Gird Your Loins. Gird Your Everything
Jun. 4th, 2013 11:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
netgirl_y2kFuck me, if ever there was an episode to make me wish I was watching the show unspoiled then that was it.
Tiny, tiny little niggles first. As much as Sam's face when Gilly called him a wizard was a delight, and as much as I love that Jorah's expression whenever he's forced to deal with Daario defaults to: "He's just so dramatic and flamboyant it makes me want to set myself on fire." You and me both, Jorah. But. I really think that they should have been taken out and a scene with Sansa added. This episode should have been just the Starks, all the Starks.
Talisa, what was the point of creating her character, again? I mean, even in-show it makes no sense. I've come to apologise for reneging on my promise to marry your daughter, and for no conceivable reason I've brought my gorgeous pregnant wife with me. And talk about accidentally foreshadowing something that never actually happens. My name is Talisa Maegyr, my dislikes include slavery, my likes include amputating limbs and writing suspicious letters suspiciously, and I am, to even my own surprise, not a spy. Although her being stabbed in the stomach was fucking horrible, and I'm guessing thoroughly debunks the fan theory that Jeyne Westerling is pregnant somewhere with Robb's kid. I'm biased, though, I never liked that theory, it was too neat.
I have to admit I was worried about the Red Wedding, it's supposed to be all about Cat & Robb, but, well, they sacrificed that relationship on the altar of Robb/Talisa, and I worried that they were going to make it all about Robb.
But, no, totally Cat's moment. By the way, this is why, if you've got Michelle Fairley you don't background her, because when you don't she can do this.
My favourite part of the Red Wedding (crying and garment rending not-withsanding) was always Catelyn's sense of rising dread throughout the chapter, and I didn't imagine how that would ever translate. But Cat's face as soon as she hears the first strains of The Rains of Castamere. By the way, I do think the show did a cracking job establishing The Rains of Castamere so that we know it means bad shit when it starts playing at the Twins.
I may resent the way Cat and Cat & Robb's relationship has been sidelined, but Robb's "Mother" was affecting.
I could write more, but most of it would be slight variations of: Michelle Fairley! Michelle Fairley's Face! All The Emmys!
I am actually glad they had Cat kill Walder Frey's wife. I don't know if we're getting Lady Stoneheart (gosh, I hope so) and I have heard segments of fandom complain about people baying for the scalps of all everyone named Frey, regardless of guilt. And though I enjoy the idea of Frey pies as much as anyone, I do see the point. But surely that's the point of Lady Stoneheart, she's vengeance without reason. So it's potent if the last thing she does as Cat is slit the throat of a blameless girl who'd done nothing but have the misfortune to be married off to Walder Frey. Vengeance without reason.
Other thoughts,
Not the wolf! Not the wolf! Don't kill the wolf! Don't-- Oh.
Gosh, that kid who plays Rickon is surprisingly good!
I'm guessing their pushing the Purple Wedding to nest year, then? Because ep 9 is usually the big set-piece, and 10 the fall out.
Tiny, tiny little niggles first. As much as Sam's face when Gilly called him a wizard was a delight, and as much as I love that Jorah's expression whenever he's forced to deal with Daario defaults to: "He's just so dramatic and flamboyant it makes me want to set myself on fire." You and me both, Jorah. But. I really think that they should have been taken out and a scene with Sansa added. This episode should have been just the Starks, all the Starks.
Talisa, what was the point of creating her character, again? I mean, even in-show it makes no sense. I've come to apologise for reneging on my promise to marry your daughter, and for no conceivable reason I've brought my gorgeous pregnant wife with me. And talk about accidentally foreshadowing something that never actually happens. My name is Talisa Maegyr, my dislikes include slavery, my likes include amputating limbs and writing suspicious letters suspiciously, and I am, to even my own surprise, not a spy. Although her being stabbed in the stomach was fucking horrible, and I'm guessing thoroughly debunks the fan theory that Jeyne Westerling is pregnant somewhere with Robb's kid. I'm biased, though, I never liked that theory, it was too neat.
I have to admit I was worried about the Red Wedding, it's supposed to be all about Cat & Robb, but, well, they sacrificed that relationship on the altar of Robb/Talisa, and I worried that they were going to make it all about Robb.
But, no, totally Cat's moment. By the way, this is why, if you've got Michelle Fairley you don't background her, because when you don't she can do this.
My favourite part of the Red Wedding (crying and garment rending not-withsanding) was always Catelyn's sense of rising dread throughout the chapter, and I didn't imagine how that would ever translate. But Cat's face as soon as she hears the first strains of The Rains of Castamere. By the way, I do think the show did a cracking job establishing The Rains of Castamere so that we know it means bad shit when it starts playing at the Twins.
I may resent the way Cat and Cat & Robb's relationship has been sidelined, but Robb's "Mother" was affecting.
I could write more, but most of it would be slight variations of: Michelle Fairley! Michelle Fairley's Face! All The Emmys!
I am actually glad they had Cat kill Walder Frey's wife. I don't know if we're getting Lady Stoneheart (gosh, I hope so) and I have heard segments of fandom complain about people baying for the scalps of all everyone named Frey, regardless of guilt. And though I enjoy the idea of Frey pies as much as anyone, I do see the point. But surely that's the point of Lady Stoneheart, she's vengeance without reason. So it's potent if the last thing she does as Cat is slit the throat of a blameless girl who'd done nothing but have the misfortune to be married off to Walder Frey. Vengeance without reason.
Other thoughts,
Not the wolf! Not the wolf! Don't kill the wolf! Don't-- Oh.
Gosh, that kid who plays Rickon is surprisingly good!
I'm guessing their pushing the Purple Wedding to nest year, then? Because ep 9 is usually the big set-piece, and 10 the fall out.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-05 03:00 pm (UTC)I don't see why they wouldn't do Lady Stoneheart, unless Michelle Fairley decides she really doesn't want to come back. One of my concerns with the Red Wedding was that they'd have Robb be the one revived by the brotherhood and seeking zombie vengeance, but I'm glad to see that seems to have been sheer paranoia on my part.
Totally agree with you about Robb/Talisa. And the thing is, love vs. honour is a boring question, it's been asked thousands of times before, and in the context of a war where your, your family, and thousands of others lives are at stake, love is always the wrong answer. This honour or that one, mine or hers, is a much more interesting question, as well as a more Stark one.
Maisie Williams and the kid who plays Rickon, sometimes in my head I think of this show as Game of Improbably Talented Child Actors.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-05 04:01 pm (UTC)It is great how the show has opened up the lady loving part of the fandom! I started reading the books before, but I didn't finish them until into season 2. And I feel like I've seen way more lady!flail because of the show...which is awesome!
Game of Improbably Talented Child Actors and also Game of ALL THE BRITISH ACTORS EVER SINCE HARRY POTTER!