Came to 'Game of Thrones' fairly late in the game and due to being so busy the binge-watching was gradual. Have found myself truly loving the show, very quickly becoming one of my favourites. It totally lives up to the hype and not only does it do the brilliant source material justice (a rarity in television) it is on its own merits one of the finest, most addictive and consistently compelling shows in recent years and quality-wise it puts a lot of films in recent years to shame.
"The Ghost of Harrenhal" is another excellent episode, if not quite one of the best. My only complaint is, like other critics criticising the scene, the treatment of Renly. It just seemed so out of nowhere and rushed, judging from the aftermath too what should have been shocking came over as indifferent.
Everything else is brilliant though. Standout scenes were two. One was the exchange between Arya and Tywin, which is very powerfully written and acted with one of the cast's most experienced and charismatic actors in Charles Dance being matched by a younger and less prolific one in Maisie Williams. The other is Brienne and Catelyn's pledge, with superlatively powerhouse performances from Gwendoline Christie and Michelle Fairley.
Visually, "The Ghost of Harrenhal" looks amazing. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. The visual effects are some of the best of any television programme and are not overused or abused, the scale, the detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in a lot of the big-budget blockbusters. A standout is the dragon, which actually looks real. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.
One cannot talk about "The Ghost of Harrenhal" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.
It is hard not to be bowled over by the quality of the writing, outstanding isn't a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is once again. It always has a natural flow, is layered and thought-provoking and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos and witty humour. The story is paced beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence which is truly remarkable for so much going on in narrative and characterisation, a high emotional level and is done with intelligence, passion and sensitivity.
Charles Dance, Maisie Williams, Gwendoline Christie and Michelle Fairley in particular are just superb here, they consistently were in 'Game of Thrones' but all four give some of their best work.
In summary, excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox
"The Ghost of Harrenhal" is another excellent episode, if not quite one of the best. My only complaint is, like other critics criticising the scene, the treatment of Renly. It just seemed so out of nowhere and rushed, judging from the aftermath too what should have been shocking came over as indifferent.
Everything else is brilliant though. Standout scenes were two. One was the exchange between Arya and Tywin, which is very powerfully written and acted with one of the cast's most experienced and charismatic actors in Charles Dance being matched by a younger and less prolific one in Maisie Williams. The other is Brienne and Catelyn's pledge, with superlatively powerhouse performances from Gwendoline Christie and Michelle Fairley.
Visually, "The Ghost of Harrenhal" looks amazing. The scenery is throughout spectacular, the sets are hugely atmospheric and beautiful on the eyes with a real meticulous eye for detail and the costumes suit the characters to a tee. The make-up is beautifully done. The visual effects are some of the best of any television programme and are not overused or abused, the scale, the detail and how they actually have character and soul are better than those in a lot of the big-budget blockbusters. A standout is the dragon, which actually looks real. As well the cinematography and editing, which are cinematic quality as well.
One cannot talk about "The Ghost of Harrenhal" without mentioning the thematically, orchestrally and atmospherically multi-layered music scoring and the unforgettable main theme. Again, worthy of a high-budget fantasy/action/drama film.
It is hard not to be bowled over by the quality of the writing, outstanding isn't a strong enough adjective to describe how good the writing is once again. It always has a natural flow, is layered and thought-provoking and demonstrates a wide range of emotions such as suspenseful tension, poignant pathos and witty humour. The story is paced beautifully, structured with such nuance and attention to coherence which is truly remarkable for so much going on in narrative and characterisation, a high emotional level and is done with intelligence, passion and sensitivity.
Charles Dance, Maisie Williams, Gwendoline Christie and Michelle Fairley in particular are just superb here, they consistently were in 'Game of Thrones' but all four give some of their best work.
In summary, excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox