would rather not watch). What's not to love really? For a start, there was Tyrion once again being completely awesome, and Bronn (is it?) the mercenary being the best champion ever (or at least the sneakiest), there was poor old Ned Stark once again completely out of his depth with this King's Hand thing, and quite possibly starting a war, though given events on the ground, I don't blame him. There was yet another wonderful Arya's dancing lesson scene (does Sansa know what the dancing lessons really are, I wonder?) and Sansa doing a very close approximation of a teenager with a crush on a pop star (and is it just me, or does horrid Prince Joffrey actually look a lot like Justin Bieber?). Then there was Ned finally putting two and two together and making four about the parentage of said horrid prince and taking the very sensible decision to remove his daughters from harm's way (we'll see how that works out).

All utterly awesome, and if that weren't enough, there's Littlefinger being sneaky, King Robert having a dig at his brother's liking for - was it festivals? - which was probably the Westeros equivalent of calling him a flaming queen, and his brother telling him to stuff it. And finally, there's Daenyrys not batting an eyelid when her horrid brother comes to a very sticky end, and good riddance. We've really only been given the shorthand of Daenyrys's development - her increased confidence and scary resolve - but I think it's worked quite well, even if the Dothraki, including Khal Drogo (very tall, isn't he?) remain pretty much as background decoration.

I can't wait to see what happens next. Will Ned succeed in getting Sansa and Arya safely out of town (I'm betting not)? Will someboday assassinate King Robert (I'm betting yes)? How long can Ned stay so stubbornly honourable and not die (I give him until the end of season 1)? How scary will Lannister Snr be (I'm betting very)?

:rubs hands: I can't wait.

Comments

[sufie58.livejournal.com]

I'm in throes of reading the series on my Kindle. Just finished the 4th book and awaiting the 5th (and final) one. Don't want to watch the TV series until I've finished the books. Like you,thoug, I'm thoroughly enjoying it - absolutely epic!

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I'm not sure the 5th book is the final one. I think I heard there'll be at least two more after that. Don't quote me, though.

[sufie58.livejournal.com]

oh no! I thought everything would all be resolved in the next one - don't know if I can stand the wait for further books - he's taken such a long time to complete this latest one!

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

Yep, two more books after dance and GRRM takes his sweet time writing them. I really hope he'll be faster this time but he might take another 5 years for the next one.

[shapinglight]

:( Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Jane E. wrote the ep, and I appreciate it. Loved Tyrion's snarky 'confession' which I believe was a bit more elaborate here than in the book. And -- hee!

Also loved Renly's bitching at Robert. "Was it better when people were being eaten by dragons?"

And finally Arya's "Seven hells..." eyeroll at Sansa.

Bronn (Tyrion's 'champion' will be around a while (at least as far as I've read)

[shapinglight]

Loved Tyrion's snarky 'confession' which I believe was a bit more elaborate here than in the book. And -- hee!

Heh! Yes, that was a terrific scene. I do wonder if Mord (who I thought was called Maud, until told otherwise :)) got in trouble afterwards for taking Tyrion's gold. Also, if Prince Joffrey is ever king and Catelyn's mad sister's even madder son is ever lord of the Eyrie, everyone is in even bigger trouble than they are now. They might end up quite nostalgic for the dear old mad king.

Bronn (Tyrion's 'champion' will be around a while (at least as far as I've read)

Yay! They make an awesome couple (not in a slashy way, though I'm sure someone will write it).

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Lord, it is incredibly obvious (to everyone but Cersei) that Joffrey would make a terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE king, combining the worst of all three parents.

I actually think that Renly really is the better option of the currently available heirs (though I suspect that Dany will come back into play eventually... not spoiling. I haven't reached that far, it's just incredibly obvious that she's a player). Renly would at least be a relatively benevolent king who, like Sansa, wants a prettier, nicer world.

Of course, in Westeros holding onto power seems to require major badassery.

[shapinglight]

Lord, it is incredibly obvious (to everyone but Cersei) that Joffrey would make a terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE king, combining the worst of all three parents.

God, yes! He's a little horror. He makes Viserys Targaryen seem quite sweet and reasonable.

I'm sure GRRM means Dany to be a major player by the end of the series (assuming she still isn't by the end of book 4). It's been set up so obviously, with her being the true heir to the dragons (or whatever).

Renly would at least be a relatively benevolent king who, like Sansa, wants a prettier, nicer world.

Yes. Sadly, he probably wouldn't last five minutes.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Yes, sadly this is true.

I tend to feel that Martin likes to give us a plethora of options and then shows us why each has severe problems.

Robert was a good warrior, but was completely negligent of the acutal ruling part.

Ned is honorable, but he allows honor to blind him to realities and pragmatism and the fact that sometimes you need to choose your battles wisely, because there's more at stake here than his honor.

Renly would quite probably be rather benevolent wanting things to be nice and pretty... but life isn't like that and power especially isn't. Like Loras told him, in Westeros blood is involved, and Renly doesn't like to look at blood. That's not a good trait for a king.

Joffrey... has no good traits. He reminds me of the Ralph Fiennes Nazi character in Schindler's List. There's just nothing good to say about the snivelling little shit.

Lord Tywin is sort of Joseph Kennedy Sr. on major, major steroids. He wants a dynasty and is setting up his children to make it so. And, to answer your rhetorical question, yes. Tywin is a truly terrible human being... and, unfortunately, in Westeros he's far from alone in that. There are all sorts of truly detestable human beings wandering around.

I'm actually a bit intrigued by what Varys the eunuch's true game is. He plays a deep game, and I'm still sussing out his priorities. He's like some eunuch of the CIA.

Littlefinger is also a major gameplayer, but he oozes smarminess and that cannot possibly be good.

[shapinglight]

I tend to feel that Martin likes to give us a plethora of options and then shows us why each has severe problems.

From what I've seen so far, I do get the impression he's a bit of a pessimist.

and the fact that sometimes you need to choose your battles wisely, because there's more at stake here than his honor.

Yes, I don't think taking on the Lannisters was a good idea at all, and I haven't even met them all yet.

Joffrey... has no good traits. He reminds me of the Ralph Fiennes Nazi character in Schindler's List. There's just nothing good to say about the snivelling little shit.

Poor Sansa! I hope she gets out of marrying him somehow.

Tywin is a truly terrible human being... and, unfortunately, in Westeros he's far from alone in that. There are all sorts of truly detestable human beings wandering around.

They do seem to be a pretty nasty lot on the whole. No wonder King Robert took to drink.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

I tend to feel that Martin likes to give us a plethora of options and then shows us why each has severe problems.


One option not yet seen is Robert's older brother Stannis - who has only been mentioned but not shown. But I guarantee the options will multiply before they divide.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

Yay! They make an awesome couple (not in a slashy way, though I'm sure someone will write it).

And Tyrion will top! ;-)

[shapinglight]

Naturally. :)

[enisy.livejournal.com]

So far, I've only heard the book crowd call this episode slow; personally, being as clueless as yourself, I loved it. Especially the Dany and Tyrion scenes.

[shapinglight]

So far, I've only heard the book crowd call this episode slow;

:Blinks: Really? I thought it was a non-stop action fest myself. Better to be clueless perhaps.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I've read all the extant books multiple times, and I didn't think it was slow AT ALL. That's insanity!!! The last two episodes have been, IMO, amazing - the best of the series so far.

[shapinglight]

I agree, though I did like ep 4 very much too (the one with Jon Snow and Sam).

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

I've also read this stuff about the ep being slow but I don't think so at all. I loved it, the Arya scenes were fantastic. Sansa is totally a Twilight fangirl only with knights and princes and Tyrion's confession was even better than in the books.

And Viserys crowning was a chillingly horrible scene as much as he deserves it.

Also good news I have another PM for you.

[shapinglight]

I loved it, the Arya scenes were fantastic. Sansa is totally a Twilight fangirl only with knights and princes

Yes, I loved the Look that Arya and Ned exchanged when Sansa went off about Prince Joffrey.

And Viserys crowning was a chillingly horrible scene as much as he deserves it.

It was, though I couldn't bring myself to watch it. Horrid!

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Brilliant, brilliant episode. Tyrion's confession! The guy basically talked his way out of, apparently, the toughest prison (or jail, rather) in the country. Well, and bribed and befriended the right people, but still, that's a bi-product of talking. Peter Dinklage, shalalalala.

Arya! Seven hells indeed.

Sansa doing a very close approximation of a teenager with a crush on a pop star (and is it just me, or does horrid Prince Joffrey actually look a lot like Justin Bieber?)

YES. That's it exactly. Someone on TVTropes described her as Wrong Genre Savvy - she thinks she's in a romantic fairytale, when she's actually in a grim, violent, political drama.

And then everything involving Daneyrys or however you spell it. The heart-eating scene, the scene with the dragon's egg (how brilliant is that for an exposition scene? Jane Espenson, ladies and gentlemen) and her brother coming to a VERY gratifying end... Kal Dhrogo instantly became a far more likable character with that one act.

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Peter Dinklage, shalalalala

I agree. He's brilliant. Every scene with him in it is made of win. Not surprisingly, he now has his own LJ comm, tyrionfans.

Someone on TVTropes described her as Wrong Genre Savvy - she thinks she's in a romantic fairytale, when she's actually in a grim, violent, political drama.

Yes, exactly. Not that you can blame her for wanting to bury her head in the sand while she can, but she'll have to wake up to reality some time. Meanwhile, Arya seems to have been born grown up.

Kal Dhrogo instantly became a far more likable character with that one act.

And probably taller. :)

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

And probably taller. :)

He's always taller. By the end of s2, he won't need a fleet to cross the Narrow Sea, he can just stride across it.

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Assuming he survives that long. The trouble with being the biggest, meanest horse lord on the block is that there'll always be someone who reckons they're bigger and meaner.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

I loved, loved, LOVED this episode! One of the best so far, imo. Every scene with Tyrion is just made of win, and I loved how he somehow managed to talk his way out of prison. I, too, loved Tyrion's champion, Bronn. That was one bloody (and clever) fight. Did you realise that Bronn is played by Jerome Flynn of 'Soldier, Soldier' and Robson and Jerome fame?

And yay for Viserys finally coming to a sticky end! I have to admit it was horrible to watch, but still...yay.

There is just so much I loved about this episode. Can't wait for next week!

[shapinglight]

:waves: Hi, Cal. It was a terrific episode, wasn't it, though must admit I couldn't watch Viserys's death. Had to shut my eyes until it was over. People have said how cold Dany was while it was happening, but I think maybe she was waiting to see if the gold would burn him or not. If it didn't, then he really was a dragon, but it did. Ah well.

I didn't know who Bronn was played by, but it doesn't surprise me. GoT is chockful of wonderful Brit character actors.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

They've kind of skimped on the lifelong abuse Dani took from Viserys - just like they made her older. I believe in the book she's twelve or 13. Much better that she be older!

All the kids' ages were changed - Rickon was 3, Bran 7, Arya 9, Sansa 13, and Rob 15 - with Jon Snow a few months older than Rob. Many book readers tend to debate over Jon's parentage but no real answer yet. Of course, they might reveal it earlier if needed.