Game of Thrones Season 3:5 – Recap Time, Secrets Spilled (Well, Not So Much)…

It’s actually pretty hilarious that we got a nice sharp shock at the end of that last episode and a nice low-key one-two punch this week. Hmmm… I can see a few weird weddings in the not too distant future… or perhaps not, given the tendency for things to go all sorts of wrong in Westeros these days. On the other hand, a certain house with the upper hand will no doubt be none to pleased that some of its members have been a wee bit incapacitated (well, permanently in two cases) by some not so nice folks. I can smell the scenery chewing from here and nope, I’d not want to be standing in the way of a certain ruler when he gets wind of what’s happened…

Meanwhile, there’s a dragon-led army stomping into either the last two or three episodes (or worse, Season 4), although I’m thinking that Dragonborn will need a few more troops, as a mere eight thousand might not cut it. Oh, we’ll see, we’ll see… I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, that’s all…

Game of Thrones 3:4 Behind the Episode: A Show Of Hands (And Other Revelations)…

You know, I’m never, EVER going to run out of hand jokes, right? Well, it’s a damn good thing you don’t HAVE to read my lame attempts at humor at all thanks to that video above to draw your attention away, right? Well, I’ll just keep on doing what I do best (well, at least in my pointy little head) and you, dear reader – just keep on doing what you do best as long as you park your eyeballs here for a spell each day. Whee – it’s a shorter than usual post so you won’t suffer much. Actually, I need to jet on home, as I want to whip up dinner before Defiance kicks on at 9PM…

Game of Thrones 3:4 Recap/3:5 Preview: Some Ladies Get What They Need (& Other Stories)…

Hoo boy. I actually knew as soon as I saw the creep she was dealing with that Daenerys Targaryen was playing that poor fool with his Unsullied army like the cheap fiddle he was. Still, that was a pretty hot surprise he got at the end. (sings) “Burn, baby burn… Disco Inferno!” *Ahem* Well, he did deserve it after all, what with his insulting language from the get-go. Anyway, there were a few other nice surprises and “What the…” shocks in this last episode and it looks like Episode 5 will keep the ground even bumpier for a few characters.

Hmmm… that big ol’ war map and pieces are back in the next episode, so it looks like some war plans are afoot. Or a really long game of chess (ha, ha). Amusingly enough, a friend I got hooked on the show said to me in an email afterward that “It’s a damn good thing they don’t have guns on that show, or the season would be over really fast!” DUH. I’d rather be shot than roasted by some winged flying beastie, mister. (sings) “There’s a hot time in the old town toniiiigght!” OK, OK, I’ll stop now…

Game of Thrones Interactive Features: What To Do With That Extra Hand? Now You Know…

Heh. That’s a little in-joke there for folks who saw last week’s episode… Anyway, I’m still not into whole “second screen” craze that tablet users have glommed onto as if they’ve suddenly gotten a third or fourth eyeball sprouting from their head and an extra arm (and hand!) that can keep them busy as the onscreen action from the show spools out. That’s nothing but distracting for someone like me who prefers paying attention to the show proper while saving the minutiae for later consumption. It reminds me of going to the movies and sitting next to someone who’s telling their seatmate the plot and pointing things out because that person is too slow to follow or otherwise disinterested. Granted, if one has a child, friend or relative that NEEDS that sort of attention, it’s an ENTIRELY different story. As it is, all this extra work during the show for me makes it less enjoyable because it’s a division of brain labor on my part. Of course, if YOU enjoy that experience, go, you!

In Case You’re Not Watching Game of Thrones, HBO Wants To Make You Do So (NOW)…

Hey you. Yeah, YOU. I know you’re sick and tired of rolling up to the water cooler or coffee machine on a Monday and hearing enough Game of Thrones chatter to make you want to beat the next person you hear rolling a strange name off their tongue with that coffee mug in your hand, but don’t do it. Just give in and either make a new friend with one of those co-workers so you can hang at their place for the next episode or shell out for HBO if it’s part of your cable package you didn’t upgrade. You look like you could use a bit more drama in your life and the good thing is, you don’t have to dress up for it. Unless you REALLY want to. I know that tavern wench outfit in the closet you’ve not worn since that Renaissance fair in 1998 still fits – you’ve been taking care of yourself (and that’s a good thing)…

Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 3 Inside/Recap: Shake A Hand (If You Can)…

Oh, I had a ton of puns about last nights episode “handy” (oops!), but I decided to not use them at all out of respect. Well, that and I didn’t want hate mail from fans of a certain character who shouldn’t get fan mail at all because he plays a right bastard. Well, a LEFT bastard now after that last episode. OK, I couldn’t resist. Well, next week’s episode WOULD be hi-larious if it didn’t follow up and instead, left us hanging (unlike that hand) for another week while it focused on other events in Winterfell. THAT would rile up the closure freaks (and cauterize freaks, too!) significantly, especially the ones who don’t yet grasp the concept of suspense and how a show with SO many characters and stories to tell can make some things last a bit longer. Then again, given how that first season ended up, I’m betting we’re gotten up to speed about a few conditions, as things were looking grim for another character when that bait & switch move was pulled…

Soul Sacrifice: Keiji Inafune Chats Up His Vita Exclusive…

Yes, it’s almost here (April 30) and SCEA is dropping another behind the scenes video and site updates, this time focusing on game designer Keiji Inafune and his latest creation headed exclusively to the PlayStation Vita. Between great-looking games like this, a library that’s growing steadily thanks to indies, imports and some fine third-party titles, 2013 should be a pretty solid year for Sony’s handheld. Well, I think so. Sony needs to kick it up a notch and do some price dropping on the hardware and memory cards so more can buy in and get playing some of these stellar titles…

Game of Thrones Season 3: A Threesome of Features To Heat Up Your Monday…


 

Ewwww. That already infamous “Men don’t need nipples” line and scene from the Season 3 premiere nearly sent a cup of hot tea flying into the air last night, fortunately, you could see it coming a mile away (hopefully). Still, yikes. If that’s the army Daenerys wants (and gets), what’s she going to do with them should she also gain the throne she desires and there are a few thousand left? Probably buy them some chairs so they can FINALLY sit down, ha ha. Hmmm? Of course, given the “feel no pain” way those guys work, it should be quite an epic battle that takes place.

Er… Well, as long as we don’t get shot after shot of nipple slicing (yuk)…


 
Anyway, I still haven’t gotten around to reading any of the books (and don’t really plan on it as like The Walking Dead, I know that there’s a GREAT deal of deviation and additions to the source material), so don’t tell me anything. I have a dragon under my bed and it knows your address. Or so it tells me. Hey, I just feed it whomever shows up ringing my doorbell unannounced (so there are a few cable TV salespeople not annoying others about needlessly expensive and some pompous proselytizers missing a few sheep from their flocks, methinks)…


 

And of course, these interviews are always hilarious to watch because of the dumb questions that get pitched at people who really can’t say much for any number of great reasons. Still, a little insight goes a long way, that’s for sure. I wonder what the motto of House Martin is these days? Hmmm… that’s a good question to ask, I bet (or not)…

Game of Thrones Season 3: Inside the Wildlings (Before They Remove Your Insides)…

 

Of course, in real life WInterfell, stopping to put on a pot of coffee and have a chat with a Wildling or two would probably have a few different outcomes (not too many of them good for you, dear reader), so be thankful these interviews aren’t done completely in character all the time. On the other hand, that WOULD make those dragon interview videos really something, right? Only five more days to go before Season 3 rolls around. Between this, The Walking Dead season finale and one or two other shows, that particular Sunday will be a BUSY one in terms of TV time for me, I think. Of course, I could just ignore it all and play through a game or two I need to finish up, but that’s probably not going to happen as I’ll be camped out writing for at least part of the day…

Deadly Premonition: TDC Q & A With SWERY65: Your Burning Q’s Get A’d (Even If You Didn’t Ask Any)…

 

What, you didn’t notice that director Swery65 (or Hidetaka Suehiro in real life) was taking questions about the upcoming PS3 Director’s Cut version of his cult Xbox 360 classic horror.humor hybrid? Shame on you… but it seems that he’s got a Deadly Premonition of his own and has answered what you’d probably ask had you known. This is good. Go watch the man in action (well, as much action as you can get from a Japanese guy sitting on a sofa and fielding silly to smart queries about his game) and then feel free to sit back and smile afterwards if you’re a PS3 owner and in the mood for a funny, frightening and just plain WEIRD game experience.