Pogojoco

I actually knew that re. Meaghan (the Donna Karan bit, anyway) I just forgot. I amend it to "A third winner who works regularly, but not like Australians."

This is funny, because they first got together while filming the pilot. I don't much like them together in the show, as she gets all stupid about him and he was a total jerk. Also, Alcide is barely cold in the ground....and was so pretty. You slept in his coat the night before, Sookie. I'm sad Amber died, because she was funny. Stop killing the entertaining ones, Show!! Kwanten remains the best part of this silly show (I enjoyed him vaccuming up the love nest rose petals in his undies.) I think his attraction to Hoyt's girl isn't so much "Jason's thinking with his dick" but rather, he thinks she's attractive and he's totally flipping out about it. And I think he's weirded out because Hoyt doesn't remember him. He's knows about the glamouring, but he feels weird having Hoyt back. But, as always, I'm probably giving this show too much credit.

Canada's Next Top Model is, being Canadian I'm ashamed to say, pretty terrible- but it does feature a pretty obviously anorexic first winner (and wonder,in horror, how the producers didn't realize or ignored it), a high fashion-ish second winner (who doesn't really model anymore) and a rather gorgeous third winner, who also hasn't done too much. They are racially diverse (yay) and often really bitchy girls, like way bitchier than Canadians have a rep for (double yay!). Mr. Jay (also Canadian) is the host of the second and third cycle, which also features the insanely gorgeous Yasmin Warsame as a judge. It's terrible, but does have some interesting pictures and plenty of drama. Canada's known for producing super models (Linda Evangelista, queen of supermodels, was born in St. Catherine's, Ontario. Shalom Harlow, Coco Rocha) so it's kind of disappointing. It's entertaining though- so if you want to complete your English language top models, have at it.

I`ve always found it hilarious how successful the Australian girls have been- the stuff Tyra promises the American girls, the Australians have actually done. Gemma Sanderson has been a very successful commercial model for almost a decade. Alice Burdeu and Montana Cox have been in actual big shows overseas (as has Cassi Van Den Dungen.) On covers, on exclusives, in international press for being too skinny (like a real top model.) In actual shows of note, that models want (Dior, McQueen, Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein.) Not obscure t-shirt companies. Even a model who was just a semi-finalist (Kia Low) have been successful- she just walked in an haute couture Dior show. She walked in McQueen, Calvin Klein. A semi-finalist!!! They haven`t picked the right winner every year (I liked Shanali last season for the win, because she`s beautiful and willowy. And also, AUSNTM desperately needs a winner of colour.) The Oz version seems more about fashion and less about Tyra`s ego. Pot Ledom, indeed.

Yeah, I think the ADWD Mel chapter illustrates she has some power, but she's a zealot and an ideologue of the worst kind (dismisses information because it doesn't fit into their worldview.) "I've been asking for visions of AAR, and all I see is snow." I mean, HELLO? Howland Reed is the card GRRM hasn't played yet, and I think he (and maybe a Bran/Bloodraven assist) is the way Jon's parentage is going to be revealed in the book. Maybe not to Jon himself, but in general. I dunno re. Stoneheart. It might've been nifty for the Hound and Arya to keep seeing some hanging bodies on their way from the Riverlands to the Vale. Or for Brienne and Pod to see some and think "hmmmm." Also maybe some rumours re. a giant She-Wolf and a group of smaller wolves creating havoc in the area, in a tavern. Even in the Pod/Brienne tavern scenes. If the dire wolf/warging angle for Arya is going to be a thing. Which I guess it's not.

"Fake Arya" is not just necessary for Theon's escape from Winterfell, but it's also pretty vital to Jon's ADWD's story. He thinks his sister is being raped and tortured at Winterfell. He tried to push it aside, but the Pink Letter brings it all up (he thinks of all his siblings and every thing that was lost after reading it) and makes him lose it a little bit. Jon announces he is taking a group to Winterfell to deal with Ramsey, and it pretty much leads to him to him getting stabbed. The wildlings through the Wall was most of it, as was helping Stannis. But leading men to Winterfell was the final straw. "Fake Arya" is in. I honestly think the North stuff is the strongest of the material in the next two books. HBO should worry more about everything else. ETA- also, Mel telling Jon that she`s seen Arya coming North on a horse forces him into her confidence for a bit. When it turns out to be Alys Karstark, he stops listening to her. She tells him several times he`s going to get stabbed (knives in the dark) and warns to keep his wolf near him, which he dismisses. Given the look Mel gives Jon through the fire on the show, they are going to play up that interaction.

Also what he did to her father. I`m rather looking forward to it.

I don't think they need to. They didn't in the book. All it would take is a few lines in a scene- even Cersei questioning her about Winterfell to establish that she knew Sansa and then her promising not to tell who she is. I think it should be someone from Winterfell, as I liked the dynamic of Jeyne Poole remembering Theon as he was and trying to use that to rouse him into rescuing her. And I'd be ok with Dany wandering out in the wilderness with her dragon for a while. It's a different look for her. Even her getting picked up by a Khalessar, like she does in the book. I thought it was kind of BS when she and Tyrion didn't meet in ADWD,

I'm not attached to any of the "magic horn" stuff from the books, but I have a suspicion that the Wall is going to be coming down at some point. One can't really have a massive, magical wall protecting the realm from the beasties on the other side and not have it come down at some point, no?

They haven't included Mance's baby....yet. They've actually barely included Mance. Hinds is a big deal, ramp up the stakes, give him connections. Make it a baby thing, show. That White Walker changing the baby was cool. Threaten more babies. They could introduce his family later, much like they introduced the Reeds later than in the book. Hinds' scene with Jon Snow and with Stannis- he showed the power of that character. They'd be right to use him extensively. I rather like Harrington as Jon Snow, but I think he works much better with interesting actors/characters around him. Surround him and don't expect him to carry it. And Mel does burn Mance in the book....well, "Mance" and I gotta think that's going to make it. It's a pretty vivid scene in the book. As is the scene when he is revealed as alive. I also gotta think Sam and Gilly get sent away from the Wall- Sam gets sent to become a Maester (not just research White Walkers), because Aemon is old and the Wall needs a Maester. Aemon dying on the way and telling Sam that he should've gone to seek out Dany and her dragons is a connection between the Dany stuff and the Wall. They might change the location of the training (maybe to Braavos), but I'm pretty sure they are getting sent away. Jon sending all his allies away was one of the reasons he got stabbed.

Theon is the champion of "ADWD" as far as I'm concerned. I love those chapters. A horror movie atmosphere (with the strange murders, the Frey pie, Theon hearing things, the spear wives taunting him, the Pink Letter) and the fake Arya charade (a traumatized teenage girl- who desperately wants Theon to save her) set in winter would be very atmospheric. Winter horror movies are a subgenre- The Shinning, Let the Right One In, Ravenous are all set in winter- and they can pull inspiration from that stuff. Mysticism (wendigo type myths), all day darkness, cannibalism, frost bite (I loved the image of Jeyne Poole's nose being black from frost bite), cabin fever- all good things to draw on. I like this idea that Martin sort of builds on in the book- the Winterfell kids- Sansa, Jon and Theon are the ones I remember reflecting on it- have these nostalgic memories about this place. Ned really built a place that was safe for all who lived there- there was justice, people were taken care of, fed. To have it be this burned out house of horrors as "winter is coming" would be interesting. It should be in the show. Also, I want Val to come to the Wall with Mance's baby, knowing the threat to babies (that scene of the baby being transformed into a White Walker being referenced) and trade her hand in marriage for safe passage for her sister's son. I want Val as a counterpoint to Melisandre (Old Gods vs Red God) and I want threat of Mel burning Mance's baby for king's blood to ramp up the tension for Val, Gilly and Sam. I want Jon to be offered Winterfell/Val by Stannis and have her stick around to remind him and to go off and bring another Wilding group back in (even make them women and children, referencing the baby White Walker stuff.) She doesn't need to be there that much, but she should be there. She'd give Jon someone to talk to after they send Sam, Aemon and Gilly away. And I want Val to be played by Abbie Cornish. The north stuff in ADWD is the least problematic of all the settings and I don't think they should mess around with it too much. But I, unfortunately, have no power at HBO.

As for Stoneheart.....I would've intro'd her at the end of last season. The episode was called "Mhysa"- the Yunkai word for mother. And the shock of the Red Wedding hadn't worn off- the image of Catelyn begging for Robb's life and then getting her throat slit was still fresh. They didn't need to make her a character in the fourth season, but it would've planted the concept- sort of like how the White Walkers at the Fist of the First Men ended the second season, and maybe alluded to her in the fourth. The juxtaposition of Dany walking amongst her free "children" and the Brotherhood without Banners raising Catelyn- Thoros and company had been introduced, so it was still fresh- would've been sort of great, IMO. Oh, and as for the Tysha stuff- they discussed her in the first season, and the writers had a perfect opportunity to re-introduce the idea of her in a Jamie/Tyrion conversation (the Orson Lannister beetle conversation or the "We're the Kingslayer Brothers" conversation, for instance) this season (put the earlier convo, season 1 convo in a "previously on..." ) and then have Jamie feel bad and drop the bomb after he lets Tyrion escape and suspects he's never going to see him again. Gives Tyrion plenty of reason to march up to the Tower of the Hand. Tyrion thinks his number is finally up. It makes sense that he's evaluating certain things and the women in his life would be one of those things- Tysha and Shae and Sansa- first "whore" wife, actual whore pseudo wife and virginal second wife who disappeared (in the book, Tyrion thinks Sansa was involved with the murder.)

I can't remember if this was as highlighted in the show, but Tywin has big issues with "working girls" and routinely brought up Tyrion frequenting brothels as another way Tyrion was a major disappointment. So the hypocrisy of Shae being in the bed, as well as all the other betrayal galled Tyrion. I remember feeling the hypocrisy when I read the book- so when Tywin, in the show, calls Shae a whore- I thought of that- he knows what she is (ie not just Tyrion's girlfriend) and she's in his bed. As for why Show Tyrion went to the Tower of the Hand, I have no idea- other than Tywin had to die and Tyrion had to do it. And I never even thought of it until I read it here. There is no reason for him to go to his dad's place. As for women on the show, I have mixed feelings over how they are portrayed. There is definitely way more rape (I'm thinking the Craster's Keep scenes and of course, Cersei) in the show than I felt necessary. Especially the idea of making a consensual sexual encounter in the book into a rape in the tv show- it seems like a lazy way to ramp up tension. Martin has done a service to the fantasy genre just by provided so many different female characters, that are good, evil, crazy, flawed, naive, ambitious etc etc. The show, I dunno. I feel like they could exploit them less.

Well, that was something. The knock down, drag out between the Hound and Brienne of "Fucking" Tarth was pretty amazing. First with swords and then with fists and teeth. And then she still had enough energy to yell at Pod. Arya and the Hound together were great, right to the end. Bringing up Mycah and Sansa ("at least I would've had one happy memory") Also, bellowing "KILL ME!" at her while she stared coldly and walked away. Stannis and Mance talking- that doesn't happen "on screen' in the books, but it's good to see them face to face, if only to have Hinds and Dillane stare at each other meaningfully. I was a little sad there was no wife/sister in law in that tent, but a birth happening would make no sense. Maybe (hopefully) Val shows up at the Wall with the baby and a story. Also, introducing Val right after Jon burns Ygritte would be too soon. I want some Jon threatening Gilly and some baby switching. And some rejecting of Winterfell/wife for the Watch, and that hanging around to taunt him later. Plus, she's hot and amusing. I realize Jojen doesn't do all that much once they get to Bloodraven, but I never expected him to go out like that, so early. We never got the tourney at Harenhall story- but Howland Reed is a major card GRRM hasn't yet played (when it comes to the Jon parentage question) so it's likely going to come up later. Or not. No Coldhands might lay to rest the idea that floats around that Coldhands was Benjen Stark. Tyrion and Jamie. Cersei and Tywin (his face when she told him the truth.) And I didn't see Tyrion's killing of Shae to be self defense. He was pretty much making the move (processing information into anger) and she reached for the knife in response. Charles Dance- even on the privy- was completely in control and still trying to negotiate. That scene was amazing.

Yeah, in the book, Mance has a wife named Dalla and a sister in law named Val. Dalla dies giving birth to their son during the Stannis battle. Jon is there for the birth (not shown), and he and Val take the baby to the Wall. So yeah, you haven`t imagined two babies. Stannis sees Val as a ``wilding princess`` because of her relationship to the King Beyond the Wall and also probably because she is really beautiful- Stannis sees her as a bargaining chip. He offers her hand in marriage to Jon when he offers him Winterfell. Stannis and company see that baby as the next king beyond the wall. I hope she and Dalla are in the tent with Mance when Jon shows up. Partly because I think the two have some nice words about why the Wildings want through the Wall- it`s not to raid or punish the Watch, but because they are getting their asses kicked by the White Walkers. Also, Val could potentially be someone dynamic for Jon to interact with next season (as she is pretty intelligent and witty in the book, disconcerts Jon), and someone else to put a face to the Wildings now that Ygritte is dead. I`m pretty fond of her. I`d also welcome a woman in the North that isn`t being raped in the background of scenes. Also, Jon threatening Gilly to agree to the baby switch that happens is a sign of Jon becoming a hard leader and willing to make difficult choices.