1.02 Game of Thrones - The Kings Road

[The Imp]

Very powerful. Really established the whole Stark/Direolf connection beatifully. Dany's scenes were excellent, as were Tyrion's. I pretty much hate the actor playing Theon. The assassin scene was also very powerful.

Overall a bit better than episode 1 IMO, and i had given the first one a B+

 

[C Of K]

No love for Theon? I think he gets the job done ok. The assassin scene made me turn away. I just couldn't watch. I never like reading that part in the book, and I knew it would be gruesome in the show. It was better than the first episode, and I have to agree, very powerful. I felt horrible about Micah, even though I knew it was going to happen. Just horrible. Poor kid.

 

[Lenny]

It wasn't bad, but I think it suffered slightly from rushing the final few scenes - I'd have preferred a few minutes of Sansa being enamoured with court life (well, on-the-move court life) and her argument with Arya because she won't dress up nicely for their trip in the Queen's carriage.

I think they also missed a good chance to treat us to the Kingsguard, and the two who turn up (Barristan and Renly, was it?), thus ruining Sansa's day with the Queen even further (until, of course, she goes walking with Joffrey).

As for the other scenes, it was good to see Tyrion slapping sense into Joffrey (who, by the way, is the slimiest, most manipulative little horror I've ever seen! Brilliant acting), I liked the breakfast scene with the array of Lannisters - they really all do look like they're part of the same family - and it was interesting to hear Cersei talking about her first born with the black hair. I also thought the scene between Jon and Arya was a good one, though again, it would have been nice to see more of them (they missed the scene that would have fallen in the first episode) to really cement their relationship - I don't think enough has been made of Robb, Sansa, Bran and Rickon being more Tully than Jon and Arya's Stark-ness.

I'm getting mixed signals about Jaime - he seems to be an alright bloke for most of the time, but he always ends his encounters with non-Lannisters with a line or two that really make you hate him.

The scenes with Danys seemed to have been shoe-horned in, although I must say that they were very well chosen - we can see her starting to warm to Khal Drogo a lot more, and I noticed something I missed about the third slave-girls story about an old second moon being a dragon egg that "wandered too close to the Sun".

A couple of niggles - I'm stuck wondering how you pronounce "Arya" and "Cersei". So far, Ned has called his daughter "Arr-ya", with Sansa calling her "Arr-ria" (when reading, I call her "A-rya"). As for "Cersei", well, she's only been referred to as "Queen", "woman" and "Her Grace" so far, which annoys me.

Oh, and finally, whilst Viserys seems to have shook his "But I want to... dance!" accent, Tyrion really did sound like Richard Wilson. I didn't quite realise how thick Robb's accent was until today.

 

[Needle]

All in all I think this one was great, some powerful stuff. Watching Tyrion slap Joffery around was awesome! It is beginning to hook my husband as well! When Cersei told them we have a wolf he's like "What's wrong with that b***h!?" I said we are getting the first taste of her Cerseiness! They assasin scene was very well done.
Only one real complaint, Arya didn't get to beat on Joffery. they had Nymeria come in way too soon.The ending scene with Bran waking up when Lady dies was wonderful.

 

[The Imp]

All in all I think this one was great, some powerful stuff. Watching Tyrion slap Joffery around was awesome! It is beginning to hook my husband as well! When Cersei told them we have a wolf he's like "What's wrong with that b***h!?" I said we are getting the first taste of her Cerseiness! They assasin scene was very well done.
Only one real complaint, Arya didn't get to beat on Joffery. they had Nymeria come in way too soon.The ending scene with Bran waking up when Lady dies was wonderful.

Bran waking at that moment was indeed wonderful.

 

[Gamblor]

I really enjoyed this episode as well. I do believe that Tyrion will be my favourite character.

My girlfriend is also hooked with this episode - i had to laugh as she gives me some good stick with being into the 'geeky' SF stuff. That will teach her!

 

[Conor]

Great episode!!
Is there anyone on this forum here that has NOT read the books?
I am very interested in their thoughts.

 

[Mournblade]

What about bran’s dream? The three-eyed crow and the vast view of the world? Nah, shouldn’t expect such a scene.
Where was Ghost? Pity, he didn’t chastise Tyrion.
What a great retinue for a king we saw when they left Winterfell. Shagga single-handedly would have slayed them all.

 

[Heck Tate]

I agree with Lenny in that it could have used a bit more interaction between Sansa and Arya. We can see that they aren't similar at all, but I didn't think it showed the extent to which they dislike each other except for the one "trial" scene. That scene and the one before it were really good at establishing Joffrey's character, though, I don't think even those who haven't read the series could miss that.

To answer some of your questions, Lenny, I'm pretty sure her name is prounced pirate-like: Arr-ya (that's how I always read it) and the way Sansa makes it sound is just because she always draws out the name in a whine. Kind of the way pre-teens pronounce "no" like "no-ah." Also, I think you're supposed to get kind of mixed signals from Jaime, he is a weirdly layered character. Beautiful on the outside, monster on the inside, strangely noble and self-conscious somewhere way underneath that.

I honestly didn't even recognize Theon, I must not have been paying attention when he was there. I am looking forward to seeing more of the Hound and Ser Illyn, who were both pretty creepy. Next week we should see the Night's Watch, which should be awesome. Can't wait to see Aemon and Mormont.

 

[The Imp]

I agree with Lenny in that it could have used a bit more interaction between Sansa and Arya. We can see that they aren't similar at all, but I didn't think it showed the extent to which they dislike each other except for the one "trial" scene. That scene and the one before it were really good at establishing Joffrey's character, though, I don't think even those who haven't read the series could miss that.

To answer some of your questions, Lenny, I'm pretty sure her name is prounced pirate-like: Arr-ya (that's how I always read it) and the way Sansa makes it sound is just because she always draws out the name in a whine. Kind of the way pre-teens pronounce "no" like "no-ah." Also, I think you're supposed to get kind of mixed signals from Jaime, he is a weirdly layered character. Beautiful on the outside, monster on the inside, strangely noble and self-conscious somewhere way underneath that.

I honestly didn't even recognize Theon, I must not have been paying attention when he was there. I am looking forward to seeing more of the Hound and Ser Illyn, who were both pretty creepy. Next week we should see the Night's Watch, which should be awesome. Can't wait to see Aemon and Mormont.

Roy Dotrice pronounces Arya much like the Aria is pronounced in music.

 

[Quick Ben]

Yeah that's how I pronounce it too.

On the episode, Cersei's first born??? Was that just something that writers put in to give the non-bookreaders hints about Joffrey et al's parentage? I do not remember that being in the book at all. Thought I was going mad.

 

[Wiggum]

I watched it last night, but ended up watching it again with my 70 year old mother tonight because:

A) It's awesome
B) It's super cool

The credits popped up after Bran popped open to which my mother said, "Damnit, I didn't want that to end. I wanna know what happens next."

A ringing endorsement if I'd ever heard one.

I thought it was great, they're knocking out the salient points and establishing all the characters extremely well.

Although I really can't imagine keeping track of it if you hadn't read the books, or weren't watching with someone who had.

 

[Perpetual Man]

I really enjoyed it, thinking it slightly stronger than the first episode.

I can't really add anything at the moment, but agree that the ending with Bran waking up as Lady died was perfect - I liked the fact the other Dire Wolves seemed disquieted as Lady's demise approached.

And the assassin scene was brilliantly done. The bit where Cat grabbed the blade of the dagger has stuck in my mind since I read the book, so I was glad to see it (well not glad, but....)

I'd just like to add how much Arya makes me flinch every time I see her - not in a bad way, just that she is exactly as I imagined her in the book made flesh. And I know he's had a few knocks but Jaime isn't far off my imaginative version either...

Tyrion is probably my favourite at the moment, but I'm not sure how much my perception is coloured by the books later as I seem to remember not liking him at all in the earlier books. Apart from when he hit Joff.

 

[C Of K]

Arya is perfect, isn't she? Cute little thing. It'll be interesting to see her turn into who she eventually becomes. I think her relationship with Sansa has been pretty well done so far. Sansa hasn't had a positive thing to say to Arya yet. She's all snide remarks, demands, and commands. Arya's fury finally all came out after Sansa lied to Robert.

Jaime is great. The actor is making a believer out of me. Despite all he's done thus far, Cersei is still the one I hate, as it should be.

 

[woodsman]

Just finished it. Great stuff.

I love Arya - was very worried how she'd do given the size of the role and what's on the horizon but have no worries at all now. great scene with Jon. In fact all the Starks look great and fit their book counterparts well. Theon however (if I've got the right person?) looks like he should be in the soup queue in Oliver.

Jaime is very good in my opinion, not too sure about his 'prettyness' never thought about it when I read them. Great interaction with Tyrion, where Dinklage continues to deliver.

Given all the theorising, the Jon and Eddard scenes talking about his mother gave me some major goosebumps. Jon speaks just like Ned as well.

Didn't buy Joffery myself - I know a lot of people think he's doing well, but I just can't get to grips with him. It feels like he's acting rather than being. Still I'll give it some time.

I'm wondering how they're going to put the background pieces into place without having a major spiel or two. It's got to pretty confusing without the background reading.

 

[hadd]

Yeah that's how I pronounce it too.

On the episode, Cersei's first born??? Was that just something that writers put in to give the non-bookreaders hints about Joffrey et al's parentage? I do not remember that being in the book at all. Thought I was going mad.

Yea, can't recall anything from the books about that. AFAIK Cersei had no black-haired children (dead or alive).

Also the scene with Catelyn being in the old tower...Oh come on, why not just use The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" and let Cat put her sunglasses on David Caruso style...That was just BS.

They add touches that should make the story more understandable to the audience who haven't read the books, yet they cut dialogue parts such as Cat saying to Jon "It should have been you instead of Bran" (or something like that).

I do believe the series will get better as it gets on and as a person who just knows the story it's hard to take this "introduction" to the world.

Actually I'm not some mad fan who's like "JACKSON Y U NO SHOW TOM BOMBADIL" but I just can't see some of the changes or additions justified.

Harry Lloyd is doing a wonderful job as Viserys though. If we'd only see more of him

 

[ctg]

Great episode!!

Is there anyone on this forum here that has NOT read the books?

I am very interested in their thoughts.

I must be the only one who haven't read the books, although I tried to listen the first book it just didn't catch me in same way as the televised series is doing.

At the moment this mini series is delivering higher marks than BBC's Merlin, and maybe the reason why it does that is in the execution, where the producer isn't directing the series towards the younger audience but actually uses the theme to draw in the adults.

Although I have said that the series and especially the second episode is great, I think that they could do a better story by delivering more complete narrative. What I mean is that even though I'm already hooked in, I find myself still wondering who's who and what the (expletive deleted) is going on. In that front, for example BBC's Merlin and AMC's Walking Dead are doing much better job.

So, if they are planning to draw in big numbers then they need to direct some of the editing to draw in the audience that has a shorter attention span, because I really doubt that GRRM did a that bad job with the books.

 

[Ursa major]

I find myself still wondering who's who and what the (expletive deleted) is going on.

Why should you know what's going on after just two hours of TV when those of us who've read the first four (long) books are not really sure...?

 

[ctg]

Why should you know what's going on after just two hours of TV when those of us who've read the first four (long) books are not really sure...?

Because the TV producers could have used the technology, and the writers/editors wit to deliver more comprehensive storytelling than the choppy one that we're seeing at the moment.

Just look at the beginning of the B5 and you see that JMS delivers the complicated story brilliantly. Although many of the first season episodes are fillers, we get to know the important characters intimately.

In this case, we are through 20 percent of the first book and the watcher is still trying to figure out who's who and where they are going to go next. Just seeing them jumping back and forth between the locations, and the characters doesn't really deliver the parts for the big picture. And all I can say at the moment is that there's some sort War-Of-The-Roses gearing at the background. What the winter has to do with it, I don't know, but checking the titles from other books, I can say we're going to see it at the sixth season/book. When in B5 we got to know Shadows at the second.

PS. Could one of the mods correct the title to reflect the "official" standard please.

1.01 Game of Thrones - Winter is Coming
1.02 Game of Thrones - The Kings Road
1.03 Game of Thrones - Lord Snow
1.04 Game of Thrones - Cripples, *******, and Broken Things
1.05 Game of Thrones - The Wolf and The Lion
1.06 Game of Thrones - A Golden Crown
1.07 Game of Thrones - You Win or You Die
1.08 Game of Thrones - The Pointy End
1.09 Game of Thrones - Baelor
1.10 Game of Thrones - Fire and Blood

 

[Ursa major]

I was joking, but there was a serious point to the comment (as always?). In the following, I'll try to avoid spoilers as this is the TV section, not GRRM's author section.

One of the reasons this site, and many others, is filled with speculation about A Song of Ice and Fire is that no-one (apart from GRRM, we hope) knows the ultimate shape of the story. It is known that the first three books - A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords - were initially meant to be the first book of a trilogy, but the story expanded in the telling. And without giving too much away, those three books between them mostly do describe the fight for the Iron Throne. However, as the prologue you've seen showed, various other things (no pun intended) are afoot, which may or may not - and I say this not because I'm trying to avoid giving spoilers - be seen to be the true focus of the story GRRM is telling.

Withing the books, various story threads are born and come to fruition, whilst others eke their way through every book in the background. That's what I meant by not knowing what's going on. I won't be seeing Game of Thrones season 1 until the DVDs are issued (though I have seen the 14 minutes of Episode One that's on the HBO site), but I don't think I'm giving too much away in saying that plenty of things will be resolved within the season, while other threads are still going strong by the end of Book IV (and, probably, beyond). The vast cast of characters are the result of the breadth of ASoIaF; you can be reassured that we readers of the books have had to work just as hard as the new viewers in placing everyone in the story (and we're still having to do this, as GRRM delivers plot twist after plot twist).