TV Stuff

[shipperx]

So Fringe, they totally set this one up so that if the series hadn't been renewed we would have had a happy ending. Since it was renewed they added in the cliffhanger scene and that pause when Olivia said that she was pregnant totally meant there's something up with the pregnancy, right? I mean, we know the child just about has to be Etta. So there must be some problem with the pregnancy.

And Game of Thrones...

First off I do want to say that Alfie Allen (Theon) has been doing a bang-up job. Yes, Theon is a weasel and an ass. But he's a pathetic weasel and ass who is very much "the sins we create through weakness"... he's like a more murderous version of Mad Men's Pete Campbell (speaking of which, Connor, leave Rory Gilmore alone!) Other comments about the episode:

* Arya/Tywin continue to be fun. I'm unclear whether he was using her as a taster since he had convinced himself that Amory Lorch's poison dart was meant for him. But he also enjoys the puzzle that Arya presents. Since they've altered her story from the books, just a bit, I wonder how they're going to maneuver her to the endpoint of Book II (because I assume that's where they're going). Loved her bringing up that it wan't just Aegon the conqueror. Hey there, manliman. There were two sisters involved. Don't know girl power. One is seriously considering slashing your throat! And she clearly amuses him. I figure he thinks he can use her if he ever needs. He doesn't think she can go anywhere, so for the time being he enjoys the verbal sparring.

* Not!Jeyne and Robb... I don't kinow why this one isn't working for me. I had thought it would work but somehow BookJeyne's (apparent) innocence appears to have been part of why that worked for me. Talia (or whatever) confuses me. And there seems to be a lack of chemistry.

* Ygritte/Jon Snow on the other hand totally works. I had no interest in the pairing in the books. But Show!Ygritte really works as a contrast to emoJon. Having someone poke holes in EmoJon's emo-ness just ... works. So I actually enjoy their interaction (and I fanwank that Ghost realizes that his man-boy needs to get laid and that's why Ghost hasn't intervened). (And I did enjoy Stoney321's summary about "you didn't discover America, Columbus! We already lived here!" translation of Ygritte's speech about Wildlings. :)

* It's going to break my heart when they meet Mance Rayder and it's not James Purefoy. In my head Mance was totally James Purefoy. (And I know Queenofthorns agrees with me on this one). Are we actually meeting Mance this season? They seem to be heading to that place, but I don't remember whether or not they actually met in Book II.

* So, Jaime killed his cousin. Huh. This isn't exactly the way that I pictured Jaime. I know that Jaime is a fanfave of many, but I've always been somewhat... neutral on him. He has some interesting moments in the story and a nice arc, but I've never fallen in love with the character. But... I didn't anticipate his killing his cousin. It's not that I couldn't envision Jaime killing his cousin, it's that I didn't think he would do so under circumstances where it was so unnecessary. Since Cousin Lannister was willing to play along, Jaime didn't actually need to kill him to enact that plan. I kind of think it would have played better had Cousin Lannister played along, Jaime make it outside the cage. Karstark threaten to kill Cousin Lannister, and Jaime shrug and leave anyway. That sort of callousness I could buy. It was the needlessness of the kill that bothered me in the set up because while I think that Jaime would be willing to kill anyone (save his Cersei, Tyrion, or Tywin) to save his own skin, I just don't think he would do so unless there was an actual reason to kill someone... and the set-up didn't make the murder of Cousin Lannister seem particularly necessary.

* Speaking of Jaime... Ser Barristan Selmy name-drop! (Barristan Selmy was that dignified aging knight who tossed his sword and armor in Joffrey's face and stormed out last season).

* Brienne: "Who wants to die defending a Lannister?" Um, Brienne, DON'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT! Seriously, take it back. Take it back now. You're tempting fate!

* Another namedrop last night -- the Brotherhood without Banners. I like they're laying in that groundwork though I don't think it will actually enter the plot until next year.

* Speaking of things to come... shouldn't the mummers be around?

* They may be hardening Jaime a bit, but they are definitely softening Cersei. If Cersei had been this complicated in the book, i wouldn't have been pulling my hair out with "I hate her! I hate her! I want her to freaking DIE!" as I was when I was reading the books. This Cersei actually has some nuance and contradiction. Book Cersei was always wanting to slap someone and telling herself how awesome she and Joffrey are. I enjoy Show!Cerseic much, much more.

* And I loved the Cersei/Tyrion scene where they almost connect but... yeah, they can't cross that bridge.

* And Theon seemed horrified of his own handiwork. Guess Theon is belatedly getting an eensy glimpse about what Ned meant about the one giving the sentence should be the one to use his sword. Because it's one thing to order something, it's another to come face to face with what that order is. Yes, Theon, you ordered the murder and descreation of two innocent boys. Karma is coming for you, and it's going to be a BITCH!

* Is Dagmer(?)... Reek?

* Nice XXD fake-out of Dany. XXD did that in the book, I totally forgot about it (frankly, the only thing in Dany's book II plot that stuck with me was her visit to the House of the Undying. I enjoyed XXD's powermove to become King of Qarth.

Not the most action-adventure of the episodes, but I enjoy the talky ones.


And then there's Mad Men... I actually enjoyed this week more than last. But, seriously, Connor, stop perving on Rory Gilmore!

Comments

[txvoodoo.livejournal.com]

Show!Ygritte is great. I buy her with Jon Snow, and her saying "You know nothing" takes on new meanings and layers.

Theon's story isn't only about Oh What A Shit He Is. We're seeing that it's the consequences of actions from previous generations, as well. He's a shit because of who he is, yes, but also how he was treated, by his family, by the Starks (and I get why they did, but yeah, that's there). I'd kinda like a short story of the history of the Starks & Greyjoys.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I think GRRMartin must be a huge history buff because he seems to really enjoy world building and giving characters extensive histories because it's true about the Starks and Greyjoys. And it's true about Starks and Targareyns (The Mad King cooking Ned's father and brother alive. Rhaegar kidnapped his sister, etc.) It's true of the Lannister's and the Martells (the fact that it was the Lannister's behind the death of Mad King's wife and children, who were Martells.) Sometimes it feels like he enjoys creating the backstory and locations as much or even more than the actual plot.

[shapinglight]

:Avoids the Mad Men spoilers, as I am three episodes behind - must catch up!:

Another namedrop last night -- the Brotherhood without Banners

I missed that? Who are they? Also, I got the Barristan Selmy one. Shall expect to see him back in some capacity before the end of the season.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

They weren't much of a spoiler. :)

Tywin and The Mountain were calling them outlaws. It's who the Tickler (Arya's first kill) was torturing villagers to discover more about.

And in my "I really shouldn't have gotten that before" the "Without Banners" is basically their not being beholden to any of the warring "kings".

Not sure when Barristan will resurface. I don't remember. He was one of the narrators of "A Dance with Dragons" though.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

I think the mummers were replaced by the more economical Alton murder.

Ghost is totally trying to get his human laid.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I have to say, the mummers always confused the hell out of me. But wasn't one of them involved in certain pivotal incident with Jaime?

And Ghost is TOTALLY trying to give dumb Jon a chance to get some. ;)