Game of Thrones Season 2
What the hell was that shit that they just aired as the season finale of Season 2 of Game of Thrones?!
Words cannot express how disappointed I am in this episode, and this season as a whole. I understand that changes have to be made to adapt a story from one medium to another. Really, I do. I actually enjoyed Season 1, even with the few minor quibbles I had with the changes. All that has completely gone out the window with this season, though.
First and foremost, let's talk about Stannis Baratheon. I know that Stannis is a very polarizing character, and that I have a love for him bordering on irrational. HOWEVER... they have completely fucked up his characterization by making him just as conniving and power-hungry as all of the other characters involved in the game-- by making him cheat on his (sickly? WTF?) wife because Mel whispers in his ear that she can give him a son-- by completely erasing the fact that Stannis is fighting for the throne because he feels that it is his duty to do so, as Robert's true heir. He feels he is the true King, and he's going to BE King, even if the realm doesn't want him, because it's his sworn duty to do so. Has Stannis done some questionable things in his quest for the throne? Yes. Oh, gods yes. But everything he's done has been out of necessity, as far as he's concerned. I truly don't think that he knew what he was doing when he created the shadowbaby that killed Renly. (I've always assumed that Mel had convinced him that it was part of some obscure ritual to the Red God, not that she said "Hey, let's make you an heir!" and he said "Sure thing!") And he would NOT have tried to kill Mel in cold blood by choking her to death because she didn't foresee his defeat at the Battle of the Blackwater!
I absolutely love the actor playing Stannis, but I HATE HATE HATE what they've done with his character. :(
Speaking of What-The-Hell-Did-You-Do-To-Him Characters, let's talk Littlefinger for a moment. How the hell has show!Littlefinger survived this long? He blabs about every little secret that he knows {to the person he knows it about!), he's obvious in his disdain for those he doesn't like, he's ridiculously careless, and he's stupid. Littlefinger is one of my least-liked characters in the book because I hate the things he does to the characters I like, but he's anything but stupid! Peter Baelish has risen from the son of a backwater fisherman to one of the most powerful men in the country-- he's very much the Thomas Cromwell of this world. He doesn't do it by being all "Well, maybe you shouldn't have fucked your brother. Har har har!" *sigh* We didn't even KNOW how slimy he was until at least book 3, and even then it was slow to come to light!
Let's move on to Jon/Ygritte/Qhoren Halfhand. I like Ygritte. She's not quite what got from the book, but she's close enough, and the characterization works. I have absolutely NO idea what happened with that whole plotline with her, though. In the book, Jon and crew capture her, Qhoren leaves Jon to kill her (as a test of his character), and Jon can't do it. Jon lets her go, she runs away, he goes back to his brothers. They are then attacked by Wildlings, and Halfhand EXPLAINS TO JON that they need information about Mance and his men, and that the only way they're going to get it is if Mance trusts him... and the only way Mance will trust him is if Jon pretends to join him and does something to prove his conviction. In other words, Halfhand flat out ORDERS Jon to kill him. This is of vital importance because while Mance thinks Jon has turned traitor, Jon never does in his heart. He is following orders to infiltrate Mance's merry band of wildlings and get information in any way he can. In the show, it just looked like Halfhand was insane and picked a fight with Jon for the hell of it. How difficult would it have been to add a couple of lines of dialog?
“If we are taken, you must yield.”
“Yield? But... They only spare oathbreakers. Those who join them, like Mance Rayder.”
“And you.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Never. I won’t.”
“You will. I command it of you.”
“Command it? But…”
“Our honor means no more than our lives, so long as the realm is safe. Are you a man of the Night’s Watch?”
“Yes, but-”
“There is no but, Jon Snow. You are, or you are not.”
Jon sat up straight. “I am.”
“Then hear me. If we are taken, you will go over to them, as the wildling girl you captured once urged you. They may demand that you cut your cloak to ribbons, that you swear them an oath on your father’s grave, that you curse your brothers and your Lord Commander. You must not balk, whatever is asked of you. Do as they bid you… but in your heart, remember who and what you are. Ride with them, eat with them, fight with them, for as long as it takes. And watch.”
“For what?” Jon asked.
“Would that I knew,” said Qhorin. “Your wolf saw their diggings in the valley of the Milkwater. What did they seek, in such a bleak and distant place? Did they find it? That is what you must learn, before you return to Lord Mormont and your brothers. That is the duty I lay on you, Jon Snow.”
“I’ll do as you say,” Jon said reluctantly, “but… you will tell them, won’t you? The Old Bear, at least? You’ll tell him that I never broke my oath.”
Qhorin Halfhand gazed at him across the fire, his eyes lost in pools of shadow. “When I see him next. I swear it.”
Seriously? We couldn't get ANY of that to explain what was going on?!
Speaking of things without explanations... where the hell were all of Dany's visions from the House of the Undying?! They're *kinda* important! And more than that, there was so much POTENTIAL there! I can get behind the fact that she went to the House of the Undying because they kidnapped her dragons. Good reason to get her there. But to leave out ALL of the other stuff? The visions of the Red Wedding, and Rhaegar and Elia, and the Blue Rose growing out the chink in the wall of ice, and the prophecy of threes... *sigh*
And then there's Robb. And whatever her name is in the show, even though we know her name is really Jeyne Westerling. I get that Richard Madden is a heartthrob and they wanted to expand his role in Season 2, since really, all he does is a whole lot of nothing in the 2nd book. So, ok, I'm fine with showing more of him ruling his little band of soldiers and being all King In The North-ly. I'm even ok with bring not!Jeyne into the picture earlier than in the book, because she's really just kinda brought in and plopped down in front of Catelyn with a "Say hi to my wife, mom!" However... Robb is Ned Stark's son. He has honor running through his veins instead of blood. In the books, he takes a wound and is being cared for by Jeyne in her family's castle. While he's there, he hears word of Theon's "murder" of Bran and Rickon. Distraught with grief, he is consoled by his nurse, Jeyne. When he realizes later that he has dishonored her, he marries her to make things right, because it's the *honorable* thing to do. He's an idiot, but he's an honorable idiot.
Show!Robb decided to screw not!Jeyne because... he was mad at his mother? Because he was in WUUUUuuuvvvv? I'm sorry, but I can actually get behind Walder Frey's upcoming pissiness in this case. I can excuse a grieving Robb who married a girl he'd sullied. I can't excuse one who simply let his hormones get the best of him and rebelled against his mother.
And what the hell were those slow-moving walking zombies at the end? No. Just, no. Not in any way shape or form.
And speaking of What The Hell... how the frak does Margaery Tyrell keep her clothes on her body? What the bloody hell?
I did, however, love the Arya/Jaqen scene (and I will miss his gorgeous mug next season). Valor Morgulis indeed. And Theon actually brought a small tear to my eye. Pretty amazing considering how much I HATE the character in the book.
Oh, and Tyrion. I adore Tyrion, and the scene with Shae nearly killed me. I don't particularly *like* Shae, but I'm glad that they're keeping her motivations under wrap (unlike Littlefinger :p) because 5 books later and I STILL don't know if Shae actually cared about Tyrion or if it was all just a job to her, and they're keeping that uncertainty in the show.
And now... holy crap, it's 2:30 am. When did that happen? :p
Words cannot express how disappointed I am in this episode, and this season as a whole. I understand that changes have to be made to adapt a story from one medium to another. Really, I do. I actually enjoyed Season 1, even with the few minor quibbles I had with the changes. All that has completely gone out the window with this season, though.
First and foremost, let's talk about Stannis Baratheon. I know that Stannis is a very polarizing character, and that I have a love for him bordering on irrational. HOWEVER... they have completely fucked up his characterization by making him just as conniving and power-hungry as all of the other characters involved in the game-- by making him cheat on his (sickly? WTF?) wife because Mel whispers in his ear that she can give him a son-- by completely erasing the fact that Stannis is fighting for the throne because he feels that it is his duty to do so, as Robert's true heir. He feels he is the true King, and he's going to BE King, even if the realm doesn't want him, because it's his sworn duty to do so. Has Stannis done some questionable things in his quest for the throne? Yes. Oh, gods yes. But everything he's done has been out of necessity, as far as he's concerned. I truly don't think that he knew what he was doing when he created the shadowbaby that killed Renly. (I've always assumed that Mel had convinced him that it was part of some obscure ritual to the Red God, not that she said "Hey, let's make you an heir!" and he said "Sure thing!") And he would NOT have tried to kill Mel in cold blood by choking her to death because she didn't foresee his defeat at the Battle of the Blackwater!
I absolutely love the actor playing Stannis, but I HATE HATE HATE what they've done with his character. :(
Speaking of What-The-Hell-Did-You-Do-To-Him Characters, let's talk Littlefinger for a moment. How the hell has show!Littlefinger survived this long? He blabs about every little secret that he knows {to the person he knows it about!), he's obvious in his disdain for those he doesn't like, he's ridiculously careless, and he's stupid. Littlefinger is one of my least-liked characters in the book because I hate the things he does to the characters I like, but he's anything but stupid! Peter Baelish has risen from the son of a backwater fisherman to one of the most powerful men in the country-- he's very much the Thomas Cromwell of this world. He doesn't do it by being all "Well, maybe you shouldn't have fucked your brother. Har har har!" *sigh* We didn't even KNOW how slimy he was until at least book 3, and even then it was slow to come to light!
Let's move on to Jon/Ygritte/Qhoren Halfhand. I like Ygritte. She's not quite what got from the book, but she's close enough, and the characterization works. I have absolutely NO idea what happened with that whole plotline with her, though. In the book, Jon and crew capture her, Qhoren leaves Jon to kill her (as a test of his character), and Jon can't do it. Jon lets her go, she runs away, he goes back to his brothers. They are then attacked by Wildlings, and Halfhand EXPLAINS TO JON that they need information about Mance and his men, and that the only way they're going to get it is if Mance trusts him... and the only way Mance will trust him is if Jon pretends to join him and does something to prove his conviction. In other words, Halfhand flat out ORDERS Jon to kill him. This is of vital importance because while Mance thinks Jon has turned traitor, Jon never does in his heart. He is following orders to infiltrate Mance's merry band of wildlings and get information in any way he can. In the show, it just looked like Halfhand was insane and picked a fight with Jon for the hell of it. How difficult would it have been to add a couple of lines of dialog?
“If we are taken, you must yield.”
“Yield? But... They only spare oathbreakers. Those who join them, like Mance Rayder.”
“And you.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Never. I won’t.”
“You will. I command it of you.”
“Command it? But…”
“Our honor means no more than our lives, so long as the realm is safe. Are you a man of the Night’s Watch?”
“Yes, but-”
“There is no but, Jon Snow. You are, or you are not.”
Jon sat up straight. “I am.”
“Then hear me. If we are taken, you will go over to them, as the wildling girl you captured once urged you. They may demand that you cut your cloak to ribbons, that you swear them an oath on your father’s grave, that you curse your brothers and your Lord Commander. You must not balk, whatever is asked of you. Do as they bid you… but in your heart, remember who and what you are. Ride with them, eat with them, fight with them, for as long as it takes. And watch.”
“For what?” Jon asked.
“Would that I knew,” said Qhorin. “Your wolf saw their diggings in the valley of the Milkwater. What did they seek, in such a bleak and distant place? Did they find it? That is what you must learn, before you return to Lord Mormont and your brothers. That is the duty I lay on you, Jon Snow.”
“I’ll do as you say,” Jon said reluctantly, “but… you will tell them, won’t you? The Old Bear, at least? You’ll tell him that I never broke my oath.”
Qhorin Halfhand gazed at him across the fire, his eyes lost in pools of shadow. “When I see him next. I swear it.”
Seriously? We couldn't get ANY of that to explain what was going on?!
Speaking of things without explanations... where the hell were all of Dany's visions from the House of the Undying?! They're *kinda* important! And more than that, there was so much POTENTIAL there! I can get behind the fact that she went to the House of the Undying because they kidnapped her dragons. Good reason to get her there. But to leave out ALL of the other stuff? The visions of the Red Wedding, and Rhaegar and Elia, and the Blue Rose growing out the chink in the wall of ice, and the prophecy of threes... *sigh*
And then there's Robb. And whatever her name is in the show, even though we know her name is really Jeyne Westerling. I get that Richard Madden is a heartthrob and they wanted to expand his role in Season 2, since really, all he does is a whole lot of nothing in the 2nd book. So, ok, I'm fine with showing more of him ruling his little band of soldiers and being all King In The North-ly. I'm even ok with bring not!Jeyne into the picture earlier than in the book, because she's really just kinda brought in and plopped down in front of Catelyn with a "Say hi to my wife, mom!" However... Robb is Ned Stark's son. He has honor running through his veins instead of blood. In the books, he takes a wound and is being cared for by Jeyne in her family's castle. While he's there, he hears word of Theon's "murder" of Bran and Rickon. Distraught with grief, he is consoled by his nurse, Jeyne. When he realizes later that he has dishonored her, he marries her to make things right, because it's the *honorable* thing to do. He's an idiot, but he's an honorable idiot.
Show!Robb decided to screw not!Jeyne because... he was mad at his mother? Because he was in WUUUUuuuvvvv? I'm sorry, but I can actually get behind Walder Frey's upcoming pissiness in this case. I can excuse a grieving Robb who married a girl he'd sullied. I can't excuse one who simply let his hormones get the best of him and rebelled against his mother.
And what the hell were those slow-moving walking zombies at the end? No. Just, no. Not in any way shape or form.
And speaking of What The Hell... how the frak does Margaery Tyrell keep her clothes on her body? What the bloody hell?
I did, however, love the Arya/Jaqen scene (and I will miss his gorgeous mug next season). Valor Morgulis indeed. And Theon actually brought a small tear to my eye. Pretty amazing considering how much I HATE the character in the book.
Oh, and Tyrion. I adore Tyrion, and the scene with Shae nearly killed me. I don't particularly *like* Shae, but I'm glad that they're keeping her motivations under wrap (unlike Littlefinger :p) because 5 books later and I STILL don't know if Shae actually cared about Tyrion or if it was all just a job to her, and they're keeping that uncertainty in the show.
And now... holy crap, it's 2:30 am. When did that happen? :p