Let the waiting begin...

Another season of Game of Thrones has ended. Now to wait another year, woo March 2014 here we go! Can't wait for season 4, which is going to change the dynamics of the political game in Westeros to a whole new level. My favorite moment of the season finale: the ten minutes or so with Daenerys, of course. The mother of dragons is now a mother of thousands, freed slaves. She reminds me a lot of Elizabeth I, the queen who ruled brightly and was loved by the people. Elizabeth I, however, had no children or lineage to continue the line. I wonder what Daenerys' future will bring...

Let the North never forget...

*Spoilers*
Isn't sad when you read a book and feel sad that one of your favorite characters has died or been killed? Isn't it worse when you invest yourself in a series and one of the main characters featured throughout the series is completely destroyed and the storyline is surprisingly ended? George RR Martin probably has a whole lot more hate mail this week than when he actually wrote the book featuring the scene that was just filmed and shown on TVs everywhere. I find it a victory though, in George  RR Martin, that as a writer of fantasy and epic stories he can evoke and create such tumultuous emotions in a wide range of people. That is true talent. The day we stop lamenting and feeling empathy for the characters we grow with each week is the day we truly have a tragedy like that of the "Red Wedding". The North will never forget!

 

*Warning for language *

Reactions of people witnessing the most current Game of Thrones episode featuring the "Red Wedding". 

Let the nice day for a white wedding begin...

I have been thinking about weddings a lot lately. They are crazy expensive and I doubt I will ever have the type of period/film type wedding reception that I have always wanted. But I started looking back at my favorite white wedding dresses from period films and I just had to make a list of the most beautiful white wedding gowns that are inspiring as I plan this long overdue reception. 
Did you know that brides started wearing white gowns and dresses until Queen Victoria of England wore white to her wedding to Prince Albert? Before Victoria set the stage and caused a long standing tradition that is even followed today, women wore gowns of color, brocaded and embroidered heavily with silver and gold thread. Red dresses were commonly worn by brides since dyed fabric was difficult to come by and showed the wealth of the family. Hollywood, of course, ignores this and has historical/medieval brides in white since it connects to the current perception of weddings.  With Victoria's wedding, however, the use of white gowns symbolized the family's wealth even more since it is such a delicate and easy-to-ruin color.

 

1. Genevieve Bujold's court dress (right) and coronation gown (left) in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) has always been my favorite version of a white gown. The coronation dress with the gold underlay and the pearls on the bodice has always been my absolute favorite. I hate the puffed up sleeves underneath the bell cap sleeves but that could easily have been remedied with simple long lace sleeves. 

 2. Marrying a vicious-looking horse-lord, she had no language in common with, didn't stop Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke) from looking amazing at her wedding. The light flowy silver fabric was perfect for the hot temperatures of the vast grasslands across the Narrow Sea in Game of Thrones, Season 1 (2011). The perfect touch was the brooch like pendant holding the fabric together right in the middle of the bodice as well as the hanging sleeves around the arms.


 

 3. The lady that began it all, nicely portrayed by Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria (2009), is seen here with a traditional Victorian dress covered in lace, modestly covering the upper chest, and flowing widely over the hips. I especially love the flower wreath with the veil. I dislike the idea of flowers for decoration in a room but flowers on a person can make a difference at such a joyous event.

 

4. Two thumbs up for the most original and exquisite of the dresses used in recent film goes to Legend of the Seeker's series (2008-2010) portrayal of Kahlan (portrayed by Bridget Regan) and Richard's wedding. The very sexy and delicate looking gown is a corset tied with a simple ribbon and flower arrangement at the waist, and flows down the legs with an A-line mixture of a mermaid skirt. I especially like that it isn't simply white but a mixture of golden white giving it an old rustic feel.  And to top it all off, the gown is covered in lace on the back and follows the bride everywhere she goes. Lace just makes everything prettier! 

 

5. Finally, Bella and Edward's wedding in the Twilight Saga's Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011) takes the cake for the most simple yet elegant look. The use of lace and buttons on the sleeves and back make the simple looking dress so much more elegant and ethereal. The use of the veil in the film is not to my liking but in general I dislike the idea of wedding veils and prefer flower wreaths or accessories.

Let the Mother of Dragons win...

How I hope Daenerys will conquer the Seven Kingdoms!

Dear George R.R. Martin, 

Don't Kill Daenerys Targaryen! Your book series A Song of Ice and Fire is amazing. You have great characters, rich histories, complex characters, and real heart! But, please don't kill the possibly last Targaryen in that world and leave all of us fans in deep depression for at least as long as it has taken you to write the series. If Daenerys Stormborn, of House Targaryen, Rightful Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Khaleesi of the Great Grass, Chainbreaker of Slaver's Bay, Mother of Dragons, the Unburnt, the Silver Queen, the Bride of Fire, the Dragon Queen, Princess of Dragonstone, Queen of Meeren, Blood of the Dragon, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, and the Slayer of Lies, never wins the Game of Thrones then what was it all for? Who the heck is Fire in your series if not her. You killed Ned, you killed Mormont, over half of the Starks are gone and separated, the Baratheons are nearly extinguished, and Winter has yet to come!? What can we even expect in winter? Winter is coming! has been proclaimed since the very first book. We are five books later and the series has yet to make any crazy impact that brings Dany closer to Westeros. When will her dragons grow big enough for her to control them and rule the Seven Kingdoms with? Just don't kill her. 

Sincerely, 

An Anxious Fan Waiting for Winds of Winter

Emilia Clarke as Daenerys in "Game of Thrones"

Let the war rage on...

The War of Roses that is! Civil war and destruction separated the Yorks, Lancasters, and Plantagenets; the ruling royal families of England in the 15th century. As a Game of Thrones fan (of course, I had to mention it in this post), you can tell that a lot of the civil war and strife in the imaginary land of Westeros was inspired by the families of this actual period in time. Essentially one guy, Henry, had the crown, Edward-this distant cousin wanted it and took it through defeat in battle by getting help from an influential Earl of Warwick who captured Henry- peace semi-remained for a while. Peace remained until Edward fell for and secretely married, much to the annoyance of other royals at court, Elizabeth Woodville. This pissed off the Earl of Warwick who tried to supplant Edward with his younger brother, more battles followed. Edward won and ruled longer, had daughters and sons, then died. Nobody ever liked the Woodville family when Edward was alive but she was queen so they had tolerated it as best they could. But the king is dead, so long live the new king. King Richard III that is, another brother of the late king Edward. What about the kids Edward sired with Elizabeth Woodville? Meh! To the tower...literally (the lost princes of the tower were those kids). So how was this war ended and who won? Why is it called the Wars of the Roses? (their family sigils were red and white roses respectively, so figuratively the roses were battling each other).

The Wars of the Roses ended with the women behind it. Elizabeth Woodville after loosing her sons in the tower, looked to her oldest daughter as the rightful heir of Edward's throne. But a woman being queen in her own right? That is preposterous, haha! Did you hear that joke Elizabeth Tudor, Victoria, Elizabeth II, Daenerys Targaryen (hehe, Game of Thrones again)? So what is a devastated mother to do to secure her daughter's place on the throne- marry her off, of course. Enter Margaret Beaufort and her only son, Henry Tudor, who has a very tiny claim to the throne. So Richard III is dethroned and literally killed off in the Battle of Bosworth. Henry Tudor marries Elizabeth of York (Elizabeth Woodville's oldest daughter) and from these two roses branches the Tudor Dynasty which springs forth peace and prosperity. With peace, there is time again for art and music, and thus the English Renaissance brings forth a new spring (not to mention Henry VIII, his six wives, the Reformation, Shakespeare, and the Golden Age of Elizabeth I).

What I really wanted to say in this post, is that I love that the epicness and awesomeness (those are real words, I promise) of Game of Thrones and The Tudors as period dramas because they were/are big hits, and that makes other studios make more period dramas. This is a history nerd's biggest dream! I even heard they are making a series on Mary, Queen of Scots (another descendant of the Tudors) but it might be on CW so it's not looking to be more than teenage angst in pretty dresses. What looks really promising this summer (August) is Starz's The White Queen, based on the Philippa Gregory historical fiction novel on the women of the Wars of the Roses (Elizabeth Woodville, Anne Neville, and Margaret Beaufort). As much as I dislike the inauthentic history presented by Gregory as a fiction writer, it is hard to ignore an awesome period piece with wonderful costumes.  Check out the trailer below:

Let the Games Begin...

 The Game of Thrones that is!

 If you ever need to watch something that reflects various eras from history that involve civil war, courtly intrigue, battles, family problems, incest, love stories, and overall epicness, then HBO's Game of Thrones is it. Based on the incredibly awesome and as yet incomplete book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, this fiery and jaw dropping series does great justice to the books. It is rare to be able to say that a show or movie is just as good/close enough to not make fans get the pitch forks and burning torches, but this show can take that honor.

Currently in its third season, Game of Thrones is titled after the first book and follows the many twists and turns of the noble houses of the seven kingdoms known as Westeros. The kingdom has a legendary history that involves the Targaryen bloodline, the ancient and now mostly dead rulers of the land who had the most powerful claim to the throne and right to rule: fire breathing dragons. When the series starts, however, dragons are dead, there remain only two Targaryens in exile, and the land is ruled by House Baratheon in the form of the loud, drunk, and indifferent King Robert. King Robert is married to the cold hearted but beautiful Cersei Lannister, the daughter of the richest man in all the seven kingdoms. Tywin Lannister is a man who was trusted by the Targaryens and who betrayed them fatally in order to make his daughter queen and his grandchildren the heirs to the land. We also have the Starks of Winterfell, the northern house that believes in honor and family above all things. The Starks however have their house motto "Winter is Coming" because in this land, Winter can last over a year, even ten, and Summer is about to end. Children of ten have yet to see a winter and when the cold winds rise, the darkness will cover the land. With darkness, the histories talk about monsters and the dead walking again. But none of this seasonal change matters to the lords and ladies of the land because all everyone cares about is who is closest to the iron throne (the spiky, sword welded throne of the ruler of Westeros) and who wins the game of thrones.

What is the most powerful and memorable thing about this book series and the show is the display of female empowerment, the different character stories and narratives, and the really harsh ends of some of the main characters. There are currently five books out 1) A Game of Thrones 2) A Clash of Kings 3) A Storm of Swords 4) A Feast for Crows 5) A Dance of Dragons. This book series and the show itself are my recommendations for the week. Beware, however, these are stories with adult and mature content which is gratuitously presented at times in classic HBO style.