4.01 Two Swords

[Culhwch]

Tyrion welcomes a guest to King's Landing. At Castle Black, Jon Snow finds himself unwelcome. Dany is pointed to Meereen, the mother of all slave cities. Arya runs into an old friend.

Just a reminder that this thread is for discussion of the current episode only, along with event in any episodes previous of course. Please do not post spoilers from the novels.

If you feel you must discuss something from the books in the relation to this episode please ensure you use spoiler tags, or better yet start a new thread with a clear spoiler warning in the title in this forum or on the George RR Martin boards.

 

[Culhwch]

Not the most gripping of opening episodes, I'd say. The introduction of Oberyn Martell was interesting enough, and allowed the standard flesh shot I'm sure we've all come to expect. Brienne's part was small but I thought well done, particularly her conversation with Jaime about his oath. The Hound and Arya stole the episode for me, though. 'What the **** is a Lommy?'

 

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well the first episodes are always 'catch-up' ones to show the audience where/what all the various characters (minus Bran, Stannis & Theon this week!) are up to so they tend to be a bit more fragmented. That said, I thought this was the best opening episode to a series since the very first one in S1.

I wasn't sure what to make of Oberyn but I thought he was portrayed quite well. He's never really appealed to me much in the books but, like the guy playing Stannis, the actor is doing well with the lines he's been given.

Dany's part in the story is still the only one which really trips up the show's theme. She's so far removed and has so little interaction or connection to the other characters that you almost wonder if the show would have worked better without her presence entirely.

Part of me was hoping for a final "At least I have chicken" Leeroy reference from the Hound at the end of the episode but that's probably a bit too meta.

Favourite quote(s):

Arya - "Lots of people name their swords"
Hound - "Lots of c**ts!"

 

[Boaz]

Well, Styr, the Magnar of Thenn showed up with his Wildling support and looking like a reject from Xerxes forces in 300.

And, uh, I don't think anyone wants to miss the next episode.

 

[Darth Angelus]

I think Oberyn was pretty awesome, and liked the way that hate towards the Lannisters, not to mention Gregor Clegane, just shone from him. Good acting.

 

[Lenny]

I agree with WS - the best opening episode to a series since the very first. There wasn't anything particularly incredible about it, and there was little excitement, but it was a solid episode.

It felt kind of different, too. It sounds to my ears like they've mellowed the theme music, and the scenes all felt... well, mellowed, almost as if a little bit more thought was put into them.

Arya and the Hound stole the episode (although Oberyn and Ellaria came close - two very good choices, I think), and Arya's little bit of revenge was as satisfying as it should be, but also somewhat chilling. I liked the touch at the end, with Arya having got her own horse.

 

[Brian G Turner]

I don't remember much from the books at this point - except a couple of major events which I'm sure are coming.

Does this mean there was the same posturing in the books - ie, in the Hound and Arya scene where a handful of Lannister men think they can take down the Hound? The posturing between the Thenn leader and giantsbane? Just seemed a little gratuitous and pointless, as did Oberyn's intro with the naked women.

Book spoiler:

Spoiler

Didn't Jaime get a letter before this point about Cersei and her nephew that tears him up? Doesn't appear to have happened in the show?

 

[alchemist]

Favourite quote(s):

Arya - "Lots of people name their swords"
Hound - "Lots of c**ts!"

Mine too! Those two really did steal the show.

I haven't read the books so I'm going to go out on a limb here and predict that when GOT is finally over, Arya will be Queen. She deserves it.

 

[Juliana]

Definitely agree that Arya and the Hound were the highlights! I also loved seeing Brienne and Margaery together - nice juxtaposition of two completely opposite characters.

 

[alchemist]

Dany's part in the story is still the only one which really trips up the show's theme. She's so far removed and has so little interaction or connection to the other characters that you almost wonder if the show would have worked better without her presence entirely.

Her journey is also getting a formulaic. I make this the fourth city-state she's about to conquer. She needs to do something different.

 

[Phyrebrat]

Whilst it was nice to have GOT back on my screen, I can’t agree with the apparently wholesale praise being heaped on this season opener (although that's not to say I didn't love it personally).

I enjoyed it thoroughly but I thought, if you took out Prince Oberyn’s introduction and slightly bigger dragons, how would this differ from pretty much any GOT mid-season episode? You have Daenerys on her way to liberate and recruit, you have Tyrion’s struggle with his love for Shay, The Hound and Arya are on the move together (as opposed to Arya being on the move with someone else), Brienne and Jaime affably disagreeing and so on and so on.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t care, and am not one of those ‘hook me in the first paragraph’ pedants, either, but I don’t academically understand what was so great about this episode.

The only two downsides for me were that:

1) there was no appearance by Varys who is my favourite character, and;

2) the by-now eye-rollingly redundant flesh/sexual fetishism within the first ten minutes. I am so completely bored by all the priapism. It’s in its fourth season! Okay, we get it; women demeaned, men sexually deviant, gay or bisexual is fine/tolerated, etc etc, but please…It’s just embarrassingly bad now as it's rarely used contextually any more.

However, this was more than made up for by the presence of Brienne, Ygritte, Joffrey* and the Hound’s scenes with Arya. That naughty dialogue was hilarious.

Can’t wait till next week. Even though I tire of my partner’s plaintive and constant cries of ‘when will the dragons get big?’

pH

*I adore Joffrey, which I have been told is an unpopular stance, but he is so spiteful it makes me giggle.

 

[alchemist]

The only two downsides for me were that:

1) there was no appearance by Varys who is my favourite character, and;

He is good...

2) the by-now eye-rollingly redundant flesh/sexual fetishism within the first ten minutes. I am so completely bored by all the priapism. It’s in its fourth season! Okay, we get it; women demeaned, men sexually deviant, gay or bisexual is fine/tolerated, etc etc, but please…It’s just embarrassingly bad now as it's rarely used contextually any more.

I'm beginning to feel like a gynaecologist who just goes "Meh. More ladybits" every day.

However, this was more than made up for by the presence of Brienne, Ygritte, Joffrey* and the Hound’s scenes with Arya. That naughty dialogue was hilarious.

This must be my unpopular stance. She irritates me. I think it's the voice.

Can’t wait till next week. Even though I tire of my partner’s plaintive and constant cries of ‘when will the dragons get big?’

I have sympathy with this idea.

*I adore Joffrey, which I have been told is an unpopular stance, but he is so spiteful it makes me giggle

SPOILER!

Spoiler

I can't wait for his painful death, but know when it comes the story will be weaker for his absence.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Remember to use spoiler tags when referencing the books, please.

 

[alchemist]

If that's me, I haven't read the books and don't know whats going to happen! I was joking!!!

 

[Phyrebrat]

If that's me, I haven't read the books and don't know whats going to happen! I was joking!!!

Which is how I took it. I've not read the books either. Altho' I assume now, that that happens.

pH

 

[Brian G Turner]

I just presumed it might be a spoiler.

 

[alchemist]

Hey, at least I know it's not all doom and gloom from here on

 

[paranoid marvin]

Love the Ayra and The Hound storyline. I get the feeling that eventually he'll get killed defending her,. and that she'll get her revenge on his killers, but that's just my theory, and as bad as he's been, he does seem to have some honour (although if he could get a higher price from her enemies than from her family, would he take it?).

I also find myself liking Jamie Lannister even though he's a thoroughly nasty character. What is it that makes me think this? And will he end up with Brienne? Seems highly unlikely, but there is a chemistry betwen them - but is that just because they are both excellent swordsmen/women? And why do I always refer to him as Prince Charming from Shrek? Same hair, same face, same characteristics... surely too coincidental?

 

[Ursa major]

This must be my unpopular stance. She irritates me. I think it's the voice.

It may be why you don't like Ygritte, but there are book readers who don't like her either, to the extent that YADL had to be created.


YADL (also spelt Y.A.D.L. if you want to search for it): Ygritte Anti-Defamation League.

 

[Culhwch]

Oh, I heartily hate both versions of Ygritte. I'm not sure which one is more annoying, frankly...