Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 2:54:15 GMT
Ned says all that he needs to when the servant asks if he wants to change clothes, by taking off his gloves. This is a departure from the books and makes Ned a bit more badass than his book counterpart. It also takes away from how pissed off Ned gets later on. Part of the reason Ned gets so angry at LF that he threatens to kill him right there in the street is not just because LF has been giving him a lot of shit, but because he's just had to climb down a complicated hillside, get into a meeting the moment he arrived, wear someone else's ill fitting clothes, etc. It diminishes the headache that Ned feels a stranger and an outsider.
Here they try to make up for it with having a Jaime/Ned scene which does all right with explaining the backstory (and is likely where the deleted scene of Brandon choking to death would have gone) and conveying a rivalry between Jaime and Ned that they started in the first episode, but I have to stop for a moment and go: wasn't Jaime on the caravan with them? Why is he already dressed and pristine from the road when Ned is entering the Throne Room? Gahh! I like the scene overall, but I think it's placement here is a mistake as Jaime himself should be just as travel weary as Ned is. Perhaps if they'd pushed it to after the Small Council meeting it might have worked better, but where it is, there's a few problems with it.
Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 2:59:18 GMT
Ned's confrontational behavior without his being forced to dress in clothes that aren't his really makes him come off as a bit of a dick to the other small council members. Seeing these scenes again after my most recent re-read really makes me go: Damn it Ned, don't you know how to make friends at all? Or at least not make people you could potentially be enemies with less hostile toward you by shoving in their faces their past issues?
It's like show Ned is TRYING to get beheaded. Book Ned at least had several excuses in such a situation.
Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 3:03:38 GMT
I really like how Cersei is ruining Joffrey with her teachings. It almost makes me go: Joffrey might not have turned out half bad if he hadn't of had shitty parents and too much power at too young an age.
Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 3:22:53 GMT
What child, who has been hiding something from her father up until now would then simply go and answer the door while holding said hidden object without hiding it first?
I mean, yes this happens in the novel--but even there I have to wonder at how that goes against what any kid would do.
Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 3:44:12 GMT
How odd that Jeor gives Tyrion Jon Snow's raven message. I mean it's likely less odd in the show since Tyrion and Jon have a bromance--but still that's a rather odd thing to do rather than Mormont giving the message to Jon himself, let alone talk about Jon's personal message to Tyrion rather openly. I know the audience needs to hear this stuff, but the scene doesn't make much sense when you stop to think about it outside of that reason.
Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 3:49:23 GMT
I know Tyrion throws his weight around about having influence in King's Landing in the book, but he does it against people to whom it would make sense to throw that weight around. Throwing it at the raw recruits who are about to be absolved of all crimes by pledging to the Night's Watch makes very little sense.
Still, it's nice to see the Tyrion and Jon bromance develop a bit. Even if it is at the expense of no Donal Noye.
Post by whitewolfstark on Mar 21, 2016 4:31:20 GMT
I like the touch of Ned watching Arya's lessons & us hearing the wooden swords turn metal--so subtle, but it makes me think that Ned is thinking of the TOJ.