A Game of Thrones, episode the first...

[fajrdrako]

This afternoon I did the Game of Thrones test: "Which house are you?" I turn out to be Targaryen:

House of Targaryen (3 headed Dragon) - You rely on the sufferance of others probably more than you should. You've had a hard road, but the world doesn't owe you everything and desperation will only get you so far. Try working harder to get what you want. It may not get you as far as you'd like, but it will definitely help breed confidence of character.

Which is a rather odd description of any Targaryen, but I am not displeased. Fire-dragons? A sense of hard-won privilege? Oh, yeah, I wouldn't mind being a Targaryen. Not the evil madmen in the family but the more romantic, heroic sort.

I watched the first episode of A Game of Thrones this evening. The books have long been favourites of mine and Pim, and maaseru has heard far more about those books than she ever wanted to. The show has been much discussed and much anticipated; the only shared fandom I can think of that surpassed it was Lord of the Rings. And of course the books are very different, though with the similarity that George R.R. Martin is a very good writer.

...As far as it goes.

So what did we think? Thumbs up. Most characters and most aspects have been done better than I could have expected: the huge, rambling castle of Winterfell; impish Arya, loyal but unsympathetic Catelyn, bold Tyron, frightened Danaerys... Even where they had to cut or improvise, they did it in the right way.

Looking a specific details:

1. In the book, I think the first scene that truly shocked me was when Jaime threw Bran from the top of the tower. It made me realize this wasn't just any fantasy novel, and that it would defy expectations. That was probably when I got hooked.
   
   At the time, on first reading, I thought Jaime was truly horrific. Now that I know Jaime better - now that I know what is going to happen - I feel much more sympathy for him. I see more ambiguity, more shades of grey.
   
   
2. The Lannisters are all beautifully portrayed, actually; the bond between Jaime and Cersei, the hint that their father is formidable, Tyrion's sense of his own role in the family.
   
   
3. Of the Stark children, Bran is best. Arya has potential, certainly - loved it when she hit Bran's archery target for him.
   
   
4. I have trouble remembering which is Rob and which is Theon Greyjoy, and they both look too much like Jon Snow for my tastes - he should be quite distinctive. Jon Snow is the only one I think miscast, and not in character with my interpretation in the book - in the book, he's one of my favourites. Here? Meh.
   
   
5. Loved the direwolf pups, especially Bran's Summer.
   
   
6. Ser Jorah Mormont is prefect. Dani is not quite as I pictured her, but suitable enough. Khal Drogo? Oh, yeah, spot on. Love it that we got a glimpse of the Unsullied. Viserys had a good, creepy touch of despicable ambition without being over the top.

Maybe that's the best thing about this series: that the book itself is so extreme, so exaggerated, and yet depicted with such verisimilitude, that it would be easy to make the story a parody of itself. But they haven't. They downplayed just enough.

I'm looking forward to more. Bring it on.