On the one hand, I really liked this episode. Nice pace, good scenes, it feels like they've finally figured out how to touch on stories without it feeling samey and monotone. They've realized how to move the camera and keep the dialogue to the point, and lead into the next scenes better.
On the other hand...good God, there's a ton of people in this cast.
I mean, it takes an hour just to do roll call. It feels like we're basically gonna have half a season, because it takes 2 episodes just to touch on everyone, so it's really only gonna be 5 episodes this season. Now I understand why they split the book in half. It's only gonna
feel like half a season happened at this rate.
Question, though. Has it been like 4 years since they shot the last season?
All these kids grown. Bran and Rickon look like young men.
That whole BROH crew is always so extra. Lowkey comic relief, time and again. I expected them to be the Dany's of this season, and just wander around, pretending to be dead and not doing much, but uh...The Reeds? Who the **** are The Reeds? Every time new people show up bad things happen. I know you, George.
And Bran's a Warg now? That whole North of the wall scene reminded me how disappointed I was with how they did the Qhorin stuff. That was the last thing I read, and it would've been so easy for them to make something more dramatic and interesting and compelling out of that chase. I mean, look...now they're introducing the seeing creatures from it. It's just a shame, and it makes this Jon Snow stuff ring hollow. If they knew they weren't gonna have much of the whitewalkers, that could've been the drive to show the seriousness of that war up there.
But as ****** up as it sounds...every time Catelyn hears that someone in her family died, Michelle Fairley puts in her best work. That Jon Snow story, man.
Her honesty makes me like her more, and it helps that I agree with her, that the nurse sucks, and Theon did her family dirt.
Speaking of...
I feel not pity in the least for Theon. Just some confusion and anticipation. Turn all the screws on that ****. But seriously...where the hell did Simon from Misfits come from? How does George not get tired of doubling his cast every book?
That said, I love the Tyrells. All of them. They feel like modern people in this old world. And I really didn't like Natalie Dormer last season. She had the same face for everything and had nothing going except her ****, but in short time she's been taking over. I feel like she's gonna have that Theon role of a small backup character, rising up and lowkey being the lead of the season. Maybe.
But her family. How many ******g Tyrells are there? Nany Tyrell goes HARD.
Ever since her pops lost his head, Sansa's been a real character. I had real fear for her talking out of turn like that. She's like a walking reminder of everything that's gone wrong with the Lannisters taking the crown. I constantly think they're gonna take her head every other episode. I mean, the city has ears and a mean bite, but that whole scene was so well directed. It feels like every time the Tyrells sit to eat, it's time to sit up and keep your eyes open.
I don't like Shae, though. Knockoff Noomi Rapace. It just feels like she can't really act in English and it comes out monotone. Every time I see her, she has me missing Roz, cuz there's just no spark with her. Compared to all the great female characters on this show, she's obviously the weakest, but at least she's a reason to give Tyrion more scenes. I feel like her whole reason for still being there was for that Tywin and Tyrion convo/beatdown to have teeth.
And it's weird, but I don't think I hate Joffrey anymore. I'm sure he'll bring it back with a vengeance, but this chick Margeary figured out how to tame him. She found the only thing he cares about, his weapons he uses to compensate.
Brienne sonning the Kingslayer.
What the hell are the flayed men? I feel like that's the 10th time someone mentioned them in the show.
Everyone got taken in by someone new this episode. Brienne and Jamie with the flayed men, Theon with Simon, BROH with the Reeds, Arya with the Hound, Sansa with the Tyrells. The chess pieces keep moving quickly, and the worst part is...we're 2 episodes in and it still feels like the premiere isn't finished.
Really good episode.
There wasn't any Stannis/Mel/Davos, no Iron Islands, no Dany and barely anything above the wall and it was
still a stuffed hour. :x