[Abyss]

I'm pretty damn impressed with just how much ground HBO managed to cover in EPISODE 8...

In the space of one hour, we had the Stark contingent wiped out at King's L, Arya's Awesome Escape, the zombie attack at the Wall, Robb marshall the Bannermen and march to war, the Lannister forces pummling the rivermen offscreen, Tyrion pick up Snagga and co AND Dany aquire a certain slave while Drogo shows just how badass he is. Oh, and Sansa did some stuff. All said.... Holy. Fuck.

Syrio stole the show with his defence of Arya. That moment was just as awesome as it had to be and more.

Jon vs the ice zombie wasn't bad tho'. It was more violent than i remember it being in the books. Admittedly the way Jon burned his hand was a bit sillier (ummm.... grab the latern by the hot part? ummm.... the zombie wasn't THAT close...) but the scene still worked.

Robb taking control of the Northmen was way way better than i was expecting. The actor's been holding back his inner badass until now because it was totally believable.

And we finally see why Drogo is King Badass. The bit where he dropped his knives was just perfect!

On the acting side of things, everyone held up their usual awesome performance... i BELIEVED Barristan Selmy when he said he could cut through the five King's Guard "like cake!". Varys was suitably ambiguous. Cat's distress was real as was her pride. Sansa's nurse blocking the soldiers was so noble it hurt. Lysa is still fucknuts crazy.... i could go one but you get my point... this was an excellent ep.

I can't believe we only have two more to go, but i'm psyched for them.

[Ulrik]

I wont be able to see it today! I wont! Damned E3 and work!

Just tell me... is Syrio´s defense awesome, super awesome or best last stand ever?

[HoosierDaddy]

That scene is absolutely wonderful.

[Ulrik]

Words cant describe twister of different emotions...

[worry]

That scene was weirdly the most emotional one for me so far, kinda surprised. But this was really one of the best episodes. Only quibble is the stable boy scene really, but no biggie. Also, good to see Rickon again. GRRM didn't forget about him, even if everybody else did.

[Gothos]

Holy shit, Robb is genius... I didn't think much in the first episodes, but in Episode 8 he really shines. "Call me 'boy' again. Go on." - BRILLIANT.
Drogo was being badass, too - open the guy's throat, and use the hole to rip out his tongue? Epic shit right there.
Barristan's scene was also great.

Loving it more and more.



PS.

Spoiler

I didn't remember Jon throwing a lamp at the wight with a bare hand - didn't seem to get burned - another point reinforcing the Jon-is-the-son-of-Lyanna-and-Rhaegar theorem.

Also, wasn't Ghost supposed to not whimper and all? Thought that direwolf was completely silent. And albino, with red eyes.

[Tapper]

Syrio was pretty much awesome. I'll echo those who say Robb really came into his role in this episode. I wonder how many non-reader viewers are going to lay a link between him and Dany now that Ned seems somewhat doomed

I really liked how Sansa acted. In the books, I can't help but shout at her and think her a petulant little bitch, here, she's a young teenage girl who is all alone, who has only one card to play, and a weak one at that, and who is under very real pressure from not just any adults, but five of the ten most powerful people in the Kingdom. Very well acted.

The less said about Lysa, the better, but for me, Cat finally came into her own, and only at the Robb scene. I liked the Greatjon but then, that is his role in the series. Pity that Roose Bolton wasn't explicitly shown despite all the name dropping, he's rather important (GRRM knows that better than anyone) and I'd have loved a look at the bloodless and cruel Lord of Leeches.

Drogo was suitably bad-ass but I'll firmly defend the position that the "The dragon feasts on both horse and lamb" line totally stole his thunder in that scene

Also, didn't have Hodor have a beard in the previous episode? I liked how conversation turned to giants after he left the scene again. If he muscles up and grows long hair, he can play Ublala Pung.

Barristan: I demand a statue for that man.
Kevan.... I'm not sure. He seems a bit pudgy and lacking the pride and iron spine all the other Lannisters have, and his appearance and soft spokenness didn't really suit the image I had of him.

[Tapper]

Gothos, on 06 June 2011 - 09:36 AM, said:

PS.

Spoiler

I didn't remember Jon throwing a lamp at the wight with a bare hand - didn't seem to get burned - another point reinforcing the Jon-is-the-son-of-Lyanna-and-Rhaegar theorem.

Also, wasn't Ghost supposed to not whimper and all? Thought that direwolf was completely silent. And albino, with red eyes.

Spoiler

He feels the heat and yells in pain/ curses in the scene, I think...

This post has been edited by Tapper: 06 June 2011 - 09:47 AM

[Gothos]

Tapper, on 06 June 2011 - 09:45 AM, said:

Kevan.... I'm not sure. He seems a bit pudgy and lacking the pride and iron spine all the other Lannisters have, and his appearance and soft spokenness didn't really suit the image I had of him.

He is widely underestimated in the books, I'll remind you.
For AFFC:

Spoiler

Cersei learned firsthand that underestimating Kevan was a bad move, doesn't she? He doesn't look like much at first, but he does prove he's the same blood as Tywin, I think.

[Binder of Demons]

very good episode. Really psyched to see the last 2 eps now.

I have forgotten so much of what happens in the books that I can enjoy the show without nitpicking too much. And as others have said previously, the casting does seem to be top notch, with everyone pretty much nailing their role. Even Drogo has become quite impressive despite his eyeshadow. That fight scene was awesome, with Drogo suitably dismissive of his opponent.

OH, and that opening theme/sequence is fantastic.

[End of Disc One]

Didn't post last night because I was too busy geeking out over Robb Stark. I've always been a huge fan of is.

In fact I think it's time for a new avatar.

[King Bear]

Now that was an episode for defiance in the face of assholery.

We have Syrio's (presumably) last stand against a bunch of decidedly unlikable Lannister goons. My favourite fight so far. Epic. Comedic. Tragic.

We have Robb standing up to his bannermen, proving that he is the leader of the pack and a Stark rules in the North.

We have Dany standing up to the Dothraki and their tradition of following victory with rape. Yes, yes, it's their culture... I'd still side with Dany any day.

We have Drogo's execution of some Dothraki who wants Dany (and Drogo) gone because no Dothraki should bow to a foreign whore, but really because he just wants to get his rape on.

We have Ser Barristan's righteous knightly wrath against Sweet Cersei and Good King Joffery.

Edit: oh and Arya and the stableboy, Sansa in her own way, even Tyrion and the hillmen... and his dad a bit.

This post has been edited by Quick Ben's Magic Pants: 06 June 2011 - 02:44 PM

[Abyss]

Syrio's stand was brilliant, but Arya running down the steps crying 'Not today, not today' was gut wrenching.

I agree with the upthread comment that Sansa was actually less annoying here, especially considering the impossible position she's in.

I liked the banter during Drogo's fight....

"You'll have to kill me first."
"I already have." ...cuts the guy's throat with his own scythe then rips his tongue out.


In the books Ghost is supposed to be silent but it's a minor point.

Nice touch having Greywind run along the table at the Greatjon.

Bran's scene with Osha and Hodor was actually really really well done. Osha steals every scene she's in.

And hey, look, it's Rikkon! I think those were more lines than he has in the entire book series to date.

[Gothos]

Rickon seriously seems like a wild foundling...

[Ceda Cicero]

The scene was so well-done otherwise that I honestly didn't miss it too, too much, but I do sort of wish they'd left in Syrio and Trant's exchange: "You are quick for a dancing master" / "You are slow for a knight."

[Abyss]

Ceda Cicero, on 06 June 2011 - 03:31 PM, said:

The scene was so well-done otherwise that I honestly didn't miss it too, too much, but I do sort of wish they'd left in Syrio and Trant's exchange: "You are quick for a dancing master" / "You are slow for a knight."

It also wouldn't have hurt if they had spent 60 seconds somewhere establishing just who Trant was, but it was pretty clear once Syrio took out the redshirts/storm troopers/Lannister men that the last guy in the fancy armour was going to be a problem.

[Cobbles]

Quick Ben, on 06 June 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

We have Syrio's (presumably) last stand against a bunch of decidedly unlikable Lannister goons. My favourite fight so far. Epic. Comedic. Tragic.

Yes, that was great. And I liked that just as in the books, it was left unclear whether Syrio actually died in the end or not. By the way, was it ever cleared up?

So two more episodes to go.

[Ceda Cicero]

Cobbles, on 06 June 2011 - 03:57 PM, said:

Quick Ben, on 06 June 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

We have Syrio's (presumably) last stand against a bunch of decidedly unlikable Lannister goons. My favourite fight so far. Epic. Comedic. Tragic.

Yes, that was great. And I liked that just as in the books, it was left unclear whether Syrio actually died in the end or not. By the way, was it ever cleared up?

So two more episodes to go.

No, t'was not, and it's a hotly debated topic at Westeros. There's a fringe group who argue that Syrio could possibly be Jaqen, but IIRC, there are some very specific details about when he would've been in the black cells, etc etc that debunk this. Along with the question of why exactly Jaqen would be posing as a dancing teacher in King's Landing. Interestingly, though, some of the dialogue additions in the show are kinda sideways reinforcing this as a possibility, I think - even though I don't subscribe to the theory at all.

In any case, we don't know for certain what Syrio's fate was. There are some indications that Trant reported to Cersei that he killed Syrio, but his word is questionable at best on this matter, since a crooked knight of the Kingsguard would be unlikely to report to the Queen that not only did he fail to apprehend Arya, he also got beat up by a dancing teacher who escaped as well.

And Abyss, agreed on Trant. I'm thinking we'll get at least a few more shout-outs of him and the rest of the Kingsguard before season 2, since their personalities and loyalties are a lot more relevant and important in ACoK.

Those Lannister guards are feeling very Stormtrooperific. Then again I guess you could argue they come off a bit that way in the book too, so oh well.

This post has been edited by Ceda Cicero: 06 June 2011 - 04:03 PM

[Tapper]

Gothos, on 06 June 2011 - 10:05 AM, said:

Tapper, on 06 June 2011 - 09:45 AM, said:

Kevan.... I'm not sure. He seems a bit pudgy and lacking the pride and iron spine all the other Lannisters have, and his appearance and soft spokenness didn't really suit the image I had of him.

He is widely underestimated in the books, I'll remind you.
For AFFC:

Spoiler

Cersei learned firsthand that underestimating Kevan was a bad move, doesn't she? He doesn't look like much at first, but he does prove he's the same blood as Tywin, I think.

In the books, he's Tywin's right hand man and described as exceedingly capable but indeed underestimated - but Tywin does not suffer fools or softies.
in that minor glimpse here... he seemed a softie .

[Cobbles]

Ceda Cicero, on 06 June 2011 - 04:01 PM, said:

Cobbles, on 06 June 2011 - 03:57 PM, said:

Quick Ben, on 06 June 2011 - 02:36 PM, said:

We have Syrio's (presumably) last stand against a bunch of decidedly unlikable Lannister goons. My favourite fight so far. Epic. Comedic. Tragic.

Yes, that was great. And I liked that just as in the books, it was left unclear whether Syrio actually died in the end or not. By the way, was it ever cleared up?

So two more episodes to go.

No, t'was not, and it's a hotly debated topic at Westeros. There's a fringe group who argue that Syrio could possibly be Jaqen, but IIRC, there are some very specific details about when he would've been in the black cells, etc etc that debunk this. Along with the question of why exactly Jaqen would be posing as a dancing teacher in King's Landing. Interestingly, though, some of the dialogue additions in the show are kinda sideways reinforcing this as a possibility, I think - even though I don't subscribe to the theory at all.

In any case, we don't know for certain what Syrio's fate was. There are some indications that Trant reported to Cersei that he killed Syrio, but his word is questionable at best on this matter, since a crooked knight of the Kingsguard would be unlikely to report to the Queen that not only did he fail to apprehend Arya, he also got beat up by a dancing teacher who escaped as well.

Ah, thanks. I really liked Syrio (in the book and the show). It's a pity that so many good characters will have disappeared by the end of the season: Robert, Ned, Drogo, Syrio, and IIRC a few of the old guys at the wall/not sure when that happens.