---JON SNOW TIER OF KNOWING NOTHING, YET STILL BEING COMPETENT WITH A SWORD (Supporting Actors)---
Well, we’ve moved out of the bad/mediocre/disappointing tiers and are now ready to tackle the good. Basically, as with the others, this is mostly other actors simply being better, rather than them making major mistakes. However, I will still be taking pot-shots at perceived flaws from the height of my 0 year acting experience. I feel like a critic already.
I’d say these are, at their worst, a bit better than the average S2 Clarke and Harington, and at their best, about as good as Madden and Hempstead-Wright. Should be a fun ride. Well, not at first. We do have to take care of the middle-of-the-road characters first. Let’s say it’ll start getting fun around #17-18.
22. Robert Pugh (Craster)
Yup, Craster’s in there. Sue me. He’s not even the worst oddball yet – just you wait for magic #19. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
So, Craster. Why’s he there? Mainly for a kudo. I will say that I absolutely did not imagine Craster looking and acting like this – for some reason, I thought he was going to be some sort of Walder Frey with more muscle. I must’ve been sleep-deprived when imagining that, because this version of Craster works rather well, and much better than an incestuous Frey.
So, Craster. There’s one thing I liked with Pugh’s performance: he looks like he’s drunk, all the time (drunk as in “abusive drunk husband”). Maybe it’s the relaxed posture when he sits down, maybe it’s the way he enunciates (not well, but Pugh probably meant it that way and it fits Craster), but all of it really forms a stark contrast with the uptight and slightly boring men of the Night’s Watch. I assume that was the point, and if it was, it was well done. Plus, the ‘drunkard’ attitude definitely reinforces the lecherous side of him, which is if we recall quite an important facet of his character. Or maybe that’s just me being slightly turned off by his conception of a happy family.
So yeah, Pugh’s good; the way he handled the character works well, but I can’t really rank him any higher. He’s there for about two scenes, and while he’s magnificent in the first, he really still seems drunk in the second one, when he barges in carrying Jon Snow. Guy just killed a baby. He really shouldn’t be oozing drunkenness.
Also, I love to nitpick at little things because I have nothing better to do. In my defence, I have a solid experience in acting: I watch a lot of TV. Or used to, at least.
Let’s move on.
Best scene: You might have noticed that I had misgivings over Pugh’s second scene. The most brilliant minds among you will have deduced that I naturally preferred Craster’s only other scene – that being the one in his hut with Mormont, Jon, Gilly and the rest of the Night’s Watch.
I also now realize that I forgot Gilly in my rankings. Heh. Let's say I have her around this level, perhaps around Carter/Slynt because she did act a bit dumber than she really needed to.
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When you have nothing to say, quote yourself ~ Solfadore