I was planning on waiting a bit longer before I started commenting on HBO’s ambitious endeavor to adapt George R. R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones” to the small screen. Right. Like patience is a virtue I possess in great measure. So after watching only the trailers, the interviews, the behind the scenes stuff, and the first two episodes (Geek? Me? Piss off) here are my initial impressions. They are NOT objective; write your own review.
First off, the things I have trouble with or just plain don’t like. Mark Addy as Robert Baratheon: OK, he’s fat, florid, common…. and all I can say every time he is on screen is “I could have done that better.” Typical actor, me. I can’t do fat as well as he does, but… he is just too one-dimensional. Not as he is written, but as he plays it. He’ll be gone by episode three, so I’ll get over it. Kit Harington as Jon Snow: he’s new to the business; this may well be his first TV or film appearance, ever. Kit, please keep your mouth closed. Too many scenes you look like a fish out of water. Stop pouting. You can be broody without looking Emo. Close your mouth. Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark: Sorry, she is not anywhere near as pretty as I felt Catelyn was supposed to be. She can act her way through the walls of Winterfell though. Rats. Wow.
I am still undecided over Emelia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen: she is pretty enough, and the platinum hair looks right on her, but she is stockier than I pictured Daenerys. She also has had very little to work with as an actress yet, so I’m going to have to wait a bit. Her brother Viserys, played by Harry Loyd looks much more like I pictured them both; almost elven (yeah yeah, I know…..). Wish they could have gotten the violet eyes though. Hell, they did it for “Dune” 25 years ago…. I’m also very annoyed by what appears to be the costumers idea of the Maesters chain; ummm, did anyone read her the books? Michele, these are described as fitting tightly about the neck, like a slave collar. What you have looks like someone tried to find a use for old drawbridge chains. Seriously, at what point does it say “Maester Lewins chain hung down to his testicles”?
Now, for the stuff I like or love so far. Top of the list is Peter Dinklage. He is superb as Tyrion Lannister. He has the mocking, wounded, ribald, cunning, and caring layers all beautifully bound together, and they come out at every point they are needed, each emotion underscored by the depths underneath. Oh, yeah. “I hope I can do stuff that well”. As an actor I stand in admiration. Jamie Lannister and Cersei Lannister, played by Nikolja Coster-Waldau (?) and Lena Headey are excellent; I can’t WAIT to see the later interactions. Sean Bean as Ned Stark should be kissing his agent; this role and he are a perfect fit. Maisie Williams as Arya has had a lot more to do so far than Sansa, played by Sophie Turner, but I see no reason to doubt 5 star work from both.
Visually the show is spectacular. The locations in Ireland and Malta work perfectly, the cinematography presents even more sweeping landscapes than “Lord of The Rings”, and The Wall…. Oh, yeah. Loved it. The main score by Ramin Djawadi is wonderful, and other than the Maesters chains (Michele, WTFO?) the costuming looks excellent.
As for the two episodes themselves, I am trying to avoid spoilers. I have at least one loopy friend who is going to wait for the DVD’s “so I can watch it all at once.” Really? So how come you watch “Fringe” one episode at a time, hmmm? Yeah, you know who you are… . I will say this; episode one takes a rather breakneck pace to cover about 200 pages. Daenerys is married to Khal Drogo before you can finish your first glass of wine. Jon practically walks into frame, looks about, and says “I’m going to take the black.”. Tyrion is whoring before you even meet him… and good luck knowing who is Robb Stark and who is Theon Greyjoy, as no one uses a name during the first hour… of a one hour episode. OK, that was hyperbole, but still.
The second episode included a scene not in the book, between Cersei and Catelyn in Bran’s room; it was inspiring. You feel the first stirring of compassion for Cersei… and then stop and ask “Was that all a lie?” If George wrote that, look for it in the revised printings of the novels. The “touching” farewell between Catelyn and Jon is also different in detail, though not in tone. Good job guys. And when Ned has to fulfill the sentence passed on Lady, in Nymerias absence….. whooo. Arya also gives a look that the camera holds which is apparently meant for Cersei as much as Joffrey. If I got a look like that , I would be checking for poison in my food and assassins in my bed the rest of my life. Its not hatred, it is a cold and uncompromising condemnation.
Winter is coming.
