HBO adaptation of Game of Thrones - will this be just for nerds? (NO SPOILERS PLEASE)

I don't see Varys' testimony as a power play so much as self-preservation. He wanted to help Ned the way he wants to help Tyrion, but only behind the scenes. Once their problems get too public, he joins the dominant side.

varys is the best. would say roose has a slight irish softness to his accent but it's fairly RPish, don't know what gyac is on about

Shae was pretty obviously angry with Tyrion but clearly being threatened / leant on by the most powerful people in King's Landing. Remember they thought they'd got her on the boat and someone clearly stopped that.

Trial scene was awesome, who didn't feel Tyrion's fury at that point? The Theon story on the other hand is the most boring that doesn't involve Bran.

The Iron Bank scene seemed to be foreshadowing that Tywin will die at some point soon and then the Lannisters are boned, especially without Tyrion around.

Ok but RP has a specific meaning, it doesn't just mean "generic posh accent". McElhatton sounds posh, but posh from South Dublin, not David Cameron.

Varys has actually been clear on this point in the series, I thought? He's a foreign spymaster who relies on his information being credible to survive, and he has literally no reason whatsoever to take Tyrion's side without putting himself in the firing line. He's always been upfront about the fact that he has to rely on himself.

iirc Varys was the only witness to tell the truth and hardly a revelatory one (Tyrion demonstrated sympathy for the plight of the Starks clearly enough even before marrying Sansa)

did they imprison Bronn and that's why he wasn't at the trial?

Maybe Bron's lying low to avoid being forced to testify.

Pretty sure that if Tyrion gets out of there then it'll be with Varys's help. The whole thing is basically a battle between Varys and Littlefinger isn't it?

Varys actually walked a very fine line throughout that whole testimony, it was mentioned a couple of episodes ago that Tywin had already got to him, he basically fulfilled the minimum standard for nobbled prosecution witness and no more, and his answer to Tyron's question was highly ambiguous.

I wish Varys was an ILX moderator. He would have created a new thread for each season. He's a details guy.

I have 2 hanging questions about Varys from last episode:
1) did the "unfortunately I remember everything" commment to Tyrion refer to something specific? Trying to remember if Tyrion ever intentionally fucked Varys over. Their last big scene was that weird one where Varys had the evil wizard in a crate. Trying to recall if there's a clue there. Or is it more coded - Varys saying yes, I do remember that you saved King's Landing from invasion and being a right-on Hand of the King, and I can't have you around pulling dope moves like that and messing up my game.

Then again - excellent point that he was truthful and did the bare minimum to stay on Cersei's good side. All he testified to was stuff Tyrion said in front of the whole small council, so if he has to make nice with Tyrion later he can always say he didn't tell them anything he didn't already know.

2) When Varys gestures toward the Iron Throne after saying lack of desire has left him free to pursue other things. I read this as him just saying he's just interested in power and controlling who takes the throne through machinations, not that he has any illusions he could be King himself... that much seems pretty clear. But it does imply a more active role than just self-preservation and allying himself with whoever has the advantage. I think Varys and Littlefinger (in tandem or in opposition) are looking to take the Lannisters out - but neither stands a chance of holding the throne themselves, so who are they looking to put into power when Tommen's head reaches its natural home on the end of a spike?

**Varys didn't tell them anything they (the Small council) didn't already know.

also now that the trial episode has aired, I can link this nonsense.

Oberyn gets better and better with every episode

Seeing a lot of praise for Tyrion's final speech but all it made me think of was this tweet

@AGentleBrees
Harvard Law: Final Exam. 8) If the Judge says "I find the defendant guilty" then you yell "OF BEING INNOCENT" do you think this would work

Or is it more coded - Varys saying yes, I do remember that you saved King's Landing from invasion and being a right-on Hand of the King, and I can't have you around pulling dope moves like that and messing up my game.

I definitely side with this reading more, though I wouldn't say it's coded per se. More like, "You were a decent man, but the tide's against you, and for my own sake, I have to roll with it, to my own chagrin."

oh also - who is the bad man in a castle that Roose is going to use Theon to take out? I'm a bit confused as to Boulton ambitions at this point.

i meant Ramsay, not Roose

I think the exact details don't matter at this point; takeaway is that they want Theon to lead a mission for them.

probably theon's dad.. I can see the boltons trying to carve out a chunk of the north for themselves now that there's a power vacuum

Didn't Roose express the need to gain access to certain areas the iron islands held atm, which is why he was pissed at Ramsey for going as far as flaying Theon? So now Ramsey is going to solve the problem using an undercover Reek instead of a hostage Theon.

Oh, the "certain areas" is moat cailin

Also,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxSXGaH79Yk&feature=youtu.be

did the "unfortunately I remember everything" commment to Tyrion refer to something specific? Trying to remember if Tyrion ever intentionally fucked Varys over. Their last big scene was that weird one where Varys had the evil wizard in a crate. Trying to recall if there's a clue there. Or is it more coded - Varys saying yes, I do remember that you saved King's Landing from invasion and being a right-on Hand of the King, and I can't have you around pulling dope moves like that and messing up my game.

Nah it was more "I do remember it and I regret that I have to fuck you over here. There's a scene from the last season where Varys is saying to one of the Tyrells (I think) that Tyrion is basically the one hope for King's Landing.

Ah here we go:

Varys is later present when the Small Council discusses the Red Wedding. He doesn't bother to hide his disgust when Joffrey announces his intention to serve Robb Stark's severed head to Sansa at his wedding. He also looks visibly nervous when Joffrey lashes out at Tywin and accuses him of hiding in Casterly Rock while Robert Baratheon did all the real work in the War of the Usurper. Later that day, Varys seeks out Shae and tells her that Tyrion is the last hope for the current regime, but Shae is a liability that Tyrion and the realm cannot afford. He offers her a pouch of diamonds with which to start a new life in the Free Cities, but she declines.

BTW why did Ramsay show up to the dungeon covered in blood? Was insinuation that he was into S&M or that he killed the girl

i kind of rolled my eyes at the beginning of that sequence so i went to the kitchen and just assume she was cutting him when i saw him turn up bloody like that.

There was a scene you missed where he slipped on his shirt and fell into a cactus. It was pretty funny.

Sorry, that's "prickle plant" in Westerosi parlance

Scratchthorn

Lord Scratchthorn wasn't in this ep

Hope they include the pie juggling scene from book five though, hands down best scene in the books

GUYS THERE IS A SPOILER THREAD ELSEWHERE.

Oh c'mon when Lord Scratchthorn drops the pie and out comes the shadow kitten my jaw dropped and I cried

Ser Pounce keeps trying to eat Lord Scratchthorn to settle his stomach. Then throws up on the bathroom mat ON PURPOSE I swear.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/13/game-of-thrones-sibel-kekilli-discusses-shae-s-treachery-at-the-trial-of-tyrion-lannister.html

I'm rewatching season one again and just picked up on that Jora is the night watch Lord Commander's son.
whoa

Taunts by the Meerenese champion:

Byjan vavi demble eva o, trezy eme verdje espo jimi! Oa mysa iles me nýnyghi, si oa kiba tuziles espo tomistos!
“I fart in your general direction, son of a window-dresser! Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries!”

Já si hojgá oa gundja, trezy eme mero dovodedha!
“Go and boil your bottom, son of a silly person!”

Kiman nya másina orvorta va oi sodjistos!
“I wave my private parts at your aunties!”

Do eban av kimívagho dombo, o doru-borto pame espo gruzi evi havor espo begistos!
“I don’t want to talk to you no more you empty-headed animal food trough wiper!”

Ghorgan ji pungo va o, nynta Dare espo Zaldrizes, o si une oi dovodedhi, Vesterozi azzzzzantys.
“I blow my nose at you, so-called Dragon Queen, you and all your silly Westerosi kaniggets!”

littlefinger confirmed for switching accents mid sentence. homeboy sounds confused about how he should talk

scene hadn't ended as I was typing. ick times a million

Yeah that was definitely an icky moment, but this is a show that really traffics in icky moments.

I was glad to see Hot Pie again. Sort of comforting to know that in the midst of all this blood and chaos, he's just been chilling at the tavern making kidney pies and pontificating about gravy.

Did they change the actor for the Mountain?

Who was that dude?

They've had three actors play the part of the Mountain now.

Brienne made a joke!

Really?
This was the last one I remember

http://media.tumblr.com/34868e8724fe76a2197c0ef2c355faba/tumblr_inline_mgskyabpT81r8lpsh.jpg

He was #1. Number two was a really skinny guy. Now we're on the third.

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120402121948/gameofthrones/images/0/06/Gregor_Viewer%27s_Guide.jpg

this was season 2 gregor

Third guy is way too young to be believable as the Hound's older brother...

Second guy was just way too skinny.

First guy was perfect in every way. Should have brought him back...

third gregor

http://37.media.tumblr.com/98f044278c4b3894dadf2efbd1c5881e/tumblr_n2t2r52JI61rtj3g0o1_1280.jpg

Two weeks!

Well played, Veg.

:D