didn't that tar/feather scene bug you?

Side note: I thought the juxtaposition with the slaves in the background hit a very strong nerve and was very clever in its message (and sad)...

but that tar - crimony, wouldn't it have burned the skin off? How could one survive that?

Also, that pox scene was ug.

I was always told that most people were severely injured during the process, but nobody ever really gave me any supporting information.

From wiki:

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First degree burns are sustained after a split second contact with a material that is about 70 °C (160 °F). The same is also sustained after thirty seconds of contact with 55 °C (130 °F) material. The tar of that period was of such a quality that it only melted at about 60 °C (140 °F). At temperatures of 60 °C (140 °F) burns can be created with a three second contact. The thin tar layer presumably cooled quickly; nevertheless, the victims possibly sustained some burns in addition to their humiliation

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The hot tar scars and disfigures so the victim would be seen, wherever he went, to have suffered the punishment.

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[This message has been edited by Gramercy Riffs (edited 3/26/2008 3:13p).]

The pox scene almost made me faint.

A more brutal form used by the British:

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Pitchcapping refers to a form of torture devised by British forces in 18th century Ireland which was widely used against suspected rebels during the period of the 1798 Rebellion, most famously on Anthony Perry, one of the leaders of the Wexford rebels.


British troops pitchcapping suspected United Irishmen (Contemporary Print)The process involved pouring hot pitch, or tar (mainly used at the time for lighting purposes), into a conical shaped paper "cap", which was forced onto a bound suspect's head and then allowed to cool. Less elaborate versions included smearing a cloth or paper with pitch and pressing onto the head of the intended victim. The "pitchcap" was then torn off taking lumps of skin and flesh with it which usually left the victim disfigured for life.

The torture was usually preceded by the crude shearing of the victim's hair and many accounts report that ears were often partly or fully severed during the cutting. Refinements to the torture included unbinding the victim's feet to allow the spectacle of them running about in agony and in some cases, deliberately smashing their own heads in an attempt to end the torment. Another variation involved adding turpentine or gunpowder to the "pitchcap" when cooled and then setting it alight.

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Thanks for the SPOILER alert!!!!!



[This message has been edited by chick79 (edited 3/26/2008 3:44p).]

in case you're serious, the tar and feather part has been on every preview i've seen. i've never seen a single minute of the actual show, but i knew exactly what the OP was talking about.

I don't have HBO.........

ah. sorry, dude.

Post title was spoiler alert enough.

"For those watching..." that should be self-explanatory. If you're not watching, don't read it.

Yeah, that tar and feather scene was ultra brutal. I used to always think of that as just a stupid humiliation tactic. Though it should have, it never really dawned at me that it would be very painful. I don't know, just never crossed my mind.

This series is greatness. Anyone know how many episodes there are going to be?

7

How long is each episode.......?

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Though it should have, it never really dawned at me that it would be very painful.

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oddly, me too, I guess I always thought it was cooled some before dunked and used more just to be sticky for the feathers...who knew?

hour, five minutes - 1.5 hours. They vary.