Game the Thrones: Finale, episode 10.

[alexandral]

I am feeling extremely rambly and happy. This was such a good finale! Dragons were so awesome , but I was glad that the scene with Dany breastfeeding the baby dragons was omitted. I woke up an hour earlier , so that I can watch the finale before going to work. I don't quite share the doom and gloom, and "what am I going to do now???" mood. Now the first season is over, but I can always :

a) re-watch, so that I notice some things that I haven't. For example, I still want to know where is Roose Bolton (he has to make it into the show, right? Who is going to take over Harrenhal?)
b) re-read. I have just finished Game of Thrones re-read and started A Clash of Kings re-read.
c) Read the new book that is out in July!

Trying to do a little bit of post-show analysis, I must point a couple of flaws in the show that I have noticed:

1. Uneven pace and odd editing in the first few episodes

2. Sexposition scenes with Ros-the-whore, which, as lage_nom_ai noted, is just an example of lazy writing, and an aesthetically disgusting example at that. As a math-freak I am, I added all the time of sexposition scenes in the first season, and it adds up to between 20-30 minutes. 20-30 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Imagine 20-30 minutes of other good things instead!

3. Some important material didn't make it to the show.
Everyone probably has their own scenes they think should have made it into the show. For me, it was the Little Bird scene between Sansa and the Hound, which was a very important one for both of these characters. Also the scene was important because of "There are no true knights" message that it conveyed.
But for someone who does not care for The Hound at all, may be there is another scene that they think should have made it into the show. The missing direwolf scenes should have been there, for sure!

But , after all is said and done, I have not been obsessed with anything as much as I was with "Game of Thrones" for ages. Not since "Chuno"(Slave hunters), and this was over a year ago. The obsession has to count! I love the show!!!! And there is a huge list of good things I can write about it, a list that will be much longer!

The rest of the post is my Sansa/Sandor inner shipper talking, spoilers for the episode 10, no book spoilers.

I loved the scene where Joffrey shows Sansa the head of her father. Sophier Turner was magnificent and so was Jack Gleeson. I also was really pleased how the little scene between The Hound and Sansa played out. I was so pleased that I have almost forgiven the creators the missing Little Bird scene. It seems I am beginning to understand the show's version of The Hound. They made him much softer, and I like it. This is may be why they had Littlefinger to tell Sansa his story. Thinking back, it felt as one of those things that Littlefinger likes to do for fun: make Sansa so scared of The Hound, where in reality Sandor Clegane is one single decent person in that nest of vipers that Joffrey's Kingsguard is.

So I was making noises of "AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW" during the scene of the Hound saving Sansa from trying to grab Joffrey and committing murder/suicide (as much as I hate Joffrey, I do want Sansa alive). The part where The Hound gave her a hankie and his hands were SHAKING was fabulous. I don't know if I said it before, but I like Rory McCann, I like him a lot, especially his voice. What is definitely good in this show is the choice of actors.



Please help, I am curious about one small detail. This is something we discussed with lydzi. Please check the screencap above. What does the Hound give to Sansa? A lace handkerchief or a rough piece of cloth? It looks like a dirty piece of cloth to me, which made me giggle a bit. I imagine this is not the last time we see this piece of cloth too.


There is also a video where David Benioff talks about the Hound and Sansa (please see the video below, shamelessly stolen from sunnytyler001). I am so impressed. He gets the relationship perfectly!! And speaking of what David says, the part where everybody always have looked away from The Hound's face? There was a moment where Sansa actually looked straight at the Hound, and this was lovely.

Also - Joffrey looked rather shocked at Sandor's gesture. There is a passage in Cersei's POV chapters where she remembers how lonely Joffrey has always felt and how he was looking for a father figure, out of all people, in the Hound.

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There is something I noticed as well, just a little thing. Sansa took off Joffrey's locket, and put on her dragonfly necklace again, the one she brought from home. I have a necklace just like that one! (I got it at a craft fair last year):



PS: I have a question for book fans: What scene do you think should have been in the show, but wasn't included for some reason?

PS2: How badly do you wish a slow and painful death to Joffrey?

Comments

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Uneven pace and odd editing in the first few episodes

Agreed. Though I blame this on the director, Tim van Patten, because the same issues are present in the episodes he directed for "The Pacific" and "Boardwalk Empire" as well. Also, he is particularly bad with introducing characters and places, so why they keep letting him direct pilots/first episodes is beyond me.
(though to be fair, his work on "Sopranos" was decent, though I suspect he was helped there by not having to introduce a new world/different historical period as well as the story)

As for the Sansa/Sandor I loved that we finally got a proper scene between them, though I'll probably always miss "the Little Bird" scene.

As for scenes I think they did pretty well all in all. I didn't miss any scenes other than the little bird one, though I wished they had done a few scenes differently. The Whispering Woods scene was not to my liking. No, Jaime didn't loose his sword, he misplaced it, intentionally. ;)

But in general I'm excited for Brienne season two, and even more so the book.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the video where David Benioff talks about Sansa and Sandor? I have just edited the post, you can watch it if you want! I am actually very very impressed by what he says.

The Whispering Woods scene was not to my liking. No, Jaime didn't loose his sword, he misplaced it, intentionally. ;)

hee! I also thought that Jaime could have been given more justice in that scene, but it was a little niggle - in the book it also happens "behind scenes".


I am so so worried about Brienne's casting.

[dekyria.livejournal.com]

Indeed, Sansa looked straight at him!

I hadn't noticed the necklace thing, but that was a nice subtle detail.

So much love for this episode ♥

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Indeed, Sansa looked straight at him!

And it was as if she saw him for the first time. This was seriously good.

I hadn't noticed the necklace thing, but that was a nice subtle detail.

I only noticed because I am obsessed with little details (especially jewellery), and because I have one just like hers. I didn't buy it on purpose, I got it from a craft fair last yer, but I am wearing it now all the time (because I am madly obsessed, lol).

[dekyria.livejournal.com]

Really good!

That is awesome :) If I'd find one like that I'd buy it right away lol, I am kinda obsessed too! :p

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I always go to this bead fair in Harrogate ( http://www.pavilionsofharrogate.com/what-s-on-/?articleID=54 ), sometimes once a year and sometimes twice. There is always a stall with lady selling silver pieces (and all of them lovely).

[rivertempest.livejournal.com]

I am a huge Sansa/Sandor shipper! I'm so glad I'm not alone! (has even gone searching for fanfic - there's not much, but it's out there)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

YAY! I have been shipping them for years, it is so nice to finally see it on screen (even though we were robbed of Little bird scene!).

Are you a memeber of http://sansaxsandor.livejournal.com/? Sunnytyler001 recommended it, and it has a good collection of fanfiction!

[rivertempest.livejournal.com]

No, but I will join immediately! I love the dynamic between these two so much. At first, I didn't much care for Sansa, but she's growing on me. I have always liked Sandor, though. ;)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

YAY!

I am the same - for some reason The Hound grabbed my attention from the first time I "met" him in the books. It must be "The Phantom of the Opera" vibe, lol.

But it took me a while to get used to Sansa, and I only started loving her after watching her charcter in the show. Sophie turner just hit some chord in me, she is so lovely.

[shapinglight]

Not having read the books, I don't know what all the Sansa/Hound stuff is about nor why people have been upset. I do hope the scene in the finale made them feel better.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Do you remember the scene at the Hand's Torney when Littlefinger tells Sansa the story of the Hound's disfigurememnt? Well, in the book there was no scene like this, but there was a big scene between the Hound and Sansa instead, where he told her the story himself. The shippers like myself loved the scene in the books and were upset that it was given to Littlefinger. This changes the Hound's characterisation as this was supposed to be a secret he never told to anyone.

But this is shippy stuff, not interesting for a non-shipper. But from the objective POV, the scene also contained the Hound ranting about knights and saying that "there are no true knights" , which is one of the main points of the series - your personal moral compass as opposed to the vows you are supposed to live by.

but yep, the episode 10 made me feel a bit better. ;D But I wish for the personal moral compass theme to re-surface somewhere else (it was played through other charcaters too, so this is likey).

Ok, I rant! My apologies!

[shapinglight]

No need to apologise. It must be frustrating to find bits you love in the books left out. Seeing it happen to people has pretty much confirmed me in my determination never to read them. I think I have to take the show on its own merits or I'm bound to end up disappointed, because most literary adaptations disappoint to some extent.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! Even for my disappointed self, the show had so many good points that over-weighted the single disappointment. I personally think this is a very very good and very close adaptation. In fact, sometimes I wonder in Martin made a special contract with the creators , not allowing them run riot and free. Take for example, True Blood, it deviates from the book material so much, but Game of Thrones is really close.

But sometimes i wished i wasn't spoiled for everything (but this is different from being disappointed).

[shapinglight]

but Game of Thrones is really close.

Ah, well that's good to know. I've seen people speculating that GRRM may even be using the show to present things he wishes he'd done slightly differently in a new way, for instance Cersei's characterisation. I don't know.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I've seen people speculating that GRRM may even be using the show to present things he wishes he'd done slightly differently in a new way, for instance Cersei's characterisation. I don't know.

This would make sense. Cersei's character feels a bit different (but not terribly so), but I always put it down to possibility of Lena Headey refusing to play the straightforward power-bitch Cersei as she in the books . But then , after the book 1 re-read I realised that her character is not sketched too well in the first book at all, she is always seen from the POV of someone else and there is no explanation of some of her actions - like it is mentioned that she killed Robert's illegitimate children. But it is Robert himself telling us that. But what happened in reality? May be Martin did want to give her more.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I have to honestly say I didn't like the Jaime scene. I love that scene in the books, and the fact that they plopped into this episode, totally out of place, and then cut 75% of it, including Jaime's great monologue about vows which is so key to his personality - that didn't make me too happy.

But the scenes of everyone receiving the news of Ned's death and the dragons at the end were so totally awesome.

I love the show too, but like you with Sandor-Sansa, I am disappointed in the depiction of Jaime.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I thought of you when I was watching Jaime's scene, I also thought it was out of place. I don't remember the details because I am not up to that point in the book re-read, but was Jaime so bad? All that stuff about "Widowhood becomes you" , not long after Ned's death, did he say that? But in the book, because it comes much later, this won't feel as evil anyways, I guess.

I am feeling happier about Sansa/Sandor story after this ep and Benioff's video, but yes, I do wish the little bird scene was there.

but dragonssssssss! baby dragonsssss!

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

All that stuff about "Widowhood becomes you" , not long after Ned's death, did he say that? But in the book, because it comes much later, this won't feel as evil anyways, I guess.

Yeah, he says it early in the scene, but he's been in a dungeon for a year and is kind of bitter and he actually apologies to her and says his courtesies have grown rusty. So ... it comes off a bit differently.

I really do think he was trying to provoke her into killing him outright because he knows they won't trade him now that Ned is dead. But it just came across wrong.

I'm pretty much unhappy with every new Jaime-related scene at this point. The only scenes I liked were when he and Cersei were talking in episode 1, the "war for Cersei's cunt" scene (which actually is from the book) and the Jaime and Tywin scene. Everything else was not as good as in the books. He really is less sympathetic on the show than in the books, and I thought that was IMPOSSIBLE!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I think this kind of thing can be excused after a year in a dungeon, but on the same day (or very near) of Cat's finding out about Ned's death - this is a totally different kettle of fish.

Yes, this is how it felt to me too: he wanted her to kill him.

You see, i think this is a problemm with added (or taken out context) scenes. They are sometimes a hit, but mostly they are a miss. As you, I think I can count the added scenes that I liked on my fingers.

But I see so many "OMPH! Jaime is so hot!" posts and comments (I have noticed some Lannister hate too, but this is to be expected right now). I have seen so much fan art too. Everything will become right when we actually get to the books where they don't need to add any of his scenes!

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I thnk this kind of thing can be excused after a year in a dungeon, but on the same day (or very near) of cat's finding out about ned's death - this is a totally different kettle of fish.

Exactly! He sounds like Theon this way, crude and rude and just disgusting. And in the book, he actually apologizes to Catelyn for what he said, which he doesn't do here.

I feel like it may be too late for people to board the Jaime train, honestly. There are even book fans who still hate him after four books two of which I find very sympathetic to Jaime, so the TV fans who've seen him be arrogant, taunt Catelyn after her husband's death, and be proclaimed a coward by Ned Stark are not going to be too susceptible to believing in his changes either, IMO. A lot will depend on Brienne, of course, but what if the audience doesn't like her? Or what if they do like her and Jaime just spends next season saying nasty things to her? Hard to like him then, no? (Don't mind me! I am way to overinvested in the world liking Jaime as much as I do :P)

Sigh! Maybe I need to go make some Dirty Jaime icons, just to relieve my feelings :P

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

he does look extremely hot when dirty , though, no?

You do not mean that Jaime is going to die again, do you? I think he will be one to survive!

And there are book fans who hate everyone. So many charcters are not-black-and-white, so why not? Everyone likes Jon, Arya and Dany and the rest - there are haters for eveyone! (I am surprised that there isn't more Jon haters after the recent developments in his story, though).

I think you are right in saying that everything depends on Brienne. I am so wworried about Brienne's casting, I can not even tell.

You know that I like Jaime too, and I also don't like everything they did to him in this season, but for me he comes across as much more likable in the show than I remember him from my book 1 reading. Honestly.

Yesssssssss! to dirty Jaime icons!!

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

It is a true testimony of my shallowness that I liked the Cat/Jaime scene. I'll even go so far as to say that it kinda made me ship them. LOL I thought those two actors had a weird, twisted chemistry, but maybe it was just a projection of my own weird, twisted mind. I did realize that it was a scene that happened in the second book... Perhaps they'll include Jaime's speech in the next season in the actual dungeon scene. I also don't remember him being sympathetic in the first two books. I didn't find him so until he got his POV chapters, and started caring about Brienne.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I was shallow right there with you.But I didn't think it was a very good characterisation for Jaime - it was really weird what he said.

I felt Jaime/CAt chemistry in the books too. I never understood why she decided it is all JAIME's fault when she became undead.

I was the same about Jaime. Didn't care for him until his POV. I bet you my bottom dollar he will become the top favourite in season 3.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think the chemistry is there in spades in the book scene too. She even thinks "was there ever a man so beautiful or so vile as this one"? :P And that's after he's been in a dungeon for a year, sleeping next to his own shit, so he's remarkably beautiful :P

I never understood why she decided it is all JAIME's fault when she became undead.

Well, because Roose Bolton says "Jaime Lannister sends his regards" just before he plunges the dagger into Robb. And because she thinks that the Red Wedding only occurred because she released Jaime so the Starks/Tullys didn't have that hostage any more. (Of course, she doesn't know Tywin; I think the RW was happening even if it meant Jaime's death afterwards. That entire episode took a lot of planning!)

I bet you my bottom dollar he will become the top favourite in season 3.

If there IS a season 3. And if he doesn't keep getting "let's make him even worse than he is in the books" treatment that he got on the first season.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Cat has some good taste. :D I hope we have that scene (or similar) in the season 2.

Well, because Roose Bolton says "Jaime Lannister sends his regards"

Oh, I forgot about that. I have just re-read AGOT but I am shaky on other books. Typical of Cat to believe it, though.


If there IS a season 3. And if he doesn't keep getting "let's make him even worse than he is in the books" treatment that he got on the first season.

I keep reading everywhere how good the show did ratings-wise. The ratings were going up and up as opposed to Broadwalk Empire where the ratings were going down (here you can see the acticle : http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/19/game-of-thrones-ratings-season-one/95990/). So I am very optimistic for many seasons ahead.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

And if he doesn't keep getting "let's make him even worse than he is in the books" treatment that he got on the first season.

I am sorry! I was griping in the middle about Sansa/Sandor, so i feel your pain. But he seems to be so popular!!! I must say that Bolton killing Rob when saying Jaime's name, this might not work too well. I am still wondering why Robb is so popular.

[ishtar79.livejournal.com]

That Sandor/Sansa scene was fabulous. I'm so looking forward to their interaction in S2.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Me too! Mee too! And I was so relieved that the dragons were good! Not everything in costumes and decorations has worked well for me, so I was expecting a bit of a CGI horror. But they are good, very good.

[roboticduck.livejournal.com]

DRAGON BB'S. I loved his little war cry :D I actually did think one of the dragons was nursing but they didn't make it that explicit.

I didn't mind the Ros scenes until this one, because I completely zoned out just like her, so I didn't pick up any information from the dialogue, until the end where the Maester does that amazing body language change.

I am not a Sansa/Sandor shipper, but I am not averse to it either! I'm curious to see where it goes. I'm not certain I get the hate either, is it an age thing?? I shouldn't talk, because I loved Arya and Gendry and now he looks ten years older than her, gaaah, that's gonna make shipping hard, lol!

Wow, I didn't notice it before but the Hound's armor is beautiful!!

I need a reread stat-- thankfully the comms seem to be planning this, because I can't think of things that I would've liked to see on screen, and I'm sure there's plenty.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Someone else said that they noticed the nursing dragon, I am going to re-watch now. But I am glad it is not explicit - the scene was a bit creepy in the book.

Ros scenes have completely worn me out. I was so hoping for no Ros in finale, but no.

I never get the hate towards anyone, and I do get uneasy when I notice the ratio of hate increasing in a particular fandom. It seems I have just started noticing it in GoT. It seems that everyone has some haters. Some hate Lannisters, Some hate Jaime, Sansa, some hate whoever (I am totally puzzled by the amount of people that think Ned and Cat are terrible). I even saw some people who hated Brienne (and I was - why???????) Phew - the haters, I do not get them.

The age difference is big, but I don't mind, it is not as if this is a ship that will end in happily ever after. The age difference is smaller in the books, and I am fine there too. The same with Arya and Gendry - he seemed to me to be a lad in the books.

Wow, I didn't notice it before but the Hound's armor is beautiful!!

He took a place in the Kingsguard. His old armour was dark-grey , but this new and shiny!

[stacefaceex.livejournal.com]

The ending was great with Dany and the dragons. And I love the interaction between Sansa and The Hound. Overall, AWESOME EPISODE.

I'm trying not to be too disappointed with the long wait. I am on book 2 so that will keep me occupied and I am gonna make my flatmate watch all episodes so I'll get a rewatch also!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am already re-watching the last episode, noticing more awesome things.

I also feel quite hopeful now for more seasons - it seems that the show did so well in ratings!

[lady--croft.livejournal.com]

Wow so much to comment on.

First off I agree, that was an AMAZING finale which leaves both the book and tv audience wanting more. I was so pleased with the Sansa/Sandor scene. I think a lot of fans were happy and relieved to finally see this relationship play out on screen. I believe it bodes well for next season. I would have enjoyed seeing the scene prior when Sansa is summoned to court wherein eventually she tells Ser Meryn that he is no ‘true knight’. Nonetheless I am just thankful for the battlements scene.

What scene should have been in the show? For purely selfish reasons I wish they would have covered more of Cat and Tyrion’s journey to the Eyrie. The description of the ascent is haunting in the novel. I believe it was cut because I doubt the budget would have covered for it. Maybe in future seasons if the series remains successful we will have the pleasure of seeing that breathtaking journey when another character makes it. I would have also loved to see some flashbacks to Lyanna but I suspect those will come in the future seasons.

How badly do you wish a slow and painful death to Joffrey? I honestly can’t believe I’m going to say this but I don’t. I feel sorry for him. He basically grew up without a father and he had Cersei to mentor him in the viper’s pit that is King’s Landing. It’s no wonder he turned out how he did. You may argue that Tommen and Myrcella are in the same boat yet they seem perfectly fine. However neither Tommen or Myrcella were being groomed to be king. Cersei and Joffrey’s relationship is similar to that of Agrippina and Nero. She did everything she could to get her son to power. She managed to secure the support of all the key power brokers in her court to pledge their loyalty to her son to ensure his success. And then, like the Roman Emperor who comes to power – absolute power – at such a young age, Joffrey constantly pushes his limits to see how far his power goes until, unfortunately, no one has the ability to stop or control him anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still loathe Joffrey and I can’t imagine anyone actually liking him. I will savour the death of this despicable character yet I still have to feel a bit sad thinking how different he could have been if only his uncle had given him a few more appropriately timed slaps to knock some sense into that head.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I would have also liked to see the "there is no true knights" theme in the show a bit more. Ithink Jaime was saying something to this extent in his scene with Cat (in the book) too. I hope this re-surfaces somewhere.

I thought thatCat/Tyrion journey was too short too, tram-bam and they are in the Eyrie. It just seemd as if this was next door. :D


With Joffrey, I also think, as someone noted in one of the previous posts, thre is also a genetic problem. I think it playing with fire - having so many kids from your brother. This is not going to turn out well genetically. So, yes, I understand why his charcter is what he is (and it is nicely shown in the show, as you say, that Cersei was bringing him up in this way too) but I want him to DIE.

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

You know after hearing that healer talk about how Dany's baby came out with scales and a tail, I freaked the fuck out at the end of the ep. For like a second before my mind processed that it made no sense at all, I honestly thought the dragon she had in her hand was her baby. Not my brightest moment, I'll admit.

Anyway, I was SO impressed with the actress who plays Sansa. That scene between Sansa and Joffrey was GOLD. I was so excited when she said the line about how maybe Robb would bring her Joffrey's head instead. And then how she almost pushed him over the edge? I kind of love her now.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I actually was wondering what a non-book-reader would think of the scene. Concerning the baby, in the book it is clear that the maegi either: a) lied that baby was deformed after she killed it with magic (the hughest probablility option ) or c) turned the baby into some vile creature with magic.

Also there the actually process of dragons hatching is depicted, which was omitted in the show.

Sansa never ceases to impress me in this show. Go, girl!

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

It could simply be that Danaerys being in the tent with the blood magic is what caused the baby's deformities too - after all, MMD DID warn her quite sternly not to bring any living thing in there, and Jorah with the best of intentions completely ignored that. I'm not SO sure it's clear from the book that MMD intended bad things for the baby - after all, with Drogo dead and the Khalasar gone, what were the chances the kid would even survive at that point? Newborn baby dragons are a lot tougher than newborn baby humans!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It could simply be that Danaerys being in the tent with the blood magic is what caused the baby's deformities too - after all, MMD DID warn her quite sternly not to bring any living thing in there, and Jorah with the best of intentions completely ignored that.

I thought about this too, at first. but then I thought - why would MMD then not explain it to Dany? She didn't seem completely suicidal, so I thought MMD did it on purpose. And also, the main thing - why did Dany's labour start on that night? Too much of a coincidence. I thought that it probably didn't matter if Dany was in the tent or without, the magic was too strong to kill (or deform) the baby.

I also thought maegi did something to drogo's wound in the first place .

[heartshurt.livejournal.com]

I think the Sansa scene was my favorite from this episode. I've never been much of a Sansa fan, because of how she is when she first comes to court and I think that Sansa is stuck in my mind. But this was amazing, Sophie's acting was fantastic. I liked how she talked back to Joffrey, ha! Also, the Hound ♥

Oh Joffrey, please do diaf.

I'm not feeling doom and gloom either, I mean, the new book is almost released!! Now, after that there will be doom and gloom, waiting for a new book.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Yes, this was my favourite scene too. Take me right, I loved the dragons, but the Sansa , Joffrey and Sandor scene pushed all my buttons. It was so intense and so psychologically true.

Now, after that there will be doom and gloom, waiting for a new book.

that is TRUE.