Week 1 (S1E01-S1E06)

Episode 1: Winter is Coming

First off lmfao that’s the title.

“The man who passes the sentence, should swing the sword”

Major Plot Points: A party from the Nights Watch encounters a White Walker.  King Robert goes to Winterfell to recruit Ned to be his hand.  Bran gets crippled by Jaime. Daenerys gets married to Drogo. Jon wants to join the Nights Watch.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. 9 Years since Ned and Rob saw each other. Last time they met was for Balon Greyjoys rebellion.
2. The bearded Nights Watch Ranger from the first scene, Gared has no ears in the book. Kinda mad he has ears in the show.
3. The dickish guy from the first scene, Ser Waymar Royce got such an epic fight in the against the White Walkers. He just gets absolutely dicked here
4. They were called The Others in the books guys, not the white walkers.
5. Cat was the main reason Ned went to Kings Landing. It was her idea. Not here in the show though.
6. Still bothers me the Targaryens don’t have violet eyes. It cant cost that much

Other Points to Notice

1. The statue of Lyanna Stark that Robert visits really is not brought up again for many seasons
2. Fun fact: Emilia Clarke got the role of Daenerys because she was the only actress that could portray both the timid scared version of Dany, and the bitch ass queen version.
3. Tyrion and Jons bromance begins here. Its probably the most important bro ship in the series.
4. Important to remember. The letter Cat gets from her sister was completely fabricated by Littlefinger in his attempt to start a war. He killed it with this plan.

Stray Observations

1. Glad they didnt stick with bleach blonde Tyrion
2. Poor Jaime, he only ever wanted Ned’s respect, but Ned was always a dick to him.
3. Ned beheads Will the deserter. Foreshadowing alert!
4. The scene when Robert enters Winterfell is the first and last scene we see all the Starks together

Daenerys Boob Counter: 1

Episode 2: The Kingsroad

Major Plot Points: Dany moves with Khal Drogo to the Dothraki capital. Cat has a hard time with Bran being in a coma. Ned and company journey to Kings Landing. Joffreys true colors show, and both Sansa and Arya lose their direwolves. Jon heads for the Wall

“First lesson, stick em with the pointy end”

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Jorah Mormont is portrayed as a giant hairy bear of a man. Not this dignified string bean.
2. Robb is supposed to be only 17, and Jon 15. Thats clearly not the case in the show.
3. Ned and Jon never have that last conversation, when Jon asks him about his mother.
4. Arya’s wolf Nymeria, is named after the warrior queen Nymeria from Dorne, who unified the southern lands.
5. Its never explicitly stated who sent the assassin to kill Bran. The best theory is that it was Joffrey, in a misguided attempt to make his dad proud of him after Robert comments it would be a mercy if Bran died instead of living as a cripple.
6. The Targaryens first invaded westeros as a trio, led by Aegon the conqueror and his 2 sisterwives.

Other Points to Notice

1. The actor and actress who play Tommen and Myrcella Baratheon (respectively) have major recasts later in the series.
2. When Cersei and Catelyn speak in Bran’s room, it was actually the first scene Lena Headey (actress who plays Cersei) filmed for the series.
3. Jon and Arya really come across as close siblings here. They literally don’t see each other again for 7 seasons.
4. Jon tells Robb “You Starks are hard to kill” Jon was never the smartest guy, he never sees Robb alive again.
5. Arya never gets over The Hound killing the butcher’s boy. She brings it up again in season 3 when the Hound is put on trial by Beric Dondarrion and the Brotherhood Without Banners

Stray Observations

1. Tyrion bitchslapping Joffrey will never not be awesome.
2. Jon is definitely more of a brooding loser in the early episodes, but he still comes across as honorable.
3. This is when Cat first starts losing her shit.
4. The actor who plays Ilyn Payne (scary mute guy, they call The Kings Justice) left the show to deal with late stage pancreatic cancer. He ended up beating it and is alive and well, but I think his character will stay written off the show at this point.

Episode 3: Lord Snow

“Gods I was strong then”

Major Plot Points: Ned Arrives in Kings Landing and gets the lay of the land. Jon finds the wall not as fun as he imagined. Catelyn gets to see Ned’s new digs. Dany gets more comfortable with her new Khaleesi position. Arya takes dancing lessons.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The iron throne isn’t nearly as cool in the show. Check the picture below
2. They did a great job with casting Arya. Especially when you remember that she is supposed to be a mini version of Lyanna Stark, Ned’s long dead sister.
3. Old Nan (lady that bored Bran with her stories) is actually the great-grandmother of Hodor.
4. Robert mentions his first kill was a Tarly.  The Tarlys were one of the last houses to pledge to Robert after the Rebellion.  Too bad he didn’t kill Randyll Tarly, then we wouldn’t have to deal with fat Samwell this whole series.
5. The man Jaime tells Robert he killed “from the brotherhood” is a reference to the Kingswood Brotherhood. The leader, known as The Smiling Knight, was defeated by non-other than Ser Arthur Dayne, The Sword of the Morning. Arthur Dayne knighted Jaime (his squire) after his victory.
6. We do see Benjen Stark again in the show, as an undead protector of Bran. But in the books, this is the last time we see him.  The undead knight, known in the books as Coldhands (lol) is confirmed to not be Benjen in the written series.
7. Don’t get me wrong, I love Syrio.  But he is supposed to be a tall, lanky bald guy, not this plump fancy curly haired man. But it still works somehow.

Other Points to Notice

1. Ned walking in on Jaime in the throne room is a direct callback to when Ned walked in on Jaime sitting on the throne after he killed Mad King Aerys
2. In the original Game of Thrones pilot, there was a flashback scene that showed Ned’s brother and father (Brandon & Rickard) being executed by the Mad King.
3. Its hard to blame the rest of the Night’s Watch for not liking Jon at first. He comes off as way too much of a hardo. “I’m better than everyone else!!!!!!!”- He literally says that.
4. “Petyr is like a little brother to me Ned” poor Littlefinger.
5. The scenes with Jon at the wall are filmed in a very hot location. If you look closely you’ll notice all the actors are sweating constantly.
6. Jeor Mormont, Jorah’s pops, is the current Lord Commander of the Nights Watch. Ppl forget that.

Stray Observations

1. Littlefinger has a completely different voice in season 1. As the show goes on you can hear it get weirder and raspier.
2. Wild that Ned lets Arya keep her sword. Yea she’s definitely a wild kid but still, a fucking sword??
3. Margaret John (Old Nan) died shortly after season 1 aired
4. Last time Ned and Catelyn ever see each other.
5. Maester Aemon is incredible, in the books he is a 100 year old blind man. And in the show he is played by a 100 year old blind man. Arguably the best casting of the entire show.
6. The next time Jon and Tyrion meet are in drastically different circumstances. Jon as a King and Tyrion as the Queen’s Hand

Daenerys Boob Counter: .5

Total: 1.5

Episode 4: Cripples Bastards and Broken Things

“I have a special place in my heart for cripples, bastards, and broken things”

I’m a sucker for title drops in dialogue

Major Plot Points: Jon meets a new hefty buddy at the Wall. Tyrion journeys with Yoren to King’s Landing. Dany arrives in the Dothraki capitol. I hate how the words capitol and capital are different. Excessive. Ned starts investigating Jon Arryn’s untimely demise.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. The scene between Tyrion and Theon does not take place, but it does an excellent job giving the viewer some backstory on why Theon is even at Winterfell. Also FUCK Theon.
2. Viserys name-drops the dragon Meraxes during his bath tub scene. Meraxes was ridden by Queen Visenya, one of Aegon the Conquerors sister-wives when he took over Westeros.
3. Jon Arryn was more of a talked about character. He essentially raised both Ned and Robert in their youth when they were sent to the Eyrie under his care. This was a regular practice, you send your sons to other lords so they can learn the ways of the world.
4. Sam Tarly is fat in the written series too guys. The main difference between book Sam, and show Sam, is that show Sam is a relentless horndog. Ah fuck it I’m still a fan of him.
5. When Jon threatens Rast with Ghost, the scene actually really angers book readers. Ghost never once makes a single sound. It is his most identifying characteristic and helps give him the extra air of menace. Here however, he growls very loudly.

Other Points to Notice

1. You would think the Stark’s would be more appreciative of Tyrion’s saddle blueprint for Bran. It was a no strings attached gesture of kindness.
2. We meet Janos Slynt here. He is the guard advocating to Ned about throwing a tournament. He is better known as being the bitch ass guy Jon beheads when he is Lord Ruler later in the series.
3. Arya tells Ned “That’s not me” when he tells her she will one day be married to a Lord. In season 7, when Arya runs into Nymeria, her wolf, in the woods outside Winterfell, she pleads with Nymeria to return to her side and travel with her. When Nymeria leaves Arya asides “That’s not you”.
4. Ned sends Jory Cassel, the captain of his guard to interrogate Ser Hugh of the Vale.  Jory is the nephew of Rodrick Cassel, the old guard with the epic mutton chops that are tied together.
5. Jaime recalls Thoros of Myr, who is a major character later in the series. The red drunk priest.
6. Jon tells Sam about how he almost boned a red headed gal. I guess he has a type.
7. In the last scene, at the Inn at the Crossroads, if you look carefully to the right you can see Bronn. Who knew he ended up such a major player. Also there are Freys here. Gross

Stray Observations

1. I have a feeling the 3 eyed raven from Bran’s dream is going to be important. Nah never mind.
2. At least Viserys got one steamy sex scene. He is the rightful heir, so at the very least he deserves one.
3. Littlefinger starts laying his plans immediately. He brilliantly sets up Ned to find out the secret of the Lannisters.
4. First time we hear of the dick bag that is Sam’s father. We meet him personally in season 6. Still a dick bag
5. Jory and Jaime have a nice conversation outside of Robert’s chambers. Jory tells him one of the Greyjoys nearly took his eye. It’s ruined when you remember Jaime kills him a few episodes later with a dagger to the eye.
6. Ned is instantly suspicious of Grand Maester Pycelle. He was right.
7. Dany gets married off to a Khal and immediately seizes power with it. Poor Viserys never had a chance

Episode 5: The Wolf and the Lion

“Give me ten good men and some climbing spikes, and I’ll impregnate the bitch”

Major Plot Points: Ned gets closes to the truth about Joffrey much to the chagrin of Jaime.  Cat and Tyrion get to the Vale. Bran is not happy about anything that is going on.

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. Ned is not exaggerating when he tells Barristan he is glad they never fought. Barristan is a top 5 sword fighter in the series. I would only put Arthur Dayne, possibly Jaime in a straight up sword fight against him
2. Robert was much taller and far more imposing, but Mark Addy plays him too well for me to actually complain about it
3. When Arya overhears Varys speaking to a friend in the basement of the Red Keep, the friend he is speaking to is Ilyrio Mopatis. He is the guy Viserys and Daenerys stayed with in the first episode. He is much more visible in the books as one of Varys’ closest partners.
4. Yoren (the traveling member of the Night’s Watch) was written as a much more disgusting man. He always smelled like alcohol and was permanently covered in lice.
5. Robert hates all Targaryens because in his mind, Rhaegar Targaryen (Dany’s older brother) kidnapped and killed his childhood love Lyanna Stark. We later find out she married Rhaegar on her own free will, and also probably never liked Robert at all.
6. Crazy Lysa Arryn’s son, was named Robert. For some reason his nickname was Sweet Robin, and everyone called him by that. Probably why in the show they just named him Robin.
7. The scene between Cersei and Robert discussing their marriage is my favorite non-book scene in maybe the whole series. It does such a good job at characterizing both of them.  Also, Cersei never had a miscarriage with Robert’s child.
8. Ned and Jaime did not get in an outright sword fight. If they did Jaime would destroy him very quickly.

Other Points to Notice

1. The original actor who plays The Mountain (Conan Stevens) is actually 4 inches taller than the current actor  (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson). He quit the show to play an orc in The Hobbit. Hilariously, they didn’t even use him, since his orc ended up being entirely CGI
2. If the mountain men didn’t attack Tyrion and Cat, I really think he could have convinced her he wasn’t culpable in the attacks against Bran.
3. Ned really should have listened more to Varys. He’s a slimy little guy, but he does have more morals than Littlefinger. Who doesn’t though.
4. The conversation with Varys and Ilyrio sets up nicely just how predicted and manufactured the war between the Lannisters and the Starks truly was.
5. If Ned didn’t follow Littlefinger, he would have made it out of King’s Landing before Jaime could confront him, and all of this would be avoided. It’s almost like Littlefinger distracted him on purpose.
6. Interesting the 2 main protagonists of the show are not in this episode at all. 

Stray Observations

1. Ok how fucking sick was it when The Mountain sliced off his horse’s head.
2. CLEGANEBOWL PART 1 GET HYPE!!!!11!!!!!
3. Ros is actually the only whore in all of Westeros.
4. Ok I feel for Bran looking back now. His whole family ditched him.
5. Arya chewing out the king’s guards was an unreal TV moment.

RIP: Jory Cassel. Eye still have a hard time watching him die. ;]

Episode 6: A Golden Crown

“You don’t fight with honor” “No. He did”

Yeah I used back to back Bronn quotes. The guy is a quote machine what can I say

Observations from a Book Reader:

1. When Ned was recovering from his wound, he had an extremely detailed dream. It depicted him and his sworn banner-men fighting Ser Arthur Dayne and other members of the Kingsguard outside a tower. It ended with Ned finding his sister in a ‘bed of blood’ exclaiming “Promise me Ned” repeatedly. This dream gave birth to all the (now proven) theories that Jon Snow was actually the son of Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark. (R+L=J)
2. It is stated that if Dany were to throw up after eating the horse heart, she would not be worthy of bearing Khal Drogo’s son.
3. The sky cell that Tyrion is spending his time in, was described as having a slanted floor.  Most prisoners couldn’t sleep because of fear of rolling out of the cell, and ended up jumping anyway after they lost their minds.
4. The Moon Door was a vertical door out the side of the castle. I do like the trap door effect, but it certainly does bring up weird architectural structure questions.

Other Points to Notice

1. Something broke inside Cersei when Robert hit her. She really goes onto the attack for the rest of the series after this.
2. Theon was very eager to get Robb to start the war. He was equally eager to betray him. Fuck Theon.
3. Syrio’s speech about the God of Death really affects Arya as a character. His influence has a continuing affect (effect?) on her journey.
4. Viserys is entirely correct, Jorah does lust for Dany HARD. Can’t blame him, she even makes eating a heart look good.
5. This is the first time Tyrion attempts to tell the “jackass and a honeycomb in a brothel” story. It will not be the last, it’s a recurring joke throughout the series that we never get to hear the end of it. I’ll bring it up the next time it surfaces if I somehow am still doing this ridiculous blog. It will be worth sticking with just so I can publicly rant about how bad the writing is for the Sand Snakes.
6. Ned sends none other than Beric Dondarrion to bring The Mountain to justice.  Yes, that is the same Beric Dondarrion that is later recast and heads the Brotherhood without Banners in season 3.  (He is the guy with the eyepatch that rolls with the red priest, Thoros of Myr).

Stray Observations

1. The actress that plays Osha, the somewhat attractive wilding woman, also plays Tonks in the Harry Potter movies.
2. The heart that Dany eats, was made of the same material that gummy bears are made of. Emilia Clarke did not enjoy this scene as much as I did.
3. Tyrion had 4 incredible masturbation euphemisms.
4. Bronn vs. Ser Vardis Egan is one of the all time great fights in the series.  We barely know who Bronn is at this point, but this fight expertly shows you all there is to know.
5. Love how Tyrion pays his debt to the jailer. It says a lot about him. Also Mord was criminally underused as a character. I demand a spin-off
6. Joff is such a good guy. He even told Sansa he will never be cruel to her again.

RIP: Viserys Targaryen, third of his name.  Rightful King of the Andals and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms.  Protector of the Realm.

Week 1 Summary:

I really did not think I would have this much to write about in every episode. I anticipate as this continues, I won’t have AS much book input, but who knows. One week down, 10.25 to go.

Things I Liked:

I really loved how well D&D (David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the showrunners) did at showing us the nature of the main characters, instead of telling us through contrived dialogue. They clearly planned these first few episodes out for years and it shows. This is not always the case with the series going forward. But we will get there

Things I Did Not Like:

Ill preface by saying that Jaime’s character arc is my favorite in the series. I did not appreciate how hard the writers tried to portray him as the bad guy here. Some of his non-book scenes served no purpose other than to show how big of a dick he was. Most notably was his first conversation with Ned in Winterfell where he bragged about how good he was at fighting, and when Jaime kills Jory. (Jaime was not present in this attack in the books) The show does eventually show his redemption but I wish they did a better job of humanizing him in the beginning.