What They Say:
Valar Dohaeris – Jon is brought before the King Beyond the Wall. Tyrion asks for his reward. Littlefinger offers Sansa a way out. Cersei hosts a dinner for the royal family. Daenerys sails into Slaver’s Bay.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
With the long break out of the way, Game of Thrones returns with its third season and ten more episodes (and already increases in viewership as well) where we dig into the third book of the series and explore what’s going on. The second season ended in a pretty good way with the big and epic moments in the ninth episode there, which allowed the finale to do more character placement and setting material, serving as an epilogue more than anything else. But it also gave us a look at what lurks up there far in the North and just how dangerous it is. It was also the second significant piece of unusual fantasy material to hit in that season, following what Melisandre birthed into the world earlier in the season.
With the first episode of this season, it works itself much as you would expect from the novel, more of an opening prologue and more like the finale than anything else. Which isn’t bad as I can definitely appreciate the setup of events getting into place and following more of the fallout from the previous season and its events. With the sprawling cast here, there is a lot going on and each of it needs its own small touches to push and prod it forward until it brings itself to completion or intersects with another of the storylines. If there’s any grumbling to be had, it’s that it has been a year and I’ll admit to forgetting a name or two, making me wish the characters would speak each others names just a little bit more.
This episode has some significant moments to it though as everyone is drawing ranks where they are and getting ready for the next push forward. Davos, having survived the battle of Blackwater, finally makes his way back to Stannis and he’s just beyond words in wanting to convey to him that problems that Melisandre brings. Melisandre has certainly converted Stannis to her ways and is using him like a carefully orchestrated puppet and seeing Davos rail against this, to his own ruin in the end, is heartbreaking. While Davos, the knight of onions, is definitely a character of conquest and a belief in doing what’s right through his views, his attempts are almost too noble here as he essentially paints a target on himself, having not realized just how far gone Stannis in his enthrallment to Melisandre.
The overseas arc with Daenerys is quite interesting as well as we see her moving right along with the few that remain from her husband’s group that could stomach getting on a boat. There’s some initial beauty in seeing how the dragons are growing and even a bit of lightness in how they operate, but it’s all we get before things become darker as they arrive at their destination of Astapor. It’s here that we’re introduced to the Unsullied, eunuch warriors that are trained in intense ways to know nothing more than servitude. The mixed language discussion is fascinating to watch as there’s a lot of derision cast at Daenerys that doesn’t get translated, but also some really clear views of just what these warriors are capable of. The show also gives us a touch more magic here as Daenerys gets spooked by someone messing with her, but it’s a fantastic moment as it brings us to Barristan Selmy, the former Kingsguard commander that served her father and has been waiting for the opportunity to right the wrong he did then.
While we also get some really engaging moments in seeing how Margaery is inserting herself into King’s Landing by working with the poor and just her general statements, which causes no end of calculating looks from Cersei who knows that this woman is so much more of a danger than Sansa was, and we get bits involving the survivors up in the north from Samwell meeting up with Mormont and starting their journey back to the really intriguing moments of seeing Jon Snow finally come across Mance Rayder, the real winning moment for this episode for me had to deal with Tyrion. His position has changed dramatically since the battle with Stannis due to the arrival of his father, Tywin, and there’s plotting afoot from Cersei over it. But it’s when the two men sit together, against Tywin’s will to some respect, that it becomes thoroughly engaging. The two have had problems their entire life, but Tywin lets it all out and just bores deep into what makes Tyrion who he is, making it clear what he thinks of him and grinding him down even further than he is physically. It’s the worst kind of verbal lashing that Tywin could do – and you know he feels it thoroughly – but it also just puts Tyrion in a new place where you wonder just how he’ll take all of it and use it. Tyrion has obviously stolen the show in general, particularly since the loss of Ned Stark, but it’s things like this that just makes it so apparent why.
In Summary:
Game of Thrones doesn’t come knocking out of the gate, but those who know its origins and understand the narrative and structure of the pacing won’t be surprised. The episode doesn’t try to shoehorn in everyone so we know what they’re up to, and some that do show here only get short sequences overall. But what we do get is a really fascinating work overall that’s continuing to build that larger narrative and is expanding the situations well. The introduction of the Unsullied will go far, the addition of Mance and Jon’s ties to him will prove engaging and seeing where Tyrion will go from here is probably one of the bigger unknowns (I have not read past novel two!). But this episode simply left me captivated, seeing what new nuances are coming into play and seeing how more of the pieces are coming together. Thoroughly entertained and excited for what’s to come.
Grade: B+
