[TV] HBO Game of Thrones - Page 67

Hated
Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark:
Character: The actress dialed up Sansa's shallowness and bitchiness to an off-putting extreme: from the books, my impression of Sansa was fundamentally sweet: with this Sansa, I just wanted to slap her.
Looks:
The actress looked at least four years older than she is supposed to be (she identifies her age as 13: she looks at least 17):
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I also didn't find her all that pretty (as Sansa is supposed to be) (even if she looks good in the picture above): her constant poutiness was rather unattractive.

Disliked

Joseph Mawle as Benjen Stark: The constant air of suppressed hilarity with which the actor played this role did not sit well with me. The First Ranger of the Night's Watch should have at least a little gravity.
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Neutral
Roger Allam as Magister Illyrio
I don't really have much to say about this performance either positive or negative. If there was one slight thing I'd criticize, it would be that even his casual speech sounded a touch oratorical rather than natural. Other than that, the performance was fine.
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Kit Harington as Jon Snow
Character and looks: As Harington played him, Jon Snow was a bit more soulful than I would have preferred, but other than that, I had no particular problems with the performance.
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Richard Madden as Robb Stark:
Nothing about his performance stood out to me. In fact, the first time I watched this, I kept confusing Robb with Theon Greyjoy...
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Liked
Alfie Allen as Theon Greyjoy:
Character: Madden's Robb came across as callous, callow, and full of himself.
...Didn't really look like the character I expected, but probably most of that relates to the insufferable smirk he wore throughout the episode.

When I wrote the above, I was confusing Alfie Allen's Theon with Robb. All the characteristics that I didn't like when I thought they were depicting Robb are spot on for Theon. The smirk in particular is perfect.
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Looks: I'd have expected Theon to be thinner and sallower. I also pictured him with dark hair, though I can't remember whether the books said anything about that.

Sean Bean as Eddard "Ned" Stark:
Character: This sort of tragic hero is bread and butter to Sean Bean, I think (maybe I'm judging too much off the one other role I've seen him in). He does a nice job of tailoring his performance to the character here, conveying Eddard Stark's gravitas, sense of responsibility, and love of his family. It was a very good performance. The only reason I listed this as "like" instead of "really like" is the actor's

Looks: This is not the actor's fault, but I would have preferred Eddard Stark to be a little gaunter and grimmer-looking. Winter is coming, after all. Sean Bean is just a touch too...well-fed.
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Still, a very good performance.

Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark:
Character: Fairley's understated performance gave me a great sense of Lady Stark: unassuming, staying in the background, but very much aware of the world around her, concerned about her family and quietly strong-willed.
Looks: Fairley's looks were a good fit for Lady Stark: worn, yet retaining a trace of beauty.
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Isaac Hempstead-Wright as Bran Stark:
Character: High-spirited and likable, just like in the books.
Looks: Adorable.
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Mark Addy as King Robert Baratheon:
Character: The actor did a pretty good job of portraying Robert's bluffness.
Looks: Not as fat and run to seed as I'd have liked, but at least the actor was portly.
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Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister:
Character: Did a creditable job with the whole ice queen thing.
Looks: Beautiful. On a different note, this is a minor quibble, but Cersei is supposed to be a natural blonde. Why don't they ever remember to dye the eyebrows? (The same quibble applies to the Targaryens.)
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Maisie Williams as Arya Stark
Character and looks: Maisie Williams' Arya captures the stubbornness and independence of the books' Arya, but she's a lot cuter, both in looks (in the books, Arya is described as "horse-faced") and in personality.
+ Show Spoiler [judge for yourself] +In this case, I think the differences improve the character. I hated Arya in the books; I actually like this one.

Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont
This is only a bit part so far, but I thought that Glain looked the part to a tee: weathered, the sort of person people would instinctively trust, but withal very reserved.
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Really liked
Rob Ostlere as Ser Waymar Royce (first guy to get killed):
This was just a bit part, but the actor nailed it.
Character: Supercilious.
Looks: Priggish.
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Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister:
Character: The actor did an excellent job of conveying Jaime's combination of wryness, devil-may-care, and borderline amorality.
Looks: He could have been a little more golden, but that's a small criticism.
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Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen:
Character: Fragility with a hidden core of toughness.
Looks: Delicate beauty.
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Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo
Character: OK, Momoa gets off easy on this one, since pretty much all he has to do is look fierce and not speak. Drogo is the strong silent type, and besides, he can't speak English. I still love this casting choice because of his
looks: I don't care if I've never seen one before--Jason Momoa is the very model of a modern Dothraki general.
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Loved
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister:
Character: Peter Dinklage played this role to perfection, conveying cleverness, swagger, and just a hint of bitter. He stole every scene he appeared in.
Looks: He's a dwarf isn't he? It's impressive enough that the actor playing Tyrion is a dwarf and so good at playing the part. If he's a bit too handsome for The Imp, who's complaining?
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Harry Lloyd as Viserys Targaryen
This sums up my feelings very nicely.
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Too bad he isn't a very long lasting character.

she started killing people

Surely.... you only wanted to cut my meat

the most popular character in this poll is being decapited

There's a certain scene with Dinklage and Dance that I really, really hope we will get to see in a few years time.

3/5 of the top chosen actors who "best fit their role" will be out because their characters will be dead by the end of the first season

I hope it has the same shocking effect it had on me when I read the books. At first i raged, but then I loved it because it makes AGOT a lot less predictable than most other stories I've watched/read.