Impressions of GoT ep 3

[salinea]

That was much better, i thought. It's starting to come onto its own; though the pacing is still way off and some characters are given the shaft.

Daenarys especially, wow they really don't care about showing her strength and her coming onto it, are they? OTOH, I liked seeing the Dothrakis interact with one another, being themselves and not just Exotic Savages. It helps those two we saw in this ep are very cute :3

I still feel Jon Snow isn't coming on great. For an episode called "Lord Snow" this very much lacked the emphasis on his starting his transformation on the Wall. Not sure the subtleties of Allister setting him against the others, and Jon managing to outmaneuver him came across at all. OTOH, this continued being the Tyrion Lannister show. And Yoren!! :D I love me Yoren.

Ned still doesn't really convince me either; but Cat was a great improvement. Yay Cat. And despite lack of convincing I loved Ned's scenes with both his daughters. Loved the show getting across how Ned has no idea how to deal with Sansa - also reminded me of Iroh giving a doll to Azula and the knife to Zuko in Avatar LOL that would make an odd crossover/fuzion. XD - but relating well with Arya. Also loved that they took the trouble of having Ned spelling out how difficult a situation it was for Sansa politically, given she's to marry Joffrey, and not knowing what to answer when Arya asks him why he's letting her wed someone like Joff.

The scene introducing the Small Council was a bit lacking, I thought, but the actors feel great so far. Not sure of the presence of Renly yet, but Varys, Petyr and Maester Pycelle are all great. Speaking of Littlefinguer, I loved his little Shakespearian aside ♥ though I missed the in-your-face of the Ned mocking "you're a hard man to fool" and all. Ah well. Loved how smarmy he was with Cat though, and her anger, and the way he reacts.

Jaime was again great. I do like the way they introduce his character and foreshadow his background as early and through his interactions with Cersei and Ned - I think it works well and makes him quite interesting. Cersei's scene with Joff was also great.

Also, awww Bran. And awww Old Nan :(( the actress was so great, it's so sad to know she's died since.

Arya was sheer awesome. The episode should have been called Arya's Dancing Lessons XD

Comments

[scriva.livejournal.com]

Generally, I like the show much more than I would have thought, but it comes at the prize of a certain disconnect with the books.

I don't really mind the pacing of the whole series. I think the scene selection is rather well, and the cuts from one location to another seem pretty organic. However, the internal pacing of some of the individual storylines seems not always so well executed. For example, the pacing of Dany's story is off for me and somewhat contradicting, while I do think that Jon's story progresses more naturally. I guess I disagree that his transformation is not emphasised. I think it's good enough for the moment.

Regarding the two Dothraki, I liked them as well, and I'm trying to remember if Rhakaro was one of the Bloodriders who went against Dany at the end or if he stayed with her.

Loved the show getting across how Ned has no idea how to deal with Sansa - also reminded me of Iroh giving a doll to Azula and the knife to Zuko in Avatar LOL that would make an odd crossover/fuzion. XD

Haha, I thought of that as well. I found Sansa's reaction to the doll somewhat out of character, but the contrast in Ned's behavior towards his daughters was made clear.

Loved how smarmy he was with Cat though, and her anger, and the way he reacts.

That was nice, however, it makes it more difficult to believe that Cat would be so completely trusting in his character. So, the scene made me rather think that Cat has been dealt a really shitty hand by the plot, that forces her to make so obvious mistakes. That's not something I blame on the show, though.

I like all the scenes with the Lannisters, and I love that the show tries to make all of them appear like real human beings, instead of villain stereotypes. I'm especially impressed that they even did it with Joffrey. He is still a little shit, but he is not a complete fool.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

but it comes at the prize of a certain disconnect with the books.
I think that goes without saying for most adaptations, especially in media as different as text and video.

For example, the pacing of Dany's story is off for me and somewhat contradicting
God yes. I note the passage of time is also very tough to figure out (which was sometimes also true of the books though XD)

I guess I disagree that his transformation is not emphasised. I think it's good enough for the moment.
ah well, if you say so.

I liked them as well, and I'm trying to remember if Rhakaro was one of the Bloodriders who went against Dany at the end or if he stayed with her.
Wasn't it Jhogo who turned against her?

I found Sansa's reaction to the doll somewhat out of character
I think she could have at least said "thank you" despite a nonplussed reaction, but then again, it's with her father, so she might not feel as obligated to be proper, and she's probably still angry at him for Lady; so it's not that surprised (especially the "oh you let them kill my pet wolf and now you get me a freaking doll to replace it and you think we're fine now?" effect *ahem*)

That was nice, however, it makes it more difficult to believe that Cat would be so completely trusting in his character.
On contrary, I think it works well because it shows that they are very familiar with one another; very bickering siblings. :3

I like all the scenes with the Lannisters, and I love that the show tries to make all of them appear like real human beings, instead of villain stereotypes. I'm especially impressed that they even did it with Joffrey. He is still a little shit, but he is not a complete fool.
Yup. Joff was in need of some layers; and the royal army topic is an interesting thing to pick at given the effect it does have on politics later on.

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

I too loved the Bran and Old Nan scene. They quoted from it in a lot of the trailers, but the real thing is wonderfully dramatic.

[etrangere.livejournal.com]

Haha I didn't watch many of the trailers, at least not once they started to multiply, because I wanted all the material to be fresh when I finally watch it :)

Wonderfully dramatic does describe it well.