Lord Snow

We’re three episodes in, so it feels like it’s time to add a bunch more characters to the roster! Granted, I’ll forever be grateful that Benioff and Weiss restrained themselves far more than George R.R. Martin ever did, but still, we’ve just gotten used to the pantheon of characters we’ve already met and they stack on another baker’s dozen in this episode. Yes, I know, most of them die…actually, I think all save one are dead now…Jeor Mormont, Maester Aemon, Ser Alliser Thorne, Ser Barristan Selmy, Grand Maester Pycelle, Renly Baratheon, Littlefinger, Pyp, Grenn, Syrio Forel, Rakharo, Lancel Lannister, yup, all dead except for Varys.

In all honesty if you told me that the Spider would be the last man standing of that group when I first watched this episode, I would’ve had a hard time believing you. He doesn’t make a great first impression, and comes off just as slimy as Littlefinger. Speaking of whom, seeing Ned almost strangle him in this episode is kind of awesome, even though it’s clearly one of the many nails Ned hammers into his own coffin. Truly, Ned is too good for King’s Landing. While he may be the strong, sensible Hand that Robert needs, he’s far too honest and honour-bound to really be effective in any way, shape, or form in the Capital. I have to admit, watching him make all these mistakes over again is such a bummer. It’s one of those ‘if he’s only played the game better’ kind of situations. However, for Ned, the problem was that he didn’t realize that there was even a game happening until he’d lost it.

Speaking of Starks, Catelyn is kind of the worst. I think I remember liking her the first time ‘round, but this time, well, she’s far more reckless than her husband, and Ned may not have a lot to help him in King’s Landing, but at least he doubts he can trust Littlefinger (LEAN INTO THAT NED). Cat on the other hand seems to think that just because he’s in love with her, she can trust him. Ummm, you married someone else, your first fiancés’ brother even…how does that breed trust Cat? She ‘feels it in her bones’ that the Lannisters did it, and sure, they did, but just believing that Tyrion would be dumb enough to send an assassin with his own knife? COME ON. Use some sense woman! Sigh. I feel like I’m going to be yelling that at her a lot this watch through.

At the other end of Westeros, we’ve got Jon, who’s been cruelly dubbed Lord Snow by Ser Alliser Thorne due to his highborn bastard status. He’s also clearly the best recruit the Night’s Watch has had in a while. Here’s where trusting a Lannister can be helpful. It’s so easy to like Tyrion when you see him being sneakily helpful. Showing Jon that little things, like learning people’s names can go a long way in a place like the Wall. And even though Jon is admittedly better than all the rest, it’s good to have someone like Tyrion remind him, that all his highborn status means nothing here, he’s just like everyone else. It’s amazing how far these little lessons take Jon over the course of the show. Don’t get me wrong, he makes some huge mistakes too (thank to some of that pesky honour he learned from Ned) but these lessons from Tyrion are super valuable.

There’s this interesting thread through this episode with people giving Jamie a hard time for ‘stabbing Aerys Targaryen in the back’. I appreciate the face that this is ‘bad form’ and all that, but they called him the Mad King for a reason. He literally burned Ned’s family alive, in the throne room, where apparently 500 men stood by and did nothing. And while I may agree with Ned’s cynicism that Jamie actually thought about those burning Starks when he finally killed Aerys, I’m not sure the outward contempt is quite warranted. Then Robert brings it up as well, Robert who literally started a war with the Targaryens over a girl and wants to destroy an entire bloodline because that girl died. Where’s the justice there. Jamie stops a mad man from being in charge of the whole realm, and he’s a bad guy, but because the crown’s on Robert’s head, the injustices he committed to get that crown are moot? Man alive, the hypocrisy abounds.

Finally, if people didn’t see Viserys’ death coming a mile away, then I don’t know what to do for them. Literally every single time he says or does something I immediately think to myself “well at least he’s only around for X many more episodes.” He was certainly the first character where I was like, he’s going to die soon right? (there were many more after this) No one can be this horrible and live, ESPECIALLY when Khal Drogo’s involved. He’s such a narcissist that he believes every single thing that Daenerys does is a direct slight against him. Even though I’m sure she rarely even thinks about him anymore, especially now that she’s carrying Drogo’s child.

Ummm, there were no deaths this episode. So, I guess we can commemorate that fact: First no death episode, well done Game of Thrones.

image created by Robert Ball for HBO’s Beautiful Death series