1.04 Game of Thrones - Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things

[ctg]

Ned starts his covert inquiry into his predecessor's sudden death. A tournament is held in honor of the new King's Hand. Jon feels sympathy for a new recruit of the Night's Watch called Samwell Tarly. Tyrion, having left the Wall, finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Viserys is growing frustrated in Vaes Dothrak. Catelyn stops at an inn on her way back to Winterfell.



I know that some of you have said that these little nips shouldn't be spoiling, but having watched the three previous episodes, these things only spoils those that have read the books, all the other people might just think that this is what is going to happen.

 

[Conor]

Should be a great episode!
I have high expectations for the tournament!

 

[TK-421]

They are moving quickly, but not too quickly.

 

[The Imp]

They are basically progressing at the pace of 8 chapters per episode, so they'll be able to decrease the pace if needed and still be able to finish.I wish they had more time, but I'm comfortable with how things are unfolding.

 

[Tansy]

Looking forward to seeing Master Tarly make his entrance and Cat's stop at the inn

 

[The Imp]

I liked the kid playing Sam

They're moving the story along well, and giving information ncessary to put pieces together for those who haven't read the books.

I hated the "sex" secen with Viserys

I loved Dany smacking him and saying
"The next time you raise a hand to me will be the last time you have hands."

We finally saw a Ghost

I thought they did a fine job, but for goodness sake, Gregor is The Mountain that Rides, not The Mountain

 

[Heck Tate]

I wasn't a big fan of that added Viserys scene, either. It gave some background on the dragons, and once again revealed that Viserys is a complete ass, but I thought it went on for a while, and was more or less irrelevant to the rest of the plot aside from them just needing to put that information in somewhere.

I didn't like Sam when he first appeared either, but the more he talked, the more I liked him. They went over the Greyjoy rebellion, and I finally noticed Theon without specifically looking for him on replays. Robb seemed like more of an ass than I remembered him from the first book, but maybe it was only because it was to Tyrion and he was covering for Catelyn.

Ned seemed to pick up on "the seed is strong" pretty quickly. As The Imp says, they're progressing quickly through the first book, but I still thought that Ned was in the dark on that one for longer in the books.

As always, the show seems to have perfectly picked opening and closing scenes, even if they didn't come back to Bran's dream at all this episode.

 

[Gamblor]

I enjoyed it. I keep thinking though, jeez, if I had not read the books prior this would be a difficult one to follow. Like others had said before me, they are progressing at pace....I hope this does not put newcomers off.

 

[southron sword]

A much better episode. Some background information for new viewers, some treats for fans. Progress. The Viserys scene sucked! Go Ghost! I'm liking Jorah more, Jon more and King Robert is GREAT! Ahh I like knowing whats going to happen, but I like watching it better.

 

[Tansy]

Well that episode was just far too short lol

 

[Memnoch]

Best Episode yet.

+ points:

Jon is getting better and better. The way the wall scenes are filmed have been spot on!

Robert is class!! Just perfect acting "I bet you smell of blackberry jam ha ha, come hear let me smell it!" (had me n the Mrs howling!)

Viserys perfect casting and the scene with Daenerys really shone. Shame about the heavy handed history lesson in the bath (bar the delectable Roxanne Mckee fullfilling a few of my youthful fantasies!)

Catelyn is really growing on me.

Tyrion Better than I ever perceived to be honest, he will be the star of the whole show methinks. Bar the beautiful Daeny!!

General look and feel, perfection.



- points: (I seem to take longer with my rants, but trust me I love the show!)

"Neds" Tournament epic in the book, felt like a high school theatre show watching it on T.V, Camelot the English theme park do more believable jousts! I had visions of a meadow full of snapping banners and bright tents surrounding a large wooden stadium with dozens of multicoloured knights milling around and lining up to joust, with clips of the melee etc (similar to Excalibur prior to Arthur pulling the sword but less gloomy) Instead we are subjected to a poor, possibly a budget restrained snippet! Sigh . . . Perhaps it will continue into ep 5. Dying to see the Knight of Flowers et al.

The "Hillock" that rides another "average sized" disappointment, following Khal Drogo being cast so well, I expected a humongous shire horse and a massive knight sat atop! Oh well. Then a very halfhearted first pass against the squire, before the HBO standard graphic gore scene. No hint yet to the fact it was a deliberate act yet.

Samwell Tarly Always imagined the fat kid from the Simpsons lol, so wasn't overly impressed, although his potrayals good and his chemistry with Jon has redeemed it, looks aside. Always imagined Sam to be very camp to!!!

Theon such a shame!

Gendry arrrrrrrrrrghh the goon from Skins (British edgy teen dramaedy)nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Where are the muscles from his smithying! The the tall dark innocent homely beefcake?! The long black locks!? The serious persona??? I can't take this guy seriously! (he is I will add a good actor, but simply not Gendry!) He I could imagine as Theon, based on his Skins role!

Jaime ok ok much better in this episode from an acting perspective, buuuut what's with the fact we are bashed over the head that he is the victim!! Last episode, he justifies the Kingslaying, this having to have Robert put him through the honour of his sister being tarnished etc!! In the first two books he's a monster a cold hearted piece of dung we all love to hate, only to see the veneer crack, the inner torment, the disguised deep seated gallantry and difficulties he has overcome when Brianne infects him with her total innocent honesty! Disappointed how he is being portrayed. In fact all the Lanisters bar Joffery are seemingly to "nice".

The show lacks, flashbacks/ character imaginings, far more effective than listening to people spouting history lessons to keep the viewers up to speed. How epic would watching the the hound being maimed as a child be, really striking home what a heartless nasty pasty Gregor has always been. Or Viserys as a child remembering the Iron throne surrounded by dragon skulls, or Robert and Ned in various, pre Roberts rule, battles, remembered in all Roberts bloody fondness. It would be a much better vehicle to get the important histories across IMO.

. . . .

BUUUUT ep 4 has really grabbed the show by the scruff of the neck and I am lapping it up, absolutely immense and it looks like amazing times are ahead.


I'll leave you with Viserys' rendition of a Sting (Police) classic.

Roxannnnnnnnnnnnne . . . Roxaaaaannnnne, you don't have to put on the red light . . . Roxxxxxxannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne you may stay in my bath tonight.

 

[Wiggum]

I thought they did a fine job, but for goodness sake, Gregor is The Mountain that Rides, not The Mountain

Lol, I loved the episode but this niggled me too.

I loved Sansa's "Oh S***" expression after Littlefinger told her the story of The Mountain and The Hound.

She's not in Kansas anymore.

The Viserys scene was awkward in the context of the episode, but saved by the dragon knowledge he dropped.

 

[TK-421]

Episodes getting better and better.

Tyrion shone as always.

Viserys almost stole the eipsode.

Like the dialogue between Tyrion and Theon.

Cat played the inn part very well.

Dany is really growing on me.

Robert, what can a I say.

Jaime perfectly cast, I am now convinced with the scene with Jory.

Littlefinger also really growing on me. That walk he takes with Ned revealing the court intrigues and spies and the scene with Sansa and his description of Gregor and Sandor's relationship was perfect.

Sam is pretty much what I expected.

Hodor!!!!

Jorah is very very good.

 

[The Imp]

This is for you Memnoch

this is short, but you can jump to the 24 second mark if you like.

YouTube - Thank You God!

 

[Memnoch]

This is for you Memnoch

this is short, but you can jump to the 24 second mark if you like.

YouTube - Thank You God!

Superb lol

 

[The Imp]

Superb lol

As I always tell my wife (who is a college professor), it's important to have a solid foundation in the "Classics:

 

[Conor]

The look on Tyrion's face at the end with all those swords pointed right at him....priceless!!

 

[Perpetual Man]

It's quite interesting watching the series with someone who has not read the books, not only do I get to see the reactions of someone who has no preconceptions of the story, but I also have practice in the art of keeping my trap shut, when it is so easy to blurt out things like: "But that sets the scene for when this happens... oops"

My wife has been enjoying it and able to follow it, which is good, and it does take the odd moment of 'that's not like it should be' and makes it easier to swallow as in her eyes it works.

Another friend has been following it and loving it too, so it is working on that count.

We both felt that this episode was one of the best, as we are starting to see the twist, turns and story kicking off. Her reaction to things that I know are going to happen have added to it and given it some freshness too.

The end when Cat sets Tyrion up was a great moment, made all the better by Mrs. Perps reaction..

 

[Gamblor]

Just wanted to add that I agree with Memnoch on the disappointment with the Hand's Tourney - was not even approaching the epicness i had in my minds eye - there was like 70 people there!

 

[Culhwch]

Cripples, Bastards, and an Excess of Expositionary Dialogue...

This episode picked up a little compared to the last, but I'd have preferred they toned down the above mentioned dialogue, and spread it out a bit more. Flashbacks would be nice, but possibly beyond the budget.

I agree about the tourney - and again, I guess this is budgetary in nature. The thing I think I miss most from the books is the sheer pageantry of the world - everything feels toned down here. I'd have loved for them to at least approximate the intricate armour of various colours, the banners and the barding and all the trappings that are so present in the text. I know that the books have that gritty realism to them, but it is both balanced and countered by a stylised fantasy that is all but absent in the show. I think I miss the Kingsguard all in white the most - you can barely tell Jaime's armour is any different from a common guard's...

...but I also have practice in the art of keeping my trap shut, when it is so easy to blurt out things like: "But that sets the scene for when this happens... oops"

Me too. I've almost succeeded in not letting anything slip. Every time my wife asks what happens to this character or that character, I use it as a chance to push her to read the book.