And now it ends. For 10 months or so anyway. This first season has been quite the ride. And it ended with a bang tonight. What did everyone think? My recap and thoughts are after the break. Feel free to leave your reactions in the comments.
Spoiler Note: This post is for those who have read the first book. As such the post itself and the comments will contain spoilers. The new viewer recap and discussion thread can be found here.
The finale starts off right where episode nine ends. We see a bloodied Ice and then an out-of-focus Ned’s head. Yoren carries Arya out of the crowd, but not before she steals a glance at Ned’s headless body being dragged away. For those new viewers who were still wondering, yup, Ned is well and truly dead. Yoren calls Arya boy and starts hacking her hair into the cutest pixie cut you ever saw. “Do you want to live, boy? North, boy. We’re going north.”
Back at Winterfell, Bran is having his three-eyed crow dream again. Actually he is telling the dream to Osha. Only this time the dream ends with him seeing his father down in the crypts. He convinces Osha to take him down there. He gives her (and the new viewers) a brief history lesson and we hear Rhaegar Targaryen’s name for the first time in the series since episode two. I suspect Rhaegar will get more development next season. Speaking of firsts, Shaggydog makes his first appearance, frightening Osha and Bran. Rickon is down in the crypts too and he has had the same dream of Ned. Bran heads back to the surface where he meets Maester Luwin and gets some sad news. And allow me to take a moment and praise Donald Sumpter’s performance this season. A performance that has flown under-the-radar a bit, but his Luwin has been superbly acted. Looking forward to seeing more of his work in season two.
Cut to Robb’s camp, where Catelyn is walking through camp and all the Northerners are bowing to her. A touching scene. She keeps her composure long enough to make it out of camp. She finds Robb, hacking away at a tree as if it was King Joffrey himself. Robb and Catelyn both promise revenge on the Lannisters. “We will kill them all.”
Meanwhile in King’s Landing, Joffrey is holding court. Marillion, who is none the worse for wear despite his sojourn to the Vale and run-in with the tribesmen, is there before the King. He has been caught signing a derogatory song about Robert and Cersei. Joff gives him a choice, he can keep either his fingers or his tongue. He chooses fingers. (It certainly seems Marillion’s part in the show isn’t going to last as long as it did in the books.) Joffrey then takes Sansa to see the head of her father. That Joff sure is a charmer. In a wonderfully acted scene by Sophie Turner and Jack Gleeson, we see just how vicious Joffrey is as he has his Kingsguard beat Sansa. Sansa remains brave in the face of this cruelty. She even entertains the notion of throwing Joff to his death. The Hound stops her and then wipes the blood from her face and offers her some kind words. San/San fans rejoice!
Back to Robb’s camp. There is a debate over whether they should ally themselves with Stannis or Renly. The Greatjon declares that Stannis and Renly mean nothing to him. What do they know of the North? There is only one king that he would serve and he bows before Robb. “The King in the North!” The other men take up the call. “The King in the North! The King in the North!” An epic scene, although I wish they would have saved it for a bit later in this episode.
Next Catelyn goes to speak with Jaime. The chains have done nothing to lessen his arrogance. Cat slaps him around a bit and insists that the injustice in this world is caused by men like him. “There are no men like me. Only me.” Cat asks him about Bran. Jaime admits to having attempted to murder him by throwing him from the window, but he doesn’t say why he did it.
In King’s Landing, we see Cersei has taken a new lover. Apparently she likes to keep it in the family because now she is sleeping with her cousing, Lancel, the king’s former squire. She has a letter although we don’t learn what it says. Does it say that Jaime has been captured? That would be interesting as it would mean she was sleeping with Lancel before she knew.
Somewhere in the Riverlands, Tywin is meeting with his lords to discuss their next move. The Starks have Jaime but to get him back seems almost impossible. They can’t make peace with the Starks since Joff just beheaded the head of their family. And with both Renly and Stanis declaring themselves king, they have their hands full. Tywin decides to retreat to Harrenhal and sends Tyrion to King’s Landing to serve as Hand of the King and keep Cersei and Joffrey in line. But he has to leave his whore behind.
Across the sea, Dany awakes. Jorah tells her the bad news, her son is gone. He was stillborn and a deformed monster besides. Drogo lives, however. Mirri Maz Duur takes her to see her “sun and stars.” He is nothing but a vegetable now. No son, no khalasar and now no khal. Dany talks to Mirri, why did she do this to her? She saved her life. “Look at your khal and you see what life is worth when everything else is stripped away.”
Back at the Wall, Jon is saddling up his horse in the night. He is going to leave Castle Black and join up with his half-brother Robb to avenge his father’s death. Sam attempts to talk him out of it and gets nearly trampled.
In Tywin’s camp again, Shae is packing to leave while Tyrion tells her what his father told him. His father forbids Tyrion to bring her with him to King’s Landing. Everyone always has to do what he says, Tyrion complains. Shae pouts and Tyrion relents. After all, “The King needs a Hand and the Hand needs…” A personal whore, apparently. Hey, that season two sexposition has to come from somewhere!
Jon is galloping through the woods, away from the Wall. He is being chased. He ducks under a branch, but one of his pursuers his not so lucky. He eats it. Turns out it is Sam. First trampled and now knocked off his horse by a tree branch? He’s having a rough night. Jon turns back to make sure Sam is okay. Pyp and Grenn are there too. They want to bring Jon back to Castle Black. Don’t you remember your oath? They ask him. Since he seems to have forgot, they recite it to him, give him his sword, and change his mind. Despite my snark, I actually really liked this scene. I got chills when they recited the oath.
Back with Dany now, where she is tending to her mostly-dead khal. (Where’s Miracle Max when you need him?) Dany realizes that keeping Drogo alive in this state is not right. So she mercy kills him. Khal Drogo, badass of all badasses, dies twice. First from a scratch he inflicted on himself, second from his puny wife smothering him with a pillow. This is what makes this show (and the books) great.
We then get a couple of season two table-setting scenes. First, some sexposition with Ros and… Pycelle? Yup, it seems Pycelle isn’t the kindly old grandfather you might think he is. He is actually a lying, whoring, schemer who acts much more frail than he really is. Oh, and Varys and Littlefinger? They are still here, serving the new King and acting as shady as ever.
And Arya? She is joining a ragtag group headed to the Wall with Yoren. We meet Hot Pie and Lommy Greenhands who try to bully her around, but Arya (Arry now) is having none of it. She gives as good as she gets, and gets a hand from Gendry. He was ditched by his armorer (presumably because with Robert gone, he wasn’t getting payments for him any longer) and has decided to take the Black. They set out from King’s Landing with 1,000 leagues to go to get to the Wall.
Meanwhile, up at the Wall, Commander Mormont reveals that he knows about Jon’s nighttime escape attempt. “If we beheaded every one who deserted for a night, the Wall would be guarded by ghosts.” He tells Jon that he needs his full commitment to the Watch, now more than ever. They are going beyond the Wall, in force, to find Benjen Stark and whatever else is out there.
Back to Dany, where she and what is left of her khalasar are gathered around Drogo’s funeral pyre. Rakharo places the dragon eggs on the pyre, Dany orders Mirri Maz Duur tied on the pyre as well. She sets fire to the structure and then walks into it. Dawn. The pyre is a pile of ashes. Jorah walks up to what is left of the structure and amidst the rubble sits Dany. Craddled in her arms are dragons. Jorah falls to his knees. “Blood of my blood. I am yours.” She rises. Her black stands atop her shoulder and spreads his wings and screams.
And the credits roll on a truly amazing first season of Game of Thrones. This final episode was a bit more slow moving than some of the other late season episodes, but holy shit, that ending. They nailed the dragons. They looked amazing.
My biggest complaint of the episode was that they put the King in the North scene way too early. It should have come later in the episode, instead of the Pycelle and Varys/Littlefinger scenes. It would have made for three epic endings (four if you count Arya’s), that all had season two implications. So even though that scene was cool to watch, I felt it would have had more punch if it had been later in the episode.
The rest of the episode was very good though. Catelyn and Jaime’s conversation was great. Can’t wait to see what they have in store for Jaime in season two. The scene between Joffrey and Sansa was phenomenal. Sansa is starting down a dark path, but I love how Sophie has given her an inner strength. She has really come into her own as a character. And seeing Arya with her little group at the end was a great tease for season two. As was Jon’s epic ending. Oh yeah, and there were dragons! Roll on season two!
595 Comments
There were a couple things in that episode at the end that went a bit different, but I don’t care. They fucking nailed it! The whole episode was beautiful.
“…and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.”
TrollsbaneQuote Reply
Hot Pie!
CyanQuote Reply
fuck yes.
gendry’s hammerQuote Reply
Maester Pycelle is more spry than he would have you believe.
Conrad ArthurQuote Reply
I was nervous about how the dragons would look but that’s big movie quality CGI.
NolanQuote Reply
The dragons looked amazing. It looks like that’s where the budget is going to, and they nailed it.
Ryan JohnQuote Reply
Epic.
AmbyQuote Reply
Just Amazing. They nailed it, incredible!
Ryan EQuote Reply
The first Arya chapter from “Clash” was in this episode, but I can deal with that. Nice job keeping Jaqen hidden under a cloak… looks like we get to debate S=J for another 10 months at least.
RobertQuote Reply
They did a nice job with the Dragons. I was really worried it was going to be cheezy.
The models and animations were great. Not over the top to emphasize “DRAGONS RAWR”.
AshStormQuote Reply
Loved every second of it.
MichelleQuote Reply
Amazing episode. It gave me chills more than once. Dragons looked awesome. I liked the King in the North scene, but I wish it would have been saved until the end, right before the dragons. Small nitpick in an otherwise wonderful episode. Oh yeah, and Ros just had to make an appearance…
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
Fan-tastic. The wee baby dragons were very well wrought.
KGQuote Reply
THE KING IN THE NORTH!
kolaQuote Reply
I can’t see it until Tuesday, somebody please post me a screenshot of a dragon :(!
RoseQuote Reply
DRAGONS!!!!!!!!! Amazing. Props to the visual effects department. Very, very pleased right now.
(also, GENDRY!!!!!!!)
Ok, going to watch it again now.
Carrie MeathrellQuote Reply
My expections have been met … I believe Trollsbane had the right quote …
“…and for the first time in hundreds of years, the night came alive with the music of dragons.”
Marilyn BonesQuote Reply
*Standing Ovation* (still)
Author! Author! and, er, Screenwriters! Screenwriters!
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Wonderful!
Dragons looked real!
Wolves galore!
Arry! Hot PIE!
Rickon sighting!
The Book 2 things were a bit odd but it makes sense from a TV standpoint.
You have to set up season 2 well and let everyone know where the storylines are going.
Hooded JAQEN! Hmmm
CZQuote Reply
saving budget for amazing looking dragons instead of below average looking dire wolves and dragons……worth it
gendry’s hammerQuote Reply
Great episode…it’s going to be a long 10 months
Tim tQuote Reply
Wow.
Returning eyeballs to sockets.
Eventually.
Franny BeeQuote Reply
I’m already having withdrawals…..
Kristen WeaverQuote Reply
Loved the episode.
One nit, or maybe its more of a question. I remember in the promotional materials we saw a scene with the Mad King and Brandon Stark. GRRM himself confirmed that the Mad King had been cast. We never saw this scene right? Did they just shoot it for the DVDs?
JohnQuote Reply
Had my doubts, but spot-on excellent.
Shaggy!
Lord of FangsQuote Reply
I wish they could have fit in the comet, but I guess it’s hanging out with the Blackfish.
LossothQuote Reply
Yoren is a better barber in the series than in the books.
Conrad ArthurQuote Reply
Where is the scene with Brandon in the throne room? Dvd addition?
TrollsbaneQuote Reply
Dragons were amazing! Bodes well for direwolves next season!!!!! I loved how they integrated Shae into the story!!! Jaquen was hooded. Miltos keep your passpot up to date! did anyone else notice that the pyre at the end was more or less the same shape as the occult bodypart ritual from the prologue? Wan that Moonboy I saw under the sheets with Lancel and Cersei?
Lord Ned’s HeadQuote Reply
Can’t edit my previous post for some reason…want to add:
Nailed everything, especially the King in the North which I was afraid would be weak from what we saw in the preview.
Dragons looked EXCELLENT.
Lord of FangsQuote Reply
What was up with Pycelle doing calistenics? LOL.
Dragons were awesome.
SteveQuote Reply
I was crying through about half of that episode. Dany and Robb killed me.
I was glad we got to see the Night’s Watch heading out from the wall, and Arya. Really sets up next season nicely.
(Yay Hot Pie!) (and Gendry)! Also, Yoren’s hair-swording skills are great–that cut was cute.
Oh and the dragons looked fantastic. :)
PamoyaQuote Reply
The baby dragons! they were awesome. I think the body with the dragons at the end was cgi, it sort of stood a little oddly, but that’s fine. It was awesome. I am happy with how it ended. Arya’s haircut was actually an adorable pixie look.
purplejillyQuote Reply
great episode! But was it just me or did it seem like they jumped the gun a bit with the King in the North Scene?
ExodusQuote Reply
Loved it, loved it, loved it!! The episodes kept getting better and better as the season went along and the last was truly epic! (My husband will be a little disappointed that I watched this without him but that’s his problem for going camping instead of being home to watch the finale.)
Raynette SchroederQuote Reply
Robert,
Not really cause Jaqen can, you know, change his face and stuff…
KatjaQuote Reply
Felt that some parts of the episode dragged but man… those were some pretty awesome dragons!
Bonus: Found a pretty awesome pic that sums Joffrey up on Twitter
http://yfrog.com/h0y372j
NotAFanOfJonQuote Reply
Utterly awesome. Goosebumps and near to tears throughout the episode. So many awesome scenes. Night’s watch vow scene, King in The North, Dany killing Drogo, Night’s Watch rides forth! Oh… and Sansa rocked the ‘head on spike’ scene…. brilliant acting. And finally, let there be DRAGONS! Fuck yeah.
Tamsin Cleo GermanQuote Reply
okay i don’t have HBO so i can’t watch this until it is on Pirate Bay but can somebody please please tell me if the dragon’s wings are attached to their forelimbs like a bat or did they go with the ultra stupid four legged dragon with wings on their back?
thanks.
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
excellent finale…loved the final scene especially…
coltaine777Quote Reply
Pamoya,
purplejilly,
I knew damn well they weren’t gonna give Maisie Williams the Lumpyhead haircut.
Conrad ArthurQuote Reply
Wow! The dragons were awesome! But my favorite scene was Bran/Osha in the crypts (with Rickon and Shaggy Dog!) and then the extremely sad Maester Luwin giving news to Bran (and then cutting to Catelyn Stark’s fierce pain as she marched through the camp). When Luwin approached Bran, I teared up. So sad, and the actors all nailed it.
David The GreyQuote Reply
New theory based on TV show.
Pycelle=S=J
=p
TrollsbaneQuote Reply
I was so worried about the cgi dragons, and they were awesome! My non-reader husband was psyched, and he spent the majority of the episode shaking his head about Ned and Drogo’s deaths. When they showed hooded Jaqen I spontaneously yelled “Cop-out!” because I’m a diehard S=J fan. And now a year of waiting for me, my first because I was late to the party. Casting news would be most welcome at this point HBO…
uberstellarQuote Reply
Here’s a question: I remember before the season GRRM mentioned that D&D had moved the death of a character that died in the third book up to season 1. Did I miss that along the way?
DanQuote Reply
First time I am off work so I can watch in real time like everyone else.
Quick thoughts.
Love the Dragon. Love D&D ended it with only the Dragon’s scream.
Dany looks like Mother of Dragons with her amazing womanly figure. It must be hard for Emilia Clarke to do that nude scene in broad daylight. She did a great job in the whole episode.
The Nightwatch’s march through the tunnel looks great and builds momentum for the final scene.
Love Jamie’s self loathing. It will be great in Season 2 and 3.
A bit short on Lannister’s war council but right up to the point.
D&D got everything in there in this final episode – SanSan, Sansa’s attempt on Joffrey, even Shaggydog and ghost. Can’t complaint much.
All in all, a great job!!!
SugarVampireQuote Reply
I, too, was afraid they the King in the North would be disappointing, but it was as epic as I’d hoped. I kinda wish it had been closer to the dragons though. And epic one-two punch would have been ever BETTER. *sigh*
They only did about half of the Jaime/Cat scene from Clash. I approve. Gives her a reason to go to him again next season. ;) And they showed Cersei with Lancel! I wasn’t expecting that already. Jaime’s only been gone for like five minutes! ;)
MichelleQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
here you go:
http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/5219/1308535263983.png
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
I think this ends up being an error/rumor. I saw no one die that shouldn’t have..
purplejillyQuote Reply
David The Grey,
I absolutely agree with you. It was completely heart felt watching the rest of the Starks realize Ned’s death.
AshStormQuote Reply
The very definition of amazing is this episode!
Excluding the reappearance of Ros and her pricey bits… this was a flawless episode!
My biggest fear for Season Two has been molified, at least for now. The dragons looked very, very good.
DarquemodeQuote Reply
Loved it. A few things were odd, but I suppose they were necessary as a season finale to build up for next season. All the characters really gelled into their roles. As homage to ASOIAF and a way to draw non-readers into the story, I thought the season was excellent, and the finale was probably one of the best season finales I’ve ever seen. I could go on. I probably will, elsewhere. Haha? Looking forward to your comments.
Bill WolfeQuote Reply
Wow. They fit so much into this one episode. I glanced at the clock and it was already 8:50 and I’m thinking how can they possibly do the ending in less than 10 minutes? Then when the screen went black after Dany walked into the pyre, I was screaming at the TV and ready to toss something at it when it came back with Jorah’s boots. Big sigh of relief there. And then dragons. Hell yeah.
I just realized no red-tailed comet, too. I was so completely mesmerized that I didn’t even notice. I’m sure we’ll see it at some point.
We finally got to see Shaggydog. More lines for Rickon too!
What a great Season One. As others have said, I’m prepared to forgive dogs as wolves and minimalist battle/tourney/hunt scenes for those incredible dragons. I wish we could have gotten a better view of all three in their glorious color, but it worked. I’m happy.
How did the show do in the Emmy’s? No way I was going to watch and miss this episode.
Endless casting speculations, waiting for the DVD and some leaks from the filming of Season Two will have to suffice until next Spring.
LangkardQuote Reply
All I gotta say is…..HOTPIE!!!!
MagusQuote Reply
Loved it, but I thought it was odd to cut from Jon leaving Castle Black to a Tyrion/Shae scene then back to Jon fleeing Castle Black. Why couldn’t they just make that one continuous shot, it was weird.
Other than that odd editing choice this episode was amazing, I am so relieved, I was so worried the dragons would look terrible. But they were beautiful.
I really expect some casting announcement tomorrow.
Jessica C.Quote Reply
1. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing Arya bump into Gendry. There’s is one of those relationships I really loved in the book. I’m definitely liking the actor they chose to play Gendry, even though he is nothing like I pictured in the books. I’m not worried about the age differential because I think at least in the beginning theirs is like a big brother/little brother dynamic. I wonder how many new viewers caught that he’s the same guy Ned found earlier when he was investigating Jon Arryn’s death. That seems so long ago! :)
2. Wow. Sansa has gone from irritating brat to such a sympathetic character over the last couple episodes. I knew she was going to get slapped. I wasn’t expecting 2 smacks. The sound of metal against her face made me cringe. Poor Sansa. I was almost hoping they’d take a detour and have her shove Joffrey over the edge. It was nice to see Sandor step in to stop her and gently wipe the blood off her lip.
3. I got teary-eyed watching Cat walk through the Stark camp towards Robb. Powerful stuff. Also, nice scene with Cat and Jaime. I wasn’t sure if they were going to have her cut him loose this season or next. Glad they’re waiting until next.
4. King in the North! Theon, you lying bastard!
5. But the most impressive of all—-DRAGONS! They look awesome! They’re the right mix of other-worldly and adorable. I want one :) Dany looks so badass in that scene.
6. RIP Khal Drogo. Jason Momoa, you will be missed.
DreamlifeQuote Reply
EPIC. EPIC EPIC EPIC.
I need to watch again and compile my thoughts. But it was fantastic.
My biggest worry – the dragons – were AWESOME. And the whole composition of that scene was so beautiful. Dany’s pose was reminiscent of a Classical sculpture. The music – a variation of theme – was perfect. Just everything…very epic and powerful and lasting.
YESSSSS!!! The only bad part is that we now have to wait a year to see more :(
LinaQuote Reply
Ok I’m hooked and really want to read the books. But should I proceed with just the first book? Or does the first book story line go past the first season’s story line?
Spaced OutQuote Reply
Spaced Out,
First book for sure. There is so much more that they couldn’t possibly put in the tv show.
Think of the TV show as a cliff notes of the novels.
CZQuote Reply
Sorry to double post but am I imagining things? Marillion got his tongue ripped out?! in season one?!
DreamlifeQuote Reply
Dreamlife,
Actually, Theon sticks to his guns with Robb, until he gets home and realizes he wants his father’s approval even more. Can’t really blame the guy.
KGQuote Reply
Spaced Out,
Season 1 = Book 1. From this finale, they actually but a FEW things from Book 2 into it. If you want to just read Book 1, you will be fine. It will spoil nothing for you for Season 2
AshStormQuote Reply
Dreamlife,
My thought was, Marillion left the Eyrie?
Maybe his tongue is the untimely death?
Tongue-gate!
Lord of FangsQuote Reply
purplejilly,
I missed the rumored Book 3 death also, but Marillion was definately changed signifigantly. He could well be dead from the tongue removal, but he was meant to die in Book 4 AFFC so he would not fit the rumor anyway.
DarquemodeQuote Reply
Jaime! Shaggydog/Rickon!! HOTPIE!!! DRAGONS!!!!
Fire and Blood = Fuck and Yes
SkyeQuote Reply
I had to look it up to make sure I wasn’t going crazy about the previous reports of a character’s death in book three being moved up to season 1:
http://winter-is-coming.net/2011/04/dd-more-ruthless-than-grrm/
DanQuote Reply
Im not a newbie, but I missed that! Perfect
cindyashQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
After rewind, the Dragons have bat like wings with two hindlegs. They all looked great. D&D actually had the gold tone one sucked on Dany’s tit when Jorah found her – just like in the book. Amazing work!!!
SugarVampireQuote Reply
The fire isn’t as good a barber as the book either. Was Really looking forward to the naked bald suckling dragons woman.
Dragons were worth saving the money. Wish they had enough for wolves.
daev3Quote Reply
I think I have to watch this one again. I liked most of it, but the order of some of the scenes was a little weird and might be throwing me off right now. I thought King in the North happened too early, and I while I liked Tyrion and Tywin’s scene, I think it was cut a bit short. Didn’t really care for the scene with Grand Maester Pycelle, and I have to say he was probably the last person I would expect to have a sexposition scene with Ros.
The last scenes of characters were all done really well for transitioning into the next season, especially Jon and Mormont’s voiceover, Arya leaving with Yoren and bumping into Gendry, LF and Varys seemed like they were back to business as usual. That’s why I wish they had moved King in the North to the end, it’s an epic way to end the storyline of this season for Robb and it just felt like it happened too soon (though the scene was great).
Arrogant BastardQuote Reply
I’ll be honest, I thought the episode was slightly weak, but I realize it’s setting up for next season. I don’t know, it just seemed like it lacked the oomph of the last few eps.
AziraphaleQuote Reply
wings attached to forearms (like a bat). not four legged.
metalgoddessambQuote Reply
Dreamlife,
No you didn’t see that wrong and are right in not recalling it in Book 1… or any book.
I can’t recall it exactly, but wasn’t there a reference to the Mad King making a minstral choose between losing his fingers or his tongue in one of the books?
DarquemodeQuote Reply
Had the same reaction when Dany walked into the pyre and all went black. Also, sighed with relief . Fantastic! I was afraid they wouldn’t treat Danaerys in her glory! They did. Looking forward to Season 2 and am glad to have found this website. Hopefully, I can come here to chat with you all about the season!
ApuliaQuote Reply
The book and the tv show pretty much ended at the same point. But, if I were you, I’d just read all the books. I did. Twice. Trust me, you’re better off having the books spoil the tv show than have the tv show spoil the books. Besides, you don’t have to stop reading after 55 or so minutes or wait 10 months to read the next one (or four).
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Great episode. I never made the J=S connection that is really intriguing me. I think Arry’s haircut will be the new thing this summer. I was a bit surprised that Dany still had her hair but couldn’t care less really. And no mention of Dany never being able to have kids again. Hmmm….
DeborahQuote Reply
My favorite scenes were all in the beginning – each Stark had his/her moment in this one. Sansa absolutely nailed it (courage and fear and loathing and …), the Bran, Rickon scene was awesome (Maester Luwin and Osha were kick-ass) and love the Robb/Catelyn scene. But then they left the Starks (minus Jon and Arya) for a long time. The Pycelle scene? Huh? Roz?
F’ing Maege Mormont… in the HOUSE!
Team SansaQuote Reply
I LOVED IT
DRAGONS LOOKED PERFECT.
King in the North was great. The beginning with Robb’s camp was very emotional! Yoren & Arry & Gendry & Hot Pie & Lommy Greenhands FTW! Loved seeing their little group!
The Pycelle scene is the only weird one in there, but I even liked it. It was funny!
ZackQuote Reply
Hm I don’t think Marillion died. He just lost his tongue. I’m not too sad because his songs have been pretty awful.
Least impressive to me were the Wall scenes, particularly Jon running away. That scene was a little more exciting in the book because I half-expected him to join up with Robb. I did laugh a little when the riders go after him and one of them, Sam, gets knocked off his horse when he runs into the tree branch.
Also, I agree King in the North could have been saved for closed to the end. I think in the book that scene was almost as awesome as the dragon reveal at the very end. With Ned’s death taking me way down emotionally, those two scenes got me pumped for the next book.
Also, the scene with Ros and Maester Pycelle was incredibly out of place. I didn’t learn anything from Pycelle’s ramblings… Glad we didn’t have to see him get naked. *shiver*
DreamlifeQuote Reply
thanks for the dragon morphology to all of those who replied. thank goodness they didn’t do them like the physiologically and biomechanically impossible D&D dragons of yore.
i really really really wish i could download and watch this before i have to go to bed for work … but all that is up now are the inevitable “scam” torrents by those trying to be schmucks … grrrr
so jealous of everybody with HBO!
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?Quote Reply
Anyone else notice the Hound … Mr… “I am not a knight” wearing Kingsguard armor?
jennlyleQuote Reply
This episode was FULL of AWESOME.
Dragons!!!!
King in the North!
Aftermath of Neds death. SUCH HEARTBREAK!
RICKON AND SHAGGYDOG!
MENTION OF RHAEGAR AND LYANNA!
Just one quibble. I did miss Greywind next to Robb during the “King in the North” scene. Ah well. We got lots of Ghost.
Ok folks. I think I missed it. WHO WAS the character that dies in season one that was supposed to live to season three!?
Lets hope they put some more budget to getting the direwolves more into the season 2. Even if they are CGI like in the Twilight series. We just NEED them in there more. So HBO loosen those purse strings!
WolfheartQuote Reply
Okay will be back to comment but WTF was with that Roz/Pycelle scene. I really hope Roz doesn’t return next season. She’s been part of some serious WTF moments. That scene added NOTHING to the story except showing Pycelle was a horny, hypocrite. They could have done that in ten seconds….
Besides that OMG THE DRAGONS LOOKED AMAZING! Ergh this episode was so good! I can’t wait another 10 months!
I guess the good thing is, for at least a few days I will have a Dance with Dragons to fill my Song of Fire and Ice void.
JoshQuote Reply
Bald heroines might work in a book where you don’t have to actually… look at them. They don’t work on TV; moreover, I am sure that Emilia Clarke would have refused to shave her head for the series. Being shorn is a severe form of punishment for a woman — it has ever been thus.
The part of Daenerys is very much a sexual/romantic lead in many respects. In order for that to work in a visual medium? She needs hair.
Simply put: it was never, ever, in the cards.
Steel_WindQuote Reply
Why is the Pycell scene so strange to so many? He’s not as he seems. Listen to Littlefinger. Trust no one.
He shows that he’s not the decrepit forgetful old man that everyone thinks is he is. He’s lucid and has his own agendas.
TrollsbaneQuote Reply
Those baby dragons were enough to make me forgive Ros sexpositioning herself all across Westeros, even with Pycelle. I love dragons. Love them. And these dragons reminded me of Anne McCaffrey’s cool little ‘fire lizards’. I am going to be watching that scene over and over again. I love the look in Ser Jorah’s eye, and the tremble in his voice after he sees Dany and the Dragons, and says “Blood of my blood” and falls down on his knees, and I can just hear in his head, he’s thinking “Well this is sure turning out better than I thought. I have backed the right fucking horse in THIS game!”
There’s a terrible custom in India, I think it is, of the wife throwing herself on the husband’s funeral pyre, so she doesn’t have to be a ‘burden’ to her other relatives, since she can’t remarry. This sure puts a nice twist on that awful custom. Yes, thank you, I didn’t burn with my husband, and now I have three fucking dragons to rule your asses with!!
purplejillyQuote Reply
No, it’s Joffrey that does it. Right before he takes Sansa up to see the heads. He gives the minstrel a day to decide.
DarkwingQuote Reply
FYI: Drinking and watching this series with a newbie is too much teasing temptation. My non-reader husband was very upset that when he asked me point blank if anyone likable dies this episode because he wanted to prepare himself, I said no, and defended it by saying “Technically, Drogo died last episode so”. But now he’s especially wound up, and when I ask him what his new favorite characters are he says Tyrion and Jon, I just exaggerate avoiding eye contact with an uhoh face. Muahaha.
uberstellarQuote Reply
Steel_Wind,
Don’t act like nobody’s into that.
Conrad ArthurQuote Reply
I don’t think that was the same actor as played Marillion.
We learned Pycelle has been in King’s Landing for a long, long time. We learn that he is therefore a cunning player, breaks his vow of chastity as a Maester, and pretends to be feeble in order to be underestimated by the other members of the council.
The details of what he said was unimportant. It was the transformation from stretching to decrepit shuffling that mattered.
I do agree it seemed out of place though. Roz appeared — once more — to satisfy our need for more… Roz?
I would have preferred more time on the Wall — or at the least — the Dothraki Blood Riders refusing Dany only to have them swear to her as she walks out with the dragons.
I expect that in editing, the show ended up with a shorter run-time than was originally expected.
Steel_WindQuote Reply
I’m interested in Larry’s thoughts!
Lord of FangsQuote Reply
Steel_Wind, well she certainly wouldn’t have needed to actually shave her head for the scene. A bald cap would have done the trick.
But yeah, they may have tried the bald thing and decided it made her look too strange/unusual and detracted from the scene. The focus should be on the dragons anyway, and if people are distracted by the baldness it wouldn’t have been good.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
great first season, only quibbles are lack of rumble at the tourney, the skipped battle scenes, and no Tower of joy, but those are minor complaints. they could even put that flashback in season 2 in the House of the Undying scene
Blueberry2Quote Reply
1. Was that the actor who played Marillion? Because in the book Joffrey absolutely does this to a minstrel who wrote a song about the boar that killed Robert resembling Cersei — but it’s not Marillion.
2. Denouement is the word for this episode in general. It was calm, and in a 10-hour arc, it should be. Ned’s death was the climax.
3. We all have our “I wish it was included” – mine was Osha’s line when the raven came to Luwin about Ned’s death — she says to Bran (and Rickon) – “You know what it says, boy” and not unkindly, and I wish they had phrased it that way. Still good.
4. The Pycelle scene was both the worst and most useless scene so far. Not sure where they are going with that, but while it developed Pycelle nicely with his weird comments — either delusional or simply convincing himself. But really, do I care about Pycelle? Developing Theon makes sense. Developing Pycelle? Although, like Theon, I had begun to miss Ros’ breasts.
5. They absolutely nailed the dragons. Less expected was absolutely nailing both Jon scenes. Adding in the riding north was fantastic — so was his friends bringing him back.
6. Best added semi-added sequence was Jaime and Catelyn, although the Littlefinger/Varys sequence was kind of fun. I immediately said, “Joffrey is so out of his depth here.”
AlanQuote Reply
Yes. She’s baaaack! Where has she been? A journey through time and space to … the July 4, 1921 ball at the Overlook Hotel with Jack. Here’s the pic.
Mike ChairQuote Reply
No burnt hair makes sense since hair is a part of your body.
Dany the Unburnt shouldn’t mean Dan the Unburnt except for her hair.
SteveQuote Reply
Ros is really pissing me off. Too much of a done thing. I don’t like Shae either. She’s morose and bitchy, wouldn’t last 10 mins in her profession! If you want a downer, talk to your mom/wife, lol.
Franny BeeQuote Reply
Sorry to interupt everyone’s season finale reverie, but I had to ask if anyone was able to read what Ned was whispering just before Ice came down. I noticed it on a rewatch.
We Light the WayQuote Reply
I just want to say that the score for this series is just plain awesome. The ending song/credits song gave me goosebumps.
LugezQuote Reply
I chose to marathon the whole season leading up to the finale so I am wrung. out.
The season and the finale were amazing. I was also very worried about the dragons. And they were excellent. Loved that Sansa had that momentary urge to push Joffrey off that bridge. (And the Hound saved her. . . )
I wonder how killing Marillion off early will change what happens later?
Sumiko KeayQuote Reply
They would have had to carry through with that all next season though, and had her hair grow out short. And for the next few seasons after that, tbh. It’s just a total pain in the ass. For what? Not worth it.
Speaking of which, Tyrion will not have his face injured in Season 2. Not in any permanent manner. Just putting that out now. Won’t happen. Not necessary for the story and all the extra time and pita in makeup with Dinklage, every single goddamn day until the end of the series? It will drive Dinklage NUTS. Nope. Won’t happen.
Steel_WindQuote Reply
I’m curious about that flashback… We clearly saw what looked like a scene from a flashback back in one of the early trailers before the show premiered. I think D &D even commented “how did you know that was there?” or something to that effect when asked about it. I don’t recall seeing it play out in season 1. So was it a clip from a different scene? Or is it a scene that pop up next season? Or will it not be shown at all?
Anyway, enough analyzing for one night. I shall resume tomorrow. Perhaps I’ll dream of dragons tonight! :)
DreamlifeQuote Reply
Danny was supposed to be nursing the dragons as I recall. And she should hae been fully nude in this scene. Please no one feel the need to defend Emilia Clarke from my opinion. She is wonderful, brave and beautiful actress who would have carried it off perfectly and without psychological damage.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
He said, “I bet Larry Williams is gonna be pissed.”
Mike ChairQuote Reply
They did kind of slip Sandor into the Kingsguard without notice, didn’t they? It wasn’t that big a deal in the books, I suppose; although I think they missed out on a chance to really dig deeper into the Hound’s character, with no scene to set up his being named to the Kingsguard. The book scene shows Joffrey’s disdain for just about everybody when he names a non-knight to the Kingsguard. I wonder if we might get some explanation early in Season Two?
LangkardQuote Reply
Hey everyone loves the dragons and they should, but big ups to the boys for the final Night’s Watch scene. The music in the background with Mormount explaining what’s going on beyond the wall was a PERFECT lead into what’s to come way up north.
Hodor
Hotpie
Everything else doesn’t matter ;)
WelfareNinjaQuote Reply
That’s what makeup artists are for.
Eric FitchQuote Reply
Darquemode,
Nope that’s pure Joffrey, out of Sansa’s last chapter in book 1.
LeofricQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
Wierdo. She was about as naked as it gets, no need to have a crotch shot.
NotAFanOfJonQuote Reply
Steel_Wind, but she’s wearing a wig already. A few months will have passed, so her hair would be partly grown in. They just would have had to get a wig with a pixie cut.
Anyway, it’s not a huge deal. And I agree with you on Tyrion’s nose.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
He said he wasn’t quitting the series during his live stream and that he will have the review up tonight!
Huzzah!
PS – Nothing like a good ol’ fashioned witch burning. Ha!
Mark JohnsonQuote Reply
Um, she was and was. Or did I watch a different episode?
BrianQuote Reply
Haha, I’m going to hear that everytime I watch that scene now!!
Also, trying to read an episode in the book before the next episode and note all the events character introductions etc. is harder than I thought, i.e. failed miserably, but I have 10 months now to catch up!
We Light the WayQuote Reply
YES! yes yes yes yes yes! oh sweet mother of dragons yes! I can’t be happier with what I just saw. time to rewatch. gods that was fantastic. all my fears about the dragons are gone. happysighface
Jess SnowQuote Reply
Honestly, my primary complaint with the series is that Maisie Williams (as far as i know) isn’t getting nominated for anything. Just makes me want to go to HBO HQ and scream “Rabble, rabble, rabble, rabble!”
ExodusQuote Reply
Both she and Isaac Hempstead-Wright were nominated for Portal Awards for Best Young Actor. Not as big a deal as an Emmy, but the Portal Awards from originate from the Sci-fi/Fantasy website Alphadock (formerly SyFy Portal until they sold the name to the TV channel). GRRM mentioned the nominations on his Not-A-Blog along with nominations for some of the older actors and the series itself.
LangkardQuote Reply
Gendry’s hot
OhWhoCaresQuote Reply
It was excellent. The episode, the season. The casting, the writing.
Sure, there are little quibbles, but in the scheme of things, it’s been an amazing ride. It’s even got my non-reader husband to pick up the book to get all the little details.
Like everyone says: It’s going to be a long wait til Spring!
MelarraQuote Reply
That should be Airlockalpha, not Alphadock.
LangkardQuote Reply
Isn’t the reason that is was Roz with Pycelle to show that Littlefinger has his spies as well? I mean, we know she was working for Littlefinger.
The fact that Pycelle acted like a moron while she was there and then showed he’s not old and decrepit and senile as soon as she left indicates that Pycelle knew she was working for someone.
It set up Pycelle as not being a fool, and showed that Littlefinger has his ‘little birds’ as well.
It is setting him (Pycelle) up for his confrontations with Tyrion next season, I believe.
Dave NeumannQuote Reply
If they show Pycelle getting caught by Tyrion in bed with a whore and spraying piss all over the room as he tries to get away, I’ll have to give HBO credit for doing something entirely new on television.
LangkardQuote Reply
Pycelle and Ros was the most WTF scene in the entire season. What the fuck?! Why include this crap? Couldn’t it have waited until the next season.
The Night’s Watch departing overlaid with Mormont’s speech was fucking epic though. Best part of the episode.
SergioCQHQuote Reply
The Old Bear’s speech, and then the DRAGONS, left me shaking. D&D: thank you, sers, for doing this better than we could have hoped for! My only nitpick for this episode is, did we really need Pycelle and Ros? Would have been better spent seeing Joffrey name the Hound to the Kingsguard, IMO. Esme Bianco, thanks for your service, I’d love to see more of you on screen, but not in this show.
So, yeah. Dragons. Rawk.
George DWQuote Reply
I thought the dragons were amazing. Great episode! Not as good as 9, of course, but this sets up next season very nicely. Though where was Gerard Butler?!?! :)
I also appreciated that they didn’t move the entirety of the Jaime/Catelyn interrogation scene. It’s too soon to start seeing any humanity in Jaime.
They REALLY are taking out any L+R=J clues. In the book, doesn’t Bran say that, in his dream, Ned’s shade was trying to tell him something about Jon? Though without any Tower of Joy flashbacks, or any flashbacks at all (the typical L+R=J “clues”), that would’ve come out of left field.
However, my wife, a non-reader, was slightly disappointed. She gave me a look, and said “Cheesy.” I also have a good friend, a non-reader, who is OBSESSED with the show, but has stated that he’ll stop watching if it gets “too fantasy.” Oh well, his loss :)
DaveBQuote Reply
yes, they could have put one of those skin head wigs on her, esp. if it was supposed to look burned off it would have matched fine – I guess they went with an artistic decision to show that the Targaryen hair is magical too, and doesn’t get burned off. I actually find it more believable that just the clothes burned, and everything that was a natural part of her body was fine
purplejillyQuote Reply
I think it was their attempt at humor, wasn’t very funny though. I was just as bored as Ros was.
And Pycelle’s outfit was way to sheer!! I was afraid we were going to see more of Pycelle than my eyes could handle.
Jessica C.Quote Reply
Agreed as well. If they REALLY want to have him badly injured, they’ll just give him an eyepatch or something. Unless GRRM makes Tyrion’s lack of a sense of smell into a major plot point in Books 5-7 :)
DaveBQuote Reply
Blueberry2,
Major budget busters next season = Battle of Blackwater, CGI dragons in every Dany scene, CGI direwolves (they eventually have to be as large as their dead mother), House of the Undying, Giants on Mammoths, and Fist of the First Men. I fear for the survival of the House of the Undying scene.
Speaking of the Blackwater, did anyone notice the GREEN FIRE during the Season 2 teaser? Wildfire, anyone?
Overall, a great episode and a fantastic season. I nearly cried at the pain shared between Robb and Catelyn. Also, Shaggydog!
zep243Quote Reply
We Light the Way,
I’m guessing it was a prayer…. I’m partially deaf and have been able to semi-lipread, I’d like to take a closer look and see if I can figure it out.
John-Michael LelievreQuote Reply
When the boys of the night’s watch surrounded Jon and started reciting the oath to him, it almost felt like a new kids on the block video. I am waiting for the spoof on this where they all start bursting out in song, singing the oath, and doing synchronized dancing.. New Kidz On Da Wall.
purplejillyQuote Reply
I found this to be an interesting article. It talks about the next season and decisions that D&D had to make in regards to battle, direwolves, dragons, etc. It seems that they are thinking about a lot of the same concerns that readers have.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/19/game-of-thrones-season-finale/
markQuote Reply
Disagree.
John-Michael LelievreQuote Reply
purplejilly,
I would so watch that :)
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
Oh and I was soo happy to see Jaqen under a hood! Wooohooo!! The theory lives! :) Not that him looking like Syrio or Miltos would mean anything, since Jaqen is a facechanger.
I love the whole Arya meets her band of brothers scene. Gendry and Arya meet! He’s much better than a Frey boy for Arya : )
ANd why didn’t they have Ros sex up the King’s Landing Butler, instead of Pycelle? Instead the KLB was too busy to be seen this time, stamping decrees with wax seals and all sorts of other household running stuff. Maybe we’ll see him next year!
purplejillyQuote Reply
First of all, loved the King in the North and the dragons. Dragons easily made up for the points I felt was lacking in this episode. I’m not a frequent commenter…. but I’m a bit upset that they didn’t include the bloodriders with the “blood of my blood!” Having Jorah say it seemed off, I mean he’s not even Dothraki. Just my two cents. Also to me, the “Why? why?” part of the Catelyn-Jaime discussion was kind of stupid. What, she can’t put two and two together?
But overall, wonderful ending and such a tease for the next season.
DragonStargazerQuote Reply
OMG Tyrion with an eyepatch would be pretty darned cool! Eeveryone knows an eyepatch increases the sexiness by +10
purplejillyQuote Reply
zep243,
Yeah, Wildfire. Wildfire, baby! Yeeeeeehaaaaaaaaw!
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
This is from James Hibberd’s recap: here’s your answer regarding the death moved up: “Tell me, which do you favor, your fingers or your tongue?” Joffrey asks, all curious. The singer makes the tough choice, saying every man needs his hands. Joffrey is pleased. “Good, tongue it is! I’m done for the day.” Yes, it’s all in a days work for King Joffrey. When I asked the producers why they moved this maiming scene from Book 3 to the first season finale, they said simply, “We couldn’t resist.”
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
zep243,
That would be a huge disappointment if they removed the House of the Undying completely. I think most of that scene can be done without crazy special effects. I have the feeling the dragons and wolves will be shown sparingly and giants might be pushed to season 3 or out of the show altogether.
Blueberry2Quote Reply
purplejilly,
Lowers charisma by -2 though.
In an unrelated note – anybody who won’t watch GoT because of dragons, but will watch True Blood and its telepathic fairies eating “lightfruit”, is officially a weirdo.
DaveBQuote Reply
Okay the episode doesn’t air for another 24 minutes here in Alaska but just wanted to come on and geek out over what I am about to watch. One part of me is jealous of all of you who have seen it, but I get it to see it fresh in just a few minutes so maybe you are jealous of me, lol.
Anyway will be back with comments in about and hour and a half and I cannot believe that soon I will see the scene I have been waiting 16 years to watch, since I first read GOT and was just blown away by the book and especially the final written scene with Dany.
I am about to scream I am so excited, yes scream, as I am feeling positively giddy about what I am about to see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay my friends will be back in a bit.
Eric NiewohnerQuote Reply
DaveB,
I don’t even have a word for what I saw on True Blood.
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
I hope we all realize this is just another episode of wig-gate. The tell-tale sign is those hairs at the back that stick out away from the neck when the head is bent. Not a hair on Maisie’s head was harmed in the filming of this episode.
DH87Quote Reply
So I guess Bran in the crypts with Osha talking about Rhaegar and Lyanna is as Tower of Joy as we will get this year. I guess they don’t want to make it too easy. I liked that scene, with them down there, and Rickon and Shaggydog scaring them, it was well done and believable. Osha looks like she had found a brush somewhere, and her hair is less wildling punk now. I liked that Hodor was afraid of the crypts, and Osha had to take Bran down. It was good. Then when they came back up, and Maester Luwin was reading his R-Tweet.. OMG, I haven’t really mentioned it yet, but I had tears in my eyes every five minutes tonight like I was Glenn Beck talking about America. Every scene had me crying, from Arya’s haircut to the final dragons.
I dehydrated myself.
If I was GRRM I would probably be dancing nekkid around my living room tonight with a bottle of champaigne, celebrating the birth of my dragons on TV like that.
It was an inspiring moment, and I hope this turns the tide for us sci-fi fantasy fans, and we start seeing a lot more of this genre being produced in the TV/Movie lands.
Still not happy with Ros but found it funny that this weeks sexposition was post-event and the cleanup time was when they were babbling. Still don’t like Shae. Too different from book Shae.
But we have DRAGONS and that makes it all better..
purplejillyQuote Reply
Eric Niewohner,
Eric, it’s epic, you will scream and it will be well worth it! So few events in life are actually scream worthy but this is one of them!
purplejillyQuote Reply
I mean, I guess to each their own. But saying True Blood is okay, but GoT is dorky fantasy, is mind-boggling.
Lightfruit. That’s all I need to say. lightfruit.
DaveBQuote Reply
there was a season 2 teaser?! *starts searching frantically on HBOGO*
MegQuote Reply
Why would you wish that on Ty?
DaveBQuote Reply
Also it was very sweet, how shocked Tyrion looked at finally getting his father’s approval, having his father give him an important job, and calling him ‘you are my son..” I thought Tyrion was going to cry.. Good father’s day for Tyrion.
purplejillyQuote Reply
This is horrible. My husband has to get up for work at 3am, which means no Thrones tonight. All I get to watch is the little red recording light on my DVR, and it’s KILLING me.
If one night is this hard, what is 10 months going to be like? :(
binzerQuote Reply
Ty? who’s Ty? i thought his wife”s name was Paris or something.. *confused*
purplejillyQuote Reply
DaveB,
Agreed. Lightfruit haha.
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
Though in the book, doesn’t he realize (internal monologue) that his father is hedging his bets on Jaime not surviving his stay with the Starks, and hates him for it? It’s the inherent problem with the translation from book to screen…those important thoughts just don’t make it.
Though if that particular thought was extremely important to D&D’s take on the story, they would’ve had Tyrion fire that very line back at his father. Or have him riding with Bronn, having Bronn congratulate him and then have Tyrion tell Bronn what was “really” going on.
DaveBQuote Reply
Ty is his loyal assistant!
DaveBQuote Reply
I know they have time restraints and everything but the episode seemed a little half assed. The time they spent doing things with Littlefinger, the spider, and the maester (think thats all of them) they could of added a little more for the other characters especially Daenerys. One thing is when she asked her blood riders to be her blood riders i thought that was genius how they did it in the book and wanted to see how it was going to be done in the show but they didn’t.
Also It might be me or did the fight that arrya had with the boys about her sword not happen until the 2nd book. It was the beginning but it was the 2nd book. also with Jon and the nights watch, but that is more understandable since its suspenseful. W/e cant wait for the 2nd season.
Right now i am just starting the 2nd book and i hate when i have to put it down wont be long till i finish it.
Francisco DiazQuote Reply
Could you just imagine if they didn’t renew the series. Have it end like that HBO would be so hated.
The series hands down has the best villains. The person who plays Joffrey is freakin awesome, same with Cersei. No complaints about the cast.
The king of the north seen would of been WAY better if they were at a hall and everyone was saying “king of the north” as they were slamming their ale down like a drum beat.
Dragon scene was freakin awesome. Series hands down is the best series I have ever seen I give it a A-. It would be better if they would of shown some type of a battle scene, and a more scary Hound. However everything else was spot on superb, from casting, outfits, locations, animations, nudity, and scripting. The writers have a huge job ahead to continue the quality. Again I hope they take their time and do it write and not rush it out. I don’t mind waiting for quality.
GhostQuote Reply
Hate to say it, but I think this is the first episode that disappointed me. Mostly sexposition and that littlefinger-varys scene that I was not impressed by. Not to say it wasn’t well acted, but it seemed like a waste. I was also expecting to see the Mad King and Brandon Stark(as was teased in trailers and interviews), and for Bran’s dream to finish(or for there to be a little more to it).
The Dragons looked very cool though.
Maisie and Sophie were terrific in their scenes as well.
Kit Harrington was great as Jon as always.
dtbQuote Reply
Francisco Diaz,
The stuff with Arya was from her first chapter in Clash of Kings but the Stuff with Jon all Happened in book 1….
and for those on about Jaqen is Syrio remember Jaqen is a Faceless Man so even if they are the same which I do believe in my heart they would still be portrayed by different actors cause of the whole face changing thing
Zach ZQuote Reply
http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Game-Thrones-Season-2-Teaser-Play-Resumes-Spring-2012-32922.html
It’s really not much. A true “teaser.”
DaveBQuote Reply
purplejilly,
Error, Rumor, or GRRM trickery!
dtbQuote Reply
dtb,
Look at James Hibberd’s recap on Ent Weekly- he addresses this.
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
What does the S=J stand for?
Eugene ToussaintQuote Reply
The BEST episode of the season. It was just dead on A Song of Ice and Fire.
Shaggydog scene! Finally and it was worth the wait. Osha is banging it too, in fact all the actors were amazing tonight.
Michelle Fairley and Richard Madden are playing their roles with a ton of heart, and I’m feeling it. I love you Robb!
I loved the Pycelle scene, especially that Ros was there. The use of the whores in the show is perfection. Plus the Spider/Littlefinger conversation was great setup for the rest of the series.
Damn though, can I say Dany stole the whole f’ing thing when she gave that speech. I am 100% team Fire and Blood.
DRAAAAGGGOOONS
NicoleQuote Reply
OH and just to add, the begining was absolutely baddass and twisted. Joff and Sansa were serious tonight.
NicoleQuote Reply
Great episode, the dragons were cool, but seriously, would it have been too much to have her look up to the sky and photoshop a comet there? :P
RakhanQuote Reply
Eugene Toussaint,
You will need to have read through at least the second book, and preferably all four to totally understand and avoid spoiler nation, but there is a prevalent theory that Syrio the Braavosi was a Faceless Man and didn’t die but hid in the dungeons under the guise of Jaqen until Yoren’s NightWatch recruitment. Through my re-reads I’ve caught quite a few parallels between the two characters, and so far, the ambiguity of the show has backed them up. Long live Syrio!
uberstellarQuote Reply
after effects
DaveBQuote Reply
Best episode yet! I can’t believe what a great job D&D have done translating this book to television.
JonJonQuote Reply
Shadowcat85,
I read Hibberd’s recap, I’m not sure what it is he addressed?
dtbQuote Reply
Shadowcat85,
Hey Shadowcat, I read his review but didn’t catch where he addressed it (the “person from book 3 who dies in season 1″)? Though I’m falling asleep here so I probably just missed it. What’s he say?
DaveBQuote Reply
At the final scene, during the fire, when it went to black, my heart sank. I was thinking it was going to end like that….and then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes they show Dany standing up bearing the most fucking amazing dragons ever. It was perfect.
I also really liked Jon’s story on screen this episode.
The DarkStarQuote Reply
OMG THAT WAS SO GREATT
omgomgomg…deep breath….
That was. The. Most. EPIC. Episode ever! BAR NONE! (Yes, best again)
Things concluded better than I could have thought possible. A mastery of storytelling and pacing, it was so, so well done!
Squeee and all that…I need to watch it again, NOW
kerningQuote Reply
I don’t like Shae. not at all. something not right about her. I barely had a thought about her at all before, but now I reallydon’t like her.
and Osha had a bath! and a comb, yay!
metalgoddessambQuote Reply
Oh ffs, IF Syrio survived, there’s no way he can Jaqen. None. They covered Jaqen with a hood because they haven’t cast the actor yet. So some extra wears a hood and that’s that.
I think the story about the minor character’s change got garbled and is referring to Marillion. Pretty significant change and he’s no longer a singer.
Steve the PirateQuote Reply
purplejilly,
i thought it was the boy that arya killed a few episodes back.. in the books that doesnt happen until harrenhal
KCQuote Reply
purplejilly,
I think they should cast Milos right out as J with a bit of disguise so that J will be someone who could look like S. Some will complaint that will reveal too much for the reader if S=J is actually the case. However, in season 2 and 3, Aristan will be shown to the viewer as someone who looks like Barristan Selmy anyway. Sometimes, things have to done differently in different media.
SugarVampireQuote Reply
uberstellar,
Thank, i read all the books so that would be bad ass. I actually just finished reading the second book for the third time, getting ready for A Dance with Dragons, the whole S=J is not something I saw but it would be great.
Eugene ToussaintQuote Reply
I’m okay with them using the same actor for Arstan, or not “disguising” him in a huge way.. I think as long as Dany + Company don’t know his true identity, all is good.
DaveBQuote Reply
dtb,
DaveB,
Well, he doesn’t mention a death being moved up from Book 3 to this season, but he mentions the scene with Marillion’s tongue being cut out being moved up from Book 3 to this episode.
Shadowcat85Quote Reply
Seems the Tully’s are the ones who are getting shafted in the series. I guess I’m only sour about it because the BLACKFISH is one of my favorite minor characters. I’m thinking Roose Bolton will be introduced next season?
Michael ArnoldQuote Reply
Don’t get your hopes up. D&D are completely mesmerized by this actress for some unfathomable reason (there can be only one). Expect plenty more Ros.
DH87Quote Reply
Am I the only one underwhelmed by the dragons? I’m not that hard to impress, but they kind of looked cheezy.
MarkQuote Reply
I think you refer to “sati,” which technically has been outlawed in India since the 1800s but one such suicide was reported as recently as 2006.
DH87Quote Reply
The Whole S=J does not make much sense because as the show depicted, every adult that was part of Ned’s house was killed, even the nuns, so its unlikely they would just throw Syrio in the black cell especially after he killed so many Lannister guards
Eugene ToussaintQuote Reply
That little “splash” you heard was Mark throwing his line into the water… let’s watch and see if he gets any bites…
EdQuote Reply
Agreed. There’s already so much cheese in the first 8 minutes of True Blood that it must have been filmed in Wisconsin instead of on The Lot in Hollywood. Talk about CGI disasters—that Palm Springs meets Planet of the Apes crap that passes for “Faeryland” has got to be in the top five of 2011, at least. Truly embarrassing for any but a kiddie show.
DH87Quote Reply
Just rewatched the episode and had to come back and say I think they need to just sign Alan Taylor up right now to direct every episode of season 2. Say what you will about the writing, but the direction of the last two episodes was far and away superior to any other episodes. Just my humble opinion.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
I normally read this website but hardly ever post. I have to chime in though, I have read all of the books to date and I am absolutely LOVING season 1. AMAZING finale, and wow I loved the dragons (can they keep that up? easy in place, wait till they start flying around!)
My wife watches with me and has never read the books, and she LOVES this series as well. Now she can’t wait for season 2 (she already wanted to know if there was a preview..haha).
I’ll be interested to see how the ratings turn out, but it wont matter.. give people that haven’t watched this show the summer/fall to watch it, and I expect rating hikes through the roof next season.
Well done to the actors, screen writers, directors, and of course our beloved George RR Martin!
DanQuote Reply
Ed,
(hugs) Ed, my home fry … the first bite was you.
KGQuote Reply
DaveB,
Let’s face it he’d vent his frustrations to Shae, mid boff, that night in his tent.
Adam WingQuote Reply
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy frigging dragon crap that was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have waited 16 years for that scene and it was more than worth it. The dragons were awesome, amazing, and that final scene was EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have not read any comments so going to go back and read them then post some more, but yes, yes, yes and a million times yes this show just rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eric NiewohnerQuote Reply
Dan,
Well said Dan. Exactly how I feel and what I experienced, right down to the wife.
Karl CondonQuote Reply
Ed,
Anyone who even thinks the dragons were portayed sub par, or cheesily, should be banned from these forums because they must be TSK incognito….I Don’t think you fed the troll by subtly saying “Don’t feed the troll”
The DarkStarQuote Reply
Eric Niewohner,
Hi Eric, I haven’t been able to watch the entire episode yet, but I couldn’t resist to jump straight to the end … and once I saw the 3 little ones, I knew you’d like them :D
JedaQuote Reply
purplejilly,
Hmmmmm, I think they may have been talking about Marillion the singer. Wasn’t that him in the throne room with Joffery and then he got his tongue riped out. That part was in the books but Marillion wasn’t the singer in question. Marillion stays with Lysa Tully and helps her try and kill Sansa. He then in turn is killed in the 4th book though, not the 3rd. And even so, he didn’t die in this episode, he was just crippled. Anyway your thoughts…
my watch BeginsQuote Reply
metalgoddessamb,
Agree. For me it’s partially her accent. It takes me an extra second to figure out what in 7 hells she’s saying. The other thing, for me, is her attitude. She was so much more likable in the books.
Ms. StormbornQuote Reply
Holy shit @ the finale. They fucking nailed it. I went in with a host of reservations and fears, some of which I had since the show was in development, but the creative team put them all to rest tonight. Definitely one of the best season finales I’ve seen.
I can’t help but think back to the day when Catelyn was recast, and how many of us freaked out over her appearance. The actress has been wonderful all season, with tonight being damn impressive and heartbreaking. The mixture of sadness and rage on her face tonight was quite stunning. That emotional tension flowed through the rest of the episode as each actor and actress turned in great performances.
I’m quite impressed with how many of my favorite scenes from the end of the book were portrayed. The King of the North was quite impressive, although I didn’t like the change in Catelyn’s reaction; it’s my favorite moment out of the book series, and overall I thought they did a damn good job. Tywin’s scene with Tyrion was great; Dinklage has been amazing all season, and Charles Dance was quite a welcome addition to the second half of the season. Finally, the dragon scene was done perfectly. The dragons looked pretty damn good; I had feared they would look cheesy. Damn Dany was perfectly cast.
Alan Taylor also deserves a lot of credit tonight as well; he directed Fire And Blood as well as Baelor. Both episodes were elevated by great, emotional performances and better camera work than some of the earlier episodes. He’ll be directing four episodes next season, which is great news.
More Rice CooksQuote Reply
Two candidates. The exact words were “There is one character who dies in the first season who does not die until the third book or fourth book, and who dies differently”.
I doubt they were Martin’s words though, more the journalists who conveyed them. Marillion is a possible candidate since his downfall happens in book 3 but we only hear bout him jumping to his death in book 4. Although he doesn’t die in ep10, just without a tongue, he’s pretty much finished for the series though.
The other candidate is Mago who was killed by Drogo in season 1 but who left the Khaleesar and is not dead yet as of book 4 in the books.
My guess is it’s Marrillion they were talking about it but the whole thing was somehow deformed.
JedaQuote Reply
I take back my words about not liking the finale.
I just watched the season finale of the Killing, that was probably the worst episode of TV I have ever seen in my life. Made me realize how amazing the first season of Game of Thrones has been, and what a great job D&D have done adapting the book, and creating a narrative across an entire season.
dtbQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
They went the bat route fortunately.
TravisQuote Reply
THANK YOU whoever is responsible for leaving the battlement scene intact. Sandor fans have been a bit jilted this season, but I’m hoping for better luck next season. I loved the bit on HBOGo from David Benioff re: Sandor and Sansa.
I wish I had hundreds of lemoncakes to hand out right now to everyone involved with the awesomeness of this show.
Petits_ChouxQuote Reply
I was sort of interested in one point which is sort of becoming quiet pridictible for me but not looked at hard.
But did anyone else see some sort of disgust in Cersei’s attitude for Joffery. Like before she was always “You’re my darling boy!” But now when they were doing the judgements and he had the singers tounge cut out …
She sort gave him this look of pure loathing.
It seems sort of a stark contrast to her attitude of Joffery is always right in the books to one of “Who is this monster?” in the show.
I mean Joffery being forced to marry Sansa always seemed like a punishment from Cersei in all mediums … but in the books it’s because he balked his mother in front of everyone … but in the show it was like she did it because of what he did to Ned.
It all seemed to come from Ned’s beheading … it almost seemed that apart of Cersei died with him … even before she knew Jaime was Robb’s Prisoner.
Just something I didn’t expect.
A little Ned/Cersei possibly? (My brain goes there alot these days)
Phantomwriter05Quote Reply
Little did we know this whole series has been just a diversion from the true story to be told: “I, Pycelle”
Ryan McCoyQuote Reply
LOVED the finale. Only concern…will Otaku quit his entertaining reviews because Drogo was killed?
Art DudeQuote Reply
My recap is up. Scroll up the read it (it includes a hi-res screenshot of that final scene). And now I’m going to bed. I suspect I will dream of dragons tonight.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
purplejilly,
I think it was Marillion being cut off his tongue…
Anna BackstromQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
Dany not naked enough for you…perhaps Emilia Clark wants to preserve a bit of her dignity ? privacy..whatever. Any actress ought to have the right to draw whatever line they want, and I fail to see that it would have made a great difference to a great scene.
obsidianQuote Reply
I am way more curious what they have in store for Catelyn in season two than Jaime.
Jet_Black_ChairQuote Reply
Avalanche3319,
In the EW article mentioned above, David and D.B. mention that they loved Taylor’s work so much they’re bringing him back for FOUR episodes next season. Which is just flat out awesome cause he has done by far my favourite work on a directorial level on the series so far.
JCQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
“Where’s miracle max when you need him” HAHA, I see you’re taking recap lessons from Hibbard.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
Dreamlife,
My non book reader boyfriend picked it out right away, and he normally has a really short attention span and memory, so I’m going to say it’s a good chance he will be remembered by other non readers.
Kristen WeaverQuote Reply
People are seriously complaining that Dany wasn’t naked enough? after all the “sexposition” and “indignant nudity” rants…. come on people.
John-Michael LelievreQuote Reply
Eugene Toussaint,
Syrio was not part of Ned’s house ..he was employed by Ned, but if he escaped, he might not be expected to carry out a vendetta.
obsidianQuote Reply
Whats wrong with four legged Dragons? :P Not that I mind the bat-winged ones, but I always enjoyed the four legged ones.
Tre SvatekQuote Reply
Actually, in that moment Tyrion realizes that his father has already given Jaime up for lost/dead and he hates him for it.
Raven callingQuote Reply
I asked in his live steam for Ep 10 and he said he was going to stick with the series. I would have thought his review would be up by now.
Mark JohnsonQuote Reply
It was a delight to turn on television tonight and learn that Yoren was a fantastic hair stylist before he became a brother of the night’s watch!
He managed to make Arya more feminine! (Not a complaint, just made me laugh.)
The dragons did work but a few seconds of mostly immobile dragons on a mostly immobile actress certainly does not allow for the kind of plot-involved dragons that will be required and will interact with actors in season two.
Child actors will age quickly I bet.
The wording of a press release from HBO and a strong first season’s ratings make me wonder if they will up the CGI approach and budget.
My final series overview:
Four great episodes to end the season with a mixed bag of good television and too-talky television. Every series finds its way a bit in the beginning so lets hope the creators are able to look at what worked and admit to weaknesses and improve them.
I think the show really feels less epic in spots than it needed to. Other pay-tv series, including some on HBO, are able to do crowds and public spaces significantly better.
Some on-screen flashbacks would serve the story better. I am betting they are expensive.
Better wolves are also required.
Acting for the season was excellent. Casting was excellent. Costumes, particularly armor, was not excellent. I am troubled about the ability of the series to deliver the Danny story in the future because of sets, locations, costumes and not falling into the trap of easy but obvious cultural shotcuts.
And, I will be mostly alone, but sexposition was over the top and silly. Meeting the whore quotient per episode was heavy handed. I can already hear people telling me “But its HBO.”
To me HBO means I can expect serious, adult drama with complex characters and plots that doesn’t shy away from sex or violence when it is needed. It doesn’t mean the production is obligated to have nudity or sexuality that doesn’t move the plot forward.
The final dragon scene with nudity: No problem. Drogo learning to accept his bride as a sexual partner rather than a sexual object: No problem. But I still shake my head at the thought of Littlefinger directing two whores in pleasure performance while spilling his guts to them about his goals, dreams and secret inner-child injuries and motives.
Emmy nomination for Sean Bean.
Larry D CurtisQuote Reply
I wonder if Septa Mordane tried that excuse.
MWQuote Reply
obsidian,
Yea, but the whole S=J thing means he did not escape, it means in was put in the black cells after being defeated by the King’s Guard or somebody else but as you can tell from the book and show, they were not exactly taking prisoners during that time, besides Ned i mean. Thus it would be highly unlikely that no matter what happened to him, what happened to him would result in him being in the black cells, not to mention that that Yoren probably took his pick of the dungeon back when Ned first said he could rather then after the Little Finger’s betrayal, which is backed up in the show when he tell Ayra that her father gave him the pick of the dungeon in the show.
Eugene ToussaintQuote Reply
Jeda,
Oh yes the cgi was awesome and the scene just amazing. But really just a great episode with some incredible acting. I will come back to Dany later but let’s start with King of the North.
King of the North was really well done and dramatic and I hope the people who love it so much enjoyed it. It’s placement in the episode was fine as you want to spread out your dramatic moments and not jam them all together at the end. Dany’s scene was the only way they were going to end the season so you put KOTN in earlier. However the scene where Cat walks through the camp and then once in the woods let her grief show was very powerful and she just nailed that scene as did young Robb, their grief was palpable.
Arya and Yoren were great and I loved that they moved this up from book 2. A great way to give us some Arya and set up her journey for next season. Arya was great all the way through and the scene with Gendry was well done.
The councilor scenes, Varys, Littlefinger and Pycelle were done to show the conniving and power plays around the thrown. The Pycelle scene was specifically done to show us that the old Maester is cagey and playing LF a little bit by acting like an old doddering man with Ros and then after she leaves we see he is actually not a doddering fool, but does Ros have some scandalous pictures of one of the producers to get so much time in this show, lol.
Great to see Sansa getting more well rounded and we knew she had some Stark in her, as her bravery came forth, “Maybe Robb will bring me your head” loved that line and Joffrey’s fearful reaction. Have to admit it always pissed me off when Joff had his knights beat Sansa and if the Sword of the Morning was still alive he would behead the whole lot for the cravens they are. Loved we got a little Hound action.
Cersei and Lancel, lol. In the book I always imagined Lancel looked older and was a little more manly. When that scene first started I actually thougth they were showing us Loras again and I was grumbling about Loras lack of any musculature and then I see it is Cersei and Lancel and I just cracked up, great scene.
Really liked Jon’s scenes, was afraid his friends stopping him and them stating the vows again would be corny, but they nailed it and made it a dramatic moment. Also loved Mormont taking some action and the whole scene with them riding out under the wall great!!
Just a bit of Bran and Rikkon but a great bit and man Rikkon is one messed up little dude and thanks for some Shaggy, lol.
Back to Dany the whole episode she was strong and the scene where she brings Drogo the mercy of death was beautifully done and very moving. I am so happy we got to see MMD explain why she did it I was afraid they might cut it. She had every reason in the world to exact vengeance and Dany had every reason in the world to kill her for killing her son and also to MMD’s lifeforce to give birth to her new children the dragons. The pyre burning scene was excellent from the speech, to Jorah’s sadness over what Dany was going to do, I really like Iain Glenn and am glad that they have made this character so appealing, it is sure interesting to see that on some of the non-reader sites the women are going crazy over Jorah, lol, anyway the fact the Jorah is being adapted so well and maybe even better than in the book will only add a lot of punch to what happens in ASOS when Dany casts Jorah away for his betrayal.
Then when she finally walks into the fire and Jorah looks like he just wants to die you start feeling the emotion of the scene. At that moment when they fade to black it was so cleverly done to make us think the show was over, but no we come back the next morning with Jorah’s boots walking through the camp, so cool. He walks past the ashes to something, someone hunching and it is Dany, wow she looks great all ashy and then just a hint of a dragon by her breast, is that another one next to her, and then wow there comes Drogon over her back and all three look fantastic. EC just nailed the scene and the dragon screech at the end with the final powerful strains of the GOT theme song and that people is how you shoot a finale, holy crap that was just outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As far as keeping her hair goes they probably looked at it both ways and decided it looked better with her hair so I have no problem with that at all.
Overall another fantastic episode in a tremendous season that now has me saying “I want season two now!!!!!!!” Thank goodness that a DWD is coming out in less than a month.
Eric NiewohnerQuote Reply
I don’t think you’re alone at all. This is my biggest complaint of the entire first season.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
Another thought on the dragons, I loved how they handled the breastfeeding. It wasn’t obvious or over the top, which I fear would have taken away from the scene. But at the same time it wasn’t completely absent. If you know what you’re looking for and use your imagination a little the green dragon “could” have been breastfeeding in that first shot. Or she could have just been cradling it against her chest.
Avalanche3319Quote Reply
Best. Episode. Ever.
I am blown away.
The hotness that is Dany + Dragons cannot be denied.
Everything was handled elegantly.
theamberkeyQuote Reply
It hit me about half way through the episode… this is it, the finale!
I loved how they really started setting up Season 2 (at The Wall, with Arya/Yoren, etc.). The funniest scene was Pycelle stretching (HILARIOUS!). The dragons were crazy, awesome, and more detailed than I expected. Season 2 is going to be crazy, with CGI dragons and direwolves.
There were a few more slow scenes than I expected for the finale, but they were good. Littlefinger/Varys was great. Tyrion/Shae was good. The ending at the Wall, with Mormont calling for a ranging, was intense and awesome.
Oh, and SHAGGYDOG!
And naked Lancel! Hahahaha!
I agree with others, that the King in the North scene was good… but should have come at the end (right before the dragons). It would definitely have had more impact.
All in all, a great finale. Can’t believe it’s all over.
P.S. My prediction about Dany’s hair was right!
LexQuote Reply
Maureen Ryan’s comments are so focused on the females of the show. She keeps reemphasizing how she believes Arya is the most important or interesting character (“even Arya”, “poor Arya” etc., etc.) and that she thinks Westeros should be more afraid of Daenerys than the threats beyond the Wall. That while, for example, the brilliantly portrayed Bran wasn’t mentioned in her recap. Not that there’s anything wrong about that, just an observation I made.
hebebQuote Reply
Larry is unimpressed with the dragons. They DID rather do a lot more foreshadowing in the series than in the books.
Spoilery link for this ep: http://www.blogtv.com/Shows/1982565/ZeNDZmVEbWFxY2_Gbe_&pos=ancr
BenQuote Reply
Jaqen!!!
ZachQuote Reply
I’d love it if they had filmed stuff, flashback wise, like the scene with Brandon Stark, and the Tower of Joy, and they released it to tide people over until next season, or as incentives to buy the DVDs.
I really hope they’ll do something like that. Robert’s fighting Rhaegar, etc. I would be REALLY surprised if the book series is completed before the TV series catches up, and with all of the stuff they have, and are likely to cut, I could see them making a mini-series, or season, of just back-story they haven’t shown, to buy time for him to finish. And I wouldn’t mind at all.
CrimzinDQuote Reply
Sumiko Keay,
Sumiko . . . . . I wonder how killing Marillion off early will change what happens later?
Marillion just had his tongue cut out. He wasn’t killed. He could still show up at the Eyrie in season four, although I don’t think his role there is critical.
It was strange to me that they used the actor that plays Marillion, from the Inn at the crossroads in episode four, to play the singer that Joff passes judgment on at court. Joff does pass judgment on a singer in the book and gives him one day to choose hands or tongue, but the singer in the book was from a local tavern and was not Marillion, who went to the Eyrie with Cat and Tyrion, and stayed there in the book series until you come across him again at the end of book four.
I guess casting another singer was too much trouble, and they wasted no time (as in, you have a day to decide) removing his tongue. Although I must say, it did seem to have an effect on Sansa, emphasizing the new found revulsion she was having toward Joff.
I enjoyed the episode, even though the wolves didn’t fight each other in the crypts as they did in the book. It was great to see shaggydog.
I even enjoyed the scene with Ros. It exposed a little of the duplicity in Pycelle’s character, and thankfully that was all it exposed of him.
I would have preferred less dialogue between Tyrion and Shea when he invites her to King’s Landing. I like how the scene was handled in the book much better.
I do get a little annoyed when they have a scene like the one with Sam, Pyp and Grenn reciting the Night’s Watch oath around Jon, and they don’t bother to have Ghost standing in the background. Every chance they get to put the wolves in, they should. It has been the biggest oversight in the HBO series, from my point of view.
RobQuote Reply
Exactly. It’s all an act. The change in his manner is so obvious after Ros leaves – and them when he dresses up and opens the door, he reverts back to the “shambling old man” act.
oracle86Quote Reply
No in book one Joffrey has a minstrel drug before the court for making a song about King Robert being killed by a boar and as the song progressed he jumbled it up so you weren’t sure whether he was talking about Robert or the boar. Joffrey gave him a choice between his tongue or his fingers (might have been his hands).
HuntGodQuote Reply
Here’s Dany and her dragon, with improved contrast/brightness.
It’s my new desktop wallpaper.
LexQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
She was nude and nursing one of the dragons…
HuntGodQuote Reply
I guess my disappointment about Ned not being seen by the viewing audience in the crypt was due to my reading this article. I read too much into it and it got my hopes up (because of what the title says) ……..
http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00041342.html
I guess in my heart I was hoping for one more fleeting glimpse of Ned, even if it was some film like ghost outline appearing to Rickon. It would have given me a bit more closure about his demise.
Well we DID get to see that article’s other prediction….Ned’s head. I thought it really was a very well done prop and looked very realistic. The only thing it lacked was the ponytail which he had right before the beheading. Not sure if this is a continuity mistake or that they undid it when they mounted his head on that spike.
SeanFanQuote Reply
i didnt read the books
Great episode but..
it felt like last week was the real finale…and the last episode was more like a really long preview of whats to come…
10 months….. fuck that im going to get some ritalin and the 1st book too
shemQuote Reply
I am unimpressed with Larry….
WeirwoodQuote Reply
Emilia Clarke nailed it tonight….all week I was nervous about the last few minutes but she was fantastic before it was lit and after…..the little ones were perfect!
FromChaosQuote Reply
Who Is Jacopo Belbo?,
I prefer the 4 legs + wings dragons :P
Damryn of DorneQuote Reply
Amazing episode, I absolutely loved the dragons. They completely nailed them! I really really wonder how they’re gonna afford dragons plus direwolves plus certain prophetic scenes plus big important battle scenes for next season though. I guess success will get them a bigger budget but still. Also, please please HBO, give us a couple more episodes!
Also agree about the King in the North scene. That should have been in the second half of the episode, and after Cat’s scene with Jaime. Having that scene straight after and not even mentioning that Robb has been declared king was just odd and it took away the drama of the kingmaking.
I love NCW’s Jaime too, but he doesn’t have much to do next season does he? Except for his escape attempt he’s pretty much stuck in Riverrun’s dungeons almost until the end isn’t he?
KatjaQuote Reply
Lex,
I really thought they would go for it. I guess fire cannot kill a dragon’s hair either.
Loved this episode.
paulgudeQuote Reply
The only thing I was disappointed was with no comet at the end. Everything else was amazing and lived up to expectation. I am so addicted to the books and the show
I want a gif of hooded Jaqen for my blog
RemyQuote Reply
There was one person who’s character kind of “died” in this episode, who shouldn’t have been there at all. That was Marillion the bard, who lost his tongue and therefore can no longer sing. That means certain things in Book 3 can’t happen the way they did in the book anymore. They’ll have to come up with something else for the death of Lysa at the Eyrie.
RitariKnightQuote Reply
Rhaegar’s name was mentioned before, by Jorah Mormont.
Paweł Ausir DembowskiQuote Reply
I think we need to congratulate Masha Heddle, for escaping her fate from the book. Rock on, Masha.
Mr. WuQuote Reply
MW,
Septa Mordane had been attached to Winterfell for some time, and would be considered as much a house Stark retainer as Maester Luwin,e.g. Syrio was only hired in KIng’s Landing. No one would have known he’d just agreed to accompany them to Winterfell for a time…. but it would explain how Jaqen had time to hang around a bit , if S=J.
Eugene Toussaint,
No, I can’t say your reasoning holds up for me. D&D have left the question open as George did in the books. Syrio need not have been arrested ..we have the sound of a sword hitting the floor and a cry just after Arya leaves and just befor the other sounds of mayhem take over. Syrio might have escaped…If Syrio escaped , he could have taken himself to the dungeons..and we have the scene with the (short) mystery guard that leaves that possibility open. ned gave Yoren the pick of the dungeons weeks before Yoren leaves. Yoren may have checked the prisoners out , but why would he take them into his custody so early, especially when they were considered so dangerous ? It would make more sense to leave them where they were until he was ready to go , after all the other recruits were gathered, the supplies purchased , etc. I don’t say you have to belive it , or even that it’s the only thing that could be true… but the possibility definitely exists that it could be true and still make perfect sense.
obsidianQuote Reply
THE KING IN THE NORTH!
Leonardo CruzQuote Reply
Hi all,
Thanks again for all your support — I sincerely hope you enjoyed the show.
Here’s an interview w/ D&D about the finale and Season Two.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/19/game-of-thrones-season-finale/
In particular, take a look at the answer about the Battle of the Green Fork. I wanted to scream this on the message boards last week, but couldn’t.
See you next year! And thanks again for your tireless devotion to George’s world.
Best,
B
B CogmanQuote Reply
Its over.What am i going to do from this week?The books spoiled me so much I am unable to like most fantasy now.The show made it impossible for me to enjoy other shows.I could barely sit through Falling Skies or The Killing.Nothing good on the TV horizon till LUCK.Life is gonna be hard now
WhirrunQuote Reply
I’m guessing that at the Eyrie in Book 4 there’ll just be some randomer around. There’s no plot reason for it to be Marillion.
Somebody in the comments said that Pycelle broke his Maester’s chastity – since when are Maesters supposed to be chaste?
I totally support Dany’s hair not being burned off. A. If her skin doesn’t burn, no reason why hair should. B. If the hair on her head burnt, so should her eyebrows and eyelashes and they certainly weren’t going to get rid of her eyelashes.
All in all, a fabulous episode! I LOVE YOU SANSA, FOREVER AND EVER.
And Jack Gleeson gets better with every episode. Indeed, he and Lena Headey have been the only actors to appear in every episode.
Why do we think they had Cersei sleeping with Lancel as she got the news about Jaime? Is it maybe to evil her up a little, make it seem that Jaime is devoted to her (ready to kill, etc.) whereas she just gets the hots for Lannister men?
EleanorQuote Reply
Haven’t read the all the comments yet, and won’t till I have some time to spare (tests, studying and more tests!)
But I have to say that I was overwhelmed and my tears were flowing again at the last scene.
Two quick thoughts:
I thought the music when Jon was ‘deserting’ quite epic and it gave me goosebumps
And my heart jumped when I saw a certain hooded character sitting in a certain cage.
Just WOW I’m proud to be a fangirl :D And thankfully the fun is starting all over again with season 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LiesieQuote Reply
Loved the episode, the dragons looked fantastic.
As soon as the little dragon started screaming, one of my three cats jumped up from his slumber and was looking all around the room…..I guess he was perplexed by the dragon noises…..it was very cute :)
TerryQuote Reply
I’m in awe. What a finale!
And even though I am biased, of course, as an avid reader of Martin’s novels who looked forward to this production ever since it was announced (and WiC started this fantastic weblog), I think that this was one of the greatest first seasons I have ever watched. I’m going to immerse myself in a full ten-hour-experience soon and expect that the writing will compell me even more then.
Congratulations to HBO, the producers, actors and all the crew of this series!
As for having to wait one year for season two?
Come on, we are GRRM-readers: A piece of cake! ;)
Herr FickQuote Reply
52 minutes of Larry’s awesomness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96vee4zGeyA
AnvilQuote Reply
I spent nearly the entire episode in tears, thank god for that Pycelle scene which helped to shake me out of my emotional state for a moment. It was strange but made me laugh, also I suspect a setup for Season 2 for when Tyrion drags him out of a whore’s bed and gives him a short back and sides…I guess if that had come out of the blue later on viewers might have found it strange that Pycelle was in a whorehouse.
The last scene was just incredible and went so beyond what I hoped it would be, Dany was so poised and regal looking and her dragons were so damn beautiful. Not sure why everyone is talking about her not being naked enough or too naked or bald or whatever, the whole scene looked and felt so natural, and with those dragons who was looking at her boobies anyway (not that they aren’t lovely boobies).
There wasn’t anything I didn’t like, it was probably the best piece of television I have ever seen, infact the whole series has been gut-wrenching, thrilling, exciting and emotional.
I really hope the dvd is gonna come out sooner rather than later, I foresee many GOT marathon viewings ahead.
ButterBumpsQuote Reply
Hearing the main theme play when Jon left, and then resume when he was on-screen again I couldn’t help but think “Hey, that must be the noise the plot makes when it’s nearby”.
Maybe I’ve just been playing too much LA Noire lately. In any case, I am really surprised how well they managed the dragons, the KitN-scene, everything. This will be a long wait for season 2…
Fabian SchneiderQuote Reply
John,
Ey john, can you show me this material? i dont remember the scene among mad king and the stark…
DashQuote Reply
It’s no use trying to concentrate on my studies!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My head is full of dragons, direwolves, kings (in the North :p), and… and…. well a lot more!
LiesieQuote Reply
great season, with an excellent finale! Has there been any news of DVD and BluRay release date for season 1? A few months from now or just before premiere of season 2?
enricoQuote Reply
Ser Dontos, perhaps? It would be easy for Littlefinger not to kill him after delivering Sansa, but to spare him as a scapegoat later.
Of course, in case Marillion will be back in the Vale his chances of proving his innocency are diminished even more since he don’t have even his tongue any more…
EreinionQuote Reply
Eric Niewohner,
Just saw it! That was good, that really was good. One of the first scene I was looking for was Sansa and the heads, and I didn’t even expect it to be so graphic, truly horrifying. The “Maybe Robb will bring me your head” all the way to Sansa’s pulsion to push Jeoffrey was done to perfection (even had The Hound screen time I was expecting – minor nitpick: there was no explanation on how he got into the King’s guard), from her gaze to the small steps she’s making, it was like reading the book, better even, I couldn’t help to think “go on, push the f*****, at worse grab him and jump with him…” This is the moment in the books Sansa really started to grow on me. To the risk of being a minority here, later on I even started to enjoy her chapters more than Arya when the later became a bit repetitive, but it was much later. We finally saw Shaggydog yeh eh… After that Cat’s despair, Rob’s and even all the Danny scenes were full of despair and the whole episode had a darker tone than any other before (aside from the last 5 minutes of the last one of course…). At some point when she smothers Drogo my wife went “So… she lost everything?” Yes, at that point it sums it up… I’m also glad they gave some time to Mirri, she betrayed Danny but her story makes sense (the baby being the true victim here). Since Danny was the queen of the tribe that just massacred her village and killed some of their children, it was a bit late to talk about ‘saving’, she’s as responsible as the Dothraki. That is one of the message of GoT “It’s always the people who suffer when the high lords play their game of thrones….”. The scene with Marillion made me laugh, and Jack Gleeson… that we’ve seen his character being slapped time and time again all over the internet, is truly a testimony to how good a Joffrey he is. “Tongue it is…” lol I couldn’t stop laughing. Jack, you’re fantastic!! The King in the North was done well, a bit too early maybe but I was expecting a bit more from Tywin’s tent. I knew they probably wouldn’t be able to insist on he’s giving up Jamie and it would seem more that he’s starting to trust Tyrion but I wanted them to emphasize on Renly’s alliance with Highgarden, since Loras already mentionned it was the second richest house, it could have insisted on the multiple danger House Lannister is now facing. For Pycelle, I saw it as him as saying things to Ros knowing full well she would eventually repeat it to her customers, regardless of her opinion. “The new king has greatness…”, a political manoeuver, maybe he was even instructed by Cersei since he’s her creature to quote the book. Like you, I was a little worried for the Night’s Watch words but it wasn’t bad at all and Sam falling from his horse made me smile. The only scene I didn’t particularly like was the Night Watch’s last scene, I thought the score was too overbearing and it made the whole scene a little cliche. Don’t get me wrong, I like the score but to me here it was too much. Finally, the Dragons! You’ve said it all, so I’ll just add that I also loved the light in her eyes when we see her profile with the dragon on her shoulder, a nice touch (frankly I didn’t expect them to be done in such details). And there, the score was perfect, how best to illustrate the last sentence of the book than by combining the music and the dragons’ scream… Very good, very good indeed… Very pleased with this first season.
JedaQuote Reply
They really nailed Dany’s ending and Arya keeps being awesome, but I sort of expected that. However, my favourite scene from this episode was actually something I didn’t expect at all: the Lord Commander’s speech and the Night’s Watch’s ride to war. Definitely my favourite episode, they just kept getting better and better through out the entire season.
AerionQuote Reply
The book ending was explained differently in the last 150 pages and it really does make a difference. Master Luwin goes down into the crypt with Osha carrying Bran because Hoder wouldnt go down there. He gets attacked by Shaggydog (Rickon’s Direwolf) and Summer (Bran’s Direwolf) attacks Shaggydog. I don’t know if that was too violent for tv or something but its crucial because of what happens next.
As we know, Bran and Rickon dreamed of Ned coming home to the crypts. Rickon, Bran, Master Luwin, Osha and the 2 direwolfs sit up in the masters tower after the crypt and a raven comes in with a message saying they took off Ned’s head.
This description greatly varies from the TV show and I believe it is one example where the tv show did not do the book justice.
DanQuote Reply
A thought came to me when this strange new character Ros came into view again: she can look an awful lot like Sansa if HBO wants her to. And she’s Littlefinger’s whore…. Might it be that they will use her as part of the ruse to get Sansa out of King’s Landing? Or even as Joffrey’s ‘sansa impersonator’ to hide the fact that she’s gone? Or will she just end up being the whore they beat to pieces thinking she’s Shae?
Great episode. Some pacing was off, but overall it was excellent.
MorvranQuote Reply
I’ll copy/paste what I’ve written on one of the forums I frequent:
I loved this episode and the whole season. It’s much ,ore than I hoped for this adaptation, Benioff, Weiss and everyone who had a hand in this adaptation made the best possible translation of the books to the TV one could ever hope to get. This is, hands down, the best adaptation of any book I’ve ever seen.
Thank gods, old and new, GRRM didn’t succumb to the temptation to sell the rights to the book to some Hollywood studio which would’ve butchered the story to make a PG-13 kiddie film, throwing out 99% of the story … Thank gods the producers didn’t go the True Blood route by thinking that they can leave the names of the characters and some of the main story lines and invent all the rest.
There wasn’t a single weak scene in this episode, everything was perfect.
P.S. I believe we got to see everyone’s favorite freaks – Rorge and Biter (and cloaked Jaquen, it seems) – in the scene where Arya meets her new friends:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v88/shurik/vlcsnap-2011-06-20-10h24m48s7.png
The short-haired one is probably Biter, he looks insane enough …
Alexander DubrovskyQuote Reply
Ereinion,
I can’t see anyone welcoming a tongueless minstrel.
EleanorQuote Reply
Just saw the episode. Thought it was great. 9.5/10
Only a few nitpicks (most of which have been mentioned):
-The King in the North scene should have been right before Dany’s final scene
-The Roz/Pycelle scene was superfluous at this point. We have no context in terms of Tyrion testing each of them for treachery in his feud with Cersei in CoK.
SeanQuote Reply
Dan,
sir Vardis died in the duel with Bronn, when in the books he is still alive (he didn’t duel Bronn).
That was what i found. If i am mistaken plz correct me.
SapistasQuote Reply
Great finale for the season — it really sets up next season’s storylines (and the characters for next season’s focus) for the viewer. Tyrion in Kings Landing, Jon & the Nights Watch beyond the Wall, Arya on the road North, Sansa stuck with King Goblinshit and his nest of vipers in Kings Landing, Robb on the warpath, and … DRAGONS!
One disappointment — the line Mirri Maz Duur gives Dany when she asks when her sun and stars will be himself again — “When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, when the oceans run dry, and the mountains blow away in the wind..” They left out a (cruel) line that resonates with Dany afterward: “When your womb bears a child again”. That line really needed to be in there, and I’m wondering why it wasn’t.
MUGgerQuote Reply
ButterBumps,
My thought exactly. In fact, I kept expecting Tyrion and Shagga to suddenly show up ready to cut off his manhood and feed it to the goats! I know. I know. Much too early for that.
I also got a chilling sense of foreshadowing when Catelyn declared to Robb “We’ll kill them all.” Whoooo! I could just see undedad Catelyn stringing up Freys left and right and moving along to who-knows-who. Definitely intentional there.
ChrisQuote Reply
Sapistas,
Bronn definitely kills Ser Vardis in the books during the trial by combat.
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
Steel_Wind,
I agree, and don’t mind a lick that she kept her hair. That part of her is part Dragon too! I think that was the scene I have been most anticipating, and I stopped breathing when Dany raised her head and we got our first look at the Dragons. I have always loved Dany as a character, but I had no idea how much Emilia would make me love her more. Beautiful scene, episode, and whole damn season! This will be a long year.
Here Be DragonsQuote Reply
Brilliant! Left me with an urge join the cause, When can I buy the DVD/BR 1 season so i can contribute!
MORE OF THIS PLEASE!
KnutQuote Reply
actually he isn’t. he’s also not surprised or impressed by the ending, but his review is entertaining as always :)
KaldorQuote Reply
Ryan John,
Not really, CGI is not that expensive anymore. Even really good CGI is often cheaper than practical effects.
Chris KlemensQuote Reply
Fantastic, now is real hard wait the 2nd season…. but we have the new book :)
BairanaxQuote Reply
Best episode yet! Fantastic!
I do have one nitpick. It looked to me like Arya’s boy haircut was a wig with her real hair stuffed under it. One thing I love about this show is the realism. That should include the actors stepping up to a bad haircut for the sake of the acting. Maybe I’m wrong and just imagined it. I think the actress playing Arya has been amazing, as have all of the actors.
Some have suggested that “long form television” should be considered for the Oscars. This show is so much better than anything at the box office.
TimQuote Reply
Josh,
My take on the whole Pycelle/Ros thing was to show:
1. Pycelle is openly deceptive on things, like for example how mobile he is.
2. That he’s a total Lannister lapdog. All that trash about talking about how he “senses greatness in Joffrey already”.
3. That Littlefinger is keeping tabs on Pycelle (via Ros)
Episode was amazing though. Really, really enjoyed it. Bring on Season 2.
As other people have mentioned, there does seem to be some stuff missing this season based on a few shots we saw way back when. Dare I hope we might get true extended versions of episodes with the Bluray release?
C2Quote Reply
To clarify, I was responding to a poster asking what Ned was mumbling just before he lost his head in ep. 9. If you saw Larry’s review of ep. 9 you would agree that he was the epitome of “pissed”.
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Interesting that we got the interaction between Catelyn and Jamie.
I suspect we could be in for a long Catelyn/Jamie chess match in Season 2, perhaps energized by the prison break attempt, which ultimately leads up to Jamie’s release. That would give us more Jamie in Season 2, rather than have him entirely off-camera in the dungeon, without having to move up his release TOO much, although I agree with previous posts that it could come sooner without upsetting the overall story arc too much.
ChrisQuote Reply
Zack,
I think this is exactly why the Pycelle scene was in there. It was a very heavy episode and you *have* to break up a long series of heavy scenes with something lighter. Otherwise the audience get exhausted.
TimQuote Reply
I’m surprised only a couple of people have mentioned the lack of the flashback to King Aerys with Brandon that we saw in the teasers. D:
I haven’t watched this yet (waiting until tonight!). I can’t wait to see it, though I have to say that the only Ros scene I look forward to is the one in which she dies and/or leaves the show for good (sorry, Esme! Not your fault!).
Steve Hugh WestenraQuote Reply
enrico,
I believe all they’ve said is “holiday season” for the dvd/bluray.
C2Quote Reply
Thinking about the Season Two credits.
This season they had a policy of always having the four basic locations: KL, Winterfell, Wall, and wherever Dany was. Occasionally they added a fifth.
They won’t be able to do that next season. Dragonstone only appears quite early on, but it’ll be impossible to avoid it and Riverrun appearing in the same episode. Pyke and Harrenhal can be mutually exclusive. But it may be difficult to avoid Riverrun and Harrenhal in the same episode.
So either they’ll make the long credits even longer (unlikely) or abandon the ‘four immutable credit locations’ method.
EleanorQuote Reply
C2,
HBO generally releases their DVDs shortly before the next season airs on TV. For GOT this would be around March next year.
morbiczerQuote Reply
Hmmm… why does everyone think it was Jaqen under the hood? At first glance I was sure that J was that Liam Neesan look-alike, Rorge + nosegate beside him and Biter under the hood, so as not to bite his companions/for a lack of a suitable freak to cast yet.
On a re-watch I saw that my supposed Rorge was actually Biter as he had sharpened teeth- but it still can be Rorge under the hood, covered cause he’s too hideous too look at/ for a lack etc./ to save budget on a cgi no-nose…
Maybe I’m wrong, but what makes you so sure that the hooded man= J?
Imho, the blue eyed actor is far too good looking to be anything but.
DibuKQuote Reply
morbiczer,
Per this:
http://hbowatch.com/what-to-do-when-game-of-thrones-ends/
Watch the show on BluRay or DVD this Holiday- Of course you’ll always have access to the show via On Demand services such as HBOGo, but you know you’ll be buying that Game of Thrones BluRay special edition if only to get access to the special features you won’t find anywhere else. We’re speculating when we say they’ll be available in time for Holiday 2011 but we think it’s a fair assumption to say that HBO enjoys making money and can see the benefit of releasing these episodes while the blood still runs warm and certainly before the next season ramps up. Expect a full video release in Q4 of 2011 and hopefully we’ll all be treated to some behind the scenes action that we haven’t already seen in the featureettes available online.
C2Quote Reply
Loved everthing about this episode, except for the Pycell scene, that was a tacked on WTF moment featuring Ros the Ubiquitous. I confess to not liking the character of Pycell anyways though. Highlights were Dragons! FTW! and Shaggydog! Hell yes. They saved him till the end.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
It always takes me til the next morning to gather my thoughts about the episode! Last night’s finale, lots of great stuff!
First off, props to Sophie Turner. Sophie’s character Sansa has always been a mixed bag for fans, and Sansa in the show has taken a lot of criticism from the fans because she was written much more petulantly and spoiled and whiny than in the books – and as an actress (but still a very young woman), it had to be at least a little disheartening for Sophie to hear all the praise for Maisie Williams, who is totally wonderful, but who has a character that is so much easier to root for in Arya, while Sansa gets all the criticism as a character that people have thus far despised.
Sophie, you really came into your own last night and your scene with Joffrey on the castle wall was the highlight of the episode for me. Finally, Sansa is turning into a character we want to root for, and Sophie NAILED it! The look in her eyes when she looked down at the ground far below and then gave Joffrey that icy stare and moved for him, who was not cheering for Sansa to throw his sorry ass off that walkway?! Terrific job – and props to Rory McCann for his turn as the Hound in that scene. Greatly looking forward to seeing the interplay between these two next season. Just had to give a major shout out to Sophie, and also to Jack Gleeson, who is doing a terrifically nasty job as the boy king we love to hate. Sophie and Jack, your names may not be highlighted in the show reviews as much as others, but you’ve done a wonderful job. Thumbs up!
I’m enjoying the slightly different spin that the director / writers have taken with some of the events of the book. It was apparent in the show that Yoren was not going to kill Arya, and in fact, he was wonderfully tender in shielding her from Ned’s execution – oh, and that opening shot of the sword dripping was amazing! – but it was good to see Yoren’s practical, tough side come out as he transformed Arya into Arry. And seeing the boys!! Hot Pie! Awesome! And the guys from the black cells!!! RORGE!!!! So looking forward to their whole story arc next season, it was probably my favorite part of A Clash of Kings. Can’t wait to see Jaqen make his appearance, no matter who plays him.
Glad to see Bran and Rickon in King’s Landing – and Shaggydog! I hope they can use the wolves more next time, and I liked the smooth transition from dream walking Bran to Bran being carried on Osha’s shoulders. Wish Maester Luwin had gotten his line about finding a stonecarver for Ned like in the books…
Did not mind the Pycelle scene, but I admit I sighed. While I loved seeing him “put on” the frail old man persona just before he left his chamber, it was a scene that could have been postponed til next season, and no offense to Esme Blanco, who is a very capable actress, but every time I see Ros my blood pressure goes up, because she is a wholly unneeded character. When I think that she’s gotten more lines and scene time than Rory McCann or Conan Stevens, it just IRKS me – those two characters deserve a lot more onstage time than the random wandering prostitute.
Loved seeing the short clip of Cersei with Lancel. Anybody who was empathizing with Cersei earlier on over her black haired baby speech should be properly revolted by her now. Looking forward to more from Eugene Simon next season – he was a wonderful Lancel. This series has had so many wonderful actors in very small parts that I look forward to seeing more from.
Up in the Riverlands, really enjoyed the Greatjon in his King in the North speech. Maege Mormont in the house!!! And Alfie Allen as Theon pledging his loyalty to Robb Ohhhh Theon, you turncloak! Listening to him pledge fealty to Robb almost turned my stomach…but I have to say that I am really enjoying Alfie Allen’s portrayal. I think we are going to see a more sympathetic Theon whose betrayal will be that much more heartbreaking next season.
Surprised by the scene with Cat and Jaime. I’d've rather seen him in a dark cell, all bearded and dirty and grimy, but perhaps that is to come. NCW’s delivery of the “there are no men like me” line was very interesting. In the books, I always saw that line as the ultimate braggadocio, but NCW said it with almost a tinge of self-loathing. Very nuanced portrayal – I think he has done a terrific job as Jaime and I am really heartened that D and D plan on expanding his part next season. The Kingslayer is just too crucial a role to rot away in chains during the next run…
Enjoyed the stuff at the wall, and found myself oddly teary when Sam and Grenn and Pyp started reciting their vows to Jon to convince him to return. And very pumped to see the Watch ride out beyond the Wall! Can’t wait for the Craster’s Keep segment next season!
Love love loving Charles Dance as Tywin. No, he’s not the younger, beefier Tywin of the books, but he puts a deliciously unyielding and ferocious spin on the Father Lion of Casterly Rock. Please get to season 3 so we can see his betrayal with Shae!!! Charles Dance is rocking that part. Tiniest of complaints on the Lannister front – no Bronn this week. Love that Bronn. :) But it was neat seeing the westermen. Will have to rewatch and see if any of them stand out.
And on to the Dothraki. Ohhhh that last scene of Dany in Drogo’s tent. Heartbreaking! You really felt for Dany. That was one of the saddest scenes in the book for me. Liked the interplay between Dany and Mirri Maz, esp. after Dany gives the slaves the freedom to go and a bunch leave. Mirri gives Dany this very smirking superior smile, then Dany puts her sorry behind on the pyre. As always, Iain Glen is such a sympathetic Jorah – he was born to play that part and elevates every scene he is in! And though he was only seen briefly in this episode, I also want to give a shout out to Elyes Gabel, Dany’s most faithful bloodrider Rakharo. His early scenes using that whip were terrific, and now that Qotho is out of the picture, I think we may see Rakharo step up next season.
Liked the pyre scene, but I wish we’d seen more Dothraki stuff piled up around Drogo instead of just the dragon eggs. I also was surprised that it seemed like the next morning before we see Dany in the ashes. I did not even mind that she kept her hair (in fact, I think that was a smart choice by the writers), but I wish we’d had a clearer shot of all three dragons. I’ve only watched it once, but the glimpse of the dragons at her waist and leg was so hard to see, only Drogon on her shoulder really came into focus, and at the end I was wondering if I really did see all three! The CGI was good, I wish they had been a little bit bigger, but look forward to seeing them grow next season, along with the direwolves.
Can’t believe that was the end for this season, but overall it has been a wonderful adaption and very happy with the production and writing teams and behind the scenes folks for bringing this story to life. Now looking forward to Dances with Dragons release and news updates about next season!
persephone88Quote Reply
I hardly buy DVDs – since I’ve been living on my own – but GAME OF THRONES is definitely going down on my to-buy list this fall/winter.
I haven’t yet watched the episode but from the comments I’ve read so far, I van safely say that I rate it 11/10.
I love this show. :)
IcegazeQuote Reply
One minor disappointment.
I always thought Khal Drogo’s pyre should have been HUGE.
…like the size of a two story house.
That way when Dany disappears into the flames, there’d actually be some doubt as to where she’d end up, and some difficulty seeing her after everything cooled off. It would have been better to have Jorah picking his way through a vast pile of scorched timbers to discover her. As it was, Dany was the only object more than a few inches tall in the entire scorched expanse. Not much suspense there.
‘course the dragons were terrific.
Okay folks…
WHO WAS SCARED THAT THE DRAGONS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHEESY??
ChrisQuote Reply
I just assumed that he got a haircut via sword
GinaQuote Reply
WOW, hmmmmmm
JohnQuote Reply
Wow, what an episode. The King in the North scene was by far my favorite. Given what is to come in ASoS, this scene was all the more powerful and heartbreaking. Loved the dragons. As always, the Jamie scene was played perfectly by NCW. As someone else mentioned the Wall scenes were far better than I was expecting from this episode. Just a superb finale all the way around. Can’t wait for next season.
BCLQuote Reply
SugarVampire,
I agree. I have faith in Miltos’ acting ability, with some good disguises on, to be a good Jaqen, if that is indeed where that story goes.
I’ll put Jaqen being hooded down to them trying to decide which way to go in S. 2. Not seeing his face yet gives them options on how to go with the character.
purplejillyQuote Reply
Is it truly sexist and mean girls awful for me to wonder which of them (or someone else high in production) that she is dating? LOL. I hope they break up over the summer!!
purplejillyQuote Reply
No, no! In reality Syrio really is a Faceless man, but he killed Meryn Trant, slit his face beyond recognition, put his clothes on him and assumed a new personality as a knight of the Kingsguard. He is really pissed off because of how Sansa treated Arya so hitting her is no problem for him… :P
EreinionQuote Reply
I think you are.. I thought they were perfect, and matched the description of the book dragons quite well.
purplejillyQuote Reply
I immediately took it as hope that she might someday have another living child. ( Afterall, not everything predicted MUST come true, and maybe MMD was being a bitch/just guessing/trying to curse her in the book.) Yes, I’m aware that I’m a cock-eyed optimist. XD
Franny BeeQuote Reply
I’m sooo happy with the way they did the dragons.
They were my biggest worry/concern.
But they did a great job with them – very well done!
The episode was great.
The scene between Sansa and Joffrey made me shudder.
Sophie Turner did a fantastic job.
I can’t believe we have to wait 10 months now.
They better post some casting info to keep us busy during the break!
The Winter RoseQuote Reply
Perfect ending to a near perfect show. Has there really ever been a better book adaptation? I don’t think so IMO.
PeepinQuote Reply
That question is getting asked alot. I loved the scene and I think the reason its there is simple…. The Game of Thrones is not just 5 kings commanding armies, but 5 kings with their armies, 3 dragons with the last Targaryan, and a court full of conspirators. All parties are playing their best hand to win.
Also, don’t forgot that GRRM was a major, major contributor when they wrote and arranged the TV version. If Pycelle was given screen time on par with Varys and LF, then his sceme is deemed as important as theirs. And don’t forget, over 60 years of serving kings would be 40 years of serving Targaryans. Dragons or not, Danaerys will need all the friends she can get.
JohnQuote Reply
great ending!
nobody else miss some mysterious scene from the trailers? that one with a Ned-Brandon-like man tied in front of the iron throne?
have they filmed some extra-scene with Bean for season 2?
…and why didn’t you promise me Ned?
jaybeQuote Reply
The one glaring hole in the S=J theory is why the hell S/J wouldn’t reveal himself to Arya. And if he didn’t, it certainly makes him less of a likeable character.
JimmQuote Reply
Two things:
1) I don’t think Pycelle will be aiding Daenaeyrs. If I remember the last book correctly the maesters ain’t exactly fond of dragons. What plans they have I think few knows already.
2) Was it just me or was Ross (Hair)dressed up as Sansa?
ArchQuote Reply
From James Hibberd’s recap:
Amen, dude.
Winter,
A thought occurs to me regarding A Dance With Dragons: Maybe a week or so after the book comes out, is there any chance we might have a thread up to react and share some thoughts? I know the site is geared towards focusing on the show, but it might be something nice to talk about before filming starts up again in late July. Obviously, it would be spoiler city, and there would have to be giant bold-face disclaimers on it, but it could be fun. I don’t mean to go too OT with this, so I just thought I’d throw in my two coppers.
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
Trollsbane,
Yeah I completely agree. I can sorta see why they did that scene too. It’s to make sure we still sympathize with Tyrion when he has Shagga shave Pycelle’s beard before throwing him into the dungeons. In the books it’s one thing because we know Tyrion’s justifications, but on tv it would seem like a pretty horrenous thing to do to…
KatjaQuote Reply
I think it’s funny and weird that some people’s biggest complaints here and elsewhere are:
Dany’s hair not being burnt off
Dany not breastfeeding dragons
Please tell me why it’s important to waste time putting Emilia Clarke in a fake bald wig? What does that add to the scene? If your answer is because it is that way in the book, well, there are a lot of things in the book that aren’t in the TV series. There is a lot of goofy dialogue in that final scene that isn’t in there either. It works in the books but not on TV when these words are coming out of actors’ mouths. Good Lord, of all things to complain about…
As for breastfeeding dragons? Really? Are you serious? That’s your big complaint when we just had an hour of epic television? You want to see breastfeeding…dragons…
The important takeaway is that this woman just stepped into fire, came out alive (with hair intact, who cares) and now has freaking DRAGONS! Something not seen in Westeros for milennia. Ok so, should there have been a closeup of a dragon suckling Emilia’s Clarke’s fake breast, like Sweet Robin and Lysa?
Get a grip. Do you have any idea how ridiculous and unnecessary that would have looked.
Sorry, I just can’t get over some people….
HollyoakQuote Reply
Love, love, love the idea of reviewing a A Dance with Dragons on here.
HollyoakQuote Reply
Holy shit! How dou you spell “perfect”? Well, just tapping the play button will do! Probably my season favourite, and I loved them all from 1 to 9.
Sansa’s scene (at the pikes) was perfectly done. From Joffrey’s creulty, to Sandor’s “mercy” and Sansa’s new and defying attitude, everyone nailed it. Tyrion was perfect too when convicing his father’s bannermen that peace wasn’t an option anymore. Keeping the books dialogue is a must, and HBO is doing it well. And, I must admit I was quite sure Maisie wouldn’t get her hair cut, as they had insisted in previous episodes in mistaking her for a boy even with long hair, but they even mantained that so I am very pleased overall.
And what can we say about Vaes Dothrak scenes? All perfect! Stunning season finale and a very decently designed dragons…
Whoever stopped watching it after Ned’s death will miss a masterpiece!
LhojQuote Reply
No way, Dany still has that ugly wig. I prayed to the seven they would burn it and give that girl an egghead a la V for Vendetta/Joan of Arc. Total fail.
sayitain’tQuote Reply
I would agree it IS Liam Neeson playing Jaqen – the one under the hood has to be “nosegate”…
The best disguise is putting sth directly in front of you… btw, no name matches the foremost face in the credits…
XrisQuote Reply
They saved the best for last. I was crying for the first 15-20 minutes of the show. Great episode.
I’ll be sad if Emilia Clarke isn’t nominated for an Emmy. It’s got to be super hard to act and emote in a made up language and still pull it off.
I loved that scene with Sansa. I was hoping that they would deviate from the book a little and have her start to throttle that little punk.
I can’t wait for season 2. I’ve got to start reading A Feast of Crows.
John WQuote Reply
This episode was nothing more than perfect.
I have to disagree that it needed the double-punch of the KitN and Dragon-scene in a row. Episode 9 melted into episode 10. After discussing the consequences KitN was the immediate decision made by the Northeners and it was the high point of some really dour and sad events. So it gave some hope that all has just begun. It would have been too much to squeeze two such bombastic scenes into the last minutes. The impact would be lessened of one of those scenes. But some critics just nitpick, digging, digging, digging to find some minor flaws in a seemingly perfect season. There are no flaws except that to me every episode could have been 70 minutes instead of 55. And I like the fact that sometimes they give the actors time to play instead of hastening the happenings. Some call this “dragging”. I call it character development.
The wolves are perfect as they are and I guess they make them bigger – just as the one giving birth to the Stark-pups – in other seasons, but does that even matter if we get such dragons and the wolves are real and not weakly animated?
The only thing I see to be a problem are the battle scenes. A second time of turning the lights off is not possible without disappointing. I hope HBO understands that and puts some extra money in it. Earned!
As I meant to read, D&D said that season 3 is the expensive one ;)
If they ever get to that.
For me as a reader of GRRMs works (all of them) it was a delight to watch this first season. I had more tears in my eyes as I ever expected, and that from the beginning, from the very first scene. Maisie Williams doubled that. Perfecter than perfect for Arya.
The cast was/is incredible. Unbelievable how brilliantly they resemble their book counterparts. The settings are great, for sure the best for fantasy series/movies. And they almost prevented bluescreen effects to be discovered (except Bran’s fall).
Maybe the Eyrie could have been done a bit more like in the book, but that is again: nitpicking.
To be honest, I doubted that these books could be filmed adequately.
Now I have to heave the barrier to the next level and I have a book in mind which is more than equal. And I don’t mean the two outstanding successors.
Oooh, I have to reread it again. But first I have to reread the best fantasy series out there.
darkulQuote Reply
Just because people are nitpicking about changes doesn’t mean they don’t love the episode & think it was bad. If anything, the fact that these are the things people find to complain about is an indication of how wonderful the show was. A show so close to perfection just seems to make the small changes seem bigger. The show was wonderful, the acting was wonderful, the scenes were amazing, I don’t think anyone is denying how fantastic the show was. There are just elements of the book that they had wished were translated to the TV. There’s nothing wrong with that, and getting yourself worked up about it because they do only highlights your own obsessiveness with the show. They’re (or rather we’re) just as obsessed about the show & are showing it, not only with praise for how wonderful it was, but also with a desire for having those elements we found compelling in the book. There’s nothing wrong with that, just as there’s nothing wrong with your love for the show just as it is.
To answer your questions about WHY it matters though: Dany losing her hair was symbolic to me of the metamorphosis she goes through when she walks through that fire. She is no longer the little girl that hung around on her brother’s every word. She is the Queen of Dragons. It’s the shedding of that little girl that we see. This is a new woman. And even in the book, it was a compelling image.
And to the breastfeeding of the dragons, it goes to showing these new dragons as her children. Her replacement of her lost child. And that they see her as their mother, and not just a woman who was there when they were born. It illustrates that bond between them. And towards that, I’ll be shocked if that scene isn’t shown in Season 2. And it would have been nice if they had kept it. They were certainly willing to keep Lord Robert’s breastfeeding of Lysa! (*shudder*)
So yes, it’s true, we’re nitpicking. There were elements that we miss. And not for just some idle desire to see bald women and breastfeeding dragons. But fortunately, its completely possible to enjoy the show and love it even while nitpicking on the elements that we miss.
Jason LaGardeQuote Reply
I’m really torn. Do I read a Clash of Kings before I watch season 2, or wait until after?
MustangJeffQuote Reply
Good reply, Jason. I think that people still get the metaphor of Dany’s metamorphosis and being born anew, just by her being naked and that she is cradling a dragon. That says there is a bond. To my way of thinking, at least.
I guess for me, as in a lot of things, less is more, but I do see where you’re coming from as far as fans and how we all have different reactions.
HollyoakQuote Reply
I thought the Pycelle scene was there to show that he’s a player in the game. He acted all weak and feeble-minded in front of Littlefinger’s new recruit. We know that LF uses them for gathering info. Roz was sent to see where Pycelle’s loyalties lie. He led her to believe he’s no threat. That scene was right there with Varys and LF feeling each other out.
I LOVED the dragons. I actually clapped. That scene was the one thing that I was worried about in this show and I loved loved loved them. Gave me the willies.
If I had to complain about anything that I really missed in the show, it would be Ned’s guilt regarding Jon. So many references to Ned’s guilt, Tower of Joy, blue roses, Promise me Ned that we just never see in the show. I understand that’s something that would be hard to get across on screen, but other than “you’re my blood” and his refusal to discuss Jon’s mother, there’s no real build up to that mystery. BUT. I’m not complaining. The show was awesome and I still have the books to obsess over. :)
digtastikQuote Reply
Good post, and I agree.
EdQuote Reply
lol. As long as everyone agrees with you, right? I’m amazed Jason has patience and actually took the time to explain it to people like you. It’s very tiring.
sayitain’tQuote Reply
Arch,
Yes the hair was very similar, probably to signify her moving to KL and becoming more “in fashion”…the same happened to Sansa.
Mirri MazQuote Reply
MustangJeff,
Wait with the book, watch the show.
Save the best for later.
DibuKQuote Reply
Does it *really* make a difference? I JUST read that scene the day before and noticed right off that it was not the same as the book and… I didn’t care. It made no difference what so ever. It played out just fine on the screen, I thought.
EdQuote Reply
Come on, even Pycelle had a scene with Ros? SERIOUSLY, can we get a petition going for no Ros in season 2? That’d be great.
swornswordQuote Reply
Thanks for this Lex – love it! (my new Wallpaper, too!)
EdQuote Reply
Looking for a time machine so I can watch Season 2 already! Can anyone help?
JonQuote Reply
swornsword,
Weirdly,
Ros is starting to endear herself to me. Her appearances make for a fun drinking game at any rate, and I don’t find that her presence destroys whole scenes. Ros the Ubiquitous really doesn’t bother me, I guess.
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
Wasn’t Joffrey going to DIE in a poisoned dinner?
CaioQuote Reply
Anybody have a screen shot of Biter and Jaqen in the wagon at the end of the episode?? Lets get a good look at that hooded figure.
jwsnasaQuote Reply
obsidian,
I think you’re reading too much into it. They haven’t cast him yet so why not have him cloaked? Also, the actor who played Syrio even said he thinks it makes more sense and is more honorable if Syrio died saving arya.
DragolfQuote Reply
I’m puzzled why they needed her. She’s not a foil or instrumental in any known story arches.
jwsnasaQuote Reply
One of the interesting things that this media allows us to do a little easier (IMO) is flashbacks. I always them to be a bit clunkier in books than in film. So we can hope & cross our fingers that we get to see more of this in flashbacks in future episodes.
Jason LaGardeQuote Reply
is westeros lagging out for anyone else?
Jordan HealeyQuote Reply
Off topic, but pretty funny. Sean Bean mentions Otaku Assemble’s reaction to Ned’s death in this interview
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/06/sean_bean_on_whats_next_for_ga.html
Arrogant BastardQuote Reply
Arrogant Bastard,
Here’s hoping someone doesn’t take Sean’s reaction to Larry’s video the wrong way
davebQuote Reply
Franny Bee,
She’s exactly what Tyrion wants/needs her to be. That’s her game.
TheFacelessManQuote Reply
Re: Tyrion’s nose. Did you all get a look at Jon’s hand? That was some serious scarring. Now they can cover it up with a glove but that was more excessive than in the book. They may not make it as severe as the books but I think they’ll do it.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
jwsnasa,
They don’t need her, she’s just an excuse for nudity in every episode she’s in. They could’ve come up with better ways to dump the info their dumping in those scenes. Wish they would just cut her out of season 2. Seriously think we should do a petition…
swornswordQuote Reply
Arrogant Bastard,
Ha! that’s awesome! Someone should forward that to Larry.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
I’m amazed you took the time to type that.
HollyoakQuote Reply
OhWhoCares,
I agree. Gendry is hot. Looking forward to seeing him shirtless in the future hammering out some weaponry :)
Yes, I hope WiC does A Dance with Dragons review/recap. Maybe for every cycle of characters? This will be my first time reading the book at the same time as everyone else so I will be able to get excited and speculate without running into spoilers. Yay!
For all the complaints of nudity and sex this season, I feel like Dany’s has been completely justified. Not only because she’s very attractive, but because it’s not done in a way to objectify her. She’s naked when it makes sense for her to be.
I forgot to comment on Cersei fracking Lancel. That was such a weird scene. At first I thought he was Loras, when his back was to the camera, haha. The actor playing Lancel has a very boyish face so to see them together makes me feel like it’s “statutory rape”.
DreamlifeQuote Reply
my watch Begins,
I think the character who dies this season/book three is Hallen or Harwin (the son of the Winterfell Master of Horses). Originaly he was supposed to have ridden out with Beric to fight Gregor, however in the show Ned doesnt send any of his men with Beric. All of the Stark retainers die when Ned is captured.
KevinQuote Reply
Just want to throw out some praise for Mia Soteriou! After Viserys, MMD was the character that gained the most from the jump to the screen. That role could have came off so incredibly cheesy, and ruined momentum for season 2, but Mia subtly commanded every scene she was in.
Ryan McCoyQuote Reply
I thought the final scene was good – the screeching dragon was a great note to roll credits on. One ‘funny’ thing I was really looking forward to in the scene though was the three huge CRACK sounds (eggs hatching) that was described in the book. The way it was described as deafening, earth-shaking or whatever… I think it would have added to the scene to have it.
ClobQuote Reply
did anyone get a look at the Westeros Finale Recap, apparently there’s a treat at the end, I want to know what it is.
Jordan HealeyQuote Reply
Dan,
It’s not that ShaggyDog and Summer fighting is too violent for tv, it’s that it would be really hard to pull of with real dogs — dogs everyone has commented are a pain to work with already.
It’s not worth the time or potential injury to dogs, handlers or actors and crew.
AlanQuote Reply
http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/06/20/miss-usa-game-of-thrones/
Yay! Though normally I prefer my beauty queens to enjoy Katy Perry, Twilight and The Voice.
davebQuote Reply
purplejilly,
They may have been referring to Marillion?? He obviously won’t be singing in the Vale anymore, so maybe that’s it.
TheKingintheNorthQuote Reply
Thanks for posting — I found the interview fascinating simply because of the admittance that yes, it was a budget decision but also a somewhat unplanned one. I imagine this happens quite a bit on shows/movies like this.
It’s a bummer, but there’s not a lot to be done in the moment. Hopefully, there are a lot of lessons learned about the dogs, about horses and the production schedules in general.
I just hope that D&D’s somewhat ominous tones about budget for next year are expectation setting more than reality. It sounds like they may have decided against CGI direwolves (or at least that’s not choice 1A) and definitely sound worried about paying for direwolves, dragons and the Blackwater.
You folks will have Animals, Boats and Children all next year! All three of the no-nos!
AlanQuote Reply
Except your #2 doesn’t mesh with your #1 and #3. Pycelle is a total Lannister lapdog when he knows people are listening.
He may have other motives. It really never occurred to me reading the books, but in Feast we learn the Citadel plays more politics than they claim. Perhaps Pycelle plays this way just to stay alive, and perhaps he does for the Citadel’s aims.
AlanQuote Reply
Jordan Healey, I’m pretty sure it is just the picture of Dany with her dragons. The same one that I have embedded in the post above and has been linked to in the comments here a few times.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
eh … Sansa was pissing me off with her stupidity and immaturity but at least she’s coming to her senses. Arya or course was brilliant *cheers*. King in the North was EPIC definitely. As for Brun and his brother having the same dream? Can’t wait to see what comes out of that. Dany with her dragons? … as they said: “this is going to be along war”
love it can’t wait!
Jon-Andre FaceyQuote Reply
There’s a lot of reasons:
1. They could change the looks, but the longer haired actor is very much described as Rorge is (scar on his nose as opposed to missing it, but still) and the short-haired actor could easily be biter (someone mentioned seeing the teeth but I can’t tell).
2. More importantly, though, Jaqen has distinctive hair – half red, half white in the Lorathi fashion, I believe.
3. Most importantly, Jaqen is a significant role, meaning they need to pay attention to casting and pay a decent amount of money. The hood was the obvious way of not having to cast an actor last year for filming and hold them through the next few seasons. It’s cheaper and easier.
AlanQuote Reply
NotAFanOfJon,
Since when does being a slightly voyeuristic heterosexual man make me a weirdo? There are about 3.5 billion of us. Maybe you wish you were still living in a pre-freudian world where no one was allowed to admit to such feelings. Well, I wish you were too.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
Lord of Fangs,
http://www.youtube.com/user/OtakuASSEMBLE
he back in love with it
OllieQuote Reply
You are not the first to ask this type of question. As I stated earlier, you’re better off having the books spoil the tv series than the reverse. My thought is that the books are the real story. Period. The tv show is a very well done adaptation but nothing can compare to reading this story. GRRM is such a great writer. You’ll experience much of him by watching the tv show, but there’s so much more to him and this story than that.
The books are so epic that reducing them to ten one hour episodes is like asking an artist to recreate Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling on your 12 foot by 7 foot bathroom ceiling. It’s not possible. Of course, an artist as skilled at paining as D&D are at their craft could create a very impressive likeness indeed. One may even argue that in ways it would be better because you get a closer look at the work, what with the bathroom ceiling being only 7 feet high. The paint would be fresher and possibly more colorful. Nonetheless, the truly epic nature of the work would be lost.
I say read the books first. Enjoy it. First to last. Cover to cover. Prologue to Epilogue. Highlight and take notes (easier with a Kindle). Then, read them again. You’ll be shocked. You’ll laugh, cry and cheer!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m on my second pass through ASOS, and I am on schedule to re-read and re-finish AFFC two days prior to the release of ADWD.
Mike ChairQuote Reply
I thought the dragons looked awesome. I was also afraid they would look cheesy. But they had just the right reptilian look to them.
But already, I have had three friends describe them as “cute.” (2 are non-readers)
is this the proper way to describe dragons? and come to think of it, I think maybe I think they’re cute also!
metalgoddessambQuote Reply
daveb,
I don’t think Sean’s comment about Larry’s video was at all uncomplimentary. Who are the typical fantasy series fans? You know the stereotypes – it’s the geeks and nerds. Larry is not your typical “nerdy” fantasy fan – though he’s pretty astute, he can sound like a very tough guy with street cred…probably not the type guy that a middleaged white British fella would peg for a fantasy geek! :)
persephone88Quote Reply
a few thoughts on an outstanding episode and season
Kudo’s to the entire cast and crew. Just outstanding. Watching normal TV pales.
Some specifics
1. I think the king in the north sequence was done earlier to help the Ned is Dead transition.
2. I think we need to understand that Pycelle is a player…and aren’t you the least bit intrigued at where the character Ros will end up? I think it’s a easter egg for the book readers. Sit back an enjoy. (and she’s lovely). BTW – I thought I was looking at Sansa getting a check up (medically) for short while there. Thought it was creepy how it was done, but the hairstyle and the camera angle gave that impression. I’m glad it wasn’t, as the actress is too young for that. Still, I think it was intentional.
3. I don’t care if the hair is gone. (she’s prettier with it)…but the Dragons were great…and if you watch again, you will notice her breasts are far cleaner than most of her body. I think the one in her lap also had its mouth on her breast at the very start. Still, the whiteness implies the feeding – which I think was well done.
Can’t wait for Season 2!!
Rich RadgoskiQuote Reply
While I am not a huge fan of Ros, her scene with Pycelle was somewhat important as other people pointed out. It showed Littlefinger’s use of her as well as Pycelle’s “act”
JamieQuote Reply
For those who are interested in more ASoIaF backstory and recaps of all the Books up to ADwD (Spoilers Galore), Adam Whitehead of UK has done an awesome job in his blog Wertzone.
As for all the sexpositions with Ros including the Pycelle and Littlefinger ones, I don’t mind them at all. D&D used them to achieve a few things they needed in this adaptation.
Ros is used repeatedly because a) Esme is very attractive, a relatively good actor and memorable, and b) she gives D&D freedom in the future to create sexposition scenes that could involve Tyrion, Theon, Littlefinger, Pycelle and others since all the groundwork has been laid this season. She could be the informer for both Tyrion and Littlefinger. Just think about it, if some other woman (like the one Jory was staring at in the Brothel) was used in Pycelle’s sexposition, will viewers instantly caught the implication that Littlefinger is keeping tab on Pycelle? They might have forgotten who she is.
BTW, the littlefinger sexposition scene could work a lot of better if a different director like Alan Taylor is used. The girl on girl was too loud. Aidan’s deliverly was too stage-like, not self-reflecting, regretful and defiant enough.
SugarVampireQuote Reply
I have to say, Alan Taylor is my favorite director for Thrones so far. I liked the first two episodes by Tim van Patten, and he was good at Boardwalk Empire, but maybe the fantastical subject matter isn’t his forte. Still a good director, though.
HollyoakQuote Reply
She is NOT a redhead. She’s as brunette as brunette can be.
Er, back on track, speaking of redheads. I think Ros has been overused but I think she was absolutely necessary. Without her a proper Tyrion introduction would have been very difficult. Without her we wouldn’t have got a good picture of Theon. (One issue I have with the books is that we get barely any info about Theon before his trip in Book 2. This way we have a basic idea of his character.)
The Littlefinger scene was absolute rubbish but it wasn’t put in there for Ros. It’s just that if they’re writing in a sexposition scene with whores, they may as well use a character who’s already around. Same reasoning for her appearance in the finale.
Edited to echo SugarVampire. Excellent point about Ros being known to viewers as employed by Littefinger!
EleanorQuote Reply
Huh?? What are you talking about?
EdQuote Reply
Jordan Healey,
What do you mean?
darkulQuote Reply
Brian,
She was completely naked, yes and yes, she nursed them and will continue to do so.
darkulQuote Reply
Dragolf,
I think you’re replying to someone else ?
But hooded Jaqen happens to be fine with me.. I’ve always thought that even if the theory is true..Jaqen will be cast with a second actor.. Also , if Miltos knows, he wouldn’t be likely to give anything away..
obsidianQuote Reply
Agreed, totally. I just hope that someone out there doesn’t say “What the hell does he mean by that?!?”
davebQuote Reply
Alan,
Kthx, good points. Though we all remember Illyrio was supposed to have a forked yellow beard… but still, good points.
DibuKQuote Reply
obsidian,
Fair question, and thanks for not calling me a weirdo like the some other repressed, censorious poster I could name. First – apprearing nude is not immoral – everybody seems to like Ros, and we’ve seen plenty of her, despite her nudity being irrelevant to the plot. Second – of course Emilia Clarke has the right to make her own decisions, but small minded jerks will certainly criticise her her if her decision is to reveal more of her body than THEY decide is appropriate, so why should I not try to balance the scales by pointing out that her body, being a beautiful thing, could be used to add to the dramatic effect of critical scenes, such as the dragon scene last night.
Finally, seeing a girl hide her crotch behind a dragon is laughable – the equivalent of reducing the dragon’s significance to that of a fig leaf. Great show, great actess. But the dragon/fig leaf decision reduced the incredible final scene to little more than mockery.
It annoys me that puritanism continues to much up great art. It annoys a bit (though not nearly enough) that a man can’t argue an opinion about a scene being more powerful. If it involves female nudity, it seems my motives must be lacivious. I am an enormous fan of this series. I’m showing it to my mother, my finance, and someday, hopefully, my children. So – I’m not addressing you, here obsidian, but the others – attack me all you want for believing that nudity is OK and can add power to a scene, then go back to looking at porn online, you insufferable hypocrites.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
Well i just re-watched the episode and i can’t get over how amazing that last is, the way Dany talks to Jorah and kisses him, the way he is looking at her and then MMD’s screams as she burns sent shivers down my body.
i love the music, Djawadi did an amzing job especially when Dany smothers Drogo i thought the music was beautiful (i’ll be really pissed if Emilia Clarke doesn’t at least get an Emmy nom simply for her performance in the last two episodes).
There were a few missteps at the beginig of the series but it just kept getting better and better, everyone involved should be very happy with the results.
Mirri MazQuote Reply
im looking forward to the retweets alot! gimme spontaneous newby reactions! :)
BeneQuote Reply
One other slight nit-pick that bothered me and I mentioned it to my wife after the show was over. Why didn’t Mirri Maz Durr tell Dany that she will not be able to have kids ever again? That’s a pretty important plot detail that I hope they don’t gloss over. I suppose it could be explained away later on but my wife was sure surprised to hear that.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Alan,
D&D has done an amazing, super-human job in this adaptation. The reality is that in this horrible economy with new viewing habits, everyone is on edgy regarding budgets.
We just have to accept that Direwolves are not going to be protraited as such as in the books (Most of them involve wolf dreams any way), a much smaller version of House of UnDying (less visual perhaps, more audio) and no Ghost or dragons in the background.
I won’t be surprised that Season 3, 4 and 5 (I am pretty sure they will all be greenlighted) are all going to be 10 episodes each. Season 2 will have lots of Book 3 in it. BwB will be largely trimmed in Season 3. Whatever additional budget HBO would give to D&D, I think they will used in battles and dragons in future seasons. (After re-read of the books in recent weeks, any actions with regard to Direwolves could be drastically trimmed. So far, they are mainly used in the books to show that the Stark children are special and Bran is a warg)
SugarVampireQuote Reply
Off topic, but does anyone remember that nano-second of a clip in some of the trailers where we saw someone (it looked like Sean Bean) with a chain or rope around his neck being dragged? Who was that? Was that a flashback scene of the Mad King or something?
HollyoakQuote Reply
Hollyoak,
Not only that but, they had said they had cast someone to be the Mad King as I recall. So yeah, here’s hoping that stuff ends up on the DVD/Blu Ray set.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Here’s my take on Ros :
Ros&Tyrion..very good way to reveal Tyrion’s character ( minus slurping , if I had my druthers
Ros&Theon … Bit of overkill , we’d already had Tyrion/ Theon and would have Osha/Theon ( more revealing than any amount of sexpo ) and Rob / Theon ..so I thought it was an excuse to get some sex / nudity in.
Lf & Whores… completely over the top ..made LF too obvious..
Ros & Pycelle ..Funny.. reveals Pycelle as much as Ros, in a different way ;).. but not really necessary til next season.
obsidianQuote Reply
daveb,
Wow, she is tall, gorgeous, blonde and a redhead, totally my kind of girl!!!
SugarVampireQuote Reply
Funny, dizzy 34, I have no idea why I copied your post! It had nothing to do with what you said! Now that I think of it though, it comes back to me. Do you remember the scene where Dany chowed down on that nice tasty horse heart? Remember the Dothraki woman they showed that was singing and kind of conducting the chant in a way? I thought she would have made the perfect Mirri Daz Duur, or whatever her name is. In fact, I had forgotten how MDD made her appearance, and was thinking that that Dothraki woman they kept cutting to was going to be her.
HollyoakQuote Reply
Hollyoak,
Personally for me the preference was:
Actually shave Emilia Clarke’s head > Not do anything with the baldness > Bald cap
Having personally known several actresses who’ve shaved their heads for roles, the idea that it was never a possibility on her end doesn’t wash with me. It’s a huge commitment to the role and project, for sure, but a choice that is well within the abilities of someone dedicated to their performance.
Now, I know that if someone wants me to shave off my beard for a role, my agent is going to try to get extra money from them. Is it possible that Clarke would have gone for it, but keeping the wig was less expensive? Possible.
Is it possible that they did a test and it was determined that Clarke would look weird with a shaved head? Possible.
In the end, while I’d have loved to see it happen, I’ll buy the idea that Dany’s hair is also immune to fire. It fits well enough, and a much better choice than a bald cap, in my opinion.
paulgudeQuote Reply
Re: Sean’s reaction to Larry’s video, I think Sean was confused, too, because he thought Larry and his roommate were from L.A. (Los Angelos), when he is actually from LA. (Loiusiana) – but I don’t know which he would think is odder, L.A. gang boys upset at his beheading, or Louisiana Southern boys, upset at his beheading. Punctuation is important! (lol)
I think it’s cool as crap that Sean Bean actually saw Larry’s video! Now that’s supporting the bottom! Wooohoooo!!!
purplejillyQuote Reply
Lol Okay I’m ready for Tamzin Merchant to take up the role that was meant for her.
Sent from my iPhoneQuote Reply
Really? The lack of a pube-tastic crotch shot was THAT much of a deal breaker for you?
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
I think that body was cgi – I don’t think it was her. Look at the way it stands, with the dragons on it. Not that I am an expert on cgi bodies, but it looks weird. I think from the neck up, it’s her, and below, it’s not.
purplejillyQuote Reply
Or it was just a matter of “where should we put 3 dragons?” Sorry your desire for dragons+ashes+labia wasn’t fulfilled. Finding it ‘odd’ that you are lamenting the lack of crotch shots is not an example of latent puritanism.
BrianQuote Reply
I think I made it clear that the method by which her crotch was concealed is what blew it for me. Reminds me of Benny Hill running around holding a duck over junk. Still, you would rather reword and misrepresent my view so that you can have someone to accuse of sexual deviance. Feel better now?
Edric DayneQuote Reply
Spaced Out,
I would recommend reading all the books first. You get so much more out of them, they are so well written, rich in detail and just generally awesome. Better to read the books then watch the series after; that would be my advice.
Enjoy!
Dolorous DaveQuote Reply
That wasn’t my desire. My desire was that the absurd expedent of using a dragon as a fig leaf should have been avoided. That was your own imagination running wild. Thanks for the mental picture, though.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
It’s not deviance, it’s just your attempt to represent yourself as some artistic critic, when you already stated your voyeuristic intent was thwarted. The scene was about dragons, not the details of Dany’s genetalia. Sorry. You’ve still got your imagination though. Hang in there.
BrianQuote Reply
Much of the point about Roz is that she’s being set up to replace Chataya/Alayaya in season 2. …I guess. And i think the sexposition is fine. “Even” the LF/brothel scene.
sjweningsQuote Reply
I’ve got to jump on the Shae-hating bandwagon. Didn’t like her petulance in the book, don’t like her bitchery now.
ElaineQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
Wow, at what point did I accuse you of sexual deviance? You really need to cool down, man. I was reacting to the fact that you were likening the presence of a dragon over her crotch to the most notorious botch-job in sci-fi history, which I am perfectly comfortable telling you is an outlandish over-reaction of Smiling Knight proportions. I can understand being defensive if people are attacking you, but at least know who’s actually attacking you before throwing out haymakers of your own.
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
This is laughable. You already stated that you were bummed out that there was no nursing (oops, there was) and that Dany wasn’t fully nude (but…she was). Full nude != spread-eagle-inner-anatomy shot. I couldn’t care less if you were hoping for GoT Hustler Edition™. But to blame the lack of it on latent cultural puritansim? Really? C’mon man.
BrianQuote Reply
I think this was the episode I loved most so far.
1 – Dragons : guys…how cannot like them ?? they just looked…real !!! No big-budget hollywood blockbuster could have done them better !!
2 – The emotions : I could feel them, believe them, maybe for the first time in the whole series (even if I loved it, sometimes i didnt feel it was real…). Jon and his “brothers” ! Robb and Catelyn !! Dany and Drogo !!!
3 – The filming, the pace of the episode : as people have already said before, this episode’s director is far the best and we can only be happy that he will be at work in 4 episodes next season !
And now that I’ve seen what HBO can do, especially with dragons which was not the easiest part to do, I can only hope and ask for one thing : increase the SCALE ! Hire background folks, do little background CGI for the armies and show some parts at least of battles !!! You can do it damned !
Then this show will truly come to life.
PS : nice interview with Sean Bean below (hope no one has posted it already) :
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/06/sean_bean_on_whats_next_for_ga.html
AshaïeseQuote Reply
It was clearly a nod to the Birth of Venus. Not the product of some puritanical misgivings. It was a very artistic and awesome end, and IMO, visually better than described in the book.
ingrinQuote Reply
Yes, a great piece of work.
onelife1603Quote Reply
Good reply Paulgude. I work in advertising and I’ve seen actors shave heads for commercial roles, too, so I’m sure it was a possibility for Emilia Clarke. Like you said, perhaps they did a test and decided it wasn’t right. In any regard, I think it came off wonderfully, and to the other poster who thought the strategically placed dragon took him out of the scene, I’m sorry that was the case. I think it worked for most.
Also, did anyone talk about how great EC looked in that scene? I mean her face and her look of quiet bewilderment and strength. Pretty cool, considering she had to “react” to things that weren’t really on her. (They may have placed something in her hands and on her shoulder so the placement was right.) But her look of quiet awe was spectacular.
Sorry for my strident post on people complaining about bald heads and lack of burnt hair or lack thereof. Rash posting…..
HollyoakQuote Reply
I agree. it was beautiful. I totally got it right away.
metalgoddessambQuote Reply
sjwenings,
I still think this is unlikely.
Chataya/Alayay help Varys, and Ros works for Littlefinger.
paulgudeQuote Reply
OMG, is this another spoiler from the Bean?!?!?!
Ned really knows who [Jon’s parents are], but he can’t let on. That’s why it’s such a moving moment, those poignant scenes I have with Kit Harington [who plays Jon], because I couldn’t say what I really thought. There are so many things I could have said, because there is a love there between the two of them, but I can’t express it as overtly as I can with the other children, who I can hold and kiss. Even if I were his true father, I can’t talk about it for fear of offending my wife, who’s really bitter about this. So it’s really a cruel situation. Through no fault of his own, Ned took on a lot by taking Jon in.
ElaineQuote Reply
Ed,
Remember that Cercei and Joeffrey keep referencing Sansa getting her courses ‘soon’. Pycelle is the closest thing they have to a doctor. I’m not saying I was right…just that this was my first thought – that the queen was having her checked. Shrug – much better the way it was.
Rich RadgoskiQuote Reply
My prediction is there was some guy in a green man outfit behind her shoulder with a dragon sock-puppet going “rrrrraaaaaaawwwwwwrrrr.”
Or not. I like to believe my version actually happened and it took them 100 takes for her to keep a straight face.
JonSnow’sBastardQuote Reply
So fucking epic. I loved everything about it. As close to perfection as any episode this season. Closer, in fact.
Plus, this episode set my shipper heart aflame like no other. SanSan! Dany/Jorah! And… wait, is this Arya’s first scene from ACOK?! Yes it is! There’s Gendry! An Arya/Gendry scene in season one?! Be still, my heart. (That was my reaction when first viewing that scene.)
God, now I have to wait almost a year till season two. :(
Ah well, A Dance with Dragons this summer. All is well.
EmmaQuote Reply
Thank you all for a great Season! I can’t wait for Season 2! :)
WeirwoodQuote Reply
Yes, the scene was about dragons. And their importance is reduced to that of fig leaves. I make no apology for finding beauty in the female form. I feel no shame in being a slightly voyeuristic heterosexual male, along with 3.5 billion other people. I did NOT claim that my criticism of the scene was based on a desire to examine miss Clarke’s genetalia. ALL arguments concerning genetalia have come from those who are criticising me, not from me. A nude Dany – tastefully filmed – would have been far more beautiful and inspiring than one with a lizard tucked between her legs, which was ludicrous. As I’ve said, I’m watching this show with friends and family. I have no desire for it to be “dirty.”
The reason I detect knee-jerk puritanism in these attacks is precisely due to the point you seem to make, which is that by acknowledging the power and beauty of the female form, my opinion is somehow invalid about the art itself. Your argument would impress the church lady.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
I liked that Jaquen had his head covered, that gives them time to find a good actor for that part.
and no, it will not be the guy that played Syrio. Remember, even if Syrio is Jaquen, (which he’s not) he changes his face completely, not a makeup trick, it actually changes, so you need a new actor.
I’m curious to see what they do with Beric’s Character.
DocBeanQuote Reply
Totally agree, ingrin. It had a very painterly, renaissance feel to it. Aside from Birth of Venus, I also saw shades of Eastern Indian folklore/religion, as in Shiva Destroyer of Worlds.
HollyoakQuote Reply
Well, I’m happy to give a lesson, so I should be willing to take one. I confess that the birth of venus parallel did not occur to me. I’m not absolutely convinced that this was intentional, but I’ll look into it. Still, if Venus had a dragon covering her crotch in this scene, it might not be a masterpiece on the same order.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
Point taken.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
Here are Jason Momoa’s thoughts about his character Khal Drogo, his death and about the books of George RR Martin as a whole.
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/20/game-of-thrones-jason-momoa/
Thanks for playing a bada$$ and a sweatheart so believable in one single character.
CavegirlQuote Reply
So it’s Crotchgate now its it? 7 Hells!
Ms. StormbornQuote Reply
Now I was asking for a spread-eagle-inner-anatomy shot? Your misrepresentations have become increasingly graphic, not to mention pornographic, but also increasingly unrelated to any view of mine. Nudity does not equal pornography.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
a very good finale for a great show
I loved the King in the North part, was pumped as hell during it
I too prefer the 4 legged dragon style, it looks way better, this on resembles a bat more then a dragon, but the CGI is good
and yeah, very strange about the Mad King and Brandon Stark. scene missing, maybe they didn’t have the time to finish it and just removed it… or just shot that 2 seconds for the promo like every character sitting on the iron throne
FishQuote Reply
On you’re spoilered text, thank you, thank you, thank you. Even if you agree with the theory you reference, Jaqen, as a necessary plot point, looks absolutely nothing like Syrio. He’s not Syrio in disguise – he’s perfectly, magically disguised.
AlanQuote Reply
Oh wow, I really wish I hadn’t read that. That wasn’t even spoilers for future books, that was spoilers for the entire series! That needs like a super-duper spoiler warning!!!
Jason LaGardeQuote Reply
Has anyone noticed that the old guy that laughs at Littlefinger’s ‘naked knight’ joke in Ep.8 at the Throne Room in King’s Landing also appears on Tywin’s war council in Ep.10?
JonQuote Reply
So the Season 2 checklist is as follows then:
1)Absolutely no sounds from Ghost.
2)Dany’s va-jay-jay.
3)Han shooting first.
Did I miss anything?
PhalangeQuote Reply
Nitpick much?…about position of the Rob scene, or no hair on Dany, or dragon wings’ location on body, or why was Pycelle whoring (he’s a player in the ‘game’ or did you forget how he helped along a king’s passing…”she’s f-ing Lancel and the Kettlebacks and who knows who else for that matter”) , or the (now infamous) missing mad king scene… ‘Tis the reason for this board, I know, but, here’s the key thing: It’s a Song of Ice and Fire, ON TV!!! It is known. Game of Thrones is 10 hours of perhaps the most faithful adaptation of a book I’ve ever seen…ever.
Congratulations to GRRM, David and Dan and the whole crew on this amazing first season. Keep up the fantastically exceptional work!
TriLambdasQuote Reply
Jason LaGarde,
I’m sorry!!!!!! I should have had a better spoiler warning…maybe a moderator can delete/edit my post?
But, of course, Sean Bean doesn’t know everything, does he?
ElaineQuote Reply
Does anyone actually have a transcript or a summary of what Pycelle was saying during his scene with Ros? I will admit I kind of zoned out during his old man rambling because it didn’t seem important. But someone commented on the Time magazine TV blog that Pycelle gave us the first hint for the season of Jon’s parentage. Did that really happen?
InkaQuote Reply
Yet you seem to have missed the part of the scene that contained: a fully nude Dany. Where were the dragons supposed to be? On the ground? There are only so many places to put 3 dragons. If they had had one covering a breast, you’d be railing about “Argh! They’ve reduced these dragons to pasties!!”.
And as for the 3.5 billion ‘slightly voyeuristic heterosexual men’. Everyone knows there are 3.523 billion such men. Get you facts straight.
BrianQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
Quite honestly I agree with you about nudity, I don’t find it offensive in the least, but people really seem to get their knickers in a twist about it. But I honestly don’t understand how you feel it detracted from the scene for us not to see her full frontal; I thought the last few shots were so beautiful, everything blended in together perfectly, (the way one of the dragons jumped from the ground and curled it’s way slowly up her leg was stunning); seeing her fully naked was the last thing on my mind and I didn’t even register the ‘bald’ issue until I read about here. It really wouldn’t have made the scene anymore or anyless impactful to me, I’m sorry it ruined it for you.
ButterBumpsQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
I use the slight hyperbole only too point out that I don’t know how much more could you want? She was completely naked, with dragons crawling on her. From this you have somehow gotten to the conclusion that their placement was due to some latent cultural puritanism. Riiiight. Where was this cultural disposition in the other 9 episodes? Maybe they put the dragon there because it looked cool? Maybe the artists thought the dragon would like to hang out somewhere warm? Who knows.
BrianQuote Reply
I was slightly dissapointed in the final scene. The main thing was that I thought they did a great job on the dragons, was very worried about that. But I was dissapointed when it faded to black. I think it would have been SO much more dramatic to have 3 very loud cracks from the egss and then have Dany walk out from fire with the 3 dragons, no matter where they were (also glad they weren’t breast feeding).
yagkoshaQuote Reply
There was a suckling dragon.
BrianQuote Reply
Alan,
I don’t think it necessarily is. The possibilty does exist (and may even be likely) that he knows he’s being ‘monitored’ by Ros, sure. But that doesn’t change his other actions.
SPOILER IS FOR BOOK INFO
Pycelle helped Tywin get in the city against Aerys. He’s repeatedly done actions that put him clearly on Cersei’s side. (spying for her, and taking over treatment for Jon Arryn). While Lannister’s weren’t directly behind that, Jon dying clearly helped conceal the incest he discovered occuring.
C2Quote Reply
Thanks for the writeup. I find myself not getting enough of GOT even with it only being the first day after the last season 1 episode, and found this site for more.
I agree about the scene placement.
As far as Gendry (no spoiler here) both in the first book and in the HBO series the blacksmith who trains him spoke very highly of Gendry to Ned, so I have to believe with the King (Robert- Gendy’s father) dead sending Gendry to the wall, or making it the most attractive option for him to choose, was actually to save his life. If both John Arryn and Ned Stark discovered the truth about him, Varys and Littlefinger surely already know, and the Lannisters would find out eventually and “eliminate” a potential rival to Joffey…. Just my opinion.
Nem ManQuote Reply
Here is my take on the Dany with hair “controversy”:
In the book it is easy to know that the ash and charcoal covered figure in the remains of the pyre is Dany- since it is described in the text.
But on film I think it would have confused some new viewers to see a character standing in the ruins, without any clothes or hair (eyebrows even) to identify them. Don’t forget two women were in that conflagration, some new viewers may have initially thought it was the “Witch”.
Having no hair at all really effects a person’s identifying characteristics (obviously), especially no eyebrows/eyelashes.
I think they did the right thing, first off because of the domino effect this would have on Dany’s appearance for the coming season (as already referenced here)- but also to shorthand who we were actually seeing Dany (with her dragons).
I love that Dany kept her white Targaryen hair. :)
WeirwoodQuote Reply
Regarding all the comments/concerns about season 2′s budget – don’t forget that they will be re-using a lot of sets, props, and digital artifacts from this season. Winterfell & King’s Landing already exist now, and so they will cost less to shoot additional scenes there. The same can probably be said about the dragons. They surely exist as digitally rendered & textured models, ready to animate as needed. Sure, there is still effort needed for each scene they’ll be in, but it must be a deal cheaper to re-use the existing dragons then to create brand new ones.
MikeFromBraavosQuote Reply
I’m pleased to see you inject some humor. I’ll take it as a return to civility, as your repeatedly accusing me of demanding gyno-shots from Dany had become downright beligerent. As to your question of where we should put three dragons, how about one at each breast and another on her shoulder which was, I believe, the way they were situated in the book.
If my actual problem with the scene is still unclear, I’ll try one more time, though Idon’t doubt most people are skipping this exchange by now. Dragons crawling all over a woman = cool. A dragon seemingly trained to remain in just such a position as to meet the contractual obligations of an actresses nudity clause appears to be just that. It was contrived, and it wasn’t necessary. I was never expecting a fully nude Dany (though I think that would have been the most effective way of shooting the scene). It was unlikely, since we can assume, with that silver wig, that there would have been a hair color discontinuity, (though they certainly don’t seem to mind when it comes to eye-brows.) A side shot, a rear shot, a shot from the waste up, a well timed reaction shot, etc… would all have avoided what I felt to be a very distracting decision to use a dragon as a fig leaf. But I’ve hardly had throngs flocking to my banner over this, so it’s clearly time to let it go.
Edric DayneQuote Reply
MikefromBraavos:
Quite true. But they’ll be needing to build a Dragonstone set, Iron Islands set, A Craster’s keep set, the Fist of the First Men… and probably the Blackwater Bay Battle will make a huge dent too. Some more budget will (hopefully) be redirected to some CGI for direwolves and dragons, and though great actors whose payrolls where the highest (Bean and Addy), there are a whole new bunch of actors that will need wages too.
Best thing that we can hope for is that HBO decides to raise the budget (HBO’s The Pacific was three times as costly). So I think we should all buy the DVD/Bluray when it comes out. We better show them that the fanbase really loves the series, and I expect the extra incomes will be a stimulus to their investment in it.
JonQuote Reply
It’s always civil. But it is the internet though, and what else is it for than for arguing about silly things. Too be honest I didn’t even notice the ‘trained fig leaf’ dragon. Perhaps it is as you say. Too me, what I saw, was completely nude Dany and dragons, and to be honest, I was paying more attention to the dragons. I’ve already seen Dany in the buff, and the dragons were the “new thing” here.
I have no problems with nudity whatsoever. I just read your initial comments as “It ain’t cool unless we get the crotch shot”, and too that I just thought “why??”. The rest is history: “uh oh, someone’s wrong on the internet!!”.
/peace
BrianQuote Reply
I read this interview pretty quickly and thought it was nice and worth being posted here. I liked the fact that the interviewer was mentionning “fandom theories” (as he litteraly says) and that Bean was playing the game, and at first, I wasn’t shocked by his answer as you were because I read it quickly and I also thought he was just “letting doors open” for anything.
Now that I read it again…well, that’s true he seems to tell the thing as if it were a fact. Which is pretty wierd since I see no reason why GRRM would have told him that, or even told D&D (he can just have said that there could be one possibility that Jon wasn’t Jon wasn’t Ned’s son and it would have been enough for them, at least in the first few seasons…). Maybe Bean’s heard this theory as any fan or people closely related to Martin has, and that then he’s chosen to believe in it which would explain why he talks about it so plainly.
AshaïeseQuote Reply
Yes, I wasn’t trying to imply it would be cheaper, just that they can get some benefit from re-use.
And I completely agree with supporting the cause by buying the DVD/BR… although that wouldn’t actually help season 2 since that will be mostly shot before those even come out.
MikeFromBraavosQuote Reply
DocBean,
I agree.
While they always may take a different route, I always assumed that if they’re going to have Syrio as Jaqen in the show the next time we’d see Miltos is when Jaqen turns into The Alchemist.
paulgudeQuote Reply
D&D already stated that Season 2 budget has nothing to do with Season 1 performance. I’m under the impression that the budget is already set.
BrianQuote Reply
SeanFan,
I guess he meant that two of the Stark kids (Rickon and Bran) would see their father in their dreams… not that we the viewing audience would see Eddard Stark too….. I thought we eould see him as they saw him too…
DarquemodeQuote Reply
Ashaïese,
Theories can be spoilers too. Someone mentioned to me there was a theory that Renly was gay before I read the second book. That definitely spoiled that mystery for me… knowing the theory I picked up on it pretty easily, but I’ll never know if I had figured it out or not on my own.
And yes, I know that GRRM has confirmed it, but all I knew is that it was a theory at the time.
GRRM has yet to confirm who The Sphinx is… that doesn’t mean that revealing the theory of that character’s identity does not constitute a spoiler.
MikeFromBraavosQuote Reply
Ashaïese,
We do know that GRRM told D&D how the series ends:
http://www.tvguide.com/News/Game-Thrones-Lost-1031645.aspx?rss=breakingnews
So I find it plausible–although not certain–that someone might have told Bean the parts of the future story (I mean, the parts of the backstory that we haven’t found out yet) that would be relevant to his character.
Plus, way back in (I think) January, when we were first getting some video interviews with the cast, there was one with Bean telling the interviewer that Ned never goes home. So spoiling is the sort of thing he does…
Not that any of that proves anything, but it is pretty suspicious.
ElaineQuote Reply
Speaking of “slightly voyeuristic heterosexual men,” I’ve noticed that the sssmokin’ hot new Miss USA, Alyssa Campanella, watches Game of Thrones, ew reports. May The Seven bless her — and give her a few lemon cakes. She’s starving.
Mike ChairQuote Reply
So cool! I knew it reminded me of something… mythical and powerful.
LexQuote Reply
The episode was really good. Loved the end of the King in the North scene. Loved the scenes at the wall. Loved Sansa and Joffrey going to see Ned’s head. I thought Arya’s scenes were solid, though I never pictured Hotpie as fat, and not beating him with her wooden sword was missed, but it still worked over all. And of course my biggest concern was how the dragons would look and they were as convincing as I could have hoped for.
Most of my dislikes are tied to things from last episode.
I still don’t care for the changes they have made to Shae. There are plenty of whores in Kings Landing and she hasn’t done anything to make me convinced that Tyrion would have any particular fondness for her. In comparison to the books she is quite insolent and unpleasant. They could have made room for some of the things they cut from the episode by sticking to the books, where Tyrion simply climbs into bed after being name hand of the king by his father and saying he has a mind to take her to court.
I also miss the explanation of what happened at the Whispering Woods. Non-readers miss out on how Robb lured Jaime into an ambush to capture him, with the entire battle basicly being summed up by Robb on the show as we defeated them before they knew what was happening. Considering that describing the battle is not really a special effects or casting budget issue this is disappointing and I thought it might happen at the feast prior to the King in the North scene. Likewise during the Lannister war council prior to Tyrion being named hand of the king, the book explains how the siege was broken. How Riverrun is shaped like a triangle with rivers on 2 sides and a moat on the third, so Jaime’s forces were split in 3 seperated by water, and the Starks and Tullys attacked at night and defeated each camp seperately. It is also odd that they changed the numbers and descriptions of each force involved in the battles when they had no intention of showing the forces. It should have been 12,000 northmen led by Roose Bolton vs Tywin and Tyrion’s army of I believe ~16,000, where they are defeated, but most of them retreat and regroup. Force marching 2,000 men to attack a force of 30,000 seems completely pointless. Might as well send no one in that case, as a 2,000 man attack on 30,000 couldn’t have provide more than an hour or so of distraction? Likewise part of Robb’s brilliance in the books is he breaks the siege of Riverrun with 5,000 cavalry and the help of the Tully’s. In the show the Lannisters really aren’t losing despite Riverrun because Tywin’s army is still 30,000 vs 18,000 even with Jaime’s host defeated, and since Roose Bolton’s 12,000 don’t exist he really isn’t surrounded by anyone. Speaking of Riverrun, it was kind of odd that they broke the siege there, but don’t appear to be there as Jaime appeared to be imprisoned outside and we haven’t seen or even mentioned any of the Tullys specifically. Considering the Blackfish isn’t on the HBO Tully family tree it seems likely he won’t be cast at all.
I also thought they left out the most important part of Mirri Maz Duur’s prophecy which was that Drogo won’t be himself again until Dany’s womb quickens and she bear’s a living child. This prophecy shapes her going forward as the dragon’s and the slaves she frees become her “children” and was very odd to leave out.
So what to cut to make room for the things that I feel were missed? I think the Ros/Pycelle scene could have been cut or at least shortened. I understand they wanted to show Pycelle being more spry than he appears when alone, but I don’t know if it was blatant enough for the non-reader to catch and a bit long for what it offered. Likewise with the Littlefinger/Varys scene. With another 2 episodes in the season I wouldn’t have minded, but it didn’t seem to offer anything new in exchange for dialogue and information they left out.
I realize this post is more focused on the negatives, but I feel negatives warrant more explanation on why they are negative. I still really liked the episode over all. I just think there is still room for improvement in areas that don’t have anything to do with special effects or budgets.
TCQuote Reply
OMG!!! This was INSANELY GOOD!!! Im completely, utterly breathtaken!
I have whached every episode with my (non reader) fiancee, brother and friend, and we all sat BREATHTAKEN for all 58 minutes in this last one. They alle, and myself, agree, this is the most epic show ever shown on TV.
When the dragons screamed, I almost cried of joy!
Epic, epic, EPIC fantastic!!!
MariusQuote Reply
Good point I don’t meant to say he isn’t doing things to help the Lannisters. I just think there may be another master he is serving. Helping the Lannisters may be a means to an end. He’s open with his Lannister lackiness — LF or Varys don’t need spies to see that. I think they are setting him up to have his own motives above and beyond Lannister motives.
AlanQuote Reply
Winter is Coming
I’m choosing to believe that the same happened here as in the books. The armorer was a good man who protected Gendry, and Gendry was a good worker who would at the very least earn his keep. With both Ned and Robert dead, the armorer sent Gendry away for his protection.
Of course, Gendry does not know that, but we do. :)
MorlunQuote Reply
Edric Dayne,
I thought her holding the dragon at her crotch was fig leaf-esque also. They could have easily panned up follwing the dragon as it climbed onto her arm or shoulder and still avoided showing a merkin.
The scene was so great that it didn’t bother me much at the time, but if I’m being honest I felt it was a cop-out I guess.
DarquemodeQuote Reply
Wowzers, fantastic episode. Glad to read that Alan Taylor is directing 4 episodes next season, because he totally outhines the rest. I was a bit dissapointed by the direction until we came to his episodes, well done Taylor!
THE moment for me this episode was the gang assembling. I jumped from my chair and actually cheered with clenching fists in the air when we got to see Lommy, Arry, Gendry and Hot Pie together. The chemistry was there, the acting was superb for kids (are you watching stableboy?), the haircut was awesome, a little Jaquen foreshadowing, Rorge and Biter looked great and the whole vibe of that scene was just glorious.
Is it April yet?
Edit: my one gripe was MMD, terrible acting. Those scenes fell flat, even Emilia couldn’t save those ones.
KnurkQuote Reply
Darquemode,
Although I just had a thought that perhaps D&D were showing Daenerys’ “re-birth” as analogous to Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” painting where her hand is over her crotch as she rides the half shell onto the beach. It was a similar pose and maybe they meant it as an homage to the masterpiece and a subtle reference to Dany being reborn?
DarquemodeQuote Reply
honestly, complaining about the positioning of the dragons? please…
oenoneQuote Reply
Morlun,
From a warning from Varys if I remember correctly, after the little baby girl and the mother were killed…. and then Tyrion send Janos to the wall! Go Tyrion!
JedaQuote Reply
This was pointed out before the show even aired, and sorta stood out for me in the final scene. I think Emelia looked perfect and I think for the most part has nailed Dany and acted tremendously but…..In her final moving speech, her arms just hang limp at her sides. I wish she would be more animated with her arm movements, particularly in emotional scenes. A raised hand here, or the sweeping of an arm over a crowd there could really go a long way in selling her being a passionate, strong, emotional woman leader.
The DarkStarQuote Reply
Morlun,
agreed.
Nem ManQuote Reply
Holy Mother of the Divine Redeemer!! That was, wow, just wow. Bloody fantastic. I’d normally go through all my fav scenes and the not-so-good bits but with this ep I don’t think there was anything I didn’t like. Granted the Pycelle scene felt a little out of place but it showed brilliantly how he is just as scheming as Littlefinger or Varys.
The actors are really blowing me away. I can’t believe that we managed to snag so many perfect actors. But I wanna mention those that have smaller roles but have been exceptional: Varys, Maester Luwin, Osha, Hound. Also thought the woman playing Mirri Maz Duur fit the part well. And I love love love the guy playing Yoren! And of course James Cosmo. That final NW scene took my breath away, Cosmo’s voiceover was perfect. Really liked Alfie Allen’s little monologue too. Interesting, very interesting indeed.
Really liking Arya’s new hairdo, Maisie pulls it off well. Yoren, will you become my hairdresser? Pretty please, I promise not to behead you!
Speaking of the Hound, he looks quite dashing in his Kingsguard armour ;) And Littlefinger v Varys “You must be the only man in the city that’s not a man” :L Did anyone notice that great shot of Jon’s burned hand? Glad they got that in.
Dragons! Just perfect. Emilia Clarke was amazing this ep. I wonder what she thought when she first saw herself on screen with dragons? But I kinda wish her hair had been a bit burnt looking or something.
Whatever am I going to do on a Monday from now on?
BroQuote Reply
Dragon pasties!!!!!!!!!
Venus mounds!!!!!!!
This is the best day of my life.
AnubisQuote Reply
Amazing! Just got finished watching here in Scotland. I loved this episode and thought that it flew in to my dismay.
Loving Michelle Fairley as Cat.
Still want to rip Joffrey to confetti
Still find Aiden Gillen lifeless.
Will mourn Drogo
The Dragons were awesome and all but the Old bear’s speech telling John that they were going to go beyond the wall and look for Benjen Stark etc… got me so pumped for season two.
Emilia Clarke is so wonderful that it had me thinking that maybe Tamsin Merchant just wasn’t working as Dany and was recast for that reason.
Anyone else find the screams of Mirri Maz Dur quite horrific?
Finally EWWWWWW Maester Pycelle……Just ewwww!!!
Sorry my post is all over the place but I just finished wtching
aehQuote Reply
Wanted to add in about Shaggydog and Rickon and Ghost! Great seeing them. Completely forgot about Greywind during King in the North, was too busy getting awsomified.
I know I said there wasn’t anything I was not pleased with but I lied. I actually hate the direction they are taking with Shae but because we haven’t seen much of her this season, I’ve decided to ignore her for the time being.
And hello Lancel! Was NOT expecting to see that a scene like that till next season at least. Sneekily done indeed! :L
BroQuote Reply
For what it’s worth I really loved the short Pycelle moment where we see that he’s letting himself appear feeble to be underestimated at court. I enjoyed Julian Glover’s performance a lot throughout the season and this felt like such a great short addition to the books that seems totally in character
burthQuote Reply
Just finished viewing as I’m the UK side of the Pond. This ep was absolutely brilliant! From the first dramatic scene – I’m so pleased they continued from last ep and didn’t cut away from Ned’s Death to somewhere else – to the end with Dany and the dragons, it hardly put a foot wrong. Well except for the obligatory naked Roz scene (now we get her washing her bits!) and Pycelle’s rambling exposition, which just didn’t seem to belong among the rest of the more epic scenes. I mean who cares if Pycelle isn’t what he’s pretending to be? who is? We can see they’re all two-faced and deceitful….
But APART from that – excellent episode, wonderfully epic, lots of stirring and emotional scenes, beautifully acted all round – and having not been a book-Dany fan at all I wasn’t expecting to like show-Dany so much – Emilia has really won me over in the last few eps. Sansa is much more sympathetic than in the book, I hated her forever, but Sophie is showing her as more nuanced and suffering. Jack Gleeson continues to amaze – what a brilliantly evil and hateful little git! His acting has been super!
The brothers bringing Jon back – the hair on the back of my neck stood up when they recited the vow; King in the North – another such moment! And good grief Iain Glen is one of the sexiest men in the show – he should wear half-open shirts all the time…(just sayin’….).
Jaime looking half-ashamed when confronted by Catelyn; Tywin and Tyrion “you’re my SON”; still not impressed by sour-faced Shae; LF and Varys sparring – though the last scene of theirs was funnier; poor little Arya having to join that frightening band of no-goods (and her hair is so cute!); Gendry looking tough; Bran and Rickon in Winterfell where WINTER IS COMING!! And the DRAGONS!!! really well done! Beautiful CGI. Emilia was so graceful and proud! I could go on and on….
Well done to D&D for this one – and it beautifully sets up the storylines for S2. Can’t wait!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
I’ve just been to “Winterfell” and of course it’s been put back to the original buildings, and having seen it as a set – there’s nothing of the “set” left. They’ll have to pay to dress it all over again, though I presume they’ve kept it all somewhere. Also, they didn’t apparently leave the place in great condition so rates charged by the owners (the National Trust) may well go up next time. But hey – I’m sure HBO can afford it!
silverjaimeQuote Reply
Not enough said about Iain Glen. He’s got that Charlton Heston thing.
Does anyone think that Ian McElhinney as Barristan Selmy has got that Tom Brokaw thing?
Mike ChairQuote Reply
Please God i hope HBO has enough budget for next years battles, dragons, giants and mammoths!!
BalerionQuote Reply
Loved the last episode. Withdrawal begins. Looking forward to Dance with Dragons in a few weeks.
Quick question. Anyone any idea about dvd of S1. Will they be 50 minute episodes or 60 minutes with bonus stuff
hornhillbillyQuote Reply
Just remembered that Yoren said the words “Winter is coming”. And here was me thinking that those were the Stark words and not the NW words! :L Gotta love Yoren.
BroQuote Reply
WOW! just watched it in ireland. what an amazing end to an amazing first season. it felt like david and dan were making the last episode of tv ever. epic tv. how could fans ask for any more?
david ahernQuote Reply
BTW anyone notice the dress that Roz put on? Am I imagining things or is it just like the one Dany wore in ep 1 where Viserys was creeping on her? The pink one?
BroQuote Reply
Why are the scenes with the Nights Watch boys always so damn cheesy
“SWORD SWORD SWORD!”
chumpQuote Reply
There was one critical line I really missed… when Dani asks when Drogo will be the same, Mirri Maz-Duur responds with “when the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. when the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. when your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. then he will return, and not before.” The show last night included everything but the the “when your womb quickens.” This, I believe, is a critical mistake. Dani makes decisions later based upon this belief that she will never give birth to her own child. This is critical to how her relationship with her dragons develops…these are not pets, or tools of war…these are her children…the only children she will ever have. Leaving out this line…a line many see as a prophecy…was a mistake IMHO.
GradisharQuote Reply
Our first Shaggydog sighting! Pretty sweet, not sure why he’s a german shepherd but I’ll take it. I am really wondering how they are going to make the wolves look bigger next season, I have a feeling they will be even more scarce then this season. We will have wolfgate and dragongate all season long! Can’t wait for that.
And what is up with half the scenes being pulled from book 2 into episode 10? Didn’t they already say they don’t have enough to work with for the beginning of season 2?
I thought the dragons looked pretty cool except they really didn’t come across as very individual, perhaps its only when they open their wings that you see the differences, I just remember Martin writing they were various colors white/green, black and red.
Here’s hoping for some kaching on HBO’s part for next season, either go big or pack it up now boys.
coraxeryQuote Reply
I just wanted to include my thoughts on this past episode…
1) I enjoyed this episode more than any other, and thought that it was the best, too. The last episode was very good, but the acting, style, artistry, and cinematography in the finale surpassed (IMO) the rest of the season. It was fantastic.
2) Was Emilia not awesome? The final scene was my favorite BY FAR. The dragons were spot on. If anyone is a breakout, it’s EC. She has done such an amazing job, and made a character that could have easily become 2-dimensional fascinating to watch week after week. Mad props to her!
3) I still don’t understand the claim that this did not feel like a finale. To me, the idea that Ned Stark’s execution was the true finale is idiotic. I say that because I honestly believe there is no way to support that statement — it is totally false. Sure, it was shocking, and definitely emotional, but that is not a criterion for a finale or final scene. Martin’s books are much better read continuously, as important events do not necessarily only happen at the end (*coughcough*HarryPotter*coughcough*). This episode, as per the book, ended all the storylines in the right place and set us up wonderfully for season 2. Scenes, such as Arya’s, that were moved up made perfect sense.
4) People need to really unclench about the faithfulness to the books. I have not read the books in maybe two years, so maybe my perspective is different than most, but when I read comments on this board, my heart truly sinks and I get a bit sick. Ghost barks? Seriously? Dany’s hair doesn’t burn off? Give me a freaking break. What a joke. Who cares whether the comet is in this episode or saved until next season? Again, consider the entire series a continuous novel, with forced breaking points. Really, really think about what matters and what doesn’t. Displacing the comet does nothing. They could even pick up Dany’s storyline where it ended here to show the comet, and the continuity is maintained. Give me a total break.
5) Also, stop moaning about scenes you wanted that were cut out (or ones that were added). I loved the Pycelle/Ros scene, you didn’t. Big deal. If there were some interesting outcome to these discussions, maybe I would be more sympathetic. But the plot clearly is still on track, which (and this is confirmed by the replies to these recaps) means that it’s just an issue of “I wanted this because I like it!” Whatever. None of us gets exactly what he wants.
Wut?Quote Reply
2nd viewing…
The final scene, with Dany, is SO effing perfect. Liked it even more the second time. It gave me crazy shivers, and made me shout “YES!”. No one could watch that and be uninterested in Season 2. Can’t believe how perfectly they nailed it!
LexQuote Reply
I am glad I am still at the third book. Now I read and I can see the the faces in my head from the show. Amazing Dragons btw! Oh, ShaggyDog too, scary!
Peter FieldsQuote Reply
The full figure shot of Dany was very reminiscent of The Birth of Venus , as others have pointed out. The actress may not have felt comfortable having any more of her anatomy exposed. ( She has already been very brave )This “Not Naked Enough” complaint is really quite silly. The actress might have a clause in her contract about how much she will or will not expose. I know actresses who insist on having this sort of thing spelled out beforehand so they aren’t asked to do anything that would upset them. Were there too many ashes , or was it only the strategically held baby dragon …?
obsidianQuote Reply
obsidian,
I agree Obsidian. If all her clothes burned off, then by definition she is fully nude. And this is not a brothel scene, the whole event is about something else. Danny had lost everything (including her clothes obviously) and then from nothing she rises again with the most powerful creatutes of the planet (talk about a phoenix metaphor…) To me the fact that she’s naked is to emphasize on that metapmorphosis and the vulnerability of that t-1 moment. Insisting on her nudity in that final scene would have been too distracting from the true drama, so it was done beautifully.
JedaQuote Reply
Of course, what you disliked about MMD’s acting was almost certainly the direction that Alan Taylor had her go in. Yes, it’s possible that she was awful and this was the best she could do, but it’s incredibly more likely Taylor wanted the almost casual discussion by a woman so dead inside that she got her revenge and never tried to flee afterwards.
Much of what people call bad acting is either a choice of direction or a lack of quality direction. In cases where people think “it was played all wrong” it’s almost certainly a creative choice by the director.
I’ve read a lot of comments that liked the direction. Like you, I really didn’t. But I’m not sure it was the actress not executing. More likely the director wanted it differently than I did.
AlanQuote Reply
Only just watched it, DRAGONS!!!!!!
Ok now I’ve got that off my chest, really good episode. Gendry was great, King in the North moment was a bit disappointing but dragons need I say more?
Great way to end the series with Drogon(?) screeching like that. Can not wait for next year.
Harry HoggQuote Reply
MustangJeff,
I for one, hate to read the books before the movie. I find that movies/tv never fulfill my expectations, interpretations or inner visuals. If you have been lurking here like I have, you noticed that many people were not able to really drown in the show, no matter how much they liked it, because of these expectations.
That said, I have read the books, but so long ago that I did not recall many details. For me, the show was like sitting with old friends discussing past times. You don’t sit around with your college friends and recall every detail and nuance. Everyone’s memory is a little old, and everyone’s perspective a little different. And hell there is a lot of stuff you forgot that someone else remembers. There is stuff you missed, or in the case of the book, stuff you did not pick up on. Having this type of attitude to the show made it easy to ride the waves of despair and joy without any of the new scenes or changes in the show marring it for me. When you hang around old friends you have not seen for a long time, you just sit around and remember, laugh and cry and, well, relive.
Likewise, I enjoyed the board even without the self stimulated memories because it gave me quite a few “oh yeah, I remember that!!” memories, that were not really spoilers.
If I have not read a book, I like to think of the show as a preview to the book, a commercial even. The book is always going to have so much more to it that you are only rarely get less from reading. Especially when you have an incredibly talented writer like GRRM.
This is why at my advanced age, I have not read all the Harry Potter books. I had not really considered them as something I would be interested in but got pulled in when I took the kids of some friends to see it. After that, I knew there was no way I was going to read them first, but I wanted to follow through to the end. So I wait, watch a movie, read the book, wait, wait some more, watch a movie, read the book.
Just my lurking two cents worth. If you think you will going into next season with expectations that could affect how much you like the show, or even if you like the show, I say wait.
Hey, just a thought on the idea of books I thought could never be made properly into film, maybe these guys can do Robert Jordan. Lord knows SciFi channel killed, murdered,(anymore horrid words out there?), Sword of Truth. GOT gives me hope for Discworld and Wheel of Time.
That said, I want to take this delurking opportunity to thank WIC and all the posters, who have gotten me through my weekly GOT withdrawal. I have enjoyed all the posts and discussions.
Now I am off to re-read GOT, but gonna wait until next year to read book two.
MysTakaQuote Reply
Jeda,
So glad you loved this episode and firmly confirms our vulcan mind meld, lol. What did your wife think of the dragons I am dying to know?
Eric NiewohnerQuote Reply
Eric Niewohner,
At first she said “what’s wrong with her?” looking at an intact but motionless Danny then “wow…” But at the same time she wasn’t entirely surprised. There has been several episodes when we saw Danny with her eggs. In the episode where her hands were left intact she asked me “mmh, is there going to be pet dragons in this episode?” To which I answered “oh no… no, no”. That wasn’t a lie since it was a few episodes later. Even when reading the book, I was shocked by Ned’ head and a few other things but when she put the dragon on the pyre I knew what was coming, especially with the “you taught me deatch can pay for life…”. Where my wife made me laugh though is, after she asked “When is the next season?”, I answered “In about 10 months, there is a lot to do, including a lot of casting for new characters…”. Then she replied “Well, they don’t have much of a choice, they killed half of the cast in season 1!” lol
JedaQuote Reply
Or the character of Dany might simply be showing a bit of modesty, considering she was left completely naked in front of what’s left of her bloodriders and motley crew. I don’t know about you, but that makes a whole lot of sense to me.
D&D, et al have managed a wonderfully elegant adaptation from some really difficult source material. They have gotten so much right that I am hesitant to mention any negatives, but I can’t help it: I really, really cannot stand Lena Headey’s portrayal of Cersei. It just is not working for me. Before GoT, I was a fan of the actress and enjoyed most of her performances. But she is terribly miscast in this role. I don’t know if it’s her fault, or the writer’s, but I’m leaning toward the onus falling completely on her. Headey has said in all her interviews that she remains steadfast about not reading the books, and I think it shows. She said she’d been told that Martin had written the character as a pretty orthodox, standard villain, and she wanted to take it other places.
That’s all fine and good if her interpretation had felt organic to the work, but it doesn’t. It’s not that she’s depicting Cersei differently from what I interpreted from my reading that bothers me. Fairley has taken Cat in a much different direction than what I interpreted from my reading, yet she’s hit it out of the park with her performance. Headey’s Cersei just doesn’t work. Every time she’s on screen I get the feeling she’s acting in a different movie than everyone else, or wishing she was. She’s never believable among a stellar cast of characters that always feel so. When she comes on screen, her performance actually interrupts the flow for me. Right up to the finale, I was trying to get behind her performance, but I just can’t. It’s the only real criticism I have of the series (well, that and the omission of Ned’s and Robert’s back stories, which I thought really hurt their TV depictions, but that’s another discussion… ). I wish there was a way to recast that part before next year. That’s how much I hate her performance.
Other than that, I think this adaptation was about as close to perfection as it could get for the first season. I agree that Alan Taylor’s direction was sublime, but in all fairness, he wasn’t burdened with the expository heavy scripts like some of the other directors.
I fully expected Sean do to a fine job with Ned, and he surpassed even my expectations. I also expected that a great deal of thought and care would go into choosing the Stark kids. I agree that Dinklage was perfect casting, but I kind of feel his Tyrion is a bit overrated, even though I like him a lot. But the two bona fide surprises for me have been Michelle Fairley and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Those two actors brought depth and dimension to the characters of Cat and Jamie that I never dreamed possible.
All in all, this was a great and satisfying book reader’s viewing experience. Thanks to all for their efforts and artistry.
Can’t wait for ADwD next month.
PatDQuote Reply
AAAaahhh, gotcha!! Thanks!
EdQuote Reply
obsidian,
I do not think D&D are leaving it “open” by covering J’s face, I am pretty sure they just did not want to hire an actor during the season 1 casting for a scene that would last ten seconds, worse them covering his face actually works against the whole S=J theory because if they were going to have the actor who played Syrio play Jaqen just with a disguise like some have theorized on this page, why not just show the Syrio actor with the disguise, why cover Jaqen face? I mean i guess I understand what you are saying by it being possible for Syrio to have escaped only to then put himself in the Black Cells, it just seem so unlikely, you may as well say anything is possible. I mean Syrio had no way to predict that Ayra would be heading north with the Night’s Watch so what is his end game by putting himself in that position. Jaqen says he has some unfinished business, but if S=J theory is true, S could of put himself in a much better position to finish his “unfinished business” then by tagging along with the Night’s Watch to the north. With all those skills, S/J could of just disguise himself as a Lannister guard.
Eugene ToussaintQuote Reply
Jeda,
Thanks for the wife update, lol.
So no more episodes to talk about but we have the book coming out soon and will be coming back to post here after I read it. Will probably come back a couple times of week to check out casting news and so forth but not as much now that the show is over. Have enjoyed your comments and getting to know you. Hope to run into you on this site if they put something up for a reaction to the book and of course will be a big contributor when season 2 comes out.
Anyway have a great week and will post at you when I post at you and wish you and your wife the best.
Eric NiewohnerQuote Reply
http://www.afterelton.com/sites/www.afterelton.com/files/2011/06/dragons061811.png
I like this screencap of Dany with one of her little ones.
WeirwoodQuote Reply
Eric Niewohner,
Thanks Eric. Same here, I will be coming from time to time to check on casting news etc… but my activity will be tuned down until I’ve read book 5, and then until season 2. About time too because I spent so much time reading and posting on this great site over the last few weeks that I ended up late on some personal projects. “Have enjoyed your comments and getting to know you”: Likewise!!
Have a nice one, talk to you in the future. – Jerome
JedaQuote Reply
why is everybody assuming Jaqen is the hooded one? I thought that was Rorge, since the other two both have a nose.
Beatrice SorianiQuote Reply
I don’t know who the buck stops with (and admittedly, it may just be ME reading that scene wrong) but I thought it was horrible. Both in the way the delivery lacked any emotion, and the lack of consistency in her tone while delivering the lines.
MikeFromBraavosQuote Reply
King Robert also mentioned Rhaegar to Ned. He said something like: “What Rhaegar did to your sister was unspeakable!”
Rinoa De la PicaQuote Reply
What an amazing season this was, I still can’t believe it has already passed 10 weeks since the season premiere.
And now, my thoughts about the season finale. Before I saw it I was worried will they get the dragons right – they did which was a relief but I’m not too thrilled about other changes they did in that last scene. I’m not usually the one who is nitpicking and I have often defended changes production team has done but this scene is THE most symbolic one in first season/book and quite possibly one of the most important ones in the whole book series. Yes, that means I’m not too thrilled about Dany keeping her hair but I even missed more bloodriders refusing to follow her befroe she emerges with dragons in her hands. Blood of my blood would have sounded so much better if it came from bloodriders then Mormont.
Why is this so important? For first symbolism of rebirth through fire is obvious to everybody. Also, there is a shift in the remains of her khalasaar where Dany transforms from a person who has power only through her marriage with Drogo to a Khaleesi in her own right. The removal of hair is also significant because of defeat she suffered from Mirri Maz Durr – like she says “there is nothing left for this woman to take from me”. Dothraki symbolism of cutting your braid when you are defeated is strong here. I believe it could have been done without Emilia Clarke shaving and she is wearing her mountain lion over her bald head at the beginning of second book anyway so it wouldn’t have to be much of a deal breaker.
I am also not too thrilled with what they are doing with Shae but I’m willing to wait and see where they want to take her character as it is obvious they are trying to do something different from the books.
And now what I liked about the episode – basically everything else :D
King in the North chants and Nightswatch oath gave me shivers, those scenes were really powerfull. Maisie Williams is amazing as Arya and Sophie Turner is handling Sansa exceptional as well. I can’t wait to see more of them in next season.
Did I mention dragons were spot-on and amazing? If I didn’t forgive me for repeating it – they were AMAZING! And yes, the green one was sucking on Dany’s breast, they kept that part from the books.
Will Rickon have a scene where he doesn’t emerge from the dark and scares the crap out of someone? At least he and Shaggydog aren’t missing anymore. Now that we have seen them all (at least once) I must say Nymeria is my personal favorite. Too bad we probably won’t be seeing her much in the future.
The scene where the Nightswatch is riding out was greatly done. Mormont’s voiceover and music really contributed.
And just to add my 2 cents about Mirri Maz Durr discussion – I think it is significant she missed out last part of her prophecy, maybe it is a wishful thinking on my behalf but with magic returning into the world there is a way Dany could bear a child again? Now we only have to find a way to make sun rise in east, drain the seas and demolish some mountains – all for the sake of dinasty ;)
Ivan PopićQuote Reply
Knurk,
I totally agree with you – MMD is just horrible. For me, both MMD and Shae are big missed opportunities. The actress who protraited MMD looked too scary to be a healer. Her outfit and demeanor didn’t inspire confidence like MMD should be in the eyes of Dany. Her delivery is flat in the initial wound healing scene and the save the Drogo scene. They were all delivered with a sing-songish sort of tone without much emotion. The only descent scene she had is the one where Dany confronted her. I don’t think it is the fault of the director that her performance was bad. (In a raw sense, her performance is a more professional version of the Melisandre audition we saw a few days ago.)
Shae is a just a big mis-cast, imho. I don’t like the new take on Shae either. Hopefully, D&D will prove me wrong in Season 2.
aeh,
No need to put down Tamzin Merchant here. I think she would be great in all Dany’s scene up till the Pyre scene. (Not sure she can pull off the Dragon scene like EC did. TM just doesn’t have that motherly/womanly figure.) I think her recast has more to do with HBO wants their own stars and stable of actors, not anyone prominently involved with a big show in Showtimes or Starz.
To be honest, initially I have doubt about EC regarding Dany’s out of this world sort of presence. EC’s forceful display of authority surprises me. She totally convinces me that she is a strong minded, warrior like Queen. An amazing acting job for a newbie.
Mike Chair,
Great comparisons. Right On!!!
SugarVampireQuote Reply
Wut?,
I agree with you about people nitpicking. And I actually liked it that Dany’s hair didn’t burn off. Technically her hair is part of her body and since not a single part of her body was harmed by the fire, GRRM actually screwed up in his book about her being burned off. And Ghost barks? Did he? Can’t even recall that, so it matters little in any case.
JingizuQuote Reply
Beatrice Soriani,
I think it is pretty clear Jaqen was the hooded one. Jaqen will be the real role, with lots of lines and stuff, so they need a real actor for that. Rorge and Biter are there only for support, so those roles can easily be filled with some Maltese locals.
I am not surprised Rorge has a nose, since showing him without one in all those scenes without one would just be too much trouble. I am pretty sure Biter will not have his trademark teeth either. And I am not even convinced they will cut off Jaime’s hand, maybe they just give him same injury that makes him unable to use it for swordfighting, but that can be more easily shown on TV.
morbiczerQuote Reply
Have not read above comments – will do as soon as I post my tome!
A horrifying, harrowing, breath-taking end for a season 1 that in my view started hurriedly, suffered from growing pains and finished with 3 flawless eps, striking a good average and managing to be almost consistently awesome throughout.
We’re thrown back at once into the horror of “Baelor”, but I can’t imagine these 2 eps molded into one. The ending of “Baelor” was perfect. “Fire and Blood” is its own ep, no need for a “Previously on GoT”. I even wonder what the effect would be for newbies who saw this ep FIRST. I bet they would understand much more than we credit them for, and they’d want to go back straight to the beginning.
There was a lot of ugliness in this beautiful ep. The worst for me was seeing Joffrey in all his mindless sociopathy. In that previous dialogue with Cersei he had shown a certain ruthless Lannister cunning. Here he destroys all his chances by turning into a crazed monster. If executing Ned could be seen as a bold though twisted act, torturing Sansa earns him a dangerous enemy. I’ve always liked Sansa, and I think this version of her might turn out to have a hand in the You-Know-What.
Also, the basis of her alliance with the Hound are set. It doesn’t need to be romantic in nature, but the handkerchief he gives her clearly prepares the you-know-what scene. I admit I hoped to see a more unhinged Hound by the end of the season, but McCann is great as the strong silent type and will have time to come unhinged by the time that scene comes. As I’ve noted about Jorah, it looks like the show is setting him up as a romantic hero, certainly with GRRM’s approval. It remains to be seen whether there’s truth in it, or whether we’re in for a spectacular subversion of the trope, more likely in Jorah’s case.
(Meanwhile the world wonders: why had the Hound a handkerchief on him? Are D&D reading our Twitter rpgs? #manlytears)
Now prepare yourself for a shock. I liked Roz. I almost did not recognize her. I finally saw another facet of her personality – cold disgust for her latest customer, Maester Pycelle. I felt my point about sex & violence in the show was vindicated. I can’t accept the knee-jerk reaction “you hate the sex scenes but have no problem with violence, so you’re a repressed trigger-happy prude”. My point is: violence is bad, sex is complex. I didn’t like some of the earlier sex scenes because they seemed (IMHHHO) to trivialize sex and women as a simple prop for male characters. This scene, instead, though everything is implied, is an incredibly powerful description of the complexity. On one side, the Perfect Prostitute for once does not smile, washes herself instead of checking her make-up (re: Theon) and escapes in a hurry. On the other side, a sad, pathetic old man who however has his own urges; and why shouldn’t he? Just because he’s not a hot young man? We saw Theon in action, why not Pycelle? However I think this scene was much more meaningful than Theon’s. (LF’s was meaningful too, if not for the deafening moans.) In a matter as complicated as sex, I believe subtlety is best, and this time Roz delivered.
In the King in the North scene we saw several lords who’ll be important later, at least in the books. Is there an episode cast somewhere? Maege Mormont was there, she was perfect (I’ve seen that actress somewhere, who is she?) and for me it was ALMOST like seeing the Blackfish. The blond balding man who speaks first looks like Bracken (Gerry O’Brien). The dark bearded one beside Maege had a Mallister look – or might he be Karstark? He has charisma. Beside him sits Glover (Mark Coney). Anyway I found the scene a bit underwhelming, maybe because I expected it towards the end, or I was too busy looking at the faces (and tweeting).
It’s hard to leave all the other scenes for last when time and space dwindle, but for me they were perfect. Arry and our first glimpse of Jaqen under a blanket. Cat and Robb. Cat and Jaime. Tywin and Tyrion. Dany, Dany, Dany. The final scene with the tiny dragon opening his wings and screaming, perched on her shoulder and shot from a distance as though he was Balerion reborn on the top of a mountain, gives me goosebumps even as I write.
Well done, ladies and gentlemen: thanks for the emotions.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
I think the only odd thing about the positioning of the dragon is that I would have expected her to hold it higher as she would a child. Lower suggests she was self-aware enough to notice that fact that the Khalasar could see her lady bits.
They could have had the third crawl dragon up her leg just in time to block the crotch shot but to be honest I though it was fine as it was. Daeny might have stood there starkers and bald but I’m not going to make Emilia do it unless she was willing.
Shock MeQuote Reply
Alan,
Completely agree with you on this one. I think it’s entirely possible (and quite likely) he has other agendas as well, especially giving how much more we the reader is discovering about the Citadel.
C2Quote Reply
Blackfish Blues,
OK, I’ve read it all. First, 3 things I had in mind to mention at the end of my review and forgot: Rickon-Shaggy, Cersei-Lancel (he has an ephebic body, but his voice means business) and Lord Commander Mormont’s Last Ride.
Second, I appear to have missed the fact that Pycelle’s frailty is in fact an act. However, my point about sexposition doesn’t change: he IS a sad pathetic old man, and I may add “deluded” for believing that he can somehow make it as a player in the Game of Thrones. I still believe that there’s a double standard between young and old people when sex is involved, but I liked the scene because it was subtle and gave more depth to both Roz and Pycelle.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Episode 10 felt a bit anticlimactic to me – kind of the morning after the night before. It was inevitable given the seismic closure to Ep 9. There was still a lot of good in it, and it served as a very good appetite whetter (as if one were needed!) for S2.
One thing that did bug me a bit – and this is in no way a criticism of the TV show – was the final scene. For me there was a bit too much of a cliche in it, and in some ways it feels a bit of a shame to end S1 on what effectively looked a ‘little’ like a naff 1980s Athena fantasy poster of a princess and her dragons.
Of course it is in the books, and it was a lot better than I feared it could be, and within the limitations of the plot and book – it was done really well. The CGI dragons were good, and EC / IG delivered their lines well – it just felt a bit, well, retro fantasy.
On the series as a whole, it was so much better than I thought, way better than I feared, and even better than I hoped. Some great casting, great sets, occassionally too much exposition (esp of the sexual variety) and occassional gratutious sex. Sometimes the dialogue got a little clunky. Overall all though – awesometastic.
The one thing I do feel they dropped the ball on, was the portrayal of Littlefinger. I felt he should have been a bit more ambiguous as he was in the book. I think they have painted him too much with a dose of villainy, whereas in the book you never really know where he is going until the betrayal of Ned (and even after that).
Martin EQuote Reply
Assuming his ultimate goal is to be the Grand Maester (you weren’t implying he had his eyes on the throne, were you?) then I’d say he sure as hell is making it as a player. He’s held his post in the game longer than anyone else alive, possibly longer than anyone ever has. According to the below wiki (which contains spoilers), his reign has so far lasted 80 years. How do you not consider that to be making it as a player in the game? http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Maesters#Grand_Maester_Pycelle
:)
MikeFromBraavosQuote Reply
MikeFromBraavos,
Exactly – he has been highly successful, and presumably his weak man act is part of that – it portrays him as little threat to the other players. The only thing is that presumably the spider is fully aware of the reality of his frailness given access to spy network and secret passages.
Martin EQuote Reply
Late once again, but a few thoughts:
A few weeks ago I was posted here about whether or not they would burn Dany’s hair for the show. I don’t remember if any of you chimed in, but I came to the conclusion that I preferred they leave it alone, and I stick by that decision. Even if they had shaved Emilia’s head for real, it wouldn’t have worked out; her hair wouldn’t have grown at the right speed to stay congruent with the story’s pacing, and that would have implicated a whole slew of what would presumably be bad transition wigs. Also, wouldn’t it be a bit strange/spoilery if all of a sudden the actress from Game of Thrones was bald? :/
But what they DID do, which was a slight concession, was have her hair tightly braided back for the first time. Her baldness in the book is a strong symbol for rebirth, but having her hair styled drastically different was at least enough of a sign to show that something was going to change.
That was exactly what I thought of as well. She looked like a Classical sculpture or a figure from a Renaissance painting, and I thought the stance was beautiful.
Aesthetically, the positioning of the dragons is strong. Drogon sits on her right shoulder, Rhaegal is held at the center of her body, and Viserion is on her left leg. The spacing is perfect, and they’re not competing with each other for the spotlight. The dragons are balanced and infuse the image of Dany with a sense of power and stability. And that’s what they give her in the story, don’t they?
Random Targ note: Found it interesting that Bran explained a bit more about Lyanna/Rhaegar – the first time they really said Robert’s Rebellion was about her. Maybe they’re gearing up to go further into that for S2? They HAVE to get a Rhaegar – I can’t imagine the House of the Undying without him!
The King in the North scene may have been more epic for us at the end, but I think they were trying to throw the audience a bone after Ned’s death. I didn’t mind at all, to be honest, because that scene was so great.
Was the scene with Jaime/Cat moved from B2 to S1? Or was it fabricated for the show? I found it slightly out of character for Cat to not question him on Bran a bit more, but I realized she was probably so exhausted she just couldn’t deal.
The conclusion to the Night’s Watch storyline was mind-blowingly fantastic as well. Epic to the billionth degree. And Kit’s eyes as he watches LC Mormont ride out – he really, really IS Jon Snow.
Sophie Turner handles grief so well. Two of her best scenes acting-wise were Lady’s condemnation and the scene on the battlements.
The Hound is a lot gentler in the show, no? I feel he may have been underused, but alas, what would they have cut to boost his screen time? (what? Ros?)
LOVED the cage with the three convicts and the fact that Jaqen was covered. So was biter the one with the scar on his nose and Rorge was the hairy one in the back? Also, Arya beasted Hot Pie right in front of the cart, giving Jaqen a front-row seat to her belligerence! A boy can impress a man…
My sister thought Lancel was Sansa. Sansel.
And Dinklage pulled the BEST face when Tywin took the wine away from him. Very DeNiro-esque!
QUESTION: Did we ever figure out why there was no Brandon/Aerys? I see that some of you pointed out that GRRM confirmed the Mad King’s casting. And didn’t D&D wig out a bit when they realized we all caught that glimpse of Brandon? Do you think they were lying? Backed out? Cut? I hope we get that at some point :(.
LinaQuote Reply