It makes “Do you remember our first ride?” bloody nonsensical, though, dunnit.

Both Rob and I went “YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THAT TEARFUL NON-CON SEX! THAT RIDE!” at the screen when she said that.

Interesting! (Why am I not surprised that GRRM said “You know? This isn’t grim enough. Make it nastier.”)

As for men in the fridge (awesome) I keep thinking of this: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/615/wtmnmv.jpg/sr=1

That said, the later stages of that arc are a lovely reversal of one of the more unpleasantly misogynistic tropes common in genre fiction these days. By which I mean that’s one big manly refrigerator right there.

I totally agree with you about Danaerys and Drogo. I feel like it makes both of them come off as much weaker than they actually are, and also makes some things not make sense. When Drogo is so protective of Danaerys claiming the women from the village they raid, in the book it makes total sense because he’s actively defending her point of view rather than her personal safety. In the series it’s a bit…I don’t know, less rounded as an action. Both of them end up looking wrong in some ways – I found Danaerys in the books really manipulative and clever. In the series she comes off as all brute strength and force of will, which is part of it but I don’t think it’s the whole story.

Arya is my absolute favourite character in the books and I wish she got more time on the screen :( Something I liked about the books is that -all- of the characters started off almost stereotypical and developed over time. Not just the women, though it was definitely refreshing to see it happening for both. The only male characters that I can really see developing like they do in the books are Tyrion and Jon, and to be honest they get the most screen time so it’s not surprising.

Mixed feelings about it but overall erring towards pleasantly surprised I think. However if they mess up my Arya I kill them. Dead.

What I don’t get is why HBO then invented entirely new things, especially the epic racefail that is most scenes with the Dothraki. Danaerys’ first night was NOT a rape in the books, her relationship with Drogo was completely different, HE was different – more intelligent, communicative and subtle, and the entire Dothraki culture was a full culture, not the charicatured savages HBO went with.

There are several decisions about the female characters which stay the same as the books, mostly as you say where they start off oppressed and later become kick-ass. I’m okay with that IF it causes the viewer/reader to see their situation and want it to get better. I think GRRM manages this. But HBO invented so much of the dynamic between Danaerys and Drogo (and the Dothraki) in the show that this is entirely on them.

They do have fantastic actresses though :) Especially Maisie Williams and Michelle Fairley. It’s incredibly rare for women over 40 to get screentime at all, and scenes such as the one with only Catelyn and the very old Lord she is bargaining with have no shiny teens in them, just amazing acting.

Overall I thought the series came out as a win, but with some inexplicable decisions from HBO.