After last weeks episode being so strong as far as story and pacing goes, I went into this episode wondering if we’d get another stong episode.  While I still love this show as much as I did at the very beginning I have felt at times that this season hasn’t held up as well as the first.  There have been a few episodes that blew me away, while others not so much.  This week we get to visit several places again and even get to see a face we haven’t seen since the season premier which was great.  I felt that this episode flew right by once again, but it didn’t suffer from the same jumbled feeling that episode five did. 

What this episode did have however, are some very powerful quieter moments.  It’s those moments that show the quality that goes in to making something of this caliber.  Not to mention the talent that lies within the actors who have to carry those moments on their shoulders.  This week starts in the same place as last….in Winterfell.

Winterfell

Theon awakes to find the Stark boys gone, along with Hodor, Osha and the direwolves.  After beating a man for chastising him for getting his yucks with Osha, Theon takes his men and Maester Luwin to find the Stark boys. 

Meanwhile the runaways keep moving and come across a farm, but don’t dare approach.  Rickon is hungry but Bran knows if they ask for help, the people of the village will be tortured into giving up their location.  Good thing they didn’t because Theon shows up shortly after.  He’s pissed that he hasn’t found the Stark boys yet, and things are looking more and more grim.  Theon tries to convince the townsfolk to give them up but even under the influence of violence, the man Theon is beating claims ignorance. Theon’s first mate seems to know where to find them, or at least has an idea.  That doesn’t bode well.

Once back at Winterfell, Theon shows the people that he wasn’t messing around.  He has Maester Luwin hauled out to the courtyard and reveals the charred bodies of what appears to be two young children.  The look on his face shows an internal battle he’s fighting as a result what he’s done.  Ok, to be honest I don’t think it’s Bran and Rickon.  I still haven’t finished the book so this scene is new to me, but something tells me that it’s not them.  It could be wishful thinking because I went through the same denial with Ned.

North of the Wall

Jon really should have done away with Ygritte when he had the chance.  Instead, he had to cuddle with her in the night to keep from freezing and when the two wake, she proceeds to tease him about pulling a dagger on her in the night.  Poor Jon.  He just can’t catch a break.  He quickly gets up and tells her to get a move on so that he can find his party.  During their journey Ygritte keeps on him about never having been with a woman and offers to be his first.  Their conversation goes from that of sex to who should be able to claim the land both of them think belongs to their own respective people.  She tries to convince him to join her side, but he won’t have any of it.

She keeps asking Jon how long until they find his people, but he won’t answer.  Truth is, he’s lost.  I really don’t think he knows where the hell he’s going.  She teases him some more about being a virgin and offers herself to him once again.  He’s a man of the Night’s Watch, but he’s still a man and she gets the upper hand.  As soon as she sees an opening, she’s able to get the drop on him and is able to escape.  He quickly recovers and runs after her but once he catches up with her, he’s surrounded by her people.  Poorly played Jon…poorly played indeed.

Harrenhal

Tywin is trying to figure out who killed Amory Lorch thinking the culprit was out to get him where Arya listens on quietly.  She has Tywin’s dinner but when he finds out it’s mutton, he doesn’t want it.  She offers to get something else, but he tells her to go ahead and eat it.  She tries to decline, but ends up obeying after he pulls the Lord card.  He proceeds to tell her that this will be his last war win or lose. I think Tywin likes his cup-bearer but won’t like it if and when he finds out who she is. 

He talks to her about Harrenhal and what it was built for and seems surprised that she knew the history of the castle.  She tells him the stories of the Targaryens and their dragons telling him she learned the stories from her father.  he mentions how he’s never met a literate stone mason, to which she asks him if he’s met any stone masons.  Nice dig Arya, but Tywin is on to her and tells her to watch her tongue.  She slips however when she addresses him as “my lord” instead of “m’lord”.  He catches it and asks her about it, but she’s able to cover her mistake.  I don’t think he buys it however.  He calls her out for posing as a low-born and I think he’s going to dig a little deeper into just who this cup-bearer is.

King’s Landing

Sansa runs into the Hound in the hallway and thanks him for saving her.  He doesn’t take kindly to gratitude though and tells her that he enjoys to kill and it’s his job.  She asks why he’s so hateful, but I think he’s got a soft spot for her.

The next morning, Sansa wakes from a horrible dream to find that she’s finally started her period.  This doesn’t bode well for her in terms of her pending marriage to Joffrey.  Shae comes in and sees Sansa trying to destroy the evidence, and she tries to help Sansa cover it up….that is until another handmaiden comes in.  The other handmaiden makes her to way to tell Cersei, but Shae stops her and threatens her.  Shae goes back to the room to find the Hound standing over Sansa’s bed.  There’s no hiding it now. 

Sansa gets a talk from Cersei about how birthing a child is the greatest honor for a queen.  Cersei doesn’t glamorize the act of childbirth but tells Sansa how Joffrey was difficult even as a baby.  Cersei tells her that the more people she loves the weaker she will be and that she should only love her children.  Sansa asks if she should love Joffrey, but Cersei simply replies that she can try.

Tyrion and Cersei discuss Stannis’ advancement, Joffey’s propensity for not listening to anyone and how they need to control him.  Cersei speaks of how Joffrey looks like Jamie but tries to cover up her slip of the tongue.  She tells Tyrion that she often wonders if this is the price she must pay for her sins.  Cersei actually admits, to Tyrion of all people, without saying as much.  She expresses a moment of weakness and sheds a tear, which Tyrion doesn’t know what to do with.  This has got to be one of the greatest scenes between Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey that I’ve seen yet.  They’re great when they’re tearing each other apart, but they’re even better when they share the quiet moments.

Qarth

Xaro tells Dany that he’s demanded a meeting of the 13 in regards to her missing dragons.  He tells her that her dragons aren’t worth anything on their own, and she seems insulted at the comment.  She tells him that they are worth more than anything, but he is, after all, the richest man in Qarth. 

Dany stands over the empty cages when Jorah comes back.  She seems surprised to see him, which I find odd but whatever.  She tells him about the deaths but he already knows.  He expresses guilt over not being at her side and proceeds to tell her that her people will help her.  She doesn’t seem to think that she has any people since she only knew one Targaryen, and the Dothraki turned their backs on her when Drogo fell.  Of course she has him, but it doesn’t seem like she even wants that.  Stupid girl.  I’d take him in a heartbeat…but that’s just me.  He tells her to trust him, but she replies by saying she doesn’t have room for trust anymore.  He asks what he can do to help and she tells him to find her dragons.  He promptly leaves to do just that.  You know….I think her other handmaiden is in cahoots with whoever stole the dragons.  She wasn’t found dead at Xaro’s place and there was something off about her to begin with.  It’s just a theory so time will tell if it’s an accurate one.

Jorah goes to see the masked woman who knows about the dragons and also the fact that Jorah loves Dany.  She asks if he will betray her again which incites his anger.  He says never and she proceeds to tell Jorah that the thief is with Dany at that precise moment. 

Meanwhile, Dany is standing before the 13 pleading for her dragons.  She tells them that the dragons are her babies and they will die without her.  Pyat Pree tells her that he will help and will take her to the house of the undying where he has the dragons.  Turns out that Xaro put a plan in motion that will make him King of Qarth.  Crooked bastard.  Once the 13 are informed….well 11 if you don’t count Pyat Pree and Xaro, that Dany will be with her dragons, the group of them are murdered where they sit.  Dany freaks and tries to flee, but Pyat Pree is everywhere.  Jorah arrives and runs his sword through Pyat Pree, but it’s just an illusion.  Dany, Jorah and Kovarro then make a rather hasty exit.

Stark Camp

Robb listens as Cersei’s cousin, Ser Alton, delivers her message about his terms.  Robb, being the fair leader he is, orders his men to make sure Ser Alton has a hot meal and lodging in the same pen as Jamie.  Talisa then shows up at his tent fresh from helping the wounded.  She tells him that she’s run out of certain supplies and what she needs will be found where he’s headed next, the Crag.  He invites her to come with him so that she can pilfer the Maester’s stores, but really…..we all know why he wants her to go with him.

Jamie tries to figure out just who Ser Alton is and how they’re related and to be honest, Jamie isn’t looking too hot.  Well, I mean, he’s still hot, but he’s in need of a shower in a bad way.  Ser Alton talks to him about the day he once squired for Jamie, and Jamie tells him of a day when he did the same as a young man.  Jamie butters the kid up, manipulating Ser Alton to help Jamie get free.  Of course it results in the poor kid’s death….at Jamie’s own hand.  When the guard comes in to see what’s happening, Jamie makes his move and kills the guard and escapes.

Catelyn sits in her tent with Brienne when word comes to her that the Kingslayer has been caught.  Jamie is hauled back into camp chained and beaten.  Catelyn has to then stop Lord Karstark from killing Jamie in retribution for killing his son and uses her position to do it. 

Later that night, Catelyn and Brienne watch as Robb’s men get more and more drunk discussing how Jamie won’t survive the night.  Catelyn tells Jamie that the men want his head, but Jamie does what he does best and gets under her skin by talking shit about Ned fathering Jon.  Her reply is to ask Brienne for her sword.

A couple of notes:

-I’m sorely disappointed with Jon this week.  I said last week that he’s going to have to lose his compassion if he’s going to survive in the far north.  This week is proof of that.  Where this is leading, I have no idea, but I’m thinking he’s going to be in a world of hurt.

-When the masked woman asked Jorah if he would betray her again, I was left a bit confused.  I can’t imagine him betraying Dany, but perhaps it’s something we don’t know yet?  Regardless, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Iain Glenn is smokin’ hot.  And even though Jorah is in need of a shower, he was looking mighty fine once again tonight.  Yowza!

-Theon Theon Theon…..when those two charred bodies were raised, I sat in shock.  I just can’t imagine Bran and Rickon going out like that so I’m wondering if it’s a ploy.  At least…I hope it is.  Time will tell.  Theon is in way too deep and I think he knows it.  He’s trying so hard to please his father, but Robb’s wrath will prove to be much much worse.

-Cersei’s talk with Tyrion was touching and surprising, but also with ulterior motives I’m sure.  That woman doesn’t do anything spontaneous and I’m sure this is all part of her game.  Tryion would be wise to tread carefully.

Each episode brings us closer and closer to the finale and that thought makes me sad.  It’s too long of a hiatus for only 10 or so episodes, but like they say….it’s quality not quantity.  These final few episodes will prove to be nail biters I’m sure.

About the author

Tracy Ladd has written 534 articles on this blog.

Tracy has been writing about film since her days on the her high school newspaper. Even though she took a decade or two off to explore other things, she's back to doing what she loves. She also bakes, can knit a pretty nifty scarf and makes lightsaber sounds with her knitting needles. Or chopsticks. Especially with the lightsaber chopsticks. Follow her on Twitter: @ReelGoddess

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 13th, 2012 at 8:48 pm and is filed under Television, TV Show Recaps. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.