My friends at HBO have just released some photos from the second season of GAME OF THRONES, scheduled to premiere on April 1. I thought I'd share them with you.
Here's a first look at some of our new characters,
LORD REAPER OF PYKE

Balon Greyjoy played by Patrick Malahide-Helen Sloan/HBO
THE MAID OF TARTH

Brienne played by Gwendoline Christie-Helen Sloan/HBO
THE ONION KNIGHT

Davos Seaworth played by Liam Cunningham- Helen Sloan/HBO
More to come...
Here's a first look at some of our new characters,
LORD REAPER OF PYKE
Balon Greyjoy played by Patrick Malahide-Helen Sloan/HBO
THE MAID OF TARTH
Brienne played by Gwendoline Christie-Helen Sloan/HBO
THE ONION KNIGHT
Davos Seaworth played by Liam Cunningham- Helen Sloan/HBO
More to come...
- Current Location:Santa Fe
- Current Mood:
excited

Comments
I mean, given how Tyrion is *supposed* to look, there's no way we were getting a seriously "ugly" Brienne. She's never flat-out described as "ugly" anyway, except by, well, assholes - she's certainly not deformed or anything. But "butch" is not an adjective that your average Westeros woman is going to find complimentary.
Actually, the very first description we get of Brienne is from Cat's POV (certainly not an asshole) and she thinks to herself something along the lines of "is there anything in the world sadder than an ugly woman?"
"Brienne is abnormally large and strong for a woman, and exceeds most men in size. She has large, very blue eyes that appear trusting and guileless, but they are her only attractive feature. She is extremely broad-shouldered, but has virtually no bust. Her face is broad and coarse, with a nose that has been broken several times. Her mouth is too wide, with prominent and crooked teeth and lips so plump they seem swollen. Her hair is the color of dirty straw and her face is mottled with freckles."
Look at what Gwendoline Christie usually looks like. Then back to this. Back to Gwendoline, then back to this. The lady is now a self-loathing androgynous (and not in the bish way) brutish warrior with what looks like a chronic bad hair and skin day.
But not only that, she looks strong and capable. Not strong as in "strong independent woman", but more like in she could take anyone of us commenters, snap us as a twig and with just by the strength of her arms use our torso as an anti-Lannister WMD.
I for one am hella impressed. And no, that lady wouldn't have dudes throwing themselves at her in our world even if she had money and power (which was the main draw for Brienne's past suitors). The world of AGOT isn't really a nice or fair place, it's pretty terriballs. Brienne's story reflects this more than many others, and I already feel like I'm liking Brienne more having seen this shot.
(Yes, my tone here is terrible and I'm sorry but I'm trying to make a point here. We say she's not ugly enough because most of us are brought up to not be dicks. Not so in Westerosi nobility.)
Ugly in real life is average looking on TV.
Average looking in real life is pretty on TV.
Pretty in real life is gorgeous on TV.
Gorgeous in real life is inhumanly beautiful on TV.
(That said, I love her costume and expression.)