Last episode of Game of Thrones, at least to my eyes, marked a rather drastic shift in tone and in the story, taking characters to new places and introducing new ones. So it was perhaps inevitable that “A Man Without Honor” would be a little more low-key, building on what had come before. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Quieter episodes can help draw us into the world and get to know its people. This episode does that at times, and has a few very entertaining and exciting moments, but overall it is more workmanlike than excellent. The last few minutes begin to shake things up far more, but it’s hard to tell the events surrounding Jaime, Daenerys, and Theon, Bran, and Rickon will mean until we see more of the season (even for those of us who’ve read the books, since in some cases the series is making some large departures from the novels).
Jon’s mistake from last episode compounds on itself tonight. [click to continue…]
We’re giving away two copies of the upcoming Game of Thrones video game and limited edition art book to a pair of our readers.
Game Of Thrones, the new roleplaying video game based on the popular HBO TV series and internationally bestselling A Song of Ice and Fire book series, is coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and PC May 15. Featuring many familiar locations from the books and likenesses from the TV series, Game of Thrones also delves into a new storyline for fans to discover while immersed in 30-plus hours of original game play. The game can be preordered now with a limited edition hardbound art book, Game of Thrones: Visuals from the RPG, at the following link: http://www.gameofthrones-thegame.com/purchase.html
There are a couple of ways to enter . . . both are very easy.
Leave a comment below and tell us who your favorite character is in The Game of Thrones.
Be a regular forum poster and mention one time in a forum post before the end of the giveaway that you want to win these prizes.
Some of you guys already have a leg up on the forum posting as regular contributors. The rest can jump right in and join some of the great conversations going on over there now.
Prizes can only be shipped to addresses within the US. We’ll pick a winner from this comment thread and a winner from the forum on Friday, May 18, 2012. Winner must specify which version (PS3 or Xbox 360) of the game they wish to receive. Make sure you register with your real email for the forum and the comment form email box so we can contact you. Winners must respond to prize notification within 72 hours of such notification. If the winner fails to respond within 72 hours, another winner will be selected.
Game of Thrones is always best when there’s a sense of mayhem. In the first season, the last few episodes rose above the others with a sort of controlled chaos; the dam of peace had broken, and the subtle scheming turned into arrests and killings and war. Characters’ agendas collided with each other, and some won (Littlefinger) and some lost (Ned). Season 2 has mostly continued that style of dynastic politics, but until now it hasn’t felt quite as exhilarating. There were good characters, well-written dialogue, and effective scenes, but with so many characters to juggle we didn’t gotten to know, say, Renly as well as we did Ned, and couldn’t be as invested in his goals or failures. “The Old Gods and the New,” however, is the first top-tier episode of season 2 of Game of Thrones because it embraces the chaos at its heart. Mobs riot, throats get cut, young men of the Night’s Watch make big mistakes, and it’s a hell of a fun ride.
At first I was a little underwhelmed by Theon’s arrival in Winterfell [click to continue…]
Tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones is a hard one for me to judge. “The Ghost of Harrenhal” has the key elements I’ve been asking for: a more grounded story with less gratuitous sex, more focus on the storyline of the war, and less wheel-spinning in a couple of the plot threads. But it also doesn’t quite feel like a top-tier episode of the show. Few scenes really “pop” with memorable images or lines (though there are plenty of engaging and well-presented moments as always), and the pacing somehow saps it of energy. “The Ghost of Harrenhal” is an enjoyable hour of television as always, and it moves the plot forward toward what I think can be an extremely compelling second half to the season, but it fails to live up to its massive promise.
That promise, of course, stems from the major death in the first scene. [click to continue…]
Last week I expressed concern that Game of Thrones was starting to focus too much on interpersonal drama and sex, and too little on the core conflict at the heart of the show. Well, this week the producers answered my concerns (they must have read my many letters). HBO’s Episode Boob Quota was still met, but the plot also marched forward with far more intent. The pace was fast enough that there was little time for philosophical musings like those Tyrion and Varys have shared, nor was there much comic relief, but the bleak, menacing tone of “Garden of Bones” gave me a far better sense of where the producers might be taking this season than any of the episodes before.
Harrenhall
The war itself finally takes center stage with the first scene of this episode. Fittingly, it begins with two common Lannister soldiers discussing the view of the competing kings and knights from the ground, and regardless of what you think of fart jokes, this one was pulled off nicely. Things take a darker turn with a Stark ambush [click to continue…]
Game of Thrones is starting to surprise me. Partially that’s because I don’t remember the second book as well as the first, but it’s also that the tone is just a little wilder, and a little more melodramatic (I say that as someone who enjoys a good melodrama). There’s a lot more seduction and somewhat more screams and threats (Cersei has been fond of those lately).
Last week, on the topic of some changes made in the translation from book to screen (plot threads that were subtext have been shown onscreen), the commenter Luis wrote “I guess overall so far I don’t hate the changes they’ve made, but I’m worried that there will be a butterfly effect down the road and the show just won’t be as good anymore.” I think that’s my concern as well. Right now I’m enjoying watching the creators testing the limits of the scheming/screaming/sexing they can fit into the show, but I just hope things don’t go too far off the rails.
The scene in Episode 3 – “What Is Dead May Never Die” that best exemplifies my enjoyment and my concerns about the new season was the almost-sex-scene between Renly and his new wife Margaery Tyrell [click to continue…]
Game of Thrones Explained is your guide to the world of the show, whether you are a new viewer or a reader of the books wanting to refresh your memory. These articles describe the cultures, the families, and the setting.
Note: This article contains some spoilers through season 2, episode 2, which aired on April 8th, 2012.
House Greyjoy
While the other great houses play a game of thrones involving politics and arguments over lineage, House Greyjoy and the people of the Iron Islands have always prized martial strength as the primary means to claim glory and wealth. They feel no loyalty to the throne of the Seven Kingdoms, and their grudge against the families of the mainland has festered since their rebellion and defeat nine years ago. Lord Balon sees this time of war as a critical opportunity for his family to restore its pride. His daughter Yara is an accomplished raider, while his son Theon was raised with the Starks and is uncertain of his place in his homeland.
Game of Thrones has always been packed to the brim with characters and settings, but perhaps no episode has exemplified this more than “The Night Lands.” It ignores some major protagonists and jumps to an impressive number of less-familiar locations without as much explanatory dialogue as the previous episode, and I imagine casual fans could be completely disoriented. Of course, Game of Thrones isn’t really a show written for casual fans, and the sprawling nature of the story is a big part of what makes it so appealing to those who really immerse themselves. There are violent characters and subtle characters, creepily atmospheric scenes and wryly funny scenes, all of them woven together in a dark, bloody tapestry. “The Night Lands” isn’t the most thematically cohesive episode, and it is uneven in parts, but the show still has its trademark irresistible characters and dialogue, and it introduces some promising new aspects of the show. Season 2 is off to a good start.
As in most of the best episodes, Tyrion gets a lot to do. He sits on the council when the Lannisters learn of the North’s declaration of independence. He verbally jousts with Varys (whom he accuses of threatening him over Shae, whose presence goes against Lord Tywin’s orders). He also exiles the greedy commander of the City Watch, Janos Slynt, to join the Night’s Watch, and puts his own greedy mercenary Bronn in command. Then he deals with Cersei’s anger over the decision and over his very presence. This all provides a venue for Peter Dinklage’s considerable comedic talents, and the fine actors around him, but more importantly it’s a nice, familiar center for the episode, when so much of the rest is with newer characters in unfamiliar settings, and most of the Starks are absent. [click to continue…]
Those of you on Comcast who have been waiting to get your Game of Thrones on HBO Go via your Xbox . . . your wait is almost over. Comcast says that it’s going to stop blocking HBO Go over Xbox next week.
