the penny arcade comic is great. here's another comic.



note: there's no actual spoilers in this. I put it in the spoiler tags because it has one line of NFSW language.

Kind of a "meh" episode, IMO, but I am guessing it was used to set-up some big storylines that are coming.

I am still amazed at how much this series must cost to film. It's like a mini LOTR movie every week. The budget must be incredible.



Couple questions (forgive me, I still don't have all the names/characters down):

1. Who is the guy that went with Snow to the Night Watchmen (not Tyrion)? Is he basically just a friend of the Stark clan? Why did he decide to go on his own past the wall?

2. Who is the white guy with the Darthrakis (sp?) that talks to the new Queen? I can't quite figure out his role in the story yet. Does he know the brother and sister before they came to the Darthrakis?

3. Can someone quickly summarize the importance of the various conversations between the King and Lannister, and Ned Stark and the old guy in the King's decision-making group? I'm really lost here.

I think Stark's dad was the former king and was killed (by the "mad king")? If so, why didn't he get the throne? Is there some bad blood here between Stark and some others due to his father's murder?

What was the deal with the comment that the mad king wanted to burn everyone?

1. - That's Snow's uncle. I assume, it's Ned Stark's brother.

There's going to be a lot of infodumping while they introduce new characters...

I can answer a couple of those off the top of my head

1. Benjen Stark. Ned's younger brother. He's the first ranger, the leader of the scouts.
2. Ser Jorah Mormont. He's an exiled knight from Westeros, and I'm not going to say more about him right now for fear of spoilers.

Stark's brother Brandon was killed by the mad king; The Starks have always been (to the best of my knowledge), the Lords of Winterfell; never Kings. I've never figured out exactly why Baratheon ended up as the King, but I think it's mostly because he took it. Stark could've been King had he occupied the throne and established legitimacy, but Robert did it and Stark evidently preferred it that way.

The white guy is a former Knight for the mad king that was exiled. He is essentially a protector for Dany that appears to be loyal to her because of his history with her father.

Ah okay, gotcha. He seems like a good guy. Is he in the Watchman as well?

I do know that Jorah told Viserys in that he hates Robert because Robert persecuted/prosecuted him for killing some poachers on his lands. Viserys responded with, "I can assure you that such things won't happen under my reign." So, he's basically in exile and wanting to help the Targaryens because he hates Robert.

So I take it he is not a slave of the Dothrakis? He just joined their crew and they took him in? The Dothrakis seemed like savages the first two episodes that wouldn't take outsiders in. I'll wait to see how his story unfolds, thanks.

I think it was Ned Stark rather than Robert.

That's right, he's an exile, rather than a slave. He speaks Dothraki so he's clearly spent time with them previously.

The way the book went, and I've gotten the same impression from the show, is that Viserys took him into service after the wedding (or whatever you call that ceremony...).

1. Benjen Stark. Neds Brother. The Stark's are of the North, and have served on the wall for thousands of years. It wasn't always like it is right now there.

2. They mentioned it at the beginning when Viserys was talking to him and said that he would never have to worry of such things when he comes into his throne. He was sentanced to death by Ned for selling some poachers he caught to slavers. It is illegal and he fled the kingdoms instead of being executed.

3. Stark's dad was lord of Winderfell just like Ned is now. He was Warden of the North, which is essential the same thing. He served the king just like Ned does for Robert. He was killed by the Mad King while Jaime and many others were there to see it. More will be decribed of it later I am sure, so I'll leave it at that. Some of the other things, Robert and Jaime were talking about how he killed the King, while he was part of the king's gaurd, which is also why he is called the Kingslayer a lot. Ned and te old gy talking? I assume you mean Maester Pycelle, but I don't recall what they were talking on to elaborate more on it.

Thanks.

I thought Stark mentioned to the old guy at the table (when they were discussing how much debt the throne was in) that he served under his (Stark's) father, and then served another King (said in kind of a snarky way like he was pissed about it). And then that guy handed him what I take was the "hand of the king".

By far the best part of the episode was Viserys getting punked with the whip and basically treated like sh#t. I hate that character.

I missed this the first time through...

Stark's father (named Rickard) was not the king, just the Lord of Winterfell. The Mad King they were referring to was Viserys and Daenerys' father, Aerys II Targaryen. Ned, Robert and Jon Arryn (that was Robert's former Hand, who we saw dead in the first episode, the guy with the eyeball stones) overthrew him (ultimately with Jamie - one of his Kingsguard knights - killing him, which is what Ned/Jamie and Jamie/King were talking about).

I don't think I should go into details about any more of this now, just in case they go into it a little more on the show. If they haven't in a few weeks time, I can fill in some of the holes.

That guy is Grand Maester Pycelle. He's the highest Maester in the kingdoms, although they haven't really gone into any detail yet what Maesters are (the only other one I think we've seen so far was Maester Luwin in Winterfell). Think, ah, something along the lines of scholar, advisor.

Thanks for getting me up to speed guys. I would be lost without this thread.

I think there is a spoiler here you might want to edit. {oops, which I'll edit as well since I quoted it}

After re-reading it, I think the old guy he mentioned is Barristan Selmy, not Pycelle. When they were talking while Robert was drunk and called in Jaime telling war stories. There wasn't much to what he said, just talking about who he killed first in his life.

I agree, but I can also see where some people was see it as one.

I assumed he meant Pycelle since he mentioned he'd handed Ned the "hand of the king".

Barristan actually confused me. I couldn't remember who that guy was while I was watching, and I don't think they even said his name. That was one omission I probably would have found a way to fit in, sort of how they had Tyrion name Commander Mormont.

Although maybe they did and I missed it...

Well, I was going with what the show's doing. I thought it was pretty clear they'd teased that, after Lysa's letter to Catelyn...

Either way, not a major deal.

Ahh yeah, you are right, and he did mention him as part of the small council, but I don't remember seeing Pycelle there, the first time I remember him was when he walked in coughing and gave the raven message about Bran.

He was on the left side of the table (chair immediately to the right of the king's), seated the whole time when Ned walked in. He interrupted Littlefinger right after the "a woman worth fighting for, I'm sure you'll agree" line. I don't know if he was ever called Pycelle, but Ned did refer to him as Grand Maester.

Yep, that is who I was referring to, but I also didn't know the other guy allen mentioned either.

This show is like trying to drink from a firehose sometimes. Just tons of info to sort and comprehend right now to keep the story straight.

Hell, I've read the books and I'm not catching everything while I'm watching...

I'm actually keeping all the episodes on my DVR, which is something I almost never do, so I can watch them in sequence later. I have a feeling I'll catch things I missed the first time.

Ditto.

I remember the words you mention of Pycelle in the small council, but don't remember seeing him there and realizing it was him, though there isn't anyone else it could have been. Not sure of conversations that they had though, will have to listen closer when I re-watch.

Putting this one in this thread for fear of being spoiled in the other one.

When Arya was training with Syrio at the end and Ned was watching you could hear swords clashing and a look of impending doom on Ned's face. I thought it was sort of a weird way to end the episode. I wonder what's going to happen.

Said the same thing to my wife. Was he thinking of a fight long gone or one yet to happen?

Yeah I'm not sure. To me it sounded like more than one man fighting another. I wonder if it has to do with that tournament that is coming up.

I assume it was foreboding/foreshadowing.

On a side note: the girl married to the savage king. Was it just me or does she look like a whole different, larger woman from the waist down when disrobed? Baby got backbackbackbackback.

Yeah, clothes can be deceiving.

I think it played in with Ned telling Arya earlier in the episode that they are in a dangerous place and need to stick together. In that last scene, he saw Arya practicing and having a great time but he couldn't help but think about the fact that he sees danger lurking, thus the clash of real swords in his head instead of the click-clack of the wooden training swords.

All I know is she is smokin hot.

Very pretty face and hair. Have to turn her sideways to get those hips through the door but she could birht babies three at a time without having to lay down.

Emilia Clarke

http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7...liaclarke5.jpg

Holy god, she's amazing as a brunette.

Are we suppose to hate the lassisters this much so quick?

Seems to me that the little daughter will save the day some day in the future.

She'd look even more amazing in my bed, any hair color.

Dude they're the Lannisters not the Lassiters. I think you've called them that since the beginning.

I think so.

Not to shabby as a blonde either...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Lakzaj_vFE...252Bgeorge.jpg

Thats not even her.

:hmmm:

Google says it is. Google never lies.

That's melissa george I think.

BRC, what are you watching and listening to? Yes, the girl you posted is hot but it's not her. Plus, they only say Lannister about a dozen times an episode.

Hey4321 this is a noob thread.

I really like this show. It's becoming a favorite, I'd sure like the Lannisters and Stark's to start killing each other. But, the street fight between the Blond guy and Stark was pretty cool.

I want to see some more of the Queen. And we finally get to see a reason why her hubby is King.

yep


Stark blew it ... he had his chance and should have starting killing people

I'm really digging Daenerys Targaryen and her character arc. At first, I really didn't like her or Drogo of the Dothraki, but after a couple episodes I really, really started to like not only the arc, but the characters themselves.

Love this show.

Yeah, I liked her boobies but that was about it and now I like her charector a lot better now.

That speech by Drogo was awsome. Hopefully in the future he comes across the sea on the wooden horses and kills some Lannisters.LMAO

WTF? the kill off the man of honor? What for? to make the snotty nosed king seem more deserving of his comupance at some later point in the story line?

Wonder if they are sitting up the daughter to unite the kingdome at a later date?

You answered your own question. He was a man of honor. That doesn't get you far in the Game of Thrones.

I'm kind of wondering if Jon Snow, doesn't become the baddest MFer out of Ned's line.

yeah ya never know if you haven't read the books. :hmmm:

WTF? We have the dragon clan now? I liked the sun and stars bad azz. geeeezzz how many episodes did we get? Seemed awful short.

BRC, first rule of show biz. Always leave them wanting more. You're been served by Mr. G. R. R. Martin.

Now that the season is over I have started reading Book 1. I'm about a quarter of the way through and so far it appears the tv series was amazingly true to the book with lots of lines taken verbatim. There are a few sequential differences. Still ****ing hard to keep all the names straight.

No friggin way that snotty nosed kid survives. Even his own family will want him out because he is making it harder for them to govern and further their own selfish goals. So why drag it out? And while we are at it...get on with the Lannisters vs, Stark war. GEEEZZZ we didn't get to see shit. I know its television and the series is expensive but come on man...

Dragons would seem to be an offensive weapon that could turn a battle real easy. She must be some sort of player in the future.

i wonder what is going to happen between the dragon clan and the horse clan? I mean once the leader died, she is outcast. Now that the leader is dead and she is outcast there is no reason to attack the Iron Throne. The Dragon lady doesn't really even have a reason to go after the Iron Throne because the King that tried to kill her is dead already.

I imagine they will find some excuse for the perfect storm though.

Gotta have the blond brat king,Dragon lady,Horse Clan and White walkers all attacking the poor people of the north at the same time or it wouldn't be as depressing as it seems like it's going to be.

of course i have no idea what's going to happen ... just guessing.

She thinks it is her destiny for a Targaryen to sit on the Iron Throne, as her family ruled for a long time before they were overthrown. I don't think she even knew that King Robert was trying desperately to kill her.

At this point in the story, I want to see her ride the dragons into King's Landing and burn it to the f'n ground just like the Mad King would have. She is cool but crazy - I like that.

Of course I'm sure she will do something later on that makes me hate her.

She does have an awful nice set of dragons on her.

yes, she did. The wine dealer tried to give her poison wine. That's what started the whole movement to attack the Iron Throne. The leader was just about to say 'let it go' and then they tried to kill his queen/son.

http://cdn2.screenjunkies.com/wp-con...sMr.Burns_.gif

Throwing this back onto page one in case anybody might be interested in some spoiler-free discussion.

i have wood.

wheres the ADWD thread? i finally finished the book

Aww yeah. Here we go.

Sooooo good.

I still can't beleive Varys is Jon Snow's reall father. Now THAT I didn't see coming.

:shake:

Haha, the eunuch. That would be some feat!

Still haven't found the time to read the books (perhaps this summer), but glad to see the show back. It remained just as intriguing as it was in the first season and some interesting characters were introduced in Stannis, Davos and Melisandre (who can apparently drink poison?!).

Also, Joffrey really needs to get slapped a few more times.

I'm reading Clash of Kings right now, and thought I was far enough into the book that I can stay ahead of the episodes...guess I better get to reading...

Joffrey needs his head kicked in by Robb Stark...

They are deviating more from the books in terms of there are a lot more scenes that were not in the books at this point, though the main thrust of the plot is the same. My favorite scenes from this episode weren't in the books, and that was when Cersei proved to Littlefinger that Power is Power,and the conversation between Rob and Jaime when Rob's badass direwolf gets in Jaime's face. The direwolves look so much better this season!

Do you remember in Clash of Kings if there was a part where the Kingsguard killed all of Robert's bastards???

It is actually Janos Slynt and the city watch that did it, not the Kingsguard. In the book, there is no POV character present for all that so it is only referenced when Tyrion has his conversation with Janos Slynt (still to come on the show I assume). But on the show the slaughtering of his bastards is seen first hand and was MUCH more impactful that way. Plus it helps establish what a prick Janos Slynt is.

I loved the brief overlook of Kings Landing we got from Shae leaning out over the balcony in the Tower of the Hand.

Shit, I forgot this started last night - I assume it's still set to record on my DVR, so I should have it.

Here is an episode summary for last night's episode.


Game of Thrones scorecard, Season 2 Episode 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's been too long since we visited Westeros. It feels like, after a long day's physical labor, slipping into a soothing, hot bath of violence, brutality, betrayal...and chamomile. Very excited to have the show on again.

We have met some new folks, and caught up with some old friends.

Daenerys, newly widowed, is traveling with what's left of her khalasar across the Red Waste. That's the only route she has, as any other direction will result in her death and the theft of her dragons. But it's a hard road, as her people are suffering. She sends out her strongest riders to go scouting to find water and/or a city.

In the North, Commander Mormont has led the Night's Watch in force into the land of the Wildlings, North of the Wall. We see them in the home of Craster, who has managed to carve out a comfortable living in an incredibly inhospitable environment. He raises his daughters to become his wives, and he either grows, makes, or trades for everything he needs. He's no friend of the Night's Watch, calling them Crows, but he is willing to trade his "hospitality" for steel and wine. Jon is repelled by Craster, and wonders what he does with his sons. Mormont also does not like Craster, but unlike Jon, he doesn't allow his distaste to interfere with his mission.

In Winterfell, Bran is the acting Lord in Robb's absence, dealing with the complaints of those who have seen their lands stripped of able men when Robb called the banners. Bran has dreams in which he's a wolf, just like last season when he had crow dreams, maybe as a sort of compensation for the loss of his ability to walk.

Meanwhile Robb has sent a Lannister cousin to King's Landing to present his terms for peace - the return of Sansa and Arya, the return of the bones of his father and all other Starks retainers who died in King's Landing, and a renunciation of any claims of Lannisters to the lands of the North. He's also sending his mother Catelyn to the Stormlands (ancestral seat of the Baratheons) to treat with Renly, who has proclaimed himself King. The idea is that if Robb and Renly join forces, they can split the land and both be King of their respective kingdoms.

Another key happening in Robb's camp is that Theon Greyjoy, has asked Robb for permission to petition Balon Greyjoy (Theon's father) for his ships in preparation for an attack on King's Landing. Balon rebelled against Ned Stark some years ago, a rebellion which Ned put down hard, and took Theon to raise in Winterfell as surety against Balon trying it again. Catelyn counsels against trusting Balon.

In King's Landing, there are a number of things brewing. Tyrion has arrived to be his father Tywin's representative on the King's Small Council. He lambasts his dear sister Cersei with her failures in maximizing their bargaining power with regard to the Starks. Failure in letting Ned get beheaded, and failure in letting Arya disappear. Now they have only Sansa to trade for Jaime, an offer unlikely to convince Robb.

Tyrion has also stationed his woman Shae into Ned Stark's old quarters in the Tower of the Hand, somewhat in defiance of his dad's orders not to take her to court. He's also got the mercenary Bronn (who saved Tyrion's bacon by being his Champion in the Aerie), and representatives of the hill tribes.

Petyr Baelish, aka Littlefinger, makes an error of judgment in showing his hand to Cersei, in reaction to her light taunting about his background. In perhaps the most powerful scene of the first episode, Littlefinger chides Cersei for forgetting that knowledge is power, and threatens her with his knowledge of her incest with Jaime. Cersei orders her guardsmen to seize Littlefinger, orders and then rescinds the order to slash his throat, then orders her guardsmen to turn around, walk three paces, and close their eyes...which they do to her exact wishes. She then points out to Baelish that "Power is power".

But Cersei is learning the unfortunate side of that truth, as well, as Joffrey is completely out from under her thumb. He's doing whatever he wants, and even threatens to have his mother put to death if she lays hands on him again. He is out of control. He amuses himself by having armsmen fight to the death, and by taunting Sansa with how helpless she is. Sansa, for her part, has found a way of dealing with her situation. She simply agrees with everything Joffrey says. The one time she veers from that is when we meet Ser Dontos. Ser Dontos is a drunk, and to show up drunk to Joffrey's nameday celebrations is an insult. So Joffrey decides to have him drowned in wine. Sansa saves him by telling Joffrey that Dontos would make a great jester, and gets an unlikely ally in The Hound (aka Sandor Clegane), who is Joffrey's bodyguard. So Ser Dontos is freed, and ordered to be the new Fool.

Someone (Cersei? Joffrey?) has ordered that all of Robert's bastards be killed, presumably because they could muddy the waters of succession, or be used by someone as a figurehead for rebellion. So we get the lovely sequence of child slaughtering, starting with an infant. The last bastard is Gendry, who is fortunately not still at the blacksmith's forge. Instead, he's on the road North, traveling with Yoren and Arry (Arya).

And last, we are introduced to a whole new claimant for the throne. Stannis Baratheon is Robert's younger brother (and Renly's older brother). He is the man whom Ned Stark declared was the rightful heir, but whom nobody save Stannis and his followers thinks is a fit heir. He is a hard man, but an honest one. We meet two of Stannis' key followers - Melisandre and Ser Davos Seaworth. Melisandre is a representative of a new religion on Westeros' shores; that of the Lord of Light. She seems to have mysterious powers, such as an immunity to poison. She is a strong influence on Stannis.

Another strong influence on Stannis is Ser Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight. Presumably we'll get the story on his nickname in a subsequent episode, so I won't mention it here. He is uncomfortable with the new religion, and with Melisandre, but he's loyal to Stannis. Both Melisandre and Davos will be key players in the drama to come.

And meanwhile, overhead, there is a red comet hurtling through the sky. What does it portend? Is it Lannister red? Is it an omen of dragons? Is it the herald of the Lord of Light?

A strong opening episode, setting the stage for some fun and hijinx ahead.

Ah yea that's right, the conversation he has with Janos in the tavern. I forgot he was captain of the city watch.

I actually loved the scene in the show, especially ending it with Arya climbing on the wagon with Gendry.