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5 things we learned about Game of Thrones stars Emilia Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel at Comicpalooza

5 things we learned about Game of Thrones stars Emilia Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel at Comicpalooza
Nathalie Emmanuel, Houston Life host Courtney Zavala, and Emilia Clarke. DPWPR/Instagram

This article originally appeared on CultureMap and was written by Craig D. Lindsey.

As people were packing the George R. Brown Convention Center for Comicpalooza on a rainy Saturday, May 11, making sure their cosplay gear wasn't getting completely soaked, a huge but respectful crowd convened to the third floor General Assembly Hall to see Emilia Clarke and Nathalie Emmanuel, two of the revered, British stars from HBO's monster hit Game of Thrones.

Moderator Courtney Zavala, host of KPRC's daytime show Houston Life, didn't ask about the coffee cup from last week's ep); she instead focused on Emmanuel and Clarke and their revered characters — slave-turned-personal adviser Missandei (R.I.P.) and Daenerys Targaryen, the big, bad momma herself. At one point, they talked about Clarke's trademark eyebrows. Here's what we learned.

Ride or die girls
Clarke and Emmanuel are straight-up, ride-or-die, day-one chicks, discussing how they bonded when they shot in Morocco. When Emmanuel recalled a time when a revealing outfit she wore got unwarranted attention from some disrespectful gents, Clarke showed why she's the Mother of Dragons and told them to knock it off.

Humble starts
They also discussed how getting their now-iconic parts took them out of their mundane, day-to-day jobs and changed their lives immensely. Emmanuel was working in retail ("I had a mortgage," she divulged) while Clarke had a museum job that was apparently so strict, when she got the role of Targaryen, she had to stand on a toilet in a bathroom stall (or "the loo," as she adorably called it) so superiors wouldn't she see was in there changing her damn life.

Continue reading on CultureMap to learn about Emilia Clarke's thoughts on Beyonce.

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The injuries keep piling up for Houston.Composite Getty Image.

The Astros didn’t leave Seattle with a series win, but they may have gained something just as important: a reminder that resilience still runs deep in this group.

After a grueling extra-inning loss on Saturday, one that included the loss of Isaac Paredes to a hamstring injury, Houston regrouped on Sunday and hammered the Mariners 11-3. Christian Walker provided the turning point with a much-needed go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, while Taylor Trammell added a two-run double and a solo shot of his own. With Chas McCormick back from the injured list but still finding his footing, Trammell is quickly making his case as the best option in center field moving forward.

Manager Joe Espada continues to juggle a lineup that’s been in constant flux. Rookie Cam Smith, who had a clutch two-run double in Sunday’s win, has struggled as of late, going just 2-for his last 24. While his ability to get hits in clutch situations has been extremely valuable, the lack of a consistent spot in the batting order may be taking its toll. Giving Smith a stable home in the cleanup spot, even temporarily, might be a helpful reset.

Then again, the cleanup role hasn’t been kind to everyone.

 

Walker has been markedly less effective when hitting fourth this season, a trend that continues despite his strong Sunday performance. Sometimes, the data is clear: the four-hole might not be for him. He's literally been the worst cleanup option in baseball this season. Hit him fifth.

Behind the plate, Victor Caratini continues to impress, while Yainer Diaz is back in a cold stretch. Since the break, Diaz is just 1-for-14, raising questions about his timing and confidence as the summer grind deepens.

On the mound, the biggest developments are happening off the field. Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti both completed three-inning rehab outings with Double-A Corpus Christi, while Luis Garcia threw two innings in a rehab start with Low-A Fayetteville. The trio’s return could mark a major turning point for the Astros, especially as Lance McCullers continues to struggle in his own comeback. McCullers lasted just 2 2/3 innings in Saturday’s loss, allowing four runs and showing little of the form that once made him one of the rotation’s anchors.

There’s been hesitancy to replace McCullers with someone like Arrighetti while he’s still building back arm strength, but the argument grows thinner each time McCullers falters. If healthy, even a three- or four-inning version of Javier or Arrighetti could give Houston more consistency at the back of the rotation.

Despite the weekend loss, the Astros still hold one of the best offenses in baseball, second in batting average, 12th in OPS, and 11th in slugging. The pitching staff remains stout, ranking sixth in ERA and second in WHIP. This team is far from unraveling.

With reinforcements on the way and a lineup that’s still capable of putting up crooked numbers, the Astros aren’t panicking. If anything, Sunday’s blowout win showed they’re ready to weather whatever’s next.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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