"A Game of Thrones" Spoiler-Ridden Catch-All of Doom - books and HBO show

Speed dating followed by "The Bodyguard".

The young Blackwood and the Braken guys dueling with Blackwood kid winning was funny. Apparently those houses have always fought.

I hope young Blackwood gets to come back in a Lyanna Mormont style role occasionally

EDIT: Who services the torches in the "secret" passageways?

IMAGE(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fci3yczagAAp313?format=jpg&name=small)

Well, that went off the rails real fast, didn't it?

Rat Boy wrote:

Well, that went off the rails real fast, didn't it?

It's going to get MUCH worse.

EDIT: Seems looking at the preview, we're finally getting the big time jump where the actors change.

Did this latest episode seem a little clunky to anyone else? Some of it worked, like Ser Crispin's marriage proposal and the realization that he takes his oaths (and the fact that he's broken them) really, really seriously. Like, Carrie's mom levels of self-destructive religious devotion.

But then his going all apesh*t on the Knight of Kisses seemed to happen really fast. Was there some level of homophobia there? He's feeling guilt and self-loathing, so he strikes out at someone who he can rationalize as "more sinful" than he himself is?

And the biggest question mark to me is that he apparently peaced out from the crowds of people all around him somehow and then went, alone, to the Godswood for a little private seppuku without anyone stopping him. I can buy that he might not be clapped in irons immediately or anything-- he's basically a cop, his fellow Kingsguard would likely give him some amount of benefit of the doubt assuming that there was a good reason why he did what he did-- but surely they'd have some questions for him at least.

(In the book he kills the Knight of Kisses in a melee during the seven days of tourney and feasting, making it a bit ambiguous how premeditated it was.)

hbi2k wrote:

Did this latest episode seem a little clunky to anyone else? Some of it worked, like Ser Crispin's marriage proposal and the realization that he takes his oaths (and the fact that he's broken them) really, really seriously. Like, Carrie's mom levels of self-destructive religious devotion.

But then his going all apesh*t on the Knight of Kisses seemed to happen really fast. Was there some level of homophobia there? He's feeling guilt and self-loathing, so he strikes out at someone who he can rationalize as "more sinful" than he himself is?

And the biggest question mark to me is that he apparently peaced out from the crowds of people all around him somehow and then went, along, to the Godswood for a little private seppuku without anyone stopping him. I can buy that he might not be clapped in irons immediately or anything-- he's basically a cop, his fellow Kingsguard would likely give him some amount of benefit of the doubt assuming that there was a good reason why he did what he did-- but surely they'd have some questions for him at least.

(In the book he kills the Knight of Kisses in a melee during the seven days of tourney and feasting, making it a bit ambiguous how premeditated it was.)

Yeah, that whole seen was odd to me too. I was wondering if there was something that I missed. Something along the lines of weapons not being allowed at a wedding but Kisses had a dagger that he spotted. Otherwise it doesn't make much sense that they would let him just walk out after committing a murder AND ruining the wedding party.

I guess I'm not alone in feeling confused about what happened and how everyone there reacted to it.

I thought Criston Cole’s proposal was actually the least believable part of the episode. He’s always come across to me as a pragmatic guy, so the idea that he could seriously suggest eloping with the heir to the throne seemed off-character.

Second episode in a row where a character teleports out of a crowd.

Last episode: Ser Crispin, crowded wedding -> godswood

This episode: Laena, while actively miscarrying in a crowded birthing chamber -> the parapets where dragons hang out

I think this show might be... kinda dumb sometimes.

And I think I'm here for it anyway. Let it be dumb, I say! I'm having a grand time enjoying this dumbness!

I’m starting to cool on this show as I’m finding it incredibly boring.

I'm starting to cool on it as well. The whole tone of the show is Very Serious Business, and it's getting dull. There's hardly any humor (though the scene with Alicent and her son this last episode is the hardest I've laughed at the show so far), there's nothing showing what these characters are interested in outside of political ambitions, and there's no sense of pacing or flow to the individual episodes. I'm skeptical that they really needed to age up the two main actresses.

I mentioned to my wife I'd probably be fine just waiting for the last 4 episodes to air then catching up on it all at once. I just haven't been excited to catch it each week.

They namechecked Lord Grover Tully. Those magnificent bastards.

They could have done fast forwarding to the older actors sooner.

I'm sure there's a whole whack of stuff in the book but as someone who didn't read the original material I'm not sure I care.

I'm sure the buildup was important in some way but they could of started the series 1 episode back even.

Could have, not "could of."

Sorry. Personal bugbear.

He doesn't care.

Personally, the time jumps are hampering the show. In the last episode we have some characters dying of but we didn't seem much of them during previous episodes so it doesn't have an emotional impact if that's what the show was going for.

Rat Boy wrote:

They namechecked Lord Grover Tully. Those magnificent bastards.

Grover wants his lands.

slazev wrote:

He doesn't care.

Personally, the time jumps are hampering the show. In the last episode we have some characters dying of but we didn't seem much of them during previous episodes so it doesn't have an emotional impact if that's what the show was going for.

If you mean the two Strongs, I definitely don’t think they are going for emotional impact. Just moving prices around (off) the chessboard and developing the narrative around the main characters.

Yeah, Fire and Blood is an awkward work to try to adapt, because there are a lot of things that don't necessarily happen for a concrete narrative purpose, but for verisimilitude. Ser Harwin and Lady Laena weren't the great loves of Rhaenyra and Daemon's lives, and their deaths weren't the great defining tragedies of their lives, they were just things that happened. Sometimes life is like that. You're with someone for a while, until you're not. Usually in real life it involves a breakup or a divorce and not murder plots and dragon fire, but same idea.

A different sort of adaptation would be streamlining away a lot of these minor characters, but I think they're understandably leery about that given how hard Game of Thrones went off the rails. I'm enjoying the show for all of its messiness, but it's totally valid that others are finding it a stumbling block.

Blind_Evil wrote:
slazev wrote:

He doesn't care.

Personally, the time jumps are hampering the show. In the last episode we have some characters dying of but we didn't seem much of them during previous episodes so it doesn't have an emotional impact if that's what the show was going for.

If you mean the two Strongs, I definitely don’t think they are going for emotional impact. Just moving prices around (off) the chessboard and developing the narrative around the main characters.

And Laena too. But it's not just deaths that I'm talking about. That was just an example.

So if Laenor doesn't die, what's the implications for shifting a dragon's bond?

Also, I can't remember seeing that kind of kid on kid violence very often on screen. Pretty intense.

MannishBoy wrote:

So if Laenor doesn't die, what's the implications for shifting a dragon's bond?

There is no record of any dragon ever accepting a second rider while their first is alive.

That doesn't mean it's impossible, just that there's no record of it. If the Targs believe it's impossible, then there probably haven't been a whole lot of people trying.

Spoiler:

Seasmoke's second rider doesn't come around for another decade, so one could fairly headcanon that Laenor had an accident offscreen if it came to that.

hbi2k wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

So if Laenor doesn't die, what's the implications for shifting a dragon's bond?

There is no record of any dragon ever accepting a second rider while their first is alive.

That doesn't mean it's impossible, just that there's no record of it. If the Targs believe it's impossible, then there probably haven't been a whole lot of people trying.

In the books... (unnecessary mild spoiler in the spoiler thread)

Spoiler:

I do think it was awhile before Seasmoke was claimed, so maybe Leanor dies anyway before that happens.

Another question: Who's body is that, and how many dark skinned silver haired dudes are running around to be used as barbeque? I know his head hair is burnt off, but body hair under his clothes? Wouldn't the Silent Sisters recognize something was up? I guess that's why they're silent. Seal that guy up in a coffin and sink him.

EDIT: Does it bother anybody else when they film in broad daylight, then in post try to make it look like night by just dimming the picture? Still leaving shadows from people and objects sitting around like it's mid afternoon, just a darker overall picture where they're faking night. With a budget like this show, surely they could have done better somehow.

MannishBoy wrote:

EDIT: Does it bother anybody else when they film in broad daylight, then in post try to make it look like night by just dimming the picture? Still leaving shadows from people and objects sitting around like it's mid afternoon, just a darker overall picture where they're faking night. With a budget like this show, surely they could have done better somehow.

I don't know for certain if those shots are filmed in broad daylight then edited in post. Either way, I love that TV shows can do twilight shots like that with HDR. You couldn't do that subtle of lighting before HDR. I may not be talking about the same thing, but I really like the twilight stuff.

I could watch the same episode 10 times in a row and I’d never notice it. Not everyone is built for that type of observation.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

EDIT: Does it bother anybody else when they film in broad daylight, then in post try to make it look like night by just dimming the picture? Still leaving shadows from people and objects sitting around like it's mid afternoon, just a darker overall picture where they're faking night. With a budget like this show, surely they could have done better somehow.

I don't know for certain if those shots are filmed in broad daylight then edited in post. Either way, I love that TV shows can do twilight shots like that with HDR. You couldn't do that subtle of lighting before HDR. I may not be talking about the same thing, but I really like the twilight stuff.

Go back and look at the shadows on the terrace as night starts to fall. It's dark, but the shadows look like it's 2:00pm.

Or even better, go to the scene transition from the beach sex to Aemond running through the sand to claim his dragon. Right around 27:55. They've darkened it to look like the sun is the moon, but there are defined shadows in the sand. (Would have screenshot it but for the DRM). Even more as it cuts to the next camera angle over his shoulder, then as he approaches the dragon.

I don't think this is HDR that makes it visible, because my current main set isn't HDR (have a big new OLED in shipment, though! Time to finally retire the plasma.) I think it's just that it was shot in daylight then turned dark in post that allows the detail to remain, but in a weird way that looks very unnatural to me.

MannishBoy wrote:
tuffalobuffalo wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

EDIT: Does it bother anybody else when they film in broad daylight, then in post try to make it look like night by just dimming the picture? Still leaving shadows from people and objects sitting around like it's mid afternoon, just a darker overall picture where they're faking night. With a budget like this show, surely they could have done better somehow.

I don't know for certain if those shots are filmed in broad daylight then edited in post. Either way, I love that TV shows can do twilight shots like that with HDR. You couldn't do that subtle of lighting before HDR. I may not be talking about the same thing, but I really like the twilight stuff.

Go back and look at the shadows on the terrace as night starts to fall. It's dark, but the shadows look like it's 2:00pm.

Or even better, go to the scene transition from the beach sex to Aemond running through the sand to claim his dragon. Right around 27:55. They've darkened it to look like the sun is the moon, but there are defined shadows in the sand. (Would have screenshot it but for the DRM). Even more as it cuts to the next camera angle over his shoulder, then as he approaches the dragon.

I don't think this is HDR that makes it visible, because my current main set isn't HDR (have a big new OLED in shipment, though! Time to finally retire the plasma.) I think it's just that it was shot in daylight then turned dark in post that allows the detail to remain, but in a weird way that looks very unnatural to me.

I wouldn't be surprised at all then if they edited daylight shots. I'd have to go back and look. I still enjoyed the look of it with how dark but defined HDR makes everything. Maybe I liked it because it just was unusual!

Was very distracted by the digital nighttime-ing, too. Firmly in uncanny valley to me.

We thought it was way too dark. I’m glad it wasn’t just us…

Here’s why you couldn’t see anything on House of the Dragon

Rhaenyra's sons look like a not blue version of Prince Derek from Disenchantment.