Impressions of GoT ep 1

[salinea]

Generally speaking I think the Lannisters are great. Jaime's perfect : arrogant bastard but charismatic (and loving of his family); Tyrion's utterly awesome, and this Cersei I'll probably love much more than the book version.

The Starks feel a bit dull overall. Arya and Bran shone well enough. Cat's been changed a lot from the book version, I'm not sure if that's for the best; we'll have to see. Ned, Jon and Robb - don't have a very definite impression yet. Sansa I felt was actually a bit more dislikeable than in the books, even at that point. Then again, we didn't have any PoV of her at that point, but here the little we have is her being very silly and (justly) annoyed at her sister.

Robert's great - almost likeable in his Robert-ness, while very faithful to the character.

Loved the number of smalls moments from eye contacts, like the Ned & Cersei gaze. And Cersei & Cat with Cersei totally uninterested then being condescendingly nice to Sansa XD (I fear I may ship it - oh well). We even had Tyrion and Sandor already exchanging barbs ♥ Makes this fangirl happy.

Viserys is perfect, and the actress for Daenarys is great despite the little the role let her do so far. I'm not sure what I think about the choices of change they made to the narrative so far, so I'll reserve judgement until we see more of it. The lack of the riding her Silver, "gave me the wind" line was sorely missed though (hey, it's the one scene of the book i ever fanarted). The Dothrakis come across as even worse caricatures than they were in the books though :(

Visuals overall : I was very impressed by the first scene beyond the Wall; but less so by other stuff. Though it's still amazing to see serious, adult fantasy on the screen. I was worried about the Targaryen hair looking very silly from the stills, but it worked well enough (though Viserys' eyebrow was distracting). Lots of boobs though - I'm not sure it's more than what's implied in the books generally speaking but it's more striking in visual media.

I'm optimistic the show can be great once they find their tone more, it's a solid if a little bit bumbling beginning.

Comments

[meganbmoore]

I really like the actress for Danaerys despite the limited facial expressions. (Though, really, she's in a very bad/objectifying (by the men, not the plot itself, I don't think) place and knows it so the blank "OMG GET ME OUT OF HERE" look fits.)

I share your concerns re: changes to Catelyn, especially as I fear they were made to make her more "likable," which could lead to defanging. I didn't really find Sansa unlikable, though. (But then, I never really did in the books, either. Silly and spoiled, yes, but no moreso, really, than what would be normal for her life.)

The portrayals of the Dothraki made me very very uncomfortable. (Actually, I kind of...think that this episode highlighted a lot of my issues with the series, but didn't highlight the parts I like as much.)

[salinea]

On Daenarys, yeah exactly my thoughts.

Huh, if making Catelyn more likeable implies making her even more the genetic Good Mom from out of a sitcom and losing her stoicism and political savvy that doesn't say much about the thoughts the showmakers put into the story :(

I never found Sansa unlikeable in the books either, but I thought the books tried very hard to sell us her being so from Arya's PoV. I love Sansa, that's why I'm worried the show doesn't sell well her positive qualities like her compassion and her love for stories and songs (which isn't just a question of liking pretty boys and pretty queens).

Actually, I kind of...think that this episode highlighted a lot of my issues with the series
Yeaaaaaaaah.

[meganbmoore]

See, in the books, fond as I am of Arya, I got the impression that Arya, at least, was coming at it from the opinion that prim and ladylike girls are boring and icky and being a tomboy was just so much better, so those parts, to me, really only gave me the impression that Arya was very young and immature herself, and not particularly openminded, as opposed to any unlikableness from Sansa. (Which is perfectly normal for her age, but one of my big beefs with the series is how Arya and Sansa were almost unconditionally set up against each other, and I didn't get the feeling that that was so much youthful spirits as "tomboys and ladylike girls can't get along.")

This episode was very "the epic tales of men. And some women who might have roles in them." Even Danaerys, where the focus was very much on her, doesn't have as much of a "This is The Hero. The men just haven't figured that out yet." as I always got from the books.

[salinea]

Which is perfectly normal for her age, but one of my big beefs with the series is how Arya and Sansa were almost unconditionally set up against each other, and I didn't get the feeling that that was so much youthful spirits as "tomboys and ladylike girls can't get along."
Yeah I have the same issue. The thing is, I can identify with both Arya and Sansa. Arya because I was a tomboy and I have larges issues with traditionnal gender roles as I was given and I was actively shamed by some people (including other girls, yes) for not complying to them; and with Sansa because I was a dreamer and a lover of stories. And I think it's especially because of the former that I couldn't see Sansa as a "mean girl". I knew mean girls, they were nothing like Sansa. My own older sister was much meaner to me than Sansa was ever to Arya. So yeah, Arya came across a little bit as a brat - though one with genuine issues about the roles she's been given as a girl - to Sansa more as a result to how other people (such as Septa Mordane) treated her than because of how Sansa herself behaved.
But it's obvious that the narrative tries to contrast them in an excessively antagonistic fashion (by comparison Robb and Jon are also contrasted as brothers, Jon is a bit dour and emo whereas Robb is sunny and cheerful, but they're also best friends! grrr).

This episode was very "the epic tales of men. And some women who might have roles in them."
I agree, I don't think the direction is very good as showing female PoV on things yet. Some of that comes from the book, some of that comes from the fact the books have female PoV but they are more introspective than about doing things (especially at this point). We'll see how that evolves.

[shimizu-hitomi.livejournal.com]

Those are pretty much my impressions too. Awesome Lannisters, uncertain about Cat, Dothrakis= what.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

heh :)

I hope things'll improve on the Dohraki front with latter episode, and that Cat won't be too generic!mom!stereotype.

[hamsterwoman]

I found both Robert and Cersei more likeable in the show than in the books, which was interesting. And, sadly, yeah, agree with you on the Dothraki -- and their portrayal wasn't that great to begin with. :/

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Yeah they were pretty much a racist caricature in the first place :(

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed it quite a lot. I haven't read the books since Feast came out, so I'm missing most of the changes, but I'm pretty sure that there are more boobs than in the books.

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

You remember a lot better than me! Oh, to be young again ;p

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

hehe :)

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the books since Feast came out
haha me either.

but I'm pretty sure that there are more boobs than in the books.
Well he brothel scene with Tyrion was definitely invented for the series; but it's not like we haven't similar scene with Tyrion later on. Daenarys' tits were in the books, with more pinching.


*cough*do not pay attention to the interesting lapsus.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

Agree very much about Cat and Robert. Jon was beginning to appeal to me, but agree,not much yet--and Ned I thought was fine. And Tyrion! I need to watch again, because missed the Sandor scene, and he's one of my favorite (not in a shippy way...)

I agree with you and ponygirl2000 that Drogo and teh Dothrakis were not done well at all. Missing a whole side of Dany that would make what's to come more believable and meaningful. I'm amazed that GRRM let them make those changes.

The final scene with Jaime and Bran was just as it should have been, I thought. And the wolves are excellent.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

yeah the Sandor scene passed quickly :3 I prbably need to watch it again myself!

Missing a whole side of Dany that would make what's to come more believable and meaningful.
True :(

The final scene with Jaime and Bran was just as it should have been, I thought.
Agreed!!

[scriva.livejournal.com]

I like almost everyone of the cast. For some reason, I don't have really clear mental pictures of anyone in the books, so the actors fill the their respective roles quite fine, even though I like some scenes more than others. I think the Starks are supposed to be somewhat dull, especially compared to the Lannisters. ;)

I'm so-so on Dany's wedding. I always had problems with the instant-bonding with the horse and Dany being a perfect rider right away, so I didn't miss the scene. There was still a sense of wonder when she understood that the horse was her gift. So right now, I'm more curious than anything to see how or if they I can manage to really build Dany's character.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

I like most of the casting as well - they don't always work well with my mental picture (in so far as I have one, I'm not a very visual person), but in terms of presence most of them work well.

haha, the instant bonding was a bit... mary sue sparkly princess in a way? But I'm a sucker for magical horsies so yeah :3 other people seem more fond of the direwolves than I am OTOH. ASOIAF does have its part of cheese on such things.
But yeah, I'm curiously how they'll render Dany's story; it's an important one.

[gogoratchet.livejournal.com]

I agree w/r/t the Dothrakis. It's even more glaring onscreen when you get the visual of them as the only brown people too. :/

Overall I'm looking forward to it though. For me the biggest surprise was Bran. I didn't like Bran in the books really but now OMG HE'S SOOOOO ADORABLE and the actor is great and omg I loooove Bran now, wth?

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Oooooh I always loved Bran, he's a darling. Funny that you like him more now that he's on screen (does having a baby yourself influence your opinion now as well, do you think?)

[gogoratchet.livejournal.com]

Probably! I do have a sweet silly boy who loves to climb. <3

Really my issue with Bran in the books was that I didn't find his chapters that interesting after Book 2 cuz I'm not really into the North stuff. And in the hyperbolic manner of youth, it became OMG I HATE BRAN SO BORING.

I've grown a little since then. ;) but also OMG HE'S SOOOO ADORABLE