Recap: Episode One

[Triaed]

Great summary, Susan. Comprehensive and lighthearted. It explains well the plot (without revealing spoilers) to folks who have not read the books.

-Snip-

Please keep in mind that some people reading this board may not know what's going to happen next, so let's try not to ruin the surprises.

While Susan is writing about this as a stand alone series, Greg Tito's write up [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/misc/8804-Talking-About-Game-of-Thrones] gets into some of the finer points of the adaptation. It's the best way we could come up with to satisfy both audiences.

I did not think I was spoiling the story with my comments but providing background info.

Spoiler

incest seems rampant in Westeros

I see how the comment about the Targaryens and Lannisters can be taken as spoilers and I apologise for it. I want new readers and viewers to fully experience the sense of discovery!

I trust the Maester Luwin and "Ser" clarifications are not taken as such.

Greg's article and subsequent thread are great! (careful reading, there are some spoilers in it)

Given that you have no idea how Maester Luwin is unless

Great summary, Susan. Comprehensive and lighthearted. It explains well the plot (without revealing spoilers) to folks who have not read the books.

In the spirit of explaining what is happening in the story, please let me clarify 3 points that I found in the summary:

- Viserys is a bastard, yes, but the whole getting Danny naked is not so outrageous if we explain that the Targaryens use to marry each other (brother and sister). This is also an excuse that Cersei uses for bumping and grinding Jamie, even though they are Lannisters and not Targaryens

- The "servant" who brings in the note from Lady Arryn is Maester freaking Luwin! He is a bit more prominent than a servant, he's earned his chain links. Donald Sumpter does a great job in portraying him

- Although we may feel more used to the term "Sir" to refer to a knight, the actual term in the story is "Ser" (same thing in my opinion); thus Ser Jorah Mormont. This makes no difference really, only to emphasize that the story is set in a different world and not medieval UK.

I am looking forward to watching the rest of the season and hoping it will go for the full 7 seasons (GRRM has 5 years in which to write the last two!).

Tyrion is, by far, my favourite character. Pete is fantastic as the Imp... we can already infer a deep intellect emanating form him.

Yes, I know it's Maester Luwin, and you know it's Maester Luwin, but you haven't read the books, you have no idea who that is and/or why it might matter. Given that a whole lot of new names and faces were just thrown at a brand new audience, "a servant" will do for now, because it really doesn't matter within the context of the episode who handed Ned a piece of paper, merely what's on the paper.

I agree 100% with you from that point of view, Susan. It does not matter who brought the letter as long as a letter with ominous news was delivered to Ned/Cat. I was looking at it form the perspective that Maester Luwin had already been introduced as such earlier in the episode and that a "servant" was giving advice to Lord Stark, Warden of the North, on whether to take a job equivalent to a Prime Minister. I just thought to clarify that he was more than a servant.

It is true that there is no need to inundate this great recap with lots of names (we already saw Theon and Sandor! and who knows who else in the first ep), but their roles can be discussed as they come to the forefront.

Great recap! Keep them coming as fresh as this first one

 

[northman]

I'm afraid to say I've never read the books, but watching the first episode of Game of Thrones was really enjoyable as I've always been a fantasy fan (Dragonlance, LotR, Sword of Truth).

Can't wait to see what happens next but I sincerely hope that the kid isn't killed by the fall.

 

[anian]

Not that much of a fantasy fan and I didn't read the books, but I think the screenplay did a good job of putting it all together. While not "action packed" (nor could it practically really be), it was interesting and didn't dissapoint. I will be watching.

The recap, while funny, wasn't really needed (same thing with Inception dream graphs, it wasn't that complicated to get), but, as someone mentioned, the only thing it took me a second or two to get was to recognize that that was the queen/twin sister at the end part of the episode.
Oh, and I didn't really get why there was not even a sign of the "Imp" when the entourage came into the city (not that he wasn't introduced, the "bastard" dialog covered that, but that I didn't even see him among the people.

There's a "Making of" on youtube, they explain a lot in there (no spoilers, as much I gather), so there's additional explanations there.

p.s. to Greg Tito - if you're gonna explain stuff and say there are spoilers, then either you don't have to explain every little thing or don't put spoilers in...just sayin'