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shadowkatOooh, this episode was good! Although some people may have preferred last week's, but I loved the dialogue in this episode. It was tricky. (YMMV of course).
I will try very hard not to discuss the books. But it is hard. Watching the tv series has made me aware of certain themes and parallels that I was admittedly blind to in the books. Mostly because you get sort of overwhelmed with pages and pages of conversation and description. The Danrys bit went on for about 100 pages in the books.
Dany and Jon Snown - Fire and Ice
Here, I see the weird parallel structure developing between Jon Snow and Danrys Taragyrn. Both are in exile. Both are alone and separated from their family and all they know. Both are given titles - She's called Khaleesi or Princess, He's called Lord Snow. Both have Mormount's as mentors and protectors. Her's is the son, his is the father. Both have animal companions that represent their houses - she has the dragon eggs, he has the wolf cub. He found the wolf cubs and adopted the runt of the litter, the different one, she has the remaining dragon eggs. He is in the cold wastes of the Northern lands filled with magic, she's in hot deserts of the south. His house represents Winter, Her's Summer. His - ice. Her's - fire. And it was her uncle who kidnapped his aunt that started the war. If you are looking for a lead hero and heroine in this tale to follow - Jon Snow and Danyrs Taragyn are clearly it. They are clearly the ICE and FIRE of the song.
Character Impressions
1. Ned Stark - You Pig-Headed Honorable Fool. Put Your Family and Life First and Get out of Dodge while you are still able!!
Throughout the episode, I kept thinking, Ned, Ned, you pig-headed fool! You keep putting your faith and trust in the wrong people and keep thinking just because you are honorable, everyone else is. Little Finger - does tell him that the gold cloaks and the city watch follow whoever pays them (which of course is Little Finger) - who does he think pays them and with whose gold? And revealing all his plans to Cersei? Confronting her? Is he crazy? Yes, yes, honorable and all that - but also deeply stupid. The man's pride and courage and devotion to his duty to Robert may well be his biggest flaws. Well that and his complete inability to bluff. Ned would make a lousy Poker Player - he wears everything on his sleeve.
Admittedly Curious to know what people who did not know what was going to happen to Ned were thinking? Also curious to know if you knew Ned was headed for a fall or were surprised by the twist? I wasn't either here or in the books. I did sort of peek ahead when I read the book. (I got worried about Ayra, okay.)
2. LITTLE FINGER - AKA LORD BALISH: Little Finger is an interesting character. But did we have to watch two whores nosily giving each other a fake orgasm in the background? Yes, I know it is HBO, but seriously the gratuitous sex, is well gratuitous. (It's enough to make one miss network television.) Also a bit on the distracting side - it was hard at times to hear Little Finger over all the loud moaning. I know why they did it- outside of the obvious reasons (servicing the primitive male audience who needs their soft core porn fix to either wank to, or to get it up), which was to once again show power dynamics and make it clear without saying it outright exactly what Little Finger was doing to the Starks and Lannisters. Fucking them and making them think they were fucking him instead.
Little Finger trains his whores to spy for him and manipulate their partners. Demonstrating through his training how he is in turn manipulating everyone else. Making it clear that he isn't playing Ned's Game, Ned's way - been there, done that - learned his lesson from Ned's brother. He's not picking up a sword and fighting on Ned's terms, instead he's using his brain and out-thinking the man, manipulating him and Robert, and everyone else. He clearly cares for no one but himself, and any love he felt, has long since become twisted into something unrecognizable, bordering perhaps on bitter obsession.
I rather love the casting. The actor portrays him well. The consummate politician and chessmaster. Wheels within wheels.
When Ned tells Little Finger about Cersei's children, Little Finger already knew - but he is clever enough to hide it. Heck he not only knew - he kept prodding Ned to find out (took Ned long enough to do it) - not the sharpest tack in the drawer. Ned has relied on his sword not his brains. We're also told that power only passes to the natural born heir - which would be Robert's oldest brother Stannis, regardless of whether Stannis is fit for the job.
Little Finger to be fair - does give Ned Stark a choice. He tells him to take over as Regent and employ Little Finger as his Hand - together they'll hold the Kingdom. But Ned scoffs at the idea. Little Finger tries to tell Ned - that "making peace" means getting along with not declaring war on one's enemies.
3. TYWIN LANNISTER: We finally meet Tywin Lannister, Cersei/Jamie and Tyrion's Father - who'd I had forgotten that we met this soon. Rather glad we do. The casting again, could not be any more perfect. Charles Dance. Who looks a bit like an old lion himself sans mane. Or a panther. And the scene in which he is introduced - methodically carving up an Elk, like a lion would. He is the opposite of Ned Stark, smart - wickedly so, strategic, and methodical with little care towards honor or love. He carves into his son, Jamie, much as he carves into the Elk with neither kindess nor reservation. He's clearly fed up with Jamie's service on the Kingsguard and wishes the boy would take up his role at Tywin's side, as Tywin's heir of Casterly Rock. Not the protector of two annoying kings. Family Name is all that matters - not family, not us, not honor, not love - our name -Lannister, at the end - that is all that will be remembered, our dynasty. Give up your vanity. Care not what others think of you - you care far too much.
It's clear from the exchange that Jamie has a heart, even though his father wishes to beat it out of him. Jamie's love for both his sister and his brother are deemed weaknesses, failings, and perhaps they are. His love and desire for his father's respect a failing as well. As is his desire for his own honor, which he can't seem to find. Nicolas Costa-Walder plays the scene surprisingly well - showing all of this in his face, in his eyes, with few words and little movement. He's caught between conflicting duties and loyalties, which shouldn't be conflicting.
4. CERSEI LANNISTER - Ned Starks scene with Cersei is as informative as his scenes with Robert. Once again he admits and shares far too much. And she is honest in return. Telling him clearly that he leaves her no choice - and she will do whatever it takes to protect her family. "Do you love your children, Ned?" "With all my heart." "Well, I love mine too and would do anything to protect them."
He is so smug in his own power when he tells her to flee with her kids, honorable - I will not harm a mother and her children. Which makes him likable. But Cersei will not be so kind in return. And she more or less tells him this. She never lies to him. She says quite clearly: "When you play the Game of Thrones - you win or you die."
"You had the chance, Ned, when Jamie sat on that throne after he killed Aerys, to take the throne from him and sit on it yourself, but you didn't do it - you walked away. That was your mistake." No, he claims, it wasn't. (Personally - I think it was following Robert into battle over Lyanna...) I did the honorable thing. And Cersei counters - in the Game of Thrones there is no honor, it's not about honor. It's not. And it is an echo of her own father's words. Of the three Lannister children, Cersei is her father's child, she speaks like him, thinks like him and is as cold and hard as he is.
You can't understand my relationship with Jamie. Jamie is closer to me than anyone, she says. He's more than a brother, more than a lover - we shared the womb. And Taragryn's bred with Taragryn's to keep the line pure. (If you see a resemblance between Joffrey and Viserys? That's why. Madness comes of such pairings.) Yet, she claims to have worshiped Robert - like Sansa clearly worships and loves Joffrey - a girl's crush on a rock star. The parallels are obvious. (Yet, such crushes usually come with crushing and bitter heartbreak - this may well be foreshadowing for Sansa's pain.) But all that changed, when Robert bedded her, drunk and bloated, calling Lyanna's name. Robert's love for Lyanna destroyed him and everyone around him, including Lyanna. Just as Little Finger's thwarted love for Catelynn destroys all that lies around him or most likely will. And Jamie's love for Cersei is eating him alive, along with his honor, and his family. Love thwarted can be poisonous. Love misdirected can be as well. But is it love? Or merely the desire for power?
The parallels between Robert, Cersei, Little Finger...are all too clear. Just as the parallel's that can be drawn between Twyin and Cersei are. There's another parallel as well between Jamie and Ned. Two men who care far too much about what others think about their own pride and vanity, that they are almost blinded by it. Jamie...by his love for Cersei. Ned ...by his devotion to the Robert Barratheon.
5. RENLY BARRATHEON. Ned does not listen to Renly either, who tells him to support him and quickly. Now. Not to trust anyone else. (It's clear to everyone that Ned doesn't want the throne - so they all try to appeal to him to support their claim. Fool that he is, he does what he believes is the correct thing - the rule of law, which he follows rigidly, perhaps too rigidly and he picks the person further-est away and least likely to help him or save his family. Also the one person no one in the city will support.) Ned sends word out to Stannis - who Renly warns him not to go after, that of the three, Stannis only knows how to wage war and leads with fear, not love. And won't help either of them. But Ned is a solider, from a gray land, whose house motto is Winter is Coming. So Renly's pleas fall on death ears. And Renly, no fool, takes off with his entourage to seek refuge in the South and build an army. (Hee. Robert brings Ned Stark to Kingslanding and the man inadvertently starts a full-fledged war. I'm starting to think Renly or Jamie Lannister would have been a smarter choice for one to keep the peace.)
6. JON SNOW. Meanwhile - we have Jon Snow's tale. Jon is blessed with better advisors than the other characters are. A definite advantage. Which we can thank Tyrion for - since Tyrion advised him to seek their counsel. And Jon, surprise, surprise, actually listened. Moral? More people should listen to the Imp.
Pip and Samwell remind Jon who whines about having to serve Lord Mormount, that a)his lot could be a heck of a lot worse and life isn't fair for anyone (except those with a lot of power - and even they have it rough - because they spend all their time fighting to hang on to it - just ask Ned, Robert, Cersei and Tywin). b) Lord Mormount is providing Jon with knowledge and as Samwell advises - knowledge is power. It is - this is shown quite deftly with Tyrion, and with Little Finger - who both use knowledge to manipulate power away from people stronger than they are. In George RR Martin's world - physical power is not necessarily the best one to have. The mind can be mightier than the sword. Lord Snow thinks being a Ranger is the best idea - but if he thought it through - he'd realize his uncle's empty horse is in a way...a warning to not be a Ranger just yet. And his wolf's bringing of the cold dead hand echoes that.
7. THEON GREYJOY - (Who appears to be more important and seen more often than ROBB STARK). Theon is once again trying to grab something that isn't his. And wants to be called Lord Greyjoy. Interestingly enough Jon cringes when people call him Lord Snow, while Greyjoy aches to be called Lord Greyjoy. Although Lord Snow is a definite insult - so there is that. (Sort of like being called Lord Bastard). The woman from north of the wall, the wildling, he tries to grab. And she tells him that he is no lord as of yet, since his father is still alive. He scares her little, she's seen far worse than him.
[The woman from the north at Winterfell reminds us and Master Lluwin that there are worse things out there - that the creatures that died over a 1000 years ago, did not die or go away, they merely slept..they are coming now. Reminding me that this is also in some respects a horror story.]
8. DANRYS TARAGYRN: is saved from being poisoned. But I could have done without her hubby's rant - "I will slay the men, rape their woman and take their children as my slaves." Note - the physically weak are considered little more than objects to be raped and enslaved. Not slain. They have no power. (I really didn't like Drako in the books. He always seemed to be a rapist to me. And a bit of a sadist. But that's just me.) That said - it is yet another depiction of power gone wrong. In fact a clear parallel can be drawn between Drako's mad rant after the threat on Dany's life (and his power) and Joffrey's mad rant after the threat on his own and Cersei's power. Both request death. Drako is a bit more sadistic. Both place a woman in power - here Dany, and with Joffrey - Cersei. Dany also looks a bit mad here - almost turned on by Drako's ranting. The power turns her on. She's filled with the power of it. In a way - it is the opposite of Jon Snow - who is showing compassion to his companions.
Dany shows vengeance - granted the guy did try to kill her. And the show graphically shows his naked body running behind the horse. (That poor actor - I hope he got paid well.)
Rather love Ser Jorah Mormount. Ironically an ex-slaver. Who appears to be in an odd position here. He was clearly the one who betrayed her - and the reason the poisoner and other assassins can find her. But he's changed his mind and once he receives Robert's full pardon for disclosing her whereabouts, he immediately stops what is about to happen. He does have feelings for her. What his agenda is, we aren't certain.
One of the things I loved most about Martin's stories - and one of the reasons I kept reading the books, no matter how grim and graphically violent things got (and trust me this is nothing, truly nothing - rather tame in comparison to what is coming), is how characters will change. An ex-slaver becomes a trusted friend to a girl queen, and compassionate advisor. Heroic even. A man of honor, sacrifices it...and his family to go to war over what he believes is right, causing more blood-shed. Good men do horrible things. Bad men do kind ones. It's not a black and white world. The other thing I love is how those who appear weak, are crippled, or broken or victimized - become powerful or find ways to overcome their short-comings to yank power from those who beat them down or could physically. In some ways Little Finger's triumph over Ned Stark - is a yell of triumph from the little guy. Just as Tyrion's deft escape from the Vale of Eyrie was. Ned was the physically powerful one at Kings Landing, the soldier, who appeared to have both the King's favor, his documented power, and the men's favor - while the Queen, her son, and the others looked weak - but it switches. And no one is more shocked than Ned, who underestimated everyone - too used to defeating people with battle cries and swords and not wits. Just as Lyssa is shocked by Tyrion's escape last week - but he did not fight honorably, well, as Twyin Lannister states - honor isn't necessary to obtain power. Nor does it survive you.
Twyin wisely is going after Catelynn's family home and Catelynn, not Eyrie and not to defend Kingslanding. He's blatantly ignoring Ned Stark's summons. A Lannister pays his debts.
If you are looking for someone to root for? I'd say Jon Snow and Danyrs are your best bets. Also, Ayra and Tyrion (who I did miss this week, but oddly, not that much. A lot happened and quickly.)
9. ROBERT BARATHEON's death. It's not quite clear whether Robert was killed by the boar or by the wine or both. It's strongly suggested Cersei killed him. But I'm not sure it matters. Robert's right - it's his own foolish life style and lack of caring about the kingdom that did him in. In a way - I get the feeling - that he chose Ned as Hand and brought him to King's Landing as a sort of long overdue vengeance for pressing him into being King and not taking on the mantle himself. We are also given a bit of foreshadowing regarding Stannis. And more info on Ned - who seems to like soldier's as kings. Making me wonder why Ned went to war - was it because Aerys was mad or because his sister was taken or because well it was what he did. Or all three? Ned is a man who weilds power but doesn't want it. He seems to almost take it for granted. Privileged. He is privileged. To give him credit - he does try to avoid killing Cersei, he doesn't want to hurt her and her children, even though what she's done sickens him. I like Ned for that and for the fact that he does love his kids, even though I find it hard to feel sorry for him - because he's such a dimwitted fool and he puts his entire family in danger via his actions.
Fun episode! Rather enjoyed this one. With a few caveats here and there (I could have done without the sex scene, and the ranting about raping people), other than that...
I will try very hard not to discuss the books. But it is hard. Watching the tv series has made me aware of certain themes and parallels that I was admittedly blind to in the books. Mostly because you get sort of overwhelmed with pages and pages of conversation and description. The Danrys bit went on for about 100 pages in the books.
Dany and Jon Snown - Fire and Ice
Here, I see the weird parallel structure developing between Jon Snow and Danrys Taragyrn. Both are in exile. Both are alone and separated from their family and all they know. Both are given titles - She's called Khaleesi or Princess, He's called Lord Snow. Both have Mormount's as mentors and protectors. Her's is the son, his is the father. Both have animal companions that represent their houses - she has the dragon eggs, he has the wolf cub. He found the wolf cubs and adopted the runt of the litter, the different one, she has the remaining dragon eggs. He is in the cold wastes of the Northern lands filled with magic, she's in hot deserts of the south. His house represents Winter, Her's Summer. His - ice. Her's - fire. And it was her uncle who kidnapped his aunt that started the war. If you are looking for a lead hero and heroine in this tale to follow - Jon Snow and Danyrs Taragyn are clearly it. They are clearly the ICE and FIRE of the song.
Character Impressions
1. Ned Stark - You Pig-Headed Honorable Fool. Put Your Family and Life First and Get out of Dodge while you are still able!!
Throughout the episode, I kept thinking, Ned, Ned, you pig-headed fool! You keep putting your faith and trust in the wrong people and keep thinking just because you are honorable, everyone else is. Little Finger - does tell him that the gold cloaks and the city watch follow whoever pays them (which of course is Little Finger) - who does he think pays them and with whose gold? And revealing all his plans to Cersei? Confronting her? Is he crazy? Yes, yes, honorable and all that - but also deeply stupid. The man's pride and courage and devotion to his duty to Robert may well be his biggest flaws. Well that and his complete inability to bluff. Ned would make a lousy Poker Player - he wears everything on his sleeve.
Admittedly Curious to know what people who did not know what was going to happen to Ned were thinking? Also curious to know if you knew Ned was headed for a fall or were surprised by the twist? I wasn't either here or in the books. I did sort of peek ahead when I read the book. (I got worried about Ayra, okay.)
2. LITTLE FINGER - AKA LORD BALISH: Little Finger is an interesting character. But did we have to watch two whores nosily giving each other a fake orgasm in the background? Yes, I know it is HBO, but seriously the gratuitous sex, is well gratuitous. (It's enough to make one miss network television.) Also a bit on the distracting side - it was hard at times to hear Little Finger over all the loud moaning. I know why they did it- outside of the obvious reasons (servicing the primitive male audience who needs their soft core porn fix to either wank to, or to get it up), which was to once again show power dynamics and make it clear without saying it outright exactly what Little Finger was doing to the Starks and Lannisters. Fucking them and making them think they were fucking him instead.
Little Finger trains his whores to spy for him and manipulate their partners. Demonstrating through his training how he is in turn manipulating everyone else. Making it clear that he isn't playing Ned's Game, Ned's way - been there, done that - learned his lesson from Ned's brother. He's not picking up a sword and fighting on Ned's terms, instead he's using his brain and out-thinking the man, manipulating him and Robert, and everyone else. He clearly cares for no one but himself, and any love he felt, has long since become twisted into something unrecognizable, bordering perhaps on bitter obsession.
I rather love the casting. The actor portrays him well. The consummate politician and chessmaster. Wheels within wheels.
When Ned tells Little Finger about Cersei's children, Little Finger already knew - but he is clever enough to hide it. Heck he not only knew - he kept prodding Ned to find out (took Ned long enough to do it) - not the sharpest tack in the drawer. Ned has relied on his sword not his brains. We're also told that power only passes to the natural born heir - which would be Robert's oldest brother Stannis, regardless of whether Stannis is fit for the job.
Little Finger to be fair - does give Ned Stark a choice. He tells him to take over as Regent and employ Little Finger as his Hand - together they'll hold the Kingdom. But Ned scoffs at the idea. Little Finger tries to tell Ned - that "making peace" means getting along with not declaring war on one's enemies.
3. TYWIN LANNISTER: We finally meet Tywin Lannister, Cersei/Jamie and Tyrion's Father - who'd I had forgotten that we met this soon. Rather glad we do. The casting again, could not be any more perfect. Charles Dance. Who looks a bit like an old lion himself sans mane. Or a panther. And the scene in which he is introduced - methodically carving up an Elk, like a lion would. He is the opposite of Ned Stark, smart - wickedly so, strategic, and methodical with little care towards honor or love. He carves into his son, Jamie, much as he carves into the Elk with neither kindess nor reservation. He's clearly fed up with Jamie's service on the Kingsguard and wishes the boy would take up his role at Tywin's side, as Tywin's heir of Casterly Rock. Not the protector of two annoying kings. Family Name is all that matters - not family, not us, not honor, not love - our name -Lannister, at the end - that is all that will be remembered, our dynasty. Give up your vanity. Care not what others think of you - you care far too much.
It's clear from the exchange that Jamie has a heart, even though his father wishes to beat it out of him. Jamie's love for both his sister and his brother are deemed weaknesses, failings, and perhaps they are. His love and desire for his father's respect a failing as well. As is his desire for his own honor, which he can't seem to find. Nicolas Costa-Walder plays the scene surprisingly well - showing all of this in his face, in his eyes, with few words and little movement. He's caught between conflicting duties and loyalties, which shouldn't be conflicting.
4. CERSEI LANNISTER - Ned Starks scene with Cersei is as informative as his scenes with Robert. Once again he admits and shares far too much. And she is honest in return. Telling him clearly that he leaves her no choice - and she will do whatever it takes to protect her family. "Do you love your children, Ned?" "With all my heart." "Well, I love mine too and would do anything to protect them."
He is so smug in his own power when he tells her to flee with her kids, honorable - I will not harm a mother and her children. Which makes him likable. But Cersei will not be so kind in return. And she more or less tells him this. She never lies to him. She says quite clearly: "When you play the Game of Thrones - you win or you die."
"You had the chance, Ned, when Jamie sat on that throne after he killed Aerys, to take the throne from him and sit on it yourself, but you didn't do it - you walked away. That was your mistake." No, he claims, it wasn't. (Personally - I think it was following Robert into battle over Lyanna...) I did the honorable thing. And Cersei counters - in the Game of Thrones there is no honor, it's not about honor. It's not. And it is an echo of her own father's words. Of the three Lannister children, Cersei is her father's child, she speaks like him, thinks like him and is as cold and hard as he is.
You can't understand my relationship with Jamie. Jamie is closer to me than anyone, she says. He's more than a brother, more than a lover - we shared the womb. And Taragryn's bred with Taragryn's to keep the line pure. (If you see a resemblance between Joffrey and Viserys? That's why. Madness comes of such pairings.) Yet, she claims to have worshiped Robert - like Sansa clearly worships and loves Joffrey - a girl's crush on a rock star. The parallels are obvious. (Yet, such crushes usually come with crushing and bitter heartbreak - this may well be foreshadowing for Sansa's pain.) But all that changed, when Robert bedded her, drunk and bloated, calling Lyanna's name. Robert's love for Lyanna destroyed him and everyone around him, including Lyanna. Just as Little Finger's thwarted love for Catelynn destroys all that lies around him or most likely will. And Jamie's love for Cersei is eating him alive, along with his honor, and his family. Love thwarted can be poisonous. Love misdirected can be as well. But is it love? Or merely the desire for power?
The parallels between Robert, Cersei, Little Finger...are all too clear. Just as the parallel's that can be drawn between Twyin and Cersei are. There's another parallel as well between Jamie and Ned. Two men who care far too much about what others think about their own pride and vanity, that they are almost blinded by it. Jamie...by his love for Cersei. Ned ...by his devotion to the Robert Barratheon.
5. RENLY BARRATHEON. Ned does not listen to Renly either, who tells him to support him and quickly. Now. Not to trust anyone else. (It's clear to everyone that Ned doesn't want the throne - so they all try to appeal to him to support their claim. Fool that he is, he does what he believes is the correct thing - the rule of law, which he follows rigidly, perhaps too rigidly and he picks the person further-est away and least likely to help him or save his family. Also the one person no one in the city will support.) Ned sends word out to Stannis - who Renly warns him not to go after, that of the three, Stannis only knows how to wage war and leads with fear, not love. And won't help either of them. But Ned is a solider, from a gray land, whose house motto is Winter is Coming. So Renly's pleas fall on death ears. And Renly, no fool, takes off with his entourage to seek refuge in the South and build an army. (Hee. Robert brings Ned Stark to Kingslanding and the man inadvertently starts a full-fledged war. I'm starting to think Renly or Jamie Lannister would have been a smarter choice for one to keep the peace.)
6. JON SNOW. Meanwhile - we have Jon Snow's tale. Jon is blessed with better advisors than the other characters are. A definite advantage. Which we can thank Tyrion for - since Tyrion advised him to seek their counsel. And Jon, surprise, surprise, actually listened. Moral? More people should listen to the Imp.
Pip and Samwell remind Jon who whines about having to serve Lord Mormount, that a)his lot could be a heck of a lot worse and life isn't fair for anyone (except those with a lot of power - and even they have it rough - because they spend all their time fighting to hang on to it - just ask Ned, Robert, Cersei and Tywin). b) Lord Mormount is providing Jon with knowledge and as Samwell advises - knowledge is power. It is - this is shown quite deftly with Tyrion, and with Little Finger - who both use knowledge to manipulate power away from people stronger than they are. In George RR Martin's world - physical power is not necessarily the best one to have. The mind can be mightier than the sword. Lord Snow thinks being a Ranger is the best idea - but if he thought it through - he'd realize his uncle's empty horse is in a way...a warning to not be a Ranger just yet. And his wolf's bringing of the cold dead hand echoes that.
7. THEON GREYJOY - (Who appears to be more important and seen more often than ROBB STARK). Theon is once again trying to grab something that isn't his. And wants to be called Lord Greyjoy. Interestingly enough Jon cringes when people call him Lord Snow, while Greyjoy aches to be called Lord Greyjoy. Although Lord Snow is a definite insult - so there is that. (Sort of like being called Lord Bastard). The woman from north of the wall, the wildling, he tries to grab. And she tells him that he is no lord as of yet, since his father is still alive. He scares her little, she's seen far worse than him.
[The woman from the north at Winterfell reminds us and Master Lluwin that there are worse things out there - that the creatures that died over a 1000 years ago, did not die or go away, they merely slept..they are coming now. Reminding me that this is also in some respects a horror story.]
8. DANRYS TARAGYRN: is saved from being poisoned. But I could have done without her hubby's rant - "I will slay the men, rape their woman and take their children as my slaves." Note - the physically weak are considered little more than objects to be raped and enslaved. Not slain. They have no power. (I really didn't like Drako in the books. He always seemed to be a rapist to me. And a bit of a sadist. But that's just me.) That said - it is yet another depiction of power gone wrong. In fact a clear parallel can be drawn between Drako's mad rant after the threat on Dany's life (and his power) and Joffrey's mad rant after the threat on his own and Cersei's power. Both request death. Drako is a bit more sadistic. Both place a woman in power - here Dany, and with Joffrey - Cersei. Dany also looks a bit mad here - almost turned on by Drako's ranting. The power turns her on. She's filled with the power of it. In a way - it is the opposite of Jon Snow - who is showing compassion to his companions.
Dany shows vengeance - granted the guy did try to kill her. And the show graphically shows his naked body running behind the horse. (That poor actor - I hope he got paid well.)
Rather love Ser Jorah Mormount. Ironically an ex-slaver. Who appears to be in an odd position here. He was clearly the one who betrayed her - and the reason the poisoner and other assassins can find her. But he's changed his mind and once he receives Robert's full pardon for disclosing her whereabouts, he immediately stops what is about to happen. He does have feelings for her. What his agenda is, we aren't certain.
One of the things I loved most about Martin's stories - and one of the reasons I kept reading the books, no matter how grim and graphically violent things got (and trust me this is nothing, truly nothing - rather tame in comparison to what is coming), is how characters will change. An ex-slaver becomes a trusted friend to a girl queen, and compassionate advisor. Heroic even. A man of honor, sacrifices it...and his family to go to war over what he believes is right, causing more blood-shed. Good men do horrible things. Bad men do kind ones. It's not a black and white world. The other thing I love is how those who appear weak, are crippled, or broken or victimized - become powerful or find ways to overcome their short-comings to yank power from those who beat them down or could physically. In some ways Little Finger's triumph over Ned Stark - is a yell of triumph from the little guy. Just as Tyrion's deft escape from the Vale of Eyrie was. Ned was the physically powerful one at Kings Landing, the soldier, who appeared to have both the King's favor, his documented power, and the men's favor - while the Queen, her son, and the others looked weak - but it switches. And no one is more shocked than Ned, who underestimated everyone - too used to defeating people with battle cries and swords and not wits. Just as Lyssa is shocked by Tyrion's escape last week - but he did not fight honorably, well, as Twyin Lannister states - honor isn't necessary to obtain power. Nor does it survive you.
Twyin wisely is going after Catelynn's family home and Catelynn, not Eyrie and not to defend Kingslanding. He's blatantly ignoring Ned Stark's summons. A Lannister pays his debts.
If you are looking for someone to root for? I'd say Jon Snow and Danyrs are your best bets. Also, Ayra and Tyrion (who I did miss this week, but oddly, not that much. A lot happened and quickly.)
9. ROBERT BARATHEON's death. It's not quite clear whether Robert was killed by the boar or by the wine or both. It's strongly suggested Cersei killed him. But I'm not sure it matters. Robert's right - it's his own foolish life style and lack of caring about the kingdom that did him in. In a way - I get the feeling - that he chose Ned as Hand and brought him to King's Landing as a sort of long overdue vengeance for pressing him into being King and not taking on the mantle himself. We are also given a bit of foreshadowing regarding Stannis. And more info on Ned - who seems to like soldier's as kings. Making me wonder why Ned went to war - was it because Aerys was mad or because his sister was taken or because well it was what he did. Or all three? Ned is a man who weilds power but doesn't want it. He seems to almost take it for granted. Privileged. He is privileged. To give him credit - he does try to avoid killing Cersei, he doesn't want to hurt her and her children, even though what she's done sickens him. I like Ned for that and for the fact that he does love his kids, even though I find it hard to feel sorry for him - because he's such a dimwitted fool and he puts his entire family in danger via his actions.
Fun episode! Rather enjoyed this one. With a few caveats here and there (I could have done without the sex scene, and the ranting about raping people), other than that...
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no subject
Date: 2011-05-31 06:34 am (UTC)YES YES YES
I've only read the first 100 pages of the first book (I stopped because I wasn't enjoying the show as much while reading the book at the same time). And yes, that scene struck me as totally unnecessary for all the reasons you described. First, it's out of character for Little Finger to go on and on and on about his plans like that.
It was anvilicious and unnecessary. They could've portrayed this in a more subtle way and made the final moments of the episode far more interesting.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-31 03:00 pm (UTC)I tend to think what was intriguing in this episode was the book. The script for the episode left things to be desired. And I really wish they would've gone without the extra Littlefinger scene and put back the scene where Jon Snow went to the head of the Watch to lobby for Sam being sworn in. That laid the groundwork for exactly why Mormont and Aemon chose to make Jon a steward. I really have rather they had retained that scene than that they add Littlefinger's scene. There's nothing wrong with long game guy being mysterious for a while.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-31 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-05-31 04:47 pm (UTC)I forgot all about the Jon Snow thing so didn't notice the absence. You're right it would have clarified that scene.
no subject
Date: 2011-05-31 05:10 pm (UTC)Basically to explain a character to a depth of detail that we didn't need at this point in the story, they messed up the pacing and the drama at the end of the episode. That's pretty much the definition of a gratuitous scene for me.