# Game of Thrones, Winter is Coming, 4/17/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 18, 2011, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781 "2011-04-18T01:17:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/101 "2011-04-19T00:23:38Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Rickon is a toddler, there isn’t exactly much for him to do. He was there, on several scenes, mostly in the background. Which pretty much follows the books. ---
**Author:** ![quixotic78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3ab097/32.png) [@quixotic78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quixotic78)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/102 "2011-04-19T01:14:22Z")
I thought Viserys was perfect, Tyrion and Jamie were _this_ close to perfect, and everyone else was really, really, really good. The only one I didn’t like was Cersei – she’s supposed to be this legendary beauty, and they’ve casted someone who’s a 7 on a good day. Eh. Oh, and Danerys was very emotionless, but it makes sense, so I’ll trust that she’ll do more than get naked and look stoned in future episodes. One thing I didn’t expect was to like Robert so much. I remember him being a prick from the books, and… well, he seems to be a prick in the show, too, but a likable prick. Contrasting this to _Camelot_, another swords-and-sorcery epic currently airing on Starz, I’m just struck how polished and professional _Game of Thrones_ is in comparison. Not that _Camelot_ is amateurish, necessarily, but it’s like comparing MLB to AAA. Yeah, AAA players are very skilled, but it’s clearly not the same league. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/103 "2011-04-19T01:22:05Z")
I just watched it from the DVR. Absolutely excellent! Hehe… **supervenusfreak** (who has never read the books) was watching it with me and when you know what happened at the end and it faded to black, I hear “Are. You. SERIOUS?!” from the couch. Unfortunately, we don’t have HBO. I didn’t know he was just watching the free weekend when I heard him watching Bill Maher and asked him to DVR the first episode. Not sure what we’re doing about that at the moment…I think he’s watching a series on another premium channel and we can’t really afford to have two of them active. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/104 "2011-04-19T01:24:12Z")
Re: the wolves They’re going to have to show the scene where Lady gets executed - it’s such a huge part of the story, the fact that Sansa loses her wolf in such a way. I just thought it was odd that there were no scenes whatsoever that showed the girls bonding with their wolves. I’m hoping they’ll show more of that in the second ep. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/105 "2011-04-19T01:27:32Z")
> [@quixotic78](#): > > I thought Viserys was perfect, Tyrion and Jamie were _this_ close to perfect, and everyone else was really, really, really good. **The only one I didn’t like was Cersei – she’s supposed to be this legendary beauty, and they’ve casted someone who’s a 7 on a good day**. Eh. Oh, and Danerys was very emotionless, but it makes sense, so I’ll trust that she’ll do more than get naked and look stoned in future episodes.] THANK you. Of course, we’re in the oppressed minority on that one. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/106 "2011-04-19T01:29:22Z")
Robert was supposed to be extremely likable, at least when he was younger. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/107 "2011-04-19T01:30:48Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > Re: the wolves > > They’re going to have to show the scene where Lady gets executed - it’s such a huge part of the story, the fact that Sansa loses her wolf in such a way. I just thought it was odd that there were no scenes whatsoever that showed the girls bonding with their wolves. I’m hoping they’ll show more of that in the second ep. Nymeria helping Arya pack is in the next episode. A great scene between Jon and Arya should help build a connection to the characters for the newbies. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/108 "2011-04-19T01:31:28Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Robert was supposed to be extremely likable, at least when he was younger. Yeah, Robert was supposed to be pretty heroic and generally cool. It’s just that he basically was given ultimate power and so he spent all his time indulging his lusts. Really, except for being a general womanizer and treating Cersei like shit (something that was definitely a two-way street) , he wasn’t too bad. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/109 "2011-04-19T01:36:14Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > THANK you. Of course, we’re in the oppressed minority on that one. > > -Joe Boooooo! Lena Heady is easily a 9, almost a 10. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/110 "2011-04-19T01:45:34Z")
Castings are never going to suit everyone, I suppose. Personally I was expecting someone a bit “icier” for Cersei, sort of Nicole Kidman-esque before she botoxed her face to death. Or an older Blake Lively, maybe. But Lena Heady is beautiful and from what I’ve seen she plays the role pretty well. I’m interested to see how she carries off the insane/raging side of Cersei. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/111 "2011-04-19T01:58:30Z")
The only casting I have a problem with is Catelyn, but maybe I’ll eventually warm up to her. [This]([http://www.nobleknight.com/imagepage.asp?image=FFGGOT29A.jpg&name=Five](http://www.nobleknight.com/imagepage.asp?image=FFGGOT29A.jpg&name=Five) Kings Booster Box) is how I pictured her when I read the books, and I wish they would have cast someone who looks even remotely like that. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/112 "2011-04-19T02:06:07Z")
I REEEEEEEALLY wish Jennifer Ehle was playing Catelyn. I remember being so excited when she and Sean Bean were announced as Cat and Ed. Also she should be closer to Cersei in age - maybe a handful of years older. Robb is only a couple of years older than Joff. I caught a glimpse of Lysa in one of the previews and (minor spoiler) she looked gaunt and severe rather than plump and made up like she’s described in the books. Anyway, I’m going to re-watch the first ep again tonight. I think now that I’ve gotten the geeky nitpicking out of my system, I can enjoy it more as a casual viewer, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/113 "2011-04-19T02:26:12Z")
One thing I wish is that shows with big sprawling casts like this would put character names on screen as they appear for the first couple of episodes. It might be distracting for some, but it would have been a huge help for me with this, Rome, and both of the Tom Hanks WWII minis. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/114 "2011-04-19T03:26:35Z")
I’m very happy with Jon Snow, Ned, Tyrion, Robert, Jaime, Arya and Joffrey. (I had an overwhelming desire to kick that character in the face even before he opened his mouth.) I’m less so, but still happy, with Catelyn, Sansa, Cersei, Robb and Viserys. I imagined Catelyn would look, well, like someone close to forty who’d bourne five children. A little rounder around the edges. I can’t make my mind up if I dislike Sansa because the actor rubs me wrong or because I’m _supposed_ to dislike her. IIRC in the books, she was quietly sympathetic in a “daddy’s little princess” way, at least until the show hit the road. Cersei has the cool and the timing for the Ice Queen pieces, but I didn’t see any chemistry between her and Jaime at all. Her part grows in King’s Landing, though. Robb was just a haughty deaf-mute in this episode. I expect to revise my opinion as he comes into preeminence. And Viserys . . . I had always imagined him as something more like the Joker from the last two Batman movies. Someone with a flash temper who goes way too far. Now he just seems like a scheming sociopath. Again, probably more later. Daenerys is the only casting choice I really can’t for the life of me see. As someone who becomes the driving force for a large part of the tension in the series, she showed precisely _one_ expression and tone of voice in this episode. Yes, that’s true to the book where she walked around like a perpetual nervous breakdown for a long while, but unless she’s hiding some absolutely terrific acting chops under that horrid wig, I can’t see her remaining neither convincing nor interesting for long. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/115 "2011-04-19T03:31:54Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > In the first book we hear discussions of the past–from ancient history to incidents of the war that put Robert on the throne. In later books we hear slightly different versions of those tales. And we are inside one point-of-view character’s mind when he remembers a notorious occurrence–which seems to have happened very differently than we first supposed… I’m drawing a blank. Which incident is that? (Spoiler it, please). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/116 "2011-04-19T04:22:19Z")
The scene where the queen asked Ned’s daughter “Have you bled yet”- is the queen crass in the novels (other than shagging her brother) or is that an acceptable question to ask an adolescent potential daughter-in-law in the 7 Kingdoms world? And is Robert king of all 7 kingdoms in the first episode? And I wonder if missionary position is known in this world or just doggy style as seen in the first episode. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/117 "2011-04-19T04:41:53Z")
Cersei can be quite blunt, but she doesn’t show that side to Sansa in the novels, until much later on after a lot of other shit happens. In the book, Sansa is embarrassed by the question. I was a bit startled that they showed Cersei being so blunt with Sansa so early on. And yes, Robert rules all seven kingdoms when the series starts. The seven kingdoms have been under a single ruler for quite some time at this point - the Targaryens united them ages ago. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/118 "2011-04-19T04:42:30Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’m drawing a blank. Which incident is that? (Spoiler it, please). The last one? I think he’s talking about the incident with Lyanna at the Tower of Joy. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/119 "2011-04-19T04:45:10Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > Cersei can be quite blunt, but she doesn’t show that side to Sansa in the novels, until much later on after a lot of other shit happens. In the book, Sansa is embarrassed by the question. I was a bit startled that they showed Cersei being so blunt with Sansa so early on. > > And yes, Robert rules all seven kingdoms when the series starts. The seven kingdoms have been under a single ruler for quite some time at this point - the Targaryens united them ages ago. Well, Robert _reigns_ over all seven kingdoms. A couple of them have more or less become semi-independent (paying more lip service than real service) because of Robert’s inattention and/or their own political tendencies. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781/120 "2011-04-19T05:16:57Z")
I’ve read the books several times, loved them all, but even I couldn’t figure out who was who in the premiere. And it took my 2nd viewing to finally figure out that the reason it looked like there were too many Stark kids is the fact that one of them is Theon. Of course, no one’s NAME is ever used \; I honestly don’t know how they expect newcomers to follow it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-of-thrones-winter-is-coming-4-17-11/578781.md?page=7)