Hello! I’ve got a nice digital stack of comics this week, so I’m going to hop right into it.
What I’m Reading Wednesday: May 15, 2013
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Q&A # 202: Flashback: What comic-based television series would you like to see?
In Q & A, a weekly feature of Fantastic Fangirls, we ask our staff to tackle a simple question — then open the floor to comments.
Flashback: What comic-based television series would you like to see?
ANIKA
I thought so when I first saw it and I still think so:
DREDD would make a great television series. It didn’t work as a film for me, but as the pilot for a television series that wasn’t picked up so they said ‘screw it, let’s add a bunch of nonsensical 3D and call it a movie’. . . it worked too well. I just really wish my hypothetical network that passed on “Dredd the Series” actually existed so I could bang on their door and shout WHY!
Seriously, hypothetical television network, make this!
GABBY
Well, one of my answers is already coming to life on the small screen.
As for the others, for a long while I wished Fables would become a TV show, but Once Upon a Time kind of ruined that. Not to say that OUaT isn’t good… it’s just not what I think Fables could have been. I’m also holding out hope for an Alias series, and it seems like the rumor mill agrees with me.
The TV show I would *most* like to see, though, is a Sandman series.
A series centered on the Endless siblings, it could also have an episodic quality. We could see, for example, Death interacting with various humans about to die, or Dream venture into people’s nightmares. I think there is a huge potential to exploit the sibling dynamics between the 7 Ds, and would love to see it unfold on my screen.
Superheroes are great and everything, but The Endless? They kind of rule.
MARIE
My choice has technically already been a television show, but was unfortunately canceled during its prime. Greg Weisman’s Gargoyles was an animated series that debuted in the 90s and was one my favorite shows of all time growing up. The show aged pretty well too. Looking back through the DVDs, you could see that it had plots that were well-rendered, characters with deep inner-conflict, and great dialogue that could be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
Unfortunately, Weisman left the show during the third season due to internal conflicts. By then, the show had taken a completely different direction and most fans agreed that it was non-canonical. The comic series, however, picked up where the second season left off, and answered a lot of those burgeoning questions that the third season so clearly failed at handling.
Still, while I found the comics immensely satisfying I still wish that they had actually been animated. If not Gargoyles, then at least some of the spin-off comics that Weisman had also planned like Gargoyles: Pendragon and Gargoyles: Timedancer .
My runner-up choice? Runaways. Oh my Grod, Runaways.
SAM
Last summer I took a screenwriting workshop, and for my main project I wrote a loose adaptation of Kate Spencer/Manhunter as a sort of pilot episiode teleplay. I think a Manhunter series would be a perfect mix of procedural and ass kicking martial arts bad assery.
There are reasons I think Kate Spencer would make for good TV. Besides her day job as a criminal attorney (I think prosecutor works better than defense attorney, for drama), she’s a single parent with a precocious kid, has an ex-husband who’s still involved in her life, is an on-again-off-again smoker, and has some anger issues. Basically she’s complex and, in the hands of the right actress, that would be pretty great to watch.
Of course, I know it’ll never happen. It would have way too similar a feel to the already-popular, male-driven show Arrow (which I gave up on halfway through the season). And Manhunter is even less well known in the mainstream than Green Arrow and his rogues galleries. Plus we all know how well the Wonder Woman thing went… But in a perfect world, Kate Spencer would be kicking some ass on my TV every week.
So what about you? What comic-based television series would you like to see?
What I’m Reading Wednesday: May 8, 2013
Welcome back! Or hello for the first time! Two quick things before I jump into this week’s reading.
First, I listened to some feedback and I’m going to start listing writer(s), and artist(s) for each title. So please keep feedback coming in, because it helps me make this a better experience for everyone.
Second, I have a pretty small pull list this week. But since last Saturday was Free Comic Book Day, I’m going to throw in a few of the titles I picked up via Comixology.
That’s it! Here we go.
Q&A # 201: Flashback: What comic book characters should go on a road trip together?
In Q & A, a weekly feature of Fantastic Fangirls, we ask our staff to tackle a simple question — then open the floor to comments.
Flashback: What comic book characters should go on a road trip together?
ALI
First off: let me just say that I have wanted to answer this question since it was first asked back in Q&A #74. It’s the initial reason I kept coming back to this site and part of why I was so excited to be part of Team Fantastic Fangirls. I love this question so, so, so much.
And now I have to answer it. *gulp*
Right now, my gut-reaction answer is Kid Loki and Miss America Chavez.
I love the dynamic the two of them have: you’ve got the no-nonsense, direct straight-man and the all-nonsense trickster. They’d have this whole Brienne and Jamie thing going. It’d be fantastic! That said, I think the actual travel in this road trip would be from America punching Loki across state lines, as opposed, you know, actual driving.
So. My final answer.
Stephanie Brown and Hope Summers
I very nearly went with Steph and Kara here, because the Batgirl-Supergirl team-up to fight movie Dracula issue is probably my most favorite comic in the history of ever. But I think part of the fun here is to mix and match characters across universes.
Hope Summers has spent the majority of her life traveling across time and space. You’re probably thinking she doesn’t need a road trip. I respectfully and heartily disagree. Hope needs to know what it’s like to travel without being chased by a mutant from an alternative future that’s trying to kill her. She needs, more than anyone I think, to be shown what it’s like to have fun.
SAM
My default answer to any sort of wacky-hijinks-team-up is usually Clint and pre-reboot Ollie. The shenanigans. Oh, the shenanigans.
But in the spirit of creativity – or at least non-repetitiveness – I’m choosing some new people! Feel free to imagine the hilarity of Clint and Ollie driving through the countryside in some flash convertible.
I’d like a Volkswagen Bus full of Asgardians to head out from Asgard-on-Earth and travel around, getting to know Midgard via all the wacky Americana there is to experience, like the world’s biggest ball of rubber bands, or something.
Thor, the Warriors Three, Sif, and, because I’m currently in love with Fearless Defenders, Valkyrie, can all squeeze in. For even more comedic gold, throw in Kid Loki. And for the fish out of water who’s the readers’ connection to the heroes… Annabelle Riggs (did I mention I’m currently in love with Fearless Defenders?). Preferably with her helmet.
SARA
I think the better question for me to answer is which comic book characters shouldn’t go on a roadtrip together and the answer of course is no one because, oh my God, the hilarity of any heros going on a trip together is too priceless to ignore.
Fine, fine, I’ll give a real answer.
While I would truly enjoy any team-up ever on this endeavor, at the moment, my most desired roadtrip would be between the Avengers from MCU. There, I said it. Welcome to my life.
I am apparently not the only one, as this amazing artist graced us with their work last summer and you can find it at their tumblr, ICannotBelieve.
After seeing the Avengers movie last year, the one thing I could not wait for was team storylines. Not fighting for good and justice, but rather coming together to be the amazing personalities that they are under one roof.
So what if it was a car roof?
Like, did we all see the same ending to the movie? I think we did.
And, thank Jeebus for fanfiction, because it gave me what I needed at the moment. Jibralis wrote an amazing, heartwrenching fic called The sky and everything beneath it and you should all read it here and leave kudos and tell me what you think about it!
So what about you? What comic book characters should go on a road trip together?
What I’m Reading Wednesday: May 1st, 2013
Happy May 1st! With the new month, we’re starting a new feature here at Fantastic Fangirls. Every week, I’m going to write up a paragraph or two on my weekly comic haul. If you follow me on twitter, you’re probably used to my one sentence reviews followed by an image of my favorite panel. This is a lot like that, but longer!
I usually read 3-6 comics a week, and they range in popularity. I tend to read from the big two, but I have a few pulls from other companies. I also browse all the new releases, looking for new things to read. I’m always open for suggestions!
Okay, so here we go! I’d love to hear your thoughts/suggestions in the comments section.
Q&A # 200: What do you remember about the first comics you read?
In Q & A, a weekly feature of Fantastic Fangirls, we ask our staff to tackle a simple question — then open the floor to comments.
Happy Birthday, Q&A!! What do you remember about the first comics you read?
ALI
Comic books were not something that were ever really in our house growing up, and not something I sought after when I could just watch Super Friends on TV instead. I mean, I’ve always loved superheroes and adventure stories. He-Man, She-Ra, Danger Mouse, and ThunderCats pretty much consumed my childhood. But never comics.
When I was 11 or 12, my dad came home one night with polybagged copies of Death of Superman for me and my brother. Convinced they would be very valuable someday, he told us under no circumstances should we take the comic book out of its shiney bag. We were to save it until we were adults, when it would be worth lots and lots of money.
Breaking the rules was never something that came easily to me. But I HAD to know what happened. I mean, how could Superman just DIE? He was the strongest guy in the universe! He could fly so fast that he made the world go backwards. I knew ’cause I saw him do it on the WPIX Sunday Afternoon Movie like five times. Guys like that don’t just get beaten by bad guys. And they certainly don’t die.
So one busy Saturday afternoon, when my parents were off doing house and yard work, I crept downstairs and got the good scissors out of the junk drawer. I went back into my bedroom and locked the door. Ever so carefully, I cut the top of the polybag off. I can still remember the crinkle of the mylar and the smell of the glossy paper. I remember the weight of the comic being heavier than I thought it would be. Convinced what I was doing something was very wrong, I hide behind my bed and, knees to my chin, gripping the book with both hands, and read my very first comic book.
SAM
I remember wondering why Betty and Veronica bothered fighting over Archie when they were clearly meant for each other.
I actually distinctly remember this panel. For the urk.
No, but seriously. My first comics were Archie comics, the kind you could buy in the supermarket checkout lane. I had stacks of Archie, Betty & Veronica, and Jughead double digests hanging around my dad’s house. I was just a kid, so I was more concerned with Jughead’s awesome pranks than the relationships of the characters, but I definitely had my favorite. Oddly, none of them were Archie.
My favorite Double Digest was a summer special, that involved a lot of beach-related stories, like the one with the scene from above. I still don’t know what drew me to those books, but I devoured them like nobody’s business.
Even twenty years later, I remember a lot of the little shorts from the various books. I wish I’d held onto at least some of the stacks of comics, because I’d love to reread them and relive the stories. And as a modern, adult comic fan, I feel oddly proud that Archie Comics is often at the forefront of the industry when it comes to diversity and social issues. Now if Betty and Veronica could just figure themselves out, drop that Archie jerk, and admit their love for each other… everything would be perfect.
SARA
It is so ridiculously appropriate that I am answering this question because, at this very moment, I am re-reading the first comics I ever read!
Batgirl, featuring Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, is the best introduction a 12-year-old gril could possibly have to the comic book world. Yes, I am biased. No, I don’t care. Cassie Cain is awesome.
I learned about the Batfamily through shows like Batman The Animated Series and Batman Beyond, but Silent Running was the first ever comic book I could remember picking up and devouring. For those of you that never read the book, it was basically Cassie’s origin story and backstory rolled into one. Cassie was mute, having not been exposed to spoken language by her mob boss father, who deliberately did so to train his daughter to be the ultimate weapon. A killing machine that didn’t slow herself down by translating human movement into language in her head? And the Father of the Year Award goes to…
But why is Silent Running still such a pinnacle book for me? Probably because Cassie exhibited true heroism and bravery and it made me really excited for her character. After Cassie’s illiterate/mute status was explained, she comes across a telepath who scrambles her body-language reading brain into one that understands and communicates in spoken words. This rewiring leads Cassie to slow down in combat against four gunmen. Does that stop her?
Nope. Did the shots hurt?
Probably.
So what about you? What do you remember about the first comics you read?
Q&A # 199: What are your media consumption habits? Netflix? Hardcover books? Digital comics? Tell us how you access the stories we all love.
In Q & A, a weekly feature of Fantastic Fangirls, we ask our staff to tackle a simple question — then open the floor to comments.
What are your media consumption habits? Netflix? Hardcover books? Digital comics? Tell us how you access the stories we all love.
GABBY
If trade paperbacks were the only type of books one could buy, that would make me the happiest girl in the world. I love TPBs; how the art on the covers is usually prettier, how it folds every which way, how they fit on a shelf.
You can’t tell me that’s not pretty.
I limit the comics I purchase to the Whedonverse, and the other shows that I wish to follow in comic book format. The Silver Snail(https://www.facebook.com/SilverSnailComicsOttawa) in Ottawa is my preferred location for all things comics; they are quite friendly and there are many female employees that are super welcoming.
Recently, I bought a Nexus 7. I’ve been cutting back on paper-book purchases, and my student-on-a-budget wallet thanks me for it. It’s a great tablet; I mostly use the Kobo app to read e-books, and I love getting the achievements! They’re like virtual stickers and you can collect them depending on how many pages or what kinds of books you read. It really appeals to the overachiever in me.
JESSICA
My favorite way to consume media has always been (and will forever be) through reading – hardcovers and paperbacks, fantasy epics and cheesy time-travel historical romances, I love it all. Most of the fandoms I’m really passionate about originated with books (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Ender’s Game), and reading traditional books satisfies my craving for narrative in a way that no other media outlet does. I love the way that when you are reading a book, especially one that may not be commercially popular, the world inside becomes your own. You are granted a privileged access into the hearts and minds of the characters, and it’s yours to take advantage of whenever you have the time to delve into its pages. Books have the power to suck me into them emotionally. I’ve noticed that if terrible things are happening to the main character in a book I’m really invested in, I will be seriously depressed and sad. Sometimes I don’t even realize why until I notice that there is nothing terrible happening in my life–it’s all in the book! As much as I love television, movies, and comics, none of them have the power to stick with me in the way that books do. I rarely buy them new, although I do make exceptions for special occasions, like a new release by a favorite author. Just let me loose in a used bookstore (my favorite is McKay’s, back home in Knoxville) with $10 and I’ll be happy for at least a week.
SAM
Well, I play video games mostly on my XBox, with a few exceptions (Journey, the Uncharted series, and some older games I play on my PC, mobile gaming on my iPhone), which has also become something of a media center for me. I watch most of my TV via either Hulu or Netflix, and occasionally will watch stuff on the web if they don’t offer it anywhere else and I don’t want to wait for Netflix, like Pretty Little Liars, Lost Girl, and Elementary. I watch most movies via Netflix, unless I’m so excited for something that I absolutely have to see it in the theater. For newer releases, if I happened to miss it in the theater but really want to see it, I’ll probably rent it via Amazon Instant or Zune or something.
As far as reading goes, I read books mostly on my Kindle these days. I’m in love with my Kindle. I read so much more now that I have it. I used to be a huge reader; I’d read a book a week from age 10 through law school, but I haven’t read so much in recent years. Now I read all the time. I’ll read the occasional paper book, usually if someone’s lent it to me, but I’d much rather carry my Kindle around with me than a book. Comics I read almost exclusively on my phone. I love the guided view of Comixology, and actually think it adds a lot to the reading experience on some titles, like Hawkeye. I’m glad I went totally digital, because I’ve still got about ten boxes of comics from five or six years ago that I have no idea what to do with. I aspire to one day have an iPad or Kindle Fire, but I’m pretty happy with the tech I have right now.
SARA
So, what I really want someone to do for their college thesis one year (hopefully soon) is to look at the attention span / GPA changes of college students pre and post the invention of Netflix. Because hotdamn. If there was one thing (besides Glee) that tanked my GPA in college, it was Netflix.
What a wondrous thing. High quality, quick streaming, and thousands upon thousands of movies and TV shows ranging from Oscar Nominated Classics of the 1950s to C-grade Zombie Movies that You Have to be Drunk And Or High to Enjoy.
You can imagine why college might be the best place for Netflix subcription drones to set up shop.
Netflix is awesome. Netflix is the best. Netflix now has all of Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and Batman Beyond on its Instant Streaming. Oh my God, am I glad that I no longer have a GPA to tank.
So what about you? What are your media consumption habits? NetFlix? Hardcover books? Digital comics? Tell us how you access the stories we all love.
Q&A # 198: What cancelled comic book do you miss the most?
In Q & A, a weekly feature of Fantastic Fangirls, we ask our staff to tackle a simple question — then open the floor to comments.
What cancelled comic book do you miss the most?
ALI
There were a bunch of comics that came to mind when I started thinking about this question: Bryan Q Miller’s Batgirl, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray and Amanda Conner’s Power Girl, Paul Cornell’s Captain Britain and MI:13, and Kieron Gillen’s S.W.O.R.D. But as much as I love those stories and wish there was more of them, they all got an ending. Maybe it wasn’t the ending that was planned and usually it was a bit rushed, but there was closure. So while I do miss them, I feel like I can always revisit them as complete stories.
The comic I can’t do that with is Thor: The Mighty Avenger (a.k.a. My Boyfriend Thor) by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee. Definitely one of my Top 5 Desert Island comics, My Boyfriend Thor was cancelled after 8 issues with no resolution to the story that was being told–regardless of the “Issue 8 of 8” Marvel put on the cover of the last issue.
CAROLINE
They say that you will always be nostalgic for the comics that were coming out when you first got excited about comics. I have found this is true and it is true even if the year was 2006 and the comics that opened your eyes to the beauties of the Marvel universe included one where a dude with a Messiah complex and a metal arm lived on a shiny island with his best friend the insane mercenary.
Cable & Deadpool we barely knew thee. But seriously, your first 35 issues were amazing.
GABBY
I wish Alias, by Brian Michael Bendis, had continued. Don’t get me wrong; I do think the evolution of Jessica Jones as a character followed its due course by switching titles. I liked The Pulse (because who doesn’t love Spider-Man cameos?). She’s now in The New Avengers, along with her family, and that feels right for where she’s at in her life. But I feel like Alias brought more focus on her, as a person. She deserves to be the main character of her own title, because she struggled to get where she is now, and will do anything for the people she loves. I just want more of her.
And I mean, Alias brought us gems like this. So I would like it back, please and thank you.
SAM
Young Justice. Oh, Young Justice, how I could wax poetic about you forever. I would also accept the Teen Titans lineup pre-reboot, but it’s really Young Justice that does it for me.
Uh, the one from the 90s, not the current/also cancelled TV series Young Justice. I’m talking about the team of Superboy, Impulse, Arrowette, Robin, Secret, and Wonder Girl (and later a few others). Sure, it had its issues (like, er, that whole overly-endowed character thing) and was clearly aimed at teenage boys, but whatever. To this day, it’s the only comic for which I own the entire run, from first issue to last (and specials, and annual, and some tie-ins). I’m not much of a collector, so that’s actually a pretty big deal.
Here’s why I miss it: DC’s current teen titles are just falling totally flat for me. I tried! I did. But none of the rebooted characters feel like the characters I fell in love with. There was a magic about that group, something I connected with immediately and strongly, and I haven’t found that with any of the current Teen Titans, whether in their team book or individually. It’s funny, because I will defend almost every editorial choice made so far with the reboot (or at least be willing to give it a chance), but I just can’t get behind the current teen characters.
So I miss Young Justice. I miss all the characters who have been rebooted into shadows of their former, awesome selves.
At least I’ll always have my box full of comics. I’m probably due for a reread…
So what about you? What cancelled comic book do you miss the most?
Fantastic Fangirls Podcast 2.6: Summer Movie Preview
On our newest podcast, Sam, Sara and Gabby make Much Ado about a lot of movies that have them Catching Fire and turning Upside Down with excitement as. . .
Okay, I can’t keep this up. Have a picture of the new Superman and Lois Lane:
. . .and enjoy the podcast!
Then come to the comments and tell us what movies you’re most excited to see.
(PS, they’re not all coming out in the summer but I’d already named the file before I realized that.)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Chit Chat: Game of Thrones 3.1
Chit chat is a dialogue between two or more of our contributors. It’s done online 99% of the time but you can imagine us discussing it over coffee. Or vodka, depending on the subject material.
Anika: So, Game of Thrones is back.
Sam: YAY! Since the second season, I went back and read the first three books. I have this insane fear of being spoiled by twitter, so instead I spoiled myself with canon.
Anika: I have still not read any of the books and I watched “live” so I was unspoiled…though I also don’t mind spoilers, generally.
Sam: If anyone spoils the end of this season for you, they should be punched. Metaphorically.
Anika: Hmmmmm. Now I am curious! And, true, the last episodes of Season One were so wonderful because I had no idea what would happen. Good point, you talked me into caring about Spoilers in the case of Game of Thrones. But enough about that, let’s talk the premiere. Readers, the following contains SPOILERS.
Sam: Okay! Things I loved: all of the women. All of them. Even the very small moments we got with Cat and Talisa. I wish there had been some Arya or Brienne, but then my TV may have exploded with awesome.
Anika: The women are the strong ones! Seriously, I have to agree. They are all interesting and the performances are wonderful. I’m still on such a Lena Heady high from last season I clapped like a seal when Cersei appeared on screen.
Sam: And then she stole the scene away from Tyrion, as far as I’m concerned. And she rocked it later on at the dinner scene. Lena Heady does an amazing job of conveying Cersei’s complex, and often conflicting, feelings towards Joffrey.
Anika: I loved the dinner scene. Joffrey was trying so hard to be in control but he is so far outmatched it’s hilarious — even Loras seemed to be on better footing than Joffrey. And Margaery Tyrell was my favorite part of the whole episode. She’s not just here to play the game, she’s here to win it.
Sam: Yeah, and even if she’s doing it for all the wrong reasons (power, her own safety), she’s doing it differently than anyone else seems to have done for a long time. By helping people. I don’t understand why the Lannisters don’t get that. And the Starks are nice, but they’re so wrapped up in honor that they CAN’T help people sometimes. I really really like what the show is doing with Margaery’s character.
Anika: Exactly. She came off like a Disney Princess (compliment) right down to the “I have other dresses” bit. I love the Lannisters, but I can’t root for them.
Sam: Yeah, I agree in general, though I’m not really a big fan of Tyrion. I know I’m probably the only person on the planet who thinks that way. I think Peter Dinklage is great AS Tyrion, I just don’t like the character very much. Let’s be honest, I’m watching this show to see Dany burn the Lannisters to a crisp, while Arya shanks Joffrey and Sansa ends up as Queen of the North. Ahem.
Anika: I think that would actually be a popular ending. I mean, if Dany doesn’t burn everything to the ground it will be the biggest let down in the history of fantasy. Though, I would not be opposed to Sansa and Shae, who are also my new OTP, going on a murder spree in King’s Landing. Starting with Baelish.
Sam: Haha. Yeah, Petyr Baelish, is… erg. I dunno. I’m interested to see the role Ros plays, since she’s not in the books. And Shae’s roll is different. Also Sansa/Dany is my forever OTP, but I guess Sansa can have a fling with Shae while Dany’s dealing with the Unsullied. I’m okay with that.
Anika: I ship Dany with the throne. But she should have All the Flings. What do we think of the Unsullied as Dany’s army?
Sam: I think Dany needs a good army. Can I spoil a tiny thing from the books? It’s not about the future, just about one of traits of the Unsullied.
Anika: Okay by me.
Sam: In the books, the Unsullied kill a puppy. They’re given a puppy to raise, and they have it long enough to bond with it, and then they’re supposed to kill it. I understand why they changed it to a baby, but I thought it was weird. Killing a puppy is also sad. I guess it’s to higlight the plight of the slaves in Astapor without all the exposition they get in the books. But the image of these young boys carrying around a puppy for a year and then murdering it is kind of terrifying to me, strangely moreso than killing a random baby.
Anika: That’s interesting. As much as she calls herself their mother, the puppy is a better parallel for Dany and her dragons. I was wondering where they even get 8000 random babies to kill, that seemed a little too fantastic to me.
Sam: Yeah, there’s this deep well of hidden population in random places. 8000 people is probably more than the population of Winterfell. My understanding from the books is that these other cities are pretty big, but still.
Anika: The infant mortality rate has to be high in the desert populated by slaves even without baby killing by the army!
Sam: Haha. The logistics of life in Westeros. Speaking of Dany, I was glad to see Selmy show up. Mostly because Jorah annoys me and I’m happy to see him have some competition. It’ll make him more interesting. Hopefully.
Anika: Haha, I had the opposite reaction. I do really like that Selmy has a personal connection to her. But I like Jorah a lot, and his relationship to Dany even more. Of course, part of what I like so much is the sense of impending tragedy I get from them, so…
Sam: I find him a little possessive. But maybe that’s me being jealous of the time he gets to spend with my fictional future wife.
Anika: He’s definitely protective, and maybe that’s possessive. But I love broken characters and broken relationships so I don’t mind it. I mean, I love when Dany talks back to him just as much as I love that she depends on him. If he wasn’t a little possessive and clearly imperfect I would find him boring.
On a related note, I didn’t find Jon Snow boring for almost the first time ever! I have this weird thing where I really WANT to like Jon Snow. But he never seems to do or know anything.
Sam: “You know nothing, Jon Snow.” is basically the truest thing in the entire series. (Ygritte is the best.)
Anika: Ygritte is great. As you said, such a depth of good female characters!
Sam: I like that part of the social structure of these “barbarians” is that they treat women more equally than just about any other society in Westeros. Imagine if Cersei had been born north of the Wall. Wooboy.
Anika: Okay, that’s a great point but now I am shifting everybody into different societies and it is a super fun game.
Sam: I know, I just started doing it also.
Anika: Everybody play along in comments!
In summary, we each get three likes and three dislikes:
Sam: My three dislikes are
1) Tyrion’s nose. I’m disappointed it’s still there.
2) Davos. Zzzz. They could skip right to the end of his third book plot and we’d only need about three lines of exposition and we’d be better for it.
3) When we spend an entire episode missing two of the big A plots (Arya and Jamie) it drives home that there are too many characters and not enough episodes. Which ties into 2, because we could live without him (I like the actor though, just to be clear, I had the same issue READING Davos’ plot also).
Anika:
1) I agree on Davos but for me it extends to Stannis and Melisandre, too. I just don’t care about them at all.
2) Dany, stop being so naive. Of course the little girl is a demon. AKA ‘set up to introduce new rushing to save Dany from things male character‘.
3) The Robb’s army scene was rushed or truncated, I’m not sure what happened or why it’s Jaime Lannister’s, and therefore Catelyn’s, fault.
Sam: Yeah, I suppose I should clarify that when I say Davos I mean “that entire plot line”, which I really don’t need to see. But yes! And I also totally agree with you on Dany. I’m hoping she eventually gets to smack some people around and, you know, take care of herself. Anyway, Likes!
1) Sansa. For as little as we saw her, I thought he game with Shae was very insightful into her character. That whole bit about the truth being either terrible or boring, and never saying the real thing at first… it says a lot about her and how she’s still alive, despite everything.
2) Margaery. I love what they’re doing with her character, and I have perked up from my somewhat disinterested feelings about her last season, because it’s nice to see someone being, you know, nice to people.
3) Cersei, who stole every scene she was in, even the one with Margaery. It’s great to see a really horrible person be so engaging, and in a way that makes me feel for her. She really would rule all of Westeros if only she’d been born a man, or born as a Wildling.
Anika: Yes to all that! A++
1) Tyrion is not my favorite Lannister but Peter Dinklage‘s performance in the Tywin scene was brilliant, especially the anger at the very end.
2) Sam isn’t dead! Also, yay for Ghost, I miss the wolves.
3) Not gonna lie, I love seeing Dany’s dragons grow and I really really love her dragon tooth/claw jewelry. I adore her style and the way it evolves as she does — the leather pants plus flowy blue tunic was the perfect mixture of soldier and princess. Well done, costumer.
Next week: ARYA!