Game of Thrones 4×10 – The Children Review

Game Of Thrones Watch: Season 4 Finale - The Children image

Oh hello, so I may have missed a few episodes- we’re all entitled to a break, check the contract- but here I am to talk the season finale of Game of Thrones with anyone unable to walk into my room and have a full-on conversation with me about it. Talk about a finale! While nothing completely shocking happened, I posit that this was the biggest finale of the series so far. Just because the penultimate episode wasn’t as grand- I reckon- as earlier seasons’ penultimate episodes which always left their finales seeming a bit wanting.

Everyone should have seen it by now but just in case, beyond here be spoilers!

The aptly named episode, ‘The Children’, checked in with all the major players- save for the Boltons, Greyjoys, those at the Vale and the Tyrells- levelling the playing field ever-so-slightly and setting us up for further amazement come April (hopefully) 2015. Bran made it to the mystical weirwood tree, escaping very Ray Harryhausen skeleton-zombies and losing Jojen along-the-way (NOT how it happened it the book- Jojen just goes missing we don’t even know what happened to him) to meet the Children of the Forest. The Hound and Brienne’s epic swordfight turned into a brutal fight to the death, which left the Hound worse off, when Brienne figures out that Arya is…well Arya. Daenerys chained up her dragons, and the Lannisters continue to demonstrate the right and so so wrong way to love your family. Jaime and Tyrion, the right way. Jaime and Cersei, the worst way. Tyrion and Tywin, the long john way.

People will hate Dany for having to chain up Viserion and Rhaegal, however it had to be done. Granted the real danger- Drogon- escaped imprisonment. It’s a hard decision for Dany to chain up her babies, however she’s a ruler and she knows that her people must come first. It’s just a bit unfair that V and R cop it for D’s bad behaviour. The scene really packs a punch, no?

Remember when I wondered at how Shae and Tyrion’s relationship would end? They had altered Shae’s character and made her much more likeable until the moment she betrayed Tyrion at his trial. As soon as that happened I knew that this was coming, that shot of Tyrion sitting there with Shae’s head slumped upside down beside him is everything. Interesting that they chose not to mention Tysha, Jaime and Tyrion parted on good terms because of this, a far cry from how they depart in the book. Also, ‘wherever whores go’ was notably absent during that crossbow/privy scene. Or the fact that Tywin doesn’t in fact shit gold.

‘But you will fly’ finally some good news for Bran, but we know he can’t fly if he can’t even walk- right? Hodor. Seeing the Children was great, is the pyrokinetic old-as-balls kid-looking thing Leaf? I would imagine so, but she does not explicitly give her name so *shrug*. Bran warging into Hodor to help him fight is still so cool, if only someone could now teach Arya, Sansa and Jon to do the same consciously it would be awesome.

Speaking of Jon at the wall, it was nice of him to take Ygritte’s body back north of the wall and burn it there. A better funeral than some. Stannis, always a bit late, finally turns up at the wall. I liked his interaction with Jon, but not as much as Jon’s conversation with Mance. Have I mentioned how much I like that Davos is basically Stannis’ hype-man? Still no Val though. But Jon spotting Melisandre through the fire was rather foreboding.

Although it never ocurred in the book Brienne and the Hound’s fight was pretty awesome, if gruesome- although not as gruesome as the Mountain and the Red Viper’s. When Brienne Mike Tyson’d the Hound I was like NOPE, NOPE. I wondered if they were going to change how Arya leaves the Hound and I’m glad they kept it in. Arya on her way to Braavos is the most uplifting thing this season. Even if she’s on her way there because she’s all alone and feels that she has no one and no where else to turn to.

Honourable Mentions:
- RIP: To the girl Arya used to be, to Ygritte, Jojen and the Hound (?) and sure, to Tywin too. Oh and special mention RIP to Oberyn Martell, may your sand snakes avenge you.
- What’s Varys doing sitting next to the box Tyrion’s stowed away in on that ship? If he does go with him, which I’m not sure is what’s happening, it would be rather insteresting to see.
- Valar Morghulis. Valar Dohaeris.
- SPOILERS!!! Kinda
No Lady Stoneheart?!

Game of Thrones 4×05 – First Of His Name Review

Today’s lesson (adult) kids, is plan ahead. Game of Thrones has always delighted in seeing the best laid plans of Kings and men go awry. However sometimes, with enough know-how can-do cunning, your schemes will fall into place because you planted the seeds early and are a conniving son of a gun. The biggest reveal of “First of His Name” centered around one Littlefinger in a number of different pies from the get go- but where’s the kickback and when does the scheming end? Evidently it’s an ongoing endeavor. Something to keep one going.

But is scheming a better motivator than hate or vengeance? Motives, everyone has them. We’ve talked about how one’s motives can make or break a character, especially in a world where honourable intentions more often than not lead to your death. Just ask Ned Stark…or Robb. Oh wait.

Hate and a keen sense of justice/revenge fuels Arya, and this week in ‘The Hound Knows Best’ he clouts Arya over the head when she tries to stick him with the pointy end (Needle) and proceeds to tell her that her fancy footwork would be worth naught if confronted by someone whose will to win is stronger. The show pushes that idea at us like a street-corner drug dealer, the will to do anything is important and just having it is a damn gift. But what happens when others oppose it? What happens when your will comes up against anothers’? War, my dear. Conflict…everything that makes Game of Thrones such a cutt-throat environment. But what are the limits? Oberyn tells Cersei that they do not hurt little girls in Dorne, another dig at the fact that the Lannisters were involved in the murder of his sister and her children, and Cersei responds that little girls are hurt everywhere in the world.

Brienne seems to be suffering from an internal struggle, a little to do with ‘What To Do With My Unwanted Squire’ and a lot to do with ‘How The Bloody Hell Do I Find Sansa Stark?’. While Brienne and Pod’s scenes this episode were welcome, I didn’t particularly find them necessary beyond offering some comedic relief. Not that an episode with ample Hound and Arya time lack any comedic relief. Sure it’s undercut with moments of stoniness (when Arya says the last name on her list) but all in all the Hound and Arya’s segments never fail to give me a laugh or two.

Brann warging into Hodor (again) was awesome, except for the fact that Bran made Hodor kill a guy- sure Lock was ready to kill Bran but Hodor’s expression upon seeing the blood on his hands that fleeting impression of anguish- the confusion giving way to a the horror of realisation. Kristian Nairn does an impeccable job portraying our favourite gentle giant’s reaction and subsequent ‘compartmentalization’ as he hurries to cut Bran free at Bran’s orders. I like that this turn takes us closer to that moment where Bran and Jon’s paths almost cross but do not, it’s an interesting divergence from the book that Bran here is given the choice between reuniting with his brother and continuing on with the Reeds to his ‘destiny’. To find the three-eyed crow and that Weirwood tree, yes?

Favourite moment of the episode? Jon reunites with Ghost. After, you know, they kill all the mutineers.

This show is equal parts visually stunning and jarring, so many beautiful shots dispersed amongst harsh scenes of brutality.

 

The trailer sure did get me, I know Dany isn’t coming to King’s Landing any time soon but her putting the question forward about the possibility of taking it got me excited. And with the show, you never know. They’ve already, possibly, spoiled the bookreaders last week by introducing a character we only know in ‘myths and legends’. And throwing us some completely new-to-readers sequences and story-arcs so it wouldn’t surprise me too much if they change up Dany’s story even more than they already have. However Dany finally decides to do the responsible thing and ‘Do what Queens Do’ and rule. While Ser Jorah wonders how long before Daario gets his ins as he watches from the sidelines.

Until next week when we get to see Tyrion’s trial begin and YAAAAASSS YARA (Asha in the books) GREYJOY IS BACK TO BE A BADASSSSSS. KINGSMOOT KINGSMOOT KINGSMOOT. (We probably won’t get a Kingsmoot this early but at least she’s going to try to rescue her bro.)

Honourable Mentions:

- That scene where Lysa latches her face to Littlefinger practically screamed ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’.

- We’ve always known Lysa was crazy-cakes but wow. Interesting that they should have her reveal Littlefinger’s plot from the get go, but it gives us room for other dynamics I suppose.

- Poor Sansa, out of the pot and into the fire. So when does she find out that the person who’s just saved her, is likely to be the reason the majority of her family are dead?

- “Sister? Or Mother?” Margaery you are class, Cersei’s face though.

- The Reeds, putting it all on the line.

- Ramsay Snow you are a headcase but damn, looking forward to seeing more of you.

Game of Thrones 4×03 – Breaker of Chains Review

GOT.CerseiTroubling episode, no? Well, more troubling than usual that is. Let’s talk about what transpired tonight on our favourite cutthroat show, Game of Thrones. Most of the episode consisted of the immediate aftermath of the Purple Wedding (a framed Tyrion, a Sansa on the run!) while the rest of it was spent playing catch-ups with some of our other favourites. Beware of SPOILERS.

‘Breaker of Chains’ sets us up for what is sure to be the trial of the century, preparing us for the far-reaching ramifications of Joffrey’s murder, interspersed with scenes of Dany at Slaver’s Bay, Arya and The Hound on their way to the Eyrie, Jon Snow, Samwell Tarly and Gilly at Castle Black- Littlefinger and- haha jokes, he’s no one’s favourite. Okay, maybe he’s someone’s favourite- but not mine.

But first thing’s first, should we get right into that scene? I think we should, because the fandom is split, I mean really split, about what occurred in the Sept between Jaime and Cersei. On one hand, this series has never shied away from using rape as a plot device, while it’s not pretty you should know what you’ve invested your time in, and on the other hand there’s a chance that something has been lost in the translation from the page to our screen that changed what occurred in the Sept from consensual sex to outright rape. As someone who sped-read through all five books in the span of a week after binge-watching the first season, yes it’s possible when you’re procrastinating, I won’t pretend to be an expert on the finer details. However having said that, this was one of the scenes that stuck in my mind for a bit after reading A Storm of Swords because of the ew factor. I mean, c’mon guys- nasty incest is already gross without the added factor of nasty rapey incest beside the corpse of your nasty inbred child in your world’s place of worship? Ya nasty.

In the book, the scene could be interpreted as consensual- although the fact that the chapter is told from Jaime’s POV kind of pulls that into question. All of the information that is given to us reflects his subjective perception of what’s going on, and upon a second/third glance at the scene, Cersei does also protest at the start in the scene on the page. So is it really consensual in the book? Portraying something completely from a particular character’s point of view is hard to do onscreen, the closest way to mimic the book’s format would be to have a voice-over narrating and that’s just all kinds of no, amiright? It could be that by simply taking what occurs at face value and translating it onto the scene, stripped of any internal focalisation, the show depicts a much more unbiased account of what went down in that Sept. Ya dig?

I don’t want to spend anymore time talking about it, because other things did happen in this episode, but I’m curious to see what others made of the scene other than the usual ‘ew, naaaasty incest again‘. I continue to lament Cersei’s lack of agency and how it’s informed the development of her character- and the continued perpetuation of the patriarchy and how shitty it is for women in Westeros. We’ve got fans yelling about how the Sept scene undoes Jaime’s development so far (losing a hand for saving Brienne from rape and all that jazz) but what of Cersei’s?

Say what you will about Cersei, but that woman loves her children. Her character is defined by the men around her, Cersei is the daughter of a power-hungry man who married her off to a drunkard that never really wanted her, and the female half of a twincestuous relationship- with the other half not hearing her say no on the occasions she does say no to nastiness- she hates her younger brother not just for his being a dwarf but for -in her eyes- killing their mother and perhaps one day bringing about her own demise. Not to mention the fact that she spawns a monster of a son- who by the very fact that he was male was given the power (if not the respect) she felt she deserved. She wants to be her father, but she can’t because she’s a woman. Oh to be a woman ‘of power’ in Westeros, huh? Kudos to Lena Headey for her performance. For someone who hasn’t read the books she sure can embody that haughty, crazily trying to make up for her complete lack of agency, ruthless and utterly protective of her children lioness rather well. Joffrey was a monster but, as I said last week, his death was a tragedy for someone- his mother.

Tywin, not too bothered by the death of his eldest grandson, merely points out to the next in line (the sweet-tempered Tommen) that he is the next in line and gives him a history lesson on what makes a good king- over Joffrey’s grave and in the face of his grieving mother. Cersei’s expression as they walk off is one of sad-realisation that her role, after everything she’s put in or sacrificed, is so reduced that she can’t even keep her children from dying or at the very least in her own care.

Someone, for whom Joffrey’s death was not a tragedy was the Queen of Thorns. While Margaery is unsettled by what she witnessed, further strengthening the idea for viewers that she wasn’t involved in her new husband’s early demise, the Queen of Thorns is quick to say what we we’re all thinking, “You may not have enjoyed watching him die, but you enjoyed it more than you would’ve been being married to him, I can promise you that.” Lady Olenna needs to be around to show me how to life like she does- and how to poison kings without any of the backlash.

It’s good to see Arya and the Hound doing well- and the Hound continually teaching Arya the facts of their hellish life. Even if it means smashing and stealing from a farmer and his daughter who did nothing but take them in and give them food- after Arya’s quick wits saw her easily lie to the poor man about the Hound being her father and fighting for the Tullys. Which brings me to a very important question that’s gnawed at me since the Red Wedding, what happened to the Blackfish? Catelyn’s uncle? I mean I know what happens to him in the books, sorta, but we haven’t heard a word about Arya’s baddass great uncle. If the larger theme of this episode is the idea of ‘survival of the fittest’, the Blackfish is sure to have survived the Red Wedding. The Hound really hammers the idea that the weak die and the strong survive into Arya’s head- reminding her that most of her family is without a head for thinking that their world was an honourable place where justice prevails and the good come out on top.

Closer to the wall we’re confronted with the danger of the Wildlings breach and what it means for those poor folk caught in the crossfire. Once again, the Wildlings are the fittest in this case and when those Thenns tell that young boy they’re going to consume his mother and father the idea that being part of ‘the fittest’ perhaps means losing most of your humanity. We get to see Jon Snow! And he’s showing some sound judgement in regards to how the Night’s Watch should approach the ‘Wildling Problem’. Seeing Ygritte exercising her right as a free woman was great, but man the brutal killing of innocent folk is always a difficult thing to watch.

Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones - Breaker of Chains

And finally Daenerys Targaryan, ending the episode with a bang. She catapults barrels full of broken slave collars, a symbolic move and one that should prove fruitful, working in her favour as she diplomatically navigates herself, again, into the position of the people’s champion- she has the eyebrow down pat. It doesn’t hurt that she is also a rousing orator and her champion, Daario, basically owned the slave masters of Meereen’s champion. Dany doesn’t use her dragons this time, choosing the simpler avenue- her words. For a young Queen who initially began with less agency than Cersei, she has become one of the main power holders of the show. Sure, it’s all the way across the Narrow Sea- but everyone knows that eventually Dany will find her way to Westeros. Eventually.

Honourable Mentions:

- Because I spent so much time up there on other things I didn’t get to discuss my favourite heartbreaking scene from the episode. Tyrion’s conversation with his squire, Podrick. You come away heartbroken and fearful- both for Tyrion and the most loyal squire in all of Westeros- because it’s just not fair, is it? I’m sorry, but if you didn’t feel anything during this scene you’re a monster. Because Pod not only tries to smuggle Tyrion all the things he refuses to betray him- thus putting a bulls-eye on his own back. Honour is a dangerous thing to have in Westeros, especially in King’s Landing.

- Ugh, Littlefinger returns. That slimey slimey man. Sure he saves Sansa- but why? Also, he knew what would occur at the wedding, because he had something to do with it? Why does he crush the necklace? Why have it given to her to take it, crush a stone and throw it down onto Dontos pin-cushioned corpse? Spoiler alert, I do believe the foreshadowing is strong in this one. Alayne Stone?
- “When it comes to love, I don’t choose sides.” Oberyn explaining bi-sexuality in less than ten words tho’. I will admit, while his seksi time scenes may be lulz- I feel it detracts from his overall baddassery. When Tywin interrupts to speak to Oberyn about poisons, serving as the third judge in Tyrion’s trial and whatnot you find that Oberyn’s poison backstory is really stripped down. There’s more to this Dornish man than seksii-times with both men and woman and his excellent wordplay- he founded his own sellsword company for Stranger’s sake. So here’s to the show giving us more bamf and less fudgery.
- Samwell and Gilly and little baby Sam join us, hi Cassie, this week. It’s understandable that Sam would be protective of Gilly- he’s a decent bloak if a bit of a dunce- so duncey everyone thinks he’s bullshitting about killing a Wight. However he just comes off as patronising and his efforts a bit in vain.
- BOOK SPOILERS AHOY! Seeing Gilly’s baby again makes me wonder, have they completely shafted the so-called Wildling Prince storyline? Mance Raydar’s wife, Dalla, his baby (the Wildling Prince) and Dalla’s hot sister Val are noticeably absent- both onscreen and unmentioned. It’s an odd choice considering the large part played by Val at the Wall, which involves the Wildling Prince- Gilly’s baby and the Red Woman and an eventual trip across the Narrow Sea.

Game of Thrones Trailer #2 - “I Will Do What Queens Do. I Will Rule.”

*Internal screaming*

The latest Game of Thrones trailer is upon us and we are beside ourselves with excitement. Seriously, it is all I could do to stop myself from running around like a wildling yelling ‘The WHITE WALKERS ARE COMING’ but I would look insane. Instead, let’s look at what made me weep with utter joy during- because our favourite HBO show will be returning on the 6th (7th for NZ on SoHo?) of April.

Quotes that had me crying:

Arya: “Joffrey, Cersei, Tywin Lannister, The Red Woman. I can’t sleep until I say the names.”

The Hound: “The names of every person in Westeros?”

Arya: “Only the ones I’m going to kill.”

_________________

Daenerys: “I will do what Queens do. I will rule.”

_________________

Oberyn Martell: “The Lannisters aren’t the only ones who pay their debts.”

_________________

Jon Snow: “All we can give him now, is justice.”

_________________

Tyrion: “If you want justice, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

_________________

Cersei: “The day will come when your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth. And you will know the debt is paid.”

Game of Thrones Season 4 Trailer…Sneak Peek

We get a full trailer in two days, but in the mean time the Game of Thrones marketing team have utilised their Vine page to give us some sneak peeks of the trailer.

Awkward, they won’t embed for us. Well here’s a link to the HBO Vine.

Although everything is under 30 seconds it’s enough for us to be completely amped for the trailer. What are you most looking forward to? For me it may be the Red Viper. Gah, Oberyn Martell! Who’ll be played by Pedro Pascal.

I am Oberyn Martell, a Prince of Dorne. Princess Elia was my sister, Princess Elia of Dorne. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children. I came to hear you confess. Now say her name.

Game of Thrones Finale: 3×10 - ‘Mhysa’ Review

We start where we last left off, our heroes slain in the house after the grievous breach of Guest Right by Walder Frey. (Have you figured out a way, bar alcoholism, to make the pain stop? You never will, muahahaha! Kidding.) You know, I actually didn’t think they’d include the bit with Grey Wind’s head and Robb’s body. But they did, and seeing it made me as queasy as reading about it in the book did. Having Arya see it, that was its own special kind of adaptation meanness. This episode was all about the wind down from the Rains of Castamere, checking in with some characters, before setting up for season 4.

Fuck yeah Asha (I mean Yara) Greyjoy!
Fuck yeah Arya Stark! Because after seeing what she saw, knowing what she knows, it would only take a few words from some soldiers to send her over the edge. Bet he was mostly talking shit, that’s what you get though. Talk shit, get daggered. Maisie Williams actually scared me a little here. Not just because she stabbed him, but the way she slowly walked up behind him whilst he spoke. Yes, I’m waiting for the Cat of the Canals.
Then, fuck yeah Ygritte! Which, incidentally belongs in the ‘Stop it, because it hurts’ bucket. You just know that she wasn’t going in for the kill shot, if she’d wanted Jon dead then he’d be dead. However despite his betrayal, she loves him and I think she really just wanted to hurt him as badly as he hurt her. Rose Leslie was amazing here.

Reek, Reek, rhymes with meek. Oh dear, Ramsay’s everything we could hope for in a completely psychotic bastard. Speaking of bastards, Gendry’s set free by the Onion knight after they bond. I’m glad Davos managed to turn his new found reading skill to his advantage, reading the message from the Night’s Watch and giving it to Stannis at the most opportune time.

Giving Shae a proper storyline on the show was a huge mistake, because the next season could prove to be so much more heartbreaking because of it. Also, show Sansa is a lot nicer to Tyrion than book Sansa. Speaking of deviances, we could fill this post with them, I want to quickly touch upon the decision to bring Jaime to King’s Landing. I know they sped up his storyline by quite a bit, but did they have to hurry him home before a certain Wedding? It changes a few things.

Tywin’s one of the characters, when he’s putting Joffrey back into his place, you think is so damn badass and then remember is a prick when you see how he treats his children, especially Tyrion who seems to be the one Lannister with his priorities straight.

However they chose to end the episode on a slightly more uplifting, heh literally, moment. The newly freed slaves’ acceptance of Dany as their Mhysa, Mother. I’ve seen some contention regarding that final scene, with the words ‘white saviour’ being thrown about. I’m here for the dragons, I see them flying about and that’s all it took for me to feel uplifted. Yeah nah, not weighing in the racism debate, I’m too tired and it’s almost 1am here. Ain’t nobody got time fo’ that.

Special Mentions:

- Joffrey looks a bit like an eager puppy. I need a show where Tyrion just makes potshots at Joffrey for a good half hour.

- I can’t be the only person who tittered at this.

And now The Game of Waiting begins. What are you most looking forward to for next season? Lady Stoneheart? Sand Snakes? The Red Viper? Purple Wedding?

Game of Thrones 3×01 - Valar Dohaeris Review

Valar Dohaeris, which of course means a whale’s vagina. I’m kidding, and if you didn’t catch that Anchorman reference then son of a bee sting what’s wrong with you!? Valar Dohaeris means All Men Must Serve in High Valyrian, which I suppose is a running theme for this episode, maybe even the entire show? All men… and women, hell even animals, must serve at some point. Who or what you serve can be your undoing or your survival. However I feel it isn’t just a character’s actions and loyalties at question here but their existence. In the Game of Thrones the idea of who you serve can have an impact on or is impacted by what purpose you serve. All men must also serve a purpose. Why do they even exist? Roslin, for example, it seems they’ve kept her around for more…exposition? Not sexposition- heh. I don’t know, remember when they gave us the drunken knight in season 2? SPOILER: he’s supposed to have a big part in getting Sansa out of King’s Landing in the books, however we’ve yet to see him since. They’ve changed it so that Sansa, from the get go, knows that Lord Baelish (however untrustworthy you the audience may find him) is behind her prison-break.

Dany’s dragons, (bit of a spoiler alert) enjoy that freedom, guys. Astapor and the unsullied. Am I happy with what I saw of the Unsullied? I suppose. Can’t wait for Dany to lose her shit. Already sick of what’s-his-face. WOO SER BARRISTAN!!! I liked how they portrayed the assassination attempt on Dany’s life by those pesky Warlocks. Just because they want the D. D for Dragons.

Margaery Tyrell. Seeing some Tyrell love after today’s episode. Just remember, she’s a hardball player. She knows what she’s doing. Politically, she’s got her head in the game and I like that it’s more overt in the TV series.

Joffrey’s cowardice is such a great feature. I wonder, did Joff turn out the way he did because he came after Cersei killing off Robert’s true heir? I mean, his siblings are a lot more sympathetic.

Speaking of sympathetic characters, my poor Tyrion. Sidenote: I always love a good banter between Cersei and Tyrion because he’s got the wits but she’s got the haughty bitch quips.

Oooh BURRRRN.

Right, Tyrion’s daddy issues, for good reason. Gawd Tywin’s such a douche- which is funny because (spoilers) you’ll find out if they don’t alter what happens to Tywin in the TV series. Speaking of possible outcomes, will Shae’s fate in the book series come to pass? I’ve found her characterisation on the TV show to be much more likeable than in the series so I don’t know how it’ll happen. Especially considering what happens in the book sort of fuels Tyrion to go full on rogue- well along with the events that occur at the Purple Wedding.

Review in the style of the TV show: I don’t like that Jon doesn’t have Ghost with him. Um, is there a reason? I actually can’t remember. Also, where is Mance’s missus and her hot sister? Robb, she’s your mother listen to Jeyne, wait that’s not Jeyne. Davos, you poor sod. Although I for one like that you stepped Melisandre out from the get go rather than tip toe around it. There was no Bran, Arya (and so no Gendry!), Jaime or Brienne this episode but I trust we get to see them in the next.

It was a tad hard to get a handle on this episode due to all the jumping about from character to character, location to location. I can only imagine how non-readers of the series would have felt. At least with the novel you could settle into a character a bit before the point of view changed again. However all in all I liked it, mostly because of the feels. Everyone’s susceptible to the feels and I know it’ll only get worse as the season progresses.

Special Mentions:

- You had one job, Sam Tarly, ONE JOB.
- I couldn’t help myself. The people of facebook are just way too easy!

- Now go watch the second episode’s trailer you crazy kids! HERE