Markji wrote:

BigDaddyG wrote:First episode was awesome. Would've been nice to see Mance Rayder strumming a lute as he was going to meet Jon. But that would've been more fan service and was not essential.
The Dinkman was awesome again, but I'm kinda curious what fan reaction will be toward him this season. His character starts to take a turn for the whiney this season.
Marge Tyrell is smoking. I barely noticed Lean Heady in that dinner scene. I don't know who plays Marge Tyrell, but she's found herself a new stalk..er, I mean fan
The scene with the giant was awesome and Selmy's appearance was bad ass. I'm glad that ditched they went straight to the point B with Selmy's appearance and ditched the stuff from the books.
How the hell did Ghost get back from being with Jon to helping Tarly out? Do men really need nipples? Maybe you guys have answers to these questions.

Agree. Loved the first episode. Good opening to the season to catch everyone up on each of the storylines.

Peter Dinklage(Tyrion) and Charles Dance (Tywin Lanister) had a great scene where Tyrion asks for Lordship of Casterly Rock (The Lanister seat) and Tywin delivers a great response. Charles Dance always wonderfully plays the suave villian, and he has done a fabulous job in all 3 seasons. He hasn't received much credit from people but he is intimidating.

The unsullied scene was also well done. They had 400 actors there - probably a lot of locals-trained and orchestrated to make the moves they did. Added more realism than the 1st season where they would have only a small band of men who were supposed to represent an entire Kaleesar. Also means their budget has been greatly increased. It's becoming more like a movie.

The nipple scene - I knew it was coming and it was too painful to watch. Uh-h!. So I wimped out and turned away.

Emilia Clark (Daenerys) has also grown tremendously as an actress from the first season to this one. She is much more convincing as a leader and the Mother of Dragons.

Ghost: They have changed some things from the books. In the HBO series Ghost wasn't with Jon when Jon was captured by the wildlings. While he was in the books. The lack of a battle scene (even a small one) with the host of white walkers and ghosts vs the Night's Watch was a bit disappointing. The transition from the closing season 2 scene didn't work IMO, but I'm sure the budgetary constraints were the reasons.

BigDaddyG wrote:Episode 2 was awesome. Funny seeing Maergery Tyrell play Joff like a hot bartender working for tips. Thoros of Myr looked like even more of a badass than I imagined. But I think it's kinda tough to see the Brotherhood without Banner storyline continue if Beric Dondarion is left out. As bad as the Theon torture scene was, I got the sense that they were much worse in the book.
Also, HBO didn't an awesome job casting German porn actress to play Schae. Two thumbs up on that one
Jack Gleeson continue to kill as King Jof: "He was a known....degenerate." That line killed me.

Looks like Breic Dondarrion appears in the next episode.

Richard Dormer (Beric Dondarrion)

The photo on the right was taken in 2006, so it's understandable that Richard Dormer (of no relation to Natalie Dormer) looks much younger than his character Beric Dondarrion, leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners. The Brotherhood is a band of citizen soldiers fighting a guerrilla war against the raiders of the Riverlands, which has clearly taken a quite a toll on the bearded, eye-patch-sporting Beric.

http://tv.yahoo.com/photos/game-of-thrones-what-does-cast-really-look-like-slideshow/richard-dormer-photo--1217013415.html

I agree with your other comments. I think the casting and acting/directing has been superb in the entire series. I am also appreciating the actress playing Sansa more. She is doing a great job being very prissy - which is why we all can't stand her and I just roll my eyes when she goes into that mode. But that is what she is supposed to be portraying. She has a great scene with the newly introduced Lady Olenna Tyrell (Diana Rigg), who also captures the scene.

Diana Rigg (Lady Olenna Tyrell)

Diana Rigg is famously known for her roles as Emma Peel on TV's "Avengers" and Tracy, the only gal who could ever get 007 to put a ring on it, in the 1969 Bond flick "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." Forty-plus years later, the legendary actress has her head all wrapped up (literally) in the war for the Iron Throne as Lady Olenna. Unlike Rigg, Lady Olenna apparently never smiles or gives her hair some air.

VDesai wrote:Margaery seducing Joff with the crossbow was hot. Margaery is super hot- much hotter than I thought she'd be from the books.

I thought the Thoros scenes were different. Looks like they combined Thoros and Tom of the Sevenstrings? Thoros didnt have a ton of personality but Tom of the Sevens (the Bard) certainly did. Beric doesn't come in till later and apparently they have cast him.

Jojen/Meera. Jojen- I was anticipating some tiny green eyed scary kid. Still was good to get this storyline underway as its pretty crucial.

You're right about Thoros. Pre- Ned beheading Thoros was Robert Baratheon's partner in crime in terms of partying. But he became more introspective and devout in the books after he joined the Brotherhood. It kind of explains some of the **** he's able to do later. Maybe they show more of his transformation on screen. I'm happy they brought in the Reeds. I think Jojen seems more knowledgable and sure of himself this episode than he does in the books. It would've been cool if he said his trademark line about dying lol
Not feeling Mance so far. I think I was expecting someone a bit more charismatic. Also, I'm all for the girl power and ****, but people should realize that Jaime was tired, chained and without armor when he fought Brienne.

BigDaddyG wrote:Also, is that the same guy who played Beric in season 1?

I agree, I also liked how Jojen Reed was portrayed in this episode rather than the schzophrenic character in the books.

Markji wrote:Ouch. My hand. Uh-h!

Spoiler coming
In episode 3 when Barriston Selmy tells Dany that her brother Rhaegar was the last dragon, Dany gives a short quip under her breath, "Not the last". (Targaryens were referred to as Dragons, just like Lannisters are called Lions, and Starks , wolves, etc). In Episode 4 - Daenerys really shows her stuff. I won't write any more until everyone has seen the episode. Enjoy it.

VDesai wrote:Previous episode was one of the best in the series IMO.

That said, the Theon storyline kind of going around in circles must be confusing as hell to viewers who arent familiar with the books.

It makes sense to leave it to just one Tyrell brother. If we're introducing Willas and Garlan and all these people its gonna get confusing real fast. It also looks like they cut the entire Ser Dontas Hollard part.

At the end of each book they have a list of each house and who the major players are. I referred to that a lot when I first read the books. Perhaps they can do the same thing on HBO - show a picture of each character and who they are; what they are doing in the story-line. I think it would be helpful.