Edit: And BoB beat me to it.
Edit: And BoB beat me to it.
I totally agree he is a creeper and a dirty old man, but if that's all you think there is to him, I do not think you have been paying attention or that you understand his character very well.Originally Posted by Loony BoB
I think I might have preferred it if they cast someone as he was intended in the book - a trustworthy, nice person (a la Varys perhaps?) who surprises people when we find out he's a power hungry bugger.
More than one side to Littlefinger? So, what side is there aside from creeper? Because that's all I'm seeing from Gillen.The whole point to Littlefinger is that there is more than one side to him. I believe that he portrays his literary character perfectly, and that he is easily misconstrued as being gentle and kind in the book because we aren't there to see the cunning smiles and flickers that Aiden Gillen portrays so well.He has this one look that he keeps throughout. It's even been said that one of the bigger differences between the series and the show is that in the show Littlefinger is always somewhat sinister yet in the books he was actually great at being friendly and lovely and whatnot. But in the show, geez. Littlefinger can't say a single thing without sounding and looking like he's trying to give a child some candy as a reward for following him into his bedroom.
The show needed a way to characterize the slyness of Petyr Baelish, and they found someone marvelous to execute those characteristics.I'm pretty sure it's all anyone should see from the guy. He ooooooozes creepiness and nothing else whatsoever in every scene.
Quoting Martin...
It seems they've just written him this way. I also read on another forum that he's a lot more varied in his acting when in other roles and definitely is capable of doing other things than being creepy but in this show it just seems to be a requirement in all his scenes to be a sleaze.Book Littlefinger and television show Littlefinger are very different characters. They’re probably the character that’s most different from the book to the television show. There was a a line in a recent episode of the show where, he’s not even present, but two people are talking about him and someone says ‘Well, no one trusts Littlefinger’ and ‘Littlefinger has no friends.’ And that’s true of television show Littlefinger, but it’s certainly not true of book Littlefinger. Book Littlefinger, in the book, everybody trusts him. Everybody trusts him because he seems powerless, and he’s very friendly, and he’s very helpful. He helps Ned Stark when he comes to town, he helps Tyrion, you know, he helps the Lannisters. He’s always ready to help, to raise money. He helps Robert, Robert depends on him to finance all of his banquets and tournaments and his other follies, because Littelfinger can always raise money. So, he’s everybody’s friend. But of course there’s the Machiavellian thing. He’s, you know, everybody trusts him, everybody depends on him. He’s not a threat. He’s just this helpful, funny guy, who you can call upon to do whatever you want, and to raise money, and he ingratiates himself with people and rises higher and higher as a result.
Saying he oozes creepiness and nothing else in every scene is a bit bold, though. The only creepy thing he's done is make eyes at and kiss Sansa.
Littlefinger knows he has no friends, and I think that he does not presume to think that anyone besides perhaps Sansa trusts him as he trusts no one but himself.
To be fair that's probably what the directors are asking for. If he's capable of acting a different way, he's probably been told to act the way he's acting now.
Oh, yeah, definitely. "Worst actor" is always a weird thing to say about a show because most actors are just doing what they're told. I mean, you could probably pick a whooooole lot of characters of lesser importance that are obviously worse actors and there's every chance some brilliant actors in the show are getting the short straw when it comes to opportunities to show off great acting. I think Gillen's acting in this show points to both of these things. I mean, Catelyn for example - such a great character to play. Chances to show all kinds of emotion. Joffrey, too. Littlefinger? Eh. Not so much. Never raises his voice, no strong reaction to the death of his one love, looks the same when he's about to kiss someone as he does when he's about to kill someone. Looks the same when he's talking to people as he does when he's on his own (although we see little of him on his own, if any?).
Pycelle's actor is also a bit eh, but he's an actor acting an actor so it's really hard to judge him. xD I also dislike the character who plays Mace Tyrell. Maybe it's just his look more than anything...
EDIT: Great example of someone who almost always has just one kind of mood/expression but does it fantastically - Stannis.
Bow before the mighty Javoo!
Sure, Catelyn gets a chance to act her heart out because her character is an emotionally unstable wretch. Same with Joffrey and his outbursts. Being able to convey emotion, though, doesn't necessary equate to good acting, just a certain kind of acting. Littlefinger is a cool cat, and he conveys it in every way. He is always quick-thinking, always on his feet, never surprised by anything because he doesn't allow himself to be surprised. He has no ties to anyone but himself, so how could he exhibit emotion toward anything else? He tried to show his affection toward Cat one time and it blew up in his face. His character is resigned to showing emotions, and that's what is so interesting about him. He's had to harden himself against such weakness in order to survive.
I am thinking that you are confusing your mislike of Baelish's character with thinking that he can't act.
edit: Additionally, each and every of these same criticisms could be said about Varys.
Which, I might add, a lot of people think he only did hoping that Lysa would see and react accordingly, giving him just cause to take her out of the picture.
I have to say, the only exception to that was when he was under fire by the Vale Lords after killing Lysa. His only defence was 'oh it was a suicide', and stuck to his guns on that one, offering nothing else. Sansa literally saved his ass, because the Lords were not convinced by him.
It's almost as if he didn't think his defence through, which is unusual for Baelish.
That part shocked me as it deviated from the book quite a bit. I can come up with a couple of different theories as to why they went the route they did, but they all have to do with Littlefinger and Sansa's chemistry, relationship, and situation, and how these two people are going to change by being in eachothers' presence rather than to show that Littlefinger is slipping at his lies, or something. Or maybe that's exactly what they wanted to show, I'm not sure.I have to say, the only exception to that was when he was under fire by the Vale Lords after killing Lysa. His only defence was 'oh it was a suicide', and stuck to his guns on that one, offering nothing else. Sansa literally saved his ass, because the Lords were not convinced by him.
It's almost as if he didn't think his defense through, which is unusual for Baelish.
I'm not sure what book you read, but I would not have considered Littlefinger "trustworthy" at all, even at first. The moment he blames Tyrion for Bran's attempted murder, you know something's up. I think his actor does perfectly what the directors are looking for: a conniving bastard who is good at manipulating people.
Also, while I concede that I liked book Arya more than show Arya for the past season or two, I still enjoy TV Arya. She was perfect in season 1, but her storyline has gotten a bit repetitive.
Oh, I like how they did it, as it really shows Sansa's character changing, so Littlefinger slipping up, while maybe out of character for him slightly, felt right, given that they had to show Sansa's transformation.That part shocked me as it deviated from the book quite a bit. I can come up with a couple of different theories as to why they went the route they did, but they all have to do with Littlefinger and Sansa's chemistry, relationship, and situation, and how these two people are going to change by being in eachothers' presence rather than to show that Littlefinger is slipping at his lies, or something. Or maybe that's exactly what they wanted to show, I'm not sure.I have to say, the only exception to that was when he was under fire by the Vale Lords after killing Lysa. His only defence was 'oh it was a suicide', and stuck to his guns on that one, offering nothing else. Sansa literally saved his ass, because the Lords were not convinced by him.
It's almost as if he didn't think his defense through, which is unusual for Baelish.
I just said in the post ahead of yours that it's not me thinking the guy can't act at all, and explained that his character is part of why I feel he's had the poorest showing of acting ability, rather than acting ability itself.Sure, Catelyn gets a chance to act her heart out because her character is an emotionally unstable wretch. Same with Joffrey and his outbursts. Being able to convey emotion, though, doesn't necessary equate to good acting, just a certain kind of acting. Littlefinger is a cool cat, and he conveys it in every way. He is always quick-thinking, always on his feet, never surprised by anything because he doesn't allow himself to be surprised. He has no ties to anyone but himself, so how could he exhibit emotion toward anything else? He tried to show his affection toward Cat one time and it blew up in his face. His character is resigned to showing emotions, and that's what is so interesting about him. He's had to harden himself against such weakness in order to survive.
I am thinking that you are confusing your mislike of Baelish's character with thinking that he can't act.
Nah. Varys reacts with different expressions. He moves his face. He has rather distinctive looks for sadness, surprise, pensive thought, concern... you can see most of them pretty obviously. It may all be part of Varys' act to show expression, of course.edit: Additionally, each and every of these same criticisms could be said about Varys.
I'll conced to what Formy mentioned though - we saw a different face for Littlefinger during the interrogation of Sansa over Lysa's death.
Bow before the mighty Javoo!
This much I can agree with. I'm guessing you know what is going to happen by the end of Season 4 and Season 5 will finally have her going in a new direction. I'm looking forward to that, actually.
The issue with Arya's storyline for me was that she's basically been mostly travelling since Season Two. Besides her stay at Harrenhal, I can't think of another time where she's stayed in one place.This much I can agree with. I'm guessing you know what is going to happen by the end of Season 4 and Season 5 will finally have her going in a new direction. I'm looking forward to that, actually.
Not to us, no, but to the others. Read the quote by Martin himself that I mentioned - Littlefinger is supposed to be everyone's friend in the book.I'm not sure what book you read, but I would not have considered Littlefinger "trustworthy" at all, even at first. The moment he blames Tyrion for Bran's attempted murder, you know something's up.
I've not read all the books but I trust the author to give an accurate account when he says that Littlefinger is the most different character between series and books for these reasons.
Bow before the mighty Javoo!
Yeah, after this season Arya's storyline should get much better.
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