If Jon Snow was
a member of the BYU basketball team, he’d currently be serving a suspension
because he broke all sorts of honor code when Ygritte shed her fur coat in the
steamy cave last night. Westeros’ most eligible bastard tried to resist, but
sure enough gave into the redheaded temptation, giving Podrick a run for his
money in the virgin Cassanova competition.
While a whole
season of sexual tension came to its vow-breaking head in a cavern hot tub
north of the wall, at another hot tub, this one in Harrenhal (and much more
modern), further heated growing tension of the sexual variety between Jaime and
Bri. I wasn’t exactly excited about the pairing of one of the show’s most
charismatic characters with Catelyn Stark’s mountainous protector of a woman,
but the duo’s scenes, for the most part, have possibly been the best of this
season. The two share a bath together, and although he doesn’t skip an
opportunity to make a Renly dig, he does ask for forgiveness after Bri stands
in front of him fully nude, proving she has no fear. Perhaps it was the pain of
milk-of-the-poppy-free surgery, but Jaime starts spilling his guts in the steam
bath, telling the full story of the Mad King’s slaying and Ned Stark’s rush to
judgment.
Upon arriving at
Harrenhal, Jaime got good news of his family’s triumph over Stannis at
Blackwater Bay, but as for the rest of the Lannister children, adult children
and children-children, the news was far from positive. Robb Stark continues to
show that his early success truly was beginner’s luck. One of his loyalists,
Lord Karstark, who also happens to have a sizable army fighting for Team Stark,
kills two teenaged Lannister squires with some assistance from four of his
cronies. It was an act of treason resulting in the condescending lord losing
his head (take notes Theon) and Robb losing a sizable chunk of soldiers — an
example of the “There are no winners in Westeros” theme Game of Thrones has
hammered home for more than two seasons. Catelyn imploring Robb to spare lord
Karstark was no shock, but when Talisa joined the party, it gave us a clear
view just how much of a struggle Robb is having. A run at Casterly Rock could
give him back the momentum, as he sets his sights to the Lannister stronghold.
Grown Lannister
children also received some unfortunate news, as Tyrion learned his father was
arranging a marriage between he and Sansa Stark. Cersei is happy to accompany
the message with a smirk, but her half-smile quickly fades when she learns she
will be sworn to Loras Tyrell. It’s hard to be sympathetic with the queen
regent in most cases, but when she laments “Not again father,” I think viewers
got their best insight into how overbearing Tywin Lannister really is. His
verbal smackdowns of his children in King’s Landing have been magnificent this
season, and I think he may be the new poster model for a disappointed daddy.
Preserving the family’s name and his own grasp on the realm trumps any of his
children’s happiness.
Of course,
Little Finger, with an assist from a poser squire, could blow up all of Tywin’s
plans. Clearly he wanted to use a moment of dude-on-dude passion to persuade
Sansa to leave with him, but could end up making a much bigger mess than he
originally intended.
Stannis’
deformed daughter really wants to see the Onion Knight Davos, whom her father
bluntly informs her, is a traitor. The Lord of Light’s influence is spreading,
as we see Stannis’ wife has become a loyal follower, pleased he smoke-seeded
Melisandre. The Baratheon princess does sneak away to see Davos imprisoned,
unafraid of the consequences. They just keep her locked up anyways, so what’s a
new cell?
The
kissed-by-fire princess was defiant, as was the kissed-by-fire hound, who
triumphed in a trial by combat, overcoming his fear of fire, even when it burned
on a sword swung toward his head. Hound vs. one-eye was a great action
sequence, and really kicked off the episode well. I was shocked to see the
former Lannister loyalist come out victorious, and even more shocked when his
fallen opponent was revived by the fire god — not an uncommon occurrence for
the leader of the brotherhood without banners. The hound is set free much to
the chagrin of Arya, who tried to capitalize on his exhaustion as she charged
with a dagger, only to be scooped up before getting a real stab at killing him.
Arya didn’t get
her way then, and she didn’t get her way with Gendry, who informed her the
one-time trio would soon dwindle down to an Arya solo project, as he plans to
stay on with the brotherhood. While she would welcome him into the family,
Gendry knows well enough that she would be just another “mi’lady” when all was
said and done. Plus, for a wayward bastard, the brotherhood seems like a much
merrier option than the Night’s Watch.
No great Game of
Thrones episode is complete without Daenarys Targaryen, although the scenes
with she and the unsullied were much less tense than last week. We meet the new
spokesperson for the soldiers, a man named Grey Worm. Seriously, this guy
would’ve got no respect in the 1800s Native American community, with that name,
but across the Narrow Sea, Grey Worm is happy to be Grey Worm. It reminds him
of the good times, or, make that good time, as is in a couple of days before
when he was set free by the Khaleesi. While she talks with Worm, Jorah tries to
sell Barristan on Dany. Barristan is also quick to remind Jorah of his
reputation in the civilized world, but Jorah is much more worried about pissing
his armor. I have a feeling a piss is just foreshadowing for some upcoming
dick-swingin’ between these two, both vying for a top position in Daenarys’
army, council and, just maybe, her heart.
It’s crazy how
this show continues to raise the stakes from week to week. Militarily, besides
Robb’s situation, the show held steady, but the politics of arranged marriage
intensified, as did the light from the heavens and Ygritte’s heartbeat as Jon
Snow kneeled. We’re at the halfway point, and I’m going to be on the edge of my
seat as I watch these stories wrap up over the next five weeks.
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