Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discuss

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Rate and discuss (with spoilers for the episode, but not for forthcoming episodes) "The Prince of Winterfell", airing on the 20th May on HBO and on the 21st May on Sky Atlantic.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oUnkfdHEfk&feature=player_detailpage[/yt]

 

[Klaus]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

This was [not unexpectedly] an intake-of-breath episode before the presumed big stuff next week when the battle starts... the misdirection bit with Roz was nicely done.

for no more Tywin v. Arya, but it was awesome while it lasted, certainly the best not-in-the-book thing they've done and one of best overall. On the other hand, we'll get Arya and Gendry again, which was also great!

The side-shots of King's Landing off the platform with Varys and Tirion looked pretty good. The next two weeks should be the real test of how much they've gotten for their sfx $.

 

[clint g]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Going with excellent. Another very well done episode

 

[tomalak301]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

I'm not sure how much of a "major" character he is, but I do think Varys is one of the most underrated characters in this series. I think I could Watch him and Tyrion talk strategy and "The Game" (Not to mention all the beautiful scenery in Kings Landing) for an entire episode and it would be just as awesome as what we've been getting. Alas, there was a whole lot more, but that scene alone made me love this episode.

Nice to see Stannis back this week, and yeah Shit's gonna fly next week. I've got a feeling a major portion of the budget was saved for the next two weeks mainly because everything's been leading to this.

I do have a bit of confusion though. Robb arrested his mother because she let Jamie escape? That next scene with Briane and Jamie didn't look like escape. I must of missed a line of dialog somewhere. Anyway, another great episode, and can't wait till next week.

 

[Hyperspace05]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Great episode, just short of 'excellent'. It flowed much better than the last one. I waffled here on the grades, but ended up going with "Above Average". (add a +)

The Varys/Tyrion scenes were the best. Great dialog, lots of exposition embedded there.

The Halfhand being captured certainly makes the Jon/Ygritte wanderings in the last two episodes make much more sense.


BTW, here is a great extended trailer for the next episode, "Blackwater", which recaps the season so far:
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uwgOzLG5IGo[/yt]

 

[chrisspringob]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

So does the entirety of next week's episode take place in and around King's Landing? The trailer I saw didn't show any of the other plot lines.

 

[Roshi]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Oh my God!!!! The Horn!!! I knew it, I knew it!!!!

 

[Shurik]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

It was a relatively quiet, "calm before the storm", type of episode, mostly setup for the next two episodes and some of the plots of the third season. I liked it.

BTW, am I the only one who can't understand a word Dolorous Ed says? Maybe it's because English is not my first language, but I have no trouble understanding everyone else on the show ...

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

I am not sure that I understand Cat at all. How can she think releasing Jamie would in any way be a good idea? Rob's men are howling for his blood.

Plus, Jamie himself has proven to be overly pragmatic and practical. Ergo his "word" means nothing. Tywin Lannister or Cersei are not likely to honor any deal. Tyrion might but I fear for the little man and his power base.

Varys and Tyrion are awesome together as are Tyrion and Braun. I loved Braun getting on Tyrion's nerves while he tried to study, and then Braun's explanation of how sieges go down. Varys and Tyrion can say so much all the while playing the "game."

I am glad that Ayra has escaped seeing how Tryrion has rode out. I can see taking Gendry. He has proven to be a good ally, but why the corpulent little kid? He seesm to be a liability.

Cersei is hapless and evil. Inept might be the best word for it. I hate that anyone is being tortured but the way Tyrion played it was priceless.

However, I do not believe Shea is to be trusted. Tyrion said it himself how whores are paid to act. I fear Shea is no different.

I also pretty much love Jaquen (sp?). I need a friend like that.


It was sweet that Yara tried to warn Theon off of his stupidity.

 

[Evil Twin]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

One thing I liked about this episode is that it brought back a lot of minor characters we haven't seen in awhile:

Hot Pie, haven't seen him since Arya started, um, cup-bearing.

Rorge and Biter, first time we've seen them post-cage.

Podrick Payne, previously saw him for about 0.5 seconds during Tyrion's dinner with Janos Slynt, criminally underused this season.

Kevan Lannister, first time he's appeared this season.

 

[Ayelbourne]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

I am not sure that I understand Cat at all. How can she think releasing Jamie would in any way be a good idea? Rob's men are howling for his blood.

Exactly.

Jaime would not have survived another night in that camp. And a dead Jaime means a dead Sansa.

 

[superdeluxe]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

I hope Tyrion makes it up to Ros.

 

[Reverend]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

One thing I liked about this episode is that it brought back a lot of minor characters we haven't seen in awhile:

Hot Pie, haven't seen him since Arya started, um, cup-bearing.

Rorge and Biter, first time we've seen them post-cage.

Podrick Payne, previously saw him for about 0.5 seconds during Tyrion's dinner with Janos Slynt, criminally underused this season.

Kevan Lannister, first time he's appeared this season.

To be fair, it's a show with a huge story--strike that, it's a show with what? Five or six ongoing stories? And the cast is equally huge so it's not surprising that a lot of minor characters fall by the wayside. Hell, it's hard enough for some of the main characters to even get a look in most episodes!

 

[AntonyF]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Very good... significantly better than some of late. And not sure if that's more happening or just that they seem to just punch up the dialogue. Something is better though.

Also loved all the Rob/girlfriend stuff (even if her story was a bit trite), and I think the book fans like me will get a blast from all this as it's new and feeds nicely into later stories.

I'm not sure how much of a "major" character he is, but I do think Varys is one of the most underrated characters in this series. I think I could Watch him and Tyrion talk strategy and "The Game" (Not to mention all the beautiful scenery in Kings Landing) for an entire episode and it would be just as awesome as what we've been getting. Alas, there was a whole lot more, but that scene alone made me love this episode.

I think that's why they're so heavy in the trailers... they just say stuff, and it sounds great! They deliver the lines very well and tend to get a lot of the good dialogue in the books.

Only thing I didn't like about this episode... not sure whether to spoiler warning it or not... so will....

Spoiler: Minor spoiler that relates to the book for this episode's storyline

I didn't like how Arya didn't kill a guard to escape - I found that just summed up what an awesomely powerful character she is way beyond her years

 

[AntonyF]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

for no more Tywin v. Arya, but it was awesome while it lasted, certainly the best not-in-the-book thing they've done and one of best overall.

I forget the books specifics very quickly, and did wonder if that happened in the book. I couldn't remember it. But it worked nicely.

 

[clint g]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Spoiler: Minor spoiler that relates to the book for this episode's storyline

I didn't like how Arya didn't kill a guard to escape - I found that just summed up what an awesomely powerful character she is way beyond her years

Absolutely. Removing that from the show greatly changes the type of character Arya is and slows down her character development.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Weird to see these bits from A Storm Of Swords happening already...

Otherwise great so far- and Yay for Bronn!

(My wife tells me that of all the characters in the TV show, I am most like Bronn, or he's most like me, whichever. By a long way.)

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

Spoiler: Minor spoiler that relates to the book for this episode's storyline

I didn't like how Arya didn't kill a guard to escape - I found that just summed up what an awesomely powerful character she is way beyond her years

Absolutely. Removing that from the show greatly changes the type of character Arya is and slows down her character development.

I dunno - one of the most common criticisms I've seen of the books is that Arya is too... too overly obviously developed in a certain way. So it might be that they've dialled back what she's like deliberately, so as to avoid that criticism in this version.

Then again, given the title of the last episode, they may simply be saving it for that.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus

I'm not sure how much of a "major" character he is, but I do think Varys is one of the most underrated characters in this series. I think I could Watch him and Tyrion talk strategy and "The Game" (Not to mention all the beautiful scenery in Kings Landing) for an entire episode and it would be just as awesome as what we've been getting.

About 16 years ago, my friends and I used to go to see a stage version of Whose Line is It Anyway, with local actors. Conleth Hill, who now plays Varys, was always the stand-out in it. Just a really, really funny man. He's also gone on to become an acclaimed stage actor, in Belfast, London and Broadway. And yes, he and the wonderful Peter Dinklage just captivate when they're together.

I voted Above Average for the second week in a row, mainly because there were a few absolute corkers a few weeks back and because I think they're holding back for the final and penultimate episodes. But there was much to enjoy here - from Bronn, to Jaquen, to the final scene.

Speaking of Bronn, am I the only one amazed at how much I'm enjoying a performance by Jerome Flynn? Yes, he of Robson and Jerome fame!

 

[Klaus]

Re: Game of Thrones 2.8 - "The Prince of Winterfell" - Rate and discus