Reviews

I'm just going to get it out of the way: yes, I have read the books. Yes, I prefer them to the show. But still, I understand that the books cannot be adapted word by word into a TV show. And still, WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS EPISODE?

Can anybody answer me this: WHAT HAPPENED? I mean, storyline wise, WHAT HAPPENED?

I have an answer: NOTHING. Nothing happened in this episode. Nothing of relevance. The only thing was the ending, where something actually did happen. But otherwise? Nothing at all happened. It was like "oh look, there is Cersei. Oh look, there is Tyrion. Oh look, that's Tywin corpse." And? "Nothing, there they are. You missed them, didn't you?"

OK, so you might say: this is the "the-board-is-set" episode, where they hint at us what could happen in the next. BUT NO. None of the scenes in this episodes where of any relevance. This episode might have been a "webisode" and it would have worked so much better. Because, you know what? They say this is the best series ever. The best series ever contains ten episodes per season. And they spend one of those ten on this?

On another subject: Weiss and Benioff stated that they broke their rule of "no-flashbacks" because it would work. Well guess what? IT DID NOT. That useless scene of Cersei's flashback omitted the only reason of it's existence: (yes, as a person who has read the books, I'm going to say it) SPOILER ALERT!

So, Maggy (the witch) tells Cersei "you will not wed a prince, but a king". We know what she meant: she would not marry Rhaegar Targaryen, but Robert Baratheon. She tells her "your husband will have 20 children, you will have three". We also know what that meant: Robert had many bastards, and Cersei had three illegitimate children. She also tells her "you will be queen for a while, but then a younger one will come". Yes, we also know what that meant: she's the queen, and then along comes Margery. We all know these because all of it are stated facts in the TV Show. We have seen them. SO WHAT WAS THE BLOODY POINT IN OMITTING THE OTHER THING MAGGY TELLS CERSEI?! WE ALREADY KNEW ALL OF THAT SHE TOLD HER!!! What was the point in not-showing that Cersei also asks Maggy how is she going to die?! Because, evidently, that's something we, the viewers, don't know!!! I hope they add THAT part in future episodes, because otherwise, I go back to my main point: in these episode absolutely nothing happened. Every scene was just a "fill-in" scene.

What a terrible way to start the new season....

OK, I warned you that there was going to be spoilers, and this time I mean it. I'm going to start with the spoiler.

Quoting his book character, "HE'S GONE! JOFFREY BARATHEON-LANNISTER IS GONE!"

As a fan of the books, I loved this scene even more than the Red Wedding, because, unlike the Red Wedding, this truly took me by surprise! Now came the TV adaptation....

The Royal Wedding was beautiful in every way. Costumes, set location, set decoration, music, lighting, performances.....I truly loved the way they filmed this scene. It was incredible.

But Jack Gleeson's performance, boy, was that a trip! When the episode began, I was thinking "well, this scene between Theon, or shall I say Reek, Ramsay, Lord Roose and Locke is so far the best scene of the episode", mainly because the performances of Iwan Rheon and Alfie Allen (Ramsay and Reek, respectively) and the chemistry between them was so delicious. But no. Star of the week? Jack Gleeson! In his final performance as incest-born Joffrey Barartheon-Lannister, Gleeson truly gave his best. Not only the moment where he chokes, but when he bullies Tyrion, that was amazing! I never thought I would say this but, Jack, I'll miss your Joffrey in GOT.

I do have to say, despite I ranked this 10-out-of-10, I do not think Lena Headey performed best. I mean, your son just died, woman, SCREAM, CRY, CURSE, SOMETHING!!!!

Anyway...I'll admit, one of my favorite episodes of GOT. One of the best.

The ones who have read the books will admit, the Red Wedding was gut-wrenching and painful, and, as compensation, we deserved the death of Joffrey. But, right now, as I am writing this, I realize....this was just as gut-wrenching as the other one....

Oh well....

After all the death of last episode, it's good to see some familiar faces back. The thing I enjoyed the most of these episode is that we feel everything is falling apart, yet however, in the end, we leave with a sense of hope that things can and will get better.

I was really glad to see Lord Balon Greyjoy (even thought at this point in the books he is already dead) reunited with Yara Greyjoy (Asha, in the books). He is a great actor, and he stands in the same way we saw him last season: undetermined to recognize Theon as his son. Yara on the other hand, at first was in the same position her father, but on her last appearance last season, we saw her soften to her brother. Now, we see her soften even more. There it is, that same "hope" again, hope that perhaps not everything is lost for Theon.

The same thing happened with Cersei. We saw her mourning all the episode, yet that flash of hope is even in her face when she sees Jaime.

Davos, same case. He is noble, and in this world we have come to know that being noble get's you killed. Yet however, lord Davos is again saved by that unlikely hope.

Also, that interaction between Bran's group with Sam's left me emotionally satisfied. We again feel everything will be alright....even though we know where they are going.

Perhaps the saddest thing of this episode was Arya, realizing she is now truly alone, perhaps even more than Sansa. And, of course, that scene between Jon and Ygritte, and their doomed romance coming to an end. We feel sad for him, yet again, when he sees Pyp and Sam, we really feel he is where he belongs.

I also enjoyed that scene between Lord Walder and Lord Bolton for two reasons: David Bradley does a marvelous Walder Frey, and that tense introduction of Roose's son, Ramsay (if you did't catch who Ramsey is, you are slower than a mule)

As I said in the beginning, I truly enjoyed this episode for the re-introduction of familiar faces. Master Aemon, you are a sight for sore eyes. As is the Wall's training yard.

Wonderful this episode, we don't feel defeated, we feel empowered. Empowered for the next season, ready for new characters (I hope that D.B. and David introduce the Martells as quick as possible!) ready for the things to come.

I used to criticize D.B. Weiss and David Benioff a lot, but with these last five episodes, they have proved to us the "A Song of Ice and Fire" die-hard fans that the book adaptation is in good hands.

Said hands have ten months to work next....all we have to do is wait....

Just 10 months....oh well.....

A Song of Ice and Fire is world-wide known fir it's realism, it's depiction of fantasy in a very realistic way. There are no heroes, no villains. Everybody is expendable.

Perhaps, in a TV Series that could change....but Game Of Thrones has proved tonight that it is not the case.

I have already read all the books, so I knew what was going to happen in tonight's episode. In the past, I have been against some things that D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have done with the adaptation of the books, but tonight, if I could, I would bend the knee to them.

Shocking, truly shocking. Even to me that I already knew.... just absolutely beautiful....

Daenyris' story scenes where great. Arya's scenes where great. Jon's scenes where great. Bran's scenes where great. Robb/Catelyn scenes....I am speechless....

I imagine that adapting such complex books is a challenge. D.B. and David proved to us tonight that they know how to do it.

I know I marked the spoiler warning, but I am not going to spoil nothing. I'll let you watch it for yourselves. Enjoy....

All right, this is one of those "prepare yourself" episode. Why? Because, it's like nothing happens, it's just a prologue to the real deal. Literally, every scene was just a preparation for something else. Even Sam's opening dialogue with Gilly is proof to that! They are talking about the Wall, just before we actually see the Wall and the danger it presents to the Wildlings. The Robb/Frey scene, also another prologue to a much bigger plot, beautifully executed. Perhaps the best ones where Jaime&Brianne/LordBolton, Tyrion/Sansa and Theon/"Boy". Wonderful performance by the whole cast! And that Petyr/Varys scene, damn!!! What a friggin' good scene!!! From Joffrey having executed Ros to Sansa weeping over the departure of Petyr's ship, it was all awesome!! And that final scene on top of the Wall between Jon and Ygritte was extremely good! A real romance born there!

I must say I am greatly disappointed in Arya's scene....I understand this is an adaptation of the books....but still, why couldn't they just add a small-time actor to play Edric Storm? Why did they had to, once again, alter everything in the books and make to characters who never meet, met? I didn't mind Robb meeting Qyburn, but Arya meeting Melissandre is a whole different thing....

I just hope D.B. and David know what they are doing, and that they are keeping in mind both George R. R. Martin as the fans of the books....

Remember that movie "Hulk", directed by Ang Lee, starring Eric Bana? That movie is GOOD compared to this one...

Let's start by the good things: the special effects, and, as always, Downey's performance. That's it...SERIOUSLY, THAT'S ALL !!!!

Let's move to the bad things: EVERYTHING!!! E-VERY-THING!!! I'm gonna' start by saying that, the guy(s) who made and edited the trailer SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE DIRECTOR. Seriously, whoever made the trailer is a guy with vision. You remember (from the trailer) the moment when Ben Kingsley says "I consider myself a teacher. Lesson number one: THERE ARE NO HEROES" and then all the bombing and the explosions started? I got goosebumps in that (trailer) scene. Again, the guy who made the trailer is a guy with vision. UNLIKE SHANE BLACK WHO DESTROYED THE IRON MAN SERIES!!! Why did Jon Favreau didn't direct this film? WHY?!

Iron Man and Iron Man 2 where balanced movies. What do I mean? That action, comedy, romance, everything was in the right level. This movie is like a soap opera. When you should cry, they try to make you laugh...when you feel something good is about to happen, something IDIOTIC happens. And on and on and on... I'm just gonna' put this out there: YOU HAVE AN ACTOR LIKE BEN KINGSLEY AND IN THE TRAILER YOU SHOW HIM AS A COMPLETE BASTARD, YOU DON'T DESTROY HIS CHARACTER BY REVEALING HIM NOT ONLY TO BE A "GOOD GUY", BUT A GOOD GUY WHO IS A COMPLETE IDIOT....you show a bad-ass and then you turn him into a Forrest Gump, you know your formula is going to fail...

Then, the idea of turning Pepper into a FIRE BREATHING BEING....LAME-O!!! She is the "Damsel in distress"!!! Again, the formula doesn't work that way guys!!!

Why would you hire Rebecca Hall, give her all that promotion, and then reveal her character has like, only ten minutes on screen...

And going back to the Pepper thing, WHY DOES A WEIRD FORMULA WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO REGENERATE THE HUMAN BODY GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO WARM UP AND BREATHE FIRE?!

Plot holes...bad cast decisions...horrible story twists...why did I even bother in giving this film a five when it should have been like a two...?

God damn WHAT AN EXCELLENT EPISODE!!!

After last week's low point episode, THIS WAS THE WAY TO GO FOR THE SERIES. Every scene (perhaps except for Tyrion/Varys) was excellent!!

I make the exception for Tyrion/Varys scene because it started very well, Varys telling Tyrion his story of how he was castrated, but ended bad when Varys showed he already had captured the magician.... Not only did I didn't enjoy it because it is not in the books, but because it makes the scene, mainly Varys' dialogue, loose impact.

But every other scene was so good damn good!!! Dialogue-wise, the best scenes where Cersei/Tywin and Lady Olenna/Varys. One could really enjoy the acting, mostly Dianna Rigg's, but all the actors and actresses really know how to get into their characters.

Also, D.B. Weiss and D. Benioff where wise enough to give us a scene of almost every character.

But my highlight (and I think everybody's) was the episode finale, starting with Craster's Keep, ending in Astapor.

The development of the scene in Craster's Keep was spectacular, from the tense atmosphere to the catalystic act of the Black Brothers.

And then...that gorgeous, marvelous, beautifully crafted scene of Astapor... I was really astonished by the level of production and the awesome special effects they used.

In a nutshell, of this episode, all I can say is: PERFECT!

This was a good episode...or at least I can't shake off that feeling....it's strange....it's strange because this is perhaps the episode with most changes from the book that I can think of....

I liked the scenes that where not in the books, such as when "Boy" releases and rescues Theon....but I can't put my head around the scene between Stannis and Melissandre....where could she possibly be going?

Perhaps the scene I hated the most was the one between Tyrion, Pod and Bronn....I simply can't find a reason of WHY they made this scene...WHY DID THEY MADE THIS SCENE?! It was just...STUPID!!! Last season I hated the liberties D.B. and Benioff took with Tyrion....and in tonight's episode, they took the liberties to a whole new level....

I know that this is a TV Series, but it's based on marvelous book series, and who is perhaps the best character in the books? TYRION! D.B. and Benioff should know that, and they should also know that perhaps more than half of the viewers have already read the books....THEY MUST STOP THIS LIBERTIES THEY TAKE WITH TYRION!!!

On the other hand, the episode was fantastic, perhaps because of the scenes of Dany, Robb/Catelyn, and Jaime/Brianne, although the ending was a little weak....an event as big as Jaime loosing his hand should have had more drama to it....

Still, I can't shake this feeling that although this was a not-so-good episode, I really enjoyed it.

As the title of this review suggests, D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have started to correct the mistake they made last season: STAY TRUE TO THE BOOKS. I loved this first episode, mostly because it reminders me of what made first season so damn good! The usual stuff as the acting and production size (costumes, settings, etc) are as good and rich as always. However, the best thing in this episode is the writing, mostly because, once again, it stays true to the books. Of course there are some minor changes, but like in the first season, you even enjoy said changes (unlike last season's incomprehensible changes) and some of the best lines are taken directly from the books, making this episode better still. I hope both D.B. and Benioff continue this way, for this is the formula that makes this TV series so intensely good! My ten-out-of-ten rating goes particularly to the scene between Tyrion and Tywin, and of course, the ending of the episode.

This is perhaps one of the best shows in TV, sponsored, obviously, by HBO. The movie-scale production is magnificent. From the smallest costume to the biggest set, it is entirely faithful to the books. The cast performances are, not only true to it's characters, but to the book design they have. I must say, however, that while season one was narrowly perfect, season two felt different. Perhaps it is because season one was, without considering minor details, completely faithful to the first book, while important plot elements where altered from the second book in the TV adaptation. The show creators have previously stated that they are not adapting "A Game of Thrones", "A Clash of Kings" and the other three books as each, but rather as the whole series "A Song Of Ice And Fire" which gives them freedom to move scenes and important elements. Yes, it gives them freedom to do so, but it does not give them freedom to change the story plot. They have also stated that character introduction is another reason for the changes. Perhaps this one I can live with, for in the second book there are at least thirty new characters, ten at least very important. Still, it's not impossible. Look at Boardwalk Empire! It has more characters than I can think about right now, and although Steve Buscemi's Nucky Thompson is the central character, almost every other character has it's own history. No matter what they say, in the second season, small changes like the introduction Meera and Jojen Reed where acceptable, but the changes made in the stories of Theon and especially Daenerys where just out of place. For Theon's story, there is one key character which is only mentioned, and not even by name. I seriously hope that this character is introduced in the next season because not only Theon's, but at least three other character's story is affected in the future by said character. Daenerys story changes really made me suffer to watch season two. Xaro Xhoan Daxos becoming King of Qarth? Daenerys'dragons kidnapped by Pyat Pree? And as in Theon's story, at the end of Daenerys story in the book there is at least one EXTREMELY IMPORTANT character who makes an appearance, yet in the adaptation, he was nowhere to be seen! This changes really made Daenerys story impossible to watch. No matter how good your adaptation is, or how many viewers you have, you just don't pull out important characters! Perhaps because I really loved the books is why I disliked so much this changes, but still, I hope they correct some of them in the next season, or, more precisely, I hope the creators stay truer to the books. Ignoring all of that, this is a must-see for Fantasy hard-core fans.