Game of Thrones - You Win or You Die - 5/22 on HBOGO or 5/29 on HBO

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by danterner

Do I have this right: the Wall bisects the main continental landmass into North and South regions. But when people talk about someone being "from the North," they really mean "the northern part of the southern section" and not "north of the wall" since north of the wall is just wildings and white walkers etc. Right?

Correct.

The Wall doesn't really bisect the land into North and South; it bisects it into This Side and Beyond. North and South are both below the wall.

[robojerk]

Originally Posted by cheesesteak

I can see that but if I'm the queen or Joffrey, Ned's dead eight seconds after the opening credits of this Sunday's episode and his wife shortly thereafter.

The queen still thinks Ned's wife, Catelyn, still has her brother the imp. However I can assume they'll order his death immediately after word arrives that he's survived a trial by might. However Joffrey hates his uncle so he might order it anyway and he's now the king.

[Tracy]

I did mean Dany as the "blonde" people. The Lannisters seem only blonde-ish to me.

So, the Lannisters are a family, otherwise known as a House. And the Targaryeons are also just a family? They aren't a race? Is Dany now the last of the Targaryeons?

Are the Dothraki a race?

[Aniketos]

Originally Posted by Tracy

I did mean Dany as the "blonde" people. The Lannisters seem only blonde-ish to me.

So, the Lannisters are a family, otherwise known as a House. And the Targaryeons are also just a family? They aren't a race? Is Dany now the last of the Targaryeons?

Are the Dothraki a race?

The Lannisters are a family, otherwise known as a House. The Targaryeons are a family, but they don't have a physical house (they're still a "house"), because they were ousted from the throne. Dany is the last line of her family (well her child is) The Dothraki in the books are a homogeneous race, not as much in the show.

The Targaryeans came from Valyria if that's what you mean by race, but that really hasn't been brought up in the show, nor the political landscape of Westeros at the time that they took charge. Hell, it's kinda confusing even in the books, (7 "kingdoms" which technically at this point is just one kingdom, but 9 major houses, etc.)

[robojerk]

HBO Guide to the houses of GoT
This guide is safe as HBO doesn't want to spoil viewers who have not read the books.
If you look anywhere else you'll probably find lots of spoilers.

[gchance]

Originally Posted by robojerk

HBO Guide to the houses of GoT
This guide is safe as HBO doesn't want to spoil viewers who have not read the books.
If you look anywhere else you'll probably find lots of spoilers.

That's a great guide! I was trying to figure out who the fat, bald guy was, and I knew they kept referring to someone who was a eunich, but I never put two and two together. Very helpful.

Greg

[JETarpon]

Originally Posted by Aniketos

Dany is the last line of her family (well her child is)

Point of order: her child is just a fetus, and does not have any rights until born, and so is not (yet) the last of the line.

As for Valyria:

Spoiler:

too bad they completely ignored the concept of "Valyrian steel" for the show

[stellie93]

I don't get why Greyjoy is at Winterfell. I thought at first that Ned killed off all his family, but this week he says his father is at home in the Iron Islands. Why does he let his heir live as a prisoner/guest in Winterfell? Has he even attempted to get him back? Why would Ned keep him--doesn't seem like something Ned would do.

[robojerk]

Originally Posted by stellie93

I don't get why Greyjoy is at Winterfell. I thought at first that Ned killed off all his family, but this week he says his father is at home in the Iron Islands. Why does he let his heir live as a prisoner/guest in Winterfell? Has he even attempted to get him back? Why would Ned keep him--doesn't seem like something Ned would do.

I think this is rght:
Theon's dad attempted to break away from the kingdom, as punishment (and insurance to keep the Lord Greyjoy from trying again) his only surviving son was sent to Ned Stark to be raised.

Theon and the Stark's "seem" to get along pretty well aside from the politics of his presence.

[JETarpon]

Originally Posted by robojerk

I think this is rght:
Theon's dad attempted to break away from the kingdom, as punishment (and insurance to keep the Lord Greyjoy from trying again) his only surviving son was sent to Ned Stark to be raised.

Theon and the Stark's "seem" to get along pretty well aside from the politics of his presence.

Yes, this is it. Theon is being held hostage for his father's good behavior.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by JETarpon

Yes, this is it. Theon is being held hostage for his father's good behavior.

"Hostage" in the old sense of the word...not a prisoner so much as an honored guest who doesn't dare leave for fear of bringing the fires of hell down on his family.

[Aniketos]

Originally Posted by robojerk

I think this is rght:
Theon's dad attempted to break away from the kingdom, as punishment (and insurance to keep the Lord Greyjoy from trying again) his only surviving son was sent to Ned Stark to be raised.

Theon and the Stark's "seem" to get along pretty well aside from the politics of his presence.

Originally Posted by JETarpon

Yes, this is it. Theon is being held hostage for his father's good behavior.

Originally Posted by Rob Helmerichs

"Hostage" in the old sense of the word...not a prisoner so much as an honored guest who doesn't dare leave for fear of bringing the fires of hell down on his family.

To expound on that, if it wasn't clear in the show the distinction between the two fights. (Sorry, if I get exact numbers messed up since books and show differ in number slightly, also, I've been drinking.)

"Robert's Rebellion", in which they killed the Mad King Targaryeon and Robert took the crown was seventeen years ago. Nine years ago, Theon Greyjoy's father rebelled against Robert and was put down. In that rebellion Theon was taken as a "ward" (hostage in the historical sense) by Ned. This goes with my earlier post of why there are nine houses and only seven kingdoms (The Greyjoys lost their status as a great house, and blahblahblah I won't get into it, sorry for bringing up backstory not presented in the show)

[Steveknj]

I must say, that "reading" the book,

Spoiler:

and I'm only just past Dany's wedding and the telling of Ned's distrust of the Lannisters

has definitely helped me understand a lot of what is going on. This actually might one of the rare cases where, I think seeing the TV show is also helping me understand some things in the book as well.

Does anyone know if this season is the whole first book or is the whole series going to be just this one book?

[Anubys]

Originally Posted by Steveknj

I must say, that "reading" the book,

Spoiler:

and I'm only just past Dany's wedding and the telling of Ned's distrust of the Lannisters

has definitely helped me understand a lot of what is going on. This actually might one of the rare cases where, I think seeing the TV show is also helping me understand some things in the book as well.

Does anyone know if this season is the whole first book or is the whole series going to be just this one book?

my understanding is that each season will be one book

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by Anubys

my understanding is that each season will be one book

Martin is hoping that some books will be divided into two seasons as necessary, but definitely Season 1=Book 1...

[dandrewk]

The scene where Tywin is dressing down Jaime - it sure looked like the actor was REALLY skinning a dead dear. If that was a prop... it sure was a good one.

[SurvivorFan]

I'm pretty sure that was a real deer being skinned. Why go to the time and expense of creating a convincing prop when the real thing is readily available?

[Anubys]

Originally Posted by SurvivorFan

I'm pretty sure that was a real deer being skinned. Why go to the time and expense of creating a convincing prop when the real thing is readily available?

first, the actor has to have been hunting for all his life to do that so effortlessly (and deliver his lines).

second, I sure hope they got everything on the first take (or else they had a 100 deer handy!)

[squint]

I just hope the horse that was nearly decapitated at the jousting tournament wasn't real.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by Anubys

first, the actor has to have been hunting for all his life to do that so effortlessly (and deliver his lines).

Or just really good. Some actors have a knack for picking up pretty remarkable skills for a role.

E.g., Jessica Biel learned archery for Blade 3.

Destroyed Movie Camera

[Anubys]

clearly, Jessica picked up archery better than Rob picked up posting youtube video

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by Anubys

clearly, Jessica picked up archery better than Rob picked up posting youtube video

Heh. Weird, I edited it twice before I got it right (it never seems right to me that the "YZ tag" isn't the YouTube number), and instead of editing, it reposted. How on Earth did THAT happen?!?

[dandrewk]

I'd love to see Jessica Biel in GoT.

But then, I'd love to see Jessica Biel in EVERY film.

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by dandrewk

I'd love to see Jessica Biel in GoT.

But then, I'd love to see Jessica Biel in EVERY film.

I like her better as a person than as an actor. In interviews, she seems fun, engaging, a little geeky. Onscreen, she seems wooden.

[dandrewk]

Originally Posted by Rob Helmerichs

I like her better as a person than as an actor. In interviews, she seems fun, engaging, a little geeky. Onscreen, she seems wooden.

For some reason, never really noticed her acting abilities.

[dandrewk]

Originally Posted by Anubys

first, the actor has to have been hunting for all his life to do that so effortlessly (and deliver his lines).

second, I sure hope they got everything on the first take (or else they had a 100 deer handy!)

That was one powerful scene. With Tywin giving his son an earful, skillfully skinning that deer was perfect for the atmosphere. His words were cold and precise, as if he was eviscerating Jaime and the beast at the same time.

[drumorgan]

That scene was NOT in the books, right? Interesting how they skillfully put in the exposition without you really knowing it.

[pendragn]

Originally Posted by drumorgan

That scene was NOT in the books, right? Interesting how they skillfully put in the exposition without you really knowing it.

Spoiling because it describes a scene from the book not shown in the show, although there's no new information:

Spoiler:

I *just* read the part of the book today where the fat kid of the night's watch is telling Jon about how his father told him that he had to join the night's watch or his father would kill him. In that scene the fat kid's father was gutting a dear while he talked to him, almost exacly like the scene in the show with Tywin and Jaime. I haven't gotten far enough enough in the book to get to this scene.

tk

[Rob Helmerichs]

Originally Posted by pendragn

Spoiling because it describes a scene from the book not shown in the show, although there's no new information:

Spoiler:

I *just* read the part of the book today where the fat kid of the night's watch is telling Jon about how his father told him that he had to join the night's watch or his father would kill him. In that scene the fat kid's father was gutting a dear while he talked to him, almost exacly like the scene in the show with Tywin and Jaime. I haven't gotten far enough enough in the book to get to this scene.

Kinda scary that Tywin is far from the worst father in the books...

[DUDE_NJX]

Originally Posted by Aniketos

To expound on that, if it wasn't clear in the show the distinction between the two fights. (Sorry, if I get exact numbers messed up since books and show differ in number slightly, also, I've been drinking.)

"Robert's Rebellion", in which they killed the Mad King Targaryeon and Robert took the crown was seventeen years ago. Nine years ago, Theon Greyjoy's father rebelled against Robert and was put down. In that rebellion Theon was taken as a "ward" (hostage in the historical sense) by Ned. This goes with my earlier post of why there are nine houses and only seven kingdoms (The Greyjoys lost their status as a great house, and blahblahblah I won't get into it, sorry for bringing up backstory not presented in the show)

So they killed the Mad King 17 yrs ago, but his daughter is 13?