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scifi_rewatchAfter the 11th hour shocker of killing off the main lead, one might wonder how “Game of Thrones” planned to fill the its final chapter…well, except to give a good few reasons why to keep watching. The Internet exploded with reactions, largely shocked and disapproving, which eerily mirrored what happened when GRRM wrote the book 20 years ago. But both the book and the television show proved that Ned Stark’s death was only the beginning, and greater, expansive things would follow in its wake.
We get to see the Stark family reacting, separately, to the loss of its patriarch, and the House is thrust into a new/old position of power in the north. The Lannisters also reel from the surprise beheading and Robb’s capture of Jaime, regrouping themselves for next season. Civil war is on the horizon, both with Robb Stark and the remaining Baratheon brothers…
Jon is called to his first assignment beyond the Wall, effectively transitioning into “adulthood” and taking on the mantle of honor and duty that his father wanted for him. (And also daring to risk contact with the fantastical elements of this fantasy series. :P) But most shocking (or at least most dynamic) of all is what happens in the far east, to the character for whom this episode is named.
Actually, I think my biggest complaints about this eppy revolve around Bran! (Also a little with Cat.) Every other major character seemed on the precipice of a great journey…though Bran’s duty at the moment is simply to remain the Stark in Winterfell. Still, there’s been so much truncating and glossing over the meaning of his dreams, both generally throughout the series and specifically in this episode. As his storyline progresses, however, the dreams should become more central. :D
A lot was crammed into this episode as well—including new scenes and stuff from book 2! Overall it worked well…and even kept me guessing what the producers wanted to convey. Surprises! :P
Narrowing down by location!
Winterfell
Bran’s having another crow dream! :D …but methinks this is the scene that disappoints me the most. :( I thought for sure that we’d actually get a glimpse of Ned in the crypts—Sean Bean’s name was still on the cast list! (Unless his contribution to the eppy was his play-do severed head and body? *sobs*) Instead, we get Bran telling Osha about dead daddy as he makes her take him down to the crypts (Hodor be scared)…not so impressive.
Bran does remind us of some major Stark history via dead people—there’s Grandpa Rickard, burned alive by the Mad King. (No reference to Bran’s own namesake and uncle, interesting enough.) There’s Aunt Lyanna, betrothed to Robert and abducted by Rhaegar, the Troy-esque event that set off the great revolution, and last changed the rulership of the seven kingdoms. And there’s Shaggydog, Rickon’s feral (and named) direwolf on the attack! :P
Loved this part of the scene…Rickon’s nonchalance (he’s pretty much feral by this point in the book as well,) Osha’s mention that Shaggy was supposed to be chained cos he’s dangerous, and the fact that baby Stark is in Ned’s crypt because he also saw Daddy in a dream. :-/
Osha remains unconvinced…until we see a sad-faced Luwin with a bit of parchment approach them with the single, somber word of “Bran.” …ok, I got wibbly. :-/ Ned’s never coming home alive. Poor boys without a father. And we didn’t even get to see the dreams! :(
Stark Camp
The northmen, likely aware of the news, move aside respectfully as Catelyn walks through them to find some solitude in the forest. She can’t get a sob out before she hears some furious hacking…and finds Robb declaring bloody murder on a tree. :-/ I’d like to take this moment to remark on what a mother Cat is. She’s recently widowed, never to see her husband again; she needs time to grieve. But Robb’s grief is more important to her. Especially since none of his men can see him with the pained, red-eyed look on his face that he shows Mommy. :(
She even refuses to consider vengeance until she knows her daughters are safe…but yes, once they are, she agrees with Robb that they should “kill them all,” meaning the Lannisters. The behind the scenes of the episode touches on this—maybe Robb’s anger is understandable, but Cat is supposed to be the adult here, she’s “supposed” to know that vengeance doesn’t restore your life to happiness. However, this is a pretty drastic change from her character in the books. Cat goes so far, shortly after in front of Robb and the bannermen, to suggest suing for peace, because war won’t bring her husband back, nor any of the families they lost. What she wants most is her daughters—safe in Winterfell with the rest of the family, including Robb. In fact it is her pragmatism in the face of the more bloodthirsty men around her (including her son, who is a bit younger in the books, I remind you,) that really sets her apart.
Later, Robb and the men discuss which king to support. Joff’s obviously out, but which of the warring Baratheon brothers comes next? Robb, mirroring his father, points out that Renly is the younger, so he can’t come first. But Greatjon Umber, who’s been in the young wolf’s corner ever since Grey Wind bit off his fingers, has a far more radical idea.
Why bend the knee to any southerner? What does the decadent south know about the problems of the north? Back in the day, the north ruled itself before it was forced to bow to the Targaryens—and dragons, which are aaaaall gone. :-“ “The only king I want to swear allegiance to is sitting right there!” Greatjon booms, pointing his sword towards Robb. :-O
Immediately, the northmen start swearing fealty, including hostage/ward Theon. Robb, for his part, takes on this heavy mantle with somber acceptance. Cat’s face is more inscrutable. In the book (her POV chapter, since kings don’t get POVs ), there’s this constant feeling of WHOMG, FAST, WHOMG, FAST! In later books (and likely seasons) Cat angsts more openly about what this unexpected kingship is costing her young son. …I myself remain divided about Robb’s new responsibilities (although he is undoubtedly my favorite king, and the one who’d likely be the most just and compassionate.) But I see things from the bannermens’ perspectives as well. They can’t be expected to ride and die in defiance of their old king without being promised a new one to look out for them. Vengeance for Ned and retrieving Sansa and Arya isn’t enough. Robb owes them something in return. …and I gotta say, the hills ringing with the soundtrack and the cries of “THE KING IN THE NORTH!” gave me chills.
The final scene in the Stark camp is actually pulled from the end of book two. :-O Methinks it had to do with giving more closure to the beginning of the season (eg, Jaime confessing that he tried to kill Bran,) but personally, I think the Ned/Cersei scene from a few eps ago handled it with more gravitas. What strikes me most about this scene, other than the amazing acting, Cat clobbering the Jaimster (totally deserved it,) and the Kingslayer offering sexual services (uh, canon-wise you only sleep with your sister :P), is that he didn’t admit to the incest when pressed. In book 2, he did so without scruple; he’s not ashamed of it and feels he doesn’t have to hide it. (Come on, bastard born or no, the northerners aint following Joffrey, and Jaime has no fatherly sentiment towards the boy anyway.) This part of the scene gave me pause…his devotion to Cersei, twisted as it is, is the only thing I really liked about him in the beginning.
But Cat and Jaime also raise an interesting question that continues to play out each episode….who is responsible for suffering—gods or men? Personally I go with the latter, and methinks most GoT chars do as well.
Lannister Camp
Tywin Lannister is one troubled patriarch. :P Robb Stark, that “green” boy, is winning the war. :-O Stannis and Renly are both marshalling their forces, Jaime’s army is scattered, and Tywin’s beloved son has been captured. :( Dude’s seen better days.
Kevan feebly offers the white flag option, but a deft Tyrion makes a point by shattering a glass and saying “there’s your peace.” Joff’s head-chopping has destroyed any chance of Robb coming to the table. Tywin sends his other men away but asks Tyrion to stay. :-O
They play this scene out, basically, as Tywin realizing for the first time that Tyrion can be of use to him. Much as he despises his younger son, they share the same clear head for politics and strategy, which is largely lost on the twins and other Lannisters. Tywin lays out his plan—Gregor’s moving against the Riverlands, the rest of the forces are going to Harrenhall (all important in book/season two,) and Tyrion will act as hand of the king! :-O Reminder that Joff named his grandpa to the position a couple eps back, but Tywin’s gotta remain with his troops. He’s trusting Tyrion to keep the boy king (and Cersei, if need be,) in line. When asked “why me?” Tywin answers “Because you’re my son,” which sounds like the first step towards reconciliation, but in fact Tyrion in the book darkly concedes that Tywin has given Jaime up for dead and is turning to him as a last resort. He certainly doesn’t want for Tyrion’s happiness…especially when he adds a forceful “you will not bring your whore to King’s Landing!”
Sad Panda Tyrion explains the situation to Shae, and the young woman starts acting more like I remember her from the book—feisty and smitten with the Imp rather than barely invested. Tyrion ends up calling Tywin “a cunt” and promises to bring her along anyway. :P Happy fun times have returned to King’s Landing! …well, at least in one respect, hee. (Many of his interactions will also be with Joffrey and Cersei, after all. Fascinating—and futile—familial relationships abound there, yup yup.)
Castle Black
Speaking of fascinating and futile family relationships…poor Jon. :( He got the news of Ned’s demise and oaths be damned, he’s outie. :P Time to join Robb’s crusade! Sam tries to pull a Neville Longbottom on his trio (“I won’t let you go, I won’t!”) and instead of responding with a Hermione leg locking spell, Jon just rides him down. :-O Well, knocks him over anyway. *shew*
Sam decides it’s time for backup, and calls Pyp and Grenn to the rescue. Jon and Ghost are racing away with his pals in hot pursuit. There’s a scene where it seems like Ghost is betraying Lord Snow…I think that’s the message they’re trying to get across with Ghost riding so far away and Jon yelling out his name? In the book, it’s far more obvious that Ghost chooses the Night’s Watch for his boy. :P On tv, Jon turns back when Sam is once again thrown bodily to the ground, this time by a tree branch. (Hey, I can’t judge. :P)
He still wants to go on but he doesn’t want the boys to lose their heads for desertion too, awww. To get Jon to consent to being dragged back, they repeat his vows for him, standing in a tight circle in the dark. It’s really a powerful scene, especially when you’re pulling back from it.
In the morning, an exhausted Jon is serving brekkie to the Lord Commander. Mormont lets it be known that he’s aware of Jon’s semi-desertion last night, and Lord Snow turns to him with an angsty look on his face. Mormont shrugs it off; if we beheaded every brother for a late night joy ride… :P The important thing is he’s back now. The Watch needs him, and joining Robb’s southward march won’t bring Ned back.
“Do you think your brother’s war is more important than ours?” Mormont asks after reminding the boy of wights and wildlings and White Walkers. “No,” Jon answers truthfully. “Then it’s time to choose," Mormont says. "I’m taking our band of brothers beyond the wall to see what the wildlings are up to and what happened to Uncle Benjen. Are you a bastard boy playing at war? Or are you a man of the Night’s Watch?” All of this is voiced over the image of Jon definitively riding through the gate with his black brothers, so we have our answer. :P Pretty heavy handed speech from Mormont, but it has chutzpah! I’ve been hard on Jon, but I was most proud of him for stepping up to the plate. …not that I don’t believe in Robb’s war, not at all. But the war beyond the wall is important, too—and Jon swore to fight it! Obviously it does good things for his station in life as well; he can flex his skills here without being hindered by his birth. Win win. Ned…would definitely be proud. *feklempt*
King’s Landing
We open here, in the grisly moments after Lord Stark’s death (Ned’s head and body… *shudders* Deftly displayed in the background!) Sansa faints on the spot. Arya barely gets a moment to grieve before Yoren yanks her roughly to rights and drags her off to cut her hair and assume her new identity as an orphan boy named “Arry” headed for the Night’s Watch. Tis the only safe way to get her out of the city, hee. Aaaalll from book two, but the girl needs her end game this season! Arya is able to spare one last glance at her sister, father and the Lannisters before Yoren shoves her into an alley to hack off all her hair.
“Arry” is supposed to lay low until Winterfell, but a couple of other young boys on the way to the wall try to yank Needle from her immediately. After a few stunned moments in the dirt she retaliates against Hot Pie (who, for some reason, I wasn’t expecting to be overweight…maybe cos he’s a peasant?) jabbing him with the pointy end and seething that she’s “already killed one fat boy.” …my poor Arya is becoming hardened to horrible things and lacks the time to cope with tragedy. :( (Maisie has a tough road ahead acting wise, but she’s certainly pulled off this season with aplomb!)
Gendry (yes, that would be King Robert’s bastard son, so keep that in mind with why he might be a Night’s Watch recruit,) steps in to scare Hot Pie and the others off, and we get our first look at him trying to bond with the girl. We also see the three, dangerous men fettered in the wagon…shocking to me, cos I thought Jaqen H'ghar, the most important, wasn’t cast yet! Wonder if they mean to change the actor.
With a parting Starkish line of “Winter is Coming!” Yoren leads his new recruits on the long road to Castle Black. Arya spares one last look towards King’s Landing before departing its gates. (In book 2, she wishes it would burn to the ground before realizing that Sansa is still inside. *sisterly swoon* sadness…final Stark parting for season one. :()
Sansa herself is forced to attend court while Joffrey listens to Marillion (from several eps back) perform a lewd song about Robert’s passing. Once finished, a capricious King Psycho!Brat forces everyone to clap for the song, then asks Marillion if he’d rather lose his fingers or his tongue, before calling Ser Illyn over to finish that job (or maybe just split his throat.) This is a bit of a deviation from the book…the musician was supposed to be nameless, cos Marillion actually has a part to play in Sansa’s story in book three! :-O …I guess that’s one way to skim some of the fat if Benoiff and Weiss are ever allowed to adapt the bulbous A Storm of Swords. :P
Joff’s officially bored of court proceedings so he leaves the rest to his mother and takes his kingsguard to accost Sansa. He forces his betrothed to take a walk with him, all the while promising that he’ll get her with child once she starts to menstruate (no longer an exciting notion for the girl.) The big surprise, however, is that Joffrey is taking her to visit her father’s head, now adorning a spike over the castle. :-/ “I want you to see what happens to traitors,” the king says. At first Sansa refuses, pleading go home even though the two of them are still to be married. Finally, after Joff gets angrier, Sansa steels herself (wonderful acting by Sophie) and looks at the head (ick, that plastics job is spooky!) “How long do you want me to look, Your Grace?” she asks impassively. Perturbed that he’s robbed of his bullying victory, Joffrey answers peevishly, “so long as it pleases me.” He then points out Septa Mordane’s head (poor Septa; still in her veil, too,) and promises that he’ll present the girl with Robb’s as well once he cuts it off.
Then Sansa says what is my favorite line in book one—“Maybe he’ll give me yours.” (Oh, if only that were so! Step to, Robb, step to! :P) Joff starts to upset, but paying heed to Cersei for once, he says “my mother says it’s unkingly to strike one’s lady,” …and he has Ser Meryn slap her twice across the cheeks, splitting her lip a la the book.
Turning back towards the king, Sansa does a quick calculation of how far a fall it would be from the causewalk where they’re standing (looks potentially deadly), and she moves towards Joff to knock him off. :-O In the book she doesn’t get too far before the Hound stops her but on tv she’s able to cross in front of the surprised monarch. Someone else might have told Joff or punished her or called it treason. Instead, they’re finally building up the love/hate relationship between Sansa and Joffrey’s “Dog,” which must thrill the SanSan shippers (but thrills me as well! Yay for character depth. :P) Not much more to be said…Joffrey asks if she promises to behave, lest he “give her another lesson,” and she doesn’t respond (think she answers a meek “yes” in the book.) Sansa attempts to give the Hound back the piece of cloth he uses to wipe the blood from her mouth, but he tells her “she’ll need it” in the future as well. …boy will she. *Joffrey hate…SO MUCH JOFFREY HATE* >.< >.<
Next we take a gander to Cersei…love how this scene so wordlessly conveys that she’s reading a letter about Jaime’s capture (her face looks so pained!) Behind her, cousin Lancel sits naked, fretting about war before Cersei sends him back to bed (yup…that would be her bed. :P In book two, Tyrion supposes that Cersei is bedding him because he’s a “slight imitation” of Jaime. And it should be noted about cousin incest that maybe it’s more acceptable anyway? Tywin married his first cousin, after all. Not sure if that’s here or there; not much is said about their relationship. Anywho.)
…also not sure what to make of the Pycelle/Ros scene (yup, Ros still exists, and now in southern attire! :P) They’ve finished their "session," and Pycelle starts telling her “what you need to know about kings is…” We don’t get a straight answer to that, but Pycelle has interesting responses to the three kings he’s served…Aerys was a good guy before madness took him (the worst of all vices gods visit on men, Pycelle says.) Robert was ace at winning a kingdom and crap at ruling it. :P And Joffrey is “firm with justice,” which Pycelle seems to respect. He predicts a long and prosperous reign for the new king *ahem* :-“ Then we get to see him doing aerobic moves, which is amusing apropos to nothing, but when he puts on his robe, does he intentionally slouch before opening the door to face the world? This seems like the aspect the show wants to play up…and it makes me wonder if maybe Ros is spying on Pycelle for Littlefinger, or if it’s just random happenstance that she’s the one he’s reacreating with. All of these queries are unique to the show, as the writers decided to flesh out certain other characters.
Varys and Littlefinger are sharing their usual japes in front of the iron throne…added to are Littlefinger’s assertion that he’d behead all his enemies were he ever king, and Varys’s assertion that he’d never want to be king. The political adversaries admit grudging respect for each other.
But the real surprise is who joins them for, I think it’s a small council meeting? None other than King Joffrey! :-O WTF??? Why is he interested in politics? (Maybe he thinks he can force people to fight to the death. :P /not joking) And where’s his mother? Hiding from the world cos of Jaime news? I gotta say…that doesn’t seem like something book Cersei would do. Book Cersei gets even more outwardly vicious when she feels she or her loved ones are threatened. But it’s worth noting again that they made a couple of notable changes to the character on tv, yup yup.
Across the Narrow Sea
Daenerys, last seen being carried into the dancing dead tent by Jorah while undergoing labor, wakes up in relative comfort…but outside her own body, things are bad. :-/ Her son was stillborn, arriving with lizard-like scales that flaked off his bones, amongst other sickly things. :-O Poor Rhaego’s is the life that ended up paying for Drogo’s…a catatonic, physically useless life.
Point of interest I could never figure out in book or tv series—did Miri Maz Dur always mean to use Rhaego as the sacrifice? (I think yes) or was it because Dany entered the tent? MMD definitely has an axe to grind. And even though I’m a Dany fangirl, that axe makes a lot of sense. Hell, I’m a pacifist. I’ve never understood the obsession (particularly female!) with Dothraki in general and Drogo in particular. Most of their culture revolves around plunder…and they definitely prey on the weak. MMD remembers healing people in her peaceful village…heads that end up desecrating their holy altar. Yes, Dany “saved” her, but not before she was raped three or four times. ….on the other hand, vengeance, (which the Starks are also grappling with,) doesn’t give back life. Only hurts others.
Dany tries her best to attend to Drogo, who lies unresponsive in their tent (most of the rest of the khalasar has now abandoned them.) Knowing that the khal she loved would never want to live as a vegetable, the khaleesi suffocates him. :( I’ve never been a huge Dany/Drogo fan, but Emilia’s acting really moved me, and I felt the loss that this poor woman has had to deal with all season…losing Viserys, who was basically her life since birth, now losing the husband who gave her a modicum of freedom (but boy can she grasp even more of it on her own. :-O On the page, Dany’s huge transformation from victimized bride price to warrior princess seemed kinda Mary Sueish to me. On screen…well, there are some things that just look fucking awesome. :PP)
At nightfall, around a pyre where she plans to burn Drogo’s body, the dragon eggs and MMD, Dany speaks to her bloodriders and frees her slaves, offering them shelter in her new khalasar. “I am Daenerys Stormborn,” she says, first time I think we’ve heard that name? Maybe not? Technically it refers to her birth in the middle of a storm, but here it almost sounds like she’s naming herself it for what’s to come on that funeral pyre. (She also notes that she’s the daughter of the last dragon and Targaryens are originally from Valyria, yadda yadda.)
Jorah begs her not to go join the eggs and the hubby, but Dany seems to have a bigger vision in mind than just suicide. She touches the knight gently and kisses him on the cheek, which seems slightly out of character cos in the books, she knows Jorah has a thing for her and she doesn’t share it. :P Oh well. In front of her wide-eyed khalasar and the screaming, dying MMD, Dany enters the flames.
In the morning, Jorah and the others sort through the ashes…and find a naked, slightly petrified but wholly confident-looking Dany sitting naked with three newborn dragons covering her body. :-O (She was supposed to lose her hair too, but eh. She was supposed to lose her life! :P) “Blood of my blood,” Jorah says emotionally, dropping to one knee, as does the rest of the new khalasar. After 300 years, dragons are reborn again. And with a bevy of kings duking it out in the west, a new queen rises in the east. *wild clapping* (After Robb, she be my fave. :P)
A beautiful and enticing end to the first season if I do say so myself. Lots of expectations for that final scene, but they found a great way to lend it the weight it deserved. Over all, ultimately the first season of “Game of Thrones” did exceptionally well, winning numerous accolades, awards and prizes. Season two, like the book, only promises to get more expansive as the series explores new characters and new dimensions to this fantasitical world.
___
We get to see the Stark family reacting, separately, to the loss of its patriarch, and the House is thrust into a new/old position of power in the north. The Lannisters also reel from the surprise beheading and Robb’s capture of Jaime, regrouping themselves for next season. Civil war is on the horizon, both with Robb Stark and the remaining Baratheon brothers…
Jon is called to his first assignment beyond the Wall, effectively transitioning into “adulthood” and taking on the mantle of honor and duty that his father wanted for him. (And also daring to risk contact with the fantastical elements of this fantasy series. :P) But most shocking (or at least most dynamic) of all is what happens in the far east, to the character for whom this episode is named.
Actually, I think my biggest complaints about this eppy revolve around Bran! (Also a little with Cat.) Every other major character seemed on the precipice of a great journey…though Bran’s duty at the moment is simply to remain the Stark in Winterfell. Still, there’s been so much truncating and glossing over the meaning of his dreams, both generally throughout the series and specifically in this episode. As his storyline progresses, however, the dreams should become more central. :D
A lot was crammed into this episode as well—including new scenes and stuff from book 2! Overall it worked well…and even kept me guessing what the producers wanted to convey. Surprises! :P
Narrowing down by location!
Winterfell
Bran’s having another crow dream! :D …but methinks this is the scene that disappoints me the most. :( I thought for sure that we’d actually get a glimpse of Ned in the crypts—Sean Bean’s name was still on the cast list! (Unless his contribution to the eppy was his play-do severed head and body? *sobs*) Instead, we get Bran telling Osha about dead daddy as he makes her take him down to the crypts (Hodor be scared)…not so impressive.
Bran does remind us of some major Stark history via dead people—there’s Grandpa Rickard, burned alive by the Mad King. (No reference to Bran’s own namesake and uncle, interesting enough.) There’s Aunt Lyanna, betrothed to Robert and abducted by Rhaegar, the Troy-esque event that set off the great revolution, and last changed the rulership of the seven kingdoms. And there’s Shaggydog, Rickon’s feral (and named) direwolf on the attack! :P
Loved this part of the scene…Rickon’s nonchalance (he’s pretty much feral by this point in the book as well,) Osha’s mention that Shaggy was supposed to be chained cos he’s dangerous, and the fact that baby Stark is in Ned’s crypt because he also saw Daddy in a dream. :-/
Osha remains unconvinced…until we see a sad-faced Luwin with a bit of parchment approach them with the single, somber word of “Bran.” …ok, I got wibbly. :-/ Ned’s never coming home alive. Poor boys without a father. And we didn’t even get to see the dreams! :(
Stark Camp
The northmen, likely aware of the news, move aside respectfully as Catelyn walks through them to find some solitude in the forest. She can’t get a sob out before she hears some furious hacking…and finds Robb declaring bloody murder on a tree. :-/ I’d like to take this moment to remark on what a mother Cat is. She’s recently widowed, never to see her husband again; she needs time to grieve. But Robb’s grief is more important to her. Especially since none of his men can see him with the pained, red-eyed look on his face that he shows Mommy. :(
She even refuses to consider vengeance until she knows her daughters are safe…but yes, once they are, she agrees with Robb that they should “kill them all,” meaning the Lannisters. The behind the scenes of the episode touches on this—maybe Robb’s anger is understandable, but Cat is supposed to be the adult here, she’s “supposed” to know that vengeance doesn’t restore your life to happiness. However, this is a pretty drastic change from her character in the books. Cat goes so far, shortly after in front of Robb and the bannermen, to suggest suing for peace, because war won’t bring her husband back, nor any of the families they lost. What she wants most is her daughters—safe in Winterfell with the rest of the family, including Robb. In fact it is her pragmatism in the face of the more bloodthirsty men around her (including her son, who is a bit younger in the books, I remind you,) that really sets her apart.
Later, Robb and the men discuss which king to support. Joff’s obviously out, but which of the warring Baratheon brothers comes next? Robb, mirroring his father, points out that Renly is the younger, so he can’t come first. But Greatjon Umber, who’s been in the young wolf’s corner ever since Grey Wind bit off his fingers, has a far more radical idea.
Why bend the knee to any southerner? What does the decadent south know about the problems of the north? Back in the day, the north ruled itself before it was forced to bow to the Targaryens—and dragons, which are aaaaall gone. :-“ “The only king I want to swear allegiance to is sitting right there!” Greatjon booms, pointing his sword towards Robb. :-O
Immediately, the northmen start swearing fealty, including hostage/ward Theon. Robb, for his part, takes on this heavy mantle with somber acceptance. Cat’s face is more inscrutable. In the book (her POV chapter, since kings don’t get POVs ), there’s this constant feeling of WHOMG, FAST, WHOMG, FAST! In later books (and likely seasons) Cat angsts more openly about what this unexpected kingship is costing her young son. …I myself remain divided about Robb’s new responsibilities (although he is undoubtedly my favorite king, and the one who’d likely be the most just and compassionate.) But I see things from the bannermens’ perspectives as well. They can’t be expected to ride and die in defiance of their old king without being promised a new one to look out for them. Vengeance for Ned and retrieving Sansa and Arya isn’t enough. Robb owes them something in return. …and I gotta say, the hills ringing with the soundtrack and the cries of “THE KING IN THE NORTH!” gave me chills.
The final scene in the Stark camp is actually pulled from the end of book two. :-O Methinks it had to do with giving more closure to the beginning of the season (eg, Jaime confessing that he tried to kill Bran,) but personally, I think the Ned/Cersei scene from a few eps ago handled it with more gravitas. What strikes me most about this scene, other than the amazing acting, Cat clobbering the Jaimster (totally deserved it,) and the Kingslayer offering sexual services (uh, canon-wise you only sleep with your sister :P), is that he didn’t admit to the incest when pressed. In book 2, he did so without scruple; he’s not ashamed of it and feels he doesn’t have to hide it. (Come on, bastard born or no, the northerners aint following Joffrey, and Jaime has no fatherly sentiment towards the boy anyway.) This part of the scene gave me pause…his devotion to Cersei, twisted as it is, is the only thing I really liked about him in the beginning.
But Cat and Jaime also raise an interesting question that continues to play out each episode….who is responsible for suffering—gods or men? Personally I go with the latter, and methinks most GoT chars do as well.
Lannister Camp
Tywin Lannister is one troubled patriarch. :P Robb Stark, that “green” boy, is winning the war. :-O Stannis and Renly are both marshalling their forces, Jaime’s army is scattered, and Tywin’s beloved son has been captured. :( Dude’s seen better days.
Kevan feebly offers the white flag option, but a deft Tyrion makes a point by shattering a glass and saying “there’s your peace.” Joff’s head-chopping has destroyed any chance of Robb coming to the table. Tywin sends his other men away but asks Tyrion to stay. :-O
They play this scene out, basically, as Tywin realizing for the first time that Tyrion can be of use to him. Much as he despises his younger son, they share the same clear head for politics and strategy, which is largely lost on the twins and other Lannisters. Tywin lays out his plan—Gregor’s moving against the Riverlands, the rest of the forces are going to Harrenhall (all important in book/season two,) and Tyrion will act as hand of the king! :-O Reminder that Joff named his grandpa to the position a couple eps back, but Tywin’s gotta remain with his troops. He’s trusting Tyrion to keep the boy king (and Cersei, if need be,) in line. When asked “why me?” Tywin answers “Because you’re my son,” which sounds like the first step towards reconciliation, but in fact Tyrion in the book darkly concedes that Tywin has given Jaime up for dead and is turning to him as a last resort. He certainly doesn’t want for Tyrion’s happiness…especially when he adds a forceful “you will not bring your whore to King’s Landing!”
Sad Panda Tyrion explains the situation to Shae, and the young woman starts acting more like I remember her from the book—feisty and smitten with the Imp rather than barely invested. Tyrion ends up calling Tywin “a cunt” and promises to bring her along anyway. :P Happy fun times have returned to King’s Landing! …well, at least in one respect, hee. (Many of his interactions will also be with Joffrey and Cersei, after all. Fascinating—and futile—familial relationships abound there, yup yup.)
Castle Black
Speaking of fascinating and futile family relationships…poor Jon. :( He got the news of Ned’s demise and oaths be damned, he’s outie. :P Time to join Robb’s crusade! Sam tries to pull a Neville Longbottom on his trio (“I won’t let you go, I won’t!”) and instead of responding with a Hermione leg locking spell, Jon just rides him down. :-O Well, knocks him over anyway. *shew*
Sam decides it’s time for backup, and calls Pyp and Grenn to the rescue. Jon and Ghost are racing away with his pals in hot pursuit. There’s a scene where it seems like Ghost is betraying Lord Snow…I think that’s the message they’re trying to get across with Ghost riding so far away and Jon yelling out his name? In the book, it’s far more obvious that Ghost chooses the Night’s Watch for his boy. :P On tv, Jon turns back when Sam is once again thrown bodily to the ground, this time by a tree branch. (Hey, I can’t judge. :P)
He still wants to go on but he doesn’t want the boys to lose their heads for desertion too, awww. To get Jon to consent to being dragged back, they repeat his vows for him, standing in a tight circle in the dark. It’s really a powerful scene, especially when you’re pulling back from it.
In the morning, an exhausted Jon is serving brekkie to the Lord Commander. Mormont lets it be known that he’s aware of Jon’s semi-desertion last night, and Lord Snow turns to him with an angsty look on his face. Mormont shrugs it off; if we beheaded every brother for a late night joy ride… :P The important thing is he’s back now. The Watch needs him, and joining Robb’s southward march won’t bring Ned back.
“Do you think your brother’s war is more important than ours?” Mormont asks after reminding the boy of wights and wildlings and White Walkers. “No,” Jon answers truthfully. “Then it’s time to choose," Mormont says. "I’m taking our band of brothers beyond the wall to see what the wildlings are up to and what happened to Uncle Benjen. Are you a bastard boy playing at war? Or are you a man of the Night’s Watch?” All of this is voiced over the image of Jon definitively riding through the gate with his black brothers, so we have our answer. :P Pretty heavy handed speech from Mormont, but it has chutzpah! I’ve been hard on Jon, but I was most proud of him for stepping up to the plate. …not that I don’t believe in Robb’s war, not at all. But the war beyond the wall is important, too—and Jon swore to fight it! Obviously it does good things for his station in life as well; he can flex his skills here without being hindered by his birth. Win win. Ned…would definitely be proud. *feklempt*
King’s Landing
We open here, in the grisly moments after Lord Stark’s death (Ned’s head and body… *shudders* Deftly displayed in the background!) Sansa faints on the spot. Arya barely gets a moment to grieve before Yoren yanks her roughly to rights and drags her off to cut her hair and assume her new identity as an orphan boy named “Arry” headed for the Night’s Watch. Tis the only safe way to get her out of the city, hee. Aaaalll from book two, but the girl needs her end game this season! Arya is able to spare one last glance at her sister, father and the Lannisters before Yoren shoves her into an alley to hack off all her hair.
“Arry” is supposed to lay low until Winterfell, but a couple of other young boys on the way to the wall try to yank Needle from her immediately. After a few stunned moments in the dirt she retaliates against Hot Pie (who, for some reason, I wasn’t expecting to be overweight…maybe cos he’s a peasant?) jabbing him with the pointy end and seething that she’s “already killed one fat boy.” …my poor Arya is becoming hardened to horrible things and lacks the time to cope with tragedy. :( (Maisie has a tough road ahead acting wise, but she’s certainly pulled off this season with aplomb!)
Gendry (yes, that would be King Robert’s bastard son, so keep that in mind with why he might be a Night’s Watch recruit,) steps in to scare Hot Pie and the others off, and we get our first look at him trying to bond with the girl. We also see the three, dangerous men fettered in the wagon…shocking to me, cos I thought Jaqen H'ghar, the most important, wasn’t cast yet! Wonder if they mean to change the actor.
With a parting Starkish line of “Winter is Coming!” Yoren leads his new recruits on the long road to Castle Black. Arya spares one last look towards King’s Landing before departing its gates. (In book 2, she wishes it would burn to the ground before realizing that Sansa is still inside. *sisterly swoon* sadness…final Stark parting for season one. :()
Sansa herself is forced to attend court while Joffrey listens to Marillion (from several eps back) perform a lewd song about Robert’s passing. Once finished, a capricious King Psycho!Brat forces everyone to clap for the song, then asks Marillion if he’d rather lose his fingers or his tongue, before calling Ser Illyn over to finish that job (or maybe just split his throat.) This is a bit of a deviation from the book…the musician was supposed to be nameless, cos Marillion actually has a part to play in Sansa’s story in book three! :-O …I guess that’s one way to skim some of the fat if Benoiff and Weiss are ever allowed to adapt the bulbous A Storm of Swords. :P
Joff’s officially bored of court proceedings so he leaves the rest to his mother and takes his kingsguard to accost Sansa. He forces his betrothed to take a walk with him, all the while promising that he’ll get her with child once she starts to menstruate (no longer an exciting notion for the girl.) The big surprise, however, is that Joffrey is taking her to visit her father’s head, now adorning a spike over the castle. :-/ “I want you to see what happens to traitors,” the king says. At first Sansa refuses, pleading go home even though the two of them are still to be married. Finally, after Joff gets angrier, Sansa steels herself (wonderful acting by Sophie) and looks at the head (ick, that plastics job is spooky!) “How long do you want me to look, Your Grace?” she asks impassively. Perturbed that he’s robbed of his bullying victory, Joffrey answers peevishly, “so long as it pleases me.” He then points out Septa Mordane’s head (poor Septa; still in her veil, too,) and promises that he’ll present the girl with Robb’s as well once he cuts it off.
Then Sansa says what is my favorite line in book one—“Maybe he’ll give me yours.” (Oh, if only that were so! Step to, Robb, step to! :P) Joff starts to upset, but paying heed to Cersei for once, he says “my mother says it’s unkingly to strike one’s lady,” …and he has Ser Meryn slap her twice across the cheeks, splitting her lip a la the book.
Turning back towards the king, Sansa does a quick calculation of how far a fall it would be from the causewalk where they’re standing (looks potentially deadly), and she moves towards Joff to knock him off. :-O In the book she doesn’t get too far before the Hound stops her but on tv she’s able to cross in front of the surprised monarch. Someone else might have told Joff or punished her or called it treason. Instead, they’re finally building up the love/hate relationship between Sansa and Joffrey’s “Dog,” which must thrill the SanSan shippers (but thrills me as well! Yay for character depth. :P) Not much more to be said…Joffrey asks if she promises to behave, lest he “give her another lesson,” and she doesn’t respond (think she answers a meek “yes” in the book.) Sansa attempts to give the Hound back the piece of cloth he uses to wipe the blood from her mouth, but he tells her “she’ll need it” in the future as well. …boy will she. *Joffrey hate…SO MUCH JOFFREY HATE* >.< >.<
Next we take a gander to Cersei…love how this scene so wordlessly conveys that she’s reading a letter about Jaime’s capture (her face looks so pained!) Behind her, cousin Lancel sits naked, fretting about war before Cersei sends him back to bed (yup…that would be her bed. :P In book two, Tyrion supposes that Cersei is bedding him because he’s a “slight imitation” of Jaime. And it should be noted about cousin incest that maybe it’s more acceptable anyway? Tywin married his first cousin, after all. Not sure if that’s here or there; not much is said about their relationship. Anywho.)
…also not sure what to make of the Pycelle/Ros scene (yup, Ros still exists, and now in southern attire! :P) They’ve finished their "session," and Pycelle starts telling her “what you need to know about kings is…” We don’t get a straight answer to that, but Pycelle has interesting responses to the three kings he’s served…Aerys was a good guy before madness took him (the worst of all vices gods visit on men, Pycelle says.) Robert was ace at winning a kingdom and crap at ruling it. :P And Joffrey is “firm with justice,” which Pycelle seems to respect. He predicts a long and prosperous reign for the new king *ahem* :-“ Then we get to see him doing aerobic moves, which is amusing apropos to nothing, but when he puts on his robe, does he intentionally slouch before opening the door to face the world? This seems like the aspect the show wants to play up…and it makes me wonder if maybe Ros is spying on Pycelle for Littlefinger, or if it’s just random happenstance that she’s the one he’s reacreating with. All of these queries are unique to the show, as the writers decided to flesh out certain other characters.
Varys and Littlefinger are sharing their usual japes in front of the iron throne…added to are Littlefinger’s assertion that he’d behead all his enemies were he ever king, and Varys’s assertion that he’d never want to be king. The political adversaries admit grudging respect for each other.
But the real surprise is who joins them for, I think it’s a small council meeting? None other than King Joffrey! :-O WTF??? Why is he interested in politics? (Maybe he thinks he can force people to fight to the death. :P /not joking) And where’s his mother? Hiding from the world cos of Jaime news? I gotta say…that doesn’t seem like something book Cersei would do. Book Cersei gets even more outwardly vicious when she feels she or her loved ones are threatened. But it’s worth noting again that they made a couple of notable changes to the character on tv, yup yup.
Across the Narrow Sea
Daenerys, last seen being carried into the dancing dead tent by Jorah while undergoing labor, wakes up in relative comfort…but outside her own body, things are bad. :-/ Her son was stillborn, arriving with lizard-like scales that flaked off his bones, amongst other sickly things. :-O Poor Rhaego’s is the life that ended up paying for Drogo’s…a catatonic, physically useless life.
Point of interest I could never figure out in book or tv series—did Miri Maz Dur always mean to use Rhaego as the sacrifice? (I think yes) or was it because Dany entered the tent? MMD definitely has an axe to grind. And even though I’m a Dany fangirl, that axe makes a lot of sense. Hell, I’m a pacifist. I’ve never understood the obsession (particularly female!) with Dothraki in general and Drogo in particular. Most of their culture revolves around plunder…and they definitely prey on the weak. MMD remembers healing people in her peaceful village…heads that end up desecrating their holy altar. Yes, Dany “saved” her, but not before she was raped three or four times. ….on the other hand, vengeance, (which the Starks are also grappling with,) doesn’t give back life. Only hurts others.
Dany tries her best to attend to Drogo, who lies unresponsive in their tent (most of the rest of the khalasar has now abandoned them.) Knowing that the khal she loved would never want to live as a vegetable, the khaleesi suffocates him. :( I’ve never been a huge Dany/Drogo fan, but Emilia’s acting really moved me, and I felt the loss that this poor woman has had to deal with all season…losing Viserys, who was basically her life since birth, now losing the husband who gave her a modicum of freedom (but boy can she grasp even more of it on her own. :-O On the page, Dany’s huge transformation from victimized bride price to warrior princess seemed kinda Mary Sueish to me. On screen…well, there are some things that just look fucking awesome. :PP)
At nightfall, around a pyre where she plans to burn Drogo’s body, the dragon eggs and MMD, Dany speaks to her bloodriders and frees her slaves, offering them shelter in her new khalasar. “I am Daenerys Stormborn,” she says, first time I think we’ve heard that name? Maybe not? Technically it refers to her birth in the middle of a storm, but here it almost sounds like she’s naming herself it for what’s to come on that funeral pyre. (She also notes that she’s the daughter of the last dragon and Targaryens are originally from Valyria, yadda yadda.)
Jorah begs her not to go join the eggs and the hubby, but Dany seems to have a bigger vision in mind than just suicide. She touches the knight gently and kisses him on the cheek, which seems slightly out of character cos in the books, she knows Jorah has a thing for her and she doesn’t share it. :P Oh well. In front of her wide-eyed khalasar and the screaming, dying MMD, Dany enters the flames.
In the morning, Jorah and the others sort through the ashes…and find a naked, slightly petrified but wholly confident-looking Dany sitting naked with three newborn dragons covering her body. :-O (She was supposed to lose her hair too, but eh. She was supposed to lose her life! :P) “Blood of my blood,” Jorah says emotionally, dropping to one knee, as does the rest of the new khalasar. After 300 years, dragons are reborn again. And with a bevy of kings duking it out in the west, a new queen rises in the east. *wild clapping* (After Robb, she be my fave. :P)
A beautiful and enticing end to the first season if I do say so myself. Lots of expectations for that final scene, but they found a great way to lend it the weight it deserved. Over all, ultimately the first season of “Game of Thrones” did exceptionally well, winning numerous accolades, awards and prizes. Season two, like the book, only promises to get more expansive as the series explores new characters and new dimensions to this fantasitical world.
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