Guardian GoT blog

[shapinglight]

My newspaper is running its Game of Thrones blog again. They've chosen to put it up after the US airing of the episode rather than wait one day and put it up after the UK one. I don't agree with the rationale, and nor do some of the commenters. Nice review, though.

Which is more than can be said for John Crace's review in today's paper. Bizarrely, he's been given the show to review when he doesn't like fantasy and hasn't even seen season 1, so I can't say I'm very sympathetic to his complaint that the show didn't spend enough time filling people in on what's happened earlier. That's what DVD box sets are for.

As I recall, last week's review of the first episode of season 5 of Mad Men was by someone who doesn't get the show and doesn't get the point of Don Draper (does he have to have one?). Strange. It's like they're trying to put people off the shows.

Comments

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Having people review genres they don't like seems to be an inexplicable trend.

[shapinglight]

I suppose the rationale is that it makes it more 'edgy', or that too much squee isn't conducive to proper criticism.

It does often seem, though, that if something has become 'too popular', the media (over here at any rate) suddenly becomes dead set on tearing it down.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but I don't even think liking should be a prerequisite. Being a professional critic should be enough. And yet the ~pros~ approach their reviews with their blinders fully engaged.

Liking a show doesn't make it good, yet so many critics treat it that way now. And prejudging just based on genre, blah. If a critic's not offering an informed opinion -- what's the point?

[shapinglight]

And prejudging just based on genre, blah. If a critic's not offering an informed opinion -- what's the point?

I agree. I suppose it was just this reviewer's 'turn.'

[ex_peasant441]

I imagine newspaper critics must get a lot of letters along the lines of 'since you hate everything you watch/read/listen to you are clearly in the wrong job, have you considered a career change?'

[shapinglight]

I'm sure they do. It probably spurs them on to greater heights of curmudgeonliness.

What? It's a word.

[ex_peasant441]

It's an excellent word. Far be it from me to curmudge on your usage.

[shapinglight]

:)

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I only read the last three letters of this post, and it doesn't make sense. What do you mean "ows."?

;)

[shapinglight]

You'll have to buy the box set to find out. ;)

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

Watched the final episode of S1 last night and am now ready to watch the first of S2, which I recorded. Can't imagine how anyone would attempt to review the second season without watching the first.

[shapinglight]

Can't imagine how anyone would attempt to review the second season without watching the first.

Me neither. I think the way you've done it is probably the best of all. I wish I'd managed to rewatch season 1 in the last couple of weeks. Did you like the finale?

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

I did. Although honestly, that death in epi 9 was more shocking. But I think that epi 10 did a really good job of temporarily wrapping things up and setting the stage for S2.

[shapinglight]

I love the final scene in ep 10, which I'd better not talk about more here, as one of the people commenting on this post hasn't seen all of season 1 yet.

Anyway, enjoy the first ep of season 2. :)

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

That is a great scene. I also very much liked the scene with Tyrion and his father.

[shapinglight]

Yes, that's brilliant.

[whichclothes.livejournal.com]

And now I've caught up--watched epi 1 of S2 last night. An excellent beginning, I thought. I was a little distracted by Dubrovnik, though. I kept saying, "Hey! I know where that is! I stood there!"

[shapinglight]

:)

That happens to me every time anything is set in Oxford.

[yourlibrarian]

Considering how different those two series are, what on earth DO these people watch?

[shapinglight]

I don't know. Reality shows? Worthy documentaries? (Not that I have anything against the second of those).