Before I say anything else, let me state this. I love the show. I am obsessed with it. Ok…on to my issues.
I think at this point, my biggest complaint with the show is their handling of Daenerys. She is NOTHING like in the books. Every definitive scene that we experience her in…how she grows, how her relationship with Drogo develops, how she begins to believe and know she is Khaleesi, have been completely destroyed. Where she is in the show right now, by this point in the books, we know Dany is a force to be reckoned with, and her growth and development make sense. In the show, she is still this unsure little girl who is victimized at every turn.
This is not Daenerys. Like the scene in this week’s episode for example. In the books this is the first time we see her stand up to Viserys. There were two instances in that scene that were changed that drastically change the tone of the scene, and their relevance to Dany's development. Why the writers are choosing to do this, only they know…but I sure hope that we start seeing Dany come into her own – because she is one of the main characters of these books, and she just doesn’t feel that important to me in the TV show, even though she is getting the screen time.
Another big beef I have is Drogo. In the TV show he is nothing more than a rapist barbarian, and in the books, he is so much more. He is actually one of my favorite characters, and it makes me very sad that he is not getting the treatment he deserves.
The lack of importance given to the relationship between the Stark children and the dire wolves is also bothering me a lot, but I understand that there is only so much you can do here.
Now -this week’s episode. For a third episode I thought it did its job. It wasn’t as fast paced or intense as the first two, but we were introduced to some of the major players at King's Landing. I think one of my favorite scenes was Arya and Syrio. It felt very authentic…though I disliked the fact that the scene with Ned and Arya that eventually leads up to Arya and Syrio was completely changed. Maybe I’m being overly critical but for me, it is these nuances that the TV show seems to be skipping, that make these books so fantastic. Catelyn’s arrival to King’s Landing comes to mind.
One scene that I loved but again, had issues with (I’m such a complainer lol) was Tyrion and Jon Snow when the boys are putting their swords away. It wasn’t a big deal to me that they removed the black smith all together, and gave Tyrion the lines instead, but this scene was important because it made Jon realize that though he is a bastard, he still has it better than most, if not all of the boys at the Wall…and this was not as potent in the speech that Tyrion gives Jon.
I have so much more to say, but I will keep the rest simple. The casting for Petyr Baelish is perfect. Renly left me a bit unsatisfied, Varys is perfect…and I will leave off with the question I have been asking myself in each episode…
WHERE IS GHOST??????
(sorry if this is all over the place. wrote this at work. don't tell on me)
I agree with the essence of everything you have said. And I think you summed it up better than I ever could (or have tried for the previous episodes) when you mentioned nuance. THAT is exactly it. While the episodes are slowing down they are not developing any of the nuance of the characters in my opinion.
- Daeneyrs is crazy off pace. I completely agree.
And you're right, the one wolf (aside from Summer) that actually gets developed and they are completely skipping the wolves. Like an after thought when really the wolves always stood out as so much more important in the books and to me as a reader.
I am so 50/50 on this show. Parts I love so much and parts I want to go to the HBO writers and ask: "Did you even READ the books?!?!?! Or did a friend give you the verbal cliff notes one night at Denny's?"
I actually do think you are being a little too critical of the show at the episode 3 mark. Have certain things been altered on the Daenarys and Drogo side of the Narrow Sea? Absolutely. But, I think that Daenarys has actually progressed in an incredibly paced fashion. If she were just all of a sudden some warrior princess out of a Conan novel I think it would confuse some viewers. Right now I think it is very apparent that she is already not the scared little girl she was in episode one and that she won't be taking attitude from her brother for long.
In a nutshell, I love the way Daenarys is progressing.
Drogo and the dire wolves I may have to agree with you. Drogo I think there is still plenty of time left in season 1 to flesh out his character and I hope they do. But the dire wolves. In the books the fate of the children seemed to be directly linked to the fate of their respective wolf. Granted, you could hear the wolves outside Bran's window howling while he was unconscious, but how many new viewers would pick up on that?
Before I say anything else, let me state this. I love the show. I am obsessed with it. Ok…on to my issues.
I think at this point, my biggest complaint with the show is their handling of Daenerys. She is NOTHING like in the books. Every definitive scene that we experience her in…how she grows, how her relationship with Drogo develops, how she begins to believe and know she is Khaleesi, have been completely destroyed. Where she is in the show right now, by this point in the books, we know Dany is a force to be reckoned with, and her growth and development make sense. In the show, she is still this unsure little girl who is victimized at every turn.
This is not Daenerys. Like the scene in this week’s episode for example. In the books this is the first time we see her stand up to Viserys. There were two instances in that scene that were changed that drastically change the tone of the scene, and their relevance to Dany's development. Why the writers are choosing to do this, only they know…but I sure hope that we start seeing Dany come into her own – because she is one of the main characters of these books, and she just doesn’t feel that important to me in the TV show, even though she is getting the screen time.
Another big beef I have is Drogo. In the TV show he is nothing more than a rapist barbarian, and in the books, he is so much more. He is actually one of my favorite characters, and it makes me very sad that he is not getting the treatment he deserves.
The lack of importance given to the relationship between the Stark children and the dire wolves is also bothering me a lot, but I understand that there is only so much you can do here.
Now -this week’s episode. For a third episode I thought it did its job. It wasn’t as fast paced or intense as the first two, but we were introduced to some of the major players at King's Landing. I think one of my favorite scenes was Arya and Syrio. It felt very authentic…though I disliked the fact that the scene with Ned and Arya that eventually leads up to Arya and Syrio was completely changed. Maybe I’m being overly critical but for me, it is these nuances that the TV show seems to be skipping, that make these books so fantastic. Catelyn’s arrival to King’s Landing comes to mind.
One scene that I loved but again, had issues with (I’m such a complainer lol) was Tyrion and Jon Snow when the boys are putting their swords away. It wasn’t a big deal to me that they removed the black smith all together, and gave Tyrion the lines instead, but this scene was important because it made Jon realize that though he is a bastard, he still has it better than most, if not all of the boys at the Wall…and this was not as potent in the speech that Tyrion gives Jon.
I have so much more to say, but I will keep the rest simple. The casting for Petyr Baelish is perfect. Renly left me a bit unsatisfied, Varys is perfect…and I will leave off with the question I have been asking myself in each episode…
WHERE IS GHOST??????
(sorry if this is all over the place. wrote this at work. don't tell on me)
I agree with the essence of everything you have said. And I think you summed it up better than I ever could (or have tried for the previous episodes) when you mentioned nuance. THAT is exactly it. While the episodes are slowing down they are not developing any of the nuance of the characters in my opinion.
- Daeneyrs is crazy off pace. I completely agree.
And you're right, the one wolf (aside from Summer) that actually gets developed and they are completely skipping the wolves. Like an after thought when really the wolves always stood out as so much more important in the books and to me as a reader.
I am so 50/50 on this show. Parts I love so much and parts I want to go to the HBO writers and ask: "Did you even READ the books?!?!?! Or did a friend give you the verbal cliff notes one night at Denny's?"
I actually do think you are being a little too critical of the show at the episode 3 mark. Have certain things been altered on the Daenarys and Drogo side of the Narrow Sea? Absolutely. But, I think that Daenarys has actually progressed in an incredibly paced fashion. If she were just all of a sudden some warrior princess out of a Conan novel I think it would confuse some viewers. Right now I think it is very apparent that she is already not the scared little girl she was in episode one and that she won't be taking attitude from her brother for long.
In a nutshell, I love the way Daenarys is progressing.
Drogo and the dire wolves I may have to agree with you. Drogo I think there is still plenty of time left in season 1 to flesh out his character and I hope they do. But the dire wolves. In the books the fate of the children seemed to be directly linked to the fate of their respective wolf. Granted, you could hear the wolves outside Bran's window howling while he was unconscious, but how many new viewers would pick up on that?
Love your reviews and Game of Thrones of HBO. Keep the good job
Thanks! We appreciate the comment and hope you keep watching them.
Dennis