(I'm starting  a new series, or to say more accurately, I'm creating a new label for the posts in which I ramble psychotically try to explain movies. It's called DECIPHERED and by clicking on it you can check out my other attempts at analyzing films)
One of the highest compliments I can give to psychological thriller, a gigantic puzzle of a movie is that I read about it extensively after seeing it, trying to put it together. I think it's now been 4 days I read about this one. And I'm still confused about some things.

People are weak. That was my first thought after seeing Denis Villeneuve's new movie Enemy. Well, to be fair that was my first thought after my brain dealt with the shock and horror of that final scene. Some call it the scariest final shot of any movie ever made. While I'd say that's en exaggeration, it's definitely out there near the top of the list.

Enemy follows an ordinary teacher Adam Bell (Jake Gyllenhaal). Adam teaches history and leads a pretty simple life. He works, he meets with his girlfriend (it seems all they do is have sex) and he sits around in his apartment looking sad and tired.
One day a co-worker of his recommends a movie. While watching this movie Adams sees that one of the actors looks exactly like him. He investigates and he finds out that the actor is Anthony St. Claire. Adam wants to meet with him but Anthony is reluctant. When they finally do meet the events become even more confusing and mysterious.

I was one of the very few who really didn't like Prisoners, Villeneuve previous film. I thought it was horribly written, pretentious piece of Oscar-baiting shit (am I being too subtle in expressing my dislike here?), however Gyllenhaal and Villeneuve both did good job, Gyllenhaal did wonders with his performance and Villeneuve can't be blamed for the script - he did what he could. Enemy was such a pleasant surprise. Not only it's the kind of movie I love, it's everything Prisoners was not.
Even tough the film is quite slow paced, it's intriguing enough to make it impossible for you to take your eyes off screen. You're not bored because you can't wait to see more pieces of the puzzle and attempt to put them together. The film's beginning also immediately demands your attention and pulls you in this strange, surreal world. The film opens with a card saying 'chaos is order not year deciphered' and what follows is a disturbing scene during some sort of bizarre sex show.

The film is loaded with some truly wonderful imagery. Some of the stuff is there but you have to know where to look to notice it. Sometimes it takes your brain a while to actually realize what it is you are seeing. Enemy reminded me greatly of movies by David Lynch and DavidCronenberg  (fun fact - Isabella Rossellini and Sarah Gadon, the two of directors' muses, are both in Enemy) - it's much less distressing to watch than their films but it's at times just as mysterious and fascinating.
The film has really outstanding special effects for a movie that I imagine had a very modest budget. There aren't many manipulated scenes here but those that are tempered with, are really fantastic. The score is also something worth praising as it's builds the tension and adds to the film's moody, grim and fatalistic atmosphere.

Jake Gyllenhaal was praised in every review of the movie I read and rightfully so. His performance, both as timid, ordinary Adam and outgoing, deceitful Anthony is just as subtle and yet nuanced enough you feel like you are watching two different people. My favorite moment of Gyllenhaal's performance is definitely the end of the scene in which Anthony is observing Adam's girlfriend on the streetcar. The look of anguish on his face is unreal.
I was very impressed with Sarah Gadon. I thought the casting here was excellent and she truly 'got' everything in the story. Her character, Helen, is if you choose one of the theories (the one I'll get to soon and the one I find most convincing) absolutely crucial. Helen is sweet and pretty. She is also 6-months pregnant which should make you, as a viewer, feel protective towards her. Yet you don't - there is something sinister about sweet, pregnant Helen, as we are watching the film from such strange point of view. Something about the way she looks at her husband and talks to him feels smothering, controlling, suffocating.

As for Isabella Rossellini and Melanie Laurent - while they don't have that much to do, their scenes are quite memorable. Rossellini's scene especially may be the key to understating the movie. Laurent while she has several sex scenes, which those enamored with her are definitely going to enjoy, is very well cast, especially given how her character, Mary, shares several physical similarities to Helen.


The most interesting thing about the movie is its story and the many different theories floating around as to what really happened and what this movie is actually about. There are so many different explanations, each with lots of points to back it up. Hell, there is even the body snatchers theory. However cool that one is, I don't find the evidence compelling enough.

The movie is based on the book The Double by Jose Saramago and in it the main two characters where indeed two different men. They were each other's doubles. However going by everything in this movie and certain things Villeneuve said about the spiders symbolizing the guilt of the protagonist there is no way Anthony and Adam are different people, no matter how much close to the ending of the novel (in which yet another double contacts the protagonist) this poster is.
Adam and Anthony must be the one and the same. Adam's mother mentions his dreams of becoming an actor - Anthony is in an actor. We know he wasn't in agency for 6 months, perhaps in this time Anthony started his teaching career (probably upon finding out about his wife's pregnancy, on one hand trying to earn some money and be there for her, on another trying to create something secret just for him).

In the scene in which his wife comes over to talk to him he acts as if he didn't knew her and she acts shocked. Whether Anthony is mentally ill or just made himself believe his other persona is real is unclear, what matters is the wife reaction. I think this scene is the first time she realizes that her husband has such secretive double life.
I saw Chris Stuckman's brilliant analysis of the movie and he has many wonderful points. His analysis is very observant and filled with impressive little things he picked up on, however there are several things I do not agree with. I agree Anthony and Adam are the same person. But I don't think Anthony/Adam is necessarily psychotic - he is someone who wanted to be an actor. I think he just pretends the other persona doesn't exist and acts the part, depending on circumstances (there is even a scene where he is rehearsing asking the other if he 'fucked his wife'; when as Adam he is on his way to his Anthony's apartment he walks past it, acting like he never been there before).

Villeneuve said something about the movie being about a man who subconsciously fights his demons. Now, in his above analysis, Stuckman implies the crash never happened and it was just a way for Anthony/Adam to kill his demons. I think the film is not in chronological order (hence the chaos card in the beginning) and the crash absolutely happened, only it happened in the beginning, not the end of the story.
I think because of the crash and Mary being in the car with Anthony/Adam his wife found out about infidelity. There's also the scar talk. I think this is how he protagonist got a scar. Sure, the car crash was very serious and it looked like it might have been fatal, but I think the only reason it is shown in the end of the movie is because it's the kind of climax of the infidelity arc for the protagonist until those demons start being too tempting to ignore them during the course of the movie.

Another thing I disagree with - I don't think spiders symbolize women. I think they are connected to them, but they symbolize fear, guilt, control.  I really connected with the character because I don't think the film works just as the portrayal of unfaithful man - I think it works as a depiction of desperate need to escape from other people's control and finding a way to live life without suffocating.
I don't think the final spider was afraid. I think it was a depiction of his wife sensing he will be unfaithful again and getting ready to attack. The look on the protagonist's face was almost accepting and definitely scared - he knows she knows what he wants to do. He knows he is in the wrong. The 'history repeats itself, first it's tragedy then it's a farce' refers, I believe, to the fact the first time he was unfaithful it ended in car crash and now he has all those ridiculous adventures with his 'double' - imagining switching the women in their lives, calling his own house and acting like he doesn't know his wife, etc.

I think Anthony created Adam persona to deal with his guilt with the car accident and being unfaithful. Notice that we see Anthony and Mary sex scene/car accident during his reconciliation with his wife. I think the first is in the past and the latter is in the present. That's why we see Adam waking up, startled. Because he remembers the experiences with Mary - they happened a while back.
I think Anthony started teaching around the same time he had an affair with Mary - we see his barely furnished apartment and him meeting with her. Who knows if the car accident happened recently or a while back. I think him following Mary is after they broke up - he looks anguished when he looks at her, so close to temptation and fighting the urge to give in.

In his lecture Adam talks about how government controls people. As one of the examples for its tools he mentions that they don't educate people. And here he is, being a teacher - rebelling against control in yet another way. The idea of totalitarianism I think referred to how something is expected of him - being a faithful husband, having respectful job etc. yet those are not the roles that suit him so he is rebelling by sabotaging things.
Two things didn't work for me - in regards to my theory what the hell was up with Mary noticing the mark left by wedding ring on his finger? Now, if it's indeed as I assume earlier in the timeline it would make sense if they hooked up, then he got married, started to wear a wedding ring, early in their affair she would notice it, car crash, they get back together, they break up and he stalks her on streetcars. My brain is exploding here.

Another thing - the picture. Adam has a torn picture of himself. Anthony has the same picture - the torn part showing Helen, framed. I tend to avoid going for easiest solution to give the writer more credit. The easiest solution is that there are two copies of the picture. But no, that can't be it. The picture Adam has is in one of the many boxes, stuff he didn't touch since he moved in. Perhaps Helen threw him out after she found out about the affair?
That places the scene that happens near the end of the film - where the guy in the elevator talks about the show they attended and Adam finds the framed picture in the apartment - before him finding out about his double. BUT seeing how the spider is angry (see the explanation above) in the final shot could that be in the beginning and the actual start of the movie in the end? It doesn't seem likely as Helen is heavily pregnant in the final sequence of the film.

That fucking picture is the new silver paint on Lily's face for me. On my death bed I'll still be asking about this.
 And here is a problem when you are watching the movie and not sure what's happening yet - as I understand in the book - where they are two different people - Anthony's counterpart blackmails Adam's counterpart to switch their lives for one night. Here he just intimidates him. That was a bit ridiculous. You let some guy have sex with your girlfriend because he yelled at you? Of course if my theory is correct it's not an issue in terms of reality, but in terms of buying what is happening as you watch the movie that scene struck me as odd.

Then there are blueberries - Anthony likes them and Adam doesn't. Blueberries are there for continuity - in the scene Adam sees the picture he also sees blueberries. Are these two elements just clumsily put there so we could figure out they are one person? I've been thinking about it for days and I can't do that anymore. So please share your ideas, especially about the picture in comments section.
In my extensive readings about the movie an idea of Anthony/Adam being a dictator who censors information showed up. I think it's an excellent theory. I think he plays two parts, seeing how he wanted to be an actor, this is his way of fulfilling himself - a husband and a man who seemingly does what he wants. But when he is away from family life, even during acting the part, he can't escape guilt. His fear creates paranoia and he perhaps needs to play this game with himself where he thinks there is a double and he is not the one running away from his responsibility, from his pregnant wife, from stability - that those are someone else's mistakes, not his.

And then when truth slowly crawls to him, just like a spider, he panics recognizing what tragedy (and farce) his life really is.

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 Before I start make coffee. Because I have a lot to say.

I'm still laughing at that line. I don't care that they have Tyrion in his cell for 70 minutes of screentime this year if he keeps dropping lines like this one.

Oh God:

Please raid my pantry.

I don't think Stannis is in next ep :(

Oh that was so great. I love when it's just Stannis and Davos without these crazy bitches. I'd love a spin off with Davos explaining to Stannis what logic is and Stannis being outraged at everything he says. He was like this the whole scene. I also love how many red herrings the writers are putting in his story arc. 

Can we get Stannis into properly fucking lit room for once? I insist on including him in each of my episodes' gifsets and it's such a bitch to color dark scenes. 

This season is so confusing because of so many options the characters have and loaded with so many detours it will be impossible for non book readers to predict big plot twists. Hell, I read A Storm of Swords twice and I still have trouble predicting where are they going with some of the things.

You know how I keep praising Kit Harington for finally acting like a man on the show? Well, the photo shoots of his are really clouding that impression. Look at that shit. It's ridiculous. He looks like that kid from Into the Wild, making freaking animal friends.

A nuke exploded in fandom this week. It's all about that Jaime/Cersei scene. In the books what was a consensual, albeit twisted sex, turned into a rape scene in TV. We have mad eyed feminists screaming about 'violence towards women on Game of Thrones'. I sometimes think these professionally outraged people who scream about how something is misogynistic would only be happy if we had women who have men on a leash in every TV show. Game of Thrones is based on medieval times. You may not like it and I may not like it, but atrocious things happened back then. What's truly sad is that it's not just the hysterical tumblr crowd embarrassing themselves with stupid allegations and jumping to conclusions but also a bunch of professional critics. You people make me sick.

 While everyone is screaming and grabbing torches, I'm zen. I'm calm. I don't care. I only care about how they write Stannis and one character yet to show up. If I cared about every detour writers take, I'd go completely nuts.

George R.R. Martin wrote very articulate and respectful (of writers and fans) response to the scene. I agree with him, as much as I think he should be writing books instead of calming fanbase hysterics. Jaime has been emotionally manipulated, often with the use of sex, by Cersei for years. In the show unlike in the books he was in King's Landing for weeks during which time Cersei rejected him. When she asks him to kill his own brother he finally snaps and takes control the only way he knows how - the way she controlled him all those years. Jaime was never a black and white character. The writers, in my mind, tried to remind the audience that Jaime is still capable of doing evil and succumbing to his weaknesses. They did that to make the future decisions Jaime makes more complex and ambiguous. Did it work? I think in long run it may work.

Now, had that been it, it would still be really, really bad. Game of Thrones is at the peak of popularity right now - each year it becomes more and more popular. When Drogo raped Daenerys in season 1 and when Jaime killed his cousin in season 2, the show wasn't this popular yet. Even though they were much more severe deviations from the books, the outrage now is the biggest the show ever faced.

I have no major problem with this depiction of the scene. But I have a big problem with incompetence. And before I discuss that let me use this fantastic Stannis/Veep mashup:

The first one we heard from was director Alex Graves. He said that 'the scene was a power play and becomes consensual in the end'. Only this is not what it looks like on screen at all. So we have Graves saying the intention behind the scene was the opposite of what we saw. Then we have the showrunners state that it was a rape scene. So we have director who says one thing and the writers who say another. And finally we have yet another interview with Graves where he says 'Jaime raped Cersei'. Inept director is one thing. Inept spineless director who can't make up his mind and makes the entire team look like a bunch of moronic children running around in the fog in desperate need of walkie talkies to be able to communicate is another thing entirely.

Graves is also the director of episode 8 and 10 this season. The only thing I would worry about is SPOILERthe ending of episode 9 - but this episode is directed by Neil Marshall, a wonderful director who knows how to make a great fucking ending (the ending toBlackwater, his episode, is perhaps the best ending the show ever had).  END OF SPOILER However ep. 8 and 10 feature monumental events. While episode 8 is something I don't think can be ruined, there is one scene involving Tyrion in the finale that is his most important scene in the entire series. So my only hope is that the writers do not give Graves enough room to fuck things up.

 That's the first still of Michael Pitt as Mason Verger on Hannibal. I'm not a fan of this look at all. Mason Verger is pure evil and the casting of Pitt is quite intriguing considering his innocent looks. But why go for nerd hipster vibe? So far we only heard him say one line on the show (off screen) and he sounds like 20's mobster. Let's hope it's not gonna be as bad as it looks (and sounds) when he makes his proper entrance. Katharine Isabelle who plays his sister Margot is already wonderful.

This is beyond adorable:

Can we get Emma Stone into better movies so I would actually be interested in watching them, please?

The only person battling Stone's levels of adorable this week is Prince George:

Prince George's sass game's too strong.

Brittani recaps Breaker of Chains

Andrew asks about your definition of overrated

Steven reviews Under the Skin

Ruth asks which films with great ensemble cast that fail to deliver?

m.brown reviews one of my all time favorites, In Bruges

Alex shares a look at his favorite performances of Bill Murray

Josh reviews Transcendence

 If you are not familiar with these GoT recaps check them out - they are hilarious!:

and here's something for the book readers:

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Last night's episode of Game of Thrones was quite an event. It was a milestone - for the first time the show has surpassed the books in such a great and significant matter. It was also the first time I was completely in the dark as to what will happen - seeing how we never found out what happens to the babies when the White Walkers take them in the novels, what I experienced last night must be how non book readers feel whenever there is a gigantic plot twist - or something super creepy - unveiled on the show. How are you guys even alive?!

That ending was the scariest scene on the show so far. It was monumental - in terms of world building, creepiness and the execution. I'm not surprised - the episode was written by Bryan Cogman, one of he finest writers the show has and directed by Michelle MacLaren - while she did direct Bear and the Maiden Fair (but how awesome was its final scene, huh?), she also directed terrific Second Sons and many of Breaking Bad episodes. She directed the next episode too.
While I was watching that ending I wasn't thinking anything. I was too scared to think. But when the show was over I had two thoughts - 'What the fuck?!' and the thought that is with me at all times - "Where is Stannis to help us?!"

The episode opened with Missandai teaching Grey Worm how to read. The show is definitely making a point - literacy is important, eunuchssmugglers kids!. Missandai and Shireen would get on. Anyways, Grey Worm is very appreciative of his lessons and asks Missandai a little about her life. It was a nice, sweet moment. Daenerys and Barristan walk in and Dany tells Grey Worm that it's time.
Grey Worm sneaks to the city to talk to the slaves. He convinces them to fight and gives them weapons. In the next scene we see the words Kill the Masters written on the wall. One of the masters notices them and then sees Targaryen banner hanging from the harpy statue. Then slaves emerge and slaughter him.

Next we see Jesus Dany stepping on the collars of the now former slaves that are being thrown under her feet (a wonderful, wonderful shot). Everyone keeps shouting Mhysa, kids run next to her, you get the idea. Then Dany asks her advisers how many slaves were nailed to the posts on their way. Barristan reminds her it was 163. He urges her to have mercy but she says she will answer injustice with justice.
She orders the masters to be crucified. Now, for all of you shouting about the violence on the show - that sequence was incredibly toned down comparing to the books. In the book even Daenerys is repulsed when she witnesses her own orders being carried out. I don't think the point of the scene - that Dany was in the wrong doing that - was telegraphed well, especially considering the only thing she is missing on the show are angel wings.

The whole taking of Meereen was smaller in scale too, but I think these two toned down events can be blamed on time and budget constraints, considering that including the clear disapproval from Barristan, Bryan Cogman really did a lot in the scene at least hinting at what was in the book.
That said I just adored the shot of Daenerys overlooking Meereen. That was epic.

In King's Landing, Jaime is practicing with Bronn again. Bronn tells him how when Tyrion was a prisoner at the Eyrie he wanted Jaime to fight for him as his champion. Bronn and Jaime both agree that Tyrion didn't kill Joffrey. Bronn asks if Jaime is gonna fight for his brother now, but Jaime says nothing.
Jaime finally goes to visit Tyrion. They talk about Cersei and the trial. Tyrion asks Jaime to help him escape but Jaime says it's impossible. The scene was really great - Dinklage and Waldau have great chemistry together and it's definitely not the last time Jaime is going to visit Tyrion this season. The transition to the next scene was Tyrion saying 'Sansa is not a killer. At least not yet'. That is very, very interesting way to go to the next sequence...

On the creepy ship, Sansa and Littlefinger are having a little chat. Littlefinger gives her some of his wisdom (in a disappointingly shortened speech from the book, I'm hoping they will include more of this later this season) and reveals to Sansa that the poison that killed Joffrey was in the gem in the necklace Dontos gave her to wear.
I'm thrilled they finally revealed this because I was getting tired of tiptoeing around it when talking to non book readers. Sansa doesn't understand why Littlefinger did this seeing how he has lucrative alliance with the Lannisters. Litlefinger let's her know that it was a gesture for his new friends. And his new friendship is growing strong.

I really don't mind how strongly the whole intrigue was telegraphed here and in the following scene. Some non book readers have real issues with understanding things like this and distinguishing important from trivial, right from wrong, heroes and villains. And it's often (but not always!) the show's fault, depending on who wrote the episode. Cogman making an effort to make sure the audience understands the situation using the words 'grow strong' and Olenna toying with Margaery's necklace was truly brilliant writing.
Yes, Olenna. Olenna toyed with Sansa's necklace during the feast and then put the gem into Joffrey's chalice. She let's Margaery know she did that, because she didn't want her granddaughter married to a beast like Joffrey. She also tells her that she should start working on Tommen. Grandma Olenna tells Marg that she gave her virtue to her husband before they were married - she wanted him to propose to her and she was so good that indeed he did. She also tells Margaery she is even better than Olenna ever was.

Olenna also says she is leaving and I hope that's not the case. Diana Rigg is so wonderful in the role and I don't think it makes sense for her to leave Margaery alone with the Lannisters, considering how fucking useless Loras is. His biggest contribution this season was eyefucking Oberyn during the feast.
At the Wall, Jon is training new recruits. The boy whose parents got cannibalized by Thenns is there as is (ovation...drums!) my favorite - Locke. As you recall Locke is there to get information from Snow about his brothers' whereabouts, on Roose Bolton's orders. I was hoping Locke will be his usual witty, vicious, potty mouth self but his plan is apparently to befriend Jon. Jon, a naive sweet baby he is, falls right into the trap - apparently all you need to do to be his new friend is fight well and call Thorne a cunt. I'm shocked the time and space continuum didn't tear when these two shook hands.

In the meantime, Thorne and Slynt are talking. Slynt, who still wants nothing more than see Snow dead senses that's Thorne's dream too, seeing how the time for the election of new Lord Commander is approaching and unlike Thorne, Snow is very well liked. So why not send him to Craster's Keep to avenge Mormont and hopefully let him lose his life in the process?
Meanwhile in King's Landing, bitter, looking like shit Cersei is drinking. Jaime comes in and they talk a little. Cersei mentions nothing about that 'rape' scene many of you couldn't shut up about last week. She asks Jaime why Catelyn Stark released him. He tells her he swore he will return her daughters. Cersei isn't pleased with the news and Jaime asks 'shall I tell her to fuck off instead?'. Everyone loves Jaime again? Good.

Cersei tells him that Tyrion would kill all of them if he could. She also asks Jaime what he would do if she sent him after Sansa to bring her Sansa's head. She tells him she wants Tommen guarded by four of the Kingsguard. Cersei's paranoia is growing. Growing strong, indeed.
Apparently these four guards are no match for Margaery who sneaks into King's room to speak to Tommen. As ridiculous as that was - Margaery is smarter than that, the repercussions of her being caught would be very detrimental and Tyrells are not reckless - the scene played out quite lovely.

To the joy of book readers, including this one, we got to see Ser Pounce, Tommen's cat. In the book it is Margaery who gives him the cats, one of them being Ser Pounce. I don't mind that change as I think Margaery still won more of Tommen's favor petting that cat than Cersei's whole life of being a mother did.
Margaery mentions that when they marry she will be his forever (why the fuck does everyone talk to this kid about sex? Leave him alone!). She is however acting ladylike, as much as the circumstances, or as I mentioned, ridiculous predicament she got herself into permit, and kisses Tommen's forehead. She asks if she can visit again and he agrees. It's quite clear the girl's playfulness and lively nature worked and Tommen likes her already.

In the next scene, Jaime and Brienne talk about Sansa. Jaime gives Brienne his sword, reforged from Ned Stark's sword in the premiere episode. He tells Brienne to find Sansa, keep her safe and defend Ned Stark's daughter with his own sword. Jaime also gives astounded Brienne a beautiful armor. Brienne gives her word she'll find Sansa. For lady Catelyn. And for him. Fuck you, I'm not crying.
In transition so funny and brilliant it was even better than statue/Joffrey scene from the premiere, Jaime tells Brienne he has another gift for her and we cut to sweet, innocent Podrick. Jaime wants him to go with Brienne because Tyrion knows Pod is not safe in the capital. Pod calls Brienne 'ser' but quickly corrects his mistake.

Brienne doesn't wan a squire but Jaime tells her she needs to keep Pod safe, correctly assessing how a noble girl like Brienne wouldn't refuse protecting someone. He tells Brienne that the best swords have names and perhaps she should name the sword he gave her. She says - Oathkeeper. All right. I am crying.
Jaime, clearly moved, says goodbye to Brienne and her and Pod start riding away. Brienne looks at Jaime one more time as she rides and Jaime is looking at her as well. Can someone give me a tissue?

Back at the Wall, Jon and Sam are talking and it is revealed to us that Jon knows about Bran being alive - Sam told him that when Jon was recovering from the wounds he sustained when Ygritte shot him. Now, that is a big piece of information about which book readers are freaking out about - there is something that happens later and Jon knowing this takes a bit of the impact, for those who are panicking. I'm not panicking because what Jon does, no matter what he knows, is in perfect agreement with who he is.
Jon is trying to figure out where Bran could have gone and he thinks it may be Craster's Keep. Locke overhears that part of conversation. In the next scene Thorne tells Jon he may go to Craster's to punish mutineers but he will not command any men to go with him and he can only have volunteers. Jon gives quite a speech and in a truly wonderful scene his brothers stand one after another to go with him and bring justice for Commander Mormont. Locke joins their party too.

Meanwhile at Craster's we are forced to listen to psychotic ramblings of Karl (played by the geeky scientist from Pacific Rim, Burn Gornam), a leader of the renegade watchers. We also see incredibly toned down sequence that didn't even merit 'sexual violence' from HBO schedule with the mutineers raping Craster's wives. Yet many critics continue to whine about 'gratuitous violence against women on the show'. Fuck off and watch Teletubbies. If you don't have the stomach to watch the show - don't watch it and definitely don't offer your misguided opinion about it. Rapists take over a cabin with women in it. Did you grow up surrounded by little ponies and hopping cute rabbits that you think there won't be violence and rape?
As for the show depicting it - how else can they make the audience realize why Snow is leaving the Wall, soon to be under the attack of 100,000 wildings to deal with that situation? It's not just about justice (Mormont's skull is now used as a cup by Karl) - it's also to end what is happening there. It's to show us that most of the Watchers indeed are the filth of this realm - rapists and murderers. We heard of the Watch having people like that in their ranks for years and now it's the first time we are seeing evidence of that. I'm so sick and tired of hysterics about the violence. And what kind of a fucking person is more disturbed by 3 seconds of rape than the ending?! Yes sexual violence is real and White Walkers are not, but if 3 seconds of this makes you more disturbed than seeing several minutes of child in peril there is something seriously wrong with you.

Anyways, one of the women brings in a baby - Craster's last son. The women start chanting 'a gift for the Gods' with deranged looks on their faces. Karl asks what the hell is happening and a woman explains Craster sacrificed his sons to the Others. Karl sends Rast to do that and Rast leaves the child in the woods.
Rast is going back to the cabin and we see - and I gasped - that the mutineers captured Ghost, Jon Snow's wolf and they keep him in a cage.

Bran, Meera, Jojen and Hodor are nearby. They hear the baby crying and Bran, in a true Stark fashion, does something asinine. He warges Summer and right before she reaches Ghost, she falls into a trap. I find it slightly hysterical how we are getting all those warging scenes yet I'm 95% sure the one warging scene most book readers want to see this year (involving Nymeria, Arya's wolf) won't be on the show.
They go to rescue Summer and are - obviously - captured by mutineers. Here's another thing that was way more disturbing than your imagined gratuitous portrayal of sexual violence - seeing poor Hodor being mocked and beaten up. That was some tough shit to watch.

Karl is questioning Bran and instantly guesses that Bran is highborn. Bran doesn't want to tell him anything. Jojen suddenly gets one of his seizures and in spite of her begging, Meera is not allowed to help him. Bran tells them who he is so that Meera could help her brother. Bran is there. Ghost is there. And Jon Snow is arriving to Craster's next episode...
Now to that ending. I need to give you all a bit of a background here, so that non book readers could appreciate the significance of what was shown in that scene and the collective WTF shouts from us book readers that broke every single fanboard right after the episode ended.

In the third book, Bran tells the story of Night's King to Hodor, Jojen and Meera. The Night’s King was the 13th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch (and Mormont was the 997th one, so that tale is very, very old). The Night’s King was a respected leader until he fell in love with a woman with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars whose skin was cold as ice. He made her his bride and took control of the Nightfort. He declared himself a king and her his queen. He was cruel and did terrible things, spreading terror throughout the North for 13 years and sacrificing people to The Others. It took the combined forces of the King of the North and the King Beyond the Wall to defeat him. His name was wiped from history, with only legends of his atrocities still remaining. (you should check out gorgeous Histories & Lore from DVD bonus features, this one mentions the Night King's and is narrated by Rose Leslie)
In the episode's shocking ending, we witness a Walker riding a dead horse, with Craster's baby in his arms. The walker rides on ice and snow, clearly going farther North than we see saw far, both in books and in the show. He approaches something looking like mini ice Stonehedge and leaves the child in the middle.

As the baby keeps crying we see 13 figures. One is moving towards the child and picks it up. Scary looking Walker with horns coming out of his head (perhaps a crown of sorts) touches the child, presses the nail against its cheek and the baby's eyes turn blue, just like the Walker's.
In the books the only thing we know is that the Walkers take the babies that Craster left for them (we saw Jon witnessing that in season 2). That's it. For the show to not only give us the answer as to what is done to them - they are being turned into Walkers - but also venture so far beyond the Wall and show us the ritual of sorts as well as that main Walker...that's jut so fucking cool. Miraculously we've got people who are even more annoying than 'so much rape' crowd - people who whine that now the show is spoiling the books. I can't even find the words to comment on that stupidity.

The things got even better as apparently that creepy Walker was listed as 'Night's King' in cast list. While some say Night's King was destroyed all that time ago, some wonder if he wasn't. Is the Walker we saw just some new king of the Others? Or is it the very same King? Is it The Great Other Melisandre always keeps going on and on about? Death and ice and darkness...Perhaps there was a reason for 13 Walkers being present, making us think of that 13th commander, those 13 years...
Either way that was one chilling ending. It was surreal and beautifully shot. The effects were incredible too - kudos to that baby, he didn't look that scared and yet the actor in that scary make up was holding him. When they showed the main Walker's face I nearly shat myself. And that's just one of the several impressive make up/CGI creatures we will see this season.

That ending also hit me hard and surprised me this much because with the amount of insane plot twists (several of which to take place in finale episode, one by one, until your head starts spinning) it didn't even cross my mind these sneaky sons of bitches will write an entirely new one mid-season. I bow to you, good people.

The episode was very good, even with that disappointing beginning. I like however that with all the Princess Di Daenerys rescuing people shit the focus is being taken away from her - Jon shined again this week and he is a proper hero. The presence of Locke in his storyline makes things even more interesting. The Wall scenes were my favorite this week. Apart from the scene with Jon and Sam. There's something abut Sam that just bores me so much. Just seeing him in the frame accomplishes that.

Oberyn wasn't present in this episode. As much as I enjoy him, shockingly I didn't even notice he was gone until I rewatched the ep. I sure as hell noticed Stannis wasn't on my screen, though - as I was not breathing heavily and staring at my screen lovingly at any point during this episode. And he is not in the promo for next week's ep. Why are you doing this to me HBO?
In the next episode First of His Name a new King is crowned, Daenerys plans an invasion on King's Landing, Jon Snow reaches Craster's Keep and kooky aunt Lysa (splendid Kate Dickie) makes her return. I did mention the buzz about the disgusting scene last week that I thought would be in episode 4, but apparently it's gonna be in this one. As funny as it would be if that turned out to be Lysa/Littlefinger sex scene, my vote is still for Craster's raid.

 PREVIOUS SEASON 4 RECAPS:

Seriously, how awesome is Podrick?

As fun as Arya and the Hound are...Brienne and Podrick will likely be much more entertaining. They improved his character so much in the show. That's the beauty of the series - a legendary and mysterious brothel adventure, spot on casting, several charming scenes and one genius cutaway later and we all love the character.

I'm still so disturbed by the ending. I couldn't believe they went there. Never mind the baby being in such a horribly nightmarish scene, that shit wasn't revealed yet in the books! I was drinking while watching the episode and when that scene started I actually thought to myself Jesus Christ, how drunk am I? Is it Thor The Dark World? Is Loki there? No, that's wrong franchise... (brain pause) WHERE IS STANNIS?! And then I was like WOAH.This is accurate.

Move away Ygritte. I give you....BFF:

The problem with being a book reader is that when show changes stuff around it becomes unpredictable. I'm worried for Locke in next ep. He is such an entertaining character! He can't die! He didn't even get to call Snow a pussy yet. And more importantly -  who would nurse that bear back to health?

Next episode will be fun, I think Lysa scenes are going to be hilarious. It's such a compliment for Kate Dickie - it's been 3 years since we last saw her, yet I bet every single non book reader remembers aunt Lysa. Pedo Bear Dark Knight is clearly not fond of his new bride:

 I'm so psyched for the return of the Eyrie, Lysa's castle. Winterfell is lovely but Eyrie with its Moon Door and weirwood throne is my favorite castle of Westeros. The second one is New Castle, the seat of house Manderly with its amazing great hall, but we have yet to see that one on the show.

I'm getting kinda dizzy seeing that look Jorah gives Dany. God she is so stupid, focusing on Daario instead. That twit gave you flowers JORAH GAVE YOU HIS LIFE WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!

This is gonna be awkward transition but - happy 27th birthday to Emilia Clarke!

I saw Fugitive Pieces, while making my way through Stephen Dllane's movies. I also watched it because I knew there will be no Stannis in new ep and the lack of Dillane during my weekends may kill me so that was necessary to my survival. That was such a beautiful film - I think I'll manage to post a review next week.

I saw a quote from some insane critic on tumblr wondering how Dillane managed to seduce Rosamund Pike. My clothes would fall off right there if I were her. There was this one scene near the end, I almost passed out watching that. I'm not gonna make it through this season of Thrones alive, aren't I? Granted there is not gonna be a sex scene - unless Stannis and Davos REALLY bond on that Braavos trip and (rant/) if they do I'm sure he will wear a coat like during banging on the table scene in season 2 - never forget, never forgive HBO -  are you kidding me?! Women watch the show too, what, we don't deserve eye candy? Where is my candy, HBO?! (/endrant) - but in terms of hotness what will happen is gonna be pretty damn close. Don't ruin it HBO. Don't piss on my candy.

Crimson Peak set photos keep surprising me. First it turns out it's all set in the past, now I read Chastain plays Hiddleston's sister. Weren't they supposed to bang? I hope they still will - I don't mean like Cersei/Jaime thing, but I hope their characters are lying about being siblings or something like that.. I was also under impression she will have her wonderful red hair color in the movie, well, those recent set photos seem to indicate that's not the case.

Star Wars cast was announced this week. Who the hell is Daisy Ridley? Wait, I don't care. I was never a fan of this franchise and they have Adam Driver in this cast so I'm out. 

Behold JLaw fishing for attention in classless way again. I know any press is a good thing, but this is really desperate. A lot of people do that when drunk, but how fucking low you must be to brag about it? I wish Madonna set her dogs on her.

I saw Anchorman 2 and I seriously think this movie should come with a bag of weed. What the fuck was that? There were some funny things but most of it was some random shit, that I imagine you hallucinate when you're high on acid. Baby sharks, were-hyena etc. Everything involving Steve Carrel's character was so painfully stupid I feared my brain would die if I looked directly at the screen.

People keep making those posts about the films they saw last month - 30,40,50 movies. I've seen 3 - Enemy, Anchorman 2 and Fugitive Pieces. Thank God at least 2 of those were good.

 Parks and Rec dropped a twist on us in finale. The finale was really good, Jean Ralphio showed up with his crazy sister and that's always awesome.Then in the ending the show changed the mockdocumentary format and skipped ahead 3 years. I really hope they are not dropping the format altogether and that was just for this scene. Jon Hamm showed up for a funny cameo too.

So George Clooney is engaged to some lawyer. You know what this lawyer did this week? Got clawed several times while trying to apply eye drops to Gustav. Yorkie pink eye. Is this karma? If so - how many people have I slaughtered in my past life, exactly?

And then there was vaccination time. This time I legit almost fainted. To be clear it was Gustav getting vaccinated. I would be the world's worst vet. He is still a bit pissed off that he had to go through all of that in one week so he took the liberty of sleeping in my bed again.

Jack reviews Her

Ruth asks about your current obsessions. The amount of people who answered Game of Thrones is freaking awesome.

Eric reviews Incendies

Nika shares his views on Enemy

Just in time for 10th anniversary Katy writes about Mean Girls

Brittani recaps Oathkeepeer in her usual witty and awesome style

Jess lists top 10 best performances in Darren Aronofsky's films

Alex looks at the films of Tim Burton

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Mid-season, Game of Thrones has thrown a very interesting episode our way - First of his Name. Last year, at this point we got terrific Kissed by Fire - it looks like this year a truly strong episode will arrive next week. But First of His Name, while containing some truly worrying decisions from the showrunnes also brought with it a whole lot of clever hints, awesome action and tons of crazy from Lysa Arryn.

Before I get to the content of the ep, how freaking lazy are the opening credits this year? Dreadfort is there all the time, and where was Eyrie? I'm disappointed with the lack of work they put in there this year.

The episode opens with the coronation of Tommen. Margaery is there, smiling like an idiot at her future husband, until Cersei appears in front of the Throne to block her view.
Then a completely puzzling and confusing scene happens with Cersei actually 1. telling Margaery things Joffey did shocked her 2. asking Margaery if she wants to be the Queen 3. telling her she will need help with Tommen. What the fuck was that?

I'm not sure if the writers wanted to make this scene (and the scene with Oberyn) play like a trick with Cersei being nice because Margaery's father is one of Tyrion's judges and Oberyn is another - if they did, they failed to telegraph it in any way. We had hysterical feminists yelling about the portrayal of Cersei in past 2 eps- the real issue is showing Cersei as a victim in any way and trying to elicit sympathy from the audience - this is most evident in this recent episode.
The show has done a lot of harm to this character. Cersei, pure evil in the books, is constantly whitewashed on the show. While I did appreciate it in the past, they are really ruining the character - one of the show's worst villains is constantly being portrayed as hopeless pawn, victim of tragedy and caring and loving mother. One scene like that a season would be sufficient. 3 scenes like that in one episode? Do writers realize there are, no doubt, people out there actually thinking Cersei is a better person than Stannis thanks to the way they wrote the show? This is catastrofuck and a huge failure on writers' part.

Cersei would have never said those things to Margaery. No matter what. Cersei does not want Margaery anywhere near her son - Tommen is a sweet boy, so she doesn't really need help. It's not in her interest to have Margaery anywhere near him, nor does she need any help with the trial - everyone thinks Tyrion is guilty. That whole scene, as gorgeously framed as it was, was retarded. Unless there is some pay off to her scenes in next ep, I sincerely hope they'll have Cersei on the right track soon.
And what is up with Marge? Calling Cersei 'sister'? Margaery was never cocky. This is even more glaring than Cersei's misrepresentation. Natalie Dormer's lazy and uninspired work (she plays the part as if she was in The Tudors again) this season isn't helping anything.

Across the Narrow Sea, Dany finally changed her dress and she is having her council meeting. Turns out Daario stole some ships, Dany looks like she is about to climax, possible invasion on King's Landing is discussed etc. After all of that Dany asks everyone to leave but Jorah. Jorah informs her that the cities she took and abolished slavery in, have now returned to their past ways. Daenerys decides to stay in Meereen and learn how to rule.
I was glad that was all we saw of her this week. While the time that was saved was used on spectacularly fucking up Cersei's character at least we didn't witness the writers trying to make Dany's current storyline interesting - it cannot be done. We got a cute moment when Jorah smiled. No Stannis this week - I take what I can get.

Littlefinger and Sansa arrive to the Vale and are at the gates of the Eyrie, my favorite castle in the series. Littlefinger introduces Sansa as Alayne, his niece to the guards. That was a nice little nod to book readers - in the books Sansa pretends to be Alayne Stone, Littlefinger's bastard daughter. She dyes her hair dark to disguise her auburn hair, something that could easily unmask her as Sansa - her hair are exactly like her mother's and her features are very much like those of house Tully.
The two walk into the great hall of Eyrie - dearly missed by the audiences aunt Lysa and her son Robin are there, sitting on the Weirwood throne. I'm so glad there was no breastfeeding this time.

Robin runs to Petyr, calls him his uncle and hugs him. Petyr gives him a toy. Aunt Lysa then comes over to Sansa, telling her she knows who she is - she embraces her and Sansa is clearly happy she's finally with her family. Sophie Turner's acting have been improving season to season and she is absolutely lovely this year. She looked incredibly beautiful in this episode as well.
Lysa and Sansa talk briefly - Lysa tells her that they must keep Sansa's identity a secret, considering how the Lannisters are looking for her. Lysa calls Tyrion a 'troll' and expresses her disgust that Sansa was forced to marry him.

Robin mentions how he almost made him fly and throws the toy Littlefinger gave him through the Moon Door. The fact that at that moment the camera cut to worried looking Sansa was a brilliant touch.
Robin takes Sansa to her room and what proceeds was both funny and disappointing. Lysa talks to Petyr and an atomic bomb is dropped on non book readers - only they probably didn't recognize the impact of what Lysa was saying. Lysa reveals to the audience (while a new, terrific track from Ramin Djawadi plays in the background) that Littlefinger gave her the poison and she poisoned Jon Arryn. She also wrote everything Littlefinger wanted her to write in her letter to Cat.

The poisoning of Jon Arryn started an avalanche of events which led to bloodshed, war, tragedy. Lysa and Littlefinger were behind all of it. That reveal, I felt, sadly lacked the impact it had in the books - in the book it is connected to the absolutely phenomenal moment we'll see in finale and as much as I understand it's logistically better to have it now than in packed finale the lack of the regard for the show's first season - with avoiding giving the answer to identity of the person behind Bran's assassination attempt and by not giving the proper build up to Lysa's words now - is quite shocking.
Anyways, the scene was still good and we found out a lot from it - we know that Littlefinger already slept with Lysa, years ago. We see how hot she is for him - I shouldn't judge, but seriously? - we also see through Aidan Gillen's hilarious expressions that Littlefinger absolutely doesn't return Lysa's feelings.

Later we get a hilarious moment with Lysa yelling like crazy during her wedding night and we see Sansa with annoyed look on her face, lying in her bed, unable to sleep because of the noise.
Next we get another scene with Cersei this week - in it she talks about the impending marriages to Tywin - turns out that Margaery and Tommen will marry soon and then Cersei will marry Loras. This is all gonna be interesting to see on the show, seeing how they will choose to show both of these story arcs.

Iron Bank of Braavos is mentioned again. I think at that point the only stronger way they could indicate to the audience that this is important is if they wrote the words Iron Bank of Braavos on the hammer and send an intern to every fan's house to personally beat them with it. I'm not really complaining though, it's good when things are hyped when the pay off is grand, however what we should be constantly reminded of is what a fucking disaster wildings successfully breaching the wall would be.
Anyways, we got another thing that was not in the books this week - turns out the Lannisters are broke. Wait, what? I understand they are only throwing more shit at Lannisters because after 3 seasons of reign they finally start to fail, hard, but this makes very little sense, especially for future story lines.

Anyways, the Bank is further discussed and here's the thing - everyone keep saying how important paying the Bank is, can't they make it clear why it's important? Also by making Lannisters broke they will turn Cersei's actions into 'I can't pay, I'm broke' instead of  'I can't pay because fuck you' later on. More whitewashing. And for what?
We then get a scene of Arya reciting her kill list, when poor Hound just wants to sleep. She includes Beric and Thoros on her list. I cheered. Book readers know why. Non book readers - well, you should cheer too because for all of us it indicates (among other things) that Arya thinks of Gendry.

Then we get another scene at the Eyrie with aunt Lysa bringing Sansa lemon cakes. Holy hell the things that happened later were crazy. Lysa goes all batshit on Sansa suspecting her that Littlefinger loves her just like he loved Cat (funny thing is that as crazy as Lysa is, she is spot on here) though when I say "love" I mean "obsess over".
Sansa denies everything and her aunt finally gives up and holds her. She also tells her that soon Tyrion will be executed and Sansa will be free to marry Robin and become the lady of the Vale. I think in that moment Sansa realized that she traded one prison for another. Also as wacky as Lysa is, I enjoyed more diversity in her scenes than in season 1 - we got to see this pathetic, lovestruck woman, used by this sneaky man who doesn't care about her.

On the road we catch up with Brienne and Podrick. We find out two things - 1. Brienne intends to go to the Wall 2. Pod can't ride for shit (I could make a brothel joke, but hey, I'm not gonna). Brienne figures that Sansa went to the Wall to see Jon Snow. Brienne's plan is very smart - unfortunately she is under mistaken impression that Stark children do smart things. While the Wall is arguably the most dangerous place in Westeros right now (seeing how wildings and other things are about to attack it) Jon Snow would protect the children from everything.
Arya is practicing her water dancing with Needle. The Hound sees it and makes fan of her and Syrio, mocking the fact that someone as weak as Meryn Trant managed to slay him. Arya attempts to stab him and he punches her.

Meanwhile, in King's Landing, Oberyn is writing a poem for his daughter. Cersei comes over and they have a nice little scene, in which Cersei allows Oberyn to see how weak she is. Again, what am I missing here? Why are they doing this?
Other than that it was one of the better scenes this week, if not the best one. We find out Oberyn has 8 daughters - well, obviously. We finally get Myrcella mention - Cersei's daughter shipped off to Dorne in season 2. Oberyn promises Cersei that her daughter is happy in Dorne because they don't hurt little girls there. Cersei drops the best line of the episode 'everywhere in the world they hurt little girls' - a line with so much saddening truth and power behind it.

Cersei asks Oberyn to send a gift for Myrcella - a ship Cersei had made for her, as her little girl loves open water. She leaves, on the verge of tears and Oberyn looks almost filled with compassion. It was nice they showed him as a caring father in this scene and someone who really cares about innocent people.
Meanwhile, Pod attempts to cook a rabbit for Brienne. He forgot to skin it, though and the rabbit caught on fire. Brienne is stunned by Podick's lack of ability to do... anything, really, and they talk a little.

In that scene Podrick reveals to her that he killed a man to protect lord Tyrion. Moved by the boy's sense of loyalty to someone he served, Brienne asks Pod for some help with her armor. These two are so adorable together.
Close to 20 last minutes of the episode were devoted to the events at Craster's Keep. This season has this cinematic feel sometimes - big sequences go uninterrupted. We are getting a huge Blackwater style episode this year as well and I imagine the climactic event of episode 8 will also be one big unbroken sequence.

Locke figures out where Bran is and tells the Watchers not to go there, because of the hounds that are chained up. Meanwhile Karl is tormenting Meera and things are about to become really horrible again. Jojen keeps telling Karl that he has a gift - in a pretty badass line he tells him he saw his body in flames...with snow covering his bones.
As Karl is about to get all rapist/murderous, the Night's Watch attacks in a fucking beautiful take (the first gif of this post). Michelle Maclaren, the director of the episode said that this was the deepest mud she has ever seen but Kit Harington is so good with the sword, he didn't even need a double. I always make fun of Harington because of his innocent looks but the guy wields that sword like a badass motherfucker.

Anyways, the action was all very exciting - though I wish we saw it more clearly - the editing and shaking camera made it hard to see, but I suppose the gist of the scene was just to show off Snow's skills before the big battle episode.
Meanwhile at the cabin, Jojen tells some more mystical stuff to Bran and we see the tree behind him again. Locke comes by and he wants to take Bran. He even calls Hodor an idiot. Bran warges into Hodor and Hodor picks Locke up by his neck and then snaps it. Once Bran stops the warging Hodor is confused and horrified.

People keep talking about the rape scenes this season but for me Hodor was in two of the most disturbing moments - first when he was being mocked and attacked last week and now this. What Bran does is horrible - he invades this simple person's mind and now he made him kill. This is some really horrific shit. Not only is Bran's storyline boring, the abuse of Hodor is seriously hard to watch.
I do applaud the writers for including that moment - indicating how wrong it was. I am however appalled that they killed off Locke, probably my favorite minor character. There was so much potential there and seeing how he was invented by the writers they had such a freedom with him. And they kill him off? Noah Taylor was so amazing in the role, not to mention he is one of the most recognizable people in the cast, and they killed him off?

What will happen to the bear now?:(
Hodor sets Summer and Ghost free along with the Reeds. Bran can actually see Jon and Jojen reminds him that if Bran goes to Jon, he will never allow him to go further North (rightfully so, as this whole plan is idiotic). We see Jon frantically look around amidst the fight to find Bran and we see Bran decide he has to go. That was a beautiful and heartbreaking moment.

Jon walks like a badass into the cabin to fight with Karl. Karl has two knives and Jon has his sword Longclaw. The fight is really awesome and very well choreographed. As Jon is on the ground and is about to get killed some random Craster wife stabs Karl. As Karl is about to kill her Jon puts Longlaw through the back of his head, with the blade coming out of Karl's mouth. That was the disgusting thing we kept hearing about. And it was awesome!
Jon goes outside. We see Rast running away and passing Ghost's opened cage. Ghost attacks Rast. Then he comes to the cabin and we finally got a reunion between Jon and his beloved direwolf. Fuck you, I'm not crying.

Jon tells the women they can go with him to Castle Black but they don't want it. They only want the cabin to burn. The episode ends with the women and the watchers looking at Craster's Keep in flames.
As solid as the episode was, there are truly some weird things happening on the show - they have a revelation like that Jon Arryn thing and they took basically no advantage of it. On the other hand the invented raid on Craster's was such a wonderful sequence. It all makes me think of calm - or in case of show - confusion before the storm. Beginning the next episode the events that will come are so exciting not even people hell bent on screwing up could manage to do that. And I think that these last five episodes have done a great job at setting up the things to come.
Next episode entitled The Laws of Gods and Men brings with it one of my most anticipated sequences from the book - the trial of Tyrion Lannister. We also get to see Theon's sister Yara, Ramsay being under attack and most importantly (properly lit) Stannis being beautiful, sassy badass in Braavos. His scene with Mark Gatiss, who plays a representative of the Iron Bank, better be fucking awesome. Also - give him all the money and you know, bow, bitches.
PREVIOUS SEASON 4 RECAPS:

On the next Game of Thrones...

Seriously, finally, Stannis. Jesus Christ, he wasn't there in 2 eps. They had him say that amazing pantry line, break some ships and just being super hot in 4x03 and then they just took him away. I was in darkness. Now I can see the light again. 

Literally, as he is finally in well lit scenes for the first time this season - I've never seen so much joy about lighting, let me tell you - we are freaking out in Stannis/Dillane fanbase because of that. Good God maybe we even get new promo picture? You see, this is the fanbase that appreciates little stuff - Daenerys' fans have a shitload of promo footage, scenes, promo stills, I'm fairly sure there are even sexdolls of her by now. We get good lighting and a promo pic and we go nuts. SPOILERSSeriously it's possible I'm gonna be the happiest I've ever been when watching that show during ep.9 big moment.My God it's gonna be like Blackwater with the good guys winning. And I bet it's gonna be hot. Can his stubble make a glorious return? Oh, God, please! END SPOILERS

The sound you'll hear during his scenes is just gonna be me. EXPLODING.

So much sass. *inhuman fangirl noises* *sound of my heart breaking a little because he - unfortunately - shaved*

You know what they should do? They should make the mention of the fact that Stannis has rapists castrated. Mad-eyed ultra feminists and other professionally outraged idiots are still going on and on about the rape scene so making a mention of that would not only get audiences to like Stannis more and give them a sense of what kind of a men he is, it would also help with all that outrage. Hey look, a decent male character who is actually appalled with sexual violence and does something to stop it.

Rumor has it that Davos has a scene with 3 naked chicks. I don't think he does anything with them, they are just walking around and he acts uncomfortable. Can we please get Stannis in that scene too? Cause that would be even funnier. The look he gave naked Melisandre before the leeches burning was priceless.

When I saw the picture on the right I laughed for like 5 minutes. We all knew Gwendoline is incredibly tall, but Sophie is a giant too! This pic is actually less embarrassing for Kit than that Rolling Stone cover.

 Drogon loses his shit in next episode. That's as specific as I can be. Also I just can't wait for Tyrion's trial. This is gonna be the best pokerface from Tywin in history of the series so far. Cersei's gonna be in full-on bitch mode. I missed that, her playing nice and just walking around with the sad look on her face is not the Cersei I know and love.

 My condolences to the girls out there already halfway to crushing on Iwan Rheon as Ramsay (to those of you unfamiliar with the show, the most evil fuck on Game of Thrones). HBO is determined to push them over the edge - they're having him fight shirtless in next episode, for absolutely no reason at all. Yet some people wore a coat during their sex scene. No, I'm not letting that one go.

Brienne and Pod!

 I teared up so bad during this scene:

Look at Harington's face. He is so cute. If Ghost licked him, I'd die.

I didn't think it was possible for Shailene Woodley to be any dumber. I was wrong.

I don't have this much issues with her doing all that nature stuff. Hey, I have so many herbs (they're all legal, don't get excited) here, I basically add them to everything and I believe in a lot of things people would probably find silly. However, saying you are spreading your legs outside to let sunshine into your vagina and bringing a horseradish that looks like a dick to talk shows? She should hang out with Jennifer Lawrence. They could combine their interests and puke clay on Madonna's yard or something.

Check out those adorable pics from Crimson Peak set!

 The new Interstellar poster is kinda cool. But the movie posters these days are so bad anything that's not so awful you feel like you're gonna go blind, is great.

There is so much hypocrisy in media right now that I decided to stop reading pretty much all recaps/reviews written by professionals. The Playlist has such an idiot recaping Game of Thrones I am simply stunned - I find it offensive to the show someone like that is even allowed to watch it. Then there is all this outrage because of rape scenes in GoT but what of Hannibal? They had a lesbian character have sex with a man. Honestly, what the fuck? She did that to get pregnant but there are other ways. They only had that sex scene because of sensationalism. They are shamelessly using fanservice to boost ratings because the show is on the verge of cancellation. They reduced female characters to either victims or sex toys. But because it's a niche show no one is complaining. They are sending their vitriol towards hugely popular show like Game of Thrones because they want to stir shit up and get more readers and attention. These people disgust me.

Honestly the writing on Hannibal has gotten so bad- especially towards the female characters - that even I find it offensive. Then there are the tweets Bryan Fuller writes to the disappointed fans of the show that are honestly so freaking rude. I liked the show so much in its first season but the new one makes no sense, the character of Mason was made into caricature and Alana replaced her heart and brain with...lower parts. Oh and the main source of mystery is 'is that person dead? Maybe they're alive?' because Fuller himself gives people possible outcomes, no matter how ridiculous - 'someone was shot in the head? Wait there is this unlikely thing we can do and they'll be alive!". So stupid.

I hope it gets canceled. We need proper Victarion for season 5.

Lana Del Rey finally released the video for West Coast and it is gorgeous

Her new album Ultraviolence will be released in June. June is also when they release new Game of Thrones soundtrack - in other words with these two, I'm set. This is practically all I listen to.

Brittani shares her favorite movie titles

Join Katy's Blockbusted blogathon

Chicks with accents celebrate their podcast's first anniversary

Andrew rants about the cliches of portraying fathers in movies

Tom reviews Under the Skin

Courtney writes about Grand Budapest Hotel

Alex lists top 10 actresses never nominated for an Oscar

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The Laws of Gods and Men is, so far, the best episode of the season. While I did enjoy the Purple Wedding as a stand-alone sequence more than the trial and episode 2 ending is my favorite so far, this episode was far better mostly because of the strong script and directing (and in spite of some questionable choices made by some of the actors). Almost every scene was very good and the episode felt very well planned and carefully orchestrated.

We finally see Stannis, in the very first scene of the episode. Stannis and Davos go to Braavos and we see stunning shot of the Titan, as their ship sails beneath it (the trailers' money shot this year - there will be more epic shots this year, but because of spoiler risk they couldn't show them in promos). Considering how long I'll have to wait until I see Stannis again, I'm just gonna shamelessly fangirl for a little while.
Oh my God. Not only did Stannis finally get some screentime and a really good scene but there was some good lighting going on. Well, kinda - at least it was better than usual. Can I just come to the set and, I don't know, bring a gigantic lamp with me?! Although me being on that set would be a gigantic security issue. I'd take so much stuff home with me. Swords. Dresses. Stephen Dillane.

The scruff is back. Yes, yes, YES! Please get even scruffier. While all of you are losing it over this awesome dragon CGI in this episode, I'm losing it over the fact Stannis refuses to shave.

And also - all the faces.
Stannis walks around the room in the Iron Bank of Braavos, complaining how long he is forced to wait. Davos is trying to get him to chill and sit but his efforts are futile. Stannis does not chill.

Suddenly the door opens and Tycho (Mark Gatiss) and other bankers walk in. Tycho asks Stannis to sit. Stannis takes a moment to decide what to do and reluctantly does it.

My God, even the way Dillane sits down is so Stannis.
Tycho refers to Stannis as "lord" and Davos is quick to correct him - Stannis is the king. Tycho points out that there is a king sitting on the Throne - Tommen. Stannis says the boy is a bastard and the throne is not his.

A quick conversation follows where Tycho questions Stannis about his army (turns out Stannis has 4,000 men) and resources (Dragonstone produces none, unless you count crazy religious gibberish as a resource). Tycho is saying how much he believes in numbers and how blood and rights don't really matter this much to bankers. During all of this Stannis throws the most hilarious "you brought me here....for this shit?" look towards Davos and Davos responds with his best '...sorry' look.
Stannis gets up and Davos decides to try and convince Tycho one more time. While Stannis stands there looking at the wall - because Stannis Baratheon does not fucking beg - Davos shows Tycho his mutilated hand - Stannis chopped off his fingers once because Davos was a smuggler. Davos goes on to say that it was a fair punishment and Stannis is a just man and when he says he'll do something - he will do as he promised.

Davos had a great speech here. He reminds Tycho that after Tywin dies (and he is almost 70) the Throne will be left to a child, a Queen people despise and the Kingslayer. Stannis is a leader. Stannis is in his prime (I was like this when he said that). Stannis is the man. Stannis is someone who would honor the debts. The scene ends with a cliffhanger and we don't know what Tycho's response is. But we will see him again, in future seasons.

Can the writers please get the audience to believe in Stannis as much as me and Davos believe in him? They will have a good shot for making that happen soon. Let's hope they take it.
We get another scene with Davos, when he visits his pirate friend in the bathhouse. He gives him some gold and asks him to join him and Stannis. That scene was there to show all the boobs. Also to piss me off that we didn't get Stannis in that bathhouse - his reactions to the said boobs would have been hysterical.

We cut to Theon's fearless sister Yara (the only tolerable Greyjoy) reading a letter about her brother written by Ramsay Snow to her men. The letter mentions Theon's castration and the killing of other Ironborn. Yara urges her men to fight with her for their Prince. As she says those words we see (for absolutely no reason at all) Ramsay having sex with Myranda.
Yara arrives to Dreadfort and gets to Theon quite easily. Theon is unfortunately so brainwashed - not to mention he has always been a coward - he thinks it's a trick and Yara has to drag him away from his cage. He yells that he is Reek and goes all batshit on her.

Ramsay appears, shirtless, obviously, and the fight begins. While all this is happening Theon bites Yara's hand and runs back to his cage. This is some Eyrie-quality insanity. Some Ironborn are killed and Ramsay's loses some men as well. Yara tells him no more men will die if he gives her Theon. Ramsay mentions that she has balls, way bigger than her brother. Oh, Ramsay. Such wit.
He then takes a key and opens a cage with his hunting dogs. Yara runs away and gets on her boat telling the men her brother is dead. As ultimately pointless as all of this was - let's save Theon-oh no dogs-Theon is dead - at least it was an exciting scene that managed to establish just how broken Theon is without any torture porn (well, apart from that Ramsay/Myranda thing - he was also covered in cuts after he left her, I think that scene went on a little longer in original cut and was shortened - there was a moment in trailers where she slaps him and that wasn't in this scene). Also it was cool of them to remind people of Yara's existence.

Ramsay rewards Theon/Reek with a bath for his loyalty. He asks him if he loves him. He also tells him there is a castle with bad men in it and Reek must pretend to be someone else. To be 'Theon Greyjoy'.

I had to watch Reek take the world's creepiest bath but you just couldn't find the way to get Stannis in that bathhouse?
Meanwhile, in the land of boredom and dragons, a man is there with his child and his goats and Drogon appears, burns shit down and flies away with roasted goat. That was harsh - these goats were cute. A man comes to see Daenerys and tells her what happened. She promises to repay him 3x for what he lost. A lot of book readers scream about this scene today because I think every book reader was expecting it to be something else, but I think that scene is just the set up and we're getting the eventual scene later this season.

Because while Stannis gets scraps of screentime, Dany gets to have set up scenes.

Anyways, Drogon CGI was impressive. We see far less of dragons this season, which I think is great - we saw so much of them and so little of direwolves in the past and now it's the other way around. And they are saving up - there are new creatures appearing in the last two episodes this season, with the finale containing so much CGI, it's the show's most expensive episode yet.
Another man appears before Dany - Hizdahr. Turns out that he is the son of one of the crucified masters. He asks Daenerys to allow him to bury his father. Dany looks turned on again. I refuse to have sympathy for her, seeing how Jorah is there, like right next to her, and she does nothing about it.

I usually defend Emilia Clarke but she was really bad this week. Iain Glen did more with one look than she did with the entire scene. I think Clarke and Dinklage are both overly confident - they are continuously praised - at least when it comes to big award nominations - to high heavens for their work on the show and they are not even best actors - and certainly not the ones giving the best performances this season - in the show.
We travel back to King's Landing where at early morning a Small Council meeting is to be held. Oberyn, chilling, sitting like he doesn't care - because in truth, he really doesn't, expresses the hope that the meetings won't always be held this early as he stayed up late last night. He wonders if since he is now on the Small Council he is gonna be a master of something and Mace Tyrell promptly responds that Tywin already made Mace the Master of the Ships.

Tywin enters and everyone stands up, except for Oberyn. The Hound is briefly discussed and Tywin sets a bounty on his head. Varys gives the account of Hound killing Lannister soldiers - "the phrase FUCK the King was uttered". I so missed Varys. Then conversation turns to Daenerys, because why fear 100,000 wildlings approaching your Kingdom or its rightful King and terrific commander gathering the army when you can worry about incompetent horny chick and her goat killing dragons instead.
Varys mentions how Jorah no longer spies for them in regards to Daenerys. He also mentions her armies and the Unsullied. Oberyn says that Varys is right and Unsullied are to be feared - turns out he saw them first hand in Essos. He mentions they are impressive in battle but less so in the bedroom.

Oh, Oberyn.

Tywin asks Varys if his little birds can get near Dany and Varys says yes. Then Tywin asks Mace to bring him a paper and a quill as he needs to write something. Friendly reminder that the last time Tywin wrote letters The Red Wedding happened. I'm not saying something will happen. On the other hand - maybe I am?
Varys and Oberyn have a little chat in the Throne room, which made me miss Littlefinger a bit, as well as Oberyn did in the scene, mentioning how Varys should hang out with him and Ellaria in the brothel as they have good wine and boys on retainer. He then tells Varys that he is sure he likes boys and Varys says no. Damn, everyone always accuses Varys of that.

Varys responds he never desired anything - as he saw what people's desires have done to this country. When Oberyn asks him what he is interested in he looks at the Iron Throne.
Jaime goes to Tyrion's cell to bring him for the trial which is held in the Throne room. As Tyrion walks in, people scream 'Kingslayer!' at him. Tommen announces that he recluses himself from the trial and Tywin will be the judge instead. No doubt a decision Tywin influenced, but perhaps also due to Tommen's belief his uncle is innocent?

The other two judges are Oberyn and Mace. Tyrion is asked how he pleas and he responds that he didn't do it. Most of the lines during the trial were lifted straight from the pages of the book and I was delighted, as it is a wonderfully written chapter.
The witnesses give their testimonies - there is Merryn, Joffrey's guard, talking about how often Tyrion threatened the king. Then there's Pycelle reading a list of poisons - that were apparently stolen, which he accuses Tyrion of. He also has Sansa's necklace - apparently it was found with Dontos' body. He says that the poison - called the Strangler - was hidden in one of the gems. He also mentions how it was used to kill the 'most noble child that ever lived' and I laughed for like a minute.

Cersei testifies, doing her best poor, innocent me impression. She repeats the joy to ashes phrase. Oberyn picks up on the words about the debt and asks Cersei what debt did Tyrion mean - she says that she discovered he was keeping whores in his tower and she asked him to keep that business to the brothel. The fact she captured and had Ros tortured is obviously conveniently missing from her testimony.
Even Varys, who I think all thought was Tyrion's friend, goes against him. Tyrion asks Varys if he forgot that he saved the city, something Varys said will never be forgotten and Varys responds 'sadly my lord, I don't forget anything'.

Tywin announces recess. We see him eat which I got excited about considering what my favorite book theory is. Anyways, Jaime visits him and tells him that Tywin owes him his life as Jaime disrespected Mad King's orders and killed him instead of killing Tywin. In the moment that never happened in the books Jaime promises to give up the Gold Cloak and become Tywin's heir in exchange for Tyrion's life.
In the books Tyrion is visited by his uncle Kevan (who you may remember from season 1) who mentions to him his father doesn't want him dead and will instead send him to the Wall. Tywin, in that scene with Jaime, seems like he had that plan all along as well, but he is glad that Jaime will finally give up the cloak.

Jaime tells Tyrion what the plan is - plea for mercy, ask to join Night's Watch, no more outbursts. I suppose this whole Jaime gives up his cloak thing is not important now anyways, as Tyrion does the one thing Jaime asked him not to do and the outburst indeed happens.

Because here comes the final witness. Shae.
I wonder how many of you non book readers were shocked? The show made this little detour - "Shae went to Pentos", to throw you off the track, which obviously now we know didn't happen. I wonder where is Bronn? Did he know Shae was apprehended? Did he know she'll do this? Did he betray Tyrion too? Anyways, Shae appears and the look on Dinklage's face was the only time I thought the words 'great acting' should be attributed to his performance last night. So powerful.

Shae shamelessly lies about everything - she says Tyrion forced her to do things and she didn't want to do them. She tells the judges Tyrion wanted Sansa and that's why he wanted to kill Joffrey - to make her a gift. As she says all those things we see stunned Margaery - we know Margaery knows Tyrion is innocent,. I like to think she was shocked at Shae's ability to be with someone and then after it's over stab them in the back in such a cold and brutal manner.
MAJOR BOOK SPOILERSAs Shae is talking we see Tywin far more than Cersei. In the book it is Cersei who manipulated Shae to testify and Shae also slept with Tywin. The show has tendency to whitewash Cersei - will Shae betrayal be completely attributed to Tywin? He did seem to be looking at her curiously during this trial and Cersei told him about Shae a while back. 

I always wondered abut that final Storm of Swords chapter about Tyrion - did Tywin bed many whores? Did he bed this one because it was his son's? Did he really hate him so? I wonder what they'll do on the show - on one hand we have Tywin trying to spare Tyrion's life. But why have Shae testify then, if it turns out he is behind it in the series? I hope the show goes into greater detail considering how and when Shae and Tywin started as I was always confused by that in the book.END OF SPOILERS
I will not be joining the shockingly large group of people praising Peter Dinklage for his work last night. I think, after 3 seasons of wonderful work, Dinklage stopped caring, or perhaps only trying, as much as he did before. He has been uneven this whole season - he is great in quieter, tender moments - like his scene with Pod - or just when he acts with his eyes - like that  moment Shae enters the room - but holy crap watching him in that ending was like seeing Meryl Streep in August: Osage County again. That is if Streep dropped acid and took quaalludes.

I'm disappointed in Dinklage. The writing was great - though perhaps they did the scene disservice by avoiding Shae's 'he told me to call him the Giant of Lannister!', the line from the book - after she says it, the crowd roars with laughter and Tyrion snaps. Still, whatever the hell Dinklage was doing with his face there was way, way too much. Instead of coming off as bitter, heartbroken, betrayed man, he came off like he was only missing The Joker's make up here.
Some say the intent was to make Tyrion look deranged and ugly - but it was distracting. I literally went 'what the hell is he doing?' as I was watching the scene - that's not what good acting is, when person watching it is thinking of actor, not the character while witnessing the scene. Thankfully the lines were great and when Dinklage stopped doing whatever it was supposed to be with his face he was good.  

Pedro Pascal - now, that's someone who disappeared into character last night - he was fantastic and I loved they kept Oberyn bored/amused attitude during the trial.

Anyways, in his outburst Tyrion yells at the people that he wishes he never saved them and that he wishes that Stannis would have killed them all (preach!). He says to Cersei that watching her see her vicious bastard die gave him more relief than bedding thousands lying whores. He goes on to say he wants to confess and he says he confesses of being guilty of being a dwarf and being on a trial his entire life.
Tywin laughs at him, saying that's not what he is on trial for and Tyrion continues to say that he did not kill Joffrey but he will get no justice in this trial. In a fantastic ending Tyrion demands trial by combat and we witness everyone's reaction - Jaime is disappointed as Tyrion just threw away Tywin's offer, Tywin is furious, Cersei looks cunning, Margaery looks shocked.

And Oberyn? Oberyn gets so excited he actually leans forward.
Overall it was a great, exciting episode. It set up future storylines for certain characters very well and it certainly depicted the trial in an accurate way. Apart from my complaints regarding Dinklage, the ending really won me over and his little smirk at furious Tywin right before the camera showed his father again was terrific.

You thought that trial was exciting?

Just wait till you see trial by combat.


Do I whine about next episode now or wait till it airs? Here's the issue - the scene which I was certain will be in finale because 1. it would be a perfect set up for final scene of the season 2. it's just so good - it's finale material, is happening next week. I'm sure it's gonna be terrific, but it's just seems like an opportunity wasted. I bet it closes the episode too - just to get you to crawl on the walls more as after episode 7 there is yet again an excruciating 2-week long wait for the next one, thanks to Memorial Day.

The next episode, entitled Mockingbird (Littlefinger's sigil) will re-introduce us to the Mountain, show Tyrion having few visitors, Lysa getting even crazier at the Eyrie, Sansa in one of the fans' favorite scenes of hers and Dany wasting our time some more, this time with Daario. There are also Stannis' ladies at Dragonstone and according to synopsis we'll see Brienne and Pod again.
PREVIOUS SEASON 4 RECAPS:

Katy from Girl Meets Cinema is hosting Blockbusted Blogathon. She encourages us to write about one B-movie we adore and list the reasons why. 

The rules are:

1. Choose a super cheesy blockbuster B-rated movie(s). Genres include: disaster flicks, alien invasions, creature attacks, retro horror, and 80s and 90s action, supernatural.

2. In your post, include a picture(s) of your selection (etc) and reasons why you love that particular movie.(...)

3. Remember this blogathon is not about "bad movies"; it's about our unbreakable bond towards a cheesy blockbuster-esque movie with a setting, story, or character that introduces or deals with something not from this ordinary realm. (...)
Granted the movie I'm choosing is unbelievably awful but I think it is considered a B movie (or Z movie...) - it's a cross between retro horror and supernatural (though to be fair it's just another mangled Hollywood version of Wiccan religion. They'll never learn.).

It's the one, the only The Wicker Man remake, starring Nic Cage.

Here's the official synopsis - While recovering from a tragic accident on the road, the patrolman Edward Malus receives a letter from his former fiancée Willow, who left him years ago without any explanation, telling that her daughter Rowan is missing. Edward travels to the private island of Summerisle, where Willow lives in an odd community that plant fruits, and she reveals that Rowan is actually their daughter. 
 Along his investigation with the hostile and unhelpful dwellers, Edward discloses that the locals are pagans, practicing old rituals to improve their harvest, and Rowan is probably alive and being prepared to be sacrificed. When he locates the girl, he finds also the dark truth about the wicker man. 

If someone asked me for a movie recommendations for comedies, this movie would be there. There are so many bad movies out there but I have yet to see a bad movie that is funnier than this one. I'm still amazed people involved in the production actually thought they were making a horror movie.

The film is a remake of an actual good horror film of the same title. It is however a completely stand alone laugh riot.

Nic Cage in the bear suit.
Nic Cage punching random women.
Nic Cage suddenly speaking in southern accent.
Nic Cage pulling a gun on a woman and stealing her bike.

I could go on and on but all I can say is - watch this movie.

And also, watch this:

I was literally gasping for breath. Good God, sir. 

"We've been waiting here since mid-day", I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU FOR 2 GODDAMN WEEKS!

 Stannis' next scene may turn out to be the most beautiful thing I've seen on the show. And that includes Wildfire explosion. And Robb's butt.

Friday last week, I'm like OK promo pics will be here soon. Stannis will get a new promo pic! YEEEY!!! Then promo pics drop, there's only 5 of them and Stannis is not there. I understand that Emilia Clarke has boobs but does she really need a promo pic every fucking time she shows up on screen? Monday = a lot of new pictures, no Stannis. No, wait, I'm not being fair. The total number of promo pics for the episode is 70. And you can see Stannis in one of them. This is the third promo pic overall with him in it. Out of 7 episodes, approximately 200 pictures - 3 pics. 

I mean I'd cry but this is fucking hysterical.

SPOILERSI have to wait a month until he is in an episode again. He's not in 7, he's not in 8, there's two week hiatus between 7 and 8 - a month. 30 fucking days.  Hopefully when he shows up it's gonna be worth all the wait. And torture. And having to put up with people disrespecting and underestimating him. People better treat him like God after episode 9 - I mean the man is pulling a Gandalf from the end of the battle in Helm's Deep.END OF SPOILERS

So there is this really cool interview with Peter Dinklage. Everyone is excited because the showrunners got drunkand gave him hints about the ending. Who cares. Go to 2:20.

Look at Kit Haringtonon the set of that new Spooks movie:

It literally looks like in the third one he is listening to director telling him 'ok, in the next take let's try NOT looking like a 5 year old girl playing with a water gun'.

SPOILERSVery soon Harington will have scenes with Dillane and I think I'm gonna explode from laughing so hard. I've seen Dillane annihilate actual charismatic actors with his intensity - Harington has just developed baby charisma this year. And he is so short. To quote The Thick of It - it's gonna be like watching a lion rape a sheep.END OF SPOILER

This was awesome:

I think Oberyn got a semi.

How awesome is Lena in that gif? This is my avatar everywhere right now. It's like bitchy....intensifies. Pascal and Waldau won that episode. They were so into character, it was insane.

 SPOILERSSo I was talking about the show on boards, you know as one does, and something came to me - in the books Nymeria pulled the body from the river. There is tons of CGI this season, there were a lot of wolves, people are kinda upset about the lack of Arya's wolf dream and we know that the finale is the most expensive episode yet. What if they have Nymeria....by the side of Lady Stoneheart? I mean that would be awesome.END OF SPOILERS

God, I'm brilliant. I'm not sure it even happens, probably not, but seriously - I'm brilliant.

I talked about promo pics. Look at that promo still of Sansa from upcoming episode. This is stunning.

Check out the pictures of GoT actresses without make up. My God they are all so pretty. Lena! Michelle!

I was listening to episode commentaries on DVD lately and they really should get Lena to record them for each episode. She is so funny - she constantly refers to herself as 'horseface', drops the F word a lot and she has all of those cute stories - apparently when she was learning the script for Blackwater she kept mixing up the animals in the final tale she tells Tommen. 

The next episode is gonna be great. All of you Oberyn fans - he has really great scene with Tyrion and the final thing he says to him, if they kept it, is so awesome. Chills.

So Hannibal got renewed. Eh. The show is so bad now - the whole baby thing with Hannibal setting up different events just so that the show had something to use its time on was so lame. The only thing that is consistent is how freaking awful Michael Pitt is. He used to be good, what the hell happened to him? Every time he said the word 'papa' I wanted to punch my TV screen. And then I see those obsessed Hannibal fans talking about how he should get an Emmy. I'm just like this:

Channing Tatum is Gambit, Angelina Jolie has make up mishap and Solange Knowles kicks Jay-Z in an elevator. Where are we?

The posters for Macbeth:

I love the one with Fassbender. Cotillard one? Not so much. What is up with her hair? Is she dark Leia? Is she gonna substitute the gold bikini with the one made out of scraps of her victims? Ooh, that's not a bad idea. Some footage from the movie was screened today at Cannes and the reaction is very positive. Fassbender is reportedly fantastic.

Grace of Monaco is apparently shit. That doesn't surprise me. What surprises me is that some people say it is worse than Diana. I cannot imagine anything worse than Diana.

The teaser for Cinderalla is impossibly lame.

Does anyone know if senator Furlong is coming back to Veep? He was the funniest character in first two seasons. Speaking of Veep - the last few episodes were hilarious. Drunk Gary's idea about what to do with expired sperm was hysterical.

Quick blog announcement- there are people, whose blogs I visit/link/leave comments on regularly, and I see them all over other blogs with their comments, yet for some reason they don't ever visit mine (and I mean for weeks), even when they are featured in RF. Frankly I'm fed up with it so you can expect these visits of mine to stop.

Alex and Brittani review Neighbors

Brittani also has a hilarious recap of recent Game of Thrones - she calls it as it was with the witnesses

and she also hosts Favorite Movie Titles blogathon so go join it!

Chris shares the films that almost made him cry 

Jack reviews Frank

Mariah writes about Reign of Fire

The Focused Fimographer reviews Godzilla

RELATED POSTS:

Mockingbird - in spite of being the last episode before the storm - the remaining 3 episodes of the season are like a gigantic equivalent of your usual big episode 9 - turned out to be the greatest episode of the season. There were some hiccups and flaws but when the scenes worked? They went right into Thrones hall of fame.

We open with Tyrion being yelled at by Jaime in his cell. Jaime is furious that Tyrion threw away his chance to live. Tyrion asks him if Jaime would be his champion, but Jaime admits to him that he no longer can be considered a great swordsman.

Tyrion asks him to go and look for Bronn who fought for him once before. That whole scene was really wonderful - Dinklage was so much better here with all the subtle nuances than during that ridiculous over acting display last week.
Tyrion asks Jaime who does Cersei plan on choosing for her Champion. Jaime just falls silent and we cut to the glorious re-introduction of Gregor Clegane, The Mountain. He was played by two different actors already - non book readers may remember him from the moment he beheaded a horse during tourney in season 1 or Harrenhal scenes in season 2.

Now Gregor is played by Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, one of the strongest men in the world. He does have the right look for it - he is huge, to the point Lena Headey, a tall actress, looked so tiny next to him. The thing is that I don't feel the show has done the good enough job on establishing just how monstrous The Mountain is.
They conveyed his brutality well but what is missing is the extent of his evil - the horrific lack of compassion or any good qualities, the horrible tales of what he did - the story of the rape of innkeeper's daughter is one of the worst instances of cruelty in the books. We did have Oberyn's line hinting at Mountain's lack of humanity ('he raped her with their blood still on his hands') as well as Hound mentioning him burning his face, but they should have given us more.

The fear of the Mountain comes not just from him possessing the strength to crush you, it's because he can make anyone his rag doll, treat a person like a piece of meat. He just doesn't care. He killed Elia's child by crushing the newborn's head - throwing an infant at the wall. This is the kind of a man he is.
The scene was very well done with ominous music playing in the background and Cersei relishing the sight of the Mountain cutting down random people in front of the city gates. Cersei walks over to him, stepping over the spilled guts of common folk (I loved loved loved that shot) and welcomes him to the capitol. He asks who is he fighting. Cersei asks if it matters. Mountain just shrugs.

We check in with Arya and Hound. They encounter a wounded man and after pointless chat and uninspired delivery of Arya's 'nothing is just nothing' quote, the Hound kills the man and stops his suffering. Foreshadowing couldn't be heavier here.
Suddenly Biter throws himself on Hound and bites his neck. Rorge is there too, the man who threatened Arya back in season 2 - it's a small world, Westeros, isn't it? Rorge informs the Hound that there is a bounty on his head and Hound asks 'is that what happens when you tell the king to fuck off?'. You've gotta love Rory McCann.

Hound asks if this guy is on Arya's list and she responds that no, because she doesn't know his name. When Rorge gives her his name she says thank you and kills him after which The Hound says 'you're learning'. Also it only dawned on me that Rorge was played by the guy who was Errol in Snatch.
Our hero and savior Jon Snow returns to Castle Black after his raid on Craster's Keep. But the lovin' ends with the hug from Sam. The bitchy duet of Slynt and Thorne appears and Thorne tells Snow that this is not a place for a wolf. Jon leaves with Ghost, insulted, to find a place for his buddy.

The boy whose parents died when the wilding attacked was there too - seems to me like he is assuming the place of Satin from the books and no doubt he will have something very important to do in the battle episode.
We get another scene in Night's Watch storyline in which Jon yet again tries to speak sense to the people in charge and no one listens. He proposes that they seal the tunnels, which would also mean cutting the wall from North and putting a stop to the Wallers patrolling the North.

In a long run this is a bad plan - as we know, and Jon knows ,what is out there. But right now? The Watch doesn't stand a chance. Thorne seems a bit unsure of his 'Night's Watch will win' motto when Jon mentions the giants. They will storm these walls and if they go through, the whole North will be flooded by savage wildlings. And they won't stop there, nor will the other things that live in far North.
I really liked the little moment in which Sam tries to hold back Jon when he is about to lose his temper. It may be a hint for a certain scene people are looking forward to in finale. I don't think it's gonna happen this year, I hope not - the more of Wall the better and there is no need to rush it.

Meanwhile, in King's Landing, Bronn arrives to see Tyrion in his cell. Shae isn't mentioned at all which I thought was a big plot hole - Bronn is the last person who saw her when she was about to get on the ship. And Tyrion doesn't even ask if he had anything to do with her not leaving the city?
Anyways, turns out that Bronn is to be married to Lollys Stokeworth. A noble girl, which would mean by marrying her Bronn will climb even higher on social ladder. A match arranged by Cersei, to get Bronn far away from Tyrion.

In the book the only way this is even possible is because Lollys was raped by over hundred men when the mutiny started - in season 2, after Myrcella was shipped off to Dorne. See, contrary to what some outraged idiots claim the show does not take every opportunity to show violence. She is now pregnant with a bastard and as Tyrion notes 'it's the only reason she'd want to marry scum like Bronn'.
The scene was handled much better than in the book - in the book Tyrion was bitter and angry and they parted on horrible terms. Here there's understanding between them - even if Bronn would fight there is a small chance he could actually survive facing the Mountain.

We get several very interesting lines from Bronn abut the possible duel. I thought it was very clever for them to have Bronn talk about the Mountain - makes the audience more nervous for whoever ends up fighting him, seeing how the man is seemingly unbeatable and we witnessed Bronn defeat a skilled knight in season 1.
Bronn leaves Tyrion after assuring him that he does like him and they are friends. He simply likes himself more. Tyrion understands and they shake hands. I do hope we will see Bronn again in the show, unlike in the books. Hopefully he joins Jaime on his quest next year, capitalizing on those practice scenes we had this season..

Tyrion is now left alone with no champion and his only two possible choices both turned him down. We see a very telling shot of him being alone and so small in his dirty, hopeless cell.
In Meereen Dany finally gets laid. That's the gist of it.

I'm really almost forgetting what it's like when Emilia Clarke is not horrible on screen. The actor who plays Daario is actually quite good and likable. But her? Sitting there with glass of wine in her hand telling him to take off his clothes...I was embarrassed for her.

Is it Meereen: Cougar Town? Is she a middle aged divorcee? Because she is acting more like Cersei here than a young, adventurous and erotically charged girl. Clarke is trying to do something here but my God she is failing miserably. Trying to come off as sexy and confident, she just comes off as laughable.
At Dragonstne we are treated to annual nudity from Carice van Houten. She is a gorgeous, talented actress but there is a massive confusion here. The Dargonstone story arc is not hers, it's Stannis. She is the shadow that lurks, he is the main character. But that's more of a digression over completely fucked up screen time for the actors in season 3. Funny thing is that Stannis and Melisandre work best when they are separated from each other.

That's also true here. We couldn't see Stannis tonight and we won't see him for a while, as much as it pains me being deprived of Stephen Dillane's beauty, it's the right call to make. And that invented scene at Dragonstone this week was actually really good.
Stannis' wife Selyse comes over and acts shy when faced with Melisandre's naked beauty, much like her husband does whenever Melisandre happens to be naked around him. Melisandre tries to make a  joke and Selyse doesn't get it. Making a joke at Dragonstone...it's like making a joke in the middle of a funeral. For a unicorn.

Melisandre tells Selyse a bit abut her powders and potions. One of them is said to cause lust. Selyse asks if Melisandre used it on Stannis and Melisandre says no. Of course not. Stannis doesn't need a potion to bang a woman on a table.

Ah, memories.
Anyways, in highly disturbing turn of events Shireen is mentioned. Selyse and Melisandre are leaving Dragonstone to join Stannis and he wants her to come with them. Melisandre shows Selyse the flames, telling her it's important that Shireen comes with them. I just hope nothing happens to Shireen. If Mel does something to her, bitch is done. Stannis would kill her for much less. Also Stannis loves Shireen - and there is so little love in his life as it is. Please don't take her away from him.

Speaking of love and suffering - Jorah. Daario runs into him as he is doing his walk of shame pride cause he banged the Queen. Jorah is visibly upset. He walks in and Dany has a new dress on. Damn, this just makes everything worse for poor Jorah. Anyways he questions her decision making, telling her that Daario is not someone that should be trusted.
What follows is a well written scene rescued by Glenn because Clarke might as well be a mannequin. Jorah convinces her not to execute the masters who reinstated the slavery in the cities she conquered.

Dany takes his advice and is very kind to him, given her choice of words, she let's Jorah know how much his counsel means to her.
Back on the road there is a lovely scene with The Hound and Arya. Arya tries to tend to his wound with fire but Hound freaks out. He refers to the story of how his brother - The Mountain - once burned his face. He says the worst thing about it was that his own brother did that.

He finally lets Arya wash his wound. They are both so broken together.
Another power couple, Brienne and Pod are having a meal at the inn. And who's there? None other than Hot Pie! Brienne tells him they are looking for Sansa Stark. After they leave the inn Hot Pie mentions that he thinks Brienne is a proper lady so he tells her the truth. He tells her that he never met Sansa but he met Arya.

Brienne asks him about what happened and at one point Hot Pie mentions Brotherhood. The noise you heard when that happened was just me yelling like crazy because SOON. Anyways, Hot Pie gives Brienne a greatly improved version of his wolf breed for Arya and asks her to give her that when she finds her.
Brienne and Pod are approaching crossroads and sex and knowledge of all things savant Pod mentions how Arya is probably headed to the Eyrie, where her aunt Lysa is and perhaps Sansa is there too. I liked how given the events that are about to go down they made a decision to go to Eyrie at the crossroads. If only they chose the other path....

In King's Landing Oberyn visits Tyrion's cell. In the finest scene of the entire season so far, Oberyn tells Tyrion about Cersei's little game - how she came to him acting all nice, but in truth she wanted to manipulate him into making sure Tyrion is executed.
Oberyn mentions that him and Tyrion met before, many years back. Oberyn and his sister Elia visited Casterly Rock. While they were on the way there all they could hear was how a monster was just born to Tywin Lannister. How he has claws, red eye and a tail. When Oberyn and Elia arrived Cersei kept telling them that soon they'll see the baby.

She finally showed them Tyrion and Oberyn notes how Tyrion's head was a bit too large and limbs too small, but he was still just a baby. Oberyn tells Tyrion how Cersei pinched his penis an only stopped when Jaime stopped her. She said that Tyrion killed their mother and he shouldn't even be alive this long. That he'll soon be dead. Tyrion, with tears in his eyes, says 'sooner or later Cersei always gets what she wants'.
This is such a great scene, lifted pretty much from the books only from different scene - I believe Oberyn mentions that to Tyrion in books upon first arriving. Here it worked even better - it shows how Tyrion had to face injustice and humiliation from the moment he was born. It shows that the hatred Cersei has began because their mother died when Tyrion was born. Was it Tyrion's fault? No. But Cersei's hatred for him is so profound because it began in such a drastic way - her losing the mother she loved. Cersei has always been a psychopath but the beauty of those dynamics here is that nothing is easy, nothing is black or white. There is a reason for everything.

Oberyn tells Tyrion that he wants things too. In a gloriously powerful moment he reminds him that Gregor killed his nephew and niece and raped and killed his beloved sister. Oberyn wants justice. And all those who have wronged him are in King's Landing. He'll start with Gregor. He tells Tyrion he will be his champion and Tyrion has an expression of pure joy, relief and gratitude on his face.

We all did while watching that scene, didn't we?
Even though the iconic lines above were changed I didn't care because that scene was just as powerful as in the books - when it's the case I don't mind any tweaks or substitutions they chose to employ. I thought Dinklage delivered one of his better scenes in whole series here - his face told us so many things and he didn't overact once.

But it's Pascal who is the brightest star. Not since the introduction of Tywin Lannister in season 1 has a person embodied the character so profoundly. Oberyn stands there with all of his sadness and nobility while remembering what happened to Elia, tears in his eyes, courage in his heart, right on his side. I read that it was the first scene Pascal shot on the set. Amazing.
That scene was so wonderful and sets up the events of next episode so well I wish it was the ending to the episode, seeing how the other monumental scene didn't have as much impact as I hoped.

In Eyrie we are treated to one of the most beautifully written scenes in the books - Sansa witnessing the snow falling from the sky, thinking of home and building a snow castle - Winterfell. The scene was gorgeously shot and they really did the best they could with it.
In the books Sansa remembers snow ball fight with Arya and Bran. She desperately tries to remember all the little places in Winterfell when she builds the castle. I didn't like the way Sophie Turner acted out that scene and scene with Robin. In the book Sansa comes off as childlike, innocent, sweet. Turner came off as smug. There's something abut the way she speaks that just annoys me.

Robin destroys Sansa's castle, after he loses his temper. In the book Sansa destroyed his doll and Robin went into full on epilepsy attack. Here Sansa slapped him which I enjoyed. Combined with her comment on how much she'd enjoy seeing the people who threatened her die and her smile at Littlefinger's line about essentially killing those who hurt the ones we love, I feel like the show is hinting at Sansa becoming very cold and ruthless in the future. Hopefully, that would at least make her more interesting.
Littlefinger comes over and creepiness ensues. He tells Sansa how much he loved her mother. He tells her in a better world she could have been his daughter. He tells her she is more beautiful than her mother ever was. And he kisses her. The look on his face afterwards was one of the funniest things this season. This whole arc is messed up beyond belief, in many different ways.

While they are kissing we are treated to ingenious and clever shot in which camera slowly goes up to reveal Lysa, who witnessed the kiss.
Sansa comes over to the throne room and finds Lysa standing on the edge of the opened Moon Door. Lysa tells her about how the bodies that fall are sometimes in pieces and sometimes intact. Lysa tells her she saw what she did. Sansa assumes she is talking about her slapping Robin and she apologizes.

Then Lysa grabs her hair, calls her a whore and forces her to look down through Moon Door. She knows about the kiss, she tells Sansa that she cannot lie to her because she saw the whole thing with her own eyes.
Lysa goes full on stay away from my man, bitch on her and starts telling her how everyone who stood between her and Petyr is now dead, that this what happens to those who try to come between them. Turner was actually very good here - she really looked horrified. They didn't let us see the close up of the view from Moon Door - in fact that whole scene was low key. They do need all the money they can gather for the last 3 episodes, so it's understandable, but still disappointing.

Littlefinger walks in and tries to get Lysa to calm down. He tells her that he will send Sansa away. Lysa finally lets Sansa go and Sansa falls on the floor, traumatized. Littlefinger embraces Lysa.
He then tells her that he only loved one woman his whole life. She smiles, thinking that he means her. He says Only one. Only your sister. And then he shoves Lysa through the Moon Door. The scene was too short - it really should have been combined with Jon Arryn reveal. The build up was good but it needed few more lines between Littlefinger and Lysa.

I really don't mind all the changes but there is something I just don't understand. That scene right here is known as Only Cat among book readers. That's the last thing Littlefinger says to Lysa. It's an iconic line - you say Only Cat to the book reader and everyone knows the scene. Why, why, why change that? I'm not saying it's a huge flaw, but what kind of reasoning could they possibly have?
The only excuse I found was how non book readers are bad with names and wouldn't know who Cat is. Do we really think non book readers are this stupid? This is just an insulting suggestion. Out of all the unnecessary changes, this one is just the kind of thing writers seem to do because they can. Worse yet, there really should be more build up. It's like Eyrie storyline is a casualty - they needed time and money for other things this year.

Overall it's a good scene, thanks to Dickie and Turner and the chilling ending shot but sometimes when I watch the show the weird tweaks and puzzling choices made by showrunners occupy my mind more than what actually happens on screen.
We arrived at that horrible time of the year - the two week long hiatus. It's all because 2 years ago instead of watching Thrones people spent time with their families (madness) on Memorial Day. Blackwater, my favorite episode of the series, had much lower viewership than rest of the episodes. So now we have a hiatus. For shame, America.

In two weeks it's time for The Mountain and the Viper. Reek helps Ramsay take Moat Cailin, Lords Declarant arrive to investigate what happened to Lysa, Wildlings reach Mole's town.

And most importantly:

If you die before you say her name, ser, I will hunt you through all seven hells.

For Elia, for Tyrion and for justice.

PREVIOUS SEASON 4 RECAPS:

Lovely Brittani or Rambling Film is hosting her first ever blogathon. It revolves around the idea of choosing your favorite movie titles, for each letter of the alphabet. You don't have to like the movies you choose or even watch them, I suppose, but as it happens the ones I chose are all the films I enjoyed.

Rules:

1) Going through the alphabet, list your favorite movie title beginning with each letter. 

2) You don't have to necessarily like the movie to use it's title. 

3) Use the banner at the top of this post in yours.

4) Please have submissions in by Friday, May 23rd. (But I'll be honest, if you send them to me after that date, I'll still add them to my post.)

 ['Hero' by Enrique Iglesias plays in the background]

Chills. Can they just give Pascal all the awards? My God I was hyperventilating during that scene. I cannot believe we have to wait until next Sunday for the next episode.

Two weeks of waiting for that -------->

I mean what the fuck?! The promo alone is so incredibly exciting.

Look at him go with that spear. They even kept Ellaria's 'are you going to fight THAT?' line. This ep is looking so amazing.

Do not read the reviews or recaps without spoiler warnings, don't read anything unless you know the person marks spoilers - there is the review of the episode on Playlist (and funny tumblr recap of the episode) that blatantly spoils one character's story arc this season and this is something that the writers are trying to hide, as well as myself in my recaps. I'm constantly bending over backwards to throw non book readers off the right trail. And then some prick just writes about it without warning. 

I seriously need to add that promo here. It's like pure adrenaline:

I checked out Internet polls among non book readers. Judging from their predictions and how wrong those predictions are, they are going to be collecting the broken pieces of their minds for weeks after this season is over.

It also occurs to me - I'm a masochist. The thing I'm looking most forward to seeing on screen gave me nightmares after I read that chapter. Seeing it on screen will no doubt bring them back. It's like the bum behind the Winkies from Mulholland Drive in terms of shock and terror. 

I can't with this season. I can't.

<----  Also this was literally my reaction when Hot Pie said "the Brotherhood took us prisoner".

Is anyone still laughing at that expression Littlefinger had on his face after kissing Sansa? Cause I cannot stop.

Look at that shit. Imagine a scene with him, Stannis and Roose Bolton. That would be one hilarious battle of expressions.

Someone gifed that scene from Fugitive Pieces I wasn't able to gif because I would die trying. *fans herself* This is great as Stannis wasn't in last episode. I need Stannis. Oh God, Stannis.

A sad day. Thrones has its own JLaw - Sophie Turner gave this interview lately where she says there are two scenes in this season more shocking than Moon Door scene. Not only did she confuse the fans who went 'what about this, what about that scene?! It's more shocking, is it cut?!' - either she is overestimating the impact of Moon Door or she clearly doesn't know what the fuck is going on in other storylines, there are easily 10 bigger surprises in last 3 episodes, easily -

the bigger issue is this - some of the cast members didn't read the books. I mean it's 5 books. It's their job to portray those characters on screen. I understand the 'I want to play him/her a bit differently than in the books' excuse, but some of them are not even trying to excuse themselves.

Perhaps if Turner did read the books she wouldn't be so horribly misguided in her portrayal of snow castle scene. If Turner doesn't know what she is talking about, perhaps she should stop giving interviews and educate herself. I mean take Lena Headey - she didn't read them either but she at least takes interest in the show and other storylines, constantly fangirling over other characters and their stories.

Turner also had this to say about finale ending  'It’s a hopeful turn. It’s dramatic but it’s like, for once Game of Thrones isn’t so depressing.' Child, lay off the crack. That ending scene is the fucking definition of depressing - what's happening is good but the price is horrible, just horrible - and had Sophie stopped posing for pictures and bothered to so much as read wikipedia entry, she wouldn't be saying things that are beyond stupid.

At least Stephen Dillane doesn't pretend he knows anything. He just walks in, does what he feels is natural for his character and goes home. He is not there to confuse the fans, because he rarely even gives interviews (but when he does, it's such joy). His lack of clue as to what's gonna happen in the future of his character must have been adorable when he was reading his scenes for the current season. My God, what would I give to see his reaction to the biggest surprise in his storyline this season when he was reading the script - 'WHAT? WHERE?! Oh, bollocks!'

Have you guys heard of that whole situation with America Ferrera and prankster under her dress in Cannes? The only thing you really have to witness here is Kit Harington's reaction. 

And speaking of Kit (McConaughey tweet is hysterical too):

He's adorable. He actually did read the books and I do respect the guy for that. And he has been wonderful this whole season, no exceptions, which is not something I can't say about Turner or Clarke.

Neighbors was hysterical. I doubt any comedy this year will top Rogen hitting that ceiling fan. Oh my God. Look for my review on Monday.

So how about that Interstellar trailer? I really liked it, especially how subtle it was, I mean they almost didn't give anything away. Matt is looking good too. 

Speaking of the handsome devil:

Adorable.

Check out Eva Green living the dream in Cannes. 

 Let's just establish a prayer circle for Jeffrey Dean Morgan's bare ass making appearance in next season of Shameless. Literally one thing that would make this fantastic show even better. No, also - kill Jimmy. He is the worst. Even those boring brothers from last season were better than him.

 Come to think of it Eva is almost always lucky when it comes to the people who star with her in movies. Hell, she even got to work with Dillane in Perfect Sense. Look at him with a bunny:

I want to trade lives with that bunny. Literally. I'm serious here. *sobs because she's not that bunny* *sobs because One True King* *sobs because it's such a long wait for Stannis* *STANNIS!!!*

Speaking of handsome gentlemen, I'm done with Hannibal. They really crossed the line over repulsive shockfest I don't mind watching and repulsive shockfest that is just cheap and ridiculous last episode. They had Mason Verger cut his face but he stopped above the nose. Ridiculous, stupid, trashy looking and completely not in the spirit of what that scene was meant to be - either go all the way or don't show cheap gore at all.

The moment when his nose fell off was just too much. Can someone explain to me how did they even manage to show that on NBC? That was the most disgusting thing I saw on television.

She has no right to even say the world's most beautiful three words. I feel like someone just defecated on the DVD with the show in front of me.

There's also this. The thing she said aside, who let this white trash in Cannes?!

Have you guys seen the reviews for Lost River? This is my favorite - "Had Terrence Malick and David Lynch somehow conceived an artistic love-child together, only to see it get kidnapped, strangled and repeatedly kicked in the face by Nicolas Winding Refn, the results might look and sound something like “Lost River,” a risible slab of Detroit gothic that marks an altogether inauspicious writing-directing debut for Ryan Gosling." Don't worry, Gos fans. He's still pretty and whenever he leaves the house you get new pictures of him.

Meanwhile, Foxcatcher is receiving stellar reviews. I'm not surprised. Miller's previous film, Moneyball, is among my all time favorites. Can't wait to see this one.

Bonjour Tristesse covers each day of Cannes film festival

Mark reviews Enemy

Ruth and Anna have a great fancast for Sense and Sensibility

m.brown reviews Labor Day in his usual hilarious manner

Elina shares 20 things she likes about (500) Days of Summer

Mariah reviews Godzilla

MettelRay writes about the upcoming Gone Girl adaptation

and finally Alex has written a truly wonderful post about how the music of M83 influenced his life and art

RELATED POSTS:

You may remember that a while back I published my list of my favorite Game of Thrones scenes (part 1, part 2). Since today is the Sunday of Doom - because of Memorial Day weekend in US HBO is not airing the new episode anywhere in the world, I figured that I will update my top 10 scenes with season 3 and season 4 scenes.


Honorable mentions - I am the khaleesi of the Dothraki, 1x04; Will you fight for me? As free men?, 3x04

10. First I killed the pyromancer... - 3x05 Kissed by Fire
There are several outstanding acting moments in Game of Thrones that you think of instantly when it comes to a certain character. With Tyrion, for me it's the story of his wife he told in first season. That scene brought Peter Dinklage an Emmy. It's so much more puzzling then that a scene even more powerful didn't bring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau any big nominations. In this incredible scene Jaime reveals to Brienne why he killed the king and broke his oath all those years ago. It turns out that the King wanted to burn King's Landing along with its innocent inhabitants. Jaime saved all of their lives yet he didn't tell anyone about what really happened because he figured no one would believe him. Waldau's performance here, his breaking voice, Jaime's wounded pride and pain that he is being hated not loved for his most heroic act and the stunned look in Gwendoline Christie's eyes make it one of the show's best acted scenes.


9. Catelyn waits for Robb - 1x09 Baelor
That scene has previously not been included on my list but after you rewatch the show once Red Wedding happened you just can't not include it. Catelyn waits for Robb at the edge of the woods. The battle against Lannisters ended and she doesn't know whether it was won or not, whether her son is alive or dead. The look on her face when she sees Robb unharmed and victorious is such pure joy. It made everything that happened later so much worse.

8. The Purple Wedding - Take him! Take him!!! - 4x02 The Lion and the Rose
 The first addition from season 4 is the terrific Purple Wedding. The whole sequence could be here, as it's directed as one huge scene. The mockery of the kings in the joust moment would definitely end up somewhere in second top 10. But it's after King Joffrey dies that the best scene happens. As stunned Tyrion holds the cup, Cersei starts yelling at the guards to take Tyrion as she believes he is the one who killed her son. The way Headey transforms her pain and sadness to blind fury is amazing to watch.

7. The Red Wedding - The Lannisters send their regards - 3x09 The Rains of Castamere 
While Cersei has her fury, Catelyn had her madness. Horrific, catatonic madness. As she watches, with tears in her eyes, as her last free child falls on the floor dead Catelyn lets out a soul tearing scream and does what she promised - she cuts Walder Frey's wife's throat. Once her scream faints Catelyn looks catatonic as if she was dead already right before her own throat is cut as well. Emmys and Golden Globes have made many horrible mistakes but not rewarding Michelle Fairley for what she did here is a stain that will never be forgotten.

6. The Rains of Castamere - 3x09 The Rains of Castamere
There is a handful of scenes that played out exactly like in my mind when I was reading the book. This is one of them - as one of the Freys locks the door, the band starts playing a song. The song that has no business being played at Frey/Tully wedding. The Lannister song. Catelyn slowly turns her head to look at the band in horror and she knows, she knows that something terrible is about to happen

5. I will be your champion - 4x07 Mockingbird 
As that scene from last week's episode was reaching its conclusion, with Pedro Pascal securing his position as one of the few who completely captured the book character, as the lines that gave hope and sorrow were spoken and as Ramin Djawadi's outstanding score accompanied everything in the background, I knew this was one of the best scenes the show has ever had. Oberyn reminds imprisoned Tyrion that the champion of the Crown, the Mountain, raped and killed his sister and killed her children. He tells Tyrion, who has abandoned hope, he will be his champion. And it's all so powerful.


4. Wildfire - 2x09 Blackwater 
During the siege of King's Landing by Stannis Baratheon, it's Tyrion leading the defense. He has a plan - send just one ship in Stannis'a direction. The trick is - the ship is filled with Wildfire, mysterious substance that when lit, burns everything around it. Tyrion gives Bronn the sign and he shoots a single, lit arrow - that arrow hits the water igniting the Wildfire and the following explosion is the most spectacular scene the show has had so far.

 3. The battle is over...we have won! - 2x09 Blackwater
During the Blackwater battle it seems that the city will be conquered by Stannis. Cersei sits with her son on the Iron Throne  She plans on poisoning him and herself to avoid being executed. Just as she is about to give the poison to Tommen the door opens and she sees her father, Tywin Lannister walk in with his soldiers. She drops the bottle and as Tywin approaches he tells her that they won the battle. The whole scene is a beautiful ending to the show's most thrilling episode. While I do not think this year's battle episode can top Wildfire explosion - which was not only stunning but was also hyped through most of season 2, seeing how well Marshall did with 2x09 ending I have big hopes for the ending of 4x09. He can pull it off, depending on which moment closes the episode.

2. Await the King's justice - 1x04 Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things  
At that point Catelyn Stark is convinced that Tyrion Lannister is the one who tried to kill her son. Their paths cross in an inn. Catelyn stands up and starts off a small charade - she greets many men there, asking them if their lords are still her loyal allies, showing Tyrion how many friends she has. When he tells her he doesn't understand what she is doing, she announces that Tyrion tried to kill her son and calls upon the men to seize him in the name of the king and the lords they serve. They take out their swords in front of stunned Tyrion. The scene has a fantastic buildup, probably the best in the whole series so far. Djawadi's track Await the King's Justice also adds a lot to the scene, but it all works so well thanks to great acting by Dinklage and Fairley - Catelyn's conviction and the respect the men have for her is so evident. The moment all the men take out their swords to do what she asked them says more about the respect people have for the Starks than a thousand words.

1. Blood of my Blood - 1x10 Fire and Blood
After Daenerys Targaryen walks into the pyre with the body of her dead husband and three petrified dragon eggs, the scene cuts to black. The next morning Jorah approaches now extinguished area and sees Daenerys naked and unharmed. Something moves next to her legs and her shoulder. Jorah notices, shocked, it's three dragons that hatched from the eggs after three centuries of being gone from the world. He kneels before Daenerys, as do others, and profoundly moved he says 'Blood of my blood...'. Daenerys stands up and the dragon on her shoulder spreads out its wings and starts shrieking.

Number 1 is still the best scene of the show for me. I watched the whole first season in one night, shortly after it ended airing, so I didn't really have the time to go 'I bet these eggs will hatch in finale!'. I was completely stunned.

However, there are 4 scenes this year that I think will make it it to this top 10, 2 of which may finally dethrone the birth of the dragons. We glimpsed 3 of these scenes in promos, but 1 is such a secret I'm still not entirely convinced it's even in there. If the showrunners don't disappoint, season 4 may end up having the most scenes here.

My list shockingly doesn't include Stannis, even though the beach scene from Walk of Punishment is one of my most rewatched - it's completely out of character for Stannis to act the way he did there, but hey, it's Stephen Dillane acting turned on and rocking that scruff, so yeah I liked it, sue me. I also adored the bank scene and his scenes in Kissed by Fire as well as 'I'm running out of time' scene and leeches scene. But lucky for me - if the show doesn't disappoint - one of the upcoming 4 scenes I expect to love features Stannis.


Game of Thrones returns with trial by combat episode The Mountain and the Viper next Sunday.

Mac and Kelly are trying to have sex in their dining room. Mac keeps saying how hot it is that they are having sex on a chair. And then he notices that their little baby Stella is staring at them. Kelly points out it's nothing, she is simply seeing shapes. To which Mac replies 'yeah, the shapes that are fucking!'

That's the first scene of the hilarious new comedy - Neighbors. If you don't like modern American comedies, with all the weed, all the fucks, all the dicks jokes and obligatory pro-family message, you won't like this one either. But I do not mind crude humor as long as the jokes are funny. And twice during Neighbors I felt ashamed after laughing. Once during doctor scene and the second when the word rape is shouted enthusiastically as an answer to a question. I'd like to think I'm not a horrible person - the comedy timing was simply so good.
And I freaking love Seth Rogen. I would - and did - see everything for this guy. He is so funny and I like his characters - yeah, they aren't perfect, yeah, they tend to be immature, but Rogen more often than not plays the good guy who does the right thing. It's so easy to root for someone like that.

Here Rogen plays perhaps the most responsible version of his usual character - Mac has a boring desk job, he cares about his baby daughter and he actually likes spending time with her and his wife Kelly (Rose Byrne). They are an adorable couple and their baby is super cute. The only problem is that because of the baby they don't have time or energy to do what they used to when they were younger - partying, going out, being irresponsible.
And soon that problem is shoved right in their faces - and shoved in ladies' faces are the close ups of ridiculously blue eyed, frequently shirtless Zac Efron (seriously it got to the point they actually force you to go 'damn' when you see him, and this is coming from someone who is into older guys, exclusively) who embodies that problem.

His name is Teddy and he is the president of the fraternity which just moved in to the Neighborhood. The couple decides to come over, act cool and ask them politely to be quiet at nights. Unfortunately, one night Mac is forced to call the cops - or shall I say the world's most chilled out police office ever - and since that moment the fraternity and the almighty Teddy start a war against the couple.
Neighbors isn't as funny as This is the End, Rogen's previous movie, but it has plenty of laughs in it. Is it frequently over the line? Sure. Dildo fight. Milking scene. A montage of hazing that pays off as a joke. The aforementioned two instances of using the things no one should be joking about as a joke. Is it hilarious? Yes.  Hell, there's even Game of Thrones reference (and I liked the movie so much I'm even willing to forgive them for referencing Girls).

There's also something more, as there usually is in this type of movies - we see Teddy's issues, the fact the fraternity is all he really has as he doesn't have good grades and after the college is done, who knows what's in store for him. And we see young, loving couple trying to cope with the fact that their carefree life is gone forever.
I'm not saying any of this is persuasive or especially insightful - Mac's line about marriage being a party too was a very cute but laughable way of communicating the message of the movie. But at least they tried and seeing these characters with their flaws made them feel like real people. And that's always a good thing.

Neighbors is quite inventive - the film was influenced by Spring Breakers and Enter the Void and it really shows in incredible party sequences. Some of those can actually make you dizzy - the overwhelming neon colors, loud music, quick editing and ever present debauchery. On the other hand the family scenes with Mac and Kelly are filmed in such a calm and stoic way. Little, but very noticeable and clever touch.
But the real reason the movie works is the cast. While Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally filmed a cameo as his parents but their scene unfortunately ended up being cut), the legendary McLovin is kinda wasted here, the supporting cast including Ike Barinholtz and Carla Gallo is just hysterical. Barinholtz was especially funny. I didn't see him in anything else that I recall but he stole many scenes in this one.

Seth Rogen is for me always reliable. I did see a lot of mean comments about how weird it is that a guy like that has a wife played by Rose Byrne, but come on - his character was sweet, fun, devoted and loving. Are you telling me these qualities mean nothing? I really liked the chemistry between Rogen and Byrne - it was really believable and warm.
I really liked that film has played with old cliches - when Kelly leaves the house after big fight with Mac there is no long 3rd act of the movie with Mac struggling to say sorry and her struggling to forgive him. The whole thing is over in the very next scene where they both apologize to each other.

Another interesting aspect was in Zac Efron's performance who is very funny in the movie but also captured the hopelessness and sadness of his character very well. I was also very impressed with the acting depth he showed in the scene in which pissed off Teddy comes over to remind Mac and Kelly that their infant daughter is going to be growing up around these fraternity guys. That was a surprisingly dark moment.
Speaking of their little daughter, the twin girls who played Stella were just amazing. I found this really cute trivia: the baby turning around to look at Mac and Kelly having sex in the first scene of the film was accidental. The scene was originally supposed to end after Seth Rogen turned her around, however the director noticed that the baby kept looking around to watch them, so he instructed one of the camera men to film the baby. According to the director, if you listen closely, you can hear Rogen and Byrne laugh after the baby turns around to watch them.  

The entire cast and crew got very attached to the twin baby girls that played Stella. The whole cast and crew went to the set on the babies' last day of filming so they could say goodbye to them.
Then there is Rose Byrne. I was never particularly impressed with her work in dramas but she is just wonderful in comedies. She has the best comedy timing out of entire cast in Neighbors. Her delivery of 'oh no, AssJuice!' is one of the funniest things in the movie.

She also plays such a cool character - she is not perfect, she doesn't want to be responsible and wants compromise but in the end she tries to make everything work without losing her wild side. Byrne should be praised for even being willing to do certain scenes. The film has one moment that will no doubt become its most infamous scene but Byrne was 100% committed to it

 I don't have a child nor am I married but I related to Kelly and Mac. To this awful feeling you have when you pretty much have to be an adult even though it is the last thing you want to do. The exhaustion, the feeling you are older than everyone. And yes, the idea of staying at home or spending time with someone you like in peace and quiet - it is better than the loud, seizure inducing parties.

But I bet teenagers and college students related to Teddy more. In few years, though, they will probably feel like Mac and Kelly. Depending on which group you are in right now when you read these words, I assume you're either nodding or shitting your pants out of fear.

Hey, relax, sit back and enjoy a good comedy. Like this one.
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*the words of house Martell

That awkward moment of the year when the current season of Thrones didn't even end yet and you are already waiting for the next one.

These casting details for season 5 were released and they are very interesting. 

First of all - Maggy the Frog. My soul squealed when I saw that. I love the mystical/prophetic aspect of the books and that is featured in the show so scarcely. But Maggy is the one who tells my favorite prophecy and I'm so happy they are finally incorporating that element in the show. It's such a powerful element in Cersei's story - the fact that she heard the prophecy as a child had a big part of her hating Tyrion - even though I think it's fairly obvious the prophecy doesn't refer to him. I'll be very interested to see how they will use Maggy on the show

Second of all, we will see Lollys, Bronn's wife which most likely means we will see Bronn too! YEY!

Third of all, High Sparrow being cast, as well as the awesome character of Septa Unella. Lena Headey's most exquisite acting moment is coming next year.

and finally the Dornish. I am shocked they are featuring so many of them. Yeah they are cool and I love Dorne's hedonistic ways but this many Dornish characters on the show? I'm just glad we'll get to see Cersei's daughter Marcella again. She is brilliantly cast. We will definitely see 3 of the eldest of Oberyn's daughters. We will also see Water Gardens.

The way to explain the show featuring so many Dornish? The producers can smell all the sexposition they can use next season. I do like the Dornish but I find it to be a bit much. Why? Because the Northern storyline is becoming so fascinating. There is also King's Landing but I doubt they will cut any scenes there, it's gonna be a golden season for Lena Headey.

And most importantly - Stannis. For the love of all that is holy and pure, please just give him a poster, promo pics, screentime, a lot of screentime! He deserves it. Stephen Dillane deserves it. Goddammit, I deserve it too! Can he please finally yell 'Quiet, woman!' at someone? Don't cut his scenes short to feature people banging in Dorne. Don't you dare giving him as much screentime in s5 as you did in s4 and s3 which was essentially fuck all. 

Oh yeah about promo pics. Pycelle now has 5 in this season and some random fucking maps have 2. Stannis still has 3. This is bullshit.

in 3 days:

Oberyn and the Mountain. Trial by Combat. My God. 

I'm actually relatively calm this week, but before episode 9 and episode 10 I'm just gonna be bouncing off the walls and laughing manically like a lunatic.

It drives me crazy how there is still no soundtrack announcement for this year. Normally they release it before the finale but the details resurface sooner. Where are the news? :/

Sunday was awful and Monday was hellish. Normally around 4 pm I’m almost done working and ready to have a coffee, a smoke and rewatch new Thrones after I stayed up to watch it at 3am and slept 1,5h because let’s face it I’m not sleeping when Thrones is on. It's not a question or whether or not I need to or have to sleep, it's not physically possible for me to actually be asleep when it airs.

And it’s wonderful. And HBO took it away this week. This however is hilarious.

It's been a really bad week as it was and next week is going to be even worse. When I say worse I mean more busy and exhausting. And....what's the word....life draining.

Not sure if I won't pass out on Monday after I get home, so you may need to wait for recap for a day or two. This will apply to each remaining episode - you have no idea how much I'm gonna write about the last 3 eps.

Keep calm...and watch Stephen Dillane movies.

So I did. I rewatched The Hours and Spy Game. Then I figured I'm just gonna bring more joy to our little, passionate tumblr fandom and I made a gifset.

I'm gonna make the one from The Hours this weekend. I would make it sooner but too much sighing at once may be deadly.

So I did this Which Supervillain Should You Hook Up With? quiz and I got Magneto and it said "So noble, so intense, so unwilling to commit to anything but his quest". Yeah...I definitely have a type here...

I gave it the final shot with Hannibal and now I'm definitely done. You know how I keep complaining people who are allegedly dead come back? Guess what happened in this finale! I understand doing shit like this once or twice, but this must have been third or fourth time they did that. In one season. In a series that's not fantasy. No, it's supposed to be a dark thriller. The hell?

But at least I saw Mikkelsen in the rain. He's like homicidal Mr. Darcy or something.

The creator of the show tweeted this. Turns out his most anticipated thing this season is the same as mine (but for the love of God don't google it). His writing for his own show sucked this season but here he is spot on - preach, sir.

I started watching Penny Dreadful. So far I only saw two episodes but it's pretty good. One misstep and I'll quit it but so far the seance scene alone made it worth it. The ending to episode 2 was horrifying. How could they do that to such a sweet character?!

So there is this critic, Ann something  (I don't bother learning the last names of utter morons I probably won't hear of again) that suggested that the latest of tragic shootings in US is partly because in Judd Apatow comedies the guy always gets the girl. America, you don't have to be ashamed of your comedies. You should be ashamed of having morons like that write for Washington Post. I'm not an American but personally I'd find this kind of garbage insulting - what, are the Americans so mentally unstable they cannot watch Judd Apatow's comedy without going on homicidal rampage? 

There's more. This chick wrote a separate article about the attention she received to the first article. I rarely tweet strangers calling them attention seeking whores, but I did here and it was still a great restraint on my part. In terms of every word - great restraint.

Team Seth all the way.

Brad Pittgot punched by Vitalii Sediuk on Maleficent premiere. It's awful. But it also makes you think of Burn after Reading and that's funny. Apparently, Pitt hit him back which is great - yeah, yeah violence is bad but this guy is such a douchebag. It's kinda a shame this prankster guy didn't do that to someone as...let's go with the word "unpredictable" as Sean Penn. I'm guessing that would be the ass kicking of the year.

Also I'm not sure if that tweet isn't more ridiculous than that situation. The star of World War Z. Damn, that's almost insulting isn't it? 

People are getting excited about the upcoming Emmy nominations. Oh who the fuck cares, after they snubbed Fairley and Waldau last year they are dead to me.

ThisSin City 2 poster is causing controversy because apparently it's too sexy and revealing for MPAA. What? The only offensive thing here is how shit this coloring is.

Another thing - apparently Peter Capaldi's part was cut in Maleficent. Some in Doctor Who fandom seem not to be bothered as the role in the movie would 'clash' with him being the dark Doctor. They behave as if Capaldi's whole life and other roles were on pause because oh my, the Doctor!. It's as if I said Dillane's work in Game of Thrones is his biggest achievement because it's Game of Thrones. 

I'd have to be on crack. His work in The Hours is more beautiful than entire Thrones. 

Yeah. I typed that. 

You read that. 

That really happened. 

We're through the looking glass now.

Brittani shares a great scene from American Beauty

Katy reviews The Matrix which she didn't see before

Elina reviews Atonement

Mara shares a great post for Paris, Texas 30th anniversary of winning Palme d'or

Eric reviews Unbreakable

Alex writes about masterful cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto

Anna writes about Mommie Dearest

MettelRay reviews Neighbors 

Courtney writes about the horrors of living adult life depicted in Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

m.brown reviews A Million Ways to Die in the West

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So...how is everyone feeling this beautiful Monday?

I myself haven't seen an outburst like that since Red Wedding. Actually thanks to marketing and what seems to be an universal love for Oberyn it might have been worse. After the episode aired all the fanboards were down. IMDB was down. I got text messages yelling at me for not warning people about what would happen. Non book readers are in hysterics, women are weeping, men are shaking their heads in disbelief, unborn children clench their fists and try to yell 'Oberyn!' from the wombs.

The show has done it again.
The Mountain and the Viper, the episode that shows what's left of the quiet and starts the storm, surpassed Mockingbird. There might have been things I wasn't a fan of but they were still very well written scenes. And the finish line of the episode entered my top 10 moments of the show very easily. In fact my jaw never dropped for quite this long while watching the show before.

We open with some random whore being disgusting in a brothel. I had a long day, that's as specific as I will be here with this recap. It's Mole's town, charming place Sam left Gilly in. The random whore mentions something about Gilly's baby crying at night and then Gilly goes all mama bear on her. And then we hear the noise...
Tormund, Styr, Ygritte and other wildlings attack the village. Gilly hides with her baby. Ygritte notices her and puts a finger to her lips showing Gilly to be quiet. Let me just note Rose Leslie was more awesome in this scene than Emilia Clarke in all of her scenes this season. Combined. And watched while drunk. It was also ingenious of them to include such a moment with Ygritte - reminding us some wildlings are not complete monsters - right before the battle episode.

Meanwhile, when the news of the attack reach Castle Black, Sam is devastated, being convinced Gilly is dead and it's all his fault because he left her there. Pyp, Grenn and Edd are there and Edd is trying to give him hope that the girl survived so many awful things that she might have survived now too. Sam takes the bait and remains hopeful.
Jon is there too, all gloomy and sullen reminding us and them that the Wildlings will attack Castle Black next. I may have misheard them but it seems Night's Watch has 100 men. Well, they do also have Ghost but there are 100,000 Wildlings. And they have giants. And something else, we haven't even seen yet on the show....

Across the Narrow Sea we are treated to the revisionist version of Jaws/Predator mash up in which Grey Worm watches nude Missandai. Two quick observations - one, male fans of the show rejoiced as they saw Nathalie Emmanuel (I too consider her one of the most beautiful girls on the show), two - we're lucky Grey Worm is castrated, Graves directed that episode and we all know how well he does with sexual scenes.
Then we have two scenes expanding on that. Two. One with Daenerys talking to Missandai about the inciident and another with Grey Worm apologizing to her about that. Yes, it's all very sweet and very sad but let me say this - Grey Worm's phantom dick got more mentions this week than Stannis in last 2 episodes.

In freakshow storyline Ramsay is telling Reek how to be Theon so basically how to act like who he is. This is some heavy Tropic Thunder kind of method acting right there. Theon tries to keep his shit together and rides to Moat Cailin to convince the Iron Born to surrender.
Theon is being questiond by highly unpleasant commander of the garrison who is then killed by one of his men. The guy who did the deed is eager to get the pardon. Theon promises them if they surrender they will be spared and they will be free to go home.

Riiight.
Cut to that same guy, without one eyeball and all flayed. Ramsay mumbles something about honoring traditions to Reek who is now so far gone he doesn't even look particularly affected by what he has done. I thought the scene was very well done - in the books it was many flayed Iron Born, which is implied that this is what happened in the show. Flayed bodies everywhere would make for one hell of a visual but I think the point was made by showing us just one.

Meanwhile, in Creepyville, we are treated to Littlefinger being questiond by Lords Declarant who arrived to investigate Lysa's death. Littlefinger tries to sell it as a suicide but unfortunately for him Lysa was far too attached to her son to let got and leave him alone.
So the lords summon Sansa, who they think is Littlefinger's niece Alayne. In a move that angered tons of book purists out there (I barely noticed because truly I do not give a crap about Sansa) she reveals her true identity. Again, I do not care but if memory serves well no one knows who Sansa is in the book other than Littlefinger and, I think, Robin.

Sansa starts selling them lies, Sophie Turner was actually good here. She tells them the selective truth - she twists it to make Littlefinger look like a noble guy who take care of her selflessly. As she continues to tell them that Lysa jumped. Littlefinger looks beyond proud and turned on. He is impressed and the two share deeply disturbing, 'we are evil and we love it' look. Oh, Sansa. What would your mother say?
I'm all for Sansa becoming empowered. However her remaining two scenes this ep yet again pushed her into smug and annoying territory for me. I swear I'd love her if she was mute. It's something with her voice, I cannot stand it.

In Meereen convenient plot device in the form of a small child appears carrying convenient plot device in the form of a royal pardon signed by Robert. We saw Tywin sending a letter, are they connected? Not important. You see, it's another of these things that happen whenever the show makes a detour and then the writers are desperately trying to bring it to book climax scene even though the path taken in the show is different.
In the books Barristan knew Jorah spied from the beginning. He heard of this in King's Landing. So once he revealed himself as Barristan to Dany (something that would not be possible in a medium you immediately see and recognize the actor, hence he told her who he was in the show immediately) he told her the truth which was right around that time in the storyline.

Barristan shows Jorah the letter letting him know that he knows. He, I think, was trying to make it possible for Jorah to try to escape, considering how batshitthinking with her vagina instead of braindumb unpredictable Dany is. But Jorah chooses to stay.
There is no turning back for Emilia Clarke. Every episode she manages to top her awfulness with even more profound, horrible kind of awfulness. She has managed to wreck the only good scene she had this year. What the fuck was she looking at above Jorah's head? Was there a camera about to shoot pics of her for a photoshoot? Was Daario hanging from the ceiling naked?

What, in the book, was a scene filled with emotion, Clarke acted out as if she was in toilet paper commercial. I talk shit about Turner but at least she manages to be very good sometimes. Clarke is just horrid. She was acting bitchy instead of showing pain, she was acting high and mighty instead of revealing vulnerability and heartbreak. Kit Haringon makes her look like he is Brando and she is Paris Hilton this season.
What was one of the most powerful moments in Dany's story arc lacks depth, lacks emotional impact, lacks momentum and it's all Clarke's fault. It's the end of an era - Jorah and Dany have been together since the very first episode. And now she is banishing him. Her friend, her advisor, her ally. But the way Clarke plays it you don't get any of that. It's as if Jorah was some travelling salesman and Dany says 'no, go away' to him.

Thank the Gods for Iain Glen. That's acting. You can see the fear, the heartbreak, the nervousness, all of it. His acting and the quick intercutting of Jorah and Dany's lines showing how much he wants to explain and how she doesn't care rescued the scene.
We see Jorah leave Meereen, alone. But do not worry, we'll see him again.

Speaking of hot older men, Michael McElhatton made a surprise appearance last night as Roose Bolton and my heart jumped a little. Thank freaking God for Stephen Dillane being on that show. Had his almighty gorgeousness not be there I'd no doubt be smitten by this one and he plays a Bolton! The horror!
Anyways, in this scene Ramsay meets with his father to tell him he took Moat Cailin as he was told to do. Locke is briefly discussed (still not over the show killing him). Roose is all like 'look son it's the North, it's bigger than the rest of the kingdoms combined and it's ours'. Roose legitimizes Ramsay who actually acts graceful and kneels but then mentions traditions so you just know he is gonna flay a whole bunch of people.

I have so many things to write here and I cannot write about any of them because I do not want to spoil you.
The scene ends with beautiful (damn!) shot of Bolton army heading towards Winterfell, I think, with the accompaniment of some great music too. I think this is the last we see of Boltons this year, at least I hope as this is a perfect scene to set up next season.

Meanwhile in the Eyrie Sansa is sewing and Littlefinger comes over to ask her why she lied for him. Some more creepiness follows and I keep losing interest.
And yes, here it is. Another almost Stark kids reunion. The Hound and Arya arrive at the Eyrie and they are told Lysa is dead. Arya, struck by the cruel irony of this being yet another time she is near a member of her family who turns out to be dead explodes with laughter.

I loved that. In the book it is Tyrion who starts laughing manically upon seeing the outcome of trial by combat. The show honored that reaction by giving it to Arya and what they did with Tyrion was for me, far more effective. Very respectful, very clever, everyone wins.

Next we see Littlefinger who is talking to Robin (drops a nice line of foreshadowing in there too) as we know from his earlier conversation with the lords that he wants Robin to grow the fuck up and basically be a Tommen to his Tywin. Then dark haired Sansa descends with half love struck half I'm trying to be evil and don't realize I look ridiculous look and this is officially where I stop caring.

The whole point of dying her hair was to disguise who she is before she gets to Eyrie. The show playing the events the way it did suggests Sansa becoming different - cold, calculated, sinister. And Turner doesn't has range for any of this. Oh, boy, this will be fun next season.

We arrive at controversial part of the episode. People are running around praising Turner and nominating Emilia for major awards, they keep complaining about nudity and rape scenes but when actual good acting and subtle symbolism happens there is talk of  'wasted of screentime'. This world is doomed.

This is one of these pair's many scenes that have been wonderful without exception since the beginning of the show - the scenes depicting the bond between Jaime and Tyrion. Jaime is there as the last one giving Tyrion courage before the fight. The two joke about their simpleminded cousin. Tyrion's mind starts going to dark places as those who are frightened often behave. He starts panicking that if Oberyn loses, Tyrion dies. The fear and vulnerability in Peter Dinklage's voice were incredible.
Tyrion mentions how their cousin used to kill beetles. Crush them, hundreds of them, for no reason. Tyrion tried to understand why it was, what reason did he have to kill those beetles. He never got an answer.

That scene is not only a tremendous moment in terms of what the entire series is plagued with- evil men, simple men, men who don't even bother about thinking of the magnitude of killing, taking lives just because they can, just because they feel like it, chaos and randomness of it all - but it's also the perfect set up for the crowning moment of that episode.
The trial by combat where it is up to Gods to decide who wins. Champion of the Crown - The Mountain, who if wins dooms Tyrion's life. Champion of the accused - Oberyn, who if wins proves Tyrion's innocence.

The moment Tyrion enters the stage of the fight is amazing - the music, the cinematography - such a fantastic way to start the scene. He sees Oberyn, drinking and kissing Ellaria. Tyrion is nervous about Oberyn being so carefree and about his armor being so light. Next to them there is a tent with the spectators - Cersei, Tywin, Jaime...
Gregor enters to Ellaria's horror '- Are you gonna fight THAT?''- I'm gonna kill THAT!' Oberyn answers in the lines lifted straight off the book. Pycelle goes to the middle of the arena to announce the trial. When it starts Oberyn puts a show for the crowd, spinning with his spear, moving so fast, circling around

Many people were worried the lines from the book won't be kept but they were. Oberyn tells the Mountain he is there to avenge his sister. Elia. Princess of Dorne. He is there to avenge her children that he killed, after which he raped her and murdered her.

You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children.

Oberyn yells over and over again as he tries to poke Mountain with his spear, avoid his sword, spins, jumps and moves so fast you can barely see him. The Mountain is growing more and more furious. It's like watching an elephant and a hummingbird.

Graves may be a shit director when it comes to subtlety of sexuality but my God the man can direct a fight. Thanks to the choreography, the tension, the editing and just flawless pacing this is now easily my favorite duel in the show, and given how flawless its ending is it even topped the famous Thirteenth scene from Rome.

As Oberyn keeps on shouting, he becomes more and more angry. His spear breaks and he quickly grabs another. Several times he falls on the ground, Mountain can throw him like a ragdoll. But he stands up and continues to tire and taunt his enemy.

The show has a way of making the emotional scenes even more emotional and so it was the case here - with the hopeful and reassuring looks exchanged by Jaime and Tyrion, both impressed with Oberyn ability to fight and both becoming more and more hopeful Tyrion will be find Innocent with each second and the final smile Oberyn and Ellaria share. That just made everything so much more awful.
To understand what happened here is to realize that sometimes the most noble of quests turn into just as strong obsession. Oberyn has been consumed with his desire to avenge his beloved sister for years. His older brother Doran held him back, But when Oberyn heard Cersei chose Gregor for a champion, it was a sign. It was his chance. It's not about winning. It's not about losing. It's about hearing the admission of guilt in front of the entire world. And it's about vengeance.

After Oberyn 'for a second had wings' (which is my favorite moment of the duel) and put the spear through the Mountain he doesn't let go. It's not over. He wants The Mountain to admit what he did. And - in addition to the book content - he wants to hear who gave the order (camera panning to Tywin to whom he is pointing). He is circling around the Mountain.

And then just after Oberyn glimpses Ellaria, The Mountain manages to grab Oberyn's leg. The Mountain pulls Obryn close to him and we see fear, true fear in Oberyn's eyes - he is going to pay for how bold he was. He is going to pay for wanting to avenge his sister. And in this moment ironically Oberyn gets what he wants - The Mountain says Elia's name and confesses.

I'm not sure why the show introduced the confusion of having Oberyn say The Mountain cut Elia in half with his greatsword, yes he did say it's a rumor and I'm glad the show stayed close to the book with the lines during trial. The whole irony in the outcome of trial by combat is that Oberyn dies the way Elia did. The Mountain confesses - as he is punching Oberyn causing his teeth to fall out...

...and sticking his fingers in his eyes gouging them. He then tells Oberyn he killed her by smashing her head and he does the same to him. The result is essentially the same as in the book where the Mountain - after the eye gouging part - put his entire fist, which was in gauntlet, into Oberyn's mouth. Upon pulling back he massacred his face and caused his teeth to fall out.

This right here is what I consider the most horrific death in the book series. There are worse deaths - Vargo Hoat, the man who maimed Jaime in the book, is essentially fed pieces of himself by the Mountain until he dies, but he is a bad person.

Oberyn Martell was not an evil man. And he had right and love on his side.
Here's another part of the shock - the hype. Oberyn is the first major player we meet from Dorne in the books and in the show. In the TV show he was ridiculously promoted in all the trailers. Most people in Internet polls really did believe he will win that trial. It can be a mixture of many things - the realization that if Oberyn dies, Tyrion last chance to live is gone. The hope that the good will win. The feeling that they won't kill off such a fan favorite character.

And we did only have Red Wedding last year. Yet the show still has the ability to punch us in the heart.
For me it was the only revelation that made my jaw drop and almost made me fall into despair. I know all the twists (well, apart form those occasions the show strays dramatically from the source material or moves beyond the books) but this is the first one that hit me so hard. It's because they really didn't hold back and because of how amazingly well directed that sequence was.

When we see the champions, the people they are representing come into focus, slowly revealing smug Cersei and horrified Tyrion. We hear Ellaria's soul tearing screams. And the camerawork is amazing - in the book ending to the scene, Tyrion vomited. Then he started to laugh. What they did on the show was so much better.
After Oberyn's face essentially explodes and Mountain lies next to him, barely alive (but still, alive) we pan in such a cool way to Tyrion to reveal he is not even looking,. He is too mortified about what he saw. A good man dead. Dead for him. Dead for just cause. Dead in such a way. And his death meaning doom for him too.

We see Cersei smiling with joy - by the way kudos to Lena Headey, not a single line in this episode and yet how bright she managed to shine - and Tywin getting up to announce that the gods have decided and that Tyrion is sentenced to die.

What will happen to Tyrion? We'll see in two weeks.


Next week the director of my all time favorite Thrones episode, Blackwater - Neil Marshal returns with the gigantic battle on the Wall in The Watchers on the Wall - which is actually 3 battles combined in one episode.

Will Jon manage to hold the castle?
Who will live and who will die?
Does Night's Watch stand a chance or will they need a miracle to survive?
PREVIOUS SEASON 4 RECAPS:

Now that is an awesome ending.

And for a second Oberyn had wings remains my favorite moment of the fight. Fuck me that was epic. There were like 7 editing cuts there and they made it look so dynamic and awesome. 

The reaction videos!

I really hope we'll get reaction videos for the next episode too. And definitely the one after that.

 So here is my plea for all the non book readers and don't investigate this request- do not watch the opening credits for episode 9. Don't look at them. I know everyone says it is only at the Wall but it's not strictly true and opening credits would ruin the episode - I bet they actually update the map this time. I'll explain what I meant about the credits in the recap, but as you watch the episode for the first time please do not watch them.

 I found the whole sequence from the latest episode on youtube and even if you don't watch the show I urge you to watch this one. This is one of the best scenes in the show and the best fight scene I've ever seen. The timing of Oberyn lines and the editing was just uncanny. I don't think that scene could be better in any way and I almost never say this:

This week Thrones topped The Sopranos' rating and has become the most popular show in the history of HBO. YEY!

I have never seen an actor take his character's fate as well asPedro. On the other hand that role definitely got him so much ass. I witnessed women cry because of what happened last Sunday.

I read that chapter 4 times and I still couldn't believe my own eyes. At the boldness of what was going on and how fucking perfectly that scene was adapted.

The next episodes are either gonna become my favorite episodes of the show ever and I'm gonna be the happiest I've ever been or I'm gonna be fucking furious. I mean it's Marshall's episode and I adore Blackwater + I really liked the Wall this year and then the finale has so many of my favorite things. It's funny how those things depend on such quick moments, in grand scheme of things. It's just about those moments when the writers have grand opportunities and not taking them would make me so mad it can actually cross off the entire episodes for me, much like that Mhysa ending did last year. 

I'm so psyched I'm gonna be able to share the best GoT bitchfest with you guys soon.

SPOILERMy God this meets this on Sunday. Pray for me. Pray for me to survive seeing Stannis in his glory. Stannis is sun. Stannis is life. Stannis is love. Stannis is everything.That Jaime gif in the end? This is gonna be me.END OF SPOILER

I'd better be happy with how this season turns out once it's over. I had so much work this week and I actually have to go to work tomorrow. On Saturday. I work 8h a day and sleep 4. I didn't even have the time to eat at work today. I also essentially have a different boss every month, because each month I'm helping a different judge, so each time I'm about to meet them or hand them my work I feel like Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. This is madness.

 It's amazing - they barely even started writing season 5 and there is already a major WTF change SPOILERSwhat in seven hells is Jaime Lannister doing in Dorne? I love the idea, I do, but he better be going to Riverlands right after that.END OF SPOILERS Everything is so flipped on its own ass in the show when you know what the book story is.

George R.R Martin is progressively going even more insane - he is now talking about the possibility of book 8th. You still only have 1/10 of the next two done!!!

That photo on the left. This is what it feels like to be in GoT fandom. You need to bury your favs. And the pain never goes away

BTW it's from tumblr not from my room. In my room there is a heart shaped pillow with the picture of Stannis in unicorn frame on it.

...you don't know that I'm joking, do you?

 Hey remember when the best performance in The Hours wasn't even nominated?

Ugh I just want to hold him. Oh God, so beautiful. In every way possible.

I also began making gifsets of Stannis from each episode. I find it distracting both from real problems and GoT what will they do with Stannis problems. I'm at season 3 with gifmaking now. Oh, the facial hair. And in season 2 - the tongue of doom! Stephen actually does this thing a lot in different roles. It's just something he does. I'm all right. I'm not breathing heavily. *breathes heavily*

So that Jonah Hillthing. Look who didn't say something stupid or offensive in their lives? Jesus, I actually slapped a number of people when I was pissed off. At least he apologized. I love Jonah. People call him a douchebag but I think he is funny, sweet and very genuine.

The Eva Green Sin City poster story continues - they released the new one and guess how they made it more PG-13 friendly? They reduced her breasts size. This is offensive on a number of levels.

I saw X Men: Days of Future Past and Maleficent. I may or may not review them I probably won't - I barely had time to even do RF this week.

Both McAvoy and Jolie gave the performances that were worthy of much better films. X Men was just so dumb, also I laughed so hard when it turned out all that fuss is because of JLaw's magical blood. As for Maleficent it's like they didn't even try with that script because they figured no matter what they'll do the movie will earn them money - that backstory with the betrayal had such potential to be really dark and interesting but they didn't even bother to mention it again after she became evil, except for that whole nonsensical thing with the wings. I was appalled at how lazy that script was.

I also saw The Grand Budapest Hotel - I liked it and Fiennes and Brody were hysterical. But again, what is Wes Anderson's issue with animals? Why off that cat? Does he think it's funny? This is one disturbed dude and coming from me it's....well there are levels of being psycho that scare even me.

Veepwas hysterical. Not only is Furlong back but the 'legitimate hole' thing almost made me cry.

Elina writes about A Single Man

Mark and Courtney review Maleficent

Brittani and Anna recap new episode of Game of Thrones

Alex lists  Top 10 Unsung Female Roles in Steven Soderbergh Films

m.brown reviews the funniest movie of the year so far - Neighbors

Ruth returned from her vacation with new 5 for 5th!

and another one because this is literally me when I watch the show with non book readers/I'm on twitter and I wait for non book readers' reactions. I'm pacing nervously with 'I cannot freaking wait for you guys to see it!' look. This is gonna be me this Sunday and next Sunday.

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You know how I wrote in every single Rambling Friday how I hope that the showrunners won't screw up one of my two favorite moments in book 3? See I wasn't afraid they would - I thought to myself no one can possibly be this stupid.

Oh, they proved me wrong.

It's not that the big ending to the battle was screwed up. The big ending to the battle? It didn't even happen. The battle episode did not end with the ending of the battle. It ended on a cliffhanger. And in that moment my soul died.

That opening credits thing? It doesn't matter. They didn't do it. For they aborted my dreams.

Also my will to write is gone for the time being- no Rambling Friday this week. And my will to watch finale live also disappeared. I'm just gonna see it loaded in the evening on the next day. I stayed up to watch this one. Now I'm tired and incredibly pissed off. I've been awake for about 28h now and the anger is keeping m awake.

You know how at the end of the Mhysa I felt like someone slapped me across the face because something that I was anticipating didn't happen? The thing I was anticipating would technically be an addition as the scene was not written, just mentioned in the books.

But here it was all there. The source material. The set up. The resources. And instead of making it a badass awesome ending that people would talk about for entire week it's going to be one of the many scenes in the finale, filled with twists so mind blowing people will forget about the big wonderful scene by the time the episode ends.

The Watchers on the Wall ripped my heart out and crushed it.

And to quote Ron Swanson after he was shot in the head - yeah, I'm just gonna stay angry.

I think part of my excitement for the show died with that ending. I will never again defend the writers. There is no excuse and I'm not interested in looking for one. They killed that part of me that always believed whatever happens they will do the big moments in the book justice. What they did last night was as if they ended Rains of Castamere when Catelyn heard the music. Or if they ended Purple Wedding after the joust.

They gave an entire episode to the battle. They didn't even give entire episode to Red Wedding. And they didn't even have the whole battle in it. They could have easily fit the first 15 minutes of the episode in previous ones and they would have enough time to pull it off. But they didn't. This is what pisses me off - this episode was like 50 minutes of build up with no pay off. Had this and finale aired back to back it would be fine. People would still remember the tension, the hype, the danger.

But leaving people with this after making the whole episode about the Wall? 7 days of waiting? Having build up in one episode and climax in another? What?
What makes the battle into game changing event is its ending. What is the point of stand alone episode if the most important thing about the battle is not even shown and gets delayed to be in episode with at least 4 other mind blowing developments?

Another thing is the battle itself. It was a far cry from Blackwater - the fire had nothing on Wildfire, the combat scenes while more realistic didn't have the same impact because I cared more about people in Blackwater. The whole episode was emotionally powerful and the ending was the final punch. The ending is the most important part. And it was gutted and spat on in front of me.

Also - big battle apparently constitutes 2 giants, 1 mammoth and 5 climbers. Oh my.
This will be short.

I'm gonna give a quick rundown of things I liked:

• the music was fantastic
• Sam was the highlight of the episode - he was so convincing and was the emotional core of the whole thing, the scene were he held his dying friend was very good
• the shots of Wall were epic
• The wallers chanting their vows as the giant was approaching
• Slynt being a pathetic coward he is
• The whole Ygritte/Jon scene - the final shot of the scene with him holding her body as the others fight in slow motion was gorgeous
• I liked the CGI on mammoth and giants
• Thorne's scenes were great. His speech was my favorite moment of the episode.
• the cinematography was lovely and that tracking shot was very good

That's it.
slight spoilers in this paragraph though at this point, who gives a fuck anymore - Next week I'm sure Dany flies over to Westeros on one of her dragons, makes a stop at King's Landing and rescues Tyrion and then they burn Stannis alive. Off screen because if Stephen Dillane actually got screentime THE WORLD WOULD FUCKING END.

You'd think I'm joking but I wouldn't be surprised if that happened.

If there was ever an episode to redeem the show it's the next one, though. It seems like it will actually have my 2 favorite moments (one of them degraded from awesome ending, never forget, never) and the adaptation of my favorite chapter (Tyrion). But I'm not getting my hopes up.

Here's promo for The Children:
PREVIOUS SEASON 4 RECAPS:

There is one good thing from Thrones season coming to an end - the soundtrack is getting released. Which means that I now have enough to listen to all year long (seriously). The show has its ups and downs (it is only now that I can laugh about how they screwed up last Sunday's episode) but one thing is certain - that Ramin Djawadi will knock it out of the park with his music each time.

I only wish each year they actually released complete score with all the music used in the season - we didn't get Oberyn's theme, the music from his offer to Tyrion, Sansa's escape music or that cheerful rendition of The Beat and the Maiden Fair they always play at the weddings.

I'm gonna share some of my favorite tracks with you and all the screencaps in this post are from finale episode to get you hyped:
My definee favorite is Oathkeeper. First there is the title - it's extraordinarily clever and significant as it doesn't refer merely to the sword. Second, the last minute of the track is hands down my favorite moment of this year's score. There is still so much doubt and confusion about whether or not my most anticipated scene made it into the show but it seems to me this is the track to play it over. I just hope the last minute is not end credits but the actual scene. They wasted the best part of Mhysa track on end credits last year, I hope they won't do that again.
My second favorite is The Watchers on the Wall. Can they still use it please? It played during that 'ending' in ep.9 but fuck the beginning of it would suit the next time we see....something really cool.

Then there is The Children which is so lovely and happy and makes me think it will be used in Bran's big scene.

Breaker of Chains is another amazing track, I think it accompanies Daenerys' final scene this season
And then there is First of His Name played during Tommen's coronation and in later part at the end of trial by combat:



Game of Thrones returns with finale entitled The Children this Sunday

God damn it, I was not supposed to care about Jon and Ygritte :/

I think Jon's inner koala died when he saw that arrow shoot her. Also Rose Leslie - that moment she was looking at him and from anger went to smiling but still fighting with her own self because he left her but how can you not smile at this stupid puppy face - that was amazing acting. I rarely mention that but Ygritte was such a great character

 Last episode is now the only Game of Thrones episode I didn't rewatch.

Ending the battle ep 2/3 into the battle. Especially when they could easily make this episode the one that's over an hour long by moving that scene from finale. 

By now I'm sure tumblr has spoiled the last 1/3 for you. If it did I'm so mad because I was doing so much to keep people for finding out. The previously on clip they'll show before the episode 10 is online and it blatantly reminds you of the thing I was hoping they were clever enough to try and make the audience forget. I'm just so disgusted by their overwhelming bias.

It actually comes to my 2 most anticipated moments in one ep. But who knows if they even show what is happening explicitly in one moment and even include the other?

I've been dealing with a lot of 'don't get excited you may be disappointed' comments.. Are people under impression that the excitement is something one can control? It's like sneezing. If you like something, if you are a fan, it's natural to get excited. Especially when you read the books and you inevitably imagine the scenes. I always loved that I can get passionate about things. I kinda feel bad for those who can't. 

But lately it's not been as much fun as it used to be with the show. If the epilogue of book 3 is not on the show this year,  I will now only watch it for Stannis and Cersei. I'm done fangirling over this show if that happens. I'm so disenchanted with the way this season is structured - if the payoff is not this year...even if they include that somewhere down the road, I'm sick of waiting. I've been frustrated as a book reader, repulsed by their bias towards certain characters and more than anything just annoyed because they were handed a wonderful material and they really approached it in a very disappointing way. My enthusiasm has been burning out because the things I was really hoping to see are either disappointing or not in the show at all (possibly). It all HANGS on one scene now. I'm either in completely or I'm out apart from these 2 characters. And if I'm in, I'm gonna be in like never before. It's my favorite scene we're talking about here.

If my tweets are happy expect what may be my final recap of the show on Tuesday. If they're 'I don't care anymore' expect it on Thursday.

It's now been 5 weeks since I saw new Stannis scene. That's another thing - having Dillane there and showing him for 10 minutes a season is just awful. I actually find it very disrespectful to a wonderful actor when he is not given scenes while Emilia Clarke wanders around and German porn actress gets to show off  their atrocious acting for 3 seasons now.

There wasn't supposed to be RF today but I was typing for 8h today and I figured what the hell. I cannot feel my fingers anyways. You know that The Office scene where Idris Elba who plays the boss says to John Krasinski 'give me a rundown' and then Jim is like 'sure' and then he says to camera 'what the hell is a run down?'. Yeah, that's my job every single day. With a shit load of running through the corridors of a courthouse with several pounds of legal documents and court cases in my tiny arms.

And then GoT fucks me over for a good start of the week. No more.

 Sorry for those sour grapes in RF today, guys.

I didn't have the time to see any new films lately, nor have I written anything in my drafts for reviews.  There's gonna be a lot of Soundtrack Wednesday posts in the future because they are fastest to make and between working 8h and studying 4h a day all I want at the end of the day is sit down and watch The Thick of It over and over again.

I do have actual news for you today and that is that Sarah Paulson revealed her character in American Horror Story: Freakshow and it's apparently a woman with two heads. I guess we will be seeing only a side of Paulson's face a lot this season as this is gonna be some expensive CGI to pull off, at least for the show's budget which I imagine is not very big.

What else, what else...well I have 4 days off work next week so I'm gonna try to write something for you guys, those of you who don't watch GoT may curse that time of the year my blog is mostly that but let me tell you most of the movies I've seen lately were so mediocre I don't even feel like reviewing them and with GoT I at least always have something to say. But new Visual Parallels is coming!

Anna recaps The Watchers on the Wall

Brittani explains why it's OK to hate watch TV series

Ruth and m.brown review The Edge of Tomorrow

Alex looks at the filmography of Danny Boyle

Check out Katy's Fandom Friday

 
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