Episode 9 – Baelor – New Viewers Recap

Ned NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OMG, how could they have killed him…what is wrong with this show that they kill the main characters???

1 Lannister – 0 Stark

thegrateone,

I am PISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and I am seriously thinking of NOT watching now. I wish someone would have warned me they were going to kill my favorite character :(

Christine,

That would have been a spoilers :(. But at least your getting attached to the characters just like you do in the books. Dont stop watching please. I’m not going to say that it’s all rainbows and sunshine from here on out. but the story has ups just like it has downs.

uberstellar,

Definitely not turned off at all, its 90 minuets later and I’m still shocked!
I need more than one more episode! damn the vow of non-reading I took for this gig! lol

We Do Not Sow,

When the season’s over, are you completely free to read the first book to fill in any and all gaps, or do you have to stay book-free for the entire run of the series? (gulp!)

Now you know what the 1st episode omen was with the 5+1 pulps ‘one for each of the stark children’, at least one side of the omen: Both the stag and the direwolf die that year… ;-) By all means, keep watching, it will be worth it!

Ned isn’t the “main character”. Figuring out exactly who the “main characters” are is one of the tools that GRRM uses throughout the series.

GRRM has often stated that he wants the reader to feel real tension when the characters get into a tough position; that the reader should be afraid for the characters. That’s why he killed Eddard Stark in the way that he did. So as the series goes forward you don’t just brush aside the peril he puts his characters in. They can — and do — die.

I’ve had a few readers over the years express their disgust with the killing off of the “main character” in Book 1, and ask me how one can continue after that twist. My response is that Ned’s death is not a twist. It’s actually where the story starts, that everything that has happened up to this point is an introduction.

Ok, part of me says I HATE YOU!!! AND I WILL NEVER WATCH AGAIN. I have already sent a message to the friend who got me to start watching the series of the fact that I hate him for getting me into this, but at the same time………. I can’t resist watching the next episode…. I think i will continue to watch until I see Joffrey’s head on a silver platter on display for all of the realm to see.

One thing’s for sure, I’m rather happy they did not end this episode with the sword raised to be brought down, that would have ticked me off to no end. I’m just beginning to wish that I had waited until this show had developed a bit more and I could sit and watch it all back to back… waiting is NOT one of my strong points

Ser_G,

James Hibberd touches on this exact point in what I thought was an incredibly thoughtful recap on his part. He points out that this is something that works beautifully in the books, but he’s unsure of what the effect will be for TV viewers who just can’t deal with investing in one character so much only to have them gone, feeling like the time invested has been a wasted effort. There’s a ton of pressure on the actors playing the Stark children now, but so far they’ve shown themselves to be more than up to the task.
A huge number of my friends who’ve not read the books LOVE Tyrion as a character, incidentally. So, maybe people will latch on to watching a show for the flawed characters, as opposed to always rooting for the one who has the most unflagging moral compass.

You know, we’ve been talking about Maisie, Isaac, and Sophie all season as outstanding child actors, and they certainly deserve the applause. But Jack Gleason, stand up and take a bow! The fact that everyone hates Joffrey so much just shows how good he is at playing the miserable little shit.

bye bye Ned Stark! Say hi to your sister and brother for us. We wish you the best!

Strong Belwas,

Joffrey is one of my favorites, he is just pure evil.

I loved it, I definitely feel a bit distraught but if he becomes a sort of messianic figure that propels the other characters (particularly his children) from embryonic supporting roles to being characters as strong as he was then it will definitely be a strong series, I’m sure it’s a strong story or else the book series wouldn’t have such a fanbase. It’s a bold show and I can’t wait to see it progress.

john moore: some times you have to change the books end!!!!SO YOU HBO BETTER KILL ALL OF THE LANNISTERS …..

L-O-fucking-L

And, I don’t actually mean that as an insult. I’m just remembering my own reaction to the event in the book.

But, no, you can’t change the ending. Not if you admire what makes the source material so unique and different from “every other fantasy novel” in the first place, which it seems David&D.B. do.
I feel your pain. But give another character a chance, there’s dozens to choose from, after all.

if jamies head is still attached after this next episode i will flip a biscuit haha

AA,

Shush.

KG,

lol sorry I cant help it, I get where they are coming from and i check the ratings of this show every week because I know how much better it gets, so I dont like people saying childish things like they are going to stop watching! keep watching other wise they will always be mad at how it ended for them…nothing but better the books just are too good, and the show is too

AA,

If twitter is to be believed, it sounds like tonight’s episode hooked a great many more people than it turned away. Let people vent and be disappointed. They’ll come back. They always come back.

To all the newbies; stop crying, we understand. But keep watching this show because this rollercoaster ride is not over yet!!
Next seasons, more surprises to come…..

Just saw the episode, so I’m still quite shocked and didn’t read any of the other posters reactions yet. What an awful way of killing Ned, I thought he was a goner before this episode and his little dialogue with Varrys at the beginning made me even more sure of his eventual demise. But then, the last scene…nastiest trick ever pulled on a tv show…I was already having vision of Ned’s awesomeness in a land that will suit him much better, the Wilderness behind the Wall. Fucking Joffrey, I would’ve expected Cersei to execute him anyway, but the queen seemed as flabbergasted as I was. The panick on Varrys’s face when his bid for peace got smashed to pieces seemed to exude utter hopelessness. And poor little Arya and naive Sansa…is she still engaged to that little monster?

Other bits I liked:
- Master Aemon for his brilliant scene with Jon Snow, got goosebumps just hearing him talk (what an actor!!! Hope he’s around for a few seasons *knock on wood*).
- My fears concerning Drogo were confirmed. Although it seems he survives, but what will come out of that tent, will probably not be the same Drogo and I don’t think he’ll be happy with what the Khaleesi did.
- Loved the Jorah Mormont fight. Showing what armor can do for you in battle!
- The Lord-Commander of the Night’s Watch is a new favourite of mine. First time he mentioned his son isn’t it? Strange thing about Jorah is that he doesn’t seem that dishonourable (must have been one hell of a girl).
- Tyrion/Bronn still the dynamic duo. Though would’ve been nice to see something of the actual battles, I guess that the scope of such a battle exceeds the budget.
- Creepy pedophile Frey and his children was an awful, but fascinating scene to watch. Loved how the old fellow had to warm his hands by the fire.

All in all, a heartwrenching episode, that is my second favourite of the season (Golden Crown I liked the best). Although last week’s episode wasn’t horrible, and the scene with Barristan was brilliant, it didn’t feel up to par with episode 4-7 for me personally. Baelor (I thought it would be a guy or a dragon btw) picked up the pace again!

For what it matters, adding myself to the list of people saying WOW!

Ned will be missed, I wasn’t certain that was coming up, but I felt he was doomed already. I think tho it’s a good sign. I hate series in which there are immortal characters because the writers are afraid of steering away from the money trail by killing a major character. Ned’s death is good because it tells me, basically, that anything goes with this story. And it keeps it believable. Cercei’s face while reacting to Joffrey’s decision (“This is madness my son”, to be read as “What the hell are you doing?? bad bad big-play move!!!”). Great, so so great!

Enter Danaerys now, my friends. I don’t see (understandably) much mention of her story, but I think there is much more coming from that side. Would Drogo die too? If he does, how is she going to manage to keep control? She keeps getting more and more powerful, like awakening to a right to command. Yet, she has a softer side. I think she is going to be trouble. It makes sense too. How to commit a nomad warrior nation in a post-conqueror scenario? They had to become sedentary. I think that’s where her touch will make all the difference in the world. And I think Drogo was already way into being converted to her ways (and I think she’s just discovering “her ways”). With Ned having died, I give Drogo 50/50 chances. Then again… blood magic. Yikes!

For the ones who thought Twynn would have exchanged Ned for Tyrion, ha! from the previous episode, it was clear that Tyrion is a burden to Twynn and possibly to Jaime, and they would have rather used the imp’s death as political rouse, with a smile. After his story at the fire, I have no doubts of it. It is funny tho, because Tyrion is both the encarnation of Twynn’s speech and (putting Twynn’s hat for this, so this is not my personal view) the ultimate irony, him being a dwarf man. I bet you, that Twynn both loves and hates Tyrion. If Tyrion would die, he would be happy, but probably would use him constantly as an example of what a Lannister should be.

DasNeX,

I believe that was Joren, the guy from the Night’s Watch that told Ned about the Imp’s capture. He goes down south to get captive to serve at the Wall.

DasNeX,

I believe that Baelor is the name of the man from the statue that Arya is standing on on the scene. I could be wrong but just my guess.

DasNeX,

That man was the Night’s Watch recruiter, Yoren, that came from the Wall with Tyrion, and gave Ned the news about Ben Stark’s disappearance beyond the Wall.

Ned saw Arya on top of Baelor’s statue, and told Yoren “Baelor” so that he would look there, and keep her safe. Of course, how new viewers were supposed to figure out that was Baelor’s statue is beyond me. =)

I know that Sean Bean is a great loss! But the worse is that I know it from the beginning.

Just don’t be so childish. Game of thrones is a world at war and if it goes on, there would be many losses again. Be prepared and enjoy others characters as long as you can! Personnally, I really appreciate Jon, Tyrion and Daenarys in the show!

Not sure if it was mentioned, but notice which sword Payne used to execute Ned. It was Ice, Ned’s own family sword.

As a reader and my wife a new watcher, I couldn’t help but laugh when the killed Ned. She asked me in shock why I was laughing. I said because most of the characters you think are a main part, are not.

argystokes:
Larry Williams’s initial reaction to the end of the episode (contains big spoilers!)

I feel for the poor guy.

My sister just told me this morning that she totally thought that there would be sexposition between Catelyn and Walder Frey, considering Frey’s general creepiness and pedophile’ness. I guess it just goes to show how much this show has relied on sex… now that your minds are now scarred, I’ll slink away to get ready for work now.

I think Ned is sort of Obi-wan character. He will be missed but there’s other interesting characters to focus on. And there was other very interesting moments inside this story yet we already got “season final moment cliffhanger” before real season finale.

Mr Bojangles,

Baelor is a previous Targaryen King known for his piety. Called Baelor the Blessed he was the one who caused the church to be built at that site in King’s Landing.

Edit: sorry, posted in the wrong thread, but no spoilers were shown I think for the few minutes my post was up…

john moore:
That is not right. Ned was my favorite!!!!You HBO should bring that actor back as another good roll????Seeing that will determine if I continue to watch this show or not….NED STARK STOOD FOR ALL OF US MEN,SO I GUESS THAT PROTECTING HIS GRILS WAS WORTH HIS LIFE .I understand that,but man he is a good actor ….ONE MORE F_ _ _ UP HBO AN IM DONE WITH YOU AND YOUR WAITING EVERY WEEK,AND MAYBE ALL OF AMERICA WILL DO THE SAME….STOP WATCHING….So understand that as viewers WE always want the good guy to live….some times you have to change the book’s end!!!!SO YOU HBO BETTER KILL ALL OF THE LANNISTERS …..

maybe you should find another series if all you want is formulaic happy endings. Hollywood makes hundreds of movies for you every year.

Ive read the books, my Wife has not. She’s already found this series upsetting for so many reasons, but this one may have put her over the edge. She’s now looking at me wondering how I can enjoy a series that’s just been so dark. I’m telling her she needs to keep watching, but they may have lost her with this one.

oenone,

I don’t think foreshadowing events is a very nice thing to do in this thread, so just don’t.

Shock Me,

Thanks for the info. One thing that bugged me is Daenarys. Why the hell would she let the priestess perform that ritual. The witch already poisoned Drogo it seems (who can blame her after what he did to her people), there is no way she’s going to save him. Maybe even turn him into some kind of blood-magic slave. I know Daenarys is desparate but this is plain stupid, hope Jorah can protect her!

DasNeX,

He says “Baelor” because Arya is sitting next to the statue of Baelor, I assume. The character is Yoren who was in Kings Landing to look for recruitements for the wall (he leaves the Wall with Tyrion in episode 3 I think and is with him at Winterfell in episode 4 when Tyrion gives Bran the scetches for his saddle). He is also the one who tells Ned that his wife has taken Tyrion for prisoner. Yoren seems quite friendly with the Starks.

kommentaattori123,

Awesome analogy !

I guess I wasn’t all that surprised. Ned obviously wasn’t going to make it in Kings Landing. Politics today are called cutthroat, where as politicians in Westroes appear to actually cut throats. Someone like Ned Stark rarely makes it in the position that he was in. Obviously Robb is about to step it up, I think Arya will play a big role. Sansa just pisses me off. I have the book and started reading it, careful not to read past the episodes until after the show.

I think it is silly to demand HBO do something, especially if its based on a book which has done so well.

Also on the edge of my seat with Danny and the Dothraki story. I really like Khal Drago and do not want him to die. That guy is bad ass.

I loved this episode and will definitely continue to watch! The killing of Ned really established a sense of ever shifting power dynamics and that no character is big enough to be safe from turning tides – just to think, a few episodes before I thought Ned saved the day by his slight alternation of King Robert’s last will; fantastic.

The decision by Joffrey is quite interesting, actually. For one, it shows that he might not be that easily controllable as everyone else around him thought, which could lead to some interesting conflicts in the future. In addition, from his perspective, his action was indeed in line with his rights (to him Ned was nothing but a despicable traitor, and I’m not sure a hypothetical king Ned wouldn’t have acted much differently to a similar betrayal). It’s interesting to contrast Joffrey’s action to when Ned killed the surviving member of the night watch – both displayed a pretty archaic sense of justice where there’s no place for mercy, yet Ned showed sorrow for the human cost his duty brought him, while Joffrey seemed to enjoy his power.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing more!

Just wait until the last episode people! The way this series will end will make you beg for next season! I too was totally surprised by Ned’s death when I read the book but the story gets soooo much better! Don’t give up on it!

First, Lord Eddard Stark: /* SALUTE!

Ser_G:

Ned’s death is not a twist. It’s actually where the story starts, that everything that has happened up to this point is an introduction.

I have started looking at the show like this for a few episodes. In a lot of ways I thought that what we were getting from the show on the Stark / Lannister / Baratheon clusterf*ck was setting the board for the real story to kick in. I still hate you, show, for killing Ned! Lord Eddard’s execution had seemed inevitable, but I sure didn’t expect it to come *after* a public confession! So Ned dishonors himself to save his daughter and he still gets his head cut off?!? That is messed up, show!

Thanks for all the sympathy from all who knew this moment was coming, and to all who kept the Kings Peace and mentioned not a word of it explicitly.

Mr Bojangles:
I was already having vision of Ned’s awesomeness in a land that will suit him much better, the Wilderness behind the Wall.

They dangle that “escape hatch for Ned” in front of our face for a minute or two and then “bring me the head of this traitor!” Nooooo…

Other bits I liked:
- The Lord-Commander of the Night’s Watch is a new favourite of mine. First time he mentioned his son isn’t it? Strange thing about Jorah is that he doesn’t seem that dishonourable (must have been one hell of a girl).

There was some mention that they shared a last name, but I am not sure that it was explicitly stated that Jorah was the son of the Lord Commander. I am not sure about Jorah’s “honor”, and his loyalty is a bit hard to figure out, though he does seem to want Dany to live. By “one hell of a girl” do you mean his wife? He sold poachers into slavery because his wife had expensive tastes and he needed the gold dragons, but then Ned Stark banished him, right? “Longclaw” = best sword name ever.

Why the hell would she let the priestess perform that ritual. The witch already poisoned Drogo it seems (who can blame her after what he did to her people), there is no way she’s going to save him. Maybe even turn him into some kind of blood-magic slave. I know Daenarys is desparate but this is plain stupid, hope Jorah can protect her!

I know! AWFUL plan. The “life” the witch wants in return for “saving” Drogo is the unborn child w/i Dany, I am sure of it! The horse was just the appetizer. I think the witch is hell-bent (hee!) on revenge for what Drogo and his men did to her people; Drogo is the first victim, his unborn child is the second, and Dany third if she doesn’t get out of Dodge. In the last shot it looked like Jorah was leading her towards the tent where the dead were going to be having their hoe down – WRONG DIRECTION!

Holy Sh*t

Y’all gotta watch Otaku Assemble’s reaction on his live broadcast. Watch the last couple of minutes

http://www.blogtv.com/people/otaku_assemble/

john moore:
That is not right. Ned was my favorite!!!!You HBO should bring that actor back as another good roll????Seeing that will determine if I continue to watch this show or not….NED STARK STOOD FOR ALL OF US MEN,SO I GUESS THAT PROTECTING HIS GRILS WAS WORTH HIS LIFE .I understand that,but man he is a good actor ….ONE MORE F_ _ _ UP HBO AN IM DONE WITH YOU AND YOUR WAITING EVERY WEEK,AND MAYBE ALL OF AMERICA WILL DO THE SAME….STOP WATCHING….So understand that as viewers WE always want the good guy to live….some times you have to change the book’s end!!!!SO YOU HBO BETTER KILL ALL OF THE LANNISTERS …..

Please never never never tell anyone to change a books ending lol. The story is amazing and don’t forget this is just the first book, and it isn’t even done with it yet. This part just shows you that just because “harry potter” for example is in a tough spot… it doesn’t mean he’s going to get out of it by some miracle. The characters are in real danger and it makes you care about what happens more. Keep washing plz.

what made CRAZY is the fact they just dont show any battle… finaly a Stark victory, and jaime just show up from nothing, that was PATETIC, i waited 9 loooong episodes to see a battle and while i completely know that the battles are not the focus of the series i waited long for this happen, but it just dont hapened… :(

soo much frustration.

Christine,

Ok, they are going to kill your favorite characters ;)

calum: jesssus, get over your selves, your gonna stop watching because one character died? i love sean bean as much as anyone but this int even one of his better roles (boromir, 006, that nasty peadophile in red riding, RICHARD SHARPE for fuck sake).

I don’t think folks are stuck on themselves at all. They’re just upset that a character they care about was killed. That’s a good thing that they care.

Also, Bean’s role of Ned Stark is far superior to his role as Boromir, IMO. So much more depth for Bean to mine.

Julia Mathias,

You’re an idiot. The only Lannister deserving of life is Tyrion.

I’m pissed, but until today I didn’t know it was based on a book series. And I do wish I had known ahead of time, at least I would have been prepared. I seriously don’t know if I will continue to watch… in fact I’m considering cancelling my HBO. We’ll see how I feel a week from now. I know it’s gonna take me at least a few days to get over this…

Mr Bojangles: I’m pretty sure the Lord-Commander mentioned Jorah when he gave Jon the sword.

I meant that I thought the relationship between Cmdr Mormont and Jorah had been sort of mentioned in previous episodes, but not explicitly (so maddening about GoT – no one makes simple, declarative statements about anything!).
That sword looked SO badass! Why were the other “men” of the Nights Watch playing around with it? It was like Jon walked into a HS cafeteria and said ‘hey, check out this cool Glock 17 I just got!’ and a bunch of HS stoodents start grabbing at it and waving it around.

LongLiveNedStark: I seriously don’t know if I will continue to watch… I know it’s gonna take me at least a few days to get over this…

Yeah, it sucks. A thought I saw up thread was instructive – killing Ned hurt, a lot, but how much more did Lord Eddard’s death hurt than if Robb, Tyrion, or Jon had been killed instead?
Also, doesn’t this just raise the tension as high as the Wall whenever any character we care about is in peril? If this evil show would do that to Ned, there is no end to what it will do to anyone! There is a lot of power in that (scary as it is).

This show just killed off the main character. That’s jumping the shark in a big way, and after I finally stopped chanting “for real?” I wasn’t sure if I would keep watching the show. I eventually decided I’d at least finish the season before I stopped watching.

But now it’s been almost a full day since I watched the episode. And you know what? I didn’t stop watching The Wire in season 1 when the killed off my favorite characterWalter. Or in season 2 when they killed off my NEW favorite character D’Angelo. Or in season’s 3, 4, and 5 when they killed off Stringer Bell, Bodie, and Omar respectively. Every season I became attached to a different character, and every season that character got killed off. By season 5 I was predicting my latest favorite would die just because he was my favorite, and even then they manage to surprise me by killing him in an enraging manner.

The difference is that I was never attached to The Wire’s “main” character and didn’t really care if he lived or died (and that I was watching the show years after it had ended, so I could marathon the whole thing). For this reason I was prepared for the death of Jon, Arya and Tyrion. But I never considered that Ned would in the very first season.

I’m sure I have more to say about this episode, but I haven’t been able to gather my thoughts yet and will need to watch it again. Oh, and the video someone posted earlier of otaku_assemble isn’t far from what I was feeling with those last 2 minutes.

Andrew son of Endrew,

The antler is from the stag they find dead on the road isn’t it?. Anyhow, it’s from the book, in a Catelyn’s chapter, she doesn’t like that omen one bit as she can see its sinister side. (Of course, there are more than one Baratheon, and more than one Stark)

Among readers it is fairly common knowledge that the Game of Thrones was quite often thrown at walls, across the room, kicked but inevitably always picked back up again and after reading the entire book from cover to cover then lovingly placed on the shelf.

Often this would happen several times due to re-reading the book while waiting for the next book.

Mr Bojangles:

It is a rather sadistic thing that Martin did (I assume the episode portrays Ned’s scene as it was written in the book). I mean I thought Ned was a goner before this episode, but, like most people, despite his stubbornnous I rooted for the guy. So when Pycelle said he could take the Black I almost jumped out of pure joy…what a backstabbing move.

It was even worse there. Novel spoilers – Varys lays it down for Ned in one of his visits: “confess, your daughters live and you’ll be allowed to take the black. Don’t confess, you and your daughters die.” Ned is also having flashback dreams of family and honor.

Then on the Wall we get Mormont telling Jon he’s writing to King’s Landing to ask for them to let Ned take the black, since the Watch needs men like him. We get Jon musing on what would it be like to have Ned on the Wall with him.

And then they chop off his head. It’s pretty safe to say that at that point, 99,9% of the readers pretty much had settled into their mind that “Ned goes to the Wall.” Masterful writing by Martin.

By the way, when you guys re-watch the 1st season, look for all the foreshadowing. :)

NO NO NO NO NO NO OMG NO. THEY CAN’T. THEY JUST CAN’T. WHAT THE FUCK. WHAT..THE.. FUCK.. NO! HELL. OH MY GOD OH MY GOD.. OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!!!!

OH GOD NO.. HE HAD ALREADY ACCEPTED DEATH WITH HONOR.. AND THEY MADE HIM CONFESS THINGS AND THAN KILLED HIM. OH GOD NO. HOW CAN THE WRITER BE THIS EVIL!!! I CANT CALM DOWN FUCK YOU ALL.

Ekleipsis,

Big, big group hug from House Gatewatch, we know and feel your pain and shock as our own when we read the book.

I was watching through my hands for the latter part of the episode, and I knew what was about to happen…

Of course I won’t stop watching now.. I want to see Robb or Catelyn chop the fucking poster boy head of Jaime off in the final episode. If that doesn’t happen I’m out. Oh shit, what will happen to poor Arya now :( I hope Dothraki will invade and rape Cersei and feed her to horses. And claw that Joeffrey’s eyes out. OH god Arya :( Fuck, I keep saying I can’t watch it anymore, but I think I can’t quit until I get some kind of revenge. I don’t get it, what wouldn’t he just yell Joeffrey is a Lannister bastard when he understood he was being killed. Someone would hear :( And silly me kept waiting for Ser Belmy or Syrio Forrel saving him even until the last seconds. I will never get over this will I?

I also wonder if there’s such a big character in season 2, so HBO can cast a big name like Sean Bean? I love almost all of the actors in show now, but truth be told as a foreigner I never heard any of them until this show (except Carcetti!) and Sean Bean was a huge incentive to start..at least it wouldn’t be some lame ass fantasy like Xena and Hercules if Sean Bean was in it!

Argilac the Arrogant,

Argilac, I fully realise that and I’m always careful about spoilers. What I mentionned in my original very small comment is seen in episode 1 but not said in ep1/ep2 as it could have been so it’s just a little add-on I put here, just like a deleted scene from a DVD, not a spoiler at all. It was intended for non-readers benefits for when you re-watch the show. I would never have posted that until ep9 aired and that comment is not at all intrusive to those who didn’t read the books. At least I didn’t think it was. If many feel like you, I’ll be more careful next time.

Argilac the Arrogant,

I think you read me wrong, or I wasn’t clear. That’s exactly what I meant, ep1 shows a dead stag and a dead direwolf, hence the dark side of the omen, and maybe that’s all there is to it so I intended to leave it at this, but one thing for sure: it shouldn’t be discussed here. I never intended for it to be but you are right, it was risky on my part.

Hi guys, just wanted to share a great reaction to ep 9 from one of my friend’s that hasn’t read the books. We’ve been chatting about each ep & it’s been hard to not give anything away. Here’s his message:

You got a good poker face, didn’t see the death of ned stark coming at all, god i just wanna kill that joffrey cunt!

I really wasn’t that surprised what happened to Ned, but only that it happened in episode 9 when I figured it was an episode 10 event and the slight surprise of a confession to go along with an execution… there was so much foreshadowing going on (frankly episode 1 with what happened to Bran was the only real shocker but then after that I was actually looking for what “shockers” were plausible up ahead). It was set up so well that Ned was too noble for his own good that once Little Finger betrayed him, it would have been shocking if he somehow escaped his fate. In a way, by making such a massive sacrifice of compromising his honor (what had mattered most to him – what makes up his sense of self), Ned stayed incredibly true to his character of being honorable.

Robin Grant,

Great Points!

I totally agree with your statement of GoT having a big set! I’m sure there has been countless books/ scripts written with something this dramatic and intense that they decide to keep it out or change the outcome. Its refreshing ( and frustrating) that Martin is willing to go to the brink and back with any character whenever he sees fit.

The Danaeries thing almost sounds like she won’t be Queen or the baby won’t become King, if Drogo dies. I took from last night the Dothraki need a strong Khal and it doesn’t matter who your dad or mom was it only matters who is the strongest.
I gotta assume Drogo isn’t going anywhere just yet, but will this blood curse change him or change his relationship with Danaeries?

I Know of Fear,

This show just killed off the main character. That’s jumping the shark in a big way, and after I finally stopped chanting “for real?” I wasn’t sure if I would keep watching the show. I eventually decided I’d at least finish the season before I stopped watching.

Alright, pet peeve of mine, but this has nothing to do with “jumping the shark”. That’s what happens when a show that’s had a long run and is losing steam does something completely gimmicky to boost ratings (like have a baby or, as the term refers to, have Fonzie jump over a shark on water skis). A first season show cannot jump the shark, particularly when it’s merely following the books as written. Jumping the shark would be something like if Ned Stark’s righteous headless ghost returned in a few seasons, took over the White Walkers and led his undead army to dethrone the Lannisters.

Christine,

Like Cersie and Varys?

Steven Swanson,

Should have put a spoiler alert on that one man. Ned’s headless ghost using the white walkers to kill the Lannisters? C’mon man…

Morlun:
http://youtu.be/qYNeT2nzEgA

I hope this makes people feel somewhat better. =)

I was just about to post that. :)

Ten minutes of Tyrion slapping the crap out of Joffrey makes me feel better than I ever thought it could. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYNeT2nzEgA

THIS SHOW IS EPIC. Extremely sad Ned was offed, he’s my LOTR bro! They did a damn good job at that point too, like… He was thinking, this is really IT… Then you start thinking… Oh noo, it really is IT… Sigh..

Being a newbie though I will continue to watch because I have a feeling his youngest daughter is going to grow up and kick the most ass of all.

i would love to cut the throats of all the lanisters in the world..i hope that none of them are here in the philippines…

Lord Jotham:
i would love to cut the throats of all the lanisters in the world..i hope that none of them are here in the philippines…

Well the super old guy that was relieved of duty is a Lannister and he seems like a good dude, (why he was relieved I’m sure, so he won’t get in the way of their evilness) and I have a feeling even though the midget dude is a sneaky poop, that he’s a good dude as well!

I Know of Fear:
Steven Swanson,

For me personally, this was indeed a “jumping the shark” moment because I’m not familiar with your definition that has to do with a show’s ratings. My definition of jumping the shark is more like the one at TvTropes: “Jumping The Shark is the moment when an established story changes in a significant manner in an attempt to stay fresh.” Of couse this change in story has the major risk of losing the audience.

To me this show was the story of Eddard Stark trying to protect his family from the power struggle that is the game of thrones. That established story has just been changed into the story of… I don’t know, the line of succession or the fall of the realm or something. Whatever this new story is, it will keep the show fresh by forcing them the story to focus on other characters’ problems. But it is a much less intimiate story than before. I started watching the show because I heard it wasn’t like the rest of the fantasy genre were “epic” and “grand scale” are considered positive traits.

But I could be wrong, and the show will continue to be an intimate affair and focus on Jon’s new family at the Wall. Or Robb taking up his father’s role in the story as I had interpreted it. It is even possible that Tyrion and the Lannisters will take up the roles of Ned and the Starks. As I said before, I chose to be hopeful that this widening focus will be more like The Wire’s expanding cast and branching plots than like LotR.

I don’t think the show changed it’s focus. I think viewers (including myself) just didn’t realize the focus. Someone said it best somewhere else – this is not a story about Ned. This is a story about Ned’s children. Everything up to now has just be introduction.

Actually Jumping the Shark is a literal reference to the Happy Days episode where in a desperate attempt to get people to come back to the show, they had Fonzie jump his motorcycle over a pool with a shark in it…it didn’t work and Happy Days was cancelled.

It has become synonymous with a show doing something sensational, that there is no coming back from, with the express purpose of trying to increase flagging ratings.

Ned’s decapitation was not jumping the shark, though I see how someone unfamiliar with the books could perceive it that way.

I have read the books and think the TV adaptation is superb. Shame about Ned Stark but A song of ice and fire is a long and winding road. Stand by for Stannis Baratheon!!

Steve: Well the super old guy that was relieved of duty is a Lannister and he seems like a good dude, (why he was relieved I’m sure, so he won’t get in the way of their evilness) and I have a feeling even though the midget dude is a sneaky poop, that he’s a good dude as well!

He isn’t a Lannister, he is one of the greatest knights ever, “just” the (former) commander of the kingsguard, Ser Barristan Selmy.

I Know of Fear:
This show just killed off the main character. That’s jumping the shark in a big way, and after I finally stopped chanting “for real?” I wasn’t sure if I would keep watching the show. I eventually decided I’d at least finish the season before I stopped watching.

But now it’s been almost a full day since I watched the episode. And you know what? I didn’t stop watching The Wire in season 1 when the killed off my favorite characterWalter. Or in season 2 when they killed off my NEW favorite character D’Angelo. Or in season’s 3, 4, and 5 when they killed off Stringer Bell, Bodie, and Omar respectively. Every season I became attached to a different character, and every season that character got killed off. By season 5 I was predicting my latest favorite would die just because he was my favorite, and even then they manage to surprise me by killing him in an enraging manner.

The difference is that I was never attached to The Wire’s “main” character and didn’t really care if he lived or died (and that I was watching the show years after it had ended, so I could marathon the whole thing). For this reason I was prepared for the death of Jon, Arya and Tyrion. But I never considered that Ned would in the very first season.

I’m sure I have more to say about this episode, but I haven’t been able to gather my thoughts yet and will need to watch it again. Oh, and the video someone posted earlier of otaku_assemble isn’t far from what I was feeling with those last 2 minutes.

It has passed a few years since I was watching Wire but I can’t recall a character called Walter. Who was he? Cast list only shows a minor character who survives first season.

It’s like the animal farm, people need fabels or fantasy to show them the cruelty of men.

And GoT is doing a very good job at it.

To all you newbees, I know how you’re feeling, I threw the book throug the room after reading this part, that wasn’t the last time i did that during the series.

People that say it’s about Ned’s children, I tend to disagree with you.

Varis naild it as he said he served the realm, Got is about Westeros and Westeros holds many villains, goddiggers, turncoats, players and even some noble persons, during the tail of Westeros many die new ones arrive and some you think you know tend to be totaly different than expected, it’keeps you at the edge of your seat and I love it.

I think that people exaggerating Ned’s death. Maybe in the books (I haven’t read them) he played a major role but in this TV series he wasn’t a major character. The plot lines for other characters are more entertaining and interesting than Ned’s. He only had like one episode focused on him when he was looking for Robert’s bastard child – and although it was somewhat important for the story it wasn’t that great to watch. He wasn’t a main character, he was just a father of Stark house. I care far more for Jon, Arya, Sansa, Daenerys, Tyrion, Bran, Rob… and even Catelyn Stark. Her presence in this show is more noticeable than her husband’s.
Despite all of his nobility Ned Stark didn’t have likeability factor. He was portrayed as this constantly anxious man – angry and trembling – almost like an alcoholic ;) I know that he had reasons to be that way but the only times I liked him were his scenes with Arya.
People who find his death shocking obviously don’t watch other tv-series or movies. There’s nothing new in killing main characters. It’s like a new format to entertain modern viewers. It’s silly but a lot of shows these days build up their drama on who from the main characters is going to be killed off next.
My point is – Ned’s death – not so shocking, not so dramatic. You know what would be dramatic? Arya stabbing Joffrey with a needle. Seriously for a moment I thought that would be the case.
Last week’s episode was great. This week’s was so so and Ned’s death didn’t bring the “holy shit” factor for me.

The moment they took him out there I knew Ned was fuuuuuuuucked. Just seemed like that type of show, especially with the episode winding down. That whole sequence was terrific.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Ivan Popić,

He was indeed a minor character, but didn’t survive the first season. The stress of being a teenager as the head of his house hold lead him to using his own product. He wasn’t paying for the drugs, so Stringer Bell ordered Bodie and Poot to kill their coworker.

Mr Bojangles,

well this battles aren’t described in books neither so it makes sence they’re not in the series… in general there is very few big battles actually described in the books so don’t expect many in the series

jdp13:
Ive read the books, my Wife has not.She’s already found this series upsetting for so many reasons, but this one may have put her over the edge.She’s now looking at me wondering how I can enjoy a series that’s just been so dark.I’m telling her she needs to keep watching, but they may have lost her with this one.

my husband has read the books (3-4 times) i have not. but he warned me in the begining, martin’s rule is no one is safe. he’s being very tight lipped, wont even tell me who else lives/dies, which i appreciate, but i wouldn’t dream of quitting watching this wonderful show! it has so many twists and turns and great stories. and for everyone saying, HBO how could you….. or change the story…. or whatever, who here watched LoTR or Eragon or Battlefield Earth, or any other of the numerous book -> movie/TV show conversions. Think about how much got left out of/ changed in these, and how much that upset the normal viewer who had read the books. i wouldnt want them to do that with this. my husband says they are following the books so close there’s almost no reason to read them. whereas say Legend of the Seeker is so different from Sword of Truth that you almost have to think of them as being unrelated. i would hate that.

Oh, my. I have thoughts about many parts of episode 9, but they will have to wait another day. It has been about 11 hours since Ned’s death, and I still feel numb.

As many Sansas as we have heard from who want a fairy-tale story where good never dies, we have as many Tyrions, who propose that the only way to protect ourselves from the show is to stop forming attachments to good characters. I shall be neither.

Ned learned how to die, and so will I.

Jeda:
Argilac the Arrogant,

I think you read me wrong, or I wasn’t clear. That’s exactly what I meant, ep1 shows a dead stag and a dead direwolf, hence the dark side of the omen, and maybe that’s all there is to it so I intended to leave it at this, but one thing for sure: it shouldn’t be discussed here. I never intended for it to be but you are right, it was risky on my part.

just thought i’d clear up ya’ll little argument, what jed said was fine. it was andrew son of endrew who said that there wasnt a stag, so i think that is who argilac is upset with

Wow and wow…nope, not over the Ned thing. I thought someone would wake up or the warriors would show up..something.; but alas…nothing. Next year’s emmy’s..Game of Thrones should take home all of the awards. Awesome and Addicted.

Tom Hilton,

If your spoilers are related to non-GoT topics, you should point that out ahead of the spoilers. Some of us readers here are accustomed to just highlighting everything without worry.

I’ve read the books… and it wasn’t until this comment thread that I made the connection with the dead direwolf and stag in episode 1 and later events with House Stark and Baratheon. /facepalm

Stephen Bulla,

It’s okay. I know a ton of people who really *did not* realize Renly and Loras were gay til the show. :p

If you haven’t re-read the books, now is a perfect time, what with ADwD coming out in July – you’ll probably see tons of things you missed the first time through.

stephanie: just thought i’d clear up ya’ll little argument, what jed said was fine. it was andrew son of endrew who said that there wasnt a stag, so i think that is who argilac is upset with

You are correct, stephanie. It wasn’t Jeda that was comparing that scene with its book counterpart. I quoted the right person in my first post and when Jeda replied to it, I thought it was the same person. My apologies, Jeda.

I wasn’t “upset” either but its just a pet peeve of mine when people mention the book series when others just want to discuss the TV series. Whether its clearing up character motivations, histories of westeros, or comparing differences between the book series and TV series. If something hasn’t shown up yet or explained in the TV series that already has in the book series doesn’t necessarily mean they will exclude it. Sometimes they have to move things around or explain things when it’s more appropriate for the medium of television. You get a better viewing experience if you just allow the TV series to tell the story as they mean to unfold it.

Christine,

I’d be much more concerned if people felt nothing while watching GoT. The fact that you are emotionally attached to a character is a GOOD thing. You’ll learn to love characters you currently hate, hate people you currently love and teem with excitement as new ones are introduced.

Continue watching and you’ll be treated to perhaps the greatest story ever told.

john moore,

You can’t change the ending of a book series that isn’t finished yet. ;) Also, changing the ending of Book 1, would mean a re-write of the series and that would really be a bad idea. It is how GRR Martin wrote it and you’ll have to live with it. If more characters die, you eider stop watching the show or accept it is how it is.
There are no good and bad guys, all have their motivation and once you’ve read/saw their POV’s, you are bound to at least understand them, if not sympathise with them. Understand that and you would understand the story better, even if you refuse to indulge in reading the books.

Mirax,

They have right to be pissed, happy, dumbfounded, heart-broken, etc…. But they cant demand from HBO to let characters live and change the very essence of this work just so that they can see “happy end” as they expected it.
They shouldn’t despair and withdraw from the series which faithfully follows the plot of the best fantasy novel ever written. It is ridiculous.

I believe in episode 10, There is a shower scene, where Ned walks out and it appears episode 9 was simply a dream sequence of Joffrey’s
Phewwwwwww… :)

Miky,

Man, don’t bash on “newbies” for being upset. It’s a good thing they’re upset. Hell, they’re supposed to be upset. Would you honestly prefer them to be indifferent to whether a character dies or not? Making you honestly interested and concerned for the characters and what happens to them is one of this story’s major strengths. So yes, “newbies” thank you for being invested enough in this show to actually get upset about something like this unfolding. I assure you that you will be rewarded. There is a lot of ups and downs in this show and if you stick it out and enjoy the ride I promise you that (at least as far as the books go that have been released right now (4)) it will be one of the best stories you’ve ever had a chance to know. But if you do not like the thrill of roller coasters, then you may not like it.

No Raven For You!,

Well said…and thanks everyone all the great reactions from this weeks episode!

david,

You are so deft Dave. What you said encapsulates the remainder of the series up to this point in my opinion. Non-book readers should pay attention to Jon Snow, probably one of the most intriguing characters in the whole series. (I think you have read the books, Dave)

Loved this episode, Joffrey is the definitive troll of Westeros. Gonna missa ya, Ned.

Ha, Nobody is going to stop watching,
They want revenge and closure and they want it badly,
GRRM is a genius
and winter is still coming…

And the promise of the yet unwritten seventh book of the series “Time for wolves”…

I wrote a spoiler- free post on westeros.org for all of you who haven read the books and are shocked about the ending of “Baelor”.

Hopefully it helps you to deal with this last scene so that you won’t turn away from the show.

Haha: And the promise of the yet unwritten seventh book of the series “Time for wolves”

too bad that’s not the title of the last book.
Mr Bojangles,

in the end GRRM has planned 7 books. Book 5 will be published this july. I think there are very few readers who have faith that if the show is successfull and continues to adapt every book, that George will have finished book 7 by the end of season 6. I won’t watch the last season if George has not published the book first (I’m claiming now haha).

Shock Me,

Shock Me: Greenrat, How about Shorting the Stark?

Ouch :-)
A bit early for dark humour on new-viewer thread, have mercy… Some might need to recover first. (I’m not being condescending to you new-viewers here, just joking, I know how it felt… ;-) )

They cut out 2 battles. THEY CUT OUT 2 BATTLES. They could have reduced the scene’s of tyrion and his lady friend and shown even just 5-10 minutes. Show us a glimmer of the battle and how Jaime was capture. Nothing, nada, zip, zilch. All major conflicts and battles we’ll have to wait until January 2012. Booooooooooooooo

We Do Not Sow,

And now to your questions at the top…

Give me your thought on what’s going to happen in the final episode. Also, just for fun if you got to choose your house, what house would you choose?

Drogo and Drogo Jr. are dead or appear to be dead – Dany and Jorah flee the enraged Dothraki with three eggs in tow. To stay warm, they try tossing one of the eggs onto a fire. It begins to crack open just as the pursuing Dothraki horsemen come into view.

Robb kills Jaime as soon as he hears of Nedd’s death and sends the head to Joffrey – Game ON! The combined Stark / Tully army wheels to face Tywin Lannister’s army as Stannis Baratheon arrives in force – who will he support?

Jon is set to abandon the Wall and join his half-brother Robb when Castle Black comes under attack by White Walkers. His new sword Longclaw gets a workout.

Arya and Yoren flee Kings Landing and head north. Arya has developed a taste for pigeon.

Joffrey apologizes to Sansa for chopping off her father’s head; Sansa forgives him after he gives her a lovely necklace.

Tyrion and his Hill People move against Lysa Aryn and Little Lord Tittysucker and lay siege to The Eyrie.

Bran has another creepy ‘three-eyed raven’ dream, but this time the raven leads him into the Stark family crypt, where he sees an apparition of Ned who whispers…

As for choosing a House? I think I’ll take the Black. After all…
Winter Is Coming.

Greenrat,
The phrase that you are looking for is “Growing a beard”, as in “ST:TNG got better once Riker grew a beard”.

And stop with The Wire spoilers, I’m only halfway through season 1.

I Know of Fear,

I think the reason people is so upset Ned is death is because they were wrong Genre Sawvy, like they were expecting a traditional fantasy piece akin to Lord of The Rings

No Raven For You!: As for choosing a House? I think I’ll take the Black.

lol

Before the battle, when Cat tells Robb that if he wants to cross Lord Frey’s bridge, he will have to marry one of Lord Frey’s daughters – the actor ad-libs the line, “Did you get a good look at the daughters?”

The actor who plays Theon starts to crack up, and the actress who plays Cat is doing her best not to. I loved that as much as anything else I loved about this show so far!

Ekleipsis: …at least it wouldn’t be some lame ass fantasy like Xena and Hercules if Sean Bean was in it!

Hey, please don’t insult my favourite TV show of all time! Yes, Xena had funny episodes (and some silly ones, I admit it), but it was a great series with so many great characters. Many of the episodes were very dark, especially those telling the story of “bad Xena”. She was a real bad ass in her past, just like Joffrey and maybe more evil. Plus, the heroes didn’t live “happily ever after”. I won’t say more in case others never saw the series, but it was a really dark series too in many ways.

By the way, I don’t see my previous post anywhere… has it been deleted?

this might have been mention before(couldn’t be bothered to read all the comments) but it seems to me like all the old timers: Robert, Ned and Drogo are all dying. I wouldn’t be surprised if the old Lannister and Jero Mormont will be suffering death in the near future.

Imagine if Arya hadn’t swapped Ser Ilyn’s sword for a rubber one – he’d totally have lost his head. How many times will that little scamp save the day!

Very surprising first season….not typical. Never expected Tony Soprano to get whacked, except maybe the last episode, so if Ned isn’t safe, no one is.
I think there’s plenty of clues/omens & foreshadowing laid out on the screen for us to “guess” whats in store for episode 10 and so on….though i have no idea what the 3-eyed Raven from Bran’s dreams signifies…

I believe Dany will bring the Hoard to the Realm with or without Drago but a three-way fight sounds something like a WWF event. But the Dragons are coming (back). I mean, what else is going to take down Whitewalkers, en masse? But I guess that could also bring on zombie Dothraki….hmmmm…. Fire it up, next season. That Dragon skull looked pretty fearsome in the dungeons of Winterfell. Now (seemingly) that Jon is going to leave the Black to join his family in the fight will he & Grievjoy eventually fight over the red-headed prostitute Jon “almost” lost his virginity to? Will Tyrian exact revenge on his father, as Bronn stated, “I’d kill a man who did that to me”?
I would bet we see Sir Barrister join the Starks and fittingly kill Jamie, his successor, IF they trade Jamie’s life for Sansa’s.

No I think Dany entering the tent means Drogo dies but his spirit/soul/badassery goes to his son

Ok some people mentioned the statue that Arya was standing on before Ned Starks’ execution was Baelor

When the Dothraki’s raided the village with the witch in it. They showed a statue being pulled down by the Dothraki. Was that Baelor as well?

HouseofTargaryen:
Ok some people mentioned the statue that Arya was standing on before Ned Starks’ execution was Baelor

When the Dothraki’s raided the village with the witch in it. They showed a statue being pulled down by the Dothraki. Was that Baelor as well?

No. It was probably the Lamb God, as the village they were raiding was the village of the Lamb people. One minor, unspoilery thing you guys didn’t get from the show was that the Dothraki liked to collect artifacts (like statues) from different peoples and cultures they conquered, and set them up in Vaes Dothrak.