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Roller

macrumors 68030
Jun 25, 2003
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I think Emilia Clarke over acts a bit and I find her a bit out of class when compared to the rest of the high quality cast. She narrows her eyes to show her wisdom and courage. That's really all she does. I think that is one role that could have been casted better. Her and Caitlyn Tully.

But, I find the story of her quest to be a bit boring anyway as it tends to just lead to her squinting her eyes and then bringing out the dragon. The battles of the other houses are far more unpredictable.

I think that what you're describing is more under- than overacting. Regardless, her story is what the writers give her, and it's difficult to imagine Dany's dragons not taking a leading role in her conquests. It's also in line with the history of Valyria, where dragons apparently did the same thing. And, to be fair, her elimination of the Dothraki khals was her own doing, with some help from Daario and Jorah.
 

fitshaced

macrumors 68000
Jul 2, 2011
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I think that what you're describing is more under- than overacting. Regardless, her story is what the writers give her, and it's difficult to imagine Dany's dragons not taking a leading role in her conquests. It's also in line with the history of Valyria, where dragons apparently did the same thing. And, to be fair, her elimination of the Dothraki khals was her own doing, with some help from Daario and Jorah.
I can see how it could be considered either under or over acting. It really depends on what you think is appropriate for the situation.

Also, when I was talking about her story, I wasn't blaming her. It's how the story goes. It's just not the most interesting of all the many stories in the series. I think you rushed too quickly to her defence.
 

Roller

macrumors 68030
Jun 25, 2003
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I can see how it could be considered either under or over acting. It really depends on what you think is appropriate for the situation.

Also, when I was talking about her story, I wasn't blaming her. It's how the story goes. It's just not the most interesting of all the many stories in the series. I think you rushed too quickly to her defence.

Perhaps. I agree that Emilia Clarke isn't the most talented actor on GoT, at least based on what I've seen of her. I haven't watched Emilia in other venues, though I've read strongly positive reviews about her performance in Me Before You. As for Dany, I wish her character provided more depth for Emilia to work with. But I think that we got a hint of that in the scene with Tyrion in episode 10 where she appointed him Hand of the Queen.
 

ActionableMango

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Sep 21, 2010
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Dany is a bit mixed as a leader.

On the positive side she has offered quarter to her enemies, freed slaves all up and down Essos, tried to end the violence of the fighting pits, seems to genuinely care about the people under her rule in Meereen, and talks about making the world better instead of worse.

On the negative side Tyrion seems to see a bit of the Mad King in her. She has talked about her desire to kill those who stand in the way of her birthright to the throne, how she plans to crumble every building in Westeros, and of "breaking the wheel". Her only goal for marriage is that which will increase her personal power. She leads a horse army whose way of life is raiding others (while at the same time telling the Iron Islanders they have to give up raiding as their way of life). She has sided with leaders whose primary motivation is the petty desire to punish the Seven Kingdoms for disrespecting the Iron Islands (Greyjoy), or who are willing to drag their people to war for personal revenge (Martell and Tyrell).

So my feeling is that she doesn't seem either straight-up decent (like Jon and Sam), nor straight-up bad (like Cercei and Ramsay). She's just another player vying for the iron throne, albeit a powerful one with her dragons, armies, alliances, and advisers.
 
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iLog.Genius

macrumors 601
Feb 24, 2009
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Toronto, Ontario
Dany is a bit mixed as a leader.

On the positive side she has offered quarter to her enemies, freed slaves all up and down Essos, tried to end the violence of the fighting pits, seems to genuinely care about the people under her rule in Meereen, and talks about making the world better instead of worse.

On the negative side Tyrion seems to see a bit of the Mad King in her. She has talked about her desire to kill those who stand in the way of her birthright to the throne, how she plans to crumble every building in Westeros, and of "breaking the wheel". Her only goal for marriage is that which will increase her personal power. She leads a horse army whose way of life is raiding others (while at the same time telling the Iron Islanders they have to give up raiding as their way of life). She has sided with leaders whose primary motivation is the petty desire to punish the Seven Kingdoms for disrespecting the Iron Islands (Greyjoy), or who are willing to drag their people to war for personal revenge (Martell and Tyrell).

So my feeling is that she doesn't seem either straight-up decent (like Jon and Sam), nor straight-up bad (like Cercei and Ramsay). She's just another player vying for the iron throne, albeit a powerful one with her dragons, armies, alliances, and advisers.

I think that's why many would like her to sit on the throne - she can be reasoned with. While she has walked that line of good vs. evil, she hasn't crossed it (thanks to Tyrion) and there is still hope that she won't obliterate that line once the throne is within her reach. Also, while I don't condone her destroying all her enemies, at least there's some rationale where she wants to eliminate those who pretty much destroyed the Targaryen population. In contrast, take Cersei. There's almost no reasoning with her - she'll do whatever to retain the throne for herself. With Daenarys, the end game is the throne, it just so happens that those that are in her way are those who pretty much killed her family.
 

ActionableMango

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Sep 21, 2010
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Is Essos historically threatened by the long Winter and the White Walkers?

There is no land bridge, they seem to have no history of anything needed to combat the White Walkers (no equivalents of a wall, Night's Watch, dragon glass, Valerian blades, etc.), and the White Walkers don't seem to be boat savvy or they'd just go around the wall.

I guess I bring this up because White Walkers are presented as a threat to all things living, yet Essos seems to be completely immune, protected by the Narrow Sea and unbothered by Winter throughout history. That made me curious if maybe you book readers knew anything about how Winter affects or does not affect Essos.
 
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Channan

macrumors 68030
Mar 7, 2012
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Is Essos historically threatened by the long Winter and the White Walkers?

There is no land bridge, they seem to have no history of anything needed to combat the White Walkers (no equivalents of a wall, Night's Watch, dragon glass, Valerian blades, etc.), and the White Walkers don't seem to be boat savvy or they'd just go around the wall.

I guess I bring this up because White Walkers are presented as a threat to all things living, yet Essos seems to be completely immune, protected by the Narrow Sea and unbothered by Winter throughout history. That made me curious if maybe you book readers knew anything about how Winter affects or does not affect Essos.
The White Walkers have never had a chance to cross the Narrow Sea. They travelled south once during a winter that lasted an entire generation, but they were defeated and driven back up north where they've been for eight thousand years. I imagine if they were able to conquer (?) Westeros, they could freeze the Narrow Sea and just walk across.
 
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Huntn

macrumors Core
Original poster
May 5, 2008
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The Misty Mountains
The White Walkers have never had a chance to cross the Narrow Sea. They travelled south once during a winter that lasted an entire generation, but they were defeated and driven back up north where they've been for eight thousand years. I imagine if they were able to conquer (?) Westeros, they could freeze the Narrow Sea and just walk across.

I always assumed since they come forth with Winter, they required a cold climate. It's hot over in Mereen. ;)
 

Channan

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Mar 7, 2012
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I always assumed since they come forth with Winter, they required a cold climate. It's hot over in Mereen. ;)
They also bring cold with them. They can freeze things. If they required cold weather, an invasion in the south wouldn't matter much because they'd just have to leave when spring came. :p
 
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Roller

macrumors 68030
Jun 25, 2003
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Guys, has season 7 arrived yet? :(

I just read that it'll be delayed, ostensibly so that shooting is pushed to later in the year. After all, Winter is here.

I suspect it'll be May. Apparently they can wait until then and still qualify for Emmy awards.
 

iLog.Genius

macrumors 601
Feb 24, 2009
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Toronto, Ontario
I just read that it'll be delayed, ostensibly so that shooting is pushed to later in the year. After all, Winter is here.

I suspect it'll be May. Apparently they can wait until then and still qualify for Emmy awards.

It's actually quite clever that they're actually waiting for more intense winter weather to shoot. I mean why not, winter is here. Go big or go home!
 

nj-morris

macrumors 68000
Nov 30, 2014
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UK
I just read that it'll be delayed, ostensibly so that shooting is pushed to later in the year. After all, Winter is here.

I suspect it'll be May. Apparently they can wait until then and still qualify for Emmy awards.

Hope it's not as bad as the Sherlock delay
 

ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Sep 21, 2010
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With both Euron and Yara competing to "get boats to Dany", I was confused about how that would work out. Obviously Yara got there first, and had sufficient boats to get Dany's backing for Yara to be queen of the Iron Islands.

But having lost the race for Dany's loyalty, I doubt Euron gave up on the shipbuilding and dreams of power. So depending on how much time has gone by (the show is vague about this), there's probably going to be a brand new navy in Westeros.

I don't see these two navies joining each other. From Euron's point of view, he isn't going to be happy with Dany backing Yara for the throne of the Iron Islands. From Dany's point of view, Euron doesn't have anything she needs any longer. She doesn't need his boats and he's not powerful enough in Westeros for her to pick him for a marriage of political convenience.

So, assuming Euron's navy exists, it seems inevitable that these two navies are headed for conflict with each other.

This makes Euron and Cercei natural allies. Euron will want to defeat Yara in order to keep the Iron Islands. Cercei will want the fleet defeated in order to keep King's Landing.
 

zmunkz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 4, 2007
921
229
Is Essos historically threatened by the long Winter and the White Walkers? ... That made me curious if maybe you book readers knew anything about how Winter affects or does not affect Essos.

Winter is global, but less apparent in the south and east, so I believe Essos has mild winters. The White Walkers were created by the children of the forest in Westeros in response to the First Men landing there, so they have never left that continent.

The other continents are not without their mystery and dangers. Here is a cool article based on book references of Sothoryos: http://us.blastingnews.com/showbiz-...angerous-continent-of-sothoryos-00997119.html

Then in Essos, you have whatever happened / is going on in old Valyria as a potential threat to the area.
 

zmunkz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 4, 2007
921
229
You mean the greyscale/stone men?

That, and whatever caused the Doom of Valyria. It is not clear in the story if the destruction was entirely natural, or if it was somehow related to the arrogance and size of the old empire (in which case it might threaten anyone else trying to re-establish regime there).
 

iLog.Genius

macrumors 601
Feb 24, 2009
4,925
479
Toronto, Ontario
That, and whatever caused the Doom of Valyria. It is not clear in the story if the destruction was entirely natural, or if it was somehow related to the arrogance and size of the old empire (in which case it might threaten anyone else trying to re-establish regime there).

You might be a bit more knowledgable than I am since I haven't touched the books. The only think I really know of them is what was shown in the episode when they attacked Jorah and Tyrion. I'm also pretty sure the story behind Valyria was never really explained in the show or nothing I could remember.
 

impulse462

macrumors 68020
Jun 3, 2009
2,097
2,878
there are too many characters on this show for anyone to show any depth in acting ability. i don't think emilia clarke acts that well, but i think its a writing issue which gives no depth to her character. she hasn't gone through any character development the past seasons and i'm not sure why i should care about her. despite all of that i still find her kind of cool and i'm not sure why

the lannisters all act relatively well though (tyin, tyrion, jaimie, cersei). they are definitely more established actors.

but the writing is just not there as opposed to a show like daredevil or sherlock where we have only 3 or 4 /main/ characters where actors/actresses are given plenty to work with and adapt to their unique style, taking the script into account. of course the two sherlock actors are brilliant and I don't think theres a comparison between them and anyone in game of thrones.
 

zmunkz

macrumors 6502a
Nov 4, 2007
921
229
there are too many characters on this show for anyone to show any depth in acting ability.

Fair point. Many characters get a couple minutes a week, tops. Not much time to try for subtly or depth. I think Danny gets a lot more screen time than most, though, but it still isn't much.

she hasn't gone through any character development the past seasons

I disagree there. Her arc this season was, will she become the Mad Queen, or a great ruler? She certainly wavered on the line several times, crossing it in places, but I think in the final episode she accepts Tyrion's judgement and repudiates her darker side.
 

impulse462

macrumors 68020
Jun 3, 2009
2,097
2,878
Fair point. Many characters get a couple minutes a week, tops. Not much time to try for subtly or depth. I think Danny gets a lot more screen time than most, though, but it still isn't much.



I disagree there. Her arc this season was, will she become the Mad Queen, or a great ruler? She certainly wavered on the line several times, crossing it in places, but I think in the final episode she accepts Tyrion's judgement and repudiates her darker side.

this teetering question that you're asking really shows there has been no development at all. can you say that any of dany's positions on anything or actions have changed from when she was first with the dothraki? she changed in season 1. after that its the same idealistic BS. and i'm the most idealistic person ever. but for the purpose of advancing an arc she acts the same way. the tyrion thing is a good observation, but i don't think it holds merit because she's shown similar actions with barristan and tyrion before and yet she still tries to do the same things

compare this to sansa who has turned from a stary-eyed princess wannabe to a real ruler. or arya who has turned into a cold assassin. or jaime who has gone from someone with tremendous hubris and ego to someone with more compassion and thoughtfulness.
 
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ActionableMango

macrumors G3
Sep 21, 2010
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compare this to sansa who has turned from a stary-eyed princess wannabe to a real ruler

I think she's gone from stary-eyed princess wannabe to a realist. But ruler? I disagree. I don't think she's ruled much of anything.

Jon led the army to retake Winterfell. In the war planning meeting nobody even asked for Sansa's opinion. The Wildings are loyal to Jon and nobody else, because he saved them. The Houses of the North declared Jon as King of the North.

She doesn't seem to be aspiring to rule, either. On the wall at Winterfell, she said Jon should have their parent's room, a symbolic gesture for his lordship and not hers.

Perhaps she will rule in the future. Littlefinger seems to have plans for her to rule the North, or at least that's what he tells her. But for right now? Right now she's buried pretty deep in Jon's enormous shadow.
 
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