3.04: Game of Thrones - And now his watch is ended.

ctg

weaver of the unseen
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The Night’s Watch takes stock; Varys meets his better; Arya is taken to the commander of the Brotherhood; Daenerys makes an exchange.

PS. Why is and not has in the title?
 
I'd think that 'has ended' would mean it had come to a natural end whereas 'is ended' sounds like it's been ended for him.
 
OK, spoilers from here on out if you've not seen the episode.

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Going in to the episode, I assumed that the "his" referred to the Old Bear, which turned out be correct (although I wrongly thought that the whole episode might cover it), but you could also apply it to the master of the Unsullied (I knew it was coming, but the title didn't twig until I saw it happen).

It's rare, but I wasn't too happy with one of the scenes this week - I can understand Varys wanting his revenge, but I don't think it's in character for him to ship the sorcerer over and play with him. He's a man who deals in intrigue, who works behind the shadows, slowly nudging things to get his way, or getting other people to do his dirty work. Even if it's a scene straight from the books (which I don't think it is), it still feels wrong.

I also think more could have been done to build up the mutiny against the Old Bear, but I don't have many other complaints there. It was a nice surprise to see Burn Gorman (best known for Owen in Torchwood) pop up and get things going.

Lady Olenna was good, again. Margaery played Joffrey like a fiddle (and even managed to humanise him a bit - he's just a kid who wants his people to like him. I still want to put my fist through his face, but now I might stop after my third or fourth go), again.

Talking about humanising, Theon was given some nice development, and I actually started to feel a little sorry for him... which I've never felt for book Theon, who is such a whiny little child. The guy who "saved" him, then returned him, still hasn't been named, but I think it should now be much clearer to book readers who he is.

Dany. Oh my, oh my. I could hardly contain myself as I watched the scene play out, and it was as glorious as any could hope! I literally cheered at my monitor when the reveal that she could speak Valyrian came (and I have to say that, coming from Emilia Clarke's mouth, Valyrian sounds like a pretty nice language).

I look forward to watching the Hound fight Dondarrion (which I can only assume will come next week).

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For book readers (so best to keep it in [noparse][/noparse] tags):
is it just me, or has the frame in which Sam could become Sam the Slayer been and gone? I'll be disappointed if it has, because the use of dragonglass struck me as something very important for future books.
 
I have been refrained from doing commenting, even though it's obvious that I'm not just putting up the episodes. And the reason for this comment is because first time since the end of the first season, I can say that this particular episode tied together so many plot-lines that has been hanging in the air for the normal watcher.

I'm sorry if that hurts devoted fans but that's how I have felt. Game of Thrones just hasn't been the same. Not while everything has been kind of hanging in the air, but even though I'm applauding the producers I'm also afraid that this could go back to old tracks very, very easily. And the reason for that is GRRM humongous work that is particularly difficult to wrap in ten episode long seasons.

You could easily say the same thing applied to JRR's work and for a long while LOTR was unfilmable. There just wasn't people who could have taken all that and wrap it easily for the large audience. So you saw operas, stage plays and other things that tried to do justice for the work. And you could say that same thing applies to the Song of Ice and Fire.

Not any longer. I have a faith. And you can see it in this one, where with such a small elegant moves big things are moving, while small things are starting to make sense even if I cannot fully understand Brotherhood without Banners. Or the sorcerers.

However I'd like also tip my hat for the Iron Granny as she's not taking **** from anyone. Not Joffrey, not from Lannisters as she makes schemes to become fully realised plots. And while she's doing that she's making Cercei to look like a rank amateur. So much so that I would that she could take Iron Throne from hands of Tywin.

Wouldn't that be an interesting scene when Daenerys arrives from behind the seas without her armies, and I mean armies as I believe that one she acquired in this one isn't the last one, while she travels towards east.

But I haven't said anything in regards of Jon Snow and I wonder how he's going to make back to the wall to become the Lord Commander. Maybe he will unite wildlings and other northern people to fight the wights. Or then maybe he'll perish on his way to the wall.

So I'd like to predict that the final game on who's holding the Iron Throne is between Iron Granny, Daenerys and Lord Snow. Arya might be there with Gendry but I'll doubt they'll want anything to do with the power.
 
This was the first episode where I didn't get bored or distracted and I actually sat and watched it from start to finish. :D

Really liked this ep a lot. I even really liked the women (Daenerys kicked ass. Love Brienne, love the old lady and Margaery, I even liked Sansa).

The only bits I could do without is the Theon bits, and that's just because it makes me uncomfortable.
 
This is moving along quite nicely. This episode picked up the pace and the hour felt like ten minutes of viewing.

It was interesting to hear Catelyn shout the words 'Promise me' during Bran's dream sequence. Will Bran be the conduit of the R+L back story? It should be noted that Jojen Reed in episode 2 said that his father would tell him nothing of the war, but instead he saw it all in his dreams.

Poor Theon. The added scenes are giving his character more depth. His revelation about his feelings for Ned were genuinely moving.
 
I hope so, Svalbard. I was quite disappointed that backstory wasn't featured in the show yet. But it would be hard to do so without revealing too much. At this point we only suspect it in the books, but if it happened in the show, it would be pretty obvious. Just like the relationship between Loras and Renly was only hinted at in the books, yet on the show there was no doubt about it.
 
For me, the whole Theon thing made no sense. Why rescue him and then take him back? I'm gathering that his "rescuer" was the ******* but I still don't get it?

Did I miss something totally obvious?
 
For me, the whole Theon thing made no sense. Why rescue him and then take him back? I'm gathering that his "rescuer" was the ******* but I still don't get it?

Did I miss something totally obvious?

Psychological torture. You have to wonder how ruthless his torturer is that he would kill his own men (or those to which he is aligned) in order to torment Theon.
 
I can't remember the reason given in the books, but found it odd that Dany didn't use Astapor as a base of operations once she had control of it. Could she not have built her fleet there to take her army to Westeros? Instead she's walked into the arid wilderness with the logistical problem of feeding and supplying 8,000+ people?
 
I can't remember the reason given in the books, but found it odd that Dany didn't use Astapor as a base of operations once she had control of it. Could she not have built her fleet there to take her army to Westeros? Instead she's walked into the arid wilderness with the logistical problem of feeding and supplying 8,000+ people?

And three growing dragons.

Really enjoyed the episode, as was said above it flew by and felt like only ten minutes.

As it has not been mentioned yet, I felt that they have handled the character building of Jaime really well, and his interaction with Brienne. I feel there is a genuine connection between the characters that comes across well. For me at least it feels real, especially the way that she gets him to eat and not give up; and the touching moment when she lets him know that she knows he lied to save her.

Everything else continues nicely, but the scene with Dany stole the show, Mrs Perp actually cheered when she began to speak in Valyrian and then again when the dragon did what it was itching to do from the moment it was handed over.
 
Oh Lenny when you have stopped at say three or four I promise to continue and I am sure the line behind me will be very very long. But you are so right Margery is playing a great game with Joffrey and its interesting watching Cerisi's reaction to all that is going on.

Loved this episode as I have loved all episodes so far but Those last 5 minutes or so were awesome. I especially loved the three dragons flying together at the end.


Getting back to Jamie, it's funny how much I disliked him in series one, particularly after his duel with Edard Stark, I would never have thought I could like him let alone emphasise with him, but I really do like the guy, I think there is good in there somewhere.

I also think the Hound made a sound case until Aria brought up Mika.


This is by far the best thing on TV at the moment!

Ctg by all accounts book three is being done over two seasons rather than just one and I think that should do more justice to the book. From what I have also read books 4 & 5 will be done together as such over whatever amount of episodes it will take. Given that they cover the same time frame.
 
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I think this was the best episode so far. When it was over, my husband said 'We are 40% done with this season.' I couldn't believe it. Should be an action packed next few episodes. :)

I was quite happy with Dany's final scene. That was such an awesome moment in the books, and I was worried they wouldn't be able to pull it off. But they did a great job.
 
Just want to add that I like how the show has developed Margaery's character. She is much more interesting than in the books, and she is much more clearly a threat to Cersei (making Cersei's jealousy more rational).

Cersei's jealously becomes even more understandable when you consider the prophecy she received when younger. I'm wondering if they'll explain that in the series...
 
I can't overstate how much I loved this episode. It was all-round good, Danys final scene was amazing and I was grinning ear to ear.

The Theon stuff was good, but I really wanted him to notice who it was before it was too late. However, I've read the books and know whats happening.

Brienne and Jamie are just to much fun to watch. Much like in the books I hated Jamie but further down the line I began to think he was just a good guy who still wants to be noble and honourable.

Casters keep and the Old Bear, this didn't play out as I imagined it did in my head when I read that in the book. Still loved it though.

Kings Landing, the tension between Cersi and Margaery has been brewing nicely in the back ground over the last few episodes. Joffery is like putty in her hands (and what man wouldn't be?) Varys' scene didn't make much sense and seemed against character but it was understandable and a way of getting a point across to Tyrion. Finally the scene with Tywin and Cersi was tense and enjoyable, the daughter wanting the praise of her father was for me a powerful moment. Cersi isn't used to her father being disappointed in her.

Agian loved it!
 

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