*Warning: Spoilers, duh.*
We’ve always
been told “The truth shall set you free.” In “Dark Wings, Dark Words,” however,
the Game of Thrones writers and show runners turn this liberating concept on
its ears.
Plot-wise there
were some familiar events in this episode. Perpetual captives Arya Stark and
Jaime Lannister were once again taken into custody — the latter after being the
closest to real freedom he’s been in quite some time after cutting himself free
from Lady Bri’s rope. Little orphan Arya (not technically an orphan, but who are
we kidding at this point?) was captured by the infamous Brotherhood Without
Banners, meaning Tywin’s former child employee would more likely be rat feed
than a guest at his table if the two met again.
Arya, Gendry and
their chubby friend were teased with freedom, until the brotherhood’s hunters
returned with their prize catch, a hound fresh out of King’s Landing, whose
bark exposed the runaways. Can’t say I’m too disappointed in Arya’s return to
captivity, because I’m intrigued by the brotherhood. A gang of rebels that
refuses to raise a banner, and at least so far, refuses to play the game by the
rules that have left bodies scattered from Winterfell to Blackwater Bay, might
be one of the saner sects of the whole country.
Speaking of
sanity, I’m ecstatic Grandma Tyrell has not slipped into senility. Finally,
someone tells it like it is! She wants the dirt on her granddaughter’s future
husband, dirt Sansa is hesitant to throw, but eventually does after much
prodding. Viewers could hear her exhale in relief afterwards, because for so
long she was the polar opposite of Granny Tyrell. Stop saying you love someone
you hate, and stop waiting to eat your cheese! This feisty old lady could be
the person who empowers Sansa to finally get out of King’s Landing, with or
without a crooked deal from Petyr Baelish, whom no one should trust. (Tryion’s
words, no mine!)
Or of course,
Margaery could use Sansa’s newfound honesty against her, hover it over her head
as vocal blackmail. I’m still trying to figure Marge out. Dos she really care
for the orphans? Does she really want to kill a boar to make her man hot? Are
the intentions to improve the king’s standing with the people, or to get him
out from under Cersei’s thumb and into her palm instead. Cersei senses her grip
on Joffrey, and power, could be disrupted by this new woman in the king’s life,
but Joffrey seems to be more than ready and willing to heed the words of a new
lady.
Sansa wasn’t the
only Stark woman spilling the beans. Catelyn confesses to praying for Jon’s
death while he was sick as a baby, going as far as blaming herself and her
ill-intentioned prayers for the family’s streak of bad luck — dark words
indeed! The weight of secrecy was lifted off of Sansa’s shoulders for the time
being, but the burden of guilt is only amplified for Cat after she informs her
daughter-in-law of past baby hatred, guile she was never able to fully shake.
The telling of
truths was not restricted to women. And while it may have led to relief and
grief for the two Stark women, for Theon Greyjoy reluctant honesty brought only
more pain. Theon’s scenes reminded us that while a brief, sweeping summation of
Westeros’ political unrest, wars and power structure may yield minimum changes,
deep inside the machine, wheels are turning, and screws are twisting (into
people’s feet).
Alas, more
honesty ensues north of the wall, as some of the brutal variety is hurled Sam’s
way by a fellow Nights Watchman who is not so subtle in comparing him to a
little piggy. His invitation to Sam to lie down is accepted, as one may expect.
The joke’s on this fellow, however, when he is given the burden of babysitting
Sam, punishable by death. Little piggy’s life’s on you bro!
While Sam
tearfully trudges on, Mance Rayder introduces his new pal, whom he remains skeptical
of, to a warg. Jon learns that these gifted individuals can see through the
eyes of the animals, just another misfit in Mance’s seven-language army that
without a doubt can’t stand the cave people (who can?). Come to find out, this
ability was what has been producing Brann’s haunting dreams. Quoting the raven
means talking to yourself for Brann Stark and his new companion Jojen Reed,
whom along with sister Meera, joins the little lords, Hodor and Osha on the
road to the wall.
Amidst all the
dog whispering and uttering of truths, Tyrion pleads with Shay to maintain a
safe distance, although he never really offers any options other than “OMG Stay
out of my room!” An opinion from which he is easily swayed.
The episode
concludes with the aforementioned standoff between the weary King Slayer and
Bri the brute. The half-bonded slayer makes charge after charge but never
really gets close to putting a dent in Bri’s armor. She appears ready to leash
him up again, when the northern army comes to take them away. But their scenes
together did not neglect the titular dark words. From gay-bashing the deceased
wannabe king Renly and delivering the zing of the night — “It’s a shame the
throne wasn’t made out of cocks. They’d had never got him off of it.” — to
continuing his quest to get under Bri’s skin, dark words flowed freely.
What the two words
really showed us, though, is the darkest words are spoken factually. “He’s a
monster” are not untrue words, but they were the hardest to say. Telling the
truth about wicked prayers might clear the air, but not your conscience. A lie
about your northern conquest yields a knife under your fingernails. If you say what
you really know, OK, they’ll take it easy on the fingernails. Here’s a screw
through the foot.
Brann’s dire
wolf and three-eyed raven dreams might be frightening. But in Westeros, being
haunted by a pair of dark wings is not nearly as terrifying or damning as
having to speak the darkest of words — the truth.
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