Game of Thrones begins....

[viper37]

So, now that episode 2 is out and people have had time to digest it, what are the thoughts?  I'm less than thrilled with the writers throwing in more changes and edits in one episode than the entirety of season 1.  I know they want to streamline things to some level, but at the same time I feel they're cutting it down too much to make it "approachable".  With a televised format, you have audio and visual cues with characters and plots to work with, unlike the literary format where everything is confined to words.  If the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words, it would seem to behoove the writers to stick to the storyline of the book.  It would also damn the slow writing Martin, but that's another issue.

I'm ok with it so far.  I don't think the character's portrayal has changed that much.  Well, they have cut on the number of characters and combined some, like Bronn.  Does this bother me?  Not really.  It's not like they have an infinite budget and can afford to have an actor for 2-3 episodes just to kill him by the end of the season. 

Some things are better in books than in live action, having a gazillion characters can be ok in a book, not in a tv series/movie.  Having a narrator in a book can be ok, in a live action it's annoying.  In a book, you can precisely describe the feelings of a character, in live action you're left with the actor and how best he can display the emotion.  So far, I think they're doing very good.

[Eddie Teach]

  Having a narrator in a book can be ok, in a live action it's annoying. 

[Berkut]

I don't like Bronn taking over the Gold Cloaks simply because it is not in his character to be the leader of a bunch of policeman. What is more, a good chunk of Tyrions disgust with the former commander was with his willingness to engage in infanticide for pay - so why replace him with someone probably even MORE willing to do so?

[crazy canuck]

I agree Berk.  The other reason I didnt like it, similar to what you have already said, is that in the books Tyrion is very aware that Bronn is loyal to his gold not to him.  Why would Tyrion put Bronn in a position which would lessen Bronn's need for Tyrion's gold?

[Viking]

I don't like Bronn taking over the Gold Cloaks simply because it is not in his character to be the leader of a bunch of policeman. What is more, a good chunk of Tyrions disgust with the former commander was with his willingness to engage in infanticide for pay - so why replace him with someone probably even MORE willing to do so?

Presumably Bronn will take incorporate the character of Jacelyn Bywater as well as himself. Both characters are rewarded at the end of the battle of the blackwater where bywater disappears from the narrative and Bronn is bought away from Tyrion by those who hate competent Lannisters and have Cersei's ear.

[viper37]

I don't like Bronn taking over the Gold Cloaks simply because it is not in his character to be the leader of a bunch of policeman. What is more, a good chunk of Tyrions disgust with the former commander was with his willingness to engage in infanticide for pay - so why replace him with someone probably even MORE willing to do so?

The former Gold Cloak leader doesn't do it for pay, he does it without question, out of obediance for the Queen.  He's the Queen's man, Bronn is not.

However, while it may make sense for Bronn to become the guard's leader, it doesn't for Tyrion to name him there, I agree.

[Viking]

I don't like Bronn taking over the Gold Cloaks simply because it is not in his character to be the leader of a bunch of policeman. What is more, a good chunk of Tyrions disgust with the former commander was with his willingness to engage in infanticide for pay - so why replace him with someone probably even MORE willing to do so?

The former Gold Cloak leader doesn't do it for pay, he does it without question, out of obediance for the Queen.  He's the Queen's man, Bronn is not.

However, while it may make sense for Bronn to become the guard's leader, it doesn't for Tyrion to name him there, I agree.

Well, that saves D&D the time and effort to explain how Tyrion takes over the gold cloaks and siezes true power in KL. Now they just point out that Bronn was Tyrion's man. Bronn basically seems to be set up to stand in for all of Tyrion's machinations over many chapters to take power from Cersei; all of which makes the destruction of that power after Tyrion's injury at the Blackwater all the more frustrating for Tyrion and emasculating.


Edit: Bywater was rewarded before the Blackwater and died in the battle, I remembered that bit wrong.

[viper37]

I don't like Bronn taking over the Gold Cloaks simply because it is not in his character to be the leader of a bunch of policeman. What is more, a good chunk of Tyrions disgust with the former commander was with his willingness to engage in infanticide for pay - so why replace him with someone probably even MORE willing to do so?

The former Gold Cloak leader doesn't do it for pay, he does it without question, out of obediance for the Queen.  He's the Queen's man, Bronn is not.

However, while it may make sense for Bronn to become the guard's leader, it doesn't for Tyrion to name him there, I agree.

Well, that saves D&D the time and effort to explain how Tyrion takes over the gold cloaks and siezes true power in KL. Now they just point out that Bronn was Tyrion's man. Bronn basically seems to be set up to stand in for all of Tyrion's machinations over many chapters to take power from Cersei; all of which makes the destruction of that power after Tyrion's injury at the Blackwater all the more frustrating for Tyrion and emasculating.

See, in the end, it all works out.

Doing it the book way, I'm not sure it can be done in 10 episodes while covering all the other stories.  IIRC, Winterfell falls during the 2nd book?  And there's the battle of the Blackwater wich could take at least half of an episode.

They have to take shortcuts in some place.

[Solmyr]

So, episode 3. I like Yoren's backstory, makes him more of a unique character and helps give context to Arya's "prayers" later.

Also, Renly cockblocked.

[The Larch]

So, episode 3. I like Yoren's backstory, makes him more of a unique character and helps give context to Arya's "prayers" later.

Also, Renly cockblocked.

Yup, Joren's part was great. And Margaery is kinky.

And finally a manhood was threattened to be cut and fed to goats. Even if there were no goats around.

[Solmyr]

From the role they are giving Margaery I suspect they are going to roll the Queen of Thorns character into her.

[Kleves]

I'd certainly roll into her. *rimshot*

[Martinus]

"Do you want my brother to come in and help?"

Best line of the episode. 

[The Larch]

"Do you want my brother to come in and help?"

Best line of the episode. 

I prefered Tyrion's admonishment to the Mountain's Clansman to "make do" about the lack of goats. 

[Martinus]

Btw, if you can stomach a gay pop culture site (no porn, I promise), this guy does one of the funniest recaps of Game of Thrones out there:

http://www.afterelton.com/tv/recaps/game-of-thrones-203