This new fantasy series is based upon The Song of Ice and Fire books by George R.R. Martin. Unlike other fantasy settings, since it is being broadcast on HBO, it features nudity and adult language. Unlike Camelot (Starz), which enjoys tearing apart Arthurian Legends, Game of Thrones is a compelling TV show. The premiere episode was on Sunday and the overall quality of the show, plus its unique setting makes it something to watch for the next few weeks.
It is also the polar opposite of a show like Spartacus, where there is so much nudity that it’s almost common place. In Game of Thrones, it’s part of the story and it feels like it’s an uncensored version. The story could be told without nudity and adult language, but it makes this show appeal to the target audience.
It’s eerie to see what I have read on the screen. Maybe that and the lack of time are the reasons why I haven’t yet watched any episodes of the second season of Game of Thrones. There’s also the fact that it’s quite popular, and that usually makes me stop watching some shows.
Anyway, I decided to start watching it. I’ve got 3 episodes to watch. Since I have read all of the books, I can now compare on how the narrative compares with what I see. The season opener was quite good and very faithful to what I remember in the books.
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
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The different kings are amassing their armies to fight their wars, while in the north, Mance Rayder is doing the same. Alliances and politics are shifting in King’s Landing, and there’s no telling who will be betrayed next. Actually, it is because I read all of the books.
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Aria is with Gendry heading for the North. The Gold Cloaks arrive with a royal warrant for Gendry. Yoren is hard as nails and doesn’t find their words interesting. He uses his sharpened knife and one of the Gold Cloaks’ ball sacks to make a point.
Gendry says that both Hands asked him questions before they died, Lord Arryn and Lord Stark. They asked about his mother.
Tyrion finds his whore talking with Varys. Tyrion is annoyed with her, because she revealed her presence to the spymaster. They go to a session of the Small Council. It’s about the demands of the Starks. Cersei tears up the demands. The Lord Commander of the Knight’s Watch is asking for more men. Varys is aware of Mance Rayder as the King Beyond the Wall.
Over the wall, the expedition from Castle Black is still at Craster’s. Samwell Tarly is taking a shine to Craster’s women, even after the warnings. Sam helps Gilly with an inquisitive Ghost. He tells John that they should take her with them. She’s preggers and if she has a boy, Craster will have him killed.
John sees Craster leave the farm with a baby. He gave it to some weirdly shaped being. It looked like a troll of something like that, then shifted into a man.
Beyond the Narrow Sea, the remnants of the khalasar are suffering from starvation and thirst. A horse comes back with a head in a bag. It’s one of the bloodriders.
Theon arrives in his home lands, but doesn’t get the reception he was expecting. He meets his sister Yara, but doesn’t recognize her and flirts with her a lot. She offers him a ride to Pyke. He fondles her tits. It’s somewhat disturbing since he plays with her privates next. She doesn’t stop him.
The first meeting between father and son doesn’t go well. He thinks that Starks made him theirs. He learns that Yara is the heir.
In King’s Landing, Littlefinger is in one of his brothels and deals with a crying whore, who saw the Baratheon bastard baby being killed. She’s the madam.
Tyrion has a talk with the leader of the City Watch Lord Janos. He had the bastards killed. Tyrion is sending Janis to the Wall to serve in the Knight’s Watch. Bronn is taking over the City Watch.
Tyrion learns that Joffrey had the bastards killed.
Davos tries to get the ships of some pirate Salladhor Saan and he agrees, but only if he gets to bed the Queen. For his 30 ships, Davos promises him gold and glory, but not the Queen.
Stannis sends his advisors away to talk with the Red Woman alone. She opens her robe and promises to give him a son. All that his wife has given him stillborns.
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