Game of Thrones - Season Two Discussion (TV show only)

[kahless]

If you're going to be posting with spoiler tags what makes this thread any different from the one already existing? You could have carried on using it and not read anything before S2 started.

We now have 3 threads, one tagged as for book readers with spoilers, one tagged as episode discussion with no spoilers and this one.

All that is going to happen is the same discussions will be ongoing in 3 threads and spoilers will end up inadvertently be posted where they shouldn't be.

[trollface]

Originally Posted by kahless

If you're going to be posting with spoiler tags what makes this thread any different from the one already existing?

There is no other spoiler-free thread. The other two threads both contain spoilers from the books. By the time the episode's finished tonight (which, if I'm not mistaken, was actually 15 minutes ago), everything in my previous post will no longer be a spoiler to anyone in the UK.

[daveshans]

Originally Posted by trollface

There is no other spoiler-free thread. The other two threads both contain spoilers from the books. By the time the episode's finished tonight (which, if I'm not mistaken, was actually 15 minutes ago), everything in my previous post will no longer be a spoiler to anyone in the UK.

I agree it's not really an issue because realistically US pace watchers are only going to be about 16 hours ahead, unless they're actually watching the live broadcast of course.

Well that was an opener. Joffrey certainly isn't going to be making any friends by murdering children. It looks like Ned's(?) warning to Cersei about incest and madness is coming true.

Originally Posted by trollface

My only reservation is that we visited the whorehouse but didn't see Ros.

Wasn't Ros the one showing the new girl around Baelish's whore house?

This five sided (if Daenerys manages to raise an army) war with a possible separate invasion could get very complicated.

[Kixxykat]

I was texting my friend during this and the first thing he sent me was, and that's why he won an emmy Peter Dinklage is amazing, the few scenes he was in he brought to life so much.

I hate Jofferey so much, he really is a massive tool, threatening his own motherl. Also Robert Baratheon was a busy busy boy, as well as a blind fool to not notice a massive difference between his children.

[hammard]

It was okay. I guess it was a catch up episode because little we don't already know actually happened. It was a shame because the first episode of Season 1 had such a good opener. The stuff with Stannis and Melisandre was awesome though.

[SpaceSquid]

Originally Posted by daveshans

Wasn't Ros the one showing the new girl around Baelish's whore house?

Indeed she was. She even quoted Baelish several times - "Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound", "Both of you are working tonight."

Originally Posted by hammard

It was a shame because the first episode of Season 1 had such a good opener.

To be very vague and handwavey about the books, the first season deliberately aped the opening of Game of Thrones, but the producers decided not to do the same thing this year with the prologue to Clash of Kings. The prologue scene did still happen this episode, though:

The maester's failed assassination attempt on Melisandre. Which, while we're on the subject: what the hell was he doing choosing an almost instantaneous poison when he knew he was going to drink first?

(Thanks to trollface for reminding me how to do that)

[Cicatrixtwigs]

I feel like it suffered a bit from the expected issues of a multi lead drama - no one quite got enough screen time for a viewer who has been on a years hiatus to follow. I've read the books so i was okay, however my partner kept asking me questions.

The thing that threw me most though was the voice of the actor playing Stannis! I was expecting gravelly and serious - even if i hadnt read the books, looking at how spikey and rough Dragonstone was on the map and then all the fire and seriousness - not to mention being Roberts older brother - would have made me expect more... world weariness? When actually he seemed to be pitched quite high. It really jarred me out of what i was seeing, even though i think he got the attitude spot on.

[Knappos]

I thought it was awesome.

I like the idea of having separate threads dependent on your familiarity with the story. for instance, in the George R R Martin thread in Books, I'm posting about book 5 events. I can post in the other thread for the show saying, well in book 5 when so and so etc with no harm done.

I just have to think about what I'm typing.

Stannis wasn't how I read him but I like the, er, Victor Meldrew-ness of this approach.

This was a definite scene setter though but time hasn't stood still entirely. Dinklage was great as usual and, while I hate, hate, hate Joffrey; Gleason deserves top credit for achieving that.

Could have done with out the brothel and the Baelish/Cersei scene and I had hoped for more Arya but that looks to be coming next week.

[kahless]

Originally Posted by Cicatrixtwigs

The thing that threw me most though was the voice of the actor playing Stannis! I was expecting gravelly and serious - even if i hadnt read the books, looking at how spikey and rough Dragonstone was on the map and then all the fire and seriousness - not to mention being Roberts older brother - would have made me expect more... world weariness? When actually he seemed to be pitched quite high. It really jarred me out of what i was seeing, even though i think he got the attitude spot on.

He's not, Stannis is the middle brother, he just comes across older as he lacks the charisma and flair of Robert or Renly.

I think Stephen Dillane has pitched the character well, I'd always seen him as an outsider compared to the other two brothers, thought less of by the smallfolk and other lords. Dillane portrays that sort of sulky people will like me or else attitude well.

[Tiny]

Originally Posted by kahless

If you're going to be posting with spoiler tags what makes this thread any different from the one already existing? You could have carried on using it and not read anything before S2 started.

We now have 3 threads, one tagged as for book readers with spoilers, one tagged as episode discussion with no spoilers and this one.

All that is going to happen is the same discussions will be ongoing in 3 threads and spoilers will end up inadvertently be posted where they shouldn't be.

I looked at both those threads, and they were liberally filled with spoilers from the books. As I already said, I feel many people want to avoid book spoilers, and as such, this thread was a necessity.

I only suggested spoiler tags for production/cast news that might spoil future episodes. Just a sensible precaution. Trollface wanted to post a review before the show aired in the UK, so choose to use spoiler tags, I don't see any big issue with that?

Anyways, moving on...

Thanks for the spoiler posting information Trollface, I added it to the OP. Shame we can't edit our posts after a certain time, I wanted to keep the original post updated with upcoming episodes and air dates. Oh well...

Episode 11 - The North Remembers

I guess it's true that it was more of an establishing opening episode than one which has a big moment or brings a dramatic story thread to a close. But I kind of expect that in big ensemble shows. I still thought it was a pretty great episode though.

Kinda wish Tyrion wasn't a Lannister. He's not very much like them, which I guess stems from how differently he was treated growing up. Though, it probably makes for better drama that he is a Lannister. It was funny to see Tyrion make fun of Cersei's ineptitude at once having three Starks to bargain with, and now only having one.

Hope Arya has a big role next week, she's probably the most interesting of the Stark children. Even though Robb, Bran and Sansa have all been good so far in their own way. (John Snow's not a Stark, and I don't recall the others)

Having not read the books, I had no preconceptions about Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), and to be honest his advisor Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) made much more of an impression. I thought it was a good segment anyhow, especially the Red Priestess Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) and her Lord of Light hokum.

Exactly how many children did Robert Baratheon father?

King Joffrey's going a little insane and it's all gonna end in tears. Hopefully Joffrey's.

Well, I thought it was a great opener, set the scene for this season really well. I'm just happy there's something this good being shown right now, especially given the genre... fantasy. When I think of fantasy TV, I think of things like Xena. So Game of Thrones is a very welcome change.