Episode 7: The Game Is On!

Oh also, what is the guy who plays the man in the Kings court who owns the whorehouse been in before?

Still really enjoying it.

The imp is by far my favorite character

I like it, but I do think there is starting to be too much nakedness....Also, it's a bit sick and pervy. I find it uncomfortable viewing, at times.

The faux-lesbian scene in this weeks episode was well past the line of good taste and into "for the sake of it" territory, IMO.

Who and who? I don't recall any faux lesbianism until book 3 or 4.

The scene was:


(this is a very minor spoiler, with no significant plot details)

Why would they even be doing that?

See: Fantasy novel.

Shrug, you're the expert mate

The faux-lesbian scene in this weeks episode was well past the line of good taste and into "for the sake of it" territory, IMO.

He's my favourite character in the books.

I still haven't bloody watched this. I assume I'll be waiting for the DVD boxset

Yeah, it's this sort of thing that gets on my nerves. See also: the Dothraki, and the previously mentioned Fat People = Useless And/Or Morally Bankrupt idiocy. Like I said, in general I'm finding it really entertaining but there's enough stupid exploitative reactionary shit (and enough WALLS OF EXPOSITION) to stop me wholehartedly loving it.

Just torrent it?

See also: the Dothraki

I just watch some of it and think "Wow, whoever wrote this had real issues." They only seem to do it doggy style, whether they're simulating rape or 'love making' and it's all quite demeaning and there doesn't seem to be any actual need for the constantly aggressive nature of the sex scenes.

your explanation of the plot in that scene (which I've already acknowledged in an early post) in no way justifies the overdone lingering shots of naked flesh and female-tennis-player grunting soundtrack.

vikings. They came in boats, not hordes.

Yeah, it's definitely going for a Deadwood-esque commentary on how sex and sexuality are used to oppress women, but unlike Deadwood it's trying to have its cake and eat it by making the sex scenes titilating for the viewer (as well as repeatedly using sexy-sexy time to EXPOSITION DUMP all over the screen).

My issue with the Dothraki isn't the characters or the obvious Ghengis Khan parallel (blimey, if I had a problem with thinly-veiled metaphor or parallel I wouldn't last long in the fantasy/sci-fi genre!), it's the fact that it's the only place you're seeing non-white characters in the series and they're playing straight to the trope of non-Western people as savages who're "Closer To The Land" than people in more "civilised" cultures. It's tired and cliché and mildly offensive.

If you liken the 7 kingdoms to Europe, then it makes sense no?

They wouldn't have been many non whites in Europe in the Medieval Times!

It's exactly what happened in the book though. I really don't see where the offense can come from here, unless you're looking for it very hard.

Honestly, I don't really care what happens in the book. I'm judging what I've seen, as would the vast majority of the people watching.

I don't see how you can't see why it's a bit offensive, unless you're trying very hard not to understand.

1) It's not medieval Europe, it's a fantasy story.

2) I understand both what the real-world inspiration for the Dothraki is and what their thematic purpose in the story seems to be. But if the only place you're seeing people who aren't white is as part of the group who're are representing the wild, untamed cultural id that, to me, is both a little icky and a lot of a cliché.

No, I can't see why it's offensive.

I've explained it in really small words, chap.

But we've been down this road often enough to know that there's probably no benefit for either of us in belabouring this point any further. So, agree to disagree or whatever.