I don't see the suffering as completely arbitrary. Tyrion being blamed for Goffrey's death is the tail end of a lifelong hatred between him, his sister, and father. They put him on trial and he responds by killing his father, in part as punishment for a lifetime of abuse. There are motivations here that are built up through the first few seasons. things seem less anarchic IMO in the latter seasons. Karma getting doled out on a more regular basis.
― AdamVania (Adam Bruneau), Saturday, 31 October 2015 09:40 (eight years ago) link
Not even the Red Wedding was arbitrary--Rob had no business being a king if he was going to be breaking oaths to nobles and stuff
― Why because she True and Interesting (President Keyes), Saturday, 31 October 2015 10:07 (eight years ago) link
FWIW when I said "yes, that's a book spoiler" I meant "that is a spoiler for events that have not yet been covered in the books based on what interviews I've read"
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Tuesday, 3 November 2015 16:39 (eight years ago) link
some chatter about maisie's thread being minimized next season as/if/when she becomes a doc who fixture
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Tuesday, 3 November 2015 17:07 (eight years ago) link
Boooo!
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Tuesday, 3 November 2015 17:28 (eight years ago) link
oh just recast the part. no one will notice
― Why because she True and Interesting (President Keyes), Tuesday, 3 November 2015 17:35 (eight years ago) link
Get one of the old Mountain actors.
― :wq (Leee), Wednesday, 4 November 2015 02:46 (eight years ago) link
They could theoretically write her into another actor bcs of the whole many-faced god thing anyway.
― I checked Snoops , and it is for real (Trayce), Wednesday, 4 November 2015 03:18 (eight years ago) link
Is there actually anything to that talk other than "reporter realises that she's returning to Doctor Who for episode that's been scheduled since before the season started"?
― Andrew Farrell, Wednesday, 4 November 2015 04:01 (eight years ago) link
prob not but he does need a new assistant and she would be great and is raving about script quality
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 4 November 2015 04:24 (eight years ago) link
i'm near the end of s3 and this continues to be pretty bad! it's watchable enough to keep my curiosity going.
the rhythmic element i'm really beginning to hate is the "humanizing monologue" about some terrible thing in the past from a badguy character.
it has a teenager's sensibility. the lannisters are supposed to be subtle and devious; they're all crude and obvious (cersei especially, can't tell if that's the writing or performance but neither are good). the love plot between tyrion and shae is unwatchable. none of the characters really seem like they live and breathe the ideology of dynastic struggle; *every single* political marriage has been taken like it was a bad prom date, like nobody can really see what's coming or get how life is.
there's hardly any lightness, none of these people are funny, none really seem like they are of different personality from each other. the language is lifeless.
the nobility were hardly ever alone. they were surrounded by their relatives, their staff, their households. the show is underpopulated. everyone seems to be in transit or being abducted between one of like five places, wouldn't they just run into each other in the middle?
great show.
― goole, Friday, 6 November 2015 04:29 (eight years ago) link
God, I'm glad I dont demand such realism from my bodice-rippers.
― I checked Snoops , and it is for real (Trayce), Friday, 6 November 2015 04:34 (eight years ago) link
no need to rip anything, there's guaranteed boob!
― goole, Friday, 6 November 2015 04:37 (eight years ago) link
i liked the one w the guy in the box.
― denies the existence of dark matter (difficult listening hour), Friday, 6 November 2015 04:40 (eight years ago) link
got more of a boobage ripper
― a llove spat over a llama-keeper (forksclovetofu), Friday, 6 November 2015 04:59 (eight years ago) link
I think quite a few of the characters are funny. And despite what everyone says about relentless grimness (which spellcorrects as firmness) I think there's plenty of lighter moments (not that I necessarily require them but it would be a different show without them).
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 6 November 2015 07:20 (eight years ago) link
yeah I don't get how you don't think Tyrion is funny, he's a droll little fellow (zomg book spoilerz)
― pratt truss it (dan m), Friday, 6 November 2015 07:23 (eight years ago) link
goole otm
― ryan, Friday, 6 November 2015 13:27 (eight years ago) link
Not exactly sure why or how the Lannisters as a group are supposed to be subtle but as much as I love the show can't argue with a most of that
― tsrobodo, Friday, 6 November 2015 13:38 (eight years ago) link
the lannisters aren't supposed to be subtle, they're supposed to be devious, conniving assholes and everyone in the show knows it
― pratt truss it (dan m), Friday, 6 November 2015 14:16 (eight years ago) link
i absolutely loved this one
― doing my Objectives, handling some intense stuff (LocalGarda), Friday, 6 November 2015 14:24 (eight years ago) link
confession: i was the guy in the box
i didn't like how it ended
cersei especially, can't tell if that's the writing or performance but neither are good
i'm almost through season 4. I go back and forth on cersei; obviously the character intentionally enters every conversation with the goal of cutting the other person down to size and showing off her power by getting the brutal last word. And while that makes sense for the character, it gets so one-note at a certain point! And since that's basically all she does, the monologues about how much she loves her children seem kind of bogus, which I don't think they're supposed to.
― intheblanks, Friday, 6 November 2015 14:39 (eight years ago) link
also i think the performance is intentionally a little hammy, like someone who is in over their head but trying to act like they think powerful people act. Just the way she holds her wine glass, for example. But like i said, it gets a little one-note at a certain point.
― intheblanks, Friday, 6 November 2015 14:42 (eight years ago) link
yeah her character in particular seems like it was conceived ad hoc. of all the people to be really mad that her daughter was being married off! and the incest? it's treated like this 'ooh nasty' broken taboo w/o any hint at a deeper psyche.
― goole, Friday, 6 November 2015 14:52 (eight years ago) link
she's the ICE QUEEN who does DIRTY THINGS and is REALLY MEAN but *writes in column titled 'humanizing element'* REALLY LOVES HER KIDS
― goole, Friday, 6 November 2015 14:55 (eight years ago) link
I do actually enjoy reading some of the more demanding critiques and find half of it fair but I always get the feeling that people are always being way way way harsher toward overrated hyped things (this is my favourite tv show but all these things get overrated by lots of people) then going to film, comedy, comics and videogames threads saying "Mmmmmmm I love these yummy smelly turds, feed me more turds!" Maybe I'm just as guilty of this but it makes me want to keep a journal on every member who seems to hold vastly different standards for different things (I'm less familiar with Goole's opinions so I have no comparisons right now).
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 6 November 2015 15:17 (eight years ago) link
I have more sympathy for someone who tears apart a crappy film they sat through for some reason than people who watch 4 seasons of a tv show they hate every second of.
― Why because she True and Interesting (President Keyes), Friday, 6 November 2015 15:26 (eight years ago) link
idk, if ever there was a show to watch despite yourself
― denies the existence of dark matter (difficult listening hour), Friday, 6 November 2015 15:28 (eight years ago) link
― Οὖτις, Friday, 6 November 2015 16:14 (eight years ago) link
I do actually enjoy reading some of the more demanding critiques and find half of it fair but I always get the feeling that people are always being way way way harsher toward overrated hyped things
I wasn't as harsh as goole from the start, but as season 4 becomes an increasing slog for me, those points really do resonate. I think this show obviously has certain strengths (which is why it's so beloved!), but idk, goole's critiques aren't just "this show is boring" or "the characters are dumb" or something
For me, the show always had an strain of cheap cynicism masquerading as "realness," but it becomes overwhelming as the seasons continue, and as the villainous characters become more cardboard and stupid.
― intheblanks, Friday, 6 November 2015 16:41 (eight years ago) link
I think I've mentioned this upthread but cersei's irrational(?) love of her children is essentially the paradigm of what the show (books?) thinks of as the potential for chaotic evil over and against the masculine meritocratic codes of honor typified by ned stark. maternal (and maybe Oedipal) love, is dangerous specifically because it is concerned for nothing but itself, and it is what sets the whole crazy ball of the narrative in motion. not sure that reading holds up but it's interesting to think about.
― ryan, Friday, 6 November 2015 17:00 (eight years ago) link
not for nothing do father figures (or potential ones) kinda die off one by one...
I assume that reading would draw a parallel between Cersei and mama Stark (whose name I can't remember)
― Οὖτις, Friday, 6 November 2015 17:02 (eight years ago) link
yes and also dany's trying to square the whole "mother of dragons" righteous fury thing with the (coded masculine in this reading) realities of governance. dany trying to be father and mother.
― ryan, Friday, 6 November 2015 17:39 (eight years ago) link
xp - though the show eliminated a plot involving Mrs. Stark's chaotic "evil" as a result of maternal love; i actually really wanted that to happen.
― sarahell, Saturday, 7 November 2015 22:31 (eight years ago) link
who knows what might happen next season?
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 7 November 2015 23:06 (eight years ago) link
funniest thing on the whole show so far was the kid night watcher killing the redhead barbarian woman and then giving jon snow a sweet li'l nod. thanks buddy, you did it.
― goole, Wednesday, 11 November 2015 17:29 (eight years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4oQzTGTc_g
― Why because she True and Interesting (President Keyes), Wednesday, 11 November 2015 17:38 (eight years ago) link
:D
― goole, Wednesday, 11 November 2015 17:41 (eight years ago) link
lol goole "this show is bad"... two weeks later season 4
― lag∞n, Friday, 13 November 2015 15:25 (eight years ago) link
i think i feel okay enough to admit i only watch the show now for the sweet action scenes
― 龜, Sunday, 15 November 2015 12:46 (eight years ago) link
But they are so few and far between.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 15 November 2015 13:16 (eight years ago) link
i know... honest im just on my phone in betewen the fight scenes. i have no idea whats going on in the show anymore or how its different from the books
― 龜, Sunday, 15 November 2015 13:17 (eight years ago) link
When the violent noises start you look up?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 15 November 2015 13:25 (eight years ago) link
yuyp
― 龜, Sunday, 15 November 2015 13:26 (eight years ago) link
Were you watching the Spartacus tv series?
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 15 November 2015 13:50 (eight years ago) link
Whats that
― 龜, Sunday, 15 November 2015 13:55 (eight years ago) link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartacus_(TV_series)
It initially looked like a shoestring budget version of 300, I thought it looked terrible but a lot of people said it was great silly fun and surprisingly engaging (but people said that about 300: Rise Of An Empire and they were wrong).
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Sunday, 15 November 2015 14:08 (eight years ago) link