Tower of the Hand

Here's another take on the script that's floating around. This time, it's from me. From what I can tell, this is very close to (if not the same exact draft of) the script first reviewed by Winter Is Coming. I have not been able to confirm that this is the real thing, as written by DB Weiss and David Benioff. If it is legitimate, good. There's enough here to satisfy both fans and newcomers. (Update: The script has leaked! Get it before 2/9.)

The first episode remains faithful to the source material, but not stubbornly so. Scenes exist in the script that don't take place in the book. Some of this is for convenience--there's only sixty minutes to cram in all the details we need. Other changes take advantage of the visual medium that is television. Lots of dialogue and internal thoughts are omitted in favor of knowing looks and sidelong glances. It's subtle, but effective.

Plot-wise, the script sticks to the book. It starts with the prologue and ends with "The things I do for love." Everything occurs as expected between those bookends: Robert visits Winterfell and asks Ned to be Hand, a feast is held in the king's honor, Lysa's letter speaks of murder and intrigue, and Daenerys gets two significant scenes.

Characterization is managed as best it could, given the chapters covered. The leads get to show off their dominant personality traits, but not much else. Hopefully whoever lands the parts will give performances that help elevate the material. Otherwise, some characters will seem rather boring (Ned, Catelyn). Jaime and Daenerys, on the other hand, do stand out.

I have less fears about the dialogue than I had before I read the script. Robert's lines are still a little corny and Ned's a little stiff, but those are reasonably within character. The Lannisters have the best lines, by far. The script would probably be humorless without them.

Not much objective information to give beyond what's already been given. The script is 61 pages. Most of the kids have been aged slightly. There's profanity, there's sex (because, after all, it's not television, it's HBO). What follows are some scatter shot thoughts. They're specific, so stop here if you're looking to avoid spoilers.

* I don't really like the way the prologue was adapted. The best part of the prologue is when will Will sees that Waymar Royce has been turned into an Other. The script sadly alters that scene.

* The credits will be interesting to see. Some years ago, I tried to write a screenplay adaptation of AGOT as a writing exercise. I didn't get very far, but the credits remind me of what I wanted to do in my opening scene.

* DB Weiss and David Benioff know how to end scenes. Early example: the last shot of Ned and Robert leaving the crypts is perfectly ominous.

* I mentioned earlier that Ned and Catelyn are borderline boring. Their best moments come during the feast, in scenes that never happen in the book. Not surprisingly, it's probably the presence of Jaime and Cersei that makes the scenes so good. In fact, I'd say the exchange between Ned and Jaime is the best scene in the whole script.

* Of the Stark children, Bran gets the most screen time (his love of climbing is established early on, too). Sansa has as many lines as Rickon (zero). Jon Snow, however, shares some nice moments with Bran, Benjen, Tyrion, and Arya.

* A couple of plot points feel rushed to me. Jon wanting to join the Night's Watch. Catelyn urging Ned to take the Hand. I guess the book has this problem, too.

* Are we supposed to know that Jaime and Cersei are twins? Obviously, the book mentions this early on and the script internalizes this, but no dialogue refers to them being siblings. I think this needs to be more explicit, otherwise the final scene loses significant shock value.

Overall, I am pleased by this script. I'm no longer worried about the adaptation's faithfulness. Conversely, I'm excited by the stuff the writers added; the best scenes and the best lines aren't from the book. Aside from being a visual adaptation, fans will still find some things new in it. I didn't realize until now how important that is.

As a bonus, I'm going to list all named characters in the script, in their order of appearance. This is going to be a gigantic cast. The number is the character's age, if given in the script.

Will (20), Gared (50), Waymar Royce (18), Eddard Stark (40), Jon Snow (17), Robb Stark (17), Bran (8), Theon Greyjoy (19), Jory Cassel (30s), Hullen (40s), Daenerys (15), Viserys (20), Illyrio (50), Jorah Mormont, Khal Drogo (30), Jon Arryn (60s), Grand Maester Pycelle (70s), Cersei (30s, listed later as 32), Tyrion, Jaime Lannister (30s), Maester Luwin (75), Catelyn Stark (35), Sansa (13), Arya (11), Rickon (3), Joffrey Baratheon (13), Sandor Clegane (35), Robert Baratheon (40s), Tommen (7), Myrcella (8), Benjen Stark (40s), Septa Mordane (60s), Rodrik Cassel (60), Irri, Jaqui, Doreah