King of the North

Game of Thrones Recap “The Laws of God and Men”

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The War of the Five Kings may be over, but conflict still thrives in Westeros. This week’s episode focuses on resolving some of the tensions that have been building for in regards to purpose and intention. By resolve, I mean make things ten times worse. These resolutions come with very real consequences, which our most beloved and most hated characters will not doubt reap. With a child-king on the throne, dragons growing larger by the year, brothers choosing sides and fighters moving forward, Westeros is no closer to a long-term king than in season one. Did you notice we heard 3 would-be rulers introducing themselves as rightful ruler of Westeros? Yeesh. These are the Seven Kingdoms, friends.

Braavos

image property of HBO; edit courtesy of stuckinthedaydream.tumblr
image property of HBO; edit courtesy of stuckinthedaydream.tumblr

Stannis and Davos sail to Braavos from Dragonstone to meet with the leaders of the Iron Bank. And then I’m all ermergerd Mark Gatiss!! Finally, we find out that Mark Gatiss’ role is as Tycho Nestoris, the gate keeper of funds for the Iron Bank. While Stannis is his usually, unfriendly self, Davos continues to be the champion for his king even as the bankers refuse to hand over gold to fund a war that is considered over. While the pragmatic banker declines to give Stannis funds initially, it seems he may have been swayed. In the scene directly following, Davos finds his pirate friend, Sallhador Saan, and asks for his help. When Sallhador jokingly laments that his friend Davos is no friend at all but an enemy who wants him dead and poor, Davos throws down an impressive amount of gold, which I’m assuming means the Iron Bank is now backing Stannis instead of the Lannisters. It is nice to see Davos working to unify these dueling parts of his personality represented by Stannis his just King and Sallhador, Davos’ smuggler friend. Audiences may have forgotten how Davos came to be so true to Stannis, but Davos has not. Stannis is just and honest and Davos does not question Stannis’ intentions (except with the Red Woman) because he trusts his King’s judgement and is quick to say when he does not. I do appreciate Stannis’ claim to the throne and Davos’ arguments for his right, but Stannis is such a surly man, will the funds of the Iron Bank be enough to buy him loyalty?

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Game of Thrones Recap “Oathkeeper”

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When I began the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin, it was with trepidation. I don’t like to watch a TV show or film based on a novel (or multiples thereof) unless I’ve read the books. Seriously though? These books are so damn long! But this is a THING I have, and so I read the first book and started the second the summer before season 2 started. As I watched the seasons unfold, it became clear that the television show will not always coincide with the textual version, but it will always be a roller coaster ride. This episode was a prime example of that. After last week’s non-canon rape scene between Jamie and Cersei, I was not sure how the series might redeem the character, at least in my eyes. Still, it became clear in this episode that things are not always what the audience sees, in fact, we are given multiple points of view for a reason–so that we might understand the War of the Five Kings from disparate and diverse narratives and develop and understanding of all sides involved, with loyalties to none. Let’s head to Westeros, shall we? (Spoilers ahead!)

Across the Narrow Sea

edit cr: stannisbaratheon.tumblr.com
edit cr: stannisbaratheon.tumblr.com

In Camp Daenerys, handmaiden Missandei teaches the Unsullied captain Grey Worm to speak the Common Tongue and we learn a bit about the Unsullied’s work ethic. “Kill the Master” is a theme in this episode–which begins with the Meereen slaves, who rise up to murder those who have kept them captive for so long. With help from the weapons the Unsullied sneak into the slave quarters, the captives revolt, raise the Targaryen flag above the castle and pledge their allegiance to the Khaleesi by killing the masters and taking over the city.

While Ser Barristan councils Daenrys that is is better to answer injustice with mercy, the Khaleesi answers injustice with justice and puts up on nails 163 masters for the 163 children they saw nailed to mile markers on the path to Meereen. Another city is hers and another thousand or so freed people stand behind her, ready to storm King’s Landing or do whatever their queen bids of them.

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Game of Thrones Recap “The Lion and the Rose”

 

game-thrones-season-4-premiere

It’s time for a wedding, and you know what that means. A feast, a fool and…MURDER! This episode pits savagery against integrity, and with so many sinister acts happening across the Seven Kingdoms, it seems the brutal War of the Five Kings is not quite over yet. In this episode, the “purple wedding”, as fans have dubbed it, put the internet in a 24-hour tizzy after the premiere, which is what good telly is all about, right? Let’s explore Westeros (spoilers ahead!).

The North

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We have a few stories happening in the North, but in this episode we only see Bran Stark and House Bolton. Bran has become quite a strong Warg, and he can easily enter into his direwolf’s body and travel with her across the land. His wildling companions (and Hodor!) know the power of the Warg and so they ask Bran to refrain from entering Summer until he is stronger and safe. When Bran’s direwolf finds a Godswood tree, Bran touches it and immediately has a vision of the three-eyed crow, the crypts of Winterfell, a Valyrian steel sword, fire, snow, the Godswood, the Iron Throne, the tower from whence he fell and King’s Landing, along with the words, “Look for me…North.” Bran tells his group that he knows where they need to go, and they continue on their long journey through the winter wood.

To the east at Dreadfort, the Boltons are a vicious clan and Theon Grayjoy, Iron born and traitor to his friend Rob Stark, is now a flayed man-slave of the sadist Ramsey Snow, bastard son of Roose Bolton. House Bolton takes credit for the gruesome Red Wedding and has been given the North territory by Tywin Lannister as recompense. Ramsey is bold, presumptuous and enjoys torturing his victims. He asks Theon to shave him while Roose watches on, and then proceeds to berate, anger and horrify Theon with the news that his father, Roose, has recently returned from putting a knife through Rob Stark’s heart. Theon also is forced to admit that he never really killed the Stark boys, and so Roose sends his best man (the same guy who cut off Jamie Lannister’s hand) to Castle Black to find the children. While Roose is a bit miffed his son dared participate in the Bolton tradition of flaying on a potentially valuable hostage, he is impressed when a broken Theon shaves Ramsey with a straight razor and doesn’t nick the man once, even as he is goaded on by Ramsey. Roose knows that when all the Starks are dead, the Boltons will have the North secured.  It is an act he is desperate for.

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