1.05 Game of Thrones - The Wolf and the Lion

[Brian G Turner]

A couple of pointers I really liked about this episode:

1. Littlefinger and Varys really came alive - the extra scene when they face off especially brought them both out well.

2. With Arya in the dungeons near the dragon skulls, we see the identity of one of the mystery speakers as Ilyrio. Did we realise this from the book?

3. I like Arya portrayed in the TV series much more than in the books. She really comes alive in this, and her various dancing lessons always make me smile.

4. Lysa was very well done. Not much scene of the Eeyrie, but the meeting was well conveyed, not least the shock of Cat of what her sister has become.

 

[purple_kathryn]

I can't say the sex scenes bother me much (and I am female) although I'm watching it by myself.

I also found it refreshing to see full frontal male nudity than just female.

 

[xLORDSNOWx]

Everytime i see Lancel Lannister, he reminds me of Prince Valium from the 80's movie "Spaceballs". I just keep waiting for a deep yawn from him!

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

Everytime i see Lancel Lannister, he reminds me of Prince Valium from the 80's movie "Spaceballs". I just keep waiting for a deep yawn from him!

Oh my goodness, you are so right! I knew he looked like someone, but couldn't think who.

I have to admit I was underwhelmed by this episode. Too many additional scenes that weren't in the books, although I grant that they were well done. I still don't like the casting for Cersei. She always seems to have the same expression in every scene. Unfortunately I can't find an example online.

The fighting has been sub par so far, and in the scene with Jaime and Ned it looked to me like Ned was the better swordsman (Perhaps this can be attributed to Bean's work in films such as LOTR and having more practice).

Lysa was well done, and all kinds of crazy. I enjoyed the scene with the Sky Cells as well.

Very much looking forward to next week and getting back to Jon and Dany.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

Ummm....not sure why swordsman (in above post) is hyperlinked??? I certainly didn't do that, and I can't edit it now.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Don't worry, might be the skimlinks advertising script. Can't see it here now. It adds advertising links over the top of the text in posts.

 

[No One]

I like Arya portrayed in the TV series much more than in the books. She really comes alive in this, and her various dancing lessons always make me smile.

What they have portrayed of her has been good for the most part (except for her talk with Ned, which was going well until I could swear I heard violins), but for me they've failed to really establish Arya even in the limited degree that she's established in the books.

For example, the fact that she is so fiercely against the traditions expected of her; that she happily talks to anyone and everyone, which Sansa (who's not nearly so priggish as in the books) looks down upon; how Arya brings Ned wild flowers, etc. Just little things that tell you she's a sweet, if somewhat wild, child. In other words, almost all the things which help mark her progression as a character later in the story.

That said, I thought this episode was the first that didn't feel entirely slapped together and wasn't so poorly scripted (or directed/edited, it's hard to tell) that the acting came across as stilted (which exception to a few scenes). Only the Loras/Renly scene was guilty of really dragging it's heels.

 

[Quick Ben]

The fighting has been sub par so far, and in the scene with Jaime and Ned it looked to me like Ned was the better swordsman (Perhaps this can be attributed to Bean's work in films such as LOTR and having more practice).

I suspect Ned's prowess with the sword might actually have been deliberate as I guess it was slightly in the book. I mean the bloke did survive the battle with Gerold Hightower, the Sword of the Morning and that third bloke whose name I have forgotten. And then the line "I don't fight in tournaments because I don't want my enemies to know what I can do".

Good episode and the pace is really starting to pick up again. Couple of things I didn't like were no scenes in the North and no ride upto the Eyrie! They just appeared in the throne room! I wanted them to showcase how far up it is.

Oh and what the hell is with Cersei and her first born child?! It seems like they're trying to mellow her bitchiness as compared to the books. Do not like. I want to hate her with a passion as i did in the books. I don't want to hear sympathy and wistfulness in her voice talking to Robert (who is spot on by the way, better than I imagined).

 

[TK-421]

Ned Stark is known as one of the best swordsmen in the seven kingdoms. Not as good as Barristan or Jaime but in the book we kept pace with Jaime.

I also never got the impression of Cersei being an over-the-top bitch in AGOT. She certainly is a cold fish but the only instance where she was one openly was the scene with the killing of Lady. She plays her cards very close to her chest in the first book as she schemes. We have whole threads dedicated to that in the GRRM forum dedicated to what Cersei does in the later books. Personally, this more reserved and subtle Cersei lends itself more to the overall underhandedness and scheming atmosphere present in the book that they are trying to reproduce in the TV series. King's Landing is a viper's pit and she is the lead viper. I always felt sorry for Cersei and that scene with Robert reinforced that feeling.

 

[svalbard]

Thinking about it and having gone back and read it, the scene in the book is way more dramatic than the final fight scene in episode 5 and far more emotional too. It was still a fairly good cliffhanger to leave the episode on.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I think you're right about Cersei TK. I keep picturing her in my head as she is through all the books, but we are only seeing book 1 so far. Although that doesn't mean I have to like the casting.

And good point about Ned Quick Ben, thanks for reminding me. I never thought Ned wasn't a good swordsman, I guess I just assumed Jaime was supposed to be better.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Personally, this more reserved and subtle Cersei lends itself more to the overall underhandedness and scheming atmosphere present in the book that they are trying to reproduce in the TV series.

Indeed, I think the Cersei and Robert scene showed that. By itself, so innocent and touching, but in context with what Robert's going to do, I'm not so sure it was.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Watched this again with my aunties, who I got into the series.

Enjoyed this episode a lot more this time, and appreciated the build up tension more.

Actually, I tend to enjoy each episode a lot more the second time around.

 

[Boaz]

I'll try not to give spoilers, but I do want to clarify a point of two of differences between the book and the show.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned yet, but if you'll recall in the book... Cersei told Eddard in their private garden meeting that Robert once impregnated her, but Jaime found Cersei a midwife/herbalwoman/hedgemaester to abort the fetus.

I think the show is attempting to slowly Cersei's malice and cruelty. Mayhaps that's how GRRM meant for her to come across in the book, but it's so hard not to absolutely hate her after finding her with Jaime in Winterfell. Cersei's witch factor in the series is so high that they must be trying to start her out as something of a victim to Robert's apathetic and unfaithful husbanding.

As regarding swordsmanship, Eddard is a very competent and battle hardened veteran wielding an almost magical sword... but I don't think he used Ice in his duel with Jaime... I confess I only saw this episode once. Also, Eddard has never quit in his life. He's battled through every difficulty he's ever encountered (except mayhaps for asking Ashara to dance).

I don't think that the crowds in KL would think much of Eddard, but the wise veterans of Robert's and Balon's rebellions (like Stannis, Randyll, Robert, the Blackfish, Kevan, Barristan, Howland, Jorah, and the Greatjon) understand that underestimating Eddard would prove fatally... very quickly.

Jaime on the other hand is vain, arrogant, and boastful of his swordsmanship... and rightfully so. There's only one man, in the entire Seven Kingdoms, who would be sure to defeat Jaime in single combat... and that's BFS. Of course, some of us would pay to see Jaime and Victarion go at it.

Jaime is younger, faster, stronger, and taller than Eddard. Eddard edges Jaime in weaponry, experience, and determination. In a duel, I'd give the edge to Jaime... on the battlefield, I'd say give Eddard even odds.

 

[Wiggum]

What Boaz said.

Jaime is a better swordsman than Ned.

Ned is a leader of men.

As far as Cersei in the books, there is nothing about her painted sympathetic in the first half of Game.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I suspect Ned's prowess with the sword might actually have been deliberate

Ned Stark is known as one of the best swordsmen in the seven kingdoms.

Just before the guardsman intervenes, Ned and Jaime lock swords and the camera focuses on Jaime's face, showing that he's finding the going difficult against Ned.

That makes the guardsman move more justified, as even Jaime's men are not sure he can stand against Ned the way the fight is moving, and Jaime is obviously distressed that he wasn't able to prove himself by defeating Ned directly.