HBO greenlights Game of Thrones!

[xanman86]

Stinkbutt- They have released a casting call for Maggie the Frog for season 5.

[shermanoaksyo]

I'm most struck by that (original) Tyrion/Jaime scene. The brotherly meditation on existential dread & obsessive beetle-smashing... They set this up earlier in the season with Arya's homage to Beckett.

It's a clear thematic break from the books. I hope we get a couple more speeches about how absurd it feels to exist in a world consumed by brutality.

The producers deserve all the credit in the world for spiking the punch with some unexpected sophistication.

[fikus222]

I also enjoy Tyrion and Jaime's scenes. It's nice to see them finally getting to know one another, even if it does come almost too late.

Here's Peter Dinklage's yearbook photo:



The caption read, "Stannis in the front, Oberyn in the back."

[stinkbutt]

It's a clear thematic break from the books. I hope we get a couple more speeches about how absurd it feels to exist in a world consumed brutality.

Anyone care to elaborate on this?

[fikus222]

IMO, within the books, the sense of immediacy felt by the characters is so overarching, there isn't much time for reflection. Most discussions concern past or future actions based upon exacting revenge, assuming power, and basically surviving another day. The almost constant state of war, is most likely why after thousands of years, this world hasn't evolved beyond what is basically a medieval society. Also, cos of this:

[fikus222]

List of new characters for season 5 (Spoiler/forecasting potential):

http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/...t-for-season-5

[fikus222]

was there one of these made for yesterdays episode?

Trial By Combat.jpg

[shermanoaksyo]

Fikus has it right. It's that they're giving the characters the space and the presence of mind to question the pointlessness of their blood-soaked existence. A Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead kind of thing.

[shermanoaksyo]

If we don't get Euron, I will be very sad. I think we will, but I'm a little worried that there's been no word about the Iron Islands in S5.

[hawkingvsreeve]

Do we think they are going to finish the book in the next episode?

I mean, there are like... 4 or 5 major plot points left that they would have to hit quickly right?

[superfan]

Do we think they are going to finish the book in the next episode?

I mean, there are like... 4 or 5 major plot points left that they would have to hit quickly right?

How much stuff do they shove into one episode now as it is? Its doable, but everyone nit picks on what does or doesnt get done, so Im sure if they did to leave something for the next season, viewers would cry about having to wait a year for whatever is coming.

[rage patton]

I am amazed neither Jon nor Sam died this episode. I was fully expecting one or both 'em to.

[fikus222]

OIC, so you're not bummed out by the loss of Ygritte?!?! You bastard.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

When I pulled up the episode to watch last night, from the description and thumbnail I was like, "oh great, a whole episode about the Wall." But it turned out to be pretty spectacular! Good ep, bros

[stinkbutt]

Was this the first episode dedicated to 1 story line?

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I believe season 2, episode 9, "Blackwater" also only featured on storyline.

[fikus222]

Wall Scythe, turning Wildlings into red mist for a hundred generations...



Edit:

Here's the epic 360-degree long shot from yesterday's episode:

[MusicIsMyBoyfriend]

OIC, so you're not bummed out by the loss of Ygritte?!?! You bastard.

I am bummed about Ygritte.

Ugh that little smile Jon gave her.... those two crazy kids could have made it work, had it not been for the little kid coward turned crack shot at Sam's request. Ouch.

I sometimes find battle scenes borring, it can become repetetive, cut, slash, stab......

But with giants, mammoths (with their asses on fire!), hammers to heads, and that thing that scraped the wildlings off the side of the wall..... I was glued to the sceen for the duration. Great episode.

[cutterbutter]

[shermanoaksyo]

I believe season 2, episode 9, "Blackwater" also only featured on storyline.

Wrong - Blackwater has Theon stuff at the start.

Maybe I can be the Supre of this thread.

George should just pay Dan and Dave to write the next two books.

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

Wrong - Blackwater has Theon stuff at the start.

Maybe I can be the Supre of this thread.

George should just pay Dan and Dave to write the next two books.

Are you sure? Wikipedia says this: "Unlike all previous episodes, "Blackwater" does not follow the parallel storylines of the characters outside of King's Landing."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwa...me_of_Thrones)

[thelastgreatman]

I was pretty surprised how well an episode all about the Wall managed to keep, considering I generally consider it to be one of the really boring storylines. Obviously tremendous potential to get a lot more interesting, and this is about the time it starts happening. The Giants and the Scythe were dope. God forbid anyone teach a giant to use a bow and arrow.

So question that I don't want spoiled by the books or anything but for other TV watchers--obviously Jon Snow's mother has to turn out to be of some kind of royal heritage, right? I mean that has to be a plot twist coming up down the line that enables him to take some kind of throne or some such shit. Lead the North, blah blah blah, whatev.

Also, to cycle back around to episode 8 for a second 'cause I finally got caught up--I think Tyrion's monologue about the retard and the beetles is probably the best moment in the show thus far, and the best piece of acting on TV I can remember since the Live Free Or Die episode of The Sopranos. "I was the most intelligent person I knew, so I thought surely I could unravel the mysteries of a moron." My god, that sentence fucking killed me.

[jackstraw94086]

I got a big kick out of "Far too much has been written about great men, and not nearly enough about morons,"



btw, the Ygritte scene was destroyed by another shoehorned "you know nothing, Jon Snow"

[rage patton]

This is awesome.

Wall Scythe, turning Wildlings into red mist for a hundred generations...

This was awesome.

Wrong - Blackwater has Theon stuff at the start.

Maybe I can be the Supre of this thread.

George should just pay Dan and Dave to write the next two books.

You are wrong.

[fikus222]

Owing to the amount of CGI necessary to create the Wall and its environ, last's night's episode was the most expensive to date. If you'd like to see what the Wall and Castle Black's sets look like, follow the link:

http://www.dorkly.com/post/63987/the..._campaign=june

[Drinkey McDrinkerstein]

I love seeing that stuff, it's fascinating! Thanks!

[shermanoaksyo]

I am wrong about blackwater. Me = nipples on a breastplate

As for Jon Snow's parentage, you're on the right track. In the books there's a flashback scene that presents the issue as a really fun puzzle (the answer to which is still theory, technically). Google "Tower of Joy" if you want to look it up; I'd recommend that you do.

Grenn is my favorite character now.

[LickTheLizzard]

... L+R=J

[fikus222]

Rose Leslie: "After my final take I was given my bow and arrow. They replaced the handle on the bow, replacing the grubby Wildling wrap with white leather. One one side of the handle is an emblem of a red rose, on the other was a silver placard that read, “Kissed by Fire.” Everybody huddled around. I felt very privileged. It was absolutely beautiful."

Wow, that's pretty special.

[M0D3Z]

Giant Archer.... Amazing shot.