Game of Thrones: Lord Snow
Three weeks in and what do you think so far? We’re starting to get some familiarity with the characters, their stories and the spider webs that make up all of the relationships. I wonder though, for those who went into the series blind, is it doing a good job of explaining everything? Hopefully it is and people are just as interested.
Castle Black / The Wall
Jon has started his Night’s Watch training. While sparring with the other new recruits, Jon shows that he already has considerable skills with a sword by laying the smack down on the other boys. Jon inherits the name Lord Snow, which isn’t meant to be taken as a compliment. They look upon him as someone high-born and privileged. Even though he’s a bastard, he’s still a Stark. The other boys are insulted and corner Jon, threatening his life. Tyrion shows up at just the right time to persuade the boys to find something better to do. Tyrion tells Jon how the others view him and his upbringing and suggests to Jon that maybe he should show the others what he already knows. Jon heeds this advice and the next time we see him training, he seems to be on better terms with the others.
Tyrion’s vacation at the Wall is coming to a close and in speaking with a couple of the guards, he lets it be known that he thinks the White Walkers are the things that legends and myths are made of. BenJen doesn’t take too kindly to this and informs Tyrion that a good portion of the trainees will die on the other side of the Wall. The Commander and Maester of Castle Black try to convince Tyrion that their numbers are suffering and since winter is coming, they need more men. They plead with him to convince the court to staff the Wall properly to prepare for the dangers that winter will bring.
BenJen meanwhile is preparing to leave Castle Black and head out into the forests north of the Wall. Jon wants to go telling BenJen that he won’t let him down, but BenJen tells him no, he needs to complete his training. After a brief conversation, BenJen tells Jon they will speak more once he returns. Interesting side-note here because Ned said something similar to Jon. Two conversation to be continued the next time Jon sees them. Foreboding maybe? We’ll see.
Winterfell
Moving south of the Wall back to Winterfell, Bran is awake, which we knew at the end of the last episode. He’s confined to bed however since he now has no use of his legs. Old Nan keeps watch, telling Bran scary stories of winter and what lies beyond the great wall. Robb comes to visit Bran and confirms to him that he won’t walk again. Bran tells Robb that he would rather be dead than be a cripple.
King’s Landing
Even further south, Ned finally arrives at King’s Landing only to dismount his horse and be called right into a council meeting. On his way to meet with the council, he runs into Jamie Lannister in the throne room. Jamie obviously takes great pleasure in being a world-class snarky douchebag. Last week Jamie was able to intimidate Jon with his chastisement of him for taking the black. If he was hoping to have the same effect on Ned, he was left disappointed. Jamie tried to chastise Ned by making snarky comments about being the King’s Hand. Ned however didn’t take the bait. Instead he returned the volley asking Jamie what it was like stabbing the king that he was supposed to be protecting, in the back. Jamie speaks of the act in terms of justice and protection, but Ned just merely states that Jamie served under Aerys Targaryen only when it was safe for him to do so.
Ned moves on to his meeting with the counsel. Here he meets Robert’s brother Renley, Petyr (aka Littlefinger), and the rest of the counsel. Here Ned is told that they are to organize a massive tournament in his honor and he’s also told that the crown in six million in debt. Ned just inherited a mess of epic proportions and has to deal with it while Robert boozes and beds various wenches. Ahh the life of the King’s Hand.
Catelyn makes her way to King’s Landing and upon entering the city is spotted and taken to a brothel. Petry knows her from childhood and has always had a soft spot for her, so he does this to protect her. She shows Petry and Varys the dagger that was used in the attempt on Bran’s life and Petry admits to it being his. He says that he lost it in a bet and the person he lost it to was Tyion Lannister. Petry says that if confronted, of course Tyrion will say he lost it, but it confirms to Catelyn that the Lannisters were responsible. Ned shows up at the brothel thinking it’s a trick until he sees Catelyn for himself. There’s a very sweet moment between the two before he departs again and it makes me wish they had more screen time together.
There is still a battle going on between Arya and Sansa. Sansa blames Arya for the death of Lady, Sansa’s direwolf and Arya thinks Sansa is nothing but a liar. Ned is clearly struggling to hold everyone together and to try to make amends for waxing Lady, he brings Sansa a doll for a present. She’s clearly outgrown playing with dolls and is a bit snotty toward Ned, but at least he tried.
Arya goes to her room and brings out Needle. Ned comes in and sees her holding her sword and asks her about it. He knows that he can’t change her so instead lets her keep it and hires Syrio, her “dance” teacher. At Arya’s first lesson, Ned looks on with a bit of paternal pride.
Joffrey is still nursing his wounds, both physical and emotional. Cersei is trying to build him up, telling him that when he’s king he can do whatever he wants and it will be the truth. His truth. She then informs him that anyone who isn’t them, is an enemy. Cersei is understandably freaked out that Bran is awake, thinking that he’s going to tell everyone what he saw before he fell. Jamie tells her not to worry because Bran doesn’t remember anything. Jamie then tells Cersei that it doesn’t matter because if he has to, he’ll kill everyone until it’s just the two of them left standing. Ok, their relationship is freaky and icky. Those crazy Lannisters are power-hungry and blood thirsty and only have their family’s best interest at heart.
Dothraki Sea
Finally in the land of the Dothraki, Daenerys is owning her position of Khaleesi. She also seems to be on more even terms with her husband now too. Instead of Drogo just coming in, using her for sex, then leaving, now they are seen cuddling. Awww how sweet. She is also making efforts to learn the language. We also find out Daenerys has a Dothrakian bun in the oven. She’s convinced it’s a boy and tells Drogo so.
Viserys isn’t taking too kindly to Dany’s new-found power and makes his displeasure known. This doesn’t pan out to well for him however as his actions have consequences. Those consequences being that he’s made to walk behind their traveling caravan like a slave, instead of riding on his horse.
That about sums up this week. If you haven’t read the books, are you able to keep up with what’s going on so far? If you have read the books how do you feel the show is doing so far? Let me know in the comments.
Tags: Castle Black, Dothraki, Game of Thrones, HBO, Kings Landing, Lannister, Ned Stark, Winterfell
