Another episode that makes me want to just give up and devour the books as quickly as possible.
What They Say:
And Now His Watch Is Ended – The Night’s Watch takes stock; Varys meets his better; Arya is taken to the commander of the Brotherhood; Daenerys makes an exchange.
The Review:
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Game of Thrones has never shied from brutality as it was pretty much right out of the gate that we saw it. Characters die, lives altered and more are just par for the course here. But the last episode definitely made things raw to watch as we saw Jaime’s hand cut off and the shock that he went into in seeing it before the reaction truly hit. His fall from grace has been a long and hard one and his only real friend at this point, which is hard to call her that, is Brienne. But she takes her mission seriously, even if she’s now been put into a terrible position, and you can sense that she will want to see it through to the end. But there’s also the slow growth of a real bond between her and Jaime that comes from simply being human, as he managed to protect her some previously and she now wants to make sure he survives.
But we also see as it progresses that she knows how to push him in the right direction to survive, even with all that she’s suffered from Locke’s men. There’s some really strong if brief dialogue between the two of them with how he’s fallen into a mode of giving up after losing his sword hand. She makes a real precise case about why he’s doing that, having gotten a taste of the real world that he never had to before after a lifetime of getting what he wanted and never truly suffering. She’s managed to see through him in a way that nobody else has and it only makes her all the more engaging to watch because it has a certain emotion behind it.
The use of magic within the series continues to be a piece that’s used in very small and careful ways as it progresses. That can be off-putting for those that want a series without magic, but it’s a definite part of things and we get another nod towards it when Varys reveals his tale of youth to Tyrion, something they were going to do earlier. That brings a curious piece of his life to the forefront with how he was cut and the way magic was involved in summoning something, which has haunted him for years since. Understanding his drive is definitely important as we see how it took him from the slums in the Free Cities as a child to the position he has now, and that the magic that was brought into it has pushed him towards acquiring something he’s wanted tor an age – the sorcerer that cut him and invoked something that scared him to his core. The wariness in Tyrion’s eyes are certainly understandable, but there’s also a sense that he really does understand that there is something more to all of this.
Joffrey’s been absent for a bit in the series, but he has some useful time here as he takes Margaery throguh parts of the castle and talks about the Targaeryn family and the things that happened to them there, mostly involving their deaths through so many different means. It brings in the past in a brief but important way to highlight the scale of what that family was involved in when it came to the dragons, which ties back to Daenerys nicely. We also get to see some preparation for the wedding in this as well as Cersei spends her time with Olenna, who herself is orchestrating enough things to keep events moving along in interesting ways. The two women don’t exactly have deep and probing conversations, but they make some things clear about their positions as they talk. Which is also made clear with how Margaery brings a bit of seriousness to the things Joffrey shows her. You can see how easily she’s really manipulating him and what she’s capable of just through her words. In her own way, she’s been able to tame Joffrey and control him while cementing her position and power all the more.
Sansa’s been a bit in the background for a bit for obvious reasons, but there’s a whole lot of dialogue here about her as plots conspire to do different things about her. With Littlefinger intent on keeping her as his own as a backup plan to take the north, we see some really great little scenes between Varys and Olenna as they realize the actual danger and come up with a way to deal with it. The dance between the two is comical but grin inducing with the way it unfolds. The more complicated piece though is seeing how Margaery has her own plans for Sansa and spends some actual time with her, drawing her more into her grasp and coming up with a way to secure her position more, suggesting a marriage down the line to Ser Loras, which would make Margaery her sister. Plans within plans, to be sure.
Of course, the show doesn’t spend too much time with Daenerys in this episode, which is frustrating as I wanted to see more of the events in Astapor with what she’s up to there having made her deal and now seeing it brought to completion. With her army being lined up for her inspection and the trade to be made, there’s a great calm about it but also some wonderful tension as she draws out the dragon, a true symbol of power and position. Admittedly, you know how it would unfold and could tell from the minute she made the deal in the previous episode what would happen when it came tot he dragon and the bond she shares with it. But Daenerys stands tall in a fantastic way here as she takes control of the army, speaking their language, and showing that she has learned so much and has manipulated the situation in such a way that makes her one never to be trifled with.
In Summary:
Damn. There is a reason that khaleesi is one to be feared, admired and respected. Her role here at the clos eof the episode changes things dramatically for Astapor but also shows the progress that she’s made as one that will take control of her life and destiny. She’s gone through so much and seen so much, but there’s also been years of being groomed, taught and dealt with as a child where she has gainde so many skills that none have ever realized. Everyone is more than they seem, but she continues to be the one that impresses the most. While there are intriguing parts to the story in this episode, with the hound, the Brotherhood and more, it’s the final minutes that dominate in the end and really sells the larger storyline that’s at play here.
Grade: B+