By Jamie Kennett
As the title suggests, the wildlings finally “went over” this week. Further south, all sorts of conspiracies have begun springing up across the land, most of them being shady marriage proposals. Chaos was the overriding theme this week in Game of Thrones, with subtle nuances of characteristically bloody violence and political intrigue. Here’s my humble opinion on this week’s episode, and a short recap for those of you who can’t quite remember all the major bits that happened. They do cram a lot into that hour…
As the title suggests, the wildlings finally “went over” this week. Further south, all sorts of conspiracies have begun springing up across the land, most of them being shady marriage proposals. Chaos was the overriding theme this week in Game of Thrones, with subtle nuances of characteristically bloody violence and political intrigue. Here’s my humble opinion on this week’s episode, and a short recap for those of you who can’t quite remember all the major bits that happened. They do cram a lot into that hour…
1. Marriages are arranged left, right, and centre as Tyrion tells Sansa about their impending nuptials, the marriage between Cersei and Ser Loras is approved, and Edmure Tully is paired up with Roslin Frey.
2. Tyrion finally questions Cersei as to whether or not she was behind the botched attempt on his life in the Battle of the Blackwater.
3. Robb does his best to build a bridge of peace between the North and House Frey in the build-up to his attack on Casterly Rock.
4. The Brotherhood sell Gendry off to Melisandre so that she can provide another “child” for Stannis, for those that forgot Gendry is half-Baratheon.
5. Jaime dines with Lord Bolton at Harrenhal, and finds out he’s going to be sent to King’s Landing for ransom after all. Brienne, on the other hand, is now under arrest for abetting treason.
6. Theon is tortured in [generic Northern castle] by “the Boy”.
7. Mance Rayder’s raiders go over the Wall, with the party consisting of Jon, Ygritte, and Tormund Giantsbane among others.
2. Tyrion finally questions Cersei as to whether or not she was behind the botched attempt on his life in the Battle of the Blackwater.
3. Robb does his best to build a bridge of peace between the North and House Frey in the build-up to his attack on Casterly Rock.
4. The Brotherhood sell Gendry off to Melisandre so that she can provide another “child” for Stannis, for those that forgot Gendry is half-Baratheon.
5. Jaime dines with Lord Bolton at Harrenhal, and finds out he’s going to be sent to King’s Landing for ransom after all. Brienne, on the other hand, is now under arrest for abetting treason.
6. Theon is tortured in [generic Northern castle] by “the Boy”.
7. Mance Rayder’s raiders go over the Wall, with the party consisting of Jon, Ygritte, and Tormund Giantsbane among others.
Most of the episode was formed from characters experiencing varying levels of disdain, chief among them being Tyrion (Peter Dinklage), who doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to expressing his feelings regarding his impending marriage to Sansa, or anything for that matter. You’ve got to love his blasé attitude when it comes to such matters. He doesn’t protest, and he doesn’t make a big deal out of it; he just stares out the window and simply says “I’m fucked”. Speaking of Sansa (Sophie Turner), she actually showed some emotion this week! She finally paid the price for having that irritatingly naïve disposition she’s become so accustomed to. If she was more of a forward thinker then she might well have taken Littlefinger up on his offer of escape. Alas she did not, and now she’s stuck in King’s Landing for the conceivable future. Well done Sansa. I’m sure Robb or Arya would have done the same if they weren’t proper Starks.
You’ve got to love Diana Rigg’s portrayal of Olenna Tyrell; she’s the perfect choice for the role. A woman who you simply do not mess with, I actually find her more formidable than Tywin (Charles Dance). The latter is an aggressive man, and he gets his way with his armies and his gold. The former, Lady Olenna, doesn’t need any of that; she gets her way with her reputation, and some of the most effective wit I’ve seen. While she does eventually fold to the proposition of Cersei marrying Ser Loras Tyrell, she does so in a way that keeps her dignity intact. Bravo.
You’ve got to love Diana Rigg’s portrayal of Olenna Tyrell; she’s the perfect choice for the role. A woman who you simply do not mess with, I actually find her more formidable than Tywin (Charles Dance). The latter is an aggressive man, and he gets his way with his armies and his gold. The former, Lady Olenna, doesn’t need any of that; she gets her way with her reputation, and some of the most effective wit I’ve seen. While she does eventually fold to the proposition of Cersei marrying Ser Loras Tyrell, she does so in a way that keeps her dignity intact. Bravo.
I cannot say the same for the King in the North, however. I can’t help but feel a sense of impending doom regarding Robb Stark; he’s made some epic blunders in his campaign against the South, and his world seems to be slowly crumbling around him as he comes ever closer to a defeat that even he is able to forecast. He may have his sights set on the Lannister stronghold of Casterly Rock, but let us not forget he is now having to grovel to the Freys for a reprieve in the wake of his betrayal to one of the most strategically powerful houses in the Kingdoms. Lord Walder Frey is not a forgiving man.
Now, the scene that struck out the most for me this week had to be the scene that, currently, takes place at “a damp castle in the North somewhere”, where Theon (Alfie Allen) is being imprisoned and tortured by an “unknown faction”. Iwan Rheon’s portrayal of “the Boy”, -as he’s currently known-, is like something straight out of one of the newer Bond films. He meets all the criteria of the camp, sadistic, and mentally disturbed jailer as he quizzes Theon, who hangs suspended from a flaying rack, on his true identity. Theon guessed that “the Boy” was a Karstark, and Theon guessed wrong. With his finger flayed and then completely chopped off, he continues to suffer to consequences of betraying the Starks. But have you managed to work out who the Boy is yet? Do you think you can beat Theon’s desperate stab in the dark? All the clues are there…
Now, the scene that struck out the most for me this week had to be the scene that, currently, takes place at “a damp castle in the North somewhere”, where Theon (Alfie Allen) is being imprisoned and tortured by an “unknown faction”. Iwan Rheon’s portrayal of “the Boy”, -as he’s currently known-, is like something straight out of one of the newer Bond films. He meets all the criteria of the camp, sadistic, and mentally disturbed jailer as he quizzes Theon, who hangs suspended from a flaying rack, on his true identity. Theon guessed that “the Boy” was a Karstark, and Theon guessed wrong. With his finger flayed and then completely chopped off, he continues to suffer to consequences of betraying the Starks. But have you managed to work out who the Boy is yet? Do you think you can beat Theon’s desperate stab in the dark? All the clues are there…
Littlefinger’s monologue was long overdue. We haven’t had one in a while, so it was good to see him turn on Dramatic Montage Mode towards the end of the episode and recite the “Chaos” speech that we were first treated to in one of the pre-release teasers a few months ago. It wasn’t, however, quite as nice seeing what happened to Ros. Although I know the end of the episode proved quite popular amongst die-hard fans of the Ice and Fire books; as far as they’re concerned she has no place in the story, on account of her being plucked out of thin air by the writers of the show and stealing all the glory from approximately seven other characters. Personally, it made the notion of marching Joffrey off beyond the Wall, bollock naked, all the more serious an idea. It’s either that or I take him out into the desert and bury him up to his neck in sand, surrounded by fire ants… or scorpions. Scorpions are good.
I can’t help but feel sorry for Jon Snow in the midst of all that’s going on. He’s locked in a never-ending battle with himself over whether he is one of the Free Folk, or whether he still wears the black. It was nice to see the no-nonsense Ygritte make the situation clear for him, but it made me laugh to think a wildling girl that he was originally going to behead is now telling him where his allegiances lie; Ygritte knows more about him than he does. He knows nothing, Jon Snow.
The going’s been good so far this season. With it being a pivotal point in the arc of the series’ story, there’s been plenty of the stuff that makes the show what it is, with more than enough “bloody violence and raunchy sex” as Charles Dance once put it. With only four episodes left, we have reached the crossroads mid-season wherein everything in the world of Game of Thrones is soon about to implode on itself, much as it had done in seasons one and two. Bare this in mind for next week’s episode, The Bear and the Maiden Fair; it has been written by George R. R. Martin himself. Need I remind you he also wrote Baelor and Blackwater; the two most crucial episodes of their respective seasons. If the creator of the Song of Ice and Fire itself needed to personally re-write the execution of Ned Stark, and the siege of King’s Landing, what could possibly be in store for us next week? All I can say is there’s a clue in the name…
I can’t help but feel sorry for Jon Snow in the midst of all that’s going on. He’s locked in a never-ending battle with himself over whether he is one of the Free Folk, or whether he still wears the black. It was nice to see the no-nonsense Ygritte make the situation clear for him, but it made me laugh to think a wildling girl that he was originally going to behead is now telling him where his allegiances lie; Ygritte knows more about him than he does. He knows nothing, Jon Snow.
The going’s been good so far this season. With it being a pivotal point in the arc of the series’ story, there’s been plenty of the stuff that makes the show what it is, with more than enough “bloody violence and raunchy sex” as Charles Dance once put it. With only four episodes left, we have reached the crossroads mid-season wherein everything in the world of Game of Thrones is soon about to implode on itself, much as it had done in seasons one and two. Bare this in mind for next week’s episode, The Bear and the Maiden Fair; it has been written by George R. R. Martin himself. Need I remind you he also wrote Baelor and Blackwater; the two most crucial episodes of their respective seasons. If the creator of the Song of Ice and Fire itself needed to personally re-write the execution of Ned Stark, and the siege of King’s Landing, what could possibly be in store for us next week? All I can say is there’s a clue in the name…
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