Let’s give credit where credit is due: Jon is not the easiest character to play. Some roles get the best lines without the actor having to do much work with them (Jaime is probably the best example, although in Coster-Waldau's case, the actor can definitely embellish the result - but more on that later). Some roles are really, really hard to nail because the character is thoroughly unsympathetic (looking at you, Sansa - at least to me). Some roles flounder in the middle because the character’s a bit bland, meaning the actor really has to bring his A-game to make them memorable. That would be Jon.
Kit – while he did play well – did not bring his A-game, and the result, yes, seems a bit lacklustre. It’s like he’s bored, tired and unhappy at the same time, all the damn time. It kinda reminds me of LOST Season 4/5 Jack, before Matthew Fox woke up and drastically improved his game for the last season. Harington’s performance could similarly do with a bit more energy – though he’s meant to be the lead character, other actors quite often manage to ‘steal’ scenes away from him, and not necessarily through amazing ability of their own.
In the end, though, he still manages to pass Clarke because his job is harder than Dany. He’s kind of the classic/angsty fantasy hero – and his lines are not particularly engaging to begin with, whereas Dany is a very fascinating character, especially coming off from the amazing Season 1 finale. I’ll be much less forgiving of Kit come next season, because that's where his best material comes in.
Best scene: I quite liked the scene with Jeor Mormont at the beginning of Episode 3, in which he figures out that Mormont knew all along that Craster was a ****. His performance there was low-key, but effective. You could really sense the disgust/disappointment he felt towards the Lord Commander.
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When you have nothing to say, quote yourself ~ Solfadore