![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
chavalah.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scifi_rewatchThis is undoubtedly my favorite episode of the season and contains my favorite scene (here’s a hint; it’s between Sansa and Joffrey.) Perhaps this is only fitting as it was penned by ASOIAF author George R. R. Martin himself.
As matters reach a fevered pitch for the Starks, various family members take measures to arm themselves. Jon Snow, restricted by his duties to the Wall, finds other challenges to face, and Daenerys learns that the road to war is not without its human suffering. Tyrion makes new allies and joins up with his father in preparation for an assault against Ned’s son Robb, now the acting ruler of Winterfell.
This episode literally had me on the edge of my seat, although I’d already read the book and knew exactly what was happening. But the performances were so wonderful that I found myself reacting as if I was directly involved in the action. I think this episode proved that Benoiff and Weiss created a show with characters folks can care about.
Every storyline and every major character (sans the dead ones) was back this eppy and in top form. Well, Sean Bean didn’t really have enough of anything to do to be in top form. :P He spent most of his time squinting in a dank dungeon, leaving his family, friends and enemies to grow stronger in his absence. To me, this was an eppy where Richard Madden (Robb) and Sophie Turner (Sansa) moved up and shone out in particular, but everyone was just so on target, and I give major, major kudos.
Breaking it down by location!
King’s Landing
What an amazing way to open the episode. Really captured the mood of the turmoil in store for House Stark. The household staff—particularly the people we see packing up the girls’ belongings—are summarily slaughtered by the Lannisters. Sansa and the Septa are on their way to the wagon when they come across said Lannisters with bloody swords. The Septa turns Sansa away to lock herself in her room, and faces the douches alone. Given what Varys told Ned later, she likely didn’t survive. :-/
Sansa, meanwhile, doesn’t get far before the Hound catches her. (I love that she’s wearing Joffrey’s necklace the whole time.) Frightened, she threatens that he’d best leave her be, lest she tell her father or the queen. The Hound merely laughs, closing in on her, and asks “who do you think sent me?”
Meanwhile, Arya and Syrio train as usual, oblivious to the madness. I love how we know what’s going on and they don’t—it lends a unique, terse energy to the scene. When Syrio lectures Arya on “really seeing,” trusting her instincts in a battle and not what her opponent tells her he’ll do—we realize how important this will become for her very survival.
Sure enough, the Lannister guards storm in and tell Arya to come with them; her father’s waiting. Syrio stops her with the width of his sword and challenges, “Why would Lord Eddard send Lannister men instead of his own?” Obviously, things don’t go well after that. Syrio whacks the guards as best he can with his wooden stick Mr. Miagi style. :P He tells a frightened Arya to run to her father, and to remember the words to say to Death—“not today.” It’s her mantra for the show, but I still prefer the original “fear cuts deeper than swords.”
The girl scatters, glancing fearfully up at the door where Syrio is fighting off the Lannister men. Then, repeating the words “not today, not today,” she makes her way down to the wagon, finding her father’s men slaughtered. :-/ Her own trunk is upended, and she roots through it for Needle. A young stableboy comes up behind her, recognizing that he can get a prize from the queen for turning her in. She threatens him to stay back, then accidentally, clumsily, “sticks him with the pointy end,” a la the title of this eppy. I’ve seen some reviews complaining about why she’s so bad at swordfighting here when she’s been training well with Syrio. …uh, maybe because in one instance, it was purely a diverting hobby with wooden swords and a jovial Braavosi, versus here, where her life is in imminent danger and she has nowhere to turn? This is a true loss of innocence for her. Frightened by her first kill and the devastation of the day, Arya runs off screen and we do not see her again for the rest of the eppy. :-/
We get to check in on Ned…Varys, with a torch to light the way, comes to the dungeon with water, and cautions Lord Stark not to drink it all at once; water seems in short supply down here. He brings a bit of an update—Ned's household staff are all dead, Arya has escaped “even where my little birds can’t find her,” and Sansa, still betrothed to Joffrey, is a captive of the queen. Varys asks “what madness” drove Ned to let Cersei know the truth of her bastard children last ep. “Mercy,” Ned replies. He didn’t want her children harmed or manipulated, as Cersei will so easily do with his own. :-/
“I trust you know you’re a dead man,” Varys says. FYI, Cat lost the Imp. Ned’s face falls at that. Only a matter of time now, but Varys won’t slit his throat, “not today.” “Whom do you truly serve?” Ned demands. “The realm,” Varys answers. Subjective terms are subjective. Varys remains a mystery!
Later, Varys joins the queen and the rest of the small council in a ploy to manipulate Sansa Stark. I’m a fan of showrunner Dan Weis’s description: we’re seeing “Sansa on one side of the table and then four of the most heavy-hitting, under-handed double-dealers in the world on the other side of the table.” They tell her that her father was a traitor who betrayed Robert and Joffrey. Sansa refuses to believe it, asking Cersei to call her father here to explain. Pyrcelle goes into a monologue about how a “traitor’s blood” is dangerous…sure, Sansa is innocent now, but what plans will she hatch in the future? (Varys and Littlefinger play “the good cops”—aw, but she’s just an innocent child.) “How can I allow you to marry my son?” Cersei asks.
With her betrothal in jeopardy, Sansa is now primed to be used as a tool. “Write to your mother and your brother, Robb,” Cersei tells her, pushing forth quill and parchment. (In the book, Aunt Lysa and Uncle Edmure of Riverrun are also on that list.) “Tell them to swear their fealty, and we’ll know you don’t have the traitor’s blood.”
Sansa tentatively asks to speak to her father, and Cersei sighs. “You disappoint me, child.” Why should she want to speak to a traitor? “What will happen to him?” Sansa persists. “That all depends on Robb…and on you,” Cersei answers, in her chillingly kind tones.
…this scene is awesome. May I note that most of the dialogue here—and elsewhere—comes straight from the books. At first, I was a little wary of Sophie’s performance, but that’s mostly due to personal bias. Sansa’s my fave char, so I heard her pretty clearly in my head as this high-pitched, optimistic child. Sophie takes her in a more sullenly fearful direction, but frankly, it still works. Obviously, optimism can’t last long in this situation. :-/
(Random note from the book: there was a scene, not included in the show, where Sansa goes to Cersei to ask her to stop Ned from sending her home. This is the catalyst Cersei uses so she knows exactly how to attack the Starks, and it’s pretty much revered by Sansa haters about why she is a despicable, traitorous character. Some go as far as to blame her for Ned’s downfall, as if Ned himself didn’t play the role we saw last episode, or heaven forbid Cersei or Littlefinger who actively orchestrated it. As you can probably tell this debate is a contentious issue among fans, and keeping it out of the show has only added new dimension to the controversy. As for my personal feelings…I’d like to point you to the next scene I’m about to discuss, where Sansa takes action in defense of her father.)
Ned awaits his fate in the dungeon (we get one more scene of him getting kicked in the foot by a guard…) and it’s up to his firstborn daughter to vouch for him in front of the king. This is undoubtedly my favorite scene out of the entire book—it’s used to end the episode—and I had high hopes for it. It did not disappoint!
Joffrey, bedecked in a resplendent new crown, Cersei and the council are conducting business in the throne room…namely moving people and positions around like chess pieces as they try to bolster up the new king’s rule. Sansa enters in southern garb and hairstyle, greeting people as she passes (I love this; so true to her character,) and a bored-looking Joffrey makes eyes at her as he sees her. Cersei also smiles deceitfully at the girl. Their eyes remain on her, particularly as Tywin Lannister is named as “that traitor, Eddard Stark’s” replacement for Hand. She shows no reaction, my sweet girl, though she’s definitely nervous about something to come.
The last bit of official business is to remove Ser Barristan from the kingsguard. Cersei uses flowery language about retirement and comfort, but the threat is there. Joffrey pins “the blame” for Robert’s death on his shoulders; guess they need someone for that! Plus, Cersei wants to elevate Jaime to Barristan's position. The queen is all about surrounding herself with the small group of people she sorta trusts…and dissing all others.
What she does to Barristan is a great offense, tho. Kingsguard members serve for life, and to be passed over in favor of the Kingslayer, who broke his oath to Aerys? Outrageous. Barristan angrily strips out of his armor and Littlefinger mocks him by calling him “a naked knight.” The court laughs. Barristan draws his sword, as to the rest of the kingsguard, and for a moment, it looks like things will come to blows. But ultimately, Barristan throws down his sword, challenging Joffrey to “burn it down and add it to the rest” of the iron throne. He stalks out. (In the book, Barristan actually references Stannis taking the throne from him, and Joffrey demands him seized, but maybe they thought that was a bit much for this scene.)
The session is included…unless anyone else has anything to bring up with the king. This is Sansa’s moment. Alone, at 13, to plead for her father. “Come forth, my lady,” Joffrey says with false piety.
Sansa kneels, and begins to plead for her father’s life. Pycelle interrupts with his talk of traitors, but Joffrey says he wants to hear what she has to say. It’s not kindness, of course, which is what Sansa takes it for; Joff knows if there’s anyone in this room he has power over, it’s Sansa. He leans forward in his chair, eyes trained to her, like a lion ready to pounce. (Have I mentioned how Sophie and Jack, the youngest actors in the room, totally stole the scene? *applause*)
“Do you deny your father’s treason?” Littlefinger asks. “No,” Sansa wisely answers. She gives her book-excuses for why Ned might have done what he did; perhaps he received bad council from Renly or Stannis, or perhaps the seed of the poppy for his leg clouded his mind.
Joffrey leans back on the throne. “Your sweet words have moved me,” he lies. Perhaps he can show mercy—so long as Eddard renounces his claims and comes clean about his crimes.
“He will,” Sansa promises quietly in the closing shot. We move backwards from her, she grows smaller as the spikes of iron throne close her in. Sansa Stark is truly a hostage now. :-/
Across the Narrow Sea
Heading westward, the Dothraki raid a village. Dany is repulsed by the violence, the slave-hoarding, the rape…uh, was she not paying attention to Drogo’s speech last eppy?
The rapes in particular bother her. In the book, they were so casually graphic that I had to put it down after reading them. Fortunately, we don’t see the specifics here, just men carrying struggling women and throwing them down on the ground and the like. Dany commands that the women be brought to her. Jorah and the others are reticent, of course, but she uses her authority as khaleesi.
Later one of the men, Mago, complains to Drogo of the khaleesi’s actions. Drogo asks “the moon of my life” if she took a woman that Mago meant to mount. Dany doesn’t deny it, drawing Mago’s surprise. “If your men are to mount these women, let them marry them,” Dany insists.
Sounding like a patient father, Drogo explains that the men have the right to rape “the lamb people”; this is just the way of war. They are slaves now, and we get to do what we want with them. “I want to see them not be harmed,” Dany shoots back. Have I mentioned that this entire scene is in Dothraki? And not that I’m a foreign language expert or anything (particularly made-up foreign languages,) but it sounds pretty awesome to me! :P
Mago is annoyed by the notion that he has to take orders from “this foreign whore,” but Dany shoots back that she’s the khaleesi, earning Drogo’s respect. “See how feisty she’s getting,” he praises her. “That’s my son inside her, filling her with his fire. Mago, find someplace else to stick your cock.”
Mago is not amused. He draws his scythe and takes a nick out of Drogo’s chest. …and now we get to see Drogo in action! We’ve heard a lot about his viciousness, we’ve seen him pour molten gold over Viserys’s head. But this is…whoah. Without a doubt the goriest thing I’ve seen yet on GoT (and not from the book). He slits Mago’s throat, reaches his hand inside the wound and tears his tongue out. :-O I guess that’s where the graphic rape scene was diverted to. All the other chars looked pretty grossed out as well, at least. (Random note: Mago doesn’t die in the text and GRRM has dropped hints about him coming back into the story…hm.)
Just a note about Dany…I love that she’s such a “feminist,” of course, and wants to stand up for victimized women. But I also appreciate that her “foreign” ways don’t sit well with some of the khalasar. Like with Cersei, she’s pushing her own agenda down peoples’ throats, and they don’t always like it.
Dany runs to “my sun and stars,” mewling over his superficial wound. (Honestly, after seeing that graphic violence, Dany/Drogo seem even more harlequin than usual. :P) Drogo shrugs it off but Dany calls for healers.
One of the women Dany saved, Mirri Maz Dur, steps forward and offers her services, oddly switching to English in the middle of her speech. Drogo’s bloodriders are dismissive, but Dany once again asserts her authority and allows the woman to speak. MMD mentions something about dressing wounds before they fester (another modern-sounding notion,) and after some pretty begging from the wifey, Drogo allows the slave to lay hands on him.
Castle Black
Two dead men (including the rest of the hand brought forth by Ghost last eppy,) are wheeled back behind the wall. They are the two rangers who rode with Benjen, but Jon’s uncle is still nowhere to be found.
Sam wisely notes that there’s no smell from the corpses, which should be rotting. Jon suggests they be burned, but Mormont wants Maester Aemon to take a look first. Jon and the others wheel the bodies away as Mormont is called inside to discuss a recent raven from King’s Landing.
Later, Mormont has Steward Jon pour the both of them glasses of ale, and then he sits the lad down. The raven letter reports that King Robert is dead. Jon asks if there’s any mention of his father, and Mormont responds that Ned has been labeled a traitor. Jon reads over the letter himself, then stands abruptly and moves towards the door. “Don’t do anything stupid,” Mormont cautions him.
“My sisters are at King’s Landing too,” Jon replies grippingly, and my heart does a family!love soar. “Your place is here now,” Mormont reminds him. He did take his oath last eppy. Alas for competing loyalties!
Later, Jon is working with his friends in the kitchen, which is kinda surprising to me, since Grenn, at least, is a ranger and not a steward. Thorne decides it’s time to be a big dick. :P “You know what’s worse than being a bastard?” Thorne drawls. “Being a traitor’s bastard.”
All of the friends stop and stare; apparently, this is news to them. Jon looks angry, then slightly resigned, and then he lunges for a carving knife and goes for Thorne’s throat. :-O Dude, so needlessly reckless! Luckily some friends restrain him before things get bad. Mormont comes in and chastises his steward for not heeding his stupidity advice (sheesh, I thought you meant something along the lines of Jon deserting the wall and heading back to Winterfell. :P) He confines Lord Snow to quarters.
As Jon angsts, Ghost (yay, Ghost!) paws angrily at the door. It takes a little while for the lad to realize that the direwolf is warning him of danger. In a slightly Lassie-esque moment, Jon unlatches the door and follows Ghost to Mormont’s quarters. He finds nothing at first…then one of the corpses is moving; it shuts Ghost outside and goes for Jon’s jugular. :-O (In the books, these reanimated corpses are called “wights,” but I can’t help but to think of them as zombies. :P Braaaains…)
Jon attempts stabbing the thing several times, but nothing seems to make the dead guy…stay dead. :P Finally he’s able to wrest himself free and he joins Mormont, who just woke up, apparently. I guess relying on brute instinct, Jon snatches the lantern from the Lord Commander’s hands (burning his fingers in the process; great book moment!) and sets the wight on fire. That seems to stop him! Finally, some fantasy elements to this fantasy story, eh, people? When are we gonna get back to the political intrigues? :P
As they burn the other body the next morning, Sam conveniently mentions reading in a book in Aemon’s library how fire can kill wights. (Uh…kinda late to claim that nugget, Sam. :P) He adds that wights are made by White Walkers. Jon asks what else the book says about White Walkers, and Sam answers forebodingly, “well…I hope the wall is big enough.” And we get a harrowing look up at the wide, never-ending expanse of the wall.
Spooky scene, yes…but annoying. :P I was part of a writing class once where my instructor told me that I shouldn’t play games with people; there shouldn’t be secrets abounding unless it’s integral to the plot. And honestly, if Jon were to ask “what else should we know about the White Walkers?” wouldn’t Sam answer with something more than a meaningless fear tactic? Aurgh. It’s a plot device, sure…but poorly served here. Other than that small detail, though, wonderful scenes at the wall! Great way to juxtapose its own, supernatural storyline with the larger issues going on in the realm.
Winterfell
Robb has received Sansa’s letter, but Luwin correctly interprets it as a royal command from the queen. “Joffrey puts my father in chains and now he wants his ass kissed?” Robb demands. (I like this line..particularly since the dick measuring between Joffrey and Robb from earlier eps was taken out. :P)
Will Robb go to King’s Landing? Oh, he’ll go all right. And he won’t be alone. He tells Luwin that it’s time to “call the banners,” and oh yeah he means all of them. Theon, sitting nearby, looks pleased as punch that his battle call has finally been realized. …I’m a bit reticent. What does Robb hope to accomplish, riding to war against the people who hold his father and sisters captive? Maybe he doesn’t yet know that his mother has lost Tyrion.
Great scene between Robb and Theon with Robb’s hand shaking. Reminder that the boy is still young (not so young as he was in the books, but still this is his first battle!) Theon is understanding of his fear—“it means you’re not stupid.”
So the Stark bannermen arrive and Robb hosts them in the great hall. Laughing and drinking abound, despite the seriousness of the task at hand. Well, no matter how serious a task is, seems like little can get in the way of self-righteous honor. :P Greatjon Umber is bitching at Robb for not giving him the exact position he wants, wah wah. When Robb refuses to bend the Greatjon draws his blade, mocking his “green” youth and all. (Random note—loved seeing Theon and Bran sitting somewhere down the table! Also loved seeing Theon stand to attention once the Greatjon’s sword was unsheathed.)
But Robb didn’t have anything to worry about…and we got our second direwolf scene of the day! :-O Grey Wind leaps across the table and tears two of the Greatjon’s fingers off (all true to the books, hee.) All laughter and merriment stops at that. Robb, looking twice as big across the chest thanks to his furs, stands and says verbatim from the book, “My lord father told me it was death to bear steel against one’s liege lord. Doubtless, the Greatjon just meant to cut my meat for me.” (Whoah. This is the scene where Richard owns Robb Stark as the burgeoning leader. Using Grey Wind to dispense justice doesn’t seem so cowardly now…you gotta utilize what assets you have in this world, after all! :P)
“Your meat is bloody tough!” the Greatjon proclaims, holding up his bloodied hand. And this is a funny moment. Somehow, losing two fingers earns Robb his respect. I remain bewildered. :P And yet…as the Stark bannermen laugh, this is undoubtedly one of the happiest scenes in the eppy.
All merriment leaves with the next scene. Robb comes to Bran’s bedside to tell him goodbye. He’s traveling south, and to war, in the middle of the night. I swear, my heart was in my chest the whole time. So few partings, particularly for the Starks, end in being reunited. :(( I’m devastated for this family, I truly am.
Bran wants to go with Robb—“I can ride now!” but Robb counters with Cat’s advice; “there must always be a Stark in Winterfell.” Don’t go beyond the castle walls. Take care of your little brother. Sheesh, if you thought this was all too much for Robb to handle… *clings to Bran* *someone has to* :(
Robb takes his leave…and Rickon comes in! :-O Two direwolves and a Rickon? This is truly a magical episode. :P I’m so glad to see the boy, cos he’ll have to play a little bigger of a part next season, should it stay true to the books. Also, it gives Bran the chance to actually be an older brother, as Robb commanded. He tries to soothe Rickon…go say goodbye to Robb, he’ll be back; and with Mother and Father, too. But six-year-old Rickon (perhaps he spent the last several weeks watching GoT off screen,) has a far more pessimistic worldview. “No they won’t,” he says. :-/
Final scene in Winterfell…Bran prays by the weirwood. So nice (and peaceful) to see this place again. Osha ambles by in her chains…she prays to the old gods too; everyone north does. She claims the gods are answering Bran’s prayers…and the big thing they have to say is that Robb & co are marching the wrong way. “They should be marching north, not south,” Osha insists. Ah, the age-old fight between which enemy is more of a treat. :P Still…Natalia is really nailing this role. I didn’t even call her Tonks this time! :P
…and then we get to see a random, naked Hodor. :-O Which is apropos to nothing (except, perhaps, explaining how paralyzed Bran got to the weirwood. Hopefully Hodor had his clothes on at the time…) Osha commends his impressive manhood. Bran asserts his new lordly power by commanding the simpleton to put clothes on. Perhaps we needed this ending for levity. There’s very little of that this eppy.
The Battlefield
Final stop for the day, folks. I’m combining the Lannister and Stark camps. Love how the Lannister tents are so rich and red, and the Stark tents look shabby and brown. Nice little reminders of differences in wealth and prestige!
Cat is en route from the Eyrie…after a particularly bad parting with her sister. :-/ She’s furious when Lysa doesn’t share right away that Robert’s dead/Ned’s a traitor/Robb’s marching to war, which apparently was delivered to the Vale via raven. :P She wants Lysa to commit her knights to the cause, but the younger Tully refuses “to get involved in another of your husband’s wars.” To Cat’s mind the Lannisters have to be stopped; to Lysa’s mind they have to be avoided. “The knights of the Vale will stay where they are—here, to protect their lord,” she says. …well, at least we didn’t see another Robin-feeding session, though we got close. :P
As Cat and Rodrik approach the camp, snow falling on it, Lady Stark replies with fondness, “Robb’s brought the north with him.” Robb and his men are pouring over maps, discussing tactics, when Cat comes in. “Mother,” Robb says emotionally. They look awkwardly at each other until Catelyn asks for a moment alone with her son. “You heard her; move your asses!” the Greatjon bellows; he can always make a moment fun. :P “Yeah, you too, Greyjoy; haven’t you been watching the last few episodes? You’re not a Stark.”
Alone at last, Robb and Cat embrace. This is all true to the book, and I love these scenes. I’ve already told you how rare Stark reunions are…so Cat/Robb may be my absolute favorite relationship in the entire series. Their bond is particularly intriguing, given sonny boy’s rising star. (In summary: Richard, Michelle, you’re doing great so far…but I have my eye on you! :P)
“I remember when you were brought into this world…” Cat says, stroking his armor lovingly. “Now you’re leading an army.” Slight tiff here…yes, the other men were more battle-seasoned, but Robb is a Stark, and their lord. Anywho, it’s too late to send Robb home now. Things are what they are.
Robb hands Cat her letter from “Sansa” aka the queen (and they note the lack of Arya-mention :( ). Mom/son also realize that actually bending the knee to Joffrey is a trap; they'd never be allowed out of King's Landing. The only way to save the family is to win the war with the Lannisters. …which seems like a pretty tall order, personally. And also…I don’t get how they assume that Cersei wouldn’t kill Ned and the girls if Robb crushed her father and brother first. Certainly they don’t think the Lannisters are honorable! *shakes head*
…on the opposite side of the child/parent love continuum, Tyrion is heading to Tywin’s camp, Bronn in tow. We get a short scene further explaining Bronn’s nefarious motives…women, money, blah blah. Tyrion continues to promise him stuff, so long as he himself survives.
And later, they’re attacked by a hill tribe! In the book, I largely forgot these characters as soon as they were introduced. :”> But you gotta admire Tyrion’s quick-wittedness here…and Peter Dinklage delivers the lines with such nervous cattiness. Basically, the Imp gets out of being killed by offering the hill tribes “trinkets”…and the Vale. :-O Looks like it was a good thing Lysa’s knights stayed after all!
Tyrion & co enter the Lannister camp together to chill with Tywin (and Uncle Kevan/Lancel’s father, too!) Kevan seems slightly more amiable to seeing Tyrion than Tywin does. “Looks like reports of your death were unfounded,” says Daddy. “Sorry to disappoint you.” Big fan of the acting here, because after all of Tyrion’s whining earlier in the season their tension had to sound believable. Kudos!
“Jaime wouldn’t have allowed himself to be taken prisoner so easily,” is Tywin’s criticism of his youngest son. But let’s get down to business here. Robb’s crossing the Trident and Tywin’s going off to meet him. Ned is now their prisoner; Robert is dead and Joffrey is king. (I just love Tyrion’s oh crap expression at that one. :P)
Tywin may hate his son, but he understands the value of the gift he’s given him in the hill tribe peeps. “Fight for me against my enemies and I’ll give you all my son promised, and more,” Tywin says. (Gotta respect Lannister ability to command loyalty through coin. :P) But it turns out the hill tribes want Tyrion to fight alongside them until they get everything he promised them. Tyrion, finally able to reach for a cup of wine, gives Tywin a look that screams, but Daddy!! :P Unfortunately, Tywin doesn’t seem moved.
Back in the Stark camp, they realize they need help from the Freys to cross the river. The Freys are Tully bannermen—a plus since Cat is originally a Tully—but the Freys are temperamental; Hoster Tully calls Walder Frey “the late lord Frey,” who tends not to appear on the battlefield until the battle is over. We’ll see how this needed-allegiance goes next week!
Matters are interrupted when foot soldiers bring in a Lannister spy. :-O Scary!controlled Robb walks up to the boy and asks how many men he’s counted. Then he leans in close and tells the boy to report back to Tywin that they’re coming for him “to see if he really shits gold.” (Another popular saying about the Lannisters; great placement here.)
His bannermen—certainly the Greatjon again—are alarmed that he let the boy go. Cat goes as far as to cry out “Robb!” as he’s doing it, earning her a look of reproach from her son. Robb mentions Ned’s devotion to mercy. Though honestly, after how far “mercy” got him last week, I wonder if he’d share different council with his son now. :P (And Sansa also asks for mercy…why are the Starks so much kinder than everyone else? :P)
…there is another reason why Robb may have told the scout to share that specific piece of information with Tywin, but I’ll remain mum for now! This review is already my longest yet, oy gevalt. Hope it’s jam-packed with useful info.
___
As matters reach a fevered pitch for the Starks, various family members take measures to arm themselves. Jon Snow, restricted by his duties to the Wall, finds other challenges to face, and Daenerys learns that the road to war is not without its human suffering. Tyrion makes new allies and joins up with his father in preparation for an assault against Ned’s son Robb, now the acting ruler of Winterfell.
This episode literally had me on the edge of my seat, although I’d already read the book and knew exactly what was happening. But the performances were so wonderful that I found myself reacting as if I was directly involved in the action. I think this episode proved that Benoiff and Weiss created a show with characters folks can care about.
Every storyline and every major character (sans the dead ones) was back this eppy and in top form. Well, Sean Bean didn’t really have enough of anything to do to be in top form. :P He spent most of his time squinting in a dank dungeon, leaving his family, friends and enemies to grow stronger in his absence. To me, this was an eppy where Richard Madden (Robb) and Sophie Turner (Sansa) moved up and shone out in particular, but everyone was just so on target, and I give major, major kudos.
Breaking it down by location!
King’s Landing
What an amazing way to open the episode. Really captured the mood of the turmoil in store for House Stark. The household staff—particularly the people we see packing up the girls’ belongings—are summarily slaughtered by the Lannisters. Sansa and the Septa are on their way to the wagon when they come across said Lannisters with bloody swords. The Septa turns Sansa away to lock herself in her room, and faces the douches alone. Given what Varys told Ned later, she likely didn’t survive. :-/
Sansa, meanwhile, doesn’t get far before the Hound catches her. (I love that she’s wearing Joffrey’s necklace the whole time.) Frightened, she threatens that he’d best leave her be, lest she tell her father or the queen. The Hound merely laughs, closing in on her, and asks “who do you think sent me?”
Meanwhile, Arya and Syrio train as usual, oblivious to the madness. I love how we know what’s going on and they don’t—it lends a unique, terse energy to the scene. When Syrio lectures Arya on “really seeing,” trusting her instincts in a battle and not what her opponent tells her he’ll do—we realize how important this will become for her very survival.
Sure enough, the Lannister guards storm in and tell Arya to come with them; her father’s waiting. Syrio stops her with the width of his sword and challenges, “Why would Lord Eddard send Lannister men instead of his own?” Obviously, things don’t go well after that. Syrio whacks the guards as best he can with his wooden stick Mr. Miagi style. :P He tells a frightened Arya to run to her father, and to remember the words to say to Death—“not today.” It’s her mantra for the show, but I still prefer the original “fear cuts deeper than swords.”
The girl scatters, glancing fearfully up at the door where Syrio is fighting off the Lannister men. Then, repeating the words “not today, not today,” she makes her way down to the wagon, finding her father’s men slaughtered. :-/ Her own trunk is upended, and she roots through it for Needle. A young stableboy comes up behind her, recognizing that he can get a prize from the queen for turning her in. She threatens him to stay back, then accidentally, clumsily, “sticks him with the pointy end,” a la the title of this eppy. I’ve seen some reviews complaining about why she’s so bad at swordfighting here when she’s been training well with Syrio. …uh, maybe because in one instance, it was purely a diverting hobby with wooden swords and a jovial Braavosi, versus here, where her life is in imminent danger and she has nowhere to turn? This is a true loss of innocence for her. Frightened by her first kill and the devastation of the day, Arya runs off screen and we do not see her again for the rest of the eppy. :-/
We get to check in on Ned…Varys, with a torch to light the way, comes to the dungeon with water, and cautions Lord Stark not to drink it all at once; water seems in short supply down here. He brings a bit of an update—Ned's household staff are all dead, Arya has escaped “even where my little birds can’t find her,” and Sansa, still betrothed to Joffrey, is a captive of the queen. Varys asks “what madness” drove Ned to let Cersei know the truth of her bastard children last ep. “Mercy,” Ned replies. He didn’t want her children harmed or manipulated, as Cersei will so easily do with his own. :-/
“I trust you know you’re a dead man,” Varys says. FYI, Cat lost the Imp. Ned’s face falls at that. Only a matter of time now, but Varys won’t slit his throat, “not today.” “Whom do you truly serve?” Ned demands. “The realm,” Varys answers. Subjective terms are subjective. Varys remains a mystery!
Later, Varys joins the queen and the rest of the small council in a ploy to manipulate Sansa Stark. I’m a fan of showrunner Dan Weis’s description: we’re seeing “Sansa on one side of the table and then four of the most heavy-hitting, under-handed double-dealers in the world on the other side of the table.” They tell her that her father was a traitor who betrayed Robert and Joffrey. Sansa refuses to believe it, asking Cersei to call her father here to explain. Pyrcelle goes into a monologue about how a “traitor’s blood” is dangerous…sure, Sansa is innocent now, but what plans will she hatch in the future? (Varys and Littlefinger play “the good cops”—aw, but she’s just an innocent child.) “How can I allow you to marry my son?” Cersei asks.
With her betrothal in jeopardy, Sansa is now primed to be used as a tool. “Write to your mother and your brother, Robb,” Cersei tells her, pushing forth quill and parchment. (In the book, Aunt Lysa and Uncle Edmure of Riverrun are also on that list.) “Tell them to swear their fealty, and we’ll know you don’t have the traitor’s blood.”
Sansa tentatively asks to speak to her father, and Cersei sighs. “You disappoint me, child.” Why should she want to speak to a traitor? “What will happen to him?” Sansa persists. “That all depends on Robb…and on you,” Cersei answers, in her chillingly kind tones.
…this scene is awesome. May I note that most of the dialogue here—and elsewhere—comes straight from the books. At first, I was a little wary of Sophie’s performance, but that’s mostly due to personal bias. Sansa’s my fave char, so I heard her pretty clearly in my head as this high-pitched, optimistic child. Sophie takes her in a more sullenly fearful direction, but frankly, it still works. Obviously, optimism can’t last long in this situation. :-/
(Random note from the book: there was a scene, not included in the show, where Sansa goes to Cersei to ask her to stop Ned from sending her home. This is the catalyst Cersei uses so she knows exactly how to attack the Starks, and it’s pretty much revered by Sansa haters about why she is a despicable, traitorous character. Some go as far as to blame her for Ned’s downfall, as if Ned himself didn’t play the role we saw last episode, or heaven forbid Cersei or Littlefinger who actively orchestrated it. As you can probably tell this debate is a contentious issue among fans, and keeping it out of the show has only added new dimension to the controversy. As for my personal feelings…I’d like to point you to the next scene I’m about to discuss, where Sansa takes action in defense of her father.)
Ned awaits his fate in the dungeon (we get one more scene of him getting kicked in the foot by a guard…) and it’s up to his firstborn daughter to vouch for him in front of the king. This is undoubtedly my favorite scene out of the entire book—it’s used to end the episode—and I had high hopes for it. It did not disappoint!
Joffrey, bedecked in a resplendent new crown, Cersei and the council are conducting business in the throne room…namely moving people and positions around like chess pieces as they try to bolster up the new king’s rule. Sansa enters in southern garb and hairstyle, greeting people as she passes (I love this; so true to her character,) and a bored-looking Joffrey makes eyes at her as he sees her. Cersei also smiles deceitfully at the girl. Their eyes remain on her, particularly as Tywin Lannister is named as “that traitor, Eddard Stark’s” replacement for Hand. She shows no reaction, my sweet girl, though she’s definitely nervous about something to come.
The last bit of official business is to remove Ser Barristan from the kingsguard. Cersei uses flowery language about retirement and comfort, but the threat is there. Joffrey pins “the blame” for Robert’s death on his shoulders; guess they need someone for that! Plus, Cersei wants to elevate Jaime to Barristan's position. The queen is all about surrounding herself with the small group of people she sorta trusts…and dissing all others.
What she does to Barristan is a great offense, tho. Kingsguard members serve for life, and to be passed over in favor of the Kingslayer, who broke his oath to Aerys? Outrageous. Barristan angrily strips out of his armor and Littlefinger mocks him by calling him “a naked knight.” The court laughs. Barristan draws his sword, as to the rest of the kingsguard, and for a moment, it looks like things will come to blows. But ultimately, Barristan throws down his sword, challenging Joffrey to “burn it down and add it to the rest” of the iron throne. He stalks out. (In the book, Barristan actually references Stannis taking the throne from him, and Joffrey demands him seized, but maybe they thought that was a bit much for this scene.)
The session is included…unless anyone else has anything to bring up with the king. This is Sansa’s moment. Alone, at 13, to plead for her father. “Come forth, my lady,” Joffrey says with false piety.
Sansa kneels, and begins to plead for her father’s life. Pycelle interrupts with his talk of traitors, but Joffrey says he wants to hear what she has to say. It’s not kindness, of course, which is what Sansa takes it for; Joff knows if there’s anyone in this room he has power over, it’s Sansa. He leans forward in his chair, eyes trained to her, like a lion ready to pounce. (Have I mentioned how Sophie and Jack, the youngest actors in the room, totally stole the scene? *applause*)
“Do you deny your father’s treason?” Littlefinger asks. “No,” Sansa wisely answers. She gives her book-excuses for why Ned might have done what he did; perhaps he received bad council from Renly or Stannis, or perhaps the seed of the poppy for his leg clouded his mind.
Joffrey leans back on the throne. “Your sweet words have moved me,” he lies. Perhaps he can show mercy—so long as Eddard renounces his claims and comes clean about his crimes.
“He will,” Sansa promises quietly in the closing shot. We move backwards from her, she grows smaller as the spikes of iron throne close her in. Sansa Stark is truly a hostage now. :-/
Across the Narrow Sea
Heading westward, the Dothraki raid a village. Dany is repulsed by the violence, the slave-hoarding, the rape…uh, was she not paying attention to Drogo’s speech last eppy?
The rapes in particular bother her. In the book, they were so casually graphic that I had to put it down after reading them. Fortunately, we don’t see the specifics here, just men carrying struggling women and throwing them down on the ground and the like. Dany commands that the women be brought to her. Jorah and the others are reticent, of course, but she uses her authority as khaleesi.
Later one of the men, Mago, complains to Drogo of the khaleesi’s actions. Drogo asks “the moon of my life” if she took a woman that Mago meant to mount. Dany doesn’t deny it, drawing Mago’s surprise. “If your men are to mount these women, let them marry them,” Dany insists.
Sounding like a patient father, Drogo explains that the men have the right to rape “the lamb people”; this is just the way of war. They are slaves now, and we get to do what we want with them. “I want to see them not be harmed,” Dany shoots back. Have I mentioned that this entire scene is in Dothraki? And not that I’m a foreign language expert or anything (particularly made-up foreign languages,) but it sounds pretty awesome to me! :P
Mago is annoyed by the notion that he has to take orders from “this foreign whore,” but Dany shoots back that she’s the khaleesi, earning Drogo’s respect. “See how feisty she’s getting,” he praises her. “That’s my son inside her, filling her with his fire. Mago, find someplace else to stick your cock.”
Mago is not amused. He draws his scythe and takes a nick out of Drogo’s chest. …and now we get to see Drogo in action! We’ve heard a lot about his viciousness, we’ve seen him pour molten gold over Viserys’s head. But this is…whoah. Without a doubt the goriest thing I’ve seen yet on GoT (and not from the book). He slits Mago’s throat, reaches his hand inside the wound and tears his tongue out. :-O I guess that’s where the graphic rape scene was diverted to. All the other chars looked pretty grossed out as well, at least. (Random note: Mago doesn’t die in the text and GRRM has dropped hints about him coming back into the story…hm.)
Just a note about Dany…I love that she’s such a “feminist,” of course, and wants to stand up for victimized women. But I also appreciate that her “foreign” ways don’t sit well with some of the khalasar. Like with Cersei, she’s pushing her own agenda down peoples’ throats, and they don’t always like it.
Dany runs to “my sun and stars,” mewling over his superficial wound. (Honestly, after seeing that graphic violence, Dany/Drogo seem even more harlequin than usual. :P) Drogo shrugs it off but Dany calls for healers.
One of the women Dany saved, Mirri Maz Dur, steps forward and offers her services, oddly switching to English in the middle of her speech. Drogo’s bloodriders are dismissive, but Dany once again asserts her authority and allows the woman to speak. MMD mentions something about dressing wounds before they fester (another modern-sounding notion,) and after some pretty begging from the wifey, Drogo allows the slave to lay hands on him.
Castle Black
Two dead men (including the rest of the hand brought forth by Ghost last eppy,) are wheeled back behind the wall. They are the two rangers who rode with Benjen, but Jon’s uncle is still nowhere to be found.
Sam wisely notes that there’s no smell from the corpses, which should be rotting. Jon suggests they be burned, but Mormont wants Maester Aemon to take a look first. Jon and the others wheel the bodies away as Mormont is called inside to discuss a recent raven from King’s Landing.
Later, Mormont has Steward Jon pour the both of them glasses of ale, and then he sits the lad down. The raven letter reports that King Robert is dead. Jon asks if there’s any mention of his father, and Mormont responds that Ned has been labeled a traitor. Jon reads over the letter himself, then stands abruptly and moves towards the door. “Don’t do anything stupid,” Mormont cautions him.
“My sisters are at King’s Landing too,” Jon replies grippingly, and my heart does a family!love soar. “Your place is here now,” Mormont reminds him. He did take his oath last eppy. Alas for competing loyalties!
Later, Jon is working with his friends in the kitchen, which is kinda surprising to me, since Grenn, at least, is a ranger and not a steward. Thorne decides it’s time to be a big dick. :P “You know what’s worse than being a bastard?” Thorne drawls. “Being a traitor’s bastard.”
All of the friends stop and stare; apparently, this is news to them. Jon looks angry, then slightly resigned, and then he lunges for a carving knife and goes for Thorne’s throat. :-O Dude, so needlessly reckless! Luckily some friends restrain him before things get bad. Mormont comes in and chastises his steward for not heeding his stupidity advice (sheesh, I thought you meant something along the lines of Jon deserting the wall and heading back to Winterfell. :P) He confines Lord Snow to quarters.
As Jon angsts, Ghost (yay, Ghost!) paws angrily at the door. It takes a little while for the lad to realize that the direwolf is warning him of danger. In a slightly Lassie-esque moment, Jon unlatches the door and follows Ghost to Mormont’s quarters. He finds nothing at first…then one of the corpses is moving; it shuts Ghost outside and goes for Jon’s jugular. :-O (In the books, these reanimated corpses are called “wights,” but I can’t help but to think of them as zombies. :P Braaaains…)
Jon attempts stabbing the thing several times, but nothing seems to make the dead guy…stay dead. :P Finally he’s able to wrest himself free and he joins Mormont, who just woke up, apparently. I guess relying on brute instinct, Jon snatches the lantern from the Lord Commander’s hands (burning his fingers in the process; great book moment!) and sets the wight on fire. That seems to stop him! Finally, some fantasy elements to this fantasy story, eh, people? When are we gonna get back to the political intrigues? :P
As they burn the other body the next morning, Sam conveniently mentions reading in a book in Aemon’s library how fire can kill wights. (Uh…kinda late to claim that nugget, Sam. :P) He adds that wights are made by White Walkers. Jon asks what else the book says about White Walkers, and Sam answers forebodingly, “well…I hope the wall is big enough.” And we get a harrowing look up at the wide, never-ending expanse of the wall.
Spooky scene, yes…but annoying. :P I was part of a writing class once where my instructor told me that I shouldn’t play games with people; there shouldn’t be secrets abounding unless it’s integral to the plot. And honestly, if Jon were to ask “what else should we know about the White Walkers?” wouldn’t Sam answer with something more than a meaningless fear tactic? Aurgh. It’s a plot device, sure…but poorly served here. Other than that small detail, though, wonderful scenes at the wall! Great way to juxtapose its own, supernatural storyline with the larger issues going on in the realm.
Winterfell
Robb has received Sansa’s letter, but Luwin correctly interprets it as a royal command from the queen. “Joffrey puts my father in chains and now he wants his ass kissed?” Robb demands. (I like this line..particularly since the dick measuring between Joffrey and Robb from earlier eps was taken out. :P)
Will Robb go to King’s Landing? Oh, he’ll go all right. And he won’t be alone. He tells Luwin that it’s time to “call the banners,” and oh yeah he means all of them. Theon, sitting nearby, looks pleased as punch that his battle call has finally been realized. …I’m a bit reticent. What does Robb hope to accomplish, riding to war against the people who hold his father and sisters captive? Maybe he doesn’t yet know that his mother has lost Tyrion.
Great scene between Robb and Theon with Robb’s hand shaking. Reminder that the boy is still young (not so young as he was in the books, but still this is his first battle!) Theon is understanding of his fear—“it means you’re not stupid.”
So the Stark bannermen arrive and Robb hosts them in the great hall. Laughing and drinking abound, despite the seriousness of the task at hand. Well, no matter how serious a task is, seems like little can get in the way of self-righteous honor. :P Greatjon Umber is bitching at Robb for not giving him the exact position he wants, wah wah. When Robb refuses to bend the Greatjon draws his blade, mocking his “green” youth and all. (Random note—loved seeing Theon and Bran sitting somewhere down the table! Also loved seeing Theon stand to attention once the Greatjon’s sword was unsheathed.)
But Robb didn’t have anything to worry about…and we got our second direwolf scene of the day! :-O Grey Wind leaps across the table and tears two of the Greatjon’s fingers off (all true to the books, hee.) All laughter and merriment stops at that. Robb, looking twice as big across the chest thanks to his furs, stands and says verbatim from the book, “My lord father told me it was death to bear steel against one’s liege lord. Doubtless, the Greatjon just meant to cut my meat for me.” (Whoah. This is the scene where Richard owns Robb Stark as the burgeoning leader. Using Grey Wind to dispense justice doesn’t seem so cowardly now…you gotta utilize what assets you have in this world, after all! :P)
“Your meat is bloody tough!” the Greatjon proclaims, holding up his bloodied hand. And this is a funny moment. Somehow, losing two fingers earns Robb his respect. I remain bewildered. :P And yet…as the Stark bannermen laugh, this is undoubtedly one of the happiest scenes in the eppy.
All merriment leaves with the next scene. Robb comes to Bran’s bedside to tell him goodbye. He’s traveling south, and to war, in the middle of the night. I swear, my heart was in my chest the whole time. So few partings, particularly for the Starks, end in being reunited. :(( I’m devastated for this family, I truly am.
Bran wants to go with Robb—“I can ride now!” but Robb counters with Cat’s advice; “there must always be a Stark in Winterfell.” Don’t go beyond the castle walls. Take care of your little brother. Sheesh, if you thought this was all too much for Robb to handle… *clings to Bran* *someone has to* :(
Robb takes his leave…and Rickon comes in! :-O Two direwolves and a Rickon? This is truly a magical episode. :P I’m so glad to see the boy, cos he’ll have to play a little bigger of a part next season, should it stay true to the books. Also, it gives Bran the chance to actually be an older brother, as Robb commanded. He tries to soothe Rickon…go say goodbye to Robb, he’ll be back; and with Mother and Father, too. But six-year-old Rickon (perhaps he spent the last several weeks watching GoT off screen,) has a far more pessimistic worldview. “No they won’t,” he says. :-/
Final scene in Winterfell…Bran prays by the weirwood. So nice (and peaceful) to see this place again. Osha ambles by in her chains…she prays to the old gods too; everyone north does. She claims the gods are answering Bran’s prayers…and the big thing they have to say is that Robb & co are marching the wrong way. “They should be marching north, not south,” Osha insists. Ah, the age-old fight between which enemy is more of a treat. :P Still…Natalia is really nailing this role. I didn’t even call her Tonks this time! :P
…and then we get to see a random, naked Hodor. :-O Which is apropos to nothing (except, perhaps, explaining how paralyzed Bran got to the weirwood. Hopefully Hodor had his clothes on at the time…) Osha commends his impressive manhood. Bran asserts his new lordly power by commanding the simpleton to put clothes on. Perhaps we needed this ending for levity. There’s very little of that this eppy.
The Battlefield
Final stop for the day, folks. I’m combining the Lannister and Stark camps. Love how the Lannister tents are so rich and red, and the Stark tents look shabby and brown. Nice little reminders of differences in wealth and prestige!
Cat is en route from the Eyrie…after a particularly bad parting with her sister. :-/ She’s furious when Lysa doesn’t share right away that Robert’s dead/Ned’s a traitor/Robb’s marching to war, which apparently was delivered to the Vale via raven. :P She wants Lysa to commit her knights to the cause, but the younger Tully refuses “to get involved in another of your husband’s wars.” To Cat’s mind the Lannisters have to be stopped; to Lysa’s mind they have to be avoided. “The knights of the Vale will stay where they are—here, to protect their lord,” she says. …well, at least we didn’t see another Robin-feeding session, though we got close. :P
As Cat and Rodrik approach the camp, snow falling on it, Lady Stark replies with fondness, “Robb’s brought the north with him.” Robb and his men are pouring over maps, discussing tactics, when Cat comes in. “Mother,” Robb says emotionally. They look awkwardly at each other until Catelyn asks for a moment alone with her son. “You heard her; move your asses!” the Greatjon bellows; he can always make a moment fun. :P “Yeah, you too, Greyjoy; haven’t you been watching the last few episodes? You’re not a Stark.”
Alone at last, Robb and Cat embrace. This is all true to the book, and I love these scenes. I’ve already told you how rare Stark reunions are…so Cat/Robb may be my absolute favorite relationship in the entire series. Their bond is particularly intriguing, given sonny boy’s rising star. (In summary: Richard, Michelle, you’re doing great so far…but I have my eye on you! :P)
“I remember when you were brought into this world…” Cat says, stroking his armor lovingly. “Now you’re leading an army.” Slight tiff here…yes, the other men were more battle-seasoned, but Robb is a Stark, and their lord. Anywho, it’s too late to send Robb home now. Things are what they are.
Robb hands Cat her letter from “Sansa” aka the queen (and they note the lack of Arya-mention :( ). Mom/son also realize that actually bending the knee to Joffrey is a trap; they'd never be allowed out of King's Landing. The only way to save the family is to win the war with the Lannisters. …which seems like a pretty tall order, personally. And also…I don’t get how they assume that Cersei wouldn’t kill Ned and the girls if Robb crushed her father and brother first. Certainly they don’t think the Lannisters are honorable! *shakes head*
…on the opposite side of the child/parent love continuum, Tyrion is heading to Tywin’s camp, Bronn in tow. We get a short scene further explaining Bronn’s nefarious motives…women, money, blah blah. Tyrion continues to promise him stuff, so long as he himself survives.
And later, they’re attacked by a hill tribe! In the book, I largely forgot these characters as soon as they were introduced. :”> But you gotta admire Tyrion’s quick-wittedness here…and Peter Dinklage delivers the lines with such nervous cattiness. Basically, the Imp gets out of being killed by offering the hill tribes “trinkets”…and the Vale. :-O Looks like it was a good thing Lysa’s knights stayed after all!
Tyrion & co enter the Lannister camp together to chill with Tywin (and Uncle Kevan/Lancel’s father, too!) Kevan seems slightly more amiable to seeing Tyrion than Tywin does. “Looks like reports of your death were unfounded,” says Daddy. “Sorry to disappoint you.” Big fan of the acting here, because after all of Tyrion’s whining earlier in the season their tension had to sound believable. Kudos!
“Jaime wouldn’t have allowed himself to be taken prisoner so easily,” is Tywin’s criticism of his youngest son. But let’s get down to business here. Robb’s crossing the Trident and Tywin’s going off to meet him. Ned is now their prisoner; Robert is dead and Joffrey is king. (I just love Tyrion’s oh crap expression at that one. :P)
Tywin may hate his son, but he understands the value of the gift he’s given him in the hill tribe peeps. “Fight for me against my enemies and I’ll give you all my son promised, and more,” Tywin says. (Gotta respect Lannister ability to command loyalty through coin. :P) But it turns out the hill tribes want Tyrion to fight alongside them until they get everything he promised them. Tyrion, finally able to reach for a cup of wine, gives Tywin a look that screams, but Daddy!! :P Unfortunately, Tywin doesn’t seem moved.
Back in the Stark camp, they realize they need help from the Freys to cross the river. The Freys are Tully bannermen—a plus since Cat is originally a Tully—but the Freys are temperamental; Hoster Tully calls Walder Frey “the late lord Frey,” who tends not to appear on the battlefield until the battle is over. We’ll see how this needed-allegiance goes next week!
Matters are interrupted when foot soldiers bring in a Lannister spy. :-O Scary!controlled Robb walks up to the boy and asks how many men he’s counted. Then he leans in close and tells the boy to report back to Tywin that they’re coming for him “to see if he really shits gold.” (Another popular saying about the Lannisters; great placement here.)
His bannermen—certainly the Greatjon again—are alarmed that he let the boy go. Cat goes as far as to cry out “Robb!” as he’s doing it, earning her a look of reproach from her son. Robb mentions Ned’s devotion to mercy. Though honestly, after how far “mercy” got him last week, I wonder if he’d share different council with his son now. :P (And Sansa also asks for mercy…why are the Starks so much kinder than everyone else? :P)
…there is another reason why Robb may have told the scout to share that specific piece of information with Tywin, but I’ll remain mum for now! This review is already my longest yet, oy gevalt. Hope it’s jam-packed with useful info.
___
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}