This episode might start with a not-so-subtle metaphor in its title, but that metaphor pays off in compelling scenes for a whole host of supporting characters.
You might remember that I called last week’s episode the best of the season. Well, in terms of excitement, I was right. In terms of depth and emotional punch…I may have been wrong.
Oh man are you guys gonna love this one.
So, we’re three episodes into a new season of Game of Thrones. The halfway point is closer than you think, and more than once the season’s been called slow by viewers (yes, even me). But, as you may recall, I’ve defended the show. I’ve said that often the early episodes are about putting new pieces of the puzzle together so the payoff can come, and it’s all being done so elegantly that I don’t care much about the pace. Well, the “slow” criticisms stop here. “And Now His Watch Is Ended” is not only the most exhilarating episode of this season so far. It’s also got the potential to be one of the most pivotal episodes in the history of the show.
Note: Once again, I’m writing an advance review here, so no big plot spoilers for the episode will follow. However, there will of course be spoilers for the rest of the season so far.
In King’s Landing, Margaery (Natalie Dormer) and Olenna (Diana Rigg) continue to work their charms on Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) and Sansa (Sophie Turner), though Cersei (Lena Headey) is still suspicious. Meanwhile Varys (Conleth Hill) has his own business with Olenna, as well as Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), and Cersei has business with her father (Charles Dance). In the North, Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) ventures deeper into his dreams with the help of Jojen (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), while Arya (Maisie Williams) must find new courage among the Brotherhood. Still lost somewhere in Westeros, Theon (Alfie Allen) laments his choices. Beyond The Wall, the rifts within the Night’s Watch grow deeper. In the Crown Lands, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is reeling from the aftermath of his punishment. And in Astapor, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) makes good on her bargain with the Unsullied slavemaster.
Again, there are a number of highlights that I just can’t talk about because you haven’t seen them yet, but I can tell you a bit more broadly about what I loved. I talked a lot last season about my love for the complex and often deceptive relationship between Varys and Tyrion, and this episode contains the very best scene between the two of them yet, and because of the nature of their relationship it’s one of those things that could turn out to be exceptionally important or could just be more smoke blown from either of them. But hey, that’s part of the fun, and Hill and Dinklage are both at their absolute best.
I also, for some reason, really noticed in this episode just how detailed the regional differences are in the show’s production design. Watch Margaery walk next to Sansa. Their costumes each say different thing about the wearer, but they’re also part of a larger landscape of costume design, armor design, weaponry, food and everything else that makes up this world. It’s the same level of detail that made the design work in The Lord of the Rings so good, and it’s never been applied to television in quite this way before. It struck me particularly hard watching this episode, so take a moment and savor that.
But more importantly (and again, I can’t spoil anything for you), this is the episode where everything about this season really begins to move forward in a really energetic, proper badass way, particularly in the final minutes. It’s the sort of episode that leaves you absolutely invigorated and makes you flat-out angry that you can’t watch what happens next right now. I think we’ll look back on this episode and call it one of the most important of the season, and certainly one of the most fun.
Note: This is the last of my advance reviews for this season, so if you’re reading my reviews, look for the next one on Sunday night after I’ve watched it right along with the rest of you.
(Advance screening courtesy of HBO)
One of the enduring themes of Game of Thrones, it should be painfully obvious, is loss. With “Walk of Punishment,” the show treads once again into very grim territory, and the results, while often hard to watch, add to the power of a season that’s already begun to gain a lot of steam.
Last week I said that season premieres are essentially about asking questions and making us excited to hear the answers. So, did the second episode of Game of Thrones’ third season lead us in the right direction?
By now we’ve all seen the finale to season three of The Walking Dead. And it was, how should we say it… less than expected. While the season was praised for it’s direction, the promised battle of the prison and departure of David Morrissey’s Governor really left fans with fleeting expectations. So what kind of “improvments” are on the way in the upcoming fourth season?
-Warning: The follow contains spoilers to this October’s upcoming season of The Walking Dead, if you’re ok with knowing what’s to come than read on!-
Fans of the series will be happy to know that Morrissey will return as a series regular, having become a fan favorite over the past season. Also, when speaking to IGN, Walking Dead creator and writer Robert Kirkman dished on the finer details of season four.
According to Kirkman, while the prison will remain the primary setting for the next season, new showrunner Scott Gimple will be bringing us something vastly different from what we’ve seen in the past. Ideally, there will be more people and more conflict on the way and some new characters will be introduced, but Kirkman described season 4 to IGN as:
“A bigger group brings with it bigger problems. They are certainly going to need a lot more resources, and they already have a lot of rebuilding to do, just from the things that happened in this battle between Woodbury and the prison. I don’t think there’s going to be a shortage of conflict and danger coming into the fourth season, despite the fact that they are still in the prison…
I’ll say that there are a lot of familiar elements that are remaining. Michonne is still around, Rick and his group are still in the prison, the Governor’s still out there… so there are a lot of things that are carrying over from Season 3 to Season 4, but I can’t stress how different things are going to be.
There are going to be some radical changes to those elements that are going to bring in a lot of new storytelling. While [Season 4] does seem somewhat familiar, it’s going to be vastly different from Season 3.”
The promise of “radical changes” is nothing new. The same thing was promised previously with season 3 and it felt like everything peaked at the mid-season finale. Although, since they’ve branched off from what readers of The Walking Dead comic already know, the material that’s developed will be original and unexpected, just how everyone wants their dramatic television series these days.
As long as Kirkman and company can step up to meet the expectations of viewers, season four should be an astounding success (knock on wood).
Source: Blastr
Nerd Bastards’ resident Game of Thrones addict Matthew Jackson got an early look at the highly-anticipated return of HBO’s fantasy epic. So, what’d he think? Read on!
As nerds, we connect to fictional personalities in a way “normal” people often look at as oddly serious, if not downright creepy. I’m not saying we don’t understand the difference between fantasy and reality – I’m merely pointing out that many of us are creative, sensitive people. Well-crafted imaginary characters often resonate deeply with us, and their losses can be quite harrowing. While I’m sure there are a few folks out there who’d love to re-enact key scenes from Misery with, let’s say, Joss Whedon (I’m half convinced he’s only bringing back Agent Coulson for S.H.I.E.L.D so he can slaughter him in an even more traumatizing manner), most of us stick to bitching and moaning on the Internet, threatening to boycott the shows in question, and then coming back for more next week.
But however much outrage and despair they may inspire, character deaths are often some of the most memorable moments on television – and feature some of the best writing and performances as well. Sure, there’s no shortage of poorly thought out, bullshit deaths, but they’re for another list. Get out your hankies, my nerdy brethren and sistren, and prepare to have your hearts kicked in the balls all over again with The Top 10 Saddest, Most Gut Wrenching Deaths in Nerdy Television.
NOTE: As most of you will have assumed simply from the nature of this list, it features spoilers galore. If you haven’t seen one of the shows featured, and wish to feel the full emotional impact of seeing one of its characters snuff it, I advise you to skip the entry in question. Enjoy!
With five decades of history behind it Doctor Who has attained a fan base many franchises can only dream of. One of the reasons for this is, naturally, the amazing writers and their stories. But perhaps just as important is the fans’ tendency to latch onto and love their own Doctor. With the 50th-anniversary episode on its way you’d think Steve Moffat‘s first priority would be to grab up every Doctor still kicking and get them involved, right?
David Tennant, more affectionately known as the Tenth Doctor, had previously stated his involvement in the upcoming anniversary episode. And why wouldn’t he? There is, after all, a half human, half time lord version of himself living on an alternate Earth. But even though David has spoken openly about being involved, he now maintains that he has heard nothing about appearing in the show. In a recent interview with Time Out London he stated that he was “beginning to give up hope that anything’s going to happen” and would find it odd if he was excluded from this year’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations.
I’d find it weird too; Tennant was the second Doctor of the revised series, became highly popular among the fans and is now a part of Doctor Who royality via his marriage to Fifth Doctor Peter Davison‘s daughter. But has he suffered the “Wrath of Moffat”?
Of course, the show runner is quite secretive of his scripts and even when things get leaked they’re not as we hear. What do you think? Is it a case of loose lips twist space and time or is Moffat leaning towards keeping the anniversary a more low key event? Either way you can’t have an Eleven without a Ten – it’s science.
Source: Blastr
A passionate and focused Community community organizer, Catherine Boyd has been mentioned in the New York Daily News, on MTV Geek, and several like sites thanks to the flash mobs and other fan events that she has worked to set up in an effort to bring attention to her favorite show’s perpetual ratings struggle.
Now, in the midst of what may be the show’s deepest struggle, one that isn’t just about ratings, but the very soul of the show, Catherine and her merry band of Community Super-Fans continue doing everything they can to keep the show on air.
In our interview, we ask Catherine why Community inspires her, what she thinks about Dan Harmon’s departure, and the show’s recent struggles.
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