Game of Thrones, episode one Mom-mentary

[amanuensis1]

Just got finished watching the premiere of Game of Thrones with my mom, of all things. I'm a fan of the books; my mom hadn't a clue what we were about to see.


(Joffrey appears)

Mom: He looks like a real bastard.
Me: Yeah, you can pretty much go on appearances for that one.

(During Tyrion's first appearance)

Me: Are you asleep?
Mom: No, of course not.
Me: I think you were asleep during the fellatio.
Mom: During the what? Did they show it?
Me: When the whore lifted her head out of his lap.
Mom: Oh my god.

(When Drogo takes Danaerys off for her wedding night)

Mom: I hope he's tender.
Me: (after the scene) They truncated it in a way that messes with the tone, darnit. But, yeah, in the book he's passionate but considerate of her.
Mom: Oh, good. That makes me happy. Is he going to kill her brother?
Me: Let me just say, of all the named characters we've just met in this series, you wouldn't believe how many are going to be dead within two books.
Mom: TELL ME EVERYTHING.

(Final scene, which ended exactly how I expected the first episode to end)

Mom: I knew they had to be sleeping with each other from that first scene of them together.
Me: Yeah, I was worried Lena Headey wouldn't be sufficiently catty to play Cersei. No more worries. Me-ow.
Mom: Tell me everything, come on.
Me: Don't you want to watch it?
Mom: Oh, yeah, you have to tape this for me.
Me: So I don't want to tell you everything, then.
Mom: Stop holding out on me.

Overall I thought it was a bit slow as they set the atmosphere in some scenes but otherwise they did a great job. Tiny beefs with individual scenes (like the tone of the wedding night) in the way that a passionate "I have my vision of everything and they must please me, dammit" fan will have, but, really, nothing that deserves real complaint. This show had better get good ratings and keep running or it will make my mom mad. And we can't have that.

Comments

[potterotic.livejournal.com]

I've been debating whether or not to get this audiobook. I am worried by the reviews on amazon that say none of the characters are lovable and that you don't care what happens to any of them by the end. In other words, no heroes. Is that your opinion?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hm, no, not at all. The multiple viewpoints make everyone the hero of his/her own story, even the ones that you thought deserved your scorn. That's my take, anyway. What I think shocks a lot of folk is how no character is safe from death or dismemberment, if the story demands it. Heroism won't necessarily spare a character's life or limb.

[luthien.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for a story that divides the characters neatly into the white hats and the black hats, this isn't the one for you. Most of the characters are shades of grey, good people with flaws and bad people with redeeming features, much like real people are. That doesn't mean there isn't much to like and sympathise with in many of them, though - even characters who at the start of the story appear to be cast as villains. The world the story is set in *is* harsh and often unforgiving, though, and bad things quite frequently happen to good people.

If you want to give the story a try I'd strongly recommend the audio books. The first three, read by Roy Dotrice, are some of the best dramatic readings I've encountered.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

I found just the opposite: there were a number of sympathetic characters (as well as not so sympathetic) and I felt bad for ALL of them in different ways.

True, this is not a light and fluffy story, I'll say that.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Even characters I out-and-out thought were dreadful people got my sympathy as time went on. Or even my reluctant admiration, from the start! *cough cough Jamie cough*

[titti]

To balance things out, if you like to read books from one point of view, or like to identify with one person whether the hero, the antihero, or the cute blond boy in Slytherin, then this isn't the book for you.

I've forced myself to read the books, because the plot is interesting, but I simply couldn't care about their fate anymore, because everyone dies, so when the person you identify with dies, I couldn't get myself to care anymore.

I was thinking about analogy and the best I could come up with is reading these books is like reading a history book about WW2, you care in a general sense. However when I read a book, I want Schindler's List and not a textbook.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

You remind me that I still want initiate that, "Tell all history in the guise of fiction" project in the Hetalia fandom. ^_^

[tartanshell.livejournal.com]

I am bouncing up and down waiting to finish writing for the night so I can watch it! :D :D :D

I'm most excited about Tyrion, which is probably not a surprise at all, since he's my absolute favorite. But I am also super-excited about Jon Snow and Danaerys and Arya and Jaime and--and--yeah, pretty much everyone and everything. SQUEE.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

"Pretty much everyone and everything" is the way I felt it, too! Peter Dinklage was my exact choice for Tyrion, 'cos he's a great actor. He's fractionally older than I think the character should be but he pulls it off beautifully, and, what's a handful of years? That's just me being "Do it my way" fussy.

[tartanshell.livejournal.com]

Oh, dude, I am aware of Peter Dinklage's mad acting skills! I have such an enormous crush on him, it's not even funny. Have you seen The Station Agent?

And yeah, he's a little old for Tyrion in my opinion, too (who is, what, 25 in the books?) but since they aged the kids up, I think it works.

[tartanshell.livejournal.com]

I watched it tonight. I will now capslock at you. :D WALKERS. SNOWY WOODS. CREDITS. PUPPIES! JAIME! ARYA! TYRION IN A WHOREHOUSE ZOMG. JAIME PROVIDING THE WHORES. ROBERT IN THE CRYPT! JON AND TYRION MEETING! ♥ BENJEN!

I am officially dead of awesome. I need to get my mom to watch this with me.

ETA: I forgot Dany! What's wrong with me? Her scenes were absolutely stunning, and my God, that actress has the most expressive eyes on the planet!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

She's gorgeous, and though I don't actually care much about the nudity that seems so de rigueur in cable series these days, she's got some amazing attributes, cripes. I remember how fascinated I was with the Danaerys storyline the first time through!

[puella-nerdii.livejournal.com]

I love reading your mom's reactions, and I think we pretty much have the same feelings on the show -- I understand why they have to start slow, as there's a metric shitton of characters to introduce, but I'm confident that the plot's going to kick into high gear soon, considering the source. (And my beef with Dany's wedding night is the same as yours.)

And Lena Headey pulls some of the best bitchfaces I've seen on TV in a while.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I keep looking at Lena Headey and thinking that half the Keira Knightley roles I remember are hers! When did she start looking this way? I remember her in 300 and she was more stately in my memory.

You know, I was having second thoughts about the wedding night scene--for all my wish to reflect the books accurately, it's possible the scripwriters looked at that scene and said, "...No. She is not going to enjoy it the first time, get real. But we'll show him being considerate of her, and then he will move to get it over with because that's actually going to be more realistic and about as kind as it can be." And I think I'm feeling much better about it now.

[luthien.livejournal.com]

My mum just got a kindle, so the other day I sent her the ebooks of Books 1-4, just to get her thinking about it. Now I'll send her the first episode. We'll see if she reacts like your mother did. ;-)

My reaction to the first episode was very much like yours: small issues with the way in which certain things were handled, but overall really, really happy with all the things they included, pretty much all of the casting, and the look and feel of everything. I thought they were going to end the first episode where they did, yeah, but even knowing *exactly* what was coming, it still made me gasp a little to actually see it happen. I've just finished reading Book 4 and I'd sort of half-forgotten how Jaime comes across as he does at the beginning of the story - and that there are very good reasons for that.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I remember liking Jaime so very very much all through books 1 & 2, despite his villainry. He's a bastard but he's the sort who makes choices that hurt as few people as possible for his own ends, while still choosing his own ends. And then he got his own POV in the 3rd book and I went SQUEEEEEEEEEEE.

[luthien.livejournal.com]

He's a bastard but he's the sort who makes choices that hurt as few people as possible for his own ends, while still choosing his own ends.

Yeah. He makes quite a contrast with the noble characters who make the worst decisions for the the best reasons and end up causing huge hurt and suffering all over the place.

I love him so much after re-reading books 3 and 4! I really hope he and Brienne get to meet again. I love the understanding of each other that they eventually reached. Also, I've been re-reading the Dunk and Egg tales and have just realised that the shield device Brienne is using in AFFC is that of Ser Duncan the Tall - and Jaime has been extensively browsing the kingsguard book recently so he's one of the few people alive who would recognise that shield. Why does it still have to be almost three months until the new book? *whine*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I don't even think I can talk about Brienne without losing all alliances with any and every fan. I'm sulky because I'm sure they're going to cast someone far too pretty to play her. And I'm not a Jaime/Brienne shipper, I'm an anti-Jaime/Brienne shipper. *feels the weight of a hundred defriendings for that statement* I can't see Jaime with anyone but Cersei, and certainly can't feel any attraction between him and Brienne in the books. But I'm beginning to worry that GRRM intends us to feel some. Now, it's possible they might create some chemistry between them in the series, particularly if they do as I expect and cast someone far too pretty for Brienne. See how frustrating a prospect this is?

[luthien.livejournal.com]

I try very hard not to ship *anyone* in this series, because I know any hopes I might have will just come to grief one way or another. I feel I may be asking a bit much just to have Jaime and Brienne live long enough to actually meet up again, but I'm still hoping for that. I can't see Jaime *or* Cersei feeling passion for anyone but each other. If GRRM were to make Jaime and Brienne marry (many plot twists down the road) I think certain aspects of the relationship would be tepid at the very best on Jaime's side. Brienne is all about passion, and that would be a terrible thing to do to her. But then again GRRM's done much wore things to other characters, I suppose...

I suspect that the person they cast as Brienne, if they get that far, is going to be a Hollywood idea of "plain", yeah. *sigh*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do like the understanding Jaime and Brienne have with each other; I just don't see it as sexual attraction. He treats her like you'd treat a kid or a pet for whom you've finally decided you're responsible.

[isako.livejournal.com]

I dunno- the casting so far, with people who AREN'T oh-so-handsome or -pretty in many cases (aside from people who are supposed to be unrealistically attractive, like Dany), and the grimy, rough-hewn production design so far are giving me hope about her possible actress. I was certainly expecting someone far too overly-attractive for Catelyn and Arya, and they dodged those bullets, after all.

I mean, I love me some Brienne and want good things for her (ha! GRRM, you are a terrible, evil man) and I fully expect you to pull something horrendous, but in a large part because she's a big, manly woman who knows she's never gonna be considered "worthy" by the standards of her world, and says screw it while still being emotionally vulnerable to the constant devaluing and stigma that comes with that. Oh, how I love and overly-identify with her. And I love that, like you say, she and Jaime are potentially partners in arms, NOT partners in romance. Jaime just isn't that guy, and I kind of doubt he can become that guy in the remaining two books. (No matter how much of a continent-spanning bitch Cersei becomes.)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hm, I disagree about Catelyn and Arya; Catelyn looks right to me but she's still a handsome woman, and Arya's a darling little thing, quite pretty. I wouldn't mistake her for a boy as she is now. I do agree about your assessment of Brienne and her vulnerabilities, though; that's a beautiful summary!

[isako.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, they're not ugly or unattractive, just not Sparklypoo prettiness, which is what I was afraid of. I really LIKE their casting- though now that I have time, I MUST WATCH THE NEW EPISODE- and how, especially with the older Stark family, you can tell that these are people who have lived harsh, often difficult lives. In Arya's case, she looks intelligent and a little bratty while not as girly as her sister, which is perfect, and I hope like CRAZY that the actress is up to the major, major developmental moments coming up in Arya's future, if they get that far in the books. (Hope!)

As I said, I probably have a much closer identification with Brienne than a lot of people might, because, well, I'm a big, manly woman who doesn't hold with trying to fit my square peg into the round hole of what's considered feminine if it's not what I want. One of my closest friends has admitted that the minute Brienne was introduced in the books, she pictured her as me. ;p Which is why, as you can imagine, I'm even MORE invested in the idea of her getting a decently un-destroyed ending.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I really like how unkempt and miserable Catelyn looked in episode two; that was terrific! And you're right, there is at least a difference between Sansa's ultra-feminity and Arya's tomboyishness.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is hilarious. Your mom sounds great.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I didn't expect to watch HBO nudity and incest with her but we happen to be out of town together, and, well, lookit! I really think she did fall asleep during the fellatio bit because she usually sees stuff like that and reacts even before I do. "Did she just...!"

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Your mother sounds like an awesome woman, Amers ♥

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

She usually doesn't like fantasy and SF but I told her this was about kings and thrones and murder far, far more than it was about magic or dragons etc., and I knew she'd enjoy that part in the same way I do. Heck, in the same way most people do with this series.

[eibbil-libbie.livejournal.com]

I watched last night and am now desperately wishing I'd read the series before this aired...my head hurt from trying to sort out who's who and what's what.

Though I'll tell you this - and a complete neophyte on the series it did come across to me that Drogo wasn't as violent with her as that wedding "reception" indicated. I wish we'd been able to get more of that compassion, but It definitely looked almost tender to me.

I'm intrigued, I know I want to read the series, and I think I'll hang with the HBO one for now.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

You know, the morning after (ha) I am feeling rather better about that wedding night business because, yes, it did look like he was much kinder to her than the lust-crazed coupling that went on at the wedding reception, and by comparison that made it look better than I thought. And it's possible that the scriptwriters looked at that scene in the book and decided it wasn't realistic that she would turn passionate that first time, no matter how slow and careful he was with her. In fact *I* didn't buy it when I read it, I'm remembering! :D

[forestgreen.livejournal.com]

I loved her reaction. I haven't read the books, but I liked what I thought in the trailer and want to give the books a try. What I've read in the comments sounds good, except for the everyone dies thing. I don't like it when favorite characters die, but well... I still want to read them.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Everyone doesn't die, but, migod there are a lot of bodies. The characters you assume will be standing at the end of the epic may not even survive the first book.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I'm loving hearing all the reactions and reviews of people who never read the books! I'm not unhappy that I read them, but it must be so exciting to not know what's going to happen!

Eeeee, all in all, I loved it. I wish they had handled the tone of Drogo/Danaerys differently (hadn't he asked 'No?' each time instead of saying it?), but really, it's all so well done I feel bad complaining about little things that weren't perfect in my eyes (I didn't like the opening animation over the credits at all -- why was it mechanical?).

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Tons of fun seeing the reactions of those who haven't read the books!

[o-deanna.livejournal.com]

I think I strained my eyes looking for the Hound in every scene. Ha! I am a shameless Sandor fangirl. And oh, Jaime! I think Nikolaj was perfect. Reading your comments earlier, I feel your pain! Whilst I do ship Jaime/Brienne (not my main ship, but still), my fandom sin is that I LOATHE Arya. For various reasons. I always fear being stoned to death. :-/

I watched it with my folks and during the Jaime/Cercei scene my Mum was like..."Is that...HIS SISTER?" Heheheh.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, there's going to be serious shunning over the Arya non-love. :D That girl walks on water in this fandom.

While I love Bran, I am bored to tears over his storyline, just achingly bored. Let the kid turn into a werewolf already and effing get on with things.

[isako.livejournal.com]

Heh. I watched it with my landlady, and she asked that like THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. Thankfully, on the second one, it was just because she was getting a little conditioned.

[ariadneelda.livejournal.com]

Hee, your mum loves her some spoilers, doesn't she. :D

The final scene, yes, that's exactly what I expected too!

Overall, I loved this first episode a lot and can't wait for more!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

She does, and I hate spoilers so it's so hard for me to comply with her wishes and give her some! But I gave her the outline of the Targaryen (sp? I dunno, I don't say it the same way as the show does) storyline in the first book. She's intrigued.

Yup, that very Bran-blots-out-the-camera, stay-with-that-blot-to-black shot as the episode ender. Knew it had to be!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

So, do you think I'd like the books?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I think everyone has a good chance of liking the books. The prologue is different in tone from nearly all the rest of the series which annoys me, but I have to forgive it. (I really want to make a meta post on that one of these days.)

[dmlpacker.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend absolutely loves the book series, so of course I watched with him 2 days ago (with absolutely no idea of what was going to happen).

My face, it was like --> O.O
So much sex and violence in the FIRST episode. Blew my mind.

Also, the one little blonde prince (cannot remember character names right now)reminds me of Draco Malfoy. With his white hair and his arrogant smirk...

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

There's something about cable miniseries that requires them to display lots of breasts, buttocks, and actual copulation, just to prove they're on CABLE.