Great ending to an amazing series. Really well done.

Stag Lord said:

Ok, so somebody please help me out if this is in the books, but since when is Maester Pycelle "faking it". I watched the episode last night and could swear up and down that Pycelle is old and frail in the company of others but when he's alone he seems to be very spry. Did this happen in the books, is this just going on in the show, or am I imagining things?

Had Liam Neeson his first cameo as Jaqen H'ghar?

I could swear that was him in the cage waggon...

Wrecking Ball said:

It is not a story element I remember from the books. But then, we've never really had a POV in the books that would see Pycelle behind closed doors. It's not outside the realms of possibility though, at least before he goes beardless. Maybe it just hasn't come up yet.

ktom said:

Did Pycelle have a woman in his bed when he gets his beard cut off? That alone implies he is sprier than a decrepid old man.

Dobbler said:

Yes, he did Dobbs. And I agree. It lends evidence to the fact he is not quite as frail as he tries to make others believe he is. I think it's all part of his strategy (everyone will underestimate him while he goes on about his business).

I disagree that him having a prostitute in his bed says anything about his spryness.

Either way, I really disliked the Pycelle scene in an otherwise great episode. Again with the sexposition, and not even interesting one at that. If they had wanted to make (invent) some point about Pycelle faking it, they should have found another spot for that, in a different episode (or season).

Another very positive review/article on Grantland (seriously...I keep coming across them on a sub-site of ESPN??? Albiet one dedicated to both sports and pop culture). www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/499/the-game-of-thrones-guarantee

They killed...um...The Killing as well, which is too bad, since I wanted to watch that (set in Seattle).

Read the article Rings posted and in there is a link to someone's reaction to Episode 9. BRILLIANT! Also it was neat to see Warren Sapp's twitter feed reark that no one should talk to him until he gets a chance to watch the season finale.

Re: The Pycelle scene, I can't figure out that it served any purpose. So he's pretending to be more frail than he is. This means....... what exactly? It was wasted space that could have been better spent elsewhere. Unless of course, HBO is planning to really start adding things in Season 2 ala True Blood.

Please, oh please, oh please, don't let that happen.

I think adding the Pycelle scene was completely appropriate. Keep in mind that a large chunk of Clash of Kings is Tyrion's interactions with the other members of the Small Council. Giving us a quick insight into both Pycelle's "spryness" as well as his exposition on how many kings he has served, lays additional groundwork that Pycelle is part of the intrigue going on in Kings Landing.

The season finale is not just meant to wrap up season 1, but also lay the groundwork for season 2.

I agree with Kennon.

Him being more physically able than he let's on only serves as an indicator that his mind is more sharp than people would think. But we already know or at least can surmise that he's a devious little *****, so the scene doesn't give any additional information about the character. It's part of the trend of the show to get rid of all subtlety, which to me has led to the majority of the cringe-worthy scenes of the series (pretty much all the "sexpositions").

On an unrelated note: "And then we will kill them all." Wtf, Catelyn?

Ultimately, I'm quite pleased with the show. It got off to a slow start, but the second half of the series was very good, with a bunch of brilliant moments that generally outweigh some of the more questionable decisions made by the writers or some sloppy executions of the given script (I'm looking at you, dead stable boy). I couldn't be happier with most of the cast, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they take the show in season 2.

I actually liked Cat's delivery of that line. A lot. And I applaud the sentiment.

Its funny the things that have been changed from the books that we either like or dislike.

Dany pretty much getting raped on her wedding night (per the TV series) makes much more sense than a 14 year old being turned on for sex (per the books). This change did not bother me at all.

However, in Episode 10, when Osha goes into the crypts with Bran, nearly every one of her lines were Luwin's lines in the books. In the books, Osha is very in touch with the connection Bran has with his dreams and the old gods and she encourages him, while it is Luwin who is very discouraging. But by giving Osha Luwin's lines (specifically the ones about the dreams being a coincidence), they completely change her character.

Okay, I could be wrong, but in the books don't multiple characters, including both Eddard and Littlefinger, comment on how Pycelle isn't as useless or forgetful as he seems? I thought Eddard made some sarcastic comment about it the first time he and Pycelle interact. Also, doesn't Cersei sleep with him? It's been a while since I read any of them, but I thought she did. Also, I liked the Pycelle scene. Great character development.

Well - the numbers for the finale are in - and it hit the 3 million number HBO had been pointing at all season. Boardwalk Empire did 3.3 million in its finale, with a much more accessible theme and setting. This is all good news.

The season recap reviews ahve all been very positive form what I ahve been reading, praising teh complexity of the show and the way things paid off in the last few episodes. The acting has gotten good notices as well, and though i doubt teh show will win any acting Emmys - it would be nice to see a couple of nominations. The biggest criticism has pretty much been the sexposition - with the lesbian Littlefinger scene being teh msot reviled (rightfully so).

I'm optimistic for Clash of Kings - hope they cna keep the momentum going with the middle book and that we get to see the first three filmed at least.

chaos28 said:

I don't remember any comments like that about Pycelle, but they don't sound out of place, especially something about him not being forgetful. Maybe they're making him extra-spry so that his emasculation via debearding seems even more dramatic.

Cersei is a definitely on the wanton side sexually, but as far as I know, she's only slept with Lannister men. She flirts with a number of others, like the Kettleblacks.

I didnt mind Cats line. . . . mostly because i know how completely wrong she is, and also because it makes me laugh

Looks like they cast Marge Tyrell:

insidetv.ew.com/2011/06/23/game-of-thrones-casting/

rings said:

Natalie Dormer from the Tudors.

http://winter-is-coming.net/2011/06/natalie-dormer-to-play-margaery-tyrell/

She's pretty hot and seems perfect for Margaery:

http://www.wikifeet.com/pictures/Natalie-Dormer-Feet-64190.jpg

http://winter-is-coming.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/natalie-dormer.jpg

Yeah, I forgot to mention I didn't watch the Tudors, but she seems like a great choice to me.

They have done a pretty bang-up job overall - heck, I even want to watch Conan now

Wow she is smoking.

Makes me wonder who they will cast for Melisandre.

I think casting Brienne will be the tricky bit - imagine trying to sell that part to an actress. I really hope they don't go the standard Hollywood route of getting someone who's actually very pretty and just having her made up to look ugly at the start, then gradually blossoming into a beautiful flower etc etc.

On another note, anyone else like the idea of John Noble as Stannis - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0633604/ - and David Wenham as Davos? - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920992/ - probably never going to happen, as it would attract too many unfavourable comparisons, but I think they'd work well. (Particularly David Wenahm - I've always seen Davos as a nobler, savier, Ned, a Faramir to his Boromir if you will)

Mighty Jim said:

Doesn't look like they will. Winter-is-coming.net posted the casting call for Brienne some time ago, which included:
"Must be a MINIMUM of 5’10″. Do NOT submit actresses that look like models. We are looking for a big, WARRIOR-TYPE woman that’s more MANLY than womanly."