Last I heard, they didn't care... and looked at is "free advertising".

So what did everyone think of the recast of Daario? I have to say my initial impression was not good, I prefer the original actor.

Would love to see Arya become like Django in Django Unchained. She's got the Hound's protection.

this
but then once you see someone in a role and they are memorable (in a good way) it's almost a loosing battle recasting

He was so plain, so average. Daario is supposed to be mysterious, dangerous, sleazy, intimidating, and this guy gave off none of those qualities. The other actor did (even though he also didn't look like book Daario, but book Daario would look ridiculous on screen).

When this came up in the True Detective finale thread, there was a post mentioning HBO isn't worried about this. Seems like they should be now.

I thought there was something place to keep you from streaming from two devices at the same time, but maybe that's only for devices in the same subnet.

He didn't strike me as dangerous but I guess we'll have to see what transpires this season. Unfortunately they had to use a scene with him and Grey Worm just to introduce the recasting.

This episode was probably one of the few circumstance where a "previously" recap was needed even for the most ardent fans. I talked to a friend who is currently reading ASoS and I asked about Ser Dontos being brought back into the show since he had not been heard from since S2 and sure enough there he was in the recap and later in the Godswood with Sansa -- right on queue!

Very good start to season 4, especially Arya at the end. Glad the Kingslayer is back in town. He should keep things lively. He's one of the better actors on the show.

I don't get why they didn't even bother putting the wig on the new guy.

Loved the fight at the Inn with the Hound and Arya, and the entire scene. They have great chemistry together. I liked the buildup to the fight with The Hound and Polliver at the table, lots of tension, I was like "c'mon, flip the table and kick his ass!" The actual fight was brutal, when the Hound grabbed that guy's head and forced it onto the blade several times, everybody in my group was wincing.

And the other one wants two whole chickens and wine.
The Hound. Shit, one of the Clegane brothers.

Same here.. I think what made it seem even more brutal than it was came at the end of that exchange when the guy's head was lifted up slightly and you could see the bloody mess that used to be one of his eyes.

Re-casting was crap. In this day and age, you'd think they'd be able to lock down actors for future seasons. They should've at least found someone more similar to the original actor.

Regardless, great episode.

Was this the first time they've had a pre-credit sequence?

Contracts can be broken.

They had a cold open in the series premier where the Night's Watch members get killed by White Walkers, and in the season 3 premier when Sam gets attacked by a White Walker.

Is there a way for them to clamp down on that though?


Other than having to re-login/re-authorize every time.

I, too, was confused about the recasting. Despite that, it was a fantastic episode.

nitpick: I think Sam was attacked by a "wight" not a White Walker in the S3 premiere.

You're right, I get confused when I can't just call them Others and Wights. But yeah, Ghost saves him then Lord Commander Mormont scolds Sam for not sending the ravens, and the credits start.

Where were the Theon torture scenes we've all come to love?

The casting wasn't as jarring as some make it seem. Our group all looked at each in unison and said "That's the new guy." Honestly, as cool as Daarius looked and acted in last season, he was a bit too "pretty." I'm not sure how he's described in the book, but the new casting is fine with me, and I was never taken out of the show by it.

They should have at least made the new guy have blonde hair.

Yeah I would like to know the thought process behind making him look completely different.

It's not so much the different look that bothers me as much as the different personality. New Daario displayed none of the charisma, cockiness, bravado, and mysteriousness that Daario is known for. Granted it was only a couple scenes we saw, but just as a first impression I was let down.

lol, that last comment made my morning. Anyways I agree that she's a total scene downer, but I think it's more the character/role is written to be that way.


Me and my buddy were drinking down the Take the Black Stout while watching this. He was saving it all winter for the premiere. Was actually pretty good, wish I stocked up now.

There's nothing more annoying than a clingy ex-whore.