Ok, first off. Huge thanks to HBO for inviting me to this whole press event. I’ve been here less than a day and I already feel very welcome by everyone at HBO. They all know about Winter Is Coming and refer it as a good resource to anyone who asks about the series, which is very flattering and nice to hear.
Fire And Blood: It’s true, they all love Winter. And what’s not to love? Good looking man, tall, lithe, smart, and best of all QUIET—so that FaBio can be heard! (I am neither tall, nor lithe, nor particularly smart, but boy can I talk…)
Winter Is Coming: I know, I can’t even get one paragraph into this post without you butting in… ;)
Now, onto the stuff you all want to know about, the 15-minute sneak peek! HBO had hoped to show the pilot here at the winter TCA press tour, but it isn’t quite ready yet. So they put together 15 minutes of clips from what looks to be the first three episodes. And it is, in a word, amazing. A thorough breakdown of the preview is after the jump (spoilers galore!) with both my and FaB’s thoughts included.
Before the sneak peek they were showing still shots, mostly ones we’ve already seen, but some new ones of Catelyn, one of Bran and a few with the direwolf pups. My favorite being Robb picking up Grey Wind after just finding him. HBO told me these photos will be released soon.
Unfortunately, the sneak peek will not be available to the public due to music licensing issues (the music contained parts of the scores of Gladiator and Lord of the Rings) and some incomplete CGI work (although I didn’t notice anything amiss). So this report will have to do for now.
Fire And Blood: I agree, the music distracted. Not because it was bad music, but because we recognized it so readily: Gladiator, Lord of the Rings… but since it was already iconic in our brains, it did not enhance the production.
The sneak peek starts off much the same as the third teaser, with Ned and his sons at the execution of Will. This clip is slightly longer than the one in the trailer and has Jon saying to Bran, “Don’t look away, father will know if you do.”
Fire And Blood: I have still found no flaw in Kit Harington. I think he’s brilliant. What a great find.
Cut to Ned and Catelyn in the godswood. Catelyn tells of the news of Jon Arryn’s death. Flash to the dead body of Jon Arryn.
Winter Is Coming: We didn’t get a detailed shot of the heart tree, but what I saw looked much better than the version in the original pilot. White trunk, red leaves. Didn’t see the face though.
Fire And Blood: The leaves were much larger. I loved that. I’m almost 100% sure they are redoing the carved face.
Then a new scene between Cersei and Robert. Cersei: “Without a hand, things will fall to pieces.” Robert: “I suppose this is where you tell me to give the job to Jaime.”
Then, another new scene, Jaime consoling Cersei in the throne room of the Red Keep. Tells her not to worry about who the new Hand might be (paraphrasing here). They will come out on top, they are Lannisters. Cut back to Catelyn and Ned discussing in the godswood. Catelyn: “You can always say no, Ned.”
Cut to Bran climbing the tower. Jaime and Cersei having sex (fully clothed I might add, surprisingly enough). Cersei sees Bran. Jaime goes to the window, grabs Bran by the arm.
Jaime (to Bran): “Are you mad?”
Cersei: “He knows about us.”
Jaime: “The things I do for love.”
Winter Is Coming: It was amazing seeing this iconic scene come to life. Very much as I pictured it. My only complaint was, you could kinda tell it was a set. Maybe this was one of those scenes that was still a little rough?
Cut to the next morning. Tyrion at breakfast with his siblings. Tells of Bran’s survival. Jamie and Cersei share a concerned look. Cersei mocks Tyrion for wanting to go see the Wall. Cersei: “I feel you may even take the Black.” Tyrion: “And become celibate? The whores would be mourning from Dorne to Casterly Rock.”
Fire And Blood: This scene seemed the easiest on the eyes. Like it was so natural (the hallmark of really good actors), just a family of Lannisters enjoying breakfast; I no longer have ANY worries about Dinklage’s accent, as he goes through about 3 of them in this single scene, depending on whether he’s playing the prankster uncle, the casually concerned brother, or the smarter-than-thou Imp. Tyrion feels to me like someone who is accustomed to performing. Even Myrcella and Tommen fit seamlessly in. I’m glad Aimee Richardson fought to move up from the “stand in” position she inhabited the first time they shot the pilot. They really do look like a family. But the standout here is Tyrion. Dinklage FTW. (And no one does angry worry quite like Lena Headey. Her facial tics are excellent. I too see why they hired her.)
Winter Is Coming: Yes, this scene was great. One of my few complaints about the preview was, not enough Dinklage! Can’t wait to see him knock this role out of the park, once the series airs.
Cut to a scene, which I believe is not in the books, Ned talking to Jon as he sets out for the Wall with Benjen and company. Tells him to serve with honor or something to that effect. Then to the Wall, we see the Old Bear and Maester Aemon speaking with Tyrion, pleading for more men. Then we get our first glimpse of the Wall.
Winter Is Coming: When we first saw the Wall everyone kind of had a “woah” moment. It’s the freakin’ Wall! It is an impossibly huge sheet of ice, just as described in the books. We all agreed, it was one of the most impressive shots from the preview.
Fire And Blood: The Wall looks …. awesome. And real. It looks real. Maester Aemon looks… well, like he may sprout fangs and hiss at us any moment. Querulous little toothless mouth. The Old Bear was imposing, though was white-haired rather than the black we’re used to. White-haired men on the Wall is a theme, I think.
Back to Winterfell, Luwin delivers Lysa’s note as Ned and Catelyn lie in bed together. Cat reveals its contents, “She’s fled the capital. She says Jon Arryn was murdered by the Lannisters.” Then the scene we saw in the Inside Game of Thrones feature, Cat pleading with Ned to remain in Winterfell.
Catelyn: “Seventeen years ago, you rode off to war with Robert Baratheon. And now you’re leaving me again.”
Ned: “I have no choice.”
Catelyn (in tears): “That’s what men always say when honor calls, that’s what you tell your families, tell yourselves. You do have a choice, and you’ve made it.”
Winter Is Coming: Some good stuff from Fairley here. I’ve always liked her as Catelyn, so I’m glad my original good feelings seem to be warranted. Luwin’s maester’s collar, by the way, is HUGE. The links are like the size of donuts and it goes all the way down below his waist. Not sure why they changed that for the show, even GRRM commented it was much different than he imagined it to be.
Fire And Blood: Have to say—Catelyn looks GREAT. Michelle Fairley really struck a chord with those watching. Will she be modeling next year’s Dior bikinis? Probably not. But her gravitas, her emotional core… Mo Ryan said it best: she brings an “earthy” emotional core. Emotions everyone can readily understand and sympathize with, whereas Cersei, in a few shots, looks to be just about off her rocker.
Cut to King’s Landing. A far away CGI shot of the Red Keep, which looks great. A cluster of tall towers and one huge archway leading to a solitary tower (The Tower of the Hand?). Another new scene, Ned walks into the throne room, finds Jaime seated on the steps beneath the Iron Throne.
Winter Is Coming: The Iron Throne is very impressive. Swords jutting up the back like a huge, metal peacock. It looks similar to Komarck’s version only slightly less fantastical. And this scene played out almost as an homage to Ned’s arrival into King’s Landing 17 years ago, at first we even thought it was a flashback.
Ned: “That’s some handsome armor you’re wearing. Not a scratch on it.”
Jaime: “People have been swinging at me for years, but they always seem to miss.”
Ned: “You’ve chosen your opponents wisely then.”
Jaime: “I have a knack for it.”
Winter Is Coming: There was more to this exchange but I couldn’t transcribe it all. They clearly are playing up the Jaime vs. Ned angle.
Cut back to Winterfell, we see the assassination attempt. Summer arrives just in time. There is a satisfying crunch. Cat reveals the murder attempt to Robb, Theon, Luwin and Rodrik, says she believes the Lannisters are behind it. Another new Jaime and Cersei scene, this one in Cersei’s bedchamber. Jaime: “The boy won’t talk and if he does I will kill him. I will kill everyone, if I have to, until we are the only two people left in the Seven Kingdoms.”
Fire And Blood: My thoughts about the Jaime & Cersei scene, and him perhaps coming off a wee bit … villainous in these early shots. At least that’s what some people said. There’s a scene where Cersei is practically breaking down with worried rage, and he’s holding her, whispering soothingly that he will do whatever it takes to see that their secret is protected… And while one way to see it as ‘Whoa, Jaime’s gone nuts,’ I saw it as him recognizing one of Cersei’s really bad moments, and doing–and saying–whatever he can to calm her. It’s a brand new scene either way, and it sees right to the heart of his fatal flaw (which is her). His words are being used to soothe her.
Winter Is Coming: I did kind of get a Jaime, the super-villain, vibe in some of his scenes. But you might be right about this scene, he definitely seems to be attempting to appease Cersei here. But I still think that David & Dan are trying to set up Jaime as the “bad guy” for the first season. Which should make subsequent seasons very interesting to watch …
Robert and Ned on the way to King’s Landing. Robert talks of Dany’s marriage to Drogo. Cut to Dany meeting Drogo. Cut back to Ned and Robert still discussing the Targaryen threat. Robert worries about Drogo’s army of over 100,000 men, Ned remarks that even if they had a million men it wouldn’t matter, they don’t have any ships. Robert then says his “there’s a war coming Ned” line. Cut to the Cersei and Ned confrontation in the Red Keep. Ned: “I was trained to kill my enemies.” Cersei: “So was I.” Cut to a similar scene, this time Cersei talking to Robert. Robert: “Targaryen’s ruled for centuries, and yet, here I am, King Robert Baratheon.”
Fire And Blood: A fantastic moment of self-realization for Robert Baratheon. He’s almost saying, arms spread, “I’ve done the impossible. What now?”
Cut back to Essos. Viserys and Illyrio are talking at the wedding. Viserys asks when he will get to invade Westeros, Illryio replies when the Dothraki omens say it is time. Viserys: “I piss on Dothraki omens. I’ve waited seventeen years to get my throne back.” Then shots of Dany and Drogo on their wedding night, intercut with Doreah training Dany. Doreah: “Out there he is the mighty Khal, but in this tent, he belongs to you.” Then we see Dany and Jorah’s exchange when she commands the horde to stop.
And then, the best scene of the preview, between Viserys and Dany.
Viserys: “What is this? Dothraki rags? You’re going to dress me now? This stinks of manure. All of it!”
Dany: “It was a gift.”
Viserys: “Next you are going to braid me!”
Dany: “I will never braid you, you haven’t won any victories.”
Viserys: “You are a horselord slut and now you’ve woken the dragon!”
Viserys slaps her and pushes her to the ground. Dany fights back. Grabs a metal belt and slaps Viserys in the face with it. Viserys looks horrified.
Dany: “I am a khaleesi of the Dothraki! And if you raise your hands at me again, you will no longer have hands.”
Fire And Blood: I cannot stress how well this scene just draws you in. Harry Lloyd and Emilia Clarke together are so completely believable. We literally witnessed the evolution of their relationship. (And you know what? When the cameras are rolling and you don’t have ten minutes there to sit and stare at one eyebrow over and over… you really don’t notice the distinction. They may very well pull the rug right out from under Eyebrowgate.)
Winter Is Coming: As I said, best scene of the preview right here. People are going to care about Dany, folks. Both Lloyd and Clarke have an electricity about them. Even taken out of context, this scene was affecting and emotional. Perfect acting. Emilia Clarke is going to blow up once this show airs. And Lloyd, just spot-on as Viserys.
Cut to the scene where Dany speaks with Jorah and finally realizes that Viserys will never win back the Iron Throne. Jorah: “A wise child.” Dany: “I am no child.” Then Dany and Drogo laying in bed together, naked. Dany tells Drogo, in subtitled Dothraki, that she will be having a boy.
Fire And Blood: Can Emilia do regal and commanding? Why yes. Yes she can. Really good hire, that one.
Winter Is Coming: Hearing the Dothraki language being spoken by the characters for the first time was cool. I like the sound of the language, fits the Dothraki people well, I think.
The preview ends with the now familiar Old Nan voiceover and a quick montage of shots. Scenes from the prologue, the dead wilding bodies, shown from above, are arranged in some sort of pattern or symbol. We also see what looked like, to me, a hand of a wight grabbing Gared’s head.
Fire And Blood: Just a hand, alas … no actual Others sightings.
A shot of Joffrey slowly drawing Golden Tooth across Mycah’s cheek, drawing blood.
Fire And Blood: And Joff is sickly fascinated by his handiwork. He enjoys this. Another good hire.
Dinklage being thrown into the sky cell. Robert orders the assassination of Dany and her unborn child. Ned says that assassinating them is without honor, Robert yells back, “You think it’s honor keeping the peace? It’s fear. Fear and blood!” The preview ends with the shot of Ned with Cat and Luwin in the background and Aemon’s voice, “The Stark words are always right eventually, winter is coming. This one will be long… and dark things will come with it.”
Winter Is Coming: People said to be honest about what I saw and I am not BSing you when I say, it looks amazing. Absolutely amazing. The sets, the costumes, the acting, everything is top-notch. The little glimpses of scenes we got before aren’t even just an appetizer for the main course, they were the bread before the meal. The main course is going to be rich and delicious. Trust me, you will not be disappointed once this show hits the air.
Fire And Blood: I hate to say it but … shades of Lord of the Rings… this really looks BETTER than we thought. If I have one complaint it was we didn’t get to see enough of the girls; Sophie and Maisie were in many scenes but they never had a spoken word. And yet all through the show, GRRM and others went out of their way to say how mind-boggling and natural Maisie and Sophie were. So it was a shame not to see any of their scenes. Bran was good of course, but we’ve seen bits of that already.
What a couple of lucky fools we were. What a treat!
More tomorrow!
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139 Comments
Aewsome! :) These clips are really revealing, so I guess HBO won’t be releasing this to the general public. It’s a substitute for the full first episode pre-screening anyway, I can live with that. But bring on the new stills!
I suggest a separate post on the reactions, and the subreport on mingling with Mo, GRRM, and others. Interested in hearing what you discussed. But first, get some sleep! ;)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Yes, I’ll try to get another post up tomorrow with my thoughts on, not just the preview, but the whole evening, meeting GRRM and Mo Ryan and, last but not least, FaB! Also was able to glean some interesting info from the conversations that I hope to share as well…
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
I really wish they were showing this to everybody, or even just the last bit with Aemon’s line, I want to hear how he delivers it, cause all I hear in my head is Uncle Alfie from Death at a Funeral.
GrimtuesdayQuote Reply
Awesome!
Good work and many thanks to you WIC! For so many reasons!
EirikurQuote Reply
I’m sooooo hating right now …. LOL …. enjoy the event and can’t wait for the next update!!!
Marilyn BonesQuote Reply
Ahhhh..now I can sleep. Keep up the great job ,and have a wonderful time.
obsidianQuote Reply
Thanks a bunch! Very exiting read. And i’m possibly even more exited for tomorrows update!
sjweningsQuote Reply
I’m torn! Should I read this post? I don’t know. Even the Twitter updates felt pretty spoilerish, and I’ve been trying to tell myself I should avoid spoilers. After alll, we’re only getting 10 episodes! Aaaah, I don’t know what to do!
Anyway, I was vicariously excited for you tonight, Winter, imagining you meeting all these people (including FaB) for the first time!
LexQuote Reply
Okay, I SKIMMED the post… and I’m super excited already! The Viserys scene sounds amazing! Considering how much everyone loved his SINGLE LINE of dialogue in the 11-minute preview, full scenes like this are just gonna be so awesome. All we’ve seen of Viserys so far in that preview was his subtle side… but I can’t wait to see the full blown crazy Viserys!
I’m still not sure whether I want to read all the details from this preview, especially if the scenes are taken from more than just the first episode. But much more than detailed spoilers, my MAIN concern was what Winter’s overall impression would be. Despite the previews so far, we really haven’t seen all that much… so I was on the edge of my seat during the Twitter updates, wondering whether Winter was gonna say “It’s awesome!” or have a more lukewarm reaction. Glad to hear that it looks good so far.
LexQuote Reply
Sounds effing awesome! Especially the Dany scene with Viserys will be fantastic to watch.
Can’t wait to hear more reactions.
Johan SporreQuote Reply
Wow, sounds amazing!
The fact that they included the “things I do for love” scene pretty much guarantees they won’t show this set of scenes to the public, but I’m sure we’ll get another trailer/preview before the premiere that features some of this footage.
I’m dying to see the Wall and King’s Landing shots. Ahhh, three more months!
the goatQuote Reply
Is it April yer?
Sounds like the show won’t steer much from the books and the added scenes just expand the narrative and don’t invent stuff or completely change the characters a-la True Blood.
Alexander DubrovskyQuote Reply
Is it right to have been excited and psyched up just by READING about it?
Congrats, Winter! Well deserved, man.
Visery’s gonna OWN the scenes he’s appearing.
And I find the still-dressed Jaime-Cersei sex more fitting, hinting a sense of clandestinity and stealth to the affair.
CaedesQuote Reply
I’m very, very glad to hear that the Wall looks good.
OzXaroQuote Reply
Hope you’re all having a great time at the TCA’s and thanks so much for this awesomely detailed report! All the new scenes you’ve described sound absolutely amazing and I’m giddy w/ anticipation to see 1) the Wall 2) The Iron Throne and 3) Dany and Viserys’ scene…well, everything!! Looking forward to reading more updates from WiC and FaB tomorrow. :)
gappybubbleQuote Reply
Just wanted to say thank you for the report! Getting Twitter notifications from the site is exciting. This show’s not going to disappoint!
SarksQuote Reply
Thanks, you lucky guys! Everything I’ve read impresses me, but especially Dinklage’s prowess with accents (I am already in love with his normal speaking voice, and the scene with Jon and the books). Also, what I hear about two of my faves, Cat and Jaime, reassures me that they did them justice.
Blackfish BluesQuote Reply
Thanks a lot for the report.
All this seems great, except…am I the only one shocked to read that in the sex scene between Cersei and Jaime they are…fully clothed? How about HBO’s guts and the uncompromised adaptation of the books? It’s not that I so much want to see Lena naked, but that seems very akward.
OverzazQuote Reply
I’m pleased to hear that Jaime and Cersei are clothed, even though it may have been done so for other reasons (Lena’s pregnancy last year showing?) than HBO showing tact.
Johan SporreQuote Reply
So you guys liked it? It looks and feels right? Because I’m suddenly terrified that after so much anticipation and dissection, I won’t enjoy the final product. Probably irrational, but there you are.
InkasrainQuote Reply
Anybody would be rather excited and a little bit awed to be at the TV critics wing-ding, but you gentlemen deserve your credentials 100% and HBO should be treating you with great respect just as they are. You are powerful voices in the net world and legit communicators (what journalists are) to many thousands of readers. Thanks for representing us well.
Larry D CurtisQuote Reply
FaB, we love you :)
Just so!
The_Rabbit01Quote Reply
Great report! You’re doing an amazing work there. Superb!
I also enjoyed FAB’s description of yourselves: Good-looking WiC and talkative FaB… lol. We are lucky to have you :)
Yeah after reading the report I’m super-excited about most of the scenes, but… What’s with that Jaime? “I’m gonna kill them all…”?? Come on! I knew they were going with Jaime vs Ned, and it’s interesting in its own way (more screen time for Jaime, yay), but I feel like he is all out-of-character. A bit disappointed about that.
But I am sure I will enjoy the show, this is going to be huge. Spring is coming… PLEASE??
Rinoa De la PicaQuote Reply
In Will’s execution scene, was the “that’s the only time a man can be brave” line there as well? I’d miss it if that scene lacked that dialogue.
Johan SporreQuote Reply
I pee’d myself a little.
Steven ScottQuote Reply
I just got serious goosebumps…… Can’t wait for winter! In the spring….
theGodfarmerQuote Reply
Thanks for the great report! I very much enjoyed reading two opinions on the scenes. This certainly feels more and more like way back before LotR came out: hoping the best but expecting the worst. This entry eases my mind a bit, so I’m feeling more and more optimistic. Thanks again, enjoy the rest of the adventure!
fangrrrlQuote Reply
Wowzers, this is f*ing great. I do have one question though: what did the critics think who haven’t read the books? Would be cool to know their opinion, because ours if of course biased as hell.
KnurkQuote Reply
Great! What about the QA session?
DomQuote Reply
About the Jaime-line: I think it does fit his character, he just almost killed a little boy, why wouldn’t he kill the rest? He doesn’t think, he acts. Cersei tells Tyrion in aCoK that she was angry at Jaime for throwing Bran out the window, they could have easily frightened him enough so he wouldn’t tell anybody. Doesn’t Jaime always say in the books that the one thing he cares about is Cersei?
KnurkQuote Reply
Thanks for this! This is truly awesome! :D
Peter van StralenQuote Reply
Thanks (and jealous congratulations) to the pair of you. Wonderful write-up. Can’t wait for more details~
ZackQuote Reply
The question: did they play “Gondor’s Theme” on the scenes featuring Ned Stark?
CaedesQuote Reply
This read was fantastic. I can almost say that it’s better to read your opinions about this preview than watching it myself because I can muse myself in all the wonderful things but I also still get to long for the moment where I will actually get to watch this myself.
It’s sort of a wonderful, detailed spoiler that still pretty much leaves everything unspoiled. I of course loved the 11 minute video but the scenes I’ve seen there will not be quite as exciting to watch in the series as the scenes you have described will be.
The only question that arose in my head after reading this was if I should take your lack of mention of it to be a confirmation that the direwolves look like normal grown dogs in this early stage of their lives? I’m not one that will mind that much though since the audience has already seen the mother and has thus been taught that massive growth is to be expected over time.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
That does sound better than expected.
Shame we didn’t get to see much Arya or Sansa, but I suppose they’re not overly trying to sell those two are they.
Jordan HealeyQuote Reply
There are a lot of spoilers for the no-readers. But I hope we’ll see this sneek peak, it seems to be very interesting. How long must we wait ? I’m so excited!
AllanerikQuote Reply
Congratulations …great post as always.
There are any mentions about flashbacks of the Roberts Rebelion or Lyanna and the Tower of Joy?
Quiet WolfQuote Reply
I think it makes sense for Arya and Sansa to go un-advertised thus far – they are strong 1st season characters, but their swan-song is in the second season (and afterwards). It would make sense for their popularity to develop organically this season, then be part of the promotions for the 2nd season, when they both play a larger role.
OhDanyBoyQuote Reply
OhDanyBoy,
Oh, and thanks so much for this description of the preview! You guys are awesome! Looking forward to your post later this morning about reactions! And this afternoon about the roundtables!! And this evening about the event!!! – ack, ok now I’m hyperventilating….
OhDanyBoyQuote Reply
YOU BASTARDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
TastesLikeTheSeaQuote Reply
Emilia Clarke is the Next. Big. Thing. I can feel it. Made even more fun by the people who hated her from the word ‘go’.
I suppose they wouldn’t show the girls too much because they only have limited time to make an impact, and the girls’ stories evolve much later and are kinda too complex for a soundbite. Sansa is very much a bystander in GoT, just waiting to be told what to do next, and Arya, well, it might seem too trite to see her training in a ‘montage’. You really need context with the girls (otherwise you end up with ‘yeah, so, they killed her dog? am i supposed to care?’)
Kinda have to admit, Jaime and Cersei’s broken tower scene makes sense. If they’re dressed it gives more the impression of a hot-wet-quickie, a randy fuck stolen behind other ppl’s backs. Rule #1 of illicit public-place sex… don’t get totally undressed so you can snap back to acting innocent at a moment’s notice.
reedgirlQuote Reply
Dom,
QA session are scheduled in the afternoon and evening on Friday, LA time. Separate D&D and GRRM ones in about 8 hours, the big panel with everyone in less than 12.
Tywin’s Bastard,
James Hibberd writes about that:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/01/07/game-of-thrones-preview/
At the time of the attack, the direwolf is already adult wolf size.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Thanks for the comments, FaB! It feels good to get several different perspectives, and all positive ones at that.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Knurk,
The ‘cocky’ Jaime’s attitude is fine by me. He is a Lannister after all, proud and handsome and stuff.
But if Jaime didn’t throw Bran out from the window, all the Lannisters from the real family would be tortured and executed as traitors. Not that I’m justifying the death of a poor child, but Jaime was preserving his own life, yeah, as well as Cersei’s. And Bran is 8 years old if I remember correctly, I don’t think scaring him to death would be enough to keep his tongue tied in a matter like this.
I don’t know, perhaps I’m a bit influenced as a fangirl, but Jaime seemed to me to be an honorable guy since the very beginning. Yeah, there is Bran, I know, but still there is somewhat an explanation. And Aerys was absurdly insane, back then Jaime chose morality above honor and this is even more honorable, due to the fact he lost all his credibility as a “honorable knight” for the rest of his life.
Later on we read about his inner thoughts and dreams, he rescued a girl, Pia, even when he hadn’t to do it. Because that’s what a knight does. He has been in love with Cersei all his life but eventually he opens his eyes and realises Cersei’s love is not the same as his. And decides to act accordingly. And to keep his word to Catelyn.
Someone who is able to do such things it’s not the typical villain in a movie. He redeems himself. And I can’t see this subtle difference from those extracted dialogues. Ok, maybe it’s too soon to make these statements, but I have the feeling that it will be difficult for the screenwriters to show his evolution in a credible way.
Rinoa De la PicaQuote Reply
NO! It seems very wrong not to see naked Cersei and Jaime. I have understood that HBO is not FOX.
בלתי אפשריEscucharQuote Reply
Great report, lots of thanks. I could almost see the scenes as you were describing them, I can not wait for winter to finally come xD
EnderQuote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Thanks, that was what I had expected and it seems good. I guess the speculation how they will solve the further growth of the wolves will have to go on for quite some time before we get any proof. I trust you’ll also wish GRRM a speedy recovery to full health from all us WiC readers. :)
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Awesome! So jealous! Can’t wait for more updates. Thank you so much for sharing all those scenes with us ^_^
The Winter RoseQuote Reply
בלתי אפשריEscuchar,
I agree, but wasn’t Lena pregnant during filming? Perhaps they couldn’t for that reason. Maybe, in the actual show, it will be cut in with some body double that is naked.
Then again, it is probably cold in Winterfell… and we do know the windows are open. So maybe it would make sense for them to stay dressed.
ValyrianQuote Reply
I have to agree with reedgirl about the nudity in the incest scene. I always thought it was very cocky to be having illicit, adulterous sex with your sibling completely nude, in someone else’s castle no less. Sorry George, clothes on makes more sense. :P
OzXaroQuote Reply
Valyrian,
I commend HBO for this move. Enough sex overall, this makes it less cheap. Very good.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Rinoa De la Pica,
I think they are playing up his absolute love of Cercei from the start, a sort of mindless devotion that will make men do stupid things (sort of a theme in the story)
Then when he eventually realises the truth “She’s been fucking Lancel and Osmund and Moon Boy for all I know” the feeling of betrayal is so complete and allows Jamie to change from villain to a sort of anti-hero with a huge depth of complexity and compassion
I look forward to seeing this as the seasons progress!
Great work WiC and FaBio! Keep the juicy info coming!
Crotalidian (Paul)Quote Reply
Ah, sounds like they updated the prologue a bit from the leaked script. Nice report fellas. Can’t wait to read more.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
I disagree. Sex is natural and is essential for a realistic story. If you want to see blood and violence because it is necessary to convey authenticity, why censor the nude?
בלתי אפשריEscucharQuote Reply
Bad start if you’re avoiding naked.
בלתי אפשריEscucharQuote Reply
Lots of exciting stuff. But I really really wanna see Lena naked :(
SlyntQuote Reply
Sounds awesome! I’m so jealous! Glad you guys are enjoying it. Can’t wait to hear more :)
Michele Gibbons BickingQuote Reply
This made me grin wide and only slighlty less madly than what Viserys can pull off ;) Great honest words to read from someone so invested.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
בלתי אפשריEscuchar,
As several people stated above, there are likely two reasons for the clothing in this scene:
1) It is more sneaky-like, if they are clothed, giving a better sense that they REALLY don’t want to get caught.
2) Lena Headey was likely still showing signs of her recent pregnancy, and for this early scene they had to hide her form a little bit.
I wouldn’t say they are avoiding naked… have you ever seen an HBO show? The only concern that might have some merit is whether they add too much nudity/sex. But I trust they will find a balance.
OhDanyBoyQuote Reply
בלתי אפשריEscuchar,
I don’t think they are avoiding it. I just think that, as others said, they wanted to show that this was a quickie stolen in someone else’s house. I’m guessing there will be other, more sensual sex scenes between Jaime and Cersei.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
בלתי אפשריEscuchar,
Hey, I’m no prude! :) Just saying it’s realistic, and practical, HBO is definitely not shy, so no worries. Great perfect bodies naked all the time whenever there’s opportunity for a sex scene can and do come across as cheap. The scene as described fuels the story and fits into it organically without excess. That’s what I’m applauding.
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Slynt,
Of course I want to see Lena naked, is much nicer than violence.
I’m sure the child’s fall will be much more explicit and not cut.
בלתי אפשריEscucharQuote Reply
בלתי אפשריEscuchar,
I don’t think you need to worry about HBO censoring, or avoiding, nudity. What I think Hear Me Roar meant was that it can feel cheap if they throw in nudity at every possible chance. Jaimie and Cersei getting it on while in their clothes can make sense since it’s easier not to get caught that way. Remember that the lack of nudity also could be due to that Lena was pregnant during some filming and it could be to hide that.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Taking a pause in the middle of writing wasn’t smart. Looks dumb to guess what HMR meant after he responded himself. :)
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Congratulations to both of you! And many thanks for the great report. I’m looking forward to your recap of the Q&A sessions – hopefully you two will be able to ask some questions, too. :)
Enjoy your stay in Los Angeles!
Herr FickQuote Reply
Tywin’s Bastard,
No worries, I was late as well, and I am glad we completely agree :) We’ve been hanging on this blog for too long, haven’t we? :P
Now stop talking about sex, people, the spam filter is going nuts :D
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
בלתי אפשריEscuchar,
I don’t doubt there will be plenty of nudity at some point, no doubt including Jaime and Cersei. I think in the original pilot they were naked- sure I remember Nikolaj commenting in an interview that Lena needed a body double for a nude scene with him. So this change will have been made for a reason- maybe to emphasise the quick and illicit aspect- should they hear someone approach the tower from below they wouldn’t have time to get dressed. Or maybe it was decided that the scene would work better if it’s filmed with Bran there at the window (rather than filming the sex scene and his reaction separately), and I imagine letting a child actor see naked adults relistically simulating sex would cause all sorts of legal problems, but perhaps its less of an issue if they’re clothed?
The preview sounds great, particularly Dany and Viserys. If they’re that good, we needn’t worry about viewers not being interested in that seemingly detached storyline. I really hope we get some extra Viserys scenes, Harry Lloyd is brilliant- and I really want Viserys to come over as more than just a nasty sob (though he is that!)- so the more we hear him talk about the events of the rebellion the better. I always felt sorry for him- while still being delighted when he gets his comeuppance.
Does the Dothraki sound natural and real when spoken by the characters?
The Iron Throne sounds impressive, can’t wait to see it.
ShinyteapotQuote Reply
Yes, yes – great review. I’m most interested in the appearance of the dire wolves; any potential stills coming up in the pipeline with them?
Stephen EtterQuote Reply
Yeah I don’t think it’s a big deal that there’s no nudity in that scence (makes more sense in reality like many have pointed out). You want to see Lena naked go pop in the 300 DVD.
dizzy_34Quote Reply
We see a wight, but nothing of The Others?
Hmmm….
With all the reluctance to make the show too “fantasy-ish” at the outset, maybe The Others will be kept completely off stage for all of the first… well… two seasons.
But how can you do that when they show up in the very first scene of the very first book?
Perhapssss….. they’ll be replaced with wights for Ser Waymar Royce’s death.
It would be a bit of a letdown, and runs the risk of looking like just another zombie plotline, but if they’re going to give The Others proper treatment, AND avoid something really fantastical until later, I suppose that might be a way to do it.
I’m dying to see The Others and really curious to see how HBO ultimately handles that. I hope they don’t end up being some very human looking vampires or something mundane like that. They’re supposed to be fundamentally, malignantly, “other!”
ChrisQuote Reply
It did to my ears, although I admit, I’m not much of a language snob.
A couple stills with the direwolves should be forthcoming. One with Robb holding Grey Wind as a pup and another with, I think, Sansa kneeling in front of Lady.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Great article WiC!! I had to stop reading though, because the anticipation for April is killing me.
BlatzQuote Reply
Great write up! Regarding Jaime’s line:
“The boy won’t talk and if he does I will kill him. I will kill everyone, if I have to, until we are the only two people left in the Seven Kingdoms.”
Can you give us a sense of the delivery? Reading it, it does seem kind of super-villainy. But it also sounds typical of Jaime’s sense of humor – highly exaggerating his own rash inclinations (and abilities), as well as conveying his obsessive love for Cersei. But did all that come through in Nikolaj’s reading?
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Oh right, you did mention that above. Good to hear! I still cringe when I see shots of wolves depicted in other shows (Season of the Witch).
Stephen EtterQuote Reply
My earlier comment didn’t quite sum up my thoughts. Try again. You WiC writers shouldn’t act or feel like you are any less credentialed than anybody in TV writer land. And of course HBO is being lovely to you, that is what television studios do with people who write about television.
Larry D CurtisQuote Reply
It was in a hushed tone. As FaB said, he was comforting Cersei. He was actually hugging her as he said it. It wasn’t said in an over-the-top way. I think in context it will seem less villainous than it did just seeing the brief clip and certainly less than just reading the line.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Great minds think alike as people with mild hubris tend to say. And one could certainly say we’ve hung here for much too long but as the positive person I sometimes am I’d say we’ve been here for just the appropriate amount of time. ;)
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Great post guys! Sounds good. Still jealous as all hell. :)
So the new scenes seem to fit?
Phoenix_tornQuote Reply
Tywin’s Bastard,
Hear, hear ;)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Winter is Coming and Fire and Blood,
You guys seemed to “quote” from lots of scenes that are new, not written in the books. How did these come off? Did the dialogue fit? Did the characterization seem overblown a bit in these scenes? All of your complaints (minor though they were) came from new scenes. And the stuff coming from Ned, Jaime, Cersei, and Robert did seem a bit odd at times, from the quotes.
Also, you mentioned the “things we do for love” feeling “settish.” Can you elaborate? Did that feeling only occur there? I’ve often though many of the interior shots at King’s Landing looked like a set, were oddly (too strongly) lit, etc. Did you get this impression while watching? Or was it just that one scene specifically?
Would be nice to hear you two follow up with more detail on your critiques.
Steve B.Quote Reply
It seems a lot of people are getting hung up on little details like the appearance of the direwolves, Dany’s eyebrows, or if the twins are wearing clothes during their tryst. We should all be happy for the big picture: this amazing story that we all love so dearly is being told on screen where even more people will be able to enjoy it! For me, that’s the most exciting part.
Thanks to WiC and FaB for this report and their continued service for the fans!
Clark CostonQuote Reply
Winter Is Coming,
Thanks!
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Clark Coston,
If you’re referring to my question about the direwolves I’m not criticizing anything, I just wanted to know if they were doing anything with them in post production since we know that they will have to do that at some point.
Right now I can actually not think of anything that I would say really bothers me with what I’ve seen. I agree with you that the fact that HBO is doing their best at putting this amazing series on TV is the important thing. No good adaptation will ever be exactly like the book anyway.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
I am seriously screwed for the rest of the day. No work for me. Just keep re-reading and checking out peoples comments.
WiC and FaBio, you compliment each other so well. You should do this back and forth kind of blog more often, it’s very entertaining! :)
Kelsey CatherineQuote Reply
Mo Ryan’s reaction to the screening!
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Even HBO has standards. They’re not going to do a sex scene with nudity while an 8-year-old child watches through a window.
I’m actually relieved they’re handling that scene as tastefully as they are. It’s great that there’s more creative freedom on networks like HBO but that freedom has to exercised judiciously. The heart of Game of Thrones is its rich and complex characters and stories, not its more salacious aspects. I don’t want them to shy away from its dark subject matter, but I don’t want to watch a porno either.
FilliamHMuffmanQuote Reply
I think the clothes thing is a complete non-issue. The way I remembered it from the book was they were clothed, maybe a torn bodice or something. If they are naked in the book, I put that right there with tyrion doing a back flip. Doesn’t make any sense.
I feel that thrones fans, in general, are a smart, opened minded lot, but to be screaming for sex and to be angered when a show that is billed as SEX SEX violence SEX, doesn’t have clothes torn off in ONE scene, makes us sound like horny, fantasy fanboy nerds.
The DarkstarQuote Reply
You can tell people to just read Winter and Fabio’s commentary bits for a mostly spoiler free evaluation of the scenes. :)
bgrahamboQuote Reply
I have the silliest grin on my face right now :) Thank you so much, April can’t come soon enough!
Sandra GomesQuote Reply
Jesus H Christ in a Chicken Basket! I’m so jealous! If they actually manage a “Lord of the Rings” and I wind up liking the on screen version better than the books then D&D are truly wizards. Gods, I can’t wait!
Brad VillaneQuote Reply
Damn, who will wait till April… wish i was there to get a little fix :(
FishQuote Reply
Great review, thanks!
So about this hand…what did it look like?
paulgudeQuote Reply
Great job as usual guys! Looking forward to the CiL later.
BlackfyreQuote Reply
Crotalidian (Paul),
This approach would be exciting to see. I like it! ;)
BTW, what happened to the spoiler tags of my previous post? I swear it covered the whole post before. I’m not lying!
Rinoa De la PicaQuote Reply
According to Mo Ryan:
“More photos will be unveiled by HBO later today.”
izakmoQuote Reply
Yes, the hand interests me. I’ve been thinking, when would a wight touch Gared?
If they are including wights during the initial standoff with the Others, that would IMHO lessen the impact of the Others themselves. Audience would be like: “Some white, really eerie and menacing dudes…I wonder what are — WTF A CORPSE MOVING”. Distracting maybe.
Or are they changing Will’s fate with Gared? We know already WIll takes Gared place in losing the head, but are will they show us Gared being killed by Royce? If so, maybe the hand is his. That would be better, I think, following the book and giving people time enough to be shocked enough for both events – Others are creepy and mysterious AND they create zombie-like creatures.
DomQuote Reply
Finally home.
It is one of these crazy Game Of Thrones days.
Just can not imagine the excitement the day when it airs.
Thank you WiC once again for this awesome site!
The RabbitQuote Reply
Thanks for the amazing writeup, really exciting stuff, shame we have to wait till April to see any of it.
Its too bad the score isn’t ready, but using music from lotr and other films would seem really jarring and strange. I wonder why hbo couldn’t just put something together considering this is a pretty big event for the show.
AbstractPlainQuote Reply
The Rabbit,
Glad you’re staying up with us tonight, Rabbit! :)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Dom,
Yeah, given the fact that we know from the trailer that Will is the one beheaded, I think its pretty safe to assume Will and Gared are switching fates, with Gared being killed by zombie Waymar, soon after Waymar is killed by the Others.
the goatQuote Reply
No, it not at all unusual to put in a temp track. It is done all the time to show partially finished films and episodes to executives and advertisers, even test audiences. To put in the official score they first have to finish the editing on the episode so they composer knows exactly how long each scene is. If a scene gets edited after it is scored, that would screw up the score.
For temp tracks they typically use music that is most similar to the tempo or emotion they want for the final product.
spacechampionQuote Reply
Since I loved the glimpses of Emilia Clarke in the preview, I’m happy to hear that the Targaryen story seems to work well.
In an adaptation there will of course be extra scenes, and I like the sound of all the ones decribed here.
These defences of Jaime always leave me unconvinced, since they seem to draw more on explanations readers can imagine for why it would be possible to act in such a way, rather than what has been shown in Jaime’s POVs in the past two books. This is coming from someone who hasn’t reread the books well enough to be able to quote chapter and page for every detail, but does Jaime himself ever think of what he did to Bran and then justify the initial act by saying, well, it was for the good of my family? He loves Tyrion and Cersei, he has the Lannister pride, but the actual Lannisters? He doesn’t care much. Even his own son Joffrey he ends up calling a squirt of seed. So he doesn’t think of himself as doing a wicked deed to save all those many, many Lannisters. It’s only when he starts to consider being a father to Tommen that he moves beyond the Tyrion-and-Cersei focus.
The second point, Jaime’s honour. This defence hangs on the idea that remorse is unnecessary: no acknowledgement of the suffering of others is needed. Jaime isn’t terribly bothered by what he did to Bran. In one book, the memory of Lyanna repeatedly appears in Ned’s thoughts; there’s nothing similar with Jaime and Bran over two books. And I simply cannot agree with a concept of honour that is only a matter of behaviour, like Jaime’s once he starts taking small steps towards redemption, not the giant leaps that many people like to present him as making. He wants to be called Goldenhand. Redemption, so far, means making people like him again, doing some things that are knightly while making no hard choices, only choices that are no longer hard (at the end of AFFC, likely abandoning Cersei since he has accepted that she abandoned him). Like the worst kind of weaselly lawyer, he keeps to the letter of his promise to Catelyn by not taking up arms – yet the man who already let one of Hoster Tully’s grandchildren fall to his death threatens to do the same again. And there is no internal awareness that would indicate personal growth or understanding on a moral level; the focus is on his disappointment that he hasn’t been an Arthur Dayne and finding out that Cersei doesn’t love him as much as he loves her. He actually thinks to himself that he has managed to keep his promise to Catelyn and sees no clash between his actions and the spirit of the promise, which he grossly violated by coming to Riverrun and using the threat of killing of Catelyn’s unborn nephew/niece to win surrender. GRRM could have made Jaime so much more agreeable to me if he’d included some spark of awareness, some recognition that in trying to avoid bloodshed Jaime knew he was violating that spirit and was ready to accept it for the greater good. But nothing. IIRC, he wishes he could hit Edmure, a man who has as good as lost everything and is off to a life in captivity. Inwardly, the knightly virtues of graciousness and chivalry are absent.
In ASOS and AFFC, Jaime remains a character without empathy. He can bring justice while thinking of it as the restoration of the knightly reputation he now values; he doesn’t see it as atonement for the people who died because he denied the throne true succession. He can defend the honour of Brienne and scattered others, but he can’t make the leap to putting himself in the place of a stranger or an enemy; many readers have burning hate for Catelyn, but even she could feel for Cersei as a mother, whereas Jaime keeps complaining about how Ned had no right to judge him – what was Ned supposed to be, a mind-reader who knew about Aerys’s mad plans and the fact that Jaime had nothing to do with the Lannister butcheries going on in the keep and city? And maybe crippling the man’s child for life should have evened the scales a bit, paid back for Ned giving him a nasty look? But no. No guilty to flashbacks to Bran.
If GRRM’s idea for Jaime’s redemption is one in which honour is a matter of deciding you want to be knight, it will only be social. It will be a question of doing what is said to be right without being compelled to it by one’s conscience and the belief that human life has value, the belief that Ned demonstrates by the politically disastrous act of letting Cersei know he knows about her and giving her a chance to escape with her innocent children despite her crimes. Perhaps Jaime’s POVs in the next books will show a growth from superficial honour to a genuine feeling for other people. He’s started doing things “because that’s what a knight does” – I would prefer to see him doing things because he feels remorse. I want atonement, not this wish to build himself a reputation for justice while his inward thoughts show that he’s as self-centred as ever, only now it’s in a way that can more often lead to good. He’s playing a role, but it’s all about him and making things the way he now wants them to be, not the people he’s hurt.
After such a long detour to book analysis: in short, I don’t think Jaime as described in the preview comes off as out of character. It’s stressing something that is already there and doesn’t conflict with things like trying to kill Bran and, IIRC, thinking he might have killed Mycah. I actually think TV! Jaime can be more credibly redeemed, since I won’t have to read his self-pitying POVs and be made aware of his lack of remorse. An actor can do a great deal even without extra dialogue to stress the idea that the arrogant Jaime becomes an act starting in season 3, one he no longer enjoys.
KyriaQuote Reply
A question about the Bran/Jaime scene – does he help him up to the ledge? I think the thing that shocked me so much about that scene in the novel is that when Bran slips and almost falls, he is hanging on by his hand, and Jaime pulls him up onto the ledge (and safety), exchanges a few words with him, and then suddenly gives the shove that sends him flying. I totally did not expect it. It sounds from the preview that he is aghast to see Bran from the start and that you know he’s going to go for him…is it a shock when he gives the shove, or will a new viewer be surprised?
persephone88Quote Reply
First of all, I’m not bothered in the slightest by the Jaime stuff. I’ve read the books a few times, and I remember Jaime always feeling like a complete villain in the first book. I think it’s 100% the right way to go. The only thing I’m worried about is the talk of sets looking like sets, as I felt the same way about some of what we saw in the preview.
Lastly, I just want to give a big thanks to WiC and FaB and HmR. I’m a part of a few different online communities, but this is the first time I’ve been around since the very beginning. Despite the fact that we’re all spread around the globe, it sometimes feels like I really know you guys. Thus, having you at this press event almost feels like we’re all there ourselves. It’s a great feeling, much better than if we were simply relying on the media critics reports. So thanks again for creating this site, be ause things would be less exciting of you hadn’t.
LexQuote Reply
More regarding Jaime: I could almost swear he says something like that in the books at some point, about killing everyone. He’s constantly telling Cersei he doesn’t care what people think, he doesn’t care to keep his love a secret, and (I’m pretty sure) that he would kill whoever he had to. Not out of character at all, IMO.
LexQuote Reply
I thought they fit pretty well. There were lots of lines ripped straight from the books too. It is hard to judge characterization from a clip preview like this, since they were specifically choosing scenes that highlighted the character’s main characteristics. So in a way, it could be perceived as overblown, but I think in the context of the show it will work.
It was mostly the lighting, it didn’t feel totally natural. And I thought the Red Keep sets looked better here than in some of the past clips. So it might be that this stuff will continue to be improved on (remember the pilot was reshot later on into filming).
It was a really quick shot, so hard to get a good view of it, but it looked like a human hand clothed in rags. Maybe it was actually a wilding as opposed to Royce?
He does pull him up, yes. And I think his comment to him is more of Jaime thinking he is crazy for climbing around on the outside of towers.
Winter Is ComingQuote Reply
Lex,
More regarding Jaime: I could almost swear he says something like that in the books at some point, about killing everyone
Exactly. Me too. Or we are both going crazy.
The RabbitQuote Reply
The Rabbit,
I just wanted to quote. Put the spoiler tag instead. I went crazy already.
The RabbitQuote Reply
Hmm. Wouldn’t Royce be wearing black gloves? Maybe it was an Other?
dizzy_34Quote Reply
Ok Guys,my already high expectations for GOT just flew off the charts. How are we to last until April?
OldGranQuote Reply
Kyria,
Interesting analysis. I would say that Jaime is a compelling character because of how he changes over the four books, but that those changes don’t make him a hero, they just make him… intriguingly human. Even with Brienne, for whom he does have some empathy (imo), it is mixed with near-constant irritation.
And you’re spot-on about Jaime and Bran. For that reason, I have long hoped that those two will have another meeting, near the end of the series, that goes very differently. And since Bran so often dreams of Jaime, I think it would be cool if Jaime had a dream about Bran.
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Kyria,
Come on, I’m not trying to convince anyone. As if I could! I was just giving my personal opinion about the character I like most. Just as you are doing, but precisely in the oppossite direction. We both try to justify him in one way or another, but none of our opinion is 100% valid since they come from a more or less personal view we have about him after reading these books. That’s what happens when you deal with characters that possess different shades of grey. Jaime is not the hero, that’s obvious, but I like how he goes from being the guy who cares about almost nothing, to care gradually about others (Brienne, Pia, anyone? He manages to put an end to the siege at Riverrun without bloodshed and spare Jeyne Westerling life among the others).
I don’t remember that line “I’d kill everyone” in the books. Sounds a bit like Cersei, but I really don’t know. In a AffC I do recall Jaime remembering about his past when he was at the King’s Guard. He wanted to protect Rhaella from Aerys (she screamed in terror every night, got bruises in her breasts…). Jaime says something like: We should be protecting the queen. And some other King’s guard says: “Not from him.” Ok, even when he is young and unwise, he showed mercy.
You say: ” Perhaps Jaime’s POVs in the next books will show a growth from superficial honour to a genuine feeling for other people”. Yeah, perhaps. Anyway, it should be too unbelievable if he changed all his personality overnight.
That’s just a fangirl opinion, dear! And please, excuse my mistakes with English language :)
Rinoa De la PicaQuote Reply
Regarding Jaime…
I’m just starting my reread of Storm of Swords, so my impressions might be different in a few days. From what I remember though, I can’t think of Jaime with anything but contempt until he is forcibly parted from his sword hand. I like what NCW said about Jaime in the 11-minute preview, that he is a character who knows the game of thrones and simply isn’t interested in playing. As I see it, before he is maimed, Jaime isn’t really interested in anything (except Cersei). He doesn’t need to be. He has been amply blessed with all the external gifts valued in his society– handsome, wealthy, born almost as high as they come, and effortlessly deadly in combat. He is blasé about life because it is so easy for him, and this allows him to shield himself from emotional qualms or the pain of being branded “Kingslayer.”
This is why I think the loss of his hand changes Jaime so fundamentally, to the point that he becomes a character I’m actually willing to defend. (I’ll never defend him before this, just to make it clear.) Maimed, Jaime’s protective bubble bursts. He is exposed to the world in ways he never has been before, made to endure pain and struggle for all the things that once made him great. The man who said “There are no men like me; there is only me” is given incontrovertible evidence to the fact that he really is just like other men– and now, in the eyes of the world, even less than that.
I see this as the best thing that ever happened to Jaime Lannister. Yes, there’s still a lot about him to dislike. But he evolves into a character to can empathize with people like Brienne and stop closing his eyes to the things in the world he does not want to see– things like Cersei. He’s starting to engage in the messed up world around him, and make decisions that I can appreciate as a reader. Jaime’s view of right and wrong may not be fully developed, but at least he’s getting one, and I don’t think it’s going to go away any time soon.
So that’s my spiel on Jaime, hope it made sense ;-)
InkasrainQuote Reply
When it comes to Jaime I don’t think he’s ever been a villain at heart, he’s just been pushed in that direction because the reaction of everyone else when he killed Aerys, which he really did with good intentions. He’s not a good guy at heart either but I feel that he’s playing the villain because that’s what everyone sees him as and while I don’t think he likes it at his core he can endure it because he has his love and the skills to shut everyone up. He of course does some terrible deeds but again I think it comes from that he understands that bad things need to be done at times in order to survive.
When the events that change his character comes I don’t think it really changes him, it just changes his priorities on which parts of himself to focus on. He was always in part the man he is in AFFC, he just didn’t let it come out and we didn’t see it because he wasn’t a POV character.
This is why he is one of the absolute best characters in the book, because he has all the facets in his character. He’s strong and vulnerable, he’s honorable and dishonorable etc. As strong and valiant as he is, he’s still a victim to his surroundings.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Another review of first day at TCA, including Game of Thrones screening.
This time by Todd VanDerWerff of http://www.avclub.com
The RabbitQuote Reply
It seems that Mr. VanDerWerff is little bit down on acting: “…so much of the acting felt slightly flat and presentational…”, but also said that the overall feel is stunning.
The RabbitQuote Reply
I got interested in a link from the website that The Rabbit linked above and look what I found:
http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-sims-medieval,49661/
Look at the comments. It’s nonsense, but funny. Asoiaf EVEN there! lol
Rinoa De la PicaQuote Reply
This has been my biggest fear so far. I have to say, in the 11-minute preview, I was not totally blown away by the acting… which was a shock to me, because I never suspected the acting might be anything less than stellar.
I’d thought that maybe it was the strange sensation of hearing all these bits of dialogue spoken aloud that I’ve read so many times… but now I’m not so sure.
WiC or FaB, come allay our fears please!
LexQuote Reply
Lex,
I second that.
But, hell yes, I was also a bit worried when I saw the Inside.
Dinklage and Clarcke seemed a bit wooden to me.
But I can not say the same about NCW, Harrington, Bean and especeally Fairley, Lloyd and Addy. They were perfect in delivering their lines.
Maybe the guy just misinterpreted Ned s coldness as wooden or something of a kind.
The RabbitQuote Reply
I had no problems with Dinklage (the accent just might take a while to get used to, but what can we do about that? He’s American) or with Clarke or Fairley or Lloyd. But I was a bit unconvinced by Aiden Gillen (which surprised me!) and a couple others. I wasn’t sure if it was the acting, or the new added dialogue.
LexQuote Reply
Lex,
I suspect that’s most everyone here shares that fear. But: my immediate reaction was to wonder about the editing, which has an enormous impact on perception of acting.
I don’t mean that lightly – I have no idea how skilled the editors of GoT are. But I do know that it’s almost always harder to tell if acting is good when looking at a disjointed series of scenes. That said, I was pretty pleased with what I saw of the acting in the 11-minute trailer. I didn’t expect to be blown away, and wasn’t, but I thought it was mostly pretty good.
Maxwell JamesQuote Reply
Lex,
Yes, Gillen too. Forgot to mention it.
But I think that all of our impressions are quite subjective.
Maxwell James,
Agreed.
For example a line “I was trained to kill” from the teaser had completely different vibe, when heard in Inside in the whole context.
The RabbitQuote Reply
Unrelated, if I can be allowed to pat myself on the back for a minute… when Robert says “You helped me win the Iron Throne, now help me keep the thing,” I totally suspected that he probably said “keep the f@#$ing thing” and that it had been edited out. I could actually HEAR the edit. Now, according to Mo Ryan, he does say the f word. I can’t believe I figured that out!
LexQuote Reply
I’m pretty sure the reason why they had Jaime and Cersei clothed during that scene is because of a minor being present ?
Jordan HealeyQuote Reply
oh, yay! thank you!!!!
Dani Parlatore DalyQuote Reply
Lex,
Pat, pat ;)
No, seriosly, well done … I wasn’t listening as closely. More in character that way, innit? ;)
Hear Me RoarQuote Reply
Hear Me Roar,
Thank you, thank you. :)
I’m actually curious whether Robert’s line is from the books. I think it very well could be, but don’t feel like searching for it. Maybe I read that line in the books, and subconsciously that’s why I suspected it had been cut for the preview.
LexQuote Reply
Best part of TCA so far? FaB describing WiC as “lithe”.
LexQuote Reply
Lex,
I think he says “You helped me win this damnable throne, now help me hold it” in the book.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Tywin’s Bastard,
Thanks! You’re right, I just looked it up.
LexQuote Reply
Lex,
Good that I was correct then, I had to take it from memory as I’ve lent the book to a friend, in hope to spread the gospel.
Tywin’s BastardQuote Reply
Thank you! Well said!
EdQuote Reply
More comments on the 15-minute showcase, as I’ve only just returned from the TCA and had time to unwind and collect my scattered thoughts:
[SPOILERS throughout]
So far we’ve seen more than a few Jaime scenes that were not in the books, but most of them were ones you could imagine happening. But the one I want to touch on was the one I think most people are going to be talking about: Cersei and Jaime are alone in (I think) the Red Keep, and Cersei looks as though she’s just losing it. Like she’s close to having one of those classic Cersei meltdowns. Jaime is embracing her from behind, arms tight around her (almost forcefully holding her in place), whispering in her ear. It’s there the “I will kill everyone if I have to, until we are the only two people left in the Seven Kingdoms,” line comes, and for me it illustrates not his villainous image, but completely bares for us all Jaime’s fatal flaw: his passionate and utterly tragic love for Cersei. For me, it came off as a “talking her down off the ledge” moment, and here we can also see some of the desperation that hides behind his cocky facade. It’s almost as though a part of him already knows he loves her more than she loves him. And it could be that I’m reading into it, but in every other scene Nicolaj is all smirks and swaggers; alone with Cersei is where he lets his guard down. Playing amateur psychologist, I think he secretly years for a place they can be alone forever. Note he did not say he wanted Joffrey, or Myrcella, or anyone else to be in this fantasy endworld—just him and Cersei.
Do I think most viewers will see it as anything short of villainous? Maybe more than a little creepy / crazy? No. But we never knew Jaime could be anything more than a twincester in the first book either. At first glance he’s a bad dude. But it will be one of those things where, seasons later, you sort of see the way his mind works, and you can go back to these scenes and see the nuance. Jaime is in good hands.
As far as Jaime pushing Bran out the window… yeah, it’s a little set-ish. Like you can sort of imagine there’s a nice comfortable cushion waiting for Isaac right under the window. But understand, this is without editing, without any CGI through the window to show how high they are… and most importantly, we don’t get to see the very next shot, which is probably an overhead shot where we see Bran hurtling toward the cobblestones below. I will be shocked if they leave it as is.
Symbol of the Seven: Mo Ryan does mention that the colors of the stained glass windows in the throne room are a little offputting. I can say they seem… out of place. Like I see rather garish chunk of primary colors (blue, red, and yellow) and none of the other four colors that supposedly make up the prism, which is the holy symbol of the Seven. It doesn’t, to my mind, look like something that I would worship. But this could simply be their placement in the throne room rather than all the symbols as a whole; it could be there are different color combinations for different uses.
Mo also dislikes the kohl around Drogo’s eyes, but I love it. Plus, he doesn’t wear it 24/7. It seems like a situational thing, like a “Watch me as I go to war” thing. I see it almost like a macho football player with a gallon of eyeblack.
Lastly, I have to repeat how good Emilia is. Especially when working off of an inspired Harry Lloyd, who totally lets his emotions fly. Their exchanges made the screen crackle.
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
Fire And Blood,
God, I can’t wait to see more of the Targaryen siblings! I think I’ll like them more in the show than I did in the book!
But FaB, can you speak to the acting? James Hibberd made it sound like he thought some of it was a bit dodgy… and some of us are feeling worried.
LexQuote Reply
Lex, I won’t speak ANYTHING to you until you update Syrio’s pic on LEXICOPIA.
Just kidding.
I don’t think any of the acting is dodgy. Maybe some early Daenerys scenes are slightly wooden, but most of that seems purposeful.
Was the 15-minute chunk edited well? No, it was edited crappily. Kind of rushed. So I can’t judge that ’til the final product.
Fire And BloodQuote Reply
Done. We canz be friendz now? :)
LexQuote Reply
What’s this “Eyebrowgate” thing? I must have missed that.
Lauren Box HitchcockQuote Reply
Lauren Box Hitchcock,
People think Dany (and to some extent Cersei) should have dyed their eyebrows to match their wigs. Personally, I think they look just fine.
LexQuote Reply
I enjoy the reports on Dany (my main reason for watching the show). Sold!
Victoria ColeQuote Reply
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