Is that really supposed to be Bronze Yohn Royce? In the books, it was Lord Nestor Royce that was referred by Lady Arryn as "Her Rock," just as the fellow pictured was referred to as such in the show. And Lord Nestor isn't described to be very formidable-looking at all.

 

It was weird though, that Petyr even had to be saved by Sansa. In the books Littlefinger had that guy eating out of the palm of his hand with little to no difficulty. If Sansa's supposed to be learning, that's where it actually happens, and they cut it out so that, what? She can look like she knows what's up? She doesn't. That's sort of who she is.

For some reason they added some weird old lady to chastise him, and now Sansa saves his life? Really? Why shoe-horn some crone into the scene that was never there, to pretend she has any say in a world where pretty much no one would listen to her anyway?

 

Seeing as Sansa says she remembers him from the past when he was escorting his son to the Wall (Waymar Royce, the guy whom we see die in the very first episode of GoT), and they made a stop at Winterfell, yes, I'm pretty sure that guy was Yohn Royce.

 

Easy. Game of Thrones(show) is only based on The Song of Ice and Fire instead of being an adaptation. Hence, character/scene shenanigans and Darth Lemoncake.

 

Well, obviously. It's just that some of the changes they make don't even fit the nature of their own show (let alone the books).

It's like someone told them to clean it up.

 

Not only that. They are also trimming down the hell out of it(unavoidable, I know). And what is the most unfortunate, they're dumbing down the show.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a bit of clean up. The series(canon books) are a ponderous lecture at times. I will on the other hand object to dumbing it down.

 

Why would no one listen to her? I see this sometimes.Being a noble trumps being a woman, it even trumps being an old woman.

That said: indeed strange that Baelish was sweating when his plan requires him to have control for a while to come. Too early. EDIT: And Petyr isn't the sort to do things like that without a plan. It's competence redistribution.

 

There's still not enough show-time (read any) devoted to describing the various feasts.

 

The old lady was Lady Waynwood, aka the chick who's currently watching out for Harry the Heir. LF in the books will have to get her permission to do the Sansa/Harry match, and will also kinda have to tell her who Sansa is in the first place. The show did it with Sansa revealing herself, and Harry The Heir's probably still going to play a part, so. So. No reason to bitch. Just sit back. Enjoy the show. Don't? Go read the books again. More fun way to pass the time than dwell on this stuff.

'Cause, like, to dwell for a sec: an adaptation does not, and never will, equal a direct translation. There's a million ways to adapt aspects of a plot as dense as ASOIAF's from a written medium to a visual one, but Game Of Thrones? It's about the dramatic gestures. It's about being unsubtle sometimes. It's made with the perspective of trying to both be consistent to itself and to both what's written with the books released and what the showrunners know of the future. And its made by people. People ain't perfect. Oh no.

And hell, we've had like two or three scenes already of Littlefinger telling Sansa some game lessons earlier this season, so why not make a statement from that and have her rescue him and shit? If they track back after this statement, then there'd be a problem, but eh. If they've blown their load for Sansa stuff and she'll have a very slow time next year, also eh. They'll think of something to fill the time before the next statement. They do a lot of that. Good for them.

Still a good show! Fun times, what with the horrific murders in trials by combat and shit. That was something to see on screen. Sound helped. Dat scream. Lots 'a gore. Made me shake for like five minutes afterwards. Sign of a good fun time!

 

And they generally do a not so bad job of it. Problems start to pile up when they fuck up the scenes. Want and example? Season 1 Eddard and Cersei.
They completely bungled up the reasons and exposition why Eddard went to Cersei and why he felt the need to warn her about his intentions to tell Bob about Joffrey, Myrcella, Tommen being bastards born of incest.

In books it's shown that Ned is agonizing almost over the possibility of Robert killing them and doing a reenactment of Rhaenys, Aegon, Elia presentation in the Throne Room. We(readers) kind of understand why he did what he did. We don't have to like it but the man he valid reasons. He felt honor bound to warn her of consequences of staying in KL. That was his warning shot across the bow, one to sooth his honor. Because he didn't want to go through presentation of bodies in TR one more time. Because he didn;t want to see his friend sneer and spit: 'lionspawn'.

In the show they had wounded Eddard, frowning and telling Cersei to GTFO with her bastards for he is going to tell Bob. And that's it. Idiot Ned - level expert.

Then we have the now epic fail of montage and exposition: Cersei's rape which wasn't supposed to come off like that.

They cut corners and sometimes the effect is just meh.

 

Are you on cocaine?

 

[me be stunned]

...

[/me be stunned]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH HOLY SHIT.

Allow me to explain.

I read the first book and bit of the second. Never got around to the rest. I read some bits and pieces in the wiki so I'd know what the hell the show was about.

We've known for two weeks that Oberyn was going to fight the Mountain and he seemed like a total badass, so I was expecting epicness. When I saw his pretty much non-existent armor, I fell in love right then and there. This is my favorite type of warrior - more of a rogue, relying on speed and agility instead of a ton of armor. Then he whipped out the spear and I was bouncing in my seat.

And then he got his head crushed. I know, I know. GRRM likes to do it. Just last season I got sucker-punched with the Red Wedding. And now this. This I was not expecting.

I must say, a brilliant way to shit all over everyone who was rooting for Oberyn in his moment of triumph, but seriously George, fuck you sideways, you devilish bastard.

EDIT: Does anyone know if Pedro Pascal performed the spear-swinging and the stunts himself, or did they use a double?

 

IIRC he took some lessons in martial arts and other fighting styles to perform the stunts. I believe he said so in an AMA not too long ago.

 

Hell, the horrific murders are half the reason people watch the show. The other half is Tyrion.

Edit: btw, I knew Oberyn was dead the moment he uttered the word 'justice'.

 

The large majority of the audience, myself included, couldn't give two fucks about feast descriptions.

This episode took the books and turned a few aspects on their head. IMO, it came out all the better for it.

 

Looking back on it, I suppose that translated poorly as a jest.

I'm kind of curious on your opinion about the Thenn. Would you count that particular change for the better too?

 

Like I said, I haven't read the books, but having watched the duel again (okay, a few more times, there's just something undeniably awesome about the spear) I must say that even though I rooted for him, Oberyn deserved what he got. He got cocky towards the end and totally disregarded the hulk of a man who still wasn't quite dead. Oberyn was not a combat pragmatist.

 

My mistake then, I thought she might be from later on in the series, but her presence in the scene only made the differences more jarring for me, and Lady Olenna is the only old lady I've seen calling shots as far as I've gotten.

 

Most of the show changes are made for expedience or dramatic effect. The Thenns were made cannibals for dramatic effect. It's a bit cliche, but it serves its purpose.

And really, who gives a shit if Jon doesn't establish House Thenn?

 

I don't give one flying fuck about House Thenn and whether Jon gets to establish it or not. But I'm not happy about their depiction. It's a clear case of dumbing it down.

BTW: How did you guys like the scene on the Wall? Jon and bros having one last cup before everything goes to hell come dawn.