A Game of Thrones- Some Thoughts.
Spoilers if you haven't read the book or seen up to episode 7.
Turn back now if spoilers bug you.
You've been warned.
Just some thoughts and ramblings about the television series- so if you haven't seen it or read A Game of Thrones, last chance to run away.
Still here? Okay. These are just my opinions. Feel free to disagree and if you agree or disagree, I'd love to hear your reasonings, just don't get a bee in your bonnet if you disagree and I don't decide to agree with you. Not that I expect any such issues with my flist, we are all adults here and able to understand folks have different opinions :P
Major Disappointments, some minor (in no particular order):
1. Tywin Lannister. Okay, I know this is a tv adaptation. I know going into it there are going to be variances from the book, from canon. I've steeled myself against it because I love the series so much, but the actor playing Tywin Lannister???? Sorry, from the books, I know Tywin Lannister, and Charles Dance, you are no Tywin Lannister (and I've just outed my age if anyone catches that reference). If I closed my eyes, even the bloody voice (not necessarily tone and timbre, but just manner)- so bloody fuckin' wrong it is painful. I don't have anything against the actor, I am sure he is wonderful, but he did not sell himself as Tywin Lannister to me. The look was wrong, the voice was wrong and just...wrong, wrong, wrong wrong. For such an important character to be so wrong is horrible.
I'll get over it though. It isn't the Tywin Lannister Show. And if that is the worse disappointment I have over this series, I'd be tempted to give it a pass and learn to at least tolerate this Tywin.
2. A few episodes back, there was a scene where Viserys went after his sister and was stopped short by a Dothraki and his whip. In the show, it was at the unnamed Dothraki male's insistence that Viserys not be allowed his horse back. So sad. In the book, it was one of the first scenes where we get to see Daenerys developing a backbone and starting to escape (as much as she ever does, considering she 'loves' Drogo- the man who raped her on her wedding night and there after) her Stockholm Syndrome. In the books, SHE was the one who forbade Viserys to be allowed to ride. It was very disappointing.
3. Another minor irritating bit with Daenerys- her slaves. No, they were not handmaidens, as I have seen them referred to, but they were slaves, given to her as wedding gifts. Naming them handmaidens doesn't change what they are. Where was I? Oh yeah- all that aside, the slave that showed her how to give pleasure to her rapist. Why did the show feel the need to change the names? In the books, it was the one whose name began with an I- it escapes me now, but in the show that honor (as enjoyable as it was to watch after completely discounting why she was doing it) went to Doreah. Minor, but still a burr in my side. *is enjoying my three-eyed crow pot pie as that was a mix up on my own part. It was Doreah all along*
4. Jon Snow. Okay, I admit to being unsure about the actor during the first episode, but the look has grown on me. I still don't buy the curly black hair, but it doesn't bother me at all anymore. The thing that bugs me is this- I just don't remember Jon being quite such an emo whiny bitch in the books. Oh, he angsts and broods all over the place, but more in a Ned Stark kind of fashion than a whiny emo teenager. Of course, I am sure there are folks who see Ned Stark as little more than a whiny emo teenager, so I guess it could just be me.
5. Sansa Stark. You know... there were many times when reading the first two books that I wanted to blister Sansa's ass with the flat of Ice, but I never disliked her with a burning passion. Never once, reading the books, did I think she deserved what ever ill fate awaited her after her betrayal of first Arya and then Ned. I had enough compassion for her character in the books, even though she irritated me, to see her for what she was- a willful (just as much as Arya), scared, confused child who was having all of her preconceived notions of the world dashed before her very eyes. A scared, confused child who felt she was being betrayed by her father because he was taking her away from the boy she loved. I had, not that isn't right, I DO have compassion for the Sansa in the novels. I have not one tiny ounce of it for the Sansa Stark in the show.
I don't think that I should have such conflicting feelings for the novel Sansa versus the show Sansa. Why I do, I don't know. Is it me or the quality of how she is portrayed in the show or the actress- couldn't tell you.
6. One more. Robert Robin Arryn. First of all, the name change. So not necessary and to me speaks of writers who didn't truly know the names of the characters. Now I have heard it was done because of Robert Baratheon, but come on. Viewers are not that idiotic. I think we could have kept track of the differences between Robert Baratheon and little Robert Arryn. It is just sloppy laziness.
Then the character himself. Didn't buy this kid as Robert (I refuse to call him Robin, sorry). The only thing I get from this kid is that he is a spoiled brat with a neurotic mother. The Robert in the book had serious issues- issues more than just having to deal with an insane mother. Maybe it will get better when we see his interactions with Sansa, if we get to see that in a show. I will keep an open mind until then.
7. Oh, I lied. I have one more. Cersei Lannister. This is just my opinion based on my preferences and how I envisioned Cersei, but damn the woman they have playing her is fugly. Cersei is supposed to be stunning as well as smart and conniving- a beautiful female Tyrion basically and I just don't see it so it is a little disappointing.
Now that I've given you my list of disappointments, if I have any on my flist who watch, what are yours? I'll make another post later with what I love about the series- but it is growing late and I need some rest.