Ahoy, spoilers ahead! If you haven’t watched the show yet, go do so. Otherwise, there are no spoilers for the series outside of those covered in the first two episodes.
So, so, it’s finally here. I’ve been a fan of A Song of Ice and Fire for nearly ten years. I’ve been waiting for the show with bated breath for three or four. And now that it’s aired, I thought I’d gather some rambling thoughts about the show, its characters and why it’s both stronger and weaker than I’d expected and hoped.
I won’t say much about the prologue. I’ve always thought it was a little out of place in the novels and feels even more out of place here. I understand that both Martin and HBO want to establish the Others for, presumably, their invasion in the later volumes of the series, but the prologue always seemed out of place in tone and subject matter compared to the rest of the novel. In any case, it’s creepy, so there’s that.
Winterfell, and all its characters and storylines, is wonderful. Robb is stiff-necked; Jon is brooding; Bran is feisty and Sansa is irritating and awkward. And Arya, oh Arya. Alongside Tyrion Lannister (who we’ll get to shortly) and his brother Jaime, Arya Stark is my favourite character in the series and Maisie Williams captures everything wonderful about the irascible little black sheep. She’s fiery as she shows up Bran with her bow; she’s charming and believable when Jon gifts her Needle; she’s perfectly loyal and determined as she defends Lady, despite Sansa’s betrayal.
I want to punch Joffrey in his stupid face. So, yeah, they nailed him.
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