http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuKfFzk1uQs [YT="Game of Thrones Season 2 Trailer"]XuKfFzk1uQs[/YT] New trailer out. Starts April 1st. Argh, I literally cannot wait any longer!! I hope Season 2 has moar dragons.
Since I wont be able to see it until tomorrow sometime, I'm gonna marathon all of season one tonight! WAR IS COMING!
A little less titties than I wanted, but there was more child murder than the first episode of season one...so that makes up for it.
Yeah... When you think about it, nothing really happened. We just touched base with the key characters. We all knew that Jeoffrey was out of control, Sersi was a huge bitch, Rob was kicking ass and Aryia was making her way back to Winterfell. We knew all of that last season.
yeah, ep 2.1 was a bit weak, but they had to: a) catch up newbie viewers with the existing plotlines, and b) introduce new characters (Stannis and his witch). So more exposition was needed to tell them what the rest of us already knew. I didn't really expect much more than that for the first ep of a season. Edit: Joffrey is SUCH a little bitch! I *really* hope he dies in some gruesome, drawn out manner, preferably at Sansa's hand!
Yeah, things got stepped up from merely attempted child murder to actual. Although things are incrementally building, there are quite a few details that seem newish and noteworthy. To name some: 1. The wildlings are uniting behind Mance Rayner, the self-proclaimed King-Beyond-the-Wall. 2. Dani's leadership of her khalasar has had a less epic beginning than she would have liked, what with horses collapsing, food scarce and dragons still too small to do much of anything. 3. Stannis, brother to the late king Robert Baratheon, is making public the incest between Jaimie and Cersei, has abandoned the gods most of Westeros follow for another deity that at least some people find strange and that has a priestess that causes at least some of his inner circle to worry. He is also planning to assert his claim to the throne against all comers, including his brother Renly. (who we met last season.) 4. Renly has gotten quite a substantial amount of support to assert his own claim to the throne, despite the technicality that Stannis would be first in the line of succession. 5. Robb is considering enlisting the aid of Balon Greyjoy (Theon's father) as he presses towards King's Landing, even though Greyjoy led an unsuccessful rebellion. 6. Cersei is killing all of Robert's bastard children that she can find. (I suppose that may fall under "Cersei is a huge bitch") 7. There's a red comet in the sky that people take as an omen of various things. 8. Bran has had dreams of seeing through the eyes of a wolf. I don't think there is a manner gruesome enough for Joffrey to die. But at least we got the pleasure of seeing him get slapped again.
Great set up for the rest of the season. Like Forbin, I was left wanting more (and that is after watching all of season 1 in one sitting!). As to Joffrey, I want either: 1. To see Needle sticking out of his throat 2. Have him eaten by one of the Dire Wolves.
Not gruesome enough. Perhaps... 1. To have Needle sticking out of his throat after having been cut dozens of times on the torso, arms, and legs, then falling into a moat of lemon juice! 2. Have him eaten ALIVE by [-]one[/-] several of the Dire Wolves while simultaneously being set ablaze by dragon(s).
It would indeed be great if Nymeria (Arya's dire wolf who she drove off to avoid having her killed) could finish the job she started with the assistance of her siblings. For those keeping score at home, the other remaining Stark dire wolves are: Grey Wind (Robb's, who we saw in this episode, and who has apparently grown massive off of Lannister flesh.) Summer (Bran's) Shaggydog (Rickon's) Ghost (Jon's) R.I.P. Lady (Sansa's). Every time one comes on screen, I have to pet my dog as the next best thing to a dire wolf.
Well, it WAS chapter one (of season 2), basically. Chapter one usually builds stuff that the rest of the book works from.
Even though this was a catch-up episode, I haven't been this engaged in television for a long time. Game of Thrones is the best thing in TV right now.
The main difference is that unlike Season 1, I have read the series and so I have a better grasp of who the characters are, what their motivations are, and of course, what the overarching plot is supposed to be. In ways, it makes the show both better and worse. I can more easily follow everything, but I generally can't be "surprised" about what's happening except for the occasionally new scene. (Like, for example, the Littlefinger-Cersei confrontation, I believe, was brand new.)
^^ That was a little odd. Wasn't it Littlefinger who asked Ned in season 1 what possessed him to tell the Queen that he had found out that Jeoffrey was Jaimie's child and not the true prince... He then goes and threatens her to her face with that knowledge. I thought to myself "bad carreer move!"
I have to ask at this point... What's up with Ser Jorah Mormont? IIRC, it was him in S1 that was Baratheon's eyes on the Targaryans in hopes that he would be pardoned of his crimes... he was the means by which Robert knew she married Drogo, had the Khalisaar, was pregnant and ultimately, he was the reason Robert moved to kill her in S1.... but when Baratheon made the move to kill Daenerys, he interveined. What's his deal? Is he in love with Daenerys? Does he have a plan or some treachery up his sleeve? Am I reading too much into this?
It's clearer what's going on with him in the books by the beginning of book 2, simply because it's harder to explain it in the TV show. There will eventually be some exposition as to his motives later on--possibly late this season or sometime next season, if I'm remembering the books correctly. Anyway, if you're really curious, here is what I remember (though I recommend waiting to find out for yourself!!).
It was Varys who asked Stark about that. The difference between the two is similar to the difference between their nicknames. Varys likes spinning webs and gathering secrets, like the Spider he represents. Littlefinger likes mocking people and thinks he can get away with it. That aside, what Ned did was say to the Queen, "I know your children aren't Robert's and I'm going to tell the king when he gets back so you better run" when that is a secret known only to 3 non-Lannisters. What Littlefinger did could be interpreted as just teasing rather than an overt threat, and it comes after the gossip about twincest has already been brought in the open. There's a big difference. Ned had proof and was deadly serious about ratting Cersei out, which would have led to Cersei being on the run and ultimately she and her kids being killed. Littlefinger could always hide behind, "I'm just joking," and his jest wasn't going to change anything once the secret was more or less out. It was expressly said that he had a thing for Dani in S.1. Viserys had a scene in which he said to Mormont that he knew how Mormont looked at his sister, and he could have her as long as he let Viserys go. Based mainly what has been shown in the TV series, I would also say it wouldn't be strange for him to have a change of heart. After all, if he made good on his pardon, where would that get him? He has lost his ties to Westeros and has a home of sorts with the Dothraki. Also, the show has established him as a knight who was shamed himself. It stands to reason that he is trying to make amends. He might consider it one thing to have been led to the point of selling people to slavers, but another to be an accomplice in the murder of a pregnant woman. Another thing to consider that perhaps the TV show hasn't fully made clear: each house has its big theme or value system, and all the sub-lords also subscribe to that belief. The Lannisters are about gold, power, debts and scheming. The Baratheons are about fighting. The Starks are about honor, and the Mormonts are one of the houses that are under the Stark umbrella. (Which is why Ned Stark was going after Jorah for being involved in slavery, as opposed to some other lord.) So while any knight should consider the slaying of a pregnant woman in general heinous, it is fair to say that one raised in the Stark way of thinking would especially e like, "Screw this." At the end of S.1, Jorah and the others called Dani, "Blood of my blood!" and thus swore loyalty to her (and her dragons). We may see how far that loyalty goes.
It was good. I was shocked that it ended. I wanted more. I liked how Littlefinger was playing with fire. Tyrion of course was great. I'm really glad they showed the Dire-Wolf. If I was Jamie I would have pissed my pants. And killing the baby? Rick Grimes agrees! You can't be too careful. Can't wait for the blood to start flowing next show.
I'm almost at the end of book 2. I liked the first episode. It perfectly set things up. The only misgiving is that the opening credits are too damn long. I do wonder how the series is going to handle some of the events in the book. And, the Imp and Arya are by far my favorite characters.
Here's a quick cheat sheet of the main characters: Starks: Catelyn -- Widow of Ned, mother of the rest. Formerly of the house of Tully in the South. Also former and present crush of Littlefinger. Robb -- Head of the house, has Grey Wind, forced to take over as Lord of the house because of Ned's death, doing a great job leading his 20k army (so far) against the Lannisters. Sansa -- girl who dreamed of the courtly life and becoming Queen, now finding that King's Landing is much more miserable and dangerous than she thought. Bran -- Crippled by Jaime Lannister to hide the twincest secret, Bran is the acting Lord at Winterfell. He's carried around by a huge guy named Hodor and has strange dreams of a three-eyed crow and now of a wolf. Arya -- Tomboy who is now pretending to be an actual boy as she heads north, with the hopes of getting back to Winterfell and safety. Jon -- Bastard son who joined the Night's Watch because his birth prevents him from having a role in Winterfell and because Catelyn hates him. As a member of the Night's Watch, he's steward to the leader, Commander Mormont. Night's Watch: Mormont: mentioned above. He's also father to Jorah Mormont. Maester Aemon: Maesters are sort of the knowledge keepers in this society. He also happens to be part of the Targaryen family, but renounced it as part of joining the Night's Watch. Sam Tarly: The cowardly and fat son of Randall Tarly who was told to join the Night's Watch or there would be a hunting accident. For some reason, Jon and he have become good friends along with a handful of other Night's Watchmen who are not super relevant. Baratheons Stannis: Oldest of the remaining Baratheons. He is a stern commander, but not a people-person. He is laying claim to the throne based on being the eldest in the family. He has enlisted the aid of a priestess Melisandre, who proclaims faith in the Lord of Light. That is different from the religion most of Westeros proclaims, that of the Seven. [Father, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Warrior, Smith and Stranger]. It's also different from the Old Gods that the Starks and others in the North follow. Renly: Younger brother who was a member of the Small Council and now is asserting a claim to the throne based on his blood with the late Robert plus Stannis's unfitness to be king. Has a relationship with Ser Loras. Gendry: One of Robert's few bastard surviving bastard sons. Along with Arya, he's also heading north. Lannisters Tywin: Head of the family and richest man in the kingdoms. A cruel SOB. Jaime: Twin and lover of Cersei. Called the Kingslayer because he killed the king he was sworn to protect when it became clear that king was losing against Robert's rebellion. True father to Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen rather than Robert. Best swordsman in the Kingdoms. Cersei: Devious, haughty and beautiful. Tyrion: Nicknamed "The Imp," a wise and wise-cracking dwarf. He's basically shunned by Tywin for causing the death of Tyrion's mother and being a dwarf, and he's hated by Cersei. Jaime likes him, though. He's serving as Hand of the King. Which as we know is a tough position... Joffrey: Everyone knows him. Everyone hates him. He also has his siblings who don't really have much personality or role to play as of yet in the story. Shae: The funny whore. Tyrion has brought her to King's Landing against his father's command. Bronn: Tyrion's mercenary pal who saved him in a trial by combat, and who is going to continue reaping the rewards of that. The rest of the Court Littlefinger: Master of the Coin (i.e. keeper of the treasury), Littlefinger owns a number of whorehouses and is actively playing the Game. Varys: The Master of Secrets (spymaster), Varys is a eunuch and therefore untrustworthy. He also, however, knows most of what everyone in King's Landing and beyond are up to. Pycelle: He's the old guy who's also a Grandmaester, so like the most learned person. Janos Slynt: He's the head of the equivalent of the King's Landing police The Hound: The knight with the helm shaped like a dog. He's Joffrey's right-hand man. The Kingsguard: There are seven knights with white armor with a crown on it. They are supposed to be the best fighters in the kingdom, and their duty is to protect the king. Jaime is one of them. Ser Barristan was one before he got forced out. I forget the names of the others at this point. Targaryens Danerys: Last of her line and mother of dragons, she's overseeing a handful of the followers of her late husband and they are trying to figure out what to do until her dragons are large enough to defend themselves. Jorah: Outcast who fled south after Ned Stark wanted his head for enslaving poachers. He's sworn an oath to Dani. Various other Dothraki Greyjoy: Balon: head of this pirate-like house that oversees the Iron Islands. They tried to rebel, got beat down. Theon was sent to live with Ned Stark as his ward/hostage to ensure no further uprisings by Balon. Now Robb is considering some sort of alliance with him. Theon: Big smack-talker, sex maniac, cynical, overconfident jerk. Probably missed a few, but that'll keep you for now.
