1.05 Game of Thrones - The Wolf and the Lion

[svalbard]

Don't worry, most people missed the Loras/Renly thing. I think GRRM had to come out and confirm it, despite leaving little hints in his writing.

I absolutely loved any scene with Littlefinger in it. That guy is perfect in the role.

Aidan Gillen is perfect as Littlefinger!

 

[ctg]

Can I start "Jamie's a *******" club and "I want him dead" club, or is there one already?

 

[Perpetual Man]

Well that was a cracking episode, really enjoyed that one.

I'll probably think on it overnight... but... Jamie a *******? How could he be?

He gave Ned a fair fight, and when the pike man intervened he knocked him out for interrupting.

Ah well, maybe a little bit.

 

[svalbard]

Great episode. There was so much to like about it. The scene with Robert and Cersei was well done and the fight at the end I thought was top notch. One minor quibble, I think in the book it was raining and Jaime waylaid them on the street whilst they were mounted. Or those memory fail me?? Either way it was dramatic enough. Lysa was delicously bonkers

 

[Conor]

Great episode. There was so much to like about it. The scene with Robert and Cersei was well done and the fight at the end I thought was top notch. One minor quibble, I think in the book it was raining and Jaime waylaid them on the street whilst they were mounted. Or those memory fail me?? Either way it was dramatic enough. Lysa was delicously bonkers

You were right, it was raining and Ned was mounted and when the fighting bagan he took down a few Lannistermen and his horse was speared and fell trapping him and breaking his leg. If I'm not mistaken in the book Jaime told his men to attack then split.

King Robert sure treats his squire like rubbish eh?

Despite some quibbling about Tyrion's accent he is so excellent in each scene, even when he was captured.

 

[Red 13]

Loras and Renly?! Seriously! I never noticed anything about them being gay in the books. I was very suprised.
I thought this episode was ok. One silly thing that bugged me a bit is how everyone was calling Arya a boy when the young actress ( who is exellent as usual) doesn't look anything like a boy. Also they completely missed out Cat travelling to the top of the Eyrie which i really enjoyed in the book. I guess they didn't have the time and couldn't be bothered with the special effects.

 

[The Imp]

Loras and Renly?! Seriously! I never noticed anything about them being gay in the books. I was very suprised.
I thought this episode was ok. One silly thing that bugged me a bit is how everyone was calling Arya a boy when the young actress ( who is exellent as usual) doesn't look anything like a boy. Also they completely missed out Cat travelling to the top of the Eyrie which i really enjoyed in the book. I guess they didn't have the time and couldn't be bothered with the special effects.

GRRM confirmed that Renly and Loras are "firneds" quite a while ago. That was what their private "prayer' sessions were about

 

[Red 13]

GRRM confirmed that Renly and Loras are "firneds" quite a while ago. That was what their private "prayer' sessions were about

Well, Loras calling himself "The Knight of Flowers" makes sense now. ;p

 

[Tansy]

haha loved it - lots of scenes not in the book and they really pointed out the Renly/Loras relationship a lot earlier lol, you had to work it out subtle in the books

loving watching the reviews on youtube after each episode of noobs to the series

this guy has me entertained http://www.youtube.com/user/OtakuASSEMBLE#p/a/u/0/7RoABN-jh0Q

at first he didn't have a clue but slowly picking it up

 

[digs]

I absolutely loved any scene with Littlefinger in it. That guy is perfect in the role.

Ah yeah, I meant to say that too. He's great.

And I think I've said it before but after having some doubts I really like Catelyn's casting. She really gives off that noble self-righteousness and sense of duty that annoys me so much in the books. I wouldn't call her pretty but there's definitely something striking about her.

 

[Conor]

I keep forgetting to mention the casting of Barristan Selmy-perfect! In this case I feel it's better than I pictured from the books. He is played with quiet dignity and strength.
Looking forward to a certain upcoming scene with him in it.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

The more I watch the more I like the casting of Jaime. Just oozes confidence and nonchalance and lethal capability. Hard not to admire a bit.

 

[TK-421]

Well, Arya's being mistaken for a boy is something she had to put up with and that dialogue with the guards not letting her back in to the Red Keep is almost word-for-word. Next episode, we see more dancing lessons with Syrio.

Have I ever said the Lannister boys were my favourite characters? Actually, I have many times...The casting here is perfect.

 

[Conor]

The more I watch the more I like the casting of Jaime. Just oozes confidence and nonchalance and lethal capability. Hard not to admire a bit.

Only bad thing regarding books vs series is that we can't hear Jaime and Tyrion's thoughts, they were very humorous.One of my favorite aspects in the books.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

Have I ever said the Lannister boys were my favourite characters? Actually, I have many times...The casting here is perfect.

Even Lancel?

 

[digs]

The only gripe I have about Jaime is that he doesn't look 'golden' enough. Otherwise he's a real brick.

 

[Mouse]

Lancel reminds me of someone, but I can't think who. I'm starting to find Jaime attractive at certain angles. And this is coming from someone who said the actor was fugly when we were first talking about it.

I was reading discussion about this episode on Facebook and it's funny how (and I'm so glad people aren't like it here) people were getting so worked up over the Loras/Renly scene and yet nobody batted an eye at Theon/Roz, despite that being more explicit (we saw them at it and saw Theon's tallywhacker) and that Roz is an invented character (somebody correct me if she is in the books!).

Funny old world, idden it?

 

[Perpetual Man]

I've always liked the casting for Jaime, but then I liked the actor before hand.

He was in a short run but enjoyable series a few years ago called New Amsterdam (well I liked it seems not many others did as it was cancelled), but it had one of the best opening credit sequences I've seen.

and Tallywhacker he hehehe

 

[Brian G Turner]

I'm finding the gratuitous sex completely spoils it, even more so because it tends to arise in extra scenes written just for the TV series, and it's not even realistically done at that. It's like they got some 15 year old dude to pen the extra scenes, and he's using sex as a fallback.

The Renly and Loras extra scene didn't have them showing any normal intimacy at all - no kissing or fondling, just straight into a BJ. Theon has his way with Rosie and then launches straight into a quick tirade without any apparent sign of satisfaction of being with her.

What next? Ned buggering a sheep while revealing Jon's real mother's name?

Am surprised we didn't get one in the Robert & Cersei exchange, but that scene felt quite pointless and a descent into soap opera.

The joust was far too short and had no atmosphere - at no stage did the joust scenes build up a sense of there being a competition - we saw two sets of competitors, nothing more. I can forgive lack of time, but not when HBO just want to throw soft porn at us for its own sake.

Watched this with my girlfriend and she found the gratuity offensive, targeted at the lowest common denominator, and treating her as a moron who can't get the story unless there's extra sex and extra blood splatter. She doesn't want that, I wonder how many of the original female readers care for that.

Either way, looks like I'm going to end up watching this on my own, and dreading the "Ned with sheep" scene we're almost inevitably going to get.

 

[Tonk Rivers]

Meh, it's television.

There was one gratuitous sex scene which was completely in character. Can't say much more without spoilers.

I don't want to condone sex for the sake of it but there is a context for the way men and women behave in the world of the novel. Sexual behaviour, preference, fetish and indiscretion is part of the way Martin develops characters in the books.

Also, Loras and Renly's relationship is more then hinted at in the novels. Surprised at peoples surprises.

Moving on, most of the added scenes are excellent. Varys and Littlefinger was entertaining and the two actors really ate it up. I had high hopes for Aiden Gillen after the Wire and he is starting deliver. Conleth Hill, who I am not familiar with, owns the character of Varys.

Very happy with the episode. Loved Sandor's kneel under the swing of Gregor's blade at the King's command, nice touch.

In that regard, the swordplay is less then what we've come to expect these days, but these are big, brutal medieval weapons. In some ways it's too realistic and those long shots don't really help. I'm glad they're not prancing around like jedi and elves though, that's for braavosi and water dancers.

The way characters are 'exposed' (as in: exposition) in a staggered fashion was a risk, but is paying off. Sorry to see Jory go, love the attention to detail having Yoren in that episode and the choice to neglect Jon Snow and Daenerys paid off.

Well done. This is truly an excellent show.