That was awesome, that golden crown. It played better than I hoped from what was in the book. Also, big ups to Harry Lloyd. His performance infused genuine pitiable humanity into Viserys, who was much more of a selfish, deluded one note character in the book. In fact, I'd say Viserys is the biggest idiot in the book.
On the show, Harry Lloyd gave Viserys more dimensions, especially when he told Mormont how the "greatest dynasty the world has ever known" has been on his shoulders since he was five years old. And Viserys was never up to it. "No one has ever given me what they gave her in there." I felt more pity for him than Daenerys did the way it played on the show.
But it's the truth: "He was no dragon!"
Everything regarding Tyrion in the Eyrie outsmarting his captors and earning his freedom was note-perfect. Loved his smug courtsey bow at the end. He could have gone on and on "confessing his sins" as far as I was concerned. That was hilarious stuff, all of it true, no doubt.
Man, do I hate Lysa Arryn and her creepy little tit-sucking son.
Stuff I noticed was different or new from the book, though there wasn't too much new this week, I don't think:
Spoiler Below: Highlight text to read
Viserys' conversation with Mormont while trying to steal the dragon eggs where he calls Mormont out for secretly lusting after Daenerys. I don't recall that happening in the book, and it's not until book two that Daenerys herself realizes Mormont wants her and we get the story of Mormont and his wife. There was also the scene with Theon Greyjoy and his prostitute on the turnip truck. The most significant new scene was Robert hunting with Barrister, Renly and that Lannister kid where Renly bitched Robert out and went storming off. However, I'm rather shocked the show omitted the crazy ass sex scene between Daenerys and Kahl Drogo with all the Dothraki watching that followed Daenerys eating the heart and naming her son Rhaego.
Loved the training scene with Syrio and Arya. I already think Syrio is a better teacher to Arya than Obi-Wan Kenobi was to Luke Skywalker.
Great scene with Sansa and Arya where Arya says, "Joffey's a Baratheon. His sigil is the stag, not the lion." And that clicked a light switch in Ned's head. So, have you guessed the Secret That Got Jon Arryn Killed yet?
"The seed is strong!"
Finally, my Tweets for the week:
@BackoftheHead John Orquiola No one has done anything grosser to get in good with their in-laws than Daenerys Targaryen eating that bloody heart. #goldencrown
@BackoftheHead John Orquiola Making the Eight. If King Robert added a Dothraki horse girl to his list of conquests, would that be Making the Neigh-ne? #goldencrown
@BackoftheHead John Orquiola Poor Theon Greyjoy, watching his prostitute ride away. If his last name were Sumner, he could write a song about it. #roxanne #goldencrown
(edited by John Orquiola on 23.5.11 0639) @BackoftheHead
On the HBOGO/Episode 7 front, based on what I'm seeing on twitter and the fact that I got 20 minutes in to the episode before it froze my whole computer (I borrowed a friends password), the website has pretty much completely crashed due to people trying to watch. I guess that's a good thing in terms of showing HBO demand for GoT and the app, but man, what a tease.
Originally posted by CxMorgadoOn the HBOGO/Episode 7 front, based on what I'm seeing on twitter and the fact that I got 20 minutes in to the episode before it froze my whole computer (I borrowed a friends password), the website has pretty much completely crashed due to people trying to watch. I guess that's a good thing in terms of showing HBO demand for GoT and the app, but man, what a tease.
HBO GO (I pulled the same trick you did - Thanks, LanceJr! and FiOS!) finally worked for me at midnight Eastern time. It was worth the hassle.
Originally posted by John Orquiola Poor Theon Greyjoy, watching his prostitute ride away. If his last name were Sumner, he could write a song about it. #roxanne #goldencrown
Have they given that girl a name yet? I recall her talking last week about how good Tyrion was. Could she be Shae, the prostitute he falls in love with?
Great episode, once again. Quick highlights were Ned's lightbulb going off when the hair color was mentioned, Syrio's lesson with Arya, and the entire Dothraki ritual. The crowning was actually the least awesome part of those scenes
Originally posted by John Orquiola Poor Theon Greyjoy, watching his prostitute ride away. If his last name were Sumner, he could write a song about it. #roxanne #goldencrown
Have they given that girl a name yet? I recall her talking last week about how good Tyrion was. Could she be Shae, the prostitute he falls in love with?
Her name's Roz, I think. Setting her up to fill the Shae role would make sense, but I'm pretty sure I read that Shae's already been cast.
Shouldn't Joffrey look more like the kid from Deliverance?
I totally agree about Henry Lloyd. He played a total prick, but there were shades of likability there. The stuff with the prostitute in the tub last week and this week's ep.
So did Drago get around the Dothraki rule of "no blood being shed" by killing Viserys with fire?
Thread ahead: First image of Tom Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises Next thread: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Previous thread: Parks & Recreation 3x15 + 3x16 ("The Bubble" & "Li'l Sebastian")
After a slow start, the wife and I are enjoying the show now. Especially when it looks to be leaving the country next week. I was happy that the "local" family got eliminated.