Game of Thrones Round Table: "Lord Snow"

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After giving our TV Fanatics a few days to digest this week's Game of Thrones episode (and our Round Table panelists time to respond), we're back to dissect "Lord Snow."

Although our fresh perspective from Dan is gone this week, there were more than enough new scenes for our seasoned "A Song of Ice and Fire" fanatics to discuss!  Let's jump right in.

1. Favorite Game of Thrones quote from the episode?

Carissa P: "War was easier than daughters."

James H: "What about you?  What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?" Tyrion: "Do Dornish girls count?"

Jim G: "Starks: quick to action, slow to think."

Eric H: When reading the books I was a sucker for all the "king this, the hand that" quotes, so I'll give it to Jaime with "The King shits and the hand wipes."

2. Welcome to King's Landing!  Was it like you pictured things so far?

Carissa P: No. I sometimes wonder if my brain just doesn't retain certain things that it feels are unimportant. I have not given my brain that option, but it seems to make use of  it nonetheless. Palm trees at King's Landing? No. I just didn't imagine that. The inside of the castle feels right, however.

Jim G: Actually it's pretty close to how I imagined it would look. The entire production has done an amazing job with the sets and coloring.. Compare the browns of the scenes with Drogo to the greys/white of The Wall.

James H: So far.

Eric H: Agreed with Carissa on the palm trees throwing me off, but the rest of it has been perfect.  I can't wait to see all the other nooks and crannies as we join Arya exploring things.

3. Littlefinger, Renly, Old Nan, Varys, Syrio and so many other new characters introduced!  Favorite new casting?

Carissa P: Littlefinger. He's a feisty one, and his past love of Catelyn should be useful to Ned. He seems humorous, and that keep needs more humor and less Lannister smugness.

James H: Having seen the first three episodes some time ago, I've always thought Littlefinger looked exactly as I imagined him to be.

Jim G: It's a tie.. I love Old Nan and Syrio is like the book come alive.

Eric H: Really guys?  Littlefinger is terrible.  The only more awkward, terrible actor during those counsel meetings was Renly!  But I am loving Syrio.   He was everything I pictured from the books.

4. So many new scenes!  Ned and Jaime's confrontation in the throne room.  Jaime and Cersei sharing concerns.  Cersei controlling Joffrey.  Robert and Barristan exchanging war stories.  Thoughts?

James H: They made no secret that they had to take "some liberties" with the script and the sequence of events.  You can see where they combine different parts of the book and shuffled things around.  I get it.  You have... like... ten episodes to tell a MASSIVE story with so much interaction.  I've never been a "page for page" sort of person, so, I don't really mind it.  The point to me is the overall story.  My main gripe is- yes- STILL the direwolves.  For being as far into the story as they are, they haven't even tried to develop the six of them as characters... which... is odd to me.  I remember being pretty pissed off when Ned killed Lady in the book.  They've, at least, attempted to show how protective the wolves are of the kids between Summer (who's name, by-the-way, I'm pretty sure we still don't know at this point) ripping that guys throat out and Nymeria attacking Joffery... but, I still don't really feel it

Carissa P: I loved the scene between Ned and Jaime. Oh how I wish I could hate Jaime. But, he is a very hot bad man. I wonder why it took so long for Cersei to express her concerns at Jaime tossing Bran out the window. That was months ago. She just now has the urge to ask what he was thinking? Are the Lannister's mentally stable? Bringing me to Joffrey. I do not know what the future holds for him, but I hope it's a fate worse than death. Spoiled rotten, childish, no manners or compassion. There is no reason for him to be alive. Robert was in quite the mood, wasn't he? Sarcastic and mean. More king-like than we've seen him so far. I liked him talking down to Jaime and calling him kingslayer, even though Jaime took it with a smirk on his face. You have to give the kings of old credit, they didn't shy away from battle like our own leaders today. They just jumped right in.

Jim G: Let's not forget Old Nan telling Bran about how winter is coming. That was featured in the trailer(s). She is pretty powerful in her warnings.

Eric H: I'm loving the new scene additions, including ones that couldn't ever have happened in the book as they involve only non-POV characters.  My favorite of the new scenes?  Cersei and Joffrey.  It shows a perspective into the mother-son I haven't seen after reading the first book.

5. Since they decided to skip it in the show, decide how Catelyn made it to King's Landing!

James H: She FEDEX'd herself in a box.  Overnight.  COD.

Carissa P:  Her caravan wasn't as needy and they traveled longer than two hours a day, as I assumed the royal party did. :-)

Jim G: If we are going to talk about things they skipped from the book, how about the Dire Wolves? Where is Ghost with Jon at the Wall? Where is GreyMist with Rob at Winterfel? They made a point of including them early on and now --- nadda!

Eric H: I'm going to assume she rode one of the dire wolves in.  Much like her journey, those things are so fast you don't even see them!  For episodes at a time!  (See what I did there?)

Eric Hochberger is the programmer of TV Fanatic, so please forgive his mediocre writing. His programming is far better. Follow him on Twitter and/or email him. Just don't request threaded comments. They're coming.

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Game of Thrones Season 1 Episode 3 Quotes

Lord Varys: Lord Stark.
Ned: Lord Varius.
Lord Varys: I was grievously sorry to hear of your troubles on the Kingsroad. We are all praying for Prince Joffrey's full recovery.
Ned: Shame you didn't say a prayer for the butcher's son.

Ned: Glad to see your protecting the throne.
Jaime: This sturdy old thing? How many kings asses have polished it, I wonder. And, what's the line? The King shits, and the Hand wipes.