Scots Taffer on 20/4/2012 at 02:17
So Game of Thones Season 2 is upon us as I'm sure everyone is aware due to the marketing frenzy with GIANT BILLBOARDS of gothic text announcing various catchphrases from the show and that everyone and their dog is now reading the books on every bus and train in the world.
But what I'm happy to report is that Season 2 is actually very good.
Season 1 did a lot of things right in a casting and production sense, but got a lot of things wrong in the pacing, characterisation and whistle-stop touring of Westeros - there was no time to ponder the tragic themes that ran through Ned's storyline, nor a real opportunity to understand what we were losing and gaining by the end of the breadth of the first season's storyline.
However, Season 2 is doing a fantastic job of exploring theme and taking time with the right characters (lots of Tyrion & Co in Kings Landing as well as Beyond The Wall and in Pyke, not so much with Stannis, Renly, Robb, Dany, etc).
The big thematic question on everyone's lips so far is what is power, how does one get it and what should one do with it - obviously this mostly centres around the throne politics of Kings Landing but it has found suitable parallels in the brief stopovers we've had with Renly, Dragontone, Pyke and others.
The characters feel suitably lived in too, so rather than struggling with that initial "is this guy Tyrion" feeling, we're used to their portrayals by now (and they're staying very consistent in the writing), and the ancilliary effect of this is that the new characters arrive with that lived-in feeling also. Stannis, Melisandre, Davos, the Greyjoys, so far they have all complemented the existing cast and the tone of the series without me even having to think about their take on the character.
Keeping the scenes more intimate and dialogue-driven in this early stretch of episodes is also hopefully a key stategic win for HBO in being able to deliver in spades when we get to the end of the season and the Battle of Blackwater with a big budget spend in the right place.
Also, blessedly, the sexposition has dropped to a reasonable level and I don't feel like I'm watching True Blood anymore.
SubJeff on 20/4/2012 at 08:34
Yeah, enjoying it. Its slowed down a bit and its a little frustrating, but I guess its for the best. I hope they have the pacing right.
Dia on 20/4/2012 at 12:05
I was initially a little frustrated with how slowed down the pace has become, but hopefully it's for the better. When I first started watching GoT (after reading the novels - those published so far, at least) I was afraid that I might become bored, thinking, ok- now this is going to happen; but instead I'm thrilled at how closely they're sticking to the original storyline. The actors' portrayals of those characters is definitely excellent and it's exciting to see the characters come to life. I just hope this season doesn't start getting bogged down with the slower pace but stays true to its supposed intentions of providing a more fleshing-out of the individual arcs/themes of the original story.
I do so love watching Tyrion make Cersei squirm.
PeeperStorm on 20/4/2012 at 19:09
Slowed down? In three episodes they've covered about half of the second book.
I'm still amused by all the Exposition Hooker scenes. Every time they want to do an info dump we get a brothel or bedroom. Gotta find someplace to put all that patented HBO nudity.
Watching Varys and Tyrion together...I could watch an entire episode that consisted of nothing but them trading lines over dinner. Varys's expression when Tyrion told him that he planned to marry Myrcella off to Theon was pure comedy gold. Sort of a combination of "WTF?" and "I'm trying really hard to keep a straight face" at the same time.
Scots Taffer on 20/4/2012 at 23:38
Quote Posted by PeeperStorm
Slowed down? In three episodes they've covered about half of the second book.
Finally! People saying this season is slow is mind boggling to me. It's zipping along. In 2 episodes Tyrion has gone from arriving in Kings Landing to basically running the Small Council and deposing of two villains from S1.
Quote Posted by PeeperStorm
Varys's expression when Tyrion told him
that he planned to marry Myrcella off to Theon was pure comedy gold.
I read his expression as "I'm mildly offended at this ruse".
Scots Taffer on 21/4/2012 at 00:16
Ahaha ok that is more of a WTF face
Mr.Duck on 21/4/2012 at 01:24
More of a "You put it in WHERE!?" face. Possibly a "You shaved the dog's WHAT!?" expression.
Priceless nonetheless.
And yeah, I don't mind the slower pace :)
Queue on 24/4/2012 at 14:56
I hope your uterus falls out.
