Game Of Thrones S2 episode discussion BOOK READERS WITH SPOILERS

[vonbloodbath]

Ooh, also are they changing Robb's story too? I'm assuming he's going to end up wedded to the sexy doctor from Volantis. Roose Bolton wasn't quite as I imagined him, but there was just the right touch of menace there to foreshadow future events.

[Slamhamster]

There does seem to be a lot of plot streamlining in action! I'm guessing the dusky doctor claiming to be from Volantis is indeed Jeyne Westerling telling a few fibs. I was looking forwards to the lisping lunacy of Vargo Hoat, but Tywin Lannister seems to have arrived way ahead of schedule and nicked Roose Bolton's cup-bearer into the bargain.

Another flash cut battle! I'm beginning to think Blackwater will start as a war council and then be a flash cut to a few burnt out ships caught in a chain at this rate. Ah well.

Harrenhal looked suitably cursed.

Can't help thinking Dany was reluctant to show the dragons because of the cgi costs, as the shadow of Stannis looked suitably icky.

[kahless]

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

There does seem to be a lot of plot streamlining in action! I'm guessing the dusky doctor claiming to be from Volantis is indeed Jeyne Westerling telling a few fibs. I was looking forwards to the lisping lunacy of Vargo Hoat, but Tywin Lannister seems to have arrived way ahead of schedule and nicked Roose Bolton's cup-bearer into the bargain.

I wonder if we'll get The Goat or if it'll be some nameless soldier responsible for Jamie's Hand?

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

Another flash cut battle! I'm beginning to think Blackwater will start as a war council and then be a flash cut to a few burnt out ships caught in a chain at this rate. Ah well.

I dont think anyone will be disappointed with the Battle of Blackwater. The battle lasts 16 minutes onscreen, that's a quarter of the episode of un-interrupted action. This is 3 minutes longer than the - so far - longest battle sequence seen on TV in an episode of Rome. It's also longer then the opening sequence to Gladiator, so we may be getting short actions bits at the moment but we will be greatly rewarded later on.

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

Harrenhal looked suitably cursed.

it looked fantastic and close to how I imagined it, the way they filmed it you got how big the place was without seeing it.

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

Can't help thinking Dany was reluctant to show the dragons because of the cgi costs, as the shadow of Stannis looked suitably icky.

Shouldn't the dragons be bigger by now though? I had the impression when Drogon saved Dany from the House of the Undying (probably a couple of episodes time) he was quite big to have done the damage he does. And I can't remember in the the books how she transports them about, was it the same way in little cages?

Top marks for deranged Joffrey, for such a young actor Jack Gleeson nails the character and some.

[Slamhamster]

Originally Posted by kahless

I dont think anyone will be disappointed with the Battle of Blackwater. The battle lasts 16 minutes onscreen, that's a quarter of the episode of un-interrupted action. This is 3 minutes longer than the - so far - longest battle sequence seen on TV in an episode of Rome. It's also longer then the opening sequence to Gladiator, so we may be getting short actions bits at the moment but we will be greatly rewarded later on.

At last! I seem to recall GRRM stating he'd written the books partly out of frustration at tv budget constraints, so it appears to be biting him on the arse now . I do hope they don't remove Tyrion from the action though, his fight alongside the Stone Crows ended up as a bit of comic relief.

it looked fantastic and close to how I imagined it, the way they filmed it you got how big the place was without seeing it.

I always pictured it as being a bit less run down, admittedly worse the wear for dragonfire but a bit more patched up. It looked a little bit too derelict to be a living castle.

Shouldn't the dragons be bigger by now though? I had the impression when Drogon saved Dany from the House of the Undying (probably a couple of episodes time) he was quite big to have done the damage he does. And I can't remember in the the books how she transports them about, was it the same way in little cages?

I think there is a passing reference to baskets. I don't think the dragons are supposed to be feeding properly yet as she hasn't realised they need burnt meat - iirc they don't really start to grow until they can produce flame and start hunting. IIRC The damage at the house of undying was more down to the dessicated nature of the undying themselves and the poor state of the building due to the thinning of magic (after the last dragons died) diminishing their power base.

Drogon is only the size of a small dog in ASoS when he starts the cull of the Good Masters in Astapoor, although they start to grow rapidly afterwards.

Top marks for deranged Joffrey, for such a young actor Jack Gleeson nails the character and some.

Indeed, he portrays a complete arse very well!

[kahless]

Originally Posted by Slamhamster

I do hope they don't remove Tyrion from the action though, his fight alongside the Stone Crows ended up as a bit of comic relief.

You do see Tyrion in armour walking along ramparts in one of the pre-season trailers, so I'm guessing he does get out there and get down with it.

I wonder how far they'll go though, he's already got on the wrong side of Ser Meryn Trant, will he take the place of Ser Mandon Moore and try to kill Tyrion during the battle, or will it be a nameless assassin? Saying that will they go so far as having a disfigured Tyrion in S3?

[vonbloodbath]

Interesting: I'd assumed they were going to ditch Jeyne Westerling altogether, and just have him falling for a random doctor from the Free Cities, but actually, having him meeting her before he knows who she is does seem like a plausible way of "explaining" their otherwise sudden romance.

I wouldn't be surprised if Trant replaces Moore in trying to kill Tyrion; makes sense and doesn't significantly damage the narrative.

The changes at Harrenhal will be interesting. There hasn't been mention of casting Hoat, has there? So Jamie's hand could well be some random, or possibly the Mountain? He's shown a penchant for randomly chopping the heads off horses, and given the speculation over who's a better fighter, he may have a chip on his shoulder, or simply be antagonised by Jamie?

WRT Arya, she was just a general servant at first, wasn't she (in the books)? Do you think she'll be Tywin's cupbearer just to aid exposition?

[kahless]

Originally Posted by vonbloodbath

I wouldn't be surprised if Trant replaces Moore in trying to kill Tyrion; makes sense and doesn't significantly damage the narrative.

If he does, and dies like Moore does, I wonder if he is the character from the books who dies in S2 but didn't die in the books?

Originally Posted by vonbloodbath

The changes at Harrenhal will be interesting. There hasn't been mention of casting Hoat, has there? So Jamie's hand could well be some random, or possibly the Mountain? He's shown a penchant for randomly chopping the heads off horses, and given the speculation over who's a better fighter, he may have a chip on his shoulder, or simply be antagonised by Jamie?

Don't think there has been anyone cast as Hoat for S2, but then he doesn't arrive at Harrenhall until later on and takes over when Tywin leaves & then switches sides when Roose Bolton appears. Perhaps they've just changed the order of things and an extra will play him this year and have him properly cast next year.

Not sure it'd be the Mountain that does for Jamie's hand, he's sworn the the Lannister's, I know he's bats arsed crazy, and probably fears no man, but there must be some reason he's loyal to Tywin so I doubt he'd mutilate his son.

Originally Posted by vonbloodbath

WRT Arya, she was just a general servant at first, wasn't she (in the books)? Do you think she'll be Tywin's cupbearer just to aid exposition?

She was in the kitchens first and called herself Weasel, I remember the cook was added to her night prayer because of how he treated her and everyone else. It was after he died that she became Lord Bolton's cupbearer (changed to Tywin's). I'm guess the same as you, having her as Tywin's cupbearer means she is around when important stuff is discussed.

[vonbloodbath]

Originally Posted by kahless

If he does, and dies like Moore does, I wonder if he is the character from the books who dies in S2 but didn't die in the books?

That would make a lot of sense.

You're probably right on the mountain/Hoat - we've got plenty time to introduce him later, especially since SoS will be covered in 2 seasons (or at least more than one).

[count_libido]

I've just started reading A Clash of Kings and now I won't be able to think of the Tower of the Hand without thinking of a wanking joke...

[kahless]

Bye bye Renly bye bye...