HBO: Game of Thrones

[Vee]

Isaac Hempstead-Wright would like to talk to you about warging.

Also, TPTB about why they ignore the Internet (and rightly [!@#$%^&*] so, IMO).

Edited May 5, 2014 by Vee

[DRW50]

I was joking about Jessie Camp. I know it's the same kid. He's a good actor. He just reminds me a lot of that weirdo (or Emo Phillips).

I really enjoyed the interview with Isaac - he has a good sense of humor and knows his character well. Poor Kristian Nairn, having to carry him around after having a bad accident.

I think it's smart to not look too much at the Internet, as there is often going to be arguments about which OTP is not being showcases, and which character is "hated" by the show...but cases like the sept scene, where the directors, showrunners, and actors are all on totally different pages, show the perils of being too closed-off and too sure of yourself. I hope their not commenting on that scene (and leaving GRRM to do most of the cleanup work) isn't about ignoring the Internet. That particular complaint has gone beyond just grouses on tumblr or message boards.

I can see why she did it, but she let the mask slip, and that's not a good idea. Cersei isn't weak or powerless. She's still very dangerous. Margaery should remember that.

Edited May 5, 2014 by DRW50

[DRW50]

Oh, and if anyone goes back and watches that mid-season 1 episode where Catelyn says goodbye to Ned, and she's wearing the cloak over her head...she looks so much like Sansa did here. Such wonderful casting.

[All My Shadows]

Okay, so I finished the second season on Saturday. I'll be trying to get the third season soon.

I LOVE this show. The first 10 episodes were kinda slow and confusing, but things finally got together for the second season, and I'm hooked. I still like some shows better than GoT, but it's definitely one of "my" shows now. I think the #1 thing I appreciate about it is that it is much, much more like the old primetime soaps than many of the shows that are marketed as such are. I love that there isn't an overhyped season-long mystery that fizzles out at the end of each run, and I love that it is truly a continuing story that just builds and builds with different storylines and different characters doing their own thing. I know most of you will have reason to disagree with this, but this show is a soap, and it's a damn good one.

I won't bore yall with my thoughts on stuff from two seasons ago, but I'll say that my fave characters will probably always be Catelyn, Robb, Danaerys, and Ygritte. I used to love Melisandre for her psychotic devotion to Stannis, but then they got Renley killed. I also love to hate Joffrey as opposed to just hating him.

Edited May 5, 2014 by All My Shadows

[DRW50]

I tend to see it as Renly getting himself killed, to be honest.

I'd love to hear your thoughts. I'm still in late season 3 (and watching the current episodes too) and I've bored people with my blathering. You can read my blathering about season 2 a few pages back.

What did you think of Dany's story? It was unpopular in season 2. I didn't mind it, until the last episode, which was kind of a bust.

Robb and Cat - love them to bits.

[EricMontreal22]

I thought that scene was brilliant. Michelle MacLaren, who is becoming one of my fave episode directors, also staged it wonderfully. For me it was all about how \ they’re both playing a game and, crucially, both know they’re playing a game. But they also obviously love this part of the game on some level that it seems almost like the only bit of joy they can hold on to, so they both agree to play it. If that makes ANY sense.

Ron Carlivati should read the comments about creators not obsessing over the internet. As for *that* scene, I'm not really sure how at this point they can make any comment that will make anyone happy. Yeah, they screwed up by a not knowing it would gt such a strong reaction, and by publicly not even being on the same page, but...

I know these past two episodes with their huge deviations from the books have made the book nazis mad, but storywise most of the changes make a lot of sense. Bran's story was pretty dull in the books, but to show more of it and add detail has helped. (While Danny's new plan makes a lot of sense, I admit that it does make me think we'll see random scenes of her doing nothing there until the final season 7 or whenever... meh.)

Oh and boo to the season being half over.

[EricMontreal22]

And new Daario, and ex Nashville Michiel Huisman apparently is so popular he's as of this last episode on Orphan Black (which is a bit surprising since for legal reasons they usually go for Canadian actors first.)

[ThePrinceOfSunspear]

While Cersei was excellent in the last episode it was a lil disappointing....I was expecting more of the rivalry that occurs in the books as the two fight over Tommen....

[Juliajms]

I wasn't all that impressed with it, considering that Cersei is one of the people who has hurt little girls and sat by and watched them hurt, while she did nothing. Plus, it's not like little boys are fairing any better in this world. Tywin might have sent Cersei to her marriage bed, but he also sent Jaime and Tyrion to war, prison camp and maiming. Cersei is the type of person who thinks she deserves mercy, but she doesn't give it to anyone else.

That's what happens, certainly, but I do think HBO has a responsibility not to let this show turn into some sort of snuff/ rape porn. Realistically, Sansa never would have escaped Joff without getting raped. Cat, Arya, Meera, Talisa, all of them would certainly have been raped and/or killed. However, I don't need or want that level of female victimization, even if I know that's the way things would have gone down in that world. Over all I think HBO and GRRM have done a pretty good job of straddling that line. I hope it continues.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Juliajms

[Vee]

Oh, I definitely didn't want Meera raped. And I was glad it didn't go there. But introducing the jeopardy at all, I think, is real - it was done with Sansa too a few years ago, and both of them escaped.

[Juliajms]

I'm with you.

I wonder if Cersei is going to try to marry Tommen off to one of Obyren's daughter's and was trying to trick Margaery into complacency? I have to watch the episode again, I missed some of the details and exactly what Cersei said to Tywin,

[Vee]

I only realized after the fact that Cersei was actually, potentially working each of the judges for Tyrion's trial - Mace Tyrell through Margaery ("speak to your father" about the marriage) and then the other two. But while that was clearly one motive, I choose to take her candor with each of them to also be a rare measure of honesty from her in a time of need. Because while she wants Tyrion dead for her own foolish, hateful reasons, she is also in an impossible position and has to bend the knee to each of them to go forward. If she didn't do that, Cersei would be as stupid as I've sometimes taken her for. A fascinating character, a tragic and complicated one, but often very foolish. I hope she is finally learning from some of her mistakes. Besides, Lena Headey was incredible in each of those scenes.

As to your theory, it's certainly possible Cersei could do that, but I don't see what the point would be to slamming the Tyrells beyond rash, personal hatred - as Tywin said, they desperately need House Tyrell to survive. Growing Strong, bitches!

On another note, Michelle Fairley should shortly be on the new 24 miniseries on Fox, which I am enjoying - she is playing a British arms dealer, in a role she took over from Judy Davis. I'm really looking forward to see her get her villainy on.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Vee

[DRW50]

I don't even think Cersei especially expects mercy for herself - at Blackwater she knew would be raped and murdered, which is why she was going to kill herself and Tommen. I also think Cersei at times tries to help in her own twisted way, as she did with Sansa when she thought Sansa was going to have to marry Joffrey. With that said, Cersei is a horrible, cruel person, and a huge narcissist. I still can't help feeling some sympathy for her, because of what her father made her.

Most little boys don't have it better in this world, but they often at least have the opportunity if they have the money. Cersei never did. Her father was verbally abusive and psychologically abusive toward her from a very young age - she was not even allowed to grieve for her mother without him tearing into her. He impressed all of his vile life lessons and beliefs onto her. Her only value in life was that she would eventually be raped and used as a brood mare. That takes a huge mental toll.

I prefer the rare moments when she reflects on who she is and where she came from, and doesn't act as the queen of the ants.

Edited May 6, 2014 by DRW50

[Vee]

I don't remember Cersei ever trying to help Sansa, I just remember her tormenting her. She went with the match with the Tyrells after Blackwater because it was what everyone wanted, not to try and spare Sansa a life with Joffrey - she didn't learn to fear Margaery until later on. I don't remember her ever being kind to the girl, just taking her own deep frustrations with her life's path out on her instead because Sansa was vulnerable. After the Blackwater, she had had her fill of grinding down the weaker young girl and tossed her aside.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Vee

[quartermainefan]

Didn't Cersei sit by and watch Joffrey's men kill all the children? I love Cersei but she is far from a sympathetic character.