Rangerland Forum Information

[Knight of Dight]

I don't know what you're talking about. That was a good, solid episode that picked up (roughly) right where they left off. It kept the tone and feel of the episodes from last season intact. It's going to get more complicated. But even if the season were 20 episodes they still couldn't cram everything in, nor should they. Not everything needs to be illustrated.

I was pleased enough with it, and I am thrilled the show's back. It's my opinion that you get more out of the show if you haven't read the books. It follows the book so closely that you can't help but notice little details they change/omit.

[LisaLisa]

The episode was ok. The one thing I am fearing though is these seasons are going to be rushed.

There were so many different and in depth stories in the second and third books that it really seems you need more than 10 episodes to properly tell the story. For example, the fact they did about 20 seconds regarding Arya and Gendry tonight stunk.

Yeah...

And they didn't even near flesh out the backstory behind Melisandre/Stannis/The Onion Knight. They haven't even named Melisandre yet.

Also, they did a poor job at the beginning with the drunk knight. I'm pretty sure in the book, he came in wearing bits and pieces of armor but was mostly naked and made a much bigger fool out of himself.

But who cares about the fool? The point of that scene was to show that Sansa is making a role for herself. On the surface, she's subservient to Joffrey's will. But she's found a way to be subversive, to maintain some shred of her identity. She talked him into sparing the idiot's life by getting Joffrey to make him his fool. I can't wait until that boy is dead. Seeing him get bitch-slapped by his mother was some small consolation.

[jburns]

I can't wait until that boy is dead. Seeing him get bitch-slapped by his mother was some small consolation.

Oh, yes. Joffrey is the perfect "love to hate" character. When I see his smug little face, my teeth clench.

[jkman61494]

He's like Faruka Salt but with 1000 hired thugs, a crown and a sexy mom.

[leetchie69]

The ending was pretty brutal, I was wondering how they were going to handle it.

It's funny, I was wondering how the show will do when so many important characters come and go.
But last night I realized..as long as Tyrion is around the show will do great. Peter Dinklage takes over any scene he is in..it is great.

They are going to introduce a lot of new characters, (Stannis, Greyjoys, Tyrells etc etc..) so I hope everyone stays tuned.

Like the promo said....."The game has just begun!"

[jkman61494]

When I read the books, I always imagined Stannis looking like a brutish Viking looking fella. Imposing with a beard like Robert's.

However, Stephen Dillane is such a great actor that I think he could be great as Stannis.

[the old mole]

When I read the books, I always imagined Stannis looking like a brutish Viking looking fella. Imposing with a beard like Robert's.

However, Stephen Dillane is such a great actor that I think he could be great as Stannis.

The actor looks pretty much as Martin describes Stannis, but a little less bald and a little older:

Though he was not yet five-and-thirty, only a fringe of think black hair remained on his head, circling behind his ears like the shadow of a crown. His brother, the late King Robert, had grown a beard in his final years.... As if in answer, Stannis kept his own whiskers cropped tight and short. They lay like a blue-black shadow across his square jaw and the bony hollows of his cheeks. (ACoK 10)

They're pretty much opposites: Robert fat, hairy, and jolly; Stannis thin, bald, and grim.

[Eric]

Veruca. Veruca Salt.

[Ebase]

I can't wait until that boy is dead. Seeing him get bitch-slapped by his mother was some small consolation.

Oh, yes. Joffrey is the perfect "love to hate" character. When I see his smug little face, my teeth clench.

Its going to be awfully hard for him to stay on the throne and I believe he will likely be removed or killed by as soon as season's end.

He commands thru fear. And he is wildly inexperienced and impulsive. The factions have elements that more skilled at diplomacy, or more wealth, more of war resume with momentum who lost his father to Joffery's tyranny, and finally one who has dragons.

Joffrey has many reasons to watch his back right now. And not many friends to come to his aid. And he is not leading the strongest faction. He is on defense.

[LisaLisa]

I can't wait until that boy is dead. Seeing him get bitch-slapped by his mother was some small consolation.

Oh, yes. Joffrey is the perfect "love to hate" character. When I see his smug little face, my teeth clench.

Its going to be awfully hard for him to stay on the throne and I believe he will likely be removed or killed by as soon as season's end.

He commands thru fear. And he is wildly inexperienced and impulsive. The factions have elements that more skilled at diplomacy, or more wealth, more of war resume with momentum who lost his father to Joffery's tyranny, and finally one who has dragons.

Joffrey has many reasons to watch his back right now. And not many friends to come to his aid. And he is not leading the strongest faction. He is on defense.

But he doesn't know that he's on the defensive because he's an inbred psycho-sociopath. Can't reason with someone who has no reason. He reminds me of the boy in the 'Twilight Zone' story who had god-like power who banished people who didn't please him to the "corn field". No empathy or concept whatsoever of the consequences of his actions.

[LisaLisa]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

[Knight of Dight]

I can't wait until that boy is dead. Seeing him get bitch-slapped by his mother was some small consolation.

Oh, yes. Joffrey is the perfect "love to hate" character. When I see his smug little face, my teeth clench.

Its going to be awfully hard for him to stay on the throne and I believe he will likely be removed or killed by as soon as season's end.

He commands thru fear. And he is wildly inexperienced and impulsive. The factions have elements that more skilled at diplomacy, or more wealth, more of war resume with momentum who lost his father to Joffery's tyranny, and finally one who has dragons.

Joffrey has many reasons to watch his back right now. And not many friends to come to his aid. And he is not leading the strongest faction. He is on defense.

I don't think he dies until a later book, so I doubt he'll be killed off this season

[LisaLisa]

The Lannisters. Damn. These are some seriously bitter bitches. Ah, 'eff em all!. But Tyrion takes so much sh!t from all these f#ckers, when he deserves to be the last man standing out of his whole family. He's not honorable, but he has honor. He's not honest, but he's truthful. I think he loves and hates his family at the same time. Ah, I'm tired. I'll think this through later. Peace out!

[the old mole]

I don't want to sound all "WAAAH THEY CHANGED THE BOOK!!!!" but Stannis's character and motivations change significantly with his wife out of the picture. In the novel, it was his wife who convinced him to convert to the Red Priestess's, right? Stannis is sort of a no-nonsense guy who really doesn't have time for superstition and magic, but goes goes along with it anyway because his wife is into it. He also has a daughter, but in the TV series he is childless. This kind of thing is going to happen more and more as the TV writers consolidate characters and eliminate superfluous ones, but that's not a bad thing; it's something that I wish Martin would have done in the books.

Favorite moment from tonight's episode: Theon Greyjoy fingerbanging some chick on a horse only to realize later that the chick is the sister he hasn't seen in nine years. I hated the whole Iron Islands plotline in the books, but I'm liking TV's Balon (the would-be King of the Iron Islands) and Asha (his daughter/Theon's sister) a lot already.

[Ebase]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

greatest moral lesson:

Don't feel up a girl who is riding you on a horse when they might be your sister.

And message to her: don't let him rub you out. He is your brother.

[jkman61494]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

greatest moral lesson:

Don't feel up a girl who is riding you on a horse when they might be your sister.

And message to her: don't let him rub you out. He is your brother.

Apparently in Westeros, these kind of actions aren't totally frowned upon.

[Knight of Dight]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

greatest moral lesson:

Don't feel up a girl who is riding you on a horse when they might be your sister.

And message to her: don't let him rub you out. He is your brother.

Apparently in Westeros, these kind of actions aren't totally frowned upon.

The Targaryans did it and you got the Mad King. The Lannisters did it and you got Joffrey, who may as well be mad.

[Beamer]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

greatest moral lesson:

Don't feel up a girl who is riding you on a horse when they might be your sister.

And message to her: don't let him rub you out. He is your brother.

They really kind of fucked that scene up in the show.

[Ebase]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

greatest moral lesson:

Don't feel up a girl who is riding you on a horse when they might be your sister.

And message to her: don't let him rub you out. He is your brother.

They really kind of fucked that scene up in the show.

The constant moments of incest being a theme is disturbing to me. I find it completely repulsive and chilling to the bone. I realize in life it happens more then people openly speak of, but I kind of like incest kept in the closet so to speak. Out of sight out of mind. I am not certain if it is being done for shock and awe or perhaps its being done because it is a subject that is so taboo and that they believe generates interest in it.

When the Cersei and Jamie Lannister were fucking around you didn't really have frame of reference for who they were in the show so it was fine. When Vasirus stripped Danarius and was fondling her that was kind of disturbing.

Now the Wildling family where there is one father who kills off any of his boys so he can have 25 daughters to screw??? That is just repulsive to me. And then you follow it up by Theon getting in the crotch and shirt of his sister and she is enjoying it???

I realize that these complex relationships are intricate parts of the overall storyline but damn… But as repulsive as I find it (I think it is supposed to be repulsive) the show is so fucking engaging.

[Beamer]

Some of the best lines from last night:

"Knowledge is power? Power is power."

""You love your children, it's your one redeeming quality - that and your cheekbones." <==Awesome

""You insult yourself, Kingslayer. You’ve been defeated by a boy. You’re held captive by a boy. Perhaps you’ll be killed by a boy."

greatest moral lesson:

Don't feel up a girl who is riding you on a horse when they might be your sister.

And message to her: don't let him rub you out. He is your brother.

They really kind of fucked that scene up in the show.

The constant moments of incest being a theme is disturbing to me. I find it completely repulsive and chilling to the bone. I realize in life it happens more then people openly speak of, but I kind of like incest kept in the closet so to speak. Out of sight out of mind. I am not certain if it is being done for shock and awe or perhaps its being done because it is a subject that is so taboo and that they believe generates interest in it.

When the Cersei and Jamie Lannister were fucking around you didn't really have frame of reference for who they were in the show so it was fine. When Vasirus stripped Danarius and was fondling her that was kind of disturbing.

Now the Wildling family where there is one father who kills off any of his boys so he can have 25 daughters to screw??? That is just repulsive to me. And then you follow it up by Theon getting in the crotch and shirt of his sister and she is enjoying it???

I realize that these complex relationships are intricate parts of the overall storyline but damn… But as repulsive as I find it (I think it is supposed to be repulsive) the show is so fucking engaging.

So you haven't read the books?
As a now non-spoiler background, they really fucked up the power dynamic there. In the books Theon comes off the boat thinking he's the prodigal son returning. Theon thinks everyone should bow to him and has that stupid fucking smirk at all times because he's an arrogant jackass. He bangs the captain's daughter, tells her she needs to smile with her mouth shut, and ignores her when she begs him to take her with him because her father will beat her for being a slut. He says it's her problem, not his.
He gets off the boat and meets a striking woman who offers to give him a ride to the castle. He flirts with her repeatedly and tries to grab her breasts, but she won't really have much of it. Instead she unlaces his britches and grabs his wang through them. No hj, just a grab. She won't let him do anything more. She drops him off and he's totally swept up with her - after discussing how he's god's gift to women this one has totally entranced him by both shutting him down and teasing him.

Only a bit later it's revealed that she's his sister and was fucking with him. It completely puts him in his place and sets up a power dynamic - she's the first person to wipe that stupid grin off his face, she's outsmarted him, she's used his arrogance against him and she establishes that she's actually the cunning, capable person he thinks he is.

Instead we get him taking advantage of her, her enjoying it, him feeling like a fool when finding out she's his sister but she really didn't do anything to make him feel foolish, she just allowed him to do what he wants, and then she stands there smirking. It changes her from a smart, cunning woman to a sex toy that's just the female version of Theon the jackass.

This should be his sister:

I'm cool with other changes, but in the book the sister is one of the better characters because she's so different than her brother, and setting her up as outwitting him so hard and leaving him feeling so dumb is kind of key. Having her just sit there smirking because she let him feel her up doesn't really do the same thing. It shows her as being a jerk or trickster, sure, but it still looks like he has the power, not her, because she didn't assert herself over him, she just passively took it.

[jkman61494]

I never thought I would be one of these guys that'd nitpick because for many years, I was the person who didn't really care about reading books.

But for as good of a job as they did last season with the first book, they just seem to be dropping plot points and characters off a cliff thus far. This goes back to what I was saying before that they could not do as good of a job telling the story of Book 2 in a 10 week story arc.

Why?

Hell just look at the intro. I'm not spoiling anything here. In the first season, most of the season took place in four places. The Wall, Winterfell, Kings Landing and Vaes Dothrak.

Just two weeks in here and what do we have? The Wall, Winterfell, Pyke, Riverrun, Kings Landing, Dragonstone, and the areas east of Vaes Dothrak. What irks me, is they're adding story lines with this red headed whore. I don't believe she was even a character in the book. Now they're having her take some screen time like she's a main character all in the name of what? More shots of naked women?

[Beamer]

I've argued with people about this - I don't think they're adding storylines with Ros (the redheaded whore.) She's always existed just to show how the men operate. Her scene on Sunday was just to remind viewers that Little Finger may portray himself as a nice guy but he's really a cruel, ruthless dick.

We've also seen Ros show Theon to be an arrogant child and to show that Master whatever pretends to be senile but perhaps isn't as much as he lets on.

[Ebase]

So you haven't read the books?

I have not. So I have little frame of reference here. I'm just commenting on what I am seeing more then anything else. The characters are engrossing.

That isn't to state that I am not enjoying the show and perhaps now I'll feel inspired to read the books.

Kind of like when I was a kid I saw the cartoon "Lord of the Rings" and that is what made me read the books.

I think one of the challenges about this show for someone who hasn't read the books is it is somewhat unhinged. There is so many sub-stories I think it is hard for someone to figure out what is going on. I have DVR them and go back and rewatch them later at night when it is quiet and me an my wife digest it all and discuss it. And so you look for the shows to tie these things together and at the end of each episode they tease you with a hook that looks like it is going to tie together the bigger story but when it shows it becomes more complex.

Its something that would never work on network TV. Way to complex.

[Knight of Dight]

Two episodes and one sex scene later, they STILL have not named Melissandre (to my knowledge).

[LisaLisa]

Geezus, is being waaayy over the top in commentary the norm around here now?

So you haven't read the books?
As a now non-spoiler background, they really fucked up the power dynamic there. In the books Theon comes off the boat thinking he's the prodigal son returning. Theon thinks everyone should bow to him and has that stupid fucking smirk at all times because he's an arrogant jackass. He bangs the captain's daughter, tells her she needs to smile with her mouth shut, and ignores her when she begs him to take her with him because her father will beat her for being a slut. He says it's her problem, not his.
He gets off the boat and meets a striking woman who offers to give him a ride to the castle. He flirts with her repeatedly and tries to grab her breasts, but she won't really have much of it. Instead she unlaces his britches and grabs his wang through them. No hj, just a grab. She won't let him do anything more. She drops him off and he's totally swept up with her - after discussing how he's god's gift to women this one has totally entranced him by both shutting him down and teasing him.

Only a bit later it's revealed that she's his sister and was fucking with him. It completely puts him in his place and sets up a power dynamic - she's the first person to wipe that stupid grin off his face, she's outsmarted him, she's used his arrogance against him and she establishes that she's actually the cunning, capable person he thinks he is.

Instead we get him taking advantage of her, her enjoying it, him feeling like a fool when finding out she's his sister but she really didn't do anything to make him feel foolish, she just allowed him to do what he wants, and then she stands there smirking. It changes her from a smart, cunning woman to a sex toy that's just the female version of Theon the jackass.

I couldn't disagree more. Theon was thoroughly emasculated in that scene. His sister pwned him and their father backed it up. Their father clearly placed Theon below his sister in importance to the family. As far as the riding scene--she teased him, let him do what he wanted, led him on a little and then, BOOM, total humiliation--leaving him with his shame for not knowing who she was. I haven't read the 2nd book but I can't possibly see how you came away with the impression that Yara was somehow reduced to being some weak, dumb slut. I suggest you re-watch that scene because I have no idea what you were looking at.

But for as good of a job as they did last season with the first book, they just seem to be dropping plot points and characters off a cliff thus far. This goes back to what I was saying before that they could not do as good of a job telling the story of Book 2 in a 10 week story arc.

You don't say?? A TV show can't fit in every detailed storyline of a densely-packed, 2nd book of a proposed 7-part book series? How can this be? They did it with LOTR! They did it with Harry Potter! Oh, wait...no they didn't. SURPRISE! It's just not possible. Why is this a shock? Why is this hard to fathom? It should be expected. The question is, how well can they translate the story from page to small screen while keeping as much of the overall story's integrity? That's the challenge. In this case, it's a huge challenge, and, IMHO, they're doing well so far. Also, I haven't read the 2nd book, but I know who Melisandre is. Telling her back story may come in a later episode. Why don't we let the story unfold and see how they handle it? It might turn out better than you expect.

[jkman61494]

The point is this Lisa.

I have read the books. And I can tell you that during the first season, what impressed me was how well they were able to adhere to the book. Most minute details were present throughout, and at times 2 or 3 would be combined together to streamline the two weeks.

However, through these two episodes they're not only missing some plot points, they're also making new stuff up that never occurred in the books. That's the real thing that irks me. They're creating new stuff just for the sake of it.

[Knight of Dight]

The point is this Lisa.

I have read the books. And I can tell you that during the first season, what impressed me was how well they were able to adhere to the book. Most minute details were present throughout, and at times 2 or 3 would be combined together to streamline the two weeks.

However, through these two episodes they're not only missing some plot points, they're also making new stuff up that never occurred in the books. That's the real thing that irks me. They're creating new stuff just for the sake of it.

I thought that the scene with Stannis and the Red Priestess at the end wasn't in the books.

Anyway, the last couple pages of this thread prove my point that the show is more enjoyable without reading the books. It is impossible not to nitpick at the show if you have read them.

[Beamer]

I don't mind changes, but sorry, Lisa, that scene was a fundamental shift to me. It went from Asha being in control to Asha allowing herself to be used for a prank.

[Ebase]

I'm so lost on this thread...

[Knight of Dight]

They condensed two pivotal scenes at the end of this week's episode. I was kind of sad to see that, even though I realize that this kind of thing will become more and more common as the series progresses due to the length of the books. The books just keep getting longer, too. Seems like Storm of Swords was close to a thousand pages.

This post has been edited by Knight of Dight: Apr 16 2012, 08:03 AM

[Beamer]

They condensed two pivotal scenes at the end of this week's episode. I was kind of sad to see that, even though I realize that this kind of thing will become more and more common as the series progresses due to the length of the books. The books just keep getting longer, too. Seems like Storm of Swords was close to a thousand pages.

While losing the trials and tribulations of Hot Pie is a bit sad, I'm really totally ok with them cutting corners like that.

[leetchie69]

Tyrion is no Ned Stark...he knows how this game is played!

[Ebase]

Tyrion is no Ned Stark...he knows how this game is played!

Apparently.

[LisaLisa]

Seven hells, Joffrey is a sadistic f#ck!

[LisaLisa]

0_o?!?

[Knight of Dight]

0_o?!?

[Muno]

Damnit. I know they need to make the series a bit different than the books due to time constraints but I really think they could have done better on two counts tonight.

First, no Renly eating a peach during the Stannis meeting.

Second, the shadow killer should have looked like Stannis.

May not seem like a big deal, but there was no real reason to omit that stuff.

This post has been edited by Muno: Apr 22 2012, 10:19 PM

[LisaLisa]

Damnit. I know they need to make the series a bit different than the books due to time constraints but I really think they could have done better on two counts tonight.

First, no Renly eating a peach during the Stannis meeting.

Second, the shadow killer should have looked like Stannis.

May not seem like a big deal, but there was no real reason to omit that stuff.

They didn't show the shadow at all. Only a hint of it. So how can you say it didn't look like Stannis when they didn't even show it's full form? They teased it; which is what you should do if you want to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat while you freak them out. A good choice that made great television. Twitter went nuts after that finale.

This post has been edited by LisaLisa: Apr 22 2012, 10:24 PM

[Muno]

Damnit. I know they need to make the series a bit different than the books due to time constraints but I really think they could have done better on two counts tonight.

First, no Renly eating a peach during the Stannis meeting.

Second, the shadow killer should have looked like Stannis.

May not seem like a big deal, but there was no real reason to omit that stuff.

They didn't show the shadow at all. Only a hint of it. So how can you say it didn't look like Stannis when they didn't even show it's full form? They teased it; which is what you should do if you want to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat while you freak them out. A good choice that made great television. Twitter went nuts after that finale.

Eh, maybe you're right. To me it seemed as if they did show its face coming out of the womb and it was kind of demon/monster-like. We'll see.

[ChokeMOut]

I like the show, but I'll probably have a problem with an omission soon:

[leetchie69]

I can't believe the actor who plays Joffrey is 19.

[Beamer]

It's funny - some people think they haven't made a believable enough king out of Renley, I feel they've made too believable of one (no one has really pointed out that he seems more like a guy presiding over a frat party than a nation, and he seems very confident, fair and likeable.)

I'm also wondering if Joffrey's crossbow will become Chekov's crossbow, so to speak.

[LisaLisa]

I can't believe the actor who plays Joffrey is 19.

Really? I actually thought he was younger, like 16 or 17.

[the old mole]

I can't believe the actor who plays Joffrey is 19.

Well, that lowers the creepiness of the scene with the two prostitutes by a factor of one.

[Beamer]

I hadn't even noticed they recast Gregor. Just didn't put together that it was him.
The casting went from a huge, beastly angry man to a very slightly taller, thin, jovial looking man?

[LisaLisa]

I hadn't even noticed they recast Gregor. Just didn't put together that it was him.
The casting went from a huge, beastly angry man to a very slightly taller, thin, jovial looking man?

I realized that on the 2nd viewing, when Arya added the Mountain to her "death list". The first guy was intimidating as hell. This new guy is just...tall. I can't envision this guy taking off a horse's head in one stroke.

Also, I missed a name in Arya's "death list". I got Joffrey, Cersei, the Hound, the Mountain and there's one more but I couldn't get it. Who is it?

[Beamer]

I hadn't even noticed they recast Gregor. Just didn't put together that it was him.
The casting went from a huge, beastly angry man to a very slightly taller, thin, jovial looking man?

I realized that on the 2nd viewing, when Arya added the Mountain to her "death list". The first guy was intimidating as hell. This new guy is just...tall. I can't envision this guy taking off a horse's head in one stroke.

Also, I missed a name in Arya's "death list". I got Joffrey, Cersei, the Hound, the Mountain and there's one more but I couldn't get it. Who is it?

Polliver

[VerdDogg]

Anyone get the impression The Hound is disgusted by the Lannisters. Or maybe he feels he has a common bond with Sansa, who by the way is maturing very nicely.

[Knight of Dight]

Anyone get the impression The Hound is disgusted by the Lannisters. Or maybe he feels he has a common bond with Sansa, who by the way is maturing very nicely.

In the books, The Hound had a thing for Sansa. I very much hope they expound on that in the show because it created a very interesting dynamic.

Also, anyone with even a shred of morality or decency should be disgusted by the Lannisters Other than Tyrion, none of them up to this point in the show have displayed any remorse or concern for the feelings or well-being of others. They're sadistic, perverse, and completely selfish people.

This post has been edited by Knight of Dight: Apr 24 2012, 08:13 PM

[TeamStewie]

I hadn't even noticed they recast Gregor. Just didn't put together that it was him.
The casting went from a huge, beastly angry man to a very slightly taller, thin, jovial looking man?

I realized that on the 2nd viewing, when Arya added the Mountain to her "death list". The first guy was intimidating as hell. This new guy is just...tall. I can't envision this guy taking off a horse's head in one stroke.

Also, I missed a name in Arya's "death list". I got Joffrey, Cersei, the Hound, the Mountain and there's one more but I couldn't get it. Who is it?

Polliver

Ilyn Payne too. He's the one who took Ned's head off.