Episode Two
Thoughts on episode two of HBOs Game of Thrones. This is cut for spoilers, in case anybody is worried.
Okay. I have a problem. I remember Daenarys. I remember Khal Drogo, although I may not remember how to spell his name, so if I got that wrong, forgiveness begged. What I don't remember is their relationship being so full of rape. Am I misremembering this out of a desire to have not read a "girl marries man, man rapes her, girl tries to please man, gets along better, falls in love" story? I thought Drogo was surprisingly kind and gentle to Daenarys, especially as contrasted with her vicious brother and the way he treated her. If I am remembering correctly, I guess it wasn't edgy enough? Or would take too much effort to show? I don't know, but I find the depiction of this particular relationship questionable as all Hell, given where I know it's going (supposed to go?).
Also, well played, kid who plays Joffrey. He is really rocking the smarm, the pettiness, the 'aristocratic' cruelty. I hate his Joffrey as much as I ever hated the Joffrey of the books, which is a good thing. I'd like to also say: well played, kid who plays Arya, and well played, girl who plays Sansa. Also? Well played, adorable wolves, and Tyrion, and really -- the cast is doing its job.
I do wish that the scriptwriters had slipped in some lines where someone refers to the person they're talking to by name a little more often. I'm pretty good at following, but I think that's mostly because I read the books. Honestly, it may seem a tad awkward for Robb to say, 'Thank you, Theon Greyjoy, for passing me the salt,' but you only have to do it once, and it's way more awkward for an audience to go through two episodes and still be unsure of everybody's names. (Have they mentioned Joffrey's siblings by name? I genuinely can't remember.)
Okay. I have a problem. I remember Daenarys. I remember Khal Drogo, although I may not remember how to spell his name, so if I got that wrong, forgiveness begged. What I don't remember is their relationship being so full of rape. Am I misremembering this out of a desire to have not read a "girl marries man, man rapes her, girl tries to please man, gets along better, falls in love" story? I thought Drogo was surprisingly kind and gentle to Daenarys, especially as contrasted with her vicious brother and the way he treated her. If I am remembering correctly, I guess it wasn't edgy enough? Or would take too much effort to show? I don't know, but I find the depiction of this particular relationship questionable as all Hell, given where I know it's going (supposed to go?).
Also, well played, kid who plays Joffrey. He is really rocking the smarm, the pettiness, the 'aristocratic' cruelty. I hate his Joffrey as much as I ever hated the Joffrey of the books, which is a good thing. I'd like to also say: well played, kid who plays Arya, and well played, girl who plays Sansa. Also? Well played, adorable wolves, and Tyrion, and really -- the cast is doing its job.
I do wish that the scriptwriters had slipped in some lines where someone refers to the person they're talking to by name a little more often. I'm pretty good at following, but I think that's mostly because I read the books. Honestly, it may seem a tad awkward for Robb to say, 'Thank you, Theon Greyjoy, for passing me the salt,' but you only have to do it once, and it's way more awkward for an audience to go through two episodes and still be unsure of everybody's names. (Have they mentioned Joffrey's siblings by name? I genuinely can't remember.)