A Game of Girls on Girls

I just watched the second episode of Game of Thrones, “The Kingsroad,” and thank GOD the writers turned the throwaway line about Daenerys getting “lessons in love” from her Lysene prostitute friend into a whole scene that had two girls petting and riding each other!  Clearly the show is just trying to be authentic for authenticity’s sake.  In medieval times, princesses got sex lessons from prostitutes all the time and the writers and producers are just trying to reflect that reality, doncha know!

*eyeroll*

Just to be clear, I have no problem with viewers enjoying a scene where two pretty women touch each other.  I’m only pointing out the absurdity of the claim that the scene has to, simply has to be there just for the sake of being “authentic” and “gritty” and “real.”  It’s pandering.

I have more thoughts on the episode: – Watching Daenerys struggle to find SOME modicum of power in her terrible situation is difficult to watch.  Fortunately, she manages to find strength and comfort by looking at foreshadowing.  I mean, Chekhov’s gun.  I mean, dragon eggs.

– I think the writers and Michelle Fairley are doing a good job with Catelyn.  She’s not my favorite character, but I deeply empathize with her and appreciate her complexity.  She’s a devoted wife, a devoted mother, and an effective First Lady (so to speak), and yet she resents the hell out of Jon Snow and the show doesn’t shy away from showing how unfair she is to him.  Yes, he’s a symbol of Ned’s only betrayal (not that I think Ned is actually Jon’s father…but more on that later), and yes, it hurts her to see Ned treat his bastard the same way he treats his trueborn children, but it’s not like Jon chose where he came from.  (In the book, there’s also an added layer of resentment because Jon physically resembles Ned more than his trueborn sons do.)

– Nice portrayal of Lannister family dynamics.  To recap: Cersei’s son Joffrey is an evil little shit, but his younger siblings Myrcella and Tommen have somehow turned out to be sweet, good-natured children, and they love their uncle Tyrion.  Cersei and Tyrion loathe each other but tolerate each other’s presence because they both love Jaime, and he loves both of them.

– I don’t know if the show made it clear to non-book readers why the Stark family was split up the way it was.  To recap: Ned left Winterfell because he was called to be the Hand of the King.  Robb stayed behind because he’s almost of age to rule Winterfell, but Catelyn needs to stay with him until he reaches that age.  Rickon stayed with Catelyn because he’s the baby of the family and needs to be with his mother.  Ned took Sansa with him because she’s betrothed to Joffrey, and Arya with the hope that she’ll learn how to be more of a lady in court.  Bran was also supposed to go with them since he’s a nice kid and could smooth over some of the tensions between the Stark and Baratheon children, but Jaime ruined that plan by flinging him out of the window.

– Poll time!  Who’s the bigger asshole – Viserys or Joffrey?

– The Hound is supposed to be terrifying and right now he just looks like a sad sack with a burn on his face.  This does not bode well.

– Poll time!  What was more satisfying – Tyrion slapping Joffrey around, or Arya beating him with a wooden stick?

– I love the bonding between Tyrion and Jon.  Also, Jon is sexy.

– The show HAS to give us flashbacks, right?  Please tell me we’re going to see Jaime kill the Mad King Aerys?  Please tell me we’ll at least get glimpses of Rhaegar Targaryen (Viserys and Dany’s older brother) and Lyanna Stark (Ned’s sister)?  Please tell me that someone will call Jaime “Kingslayer” soon?