Game of Thrones. Season 2, Episode 6: "The Old Gods and the New"

By this time, fans of the book should've already accepted that the TV series is a different ball game. Creators David Benioff and DB Weiss have done such a great job so far with the adaptation that sooner or later, the time must come when the movie parts ways with the manuscript. Book fans might be especially displeased with the changes in the names, but wasn't it Shakespeare who said, "that which we call a rose / by any other name would smell as sweet"¹? Some fans would disagree though, especially the ones who've already conditioned themselves to believe that in this series, Oona Chaplin stars as Jeyne Westerling and not as Talisa Maegyr.

HBO

If you force it, "Talisa Maegyr" is an anagram of "Jeyne Westerling".

We see what might be the promise of good acting from Isaac Hempstead Wright, who plays little Lord Bran Stark, although that good acting just might involve a lot of crying.

HBO

Now there's a pretty young thing.

And we also get to see for the first time the Wildling Ygritte, who, with all her bump-n-grind tactics, might actually be good for Jon Snow. And thankfully, she doesn't mar her screen debut with the words "you know nothing, Jon Snow", a phrase overdone to kingdom come in the books.

HBO

Bomp 'n groind. In da bleedin' narth.

And speaking of the books, another deviation from the original storyline comes in the form of dragons. But I don't think there's any chance of having the next episode totally devoted to finding the stolen dragons, like CSI: Westeros or something like that.

HBO

It could be something like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
only they could call it Who Stole Dany's Dragons?

I've also made another observation about the opening credits, particularly with the title that reads "Based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin". I used to think it was matched to a particular visual, which used to be the horse dicks in Season 1, and the city of Qarth in Season 2. Well, it's actually not tied to any visual. It's tied to the music. GRRM's name appears everytime the music reaches the part with what sounds like a chorus of human voices. I'd give myself a pat on the back for noticing that, if only it weren't too geeky (noticing it, that is, not patting myself).

Blogger

"You are correct, sir. But I
prefer the horse dick theory."

Also, I think the show's creators have included a special Easter egg in this episode, for all the older kids who would've wanted to see nudity in the Harry Potter films. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Nymphadora Tonks: naked.

HBO

Imagine the fan porn.

¹ William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet. 2, 2, 45-46.