rowe33
5881
Rewatching the show in anticipation of season 5 reminded me of how much Ros was highlighted in the first season. It feels like she’s in half the scenes! She still feels like a character just forcefully shoehorned into the show for no particular reason.
If Ros’ tits had anything to do with selling the show to HBO Execs and bringing in some non-traditional viewers in the first year – before we ever knew there would be a second season let alone debating 8 or 10 seasons, then Esme Bianco’s tits were worth every moment on screen. And then some.
Leave poor Esme alone. She paid the iron price, in the end.
rowe33
5883
I have no issue with her assets, believe me! Just noticing how awkward it was during season 1 - they even talk about her when she’s not on camera. Paraphrased, it’s something like “Have you heard about Ros the whore? She’s amazing!” I’ve always wondered if they wrote the role for her specifically (as in, she knew someone involved in the show) or they just happened to create a new character with a prominent role for some reason.
I assume her character was intended to bring the stories together, she would be a stand in for the audience as she saw the kingdom.
Ros is probably my biggest issue with the decisions the producers have made. They’ve yet to spend any time on the ‘real’ story, why the series is called ASoIaF, but they had time for an invented prostitute who added nothing, time for some Lannister cousin who smashed beetles, etc. Apparently they’re going to shoehorn the prophecy stuff in one episode in season 5; better late than never, but sounds like a rather pedestrian bludgeoning of heavy foreshadowing for the audience.
Ros was the attempt to be the connective tissue, yes, but I agree was executed fairly poorly at times (and the extraneous stuff in the brothels, ugh).
I wouldn’t say the same thing about the Lannister cousin though, that was a great story, awesomely told, and had some meaning after all.
— Alan
phero.1
5887
Yeah, so the first 4 episodes of season 5 have leaked. Someone must be feeling mighty stupid at HBO right now.
It was the press screeners.
HBO may have subtly altered each screener to ID the leaker in this situation. If so, expect the hand of god to come down on that bastard.
I’m thinking they knew that in this day and age such screeners will be leaked. Maybe this is HBO’s subtle way of speeding up the process of getting to the point where they release the entire season all at once?
Seriously, is there any reason to send out multiple episodes of GoT? The show sells itself and has for a while now. It’s not like there are large numbers of people out there who have been holding off on watching GoT for four years, waiting tlll the day advanced reviewers say “Season five’s first episodes are very good” to start watching.
HBO isn’t going to do that. Besides the obvious fact that it’s far better to milk that subscription money for 3 months rather than 1, it’s to their advantage that Game of Thrones lasts 10 (or 11 weeks, since they often skip Memorial Day). It stretches out the national conversation. It’s why they air on Sunday night. They own the watercooler on Monday. Sunday becomes a social event for many, with watch parties.
Netflix’s shows come and go within a blink of an eye. It’s difficult to talk about them because you either binge-watched them all within 48 hours of release, or you didn’t, but it’s difficult to find someone on the same page as you. You don’t have that problem with Game of Thrones. Events like the Red Wedding will blow up the Internet worldwide. It’s a shared experience on a global scale.
They send out screeners to build up critical praise. They’re gunning for an Emmy, especially with Breaking Bad gone. Getting universal praise is a great way to influence the voters.
I suppose all that can explain it. It’s just they have one of the most pirated shows of all time, and so they must have known these episodes would be shared. That subverts the weekly conversation, since tons of spoilers are going to be tossed out there now. Universal praise? Is there anyone in the television business or audience who isn’t already aware of the show and qualities of the show? It’s been on for years!
I can understand sending out one episode to get the ball rolling but almost half of the entire season?
HBO is following standard practice for TV show reviewers when they send out 4 episode’s.
I’m surprised the studios haven’t moved to using online only DRM streaming options for reviewers to use. Would make it harder to pirate than sending out discs like its the 90’s still.
Somebody will lose their job, career and probably go to jail over this. I pity the poor bastard whose brother or teenage son was the one responsible.
On the plus side, well, it’s 4 episodes to watch all at once. So, tally ho.
It’s 480p with a blurred watermark in the corner. Not worth zero dollars, in my humble opinion.
Have fun with the month-long wait for episode 5.
A “meh” first episode, which is what I expected. They need to jump around a lot just to reacquaint viewers. The Loras scene served absolutely no purpose other than to show off some twink butt. A few minutes later we’re staring at Daario’s butt. Brienne came off as a bitch, not sure why or where they’re going with her this season. I enjoyed the flashback scene for the most part, though I wish they would’ve included the valonqar choking the life from her line, and some hint of her friend’s fate.
I was thrilled with the changes and very happy to have the show back. I’m not so thrilled with Dany in Mereen – but then again – nobody is thrilled with Mereen, including the author. But that’s the burnign fuse under which the tale labours so there’s nothing for it.
I thought Stannis’ role is shining up particularly well. And Ciarin Hinds went out with style. No, I don’t think he’s coming back in this version of the tale. Only three people are coming back in the televised version of Game of Thrones - the first one was Drogo and the second was Berric.
olaf
5899
First episode of each season is generally slow. They like to show what the plots are going to be and so they touch on a bunch of stuff but only 2-3 minutes at a time.
I was tempted to DL the leaked stuff but fuck 480P. Put me in the camp that is surprised as shit HBO sends out 4 episodes for review purposes. Its their most successful show, and one of the most watched on cable (and the most pirated show on the internet). Its a good show, dont need to pander to the critics by sending them screeners.
Considering the never-ending barrage of tits this show has been for four seasons (and still is), I always laugh when people complain about male butts. It seems like a lack of perspective, but whatever. I’d be happy to see the nudity cut down across the board by 90%, not because I’m a prude, but because its almost always pointless. The scenes where it actually has merit, sure. Brothel scene #4865 can always go, if you ask me. I know the producers have explained it as they need to re-use cheap sets, but you know there is some sort of nudity quota. I don’t need GoT or HBO to be porn, because if I want to see naked people on a screen, I have access to actual porn which is far superior.
On to some actual episode notes-
The girl playing young Cersei freaking nailed it. I’ve no idea who the actress is, but I’ve got to give it to the GoT casting people, they get it right about 90% of the time. Also, seeing Charles Dance like 5th in the opening credits when he was in one scene for 2 minutes laying dead on a slab was amusing to me for some reason.
I knew it wouldn’t be an action-packed episode, so I wasn’t disappointed. They’ve always got to set the pieces on the board at the beginning of each season. My only complaint is that there was no Arya this episode. They ended S4 on her, so I kind of hoped she would appear, but I imagine we’ll see her in EP2.
Now to attempt a small amount of self control on not watching the other 3 episodes so I don’t have to wait a month for a new one.
