It’s March 1, 2013, which means it’s almost March 31, 2013, which means Game of Thrones is almost back in the binoculars of the face, our eyes, which means…I have to change my pants. (Note: next time you put on clothes, do so while listening to the Game of Thrones theme song; you’ll feel like a KING.) So far, we’ve seen an awesome poster, epic trailer (with a new one set to premiere this weekend), and gigantic dragon on the side of a building, and last night, HBO released the season three episode titles. Like Jon Snow, they’re emo as F*CK.
Ep. 301 – Valar Dohaeris
Ep. 302 – Dark Wings, Dark Words
Ep. 303 – Walk of Punishment
Ep. 304 – And Now His Watch is Ended
Ep. 305 – Kissed by Fire
Ep. 306 – The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most
Ep. 307 – The Bear and the Maiden Fair
Ep. 308 – The Sharp Hint of New Tears
Ep. 309 – The Rains of Castamere
Ep. 310 – Mhysa (Via)
OK, I lied. Episodes 306 and 308 are still unnamed; “The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most” and “The Sharp Hint of New Tears” are actually Dashboard Confessional song titles, but really, can’t you see “Dark Wings, Dark Words” cut into someone’s wrists? “The Rains of Castamere,” however, is still badass.
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The title of Episode 9 tells us a lot…
/pompous book reader
Its going to be really hard to watch…
That will quite possibly be one of the best episodes of television we’ll ever see, though. And more importantly, I get to watch friends’/family’s reactions to it in real time, come May.
But still, yes, definitely hard to watch.
SPOILERS
I have to say, if you read ASoS carefully, there are plenty of hints; like RoBo sending troops to Duskendale(?) and leaving a selected rear guard, or the speech (“well spoken, words don’t suffice”) right before the event. In contrast, Ned Stark’s execution was a real surprise, didn’t see that coming. I wonder how they will handle this in the show.
That said, compared to the first three books which have this huge suspenses (which makes them so TV friendly), the last two … meh. More cliffhangers then a soap opera, what will B&W do with those?
I’m fond of AFFC, I feel GRRM pulls off the idea well, of the tensions cooling down in the aftermath of the war before ratcheting up again as the Others and Daenerys begin their invasions. And personally, Ned’s death was pretty apparent well before it occurs, it was built up to quite well, just like the RW was. I had the misfortune to know about both events before reading the respective books that contain them, though.
I also like parts of AFFC, particularly the politicking stuff in KL (although IMO Cersei is a bit too dumbed down), or the Vale’s Protector explaining the Game, or the new player (HS), or the appearance of Marwyn.
I also liked parts of ADWD (esp. northern story lines), but the Essos parts … *shudders*
But both books lack the big bang. Since GRRMs original plan was jumping 5 years ahead, it ain’t a surprise that they are fillers, but I wonder if they can translate them into a good TV show.
I can never dislike AFFC specifically because of Cersei. She’s one of my absolute favorite characters, was remarkably compelling, and I sometimes regret that we never get her POV before she’d lost all traces of remaining sanity. And speaking of that, that’s always been my general defense of her behaving more ‘stupidly’ in AFFC. She is very clearly conveyed as having completely lost it in the wake of the trauma in her son’s death, and her whole spiral into failure in AFFC is the result of that. That was the point of her recklessness, but I get how it can come off as just plain stupidity.
It’s been so long since I read the books I’ve almost completely forgotten all but the biggest plot points (JOFFFFREEEEEYYY) so I’m looking forward to watching this season without going, “Huh? Where was that in the book?”
Same way for me lisa, I was actually wrapping up the books (to date) as Season 2 aired so I am all mixed up on everything, but I think it will allow me to enjoy the show more this way
Really? Valar Dohaeris so soon?
I’d presume they’re doing that simply because the second season finale leads into that as a follow-up title so well. Arya’s departure will still surely not be until late/the end of season four.
Shouldn’t that be the end of 3/beginning of 4?
Hef: Storm of Swords will take place over the entirety of seasons three and four. The writers/showrunners knew they couldn’t condense that book into only ten episodes. The entire story of Robb and Catelyn, ending with episode 9, will be covered in this first half so that the fourth season isn’t overloaded. And likewise, the Oberyn story/most of the Lannister stuff will be covered by season four.
Yeah, I just don’t know what they would do with that title to have it make sense, because you don’t find out that the companion phrase is “valar dohaeris” until Arya boards the ship, right? It’s been awhile since I’ve read/even talked about A Storm of Swords.
Jaqen told her at the end of the second book, and in the second season finale, that she had to say “Valar Dohaeris” when the time was right. This was before he changed faces, of course.
That Bear is going to totally ruin the Maiden Fair.
Especially if somebody swapped him out with a radioactive bear.
I am so looking forward to being able to look below the SPOILER line in the discussion of the episodes this season (finished reading 5th book last month) …
I will almost be able to do that; hopefully by the 3rd or 4th episode
/book 5 due here March 5th.
If someone had taken a picture of my reaction to episode 9′s title, the caption would be “ZOOOOOOOOOOOOMG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEE.”
i wished this show didnt take so long to film and stuff. i’m just so damn greedy. i know good things take time but sheesh.
now i have to work on not dying before and during season 3. or does hell have an hbo package i imagine it does right? if not i’m sure i can illegally download it down there
Episode 2 is already up?
[youtu.be]
I thought GRRM’s episode was titled Chains (3×7)
He had announced that it was retitled again on his hilariously-designed livejournal a few days back, but decided to let HBO announce the new one.