rogin | Game of Thrones 1.05. The lion and the wolf (book spoilerfree edition)

Lots of changes from the books, good changes though!

The opening credits now have the Eyrie in them, which I always thought was one of the most chilling locations of the books, sitting on a peak so high, no army can hope to get even halfway up (no army without dragons, that is, or Bronn's ten men with climbing spikes) and their insanity inducing dungeon cells.

The unhappy hand's tourney is still going on and Ned drops by, seeing how the mountain's victim is prepared for his grave while the king bullies his Lannister squire around. When the tourney starts we get a first good look at Loras Tyrell, who gives Sansa a rose, like in the book, but unlike in the book he makes it clear that it's Renly, sitting directly behind Sansa who he is really interested in.

I love this change from the books they made with Renly and Loras and I'm not even sure I'd really call it change and not just filling in the gaps and putting more emphasis on something that lives more in the subtext in the books (though people who remember the books better than I do tell me Loras and Renly are mentioned textually as well). I remember Loras is mostly being seen through Sansa's eyes in the book as the paragon of knighthood, he's pretty, brave and generally dreamy, but Sansa would never notice him not being in search of a Lady Love.

Then the mountain gets unhorsed by Loras and tries to kill him on the spot but his brother the hound jumps right in and saves him. Love that scene. The seething hate between the two brothers and how Loras graciously gives the victory over to the hound (totally obvious why Sansa thinks he's so dreamy).

Meanwhile Tyrion is on his way to the vale with Catelyn and that horrible bard they pick up on the way. Good thing is that since Catelyn does have some brain between her ears it's hard for her to stay really convinced of Tyrion's guilt in the face of him pointing out the stupidity of arming an assassin with one's own blade and then gorily saving her from an attacking hill person. He also makes friends with Bronn. Looking forward to seeing more of those two together.I love how much they say with looks alone, when Tyrion points out that his pockets are very deep.

Bran gives exposition about geography and is depressed. Theon fucks a whore and does the same (I think you could make a drinking game with the doggy style on this show).

Varys talks to Ned about the dead squire. Ned continues to stumble around. Varys then meets with Magister Illyrio, who's dropped by for a visit. If only I could remember how those bits where in the books but I got lost in all the intrigue. I have to reread the books faster. Arya overhears them hiding in Aerys old dragon skulls.
The Varys goes and meets with Littlefinger. This scene is not in the books either, but it is perfect. It shows exactly who the two major players in King's landing truly are and how you actually play properly if you're not Ned , who is standing there completely out of his element. Varys warns him, Arya warns him, Joren warns him and gives him a total headstart towards the Lannisters, but Ned doesn't manage to make anything off it.

The only thing Ned is good at is keeping to his moral standards and that's not exactly an advantage in the Red Keep. He falls out with Robert over his assassination plans for Dany and quits being the Hand.

They also added a scene in which Cersei and Robert actually talk openly about their marriage. I really like it, it reminds me of "the lion in winter" how they laugh about their loveless marriage and talk politics. I love what they did to Cersei on the show. She might not be nice, but she is smart and it's not hard at all to understand how she became the way she is.

Meanwhile Tyrion and Catelyn reach the Eyrie and meet her sister Lyssa Arryn who is clearly over the brink of madness and busy raising yet another awful princeling. The Eyrie with it's sky cells and the moon door is full of creepy awesomeness. Catelyn realizes that her sister might not be exactly a save person to be around. Just like Ned, she is a bit too slow with those things, but I love the sideways glances she exchanges with Tyrion in throne room.

Ned has the sense to want leave King's landing but Littlefinger keeps him with more information about Robert's byblows. He still hasn't caught on to the incest though. And since he did simply not react to the fact that Cat took Tyrion he's completely unprepared when Jaimie hunts him down with thirty men, kills his three (including Jory, who is stabbed by Jaimie himself, despite them having such a nice talk a few episodes ago), injures him and rides away to get Tyrion. Don't mess with the Lannister brothers.

There's no Jon and no Dany in this episode.There will be next episode though and I'm looking forward to Jane Espeson being part of that writing team.