Yes, yes, we are all still miserable about the Red Wedding, Robb Stark is gone, the North is in shambles, the “Rains of Castamere” makes us cry, boo-hoo … but doesn’t it feel GREAT to have Game of Thrones back?
Kick back for some pigeon pie and lemon cakes and enjoy the viewpoints of three fans from very different perspectives: Laura Fletcher, a casual fan of the TV and book series; Corrin Bennett-Kill, a hardcore fan of the book and TV series (she has read all the books four times!); and Cheryl Collins, a TV show watcher who has never read the book series.
Please join the discussion in comments!
Cheryl Collins
I was absolutely thrilled when the first scene opened and despite the unpleasantness, found myself whooping with joy.
How do you think the opener worked overall? I thought it effectively reminded people of the story lines — both regular viewers and new — and was not sheer boring exposition via the death-by-talking route, which seemed to afflict the last season opener. The show handled that task of catching people up very, very well this time — it was subtle and effective. It let us know where (almost) all the major characters are — and of course with the obligatory brothel scene. A few more people we have to catch up with before the royal wedding — Bran, Littlefinger, Stannis and Melisandre, Theon and his sister.
Corrin Bennett-Kill
Yep. Couldn’t be a complete episode without boobs. It should be a drinking game. I think the season opener was a lot more sophisticated this time. Almost as if the writers are beginning to respect their audience’s intelligence. There is SO much going on and SO many story lines to bring in that they really have to pick and choose and follow the themes of each episode closely. It made for a dense, but enjoyable and well-paced episode.
Laura Fletcher
Shall we talk about the title? “Two Swords.” We have Ned Stark’s sword being reforged into two, but we also have some other nice pairs of swords!
Cheryl
I’ll bite — do you mean Arya’s?
Laura
Indeed I do!
Corrin
I have to say that I loved the opening sequence with the reforging of [Ned Stark’s sword] Ice. Tywin Lannister was so wonderfully smug. It was the pinnacle of his supposed victory at the Red Wedding. He destroyed House Stark and now he’s destroying its most tangible remnant of power: a Valyrian steel great sword.
Laura
It also seems so apropos that Ned Stark would wield a huge, heavy sword, and that the Lannisters are more interested in how far they can make (rare, strong) Valyrian steel go.
Cheryl
Into two. What is the significance there, do you think?
Laura
The first thing I thought was, instead of swords into ploughshares, it’s swords into … more swords. Oh, Game of Thrones, never change.
Corrin
I think it’s a metaphor for how Tywin sees the use of power.
Cheryl
I thought that might be about the cleaving of power — how it will not be as strong — and an underappreciation for what is necessary to vanquish the North.
Corrin
I think it had more to do with Tywin himself. At the beginning of the series we see Ned Stark wielding Ice to execute a deserter from the Night’s Watch. He makes a point of tell his sons that the man who passes judgment should wield the sword. Robb follows his example when he executes Karstark. However, rather than be the hand of his own judgment, Tywin prefers to work through others. Keeps his own hands clean. We hear a reference to that when Oberyn Martell discusses how the Mountain killed his sister with Tyrion, that it was Tywin who gave the order.
Tywin gave the order for the Red Wedding as well. A man who will not wield his own executioner’s axe would think nothing of taking a sword like Ice ad breaking it into gifts for his family, as a sign of power, but to two individuals unable to wield it.
Cheryl
Using that as the opening scene — with Tyrion — and recasting Ned’s sword seems to perhaps set up what this season will be about — how the North will be handled, into whose hands those two swords fall, and how they will be used.
Laura
Yes, I can see this as a setup for the different ways people wield, or attempt to increase, their power.
Cheryl
Let’s take a big picture look for a minute.
Corrin
Big picture … Tywin thinks he’s won. He’s broken the back of the North. He’s about to have his victory dance with his grandson’s wedding to Margaery Tyrell. He is bringing his errant offspring in line — or so he thinks. Also, I think ending the episode on Arya finding Needle and regaining her agency should make everyone invested in Lannister success uneasy.
Cheryl
I loved the fact that Jaime said “no” to his father and walked away from him smiling. That must have been the first time that ever happened, that someone dared refuse an order from Tywin.
Corrin
Actually, this is just a continuation of Jaime’s defiance of his father. He joined the Kingsguard in defiance of Tywin’s wishes so he could be close to Cersei. I think he’s just a lot less conflicted about it now.
Laura
Jaime is falling further and further from his family’s good graces.
Corrin
I love where Jaime is in his development. This is the point where he begins to be his own man, followed faithfully by his conscience: Brienne.
Cheryl
He does seem to have dramatically changed. And Brienne follows him like a shadow …
Corrin
That’s a great segue to talk about Jaime and Cersei. What did you two think of that scene?
Laura
I interpreted (in the book and show, frankly) Cersei’s “you took too long” rejoinder to Jaime as being more like, “You’ve changed,” but she didn’t want to say that for some reason.
Cheryl
I took that line as being “I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Corrin
I think you’re right, Laura. Jaime isn’t Cersei’s perfect other half anymore. He is wounded in body and soul, and where he is looking to Cersei for surcease, she simply wants his worship. Her love is shown as the shallow thing it has always been.
Cheryl
Yes, especially as she blamed him for his absence (as did Joffrey) — an absence of surcease from Cersei.
Corrin
Just look at the golden hand. Instead of helping Jaime cope with his new handicapableness (teehee), she wants to cover up his missing hand.
Cheryl
With a “work of art,” not something functional. Jaime seems haunted by his deeds undone, as he contemplates his life’s purpose now. I am really looking forward to his story line as it reflects that, and watch his choices.
Laura
What about the scene with Joffrey and Jaime (and that other Lannister), as they wedding planned?
Cheryl
Joffrey’s megalomania is in full tilt now. He seemed to be sizing up the wall in that room for something — I shudder to think about what that might be. Some new set of heads, skins, or other body parts.
Laura
shiver
Cheryl
I am waiting for Joffrey and Tyrion to finally put their heads together and find their commonality as Jaime’s relationship with his sister is in eclipse.
Corrin
I think that’ll be a long wait for a train don’t come, Cheryl.
Laura
I do think Tyrion is in a sort of ascension … Tyrion’s not so much gaining influence in his family as he is gaining equal footing as his siblings realize how much less power they have than they had before. Cersei will no longer be queen; Jaime will no longer be the master swordsman. Now’s the time I want all three of them to sit down and make a cover-our-asses plan.
Corrin
The Lannisters are as beset as they were during the siege of King’s Landing, they just don’t see it. Except for Tyrion. He knows well enough to worry, especially with Oberyn Martell in town.
Tyrion is caught between the Rock (his father) and a hard place (his new wife). He’s bound by his new role as husband, which will inevitably put him in conflict with his family. He’s balanced on the edge right now, and it’s not going to take much to push him off. Also, Sansa still annoys me.
Laura
Ha! Yeah, Sansa for me vacillates between teenager I can empathize with and pain-in-my-ass who doesn’t realize who her real allies are.
Cheryl
Sansa still seems to feel helpless, powerless … a wet noodle.
Laura
The biggest disconnect between fans of the show, and the characters themselves, is we fans can see immediately the good intentions of Tyrion. Sansa never gets it!
Cheryl
Right, we all love Tyrion. She holds his status as a Lannister against him, still. But in a way, who can blame her?
Corrin
Shae and Sansa are two sides of the same self-absorbed coin. One too concerned about her own position to empathize with the man she supposedly loves. The other too absorbed by her own victimization to see kindness when it’s offered. Now, I will give them both a little credit in that what woman, seeing her man slipping away from her, isn’t going to put up a fight. Especially when that man has given her a better life than she could have dreamed of. And the other has been through the ringer … and is still only a girl. She’s 14. The perspective that age would provide her is just not there yet. But still, annoyed!
Laura
I don’t think Shae fully realizes how little Tyrion can protect her if they get found out by Tywin — which, as we saw, is about to happen. Or maybe she does and she’s trying to make sure he’ll stay loyal to her instead of his family. For any Lannister, even Tyrion, that’s a fight you won’t win.
Cheryl
That doesn’t sound good for Shae. So what about Jon Snow and the Wall?
Laura
How ironic that Jon Snow is delivering dire news to the Night’s Watch and they don’t want to believe him, just as Maester Aemon has been trying to get help from anyone in Westeros. Clearly those two have each other’s backs. I even liked Aemon’s heavy-handed line about learning to lie in King’s Landing — we’d already learned his background, right?
Corrin
Did you notice who was on the panel sitting in judgment? Our old friend from King’s Landing City Watch, who murdered all of Robert Baratheon’s bastards.
Aemon’s long years have given him tolerance of the failings of men (read: his comment about the walls being manned by headless men). It was very much a “he who is without sin, cast the first stone” moment. Ned Stark would have been proud of his son and how he took responsibility for his actions, hiding nothing and standing tall. It is something that Ned was never truly able to do. He always felt ashamed of his shortcomings (e.g., fathering a bastard). Jon is embracing his duty and the choices he had to make in order to serve the greater good.
Cheryl
Just as Jaime’s period away made him more confident in front of his father, Jon Snow’s sojourn beyond the Wall filled him with non-cocky confidence as well. They both have been forged by their extreme experiences, just like those swords. (Maybe we can think of Jaime and Jon as the two swords?) After the hell they have been through, they have nothing to fear from men who sit behind desks. They have cast away their reticence.
Corrin
Great comparison, Cheryl! Hadn’t thought of that.
Laura
Yeah, that comparison is spot on. I also think both Jon and Jaime see the value in maneuvering and strategy, the control of information. It’s looking just as important as swords in the Night’s Watch and in the King’s Guard.
Cheryl
Also, Jon sees the big picture — the impending invasion — and has no time for BS. As a royal wedding is prepared in King’s Landing. OK, what about that other Stark: Arya?
Corrin
ARYA AND THE HOUND ARE AWESOME! Their interactions were probably my favorite of the episode. But, mostly, it was Arya getting started on her list. Getting Needle back gave her back her connection to her family. She’s no longer a little girl at the whims of others, but with her own power that she is no longer afraid of wielding.
Cheryl
That smile of revenge — her first smile in a long while — was pure joy. She certainly seems to have a growing respect — if not a begrudging almost-love — for the Hound.
Corrin
He’s the first one who sees her. Really sees her.
Cheryl
Right! And does not want her to be different. OK, Dany?
Corrin
SMH. I like the recasting of Daario Naharis, but otherwise, SMH.
Laura
I love that actor from his time on Tremé [Michiel Huisman].
Corrin
I think the recasting was in part a reaction to the casting of a Fabio type for Daario. He’s a soldier. A soldier with a blue forked beard at that. And they cast, basically, a blond Drogo. It just wasn’t called for. I think my displeasure stems from the Dany story line as a whole, at this point in the series. Without giving too much away, we are entering a bit of a holding pattern with Dany and I’m anticipatorily annoyed. Is that a word?
Laura
I guess we should say something about the new Dornish characters? The Martells
We don’t know much about them yet, but clearly if they make it into the season opener, it’s because they’re going to matter. wink wink
Cheryl
Someone trying to subvert the Lannisters must be fun.
Laura
Also, INDIRA VARMA! She of Luther and various other excellent shows … great choice for Ellaria Sand.
Corrin
We now know why it was such a big deal that Myrcella (Joffrey’s sister) was sent to Dorne. What with the Martells hating the Lannisters’ breathing guts.
Myrcella went to the household of the Prince of Dorne, rather than Oberyn (he’s the younger brother). The eldest Martell is an honorable character. Dorne is at the other end of the continent. She’s probably safer there given the shenanigans in the north than anywhere else.
Cheryl
It is now! Yes, she does seem split off too far from the main story line to care what happens to her.
I am so happy we are back doing this again, ladies. See you next week.
Please join is in comments!
I haven’t seen this episode, but since I’ve read the books, I’m pretty much up on what happens. But, what I really want to comment about is Sansa.
“People hate Sansa not because she messes up, but because she has the audacity to do so while acting like a girl.” This article kind of nails a lot of crap that is spewed about this character. http://www.policymic.com/articles/86999/why-sansa-stark-is-the-strongest-character-on-game-of-thrones
I think we forget that she’s a 14 year old girl who’s been brought up with a boatload of privilege and is suddenly thrust into a society she doesn’t understand nor know how to navigate. All the while, once her family is murdered or run off, she’s being manipulated by every non-family member around her for their own gain. Other than herself, there is really not one person looking after Sansa’s best interests. Of course she doesn’t trust these people. Yet, she’s learning and she’s very subtley manipulative–she probably doesn’t trust Margery Tyrell, but she’s smart enough to realize the future queen is probably her best ally. She knows to stay as far away from Cersei and Joffrey as possible, and she accepted that she had to marry Tyrion, even though it was the absolute last thing she wanted. She is polite, cordial, and all the the things a good lady of politically powerful men should be—because it’s what she has to do to survive right now. And the end of the day, every one of her actions is about her survival–and I think she’s very aware that her screw ups have the potential to kill her, so she’s doing the best she can.
Casual TV fan here.
There *are* drinking games and bingo cards for GoT. The only problem is that you’d die of alcohol poisoning within twenty minutes.
I agree with everything said about Sansa, in the article, the post above, and the linked blog. I didn’t even know there were people who disliked her character. I can’t even begin to understand why. Her actions and attitude are 100% understandable and relatable. She’s a sheltered teenage girl who have seen her father decapitated by her would-be husband. Who wouldn’t walk around in a teary-eyed daze after that, especially when she has to live as an outcast in the middle of the family who murdered her father?
I love that Ser Dantos approached her, and his kind words seemed to bring her out of her PTSD. Saving him was probably the only thing she has done “on her own” so far (it was her own idea, she took a risk doing it, and had nothing to gain), and now she is paid back with kindness (and jewelry). I wish Dantos would become to Sansa what the Hound is to Arya. Sansa needs a confidante that is not part of the “game”, and who is more outside the power struggle than the jester?
It’s always nice to see Dame Diana Rigg, especially when she’s playing the clever lemoncake-pushing matriarch. (The mention of lemoncakes, much like the sight of boobs, is a trigger for the drinking game btw.) Are there any Avengers fans here? I mean the British TV series featuring a young Diana Rigg (before she was a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) karate-chopping bad guys and generally saving the world. It’s absurdly stylish and fun. Here she is in glorious B/W: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4g3zvz8fgo The Avengers was later shot in colour, to do her groovy jumpsuits justice.
Oh Indira Varma, now I recognize her. She played Niobe Vorenus in “Rome”.
Brienne is delightful, her “civilian” clothes made me imagine a long argument between her and whoever dressed her.
“But you’re a lady, a lady wears a dress!”
*draws broadsword*
“Ok, how about floofy pantaloons then?”
*sheathes broadsword but keeps it within reach for the upcoming discussion on high heels*
Gwendoline Christie does a great job at showing how uncomfortable Brienne is when she’s out of her armour and forced to be a “girl”. Remember when she was in the bath and Jamie entered? She almost curled up in the fetal position. She was more comfortable fighting a bear than sharing a bath with Jamie. I wish they end up together. If anyone can reform the philandering Jamie it would be Brienne. Mutual respect for each others swordsmanship is a better basis for marriage than looks or power.
I giggled at the former Watch captain on the court martial jury when Jon mentioned giants. He was like: “HAHA GIANTS! LOL…. wait… why are you guys not laughing… oh shit… giants exist, don’t they?”
Arya and the Hound are the most adorable buddy-movie-couple ever! Arya be all like “they killed my friends, let’s kill them and steal their horses” *scampers away* and the Hound be all like *sigh* “I’m too old for this shit” *lumbers after her*.
It is almost Miyazaki-esque, like Totoro or Daddy Panda taking care of a precocious little girl. (Though the Hound is slightly more capable as a stand-in father than Daddy Panda.) Arya’s satisfied smirk during the tense scene with the Hound at the inn was priceless. She knew what was going to happen, and she enjoyed every second of it. She savoured every second of the “negotiation” between the Hound and that asshole. And her sloooow stabbing of two people was also beautifully done. Props to the writers and/or fight coordinators for not making her a superpowered ninja. Last season she learned that her skills with the sword does not make up for her small stature and relative weakness, so she has to backstab and be crafty. And her contented smile when she got her own horsie! Totes adorbs!
Did anyone else catch the Hound’s Omar Little quote? “A man’s gotta have a code.” It HAD to be on purpose!
I share your concern about all those dangerous “take a shot when…” GoT drinking games you see posted online (e.g. “drink when someone dies,” “drink for gratuitous boobs”, “drink when Tyrion owns someone…”)
You might like Castle Pong instead. It’s a medieval-themed drinking game my friend and I invented – based on beer pong, but much cleaner, more strategic, and more fun (we think). We pregame pretty much every new GoT episode with it now.
We’re getting ready to launch a Kickstarter campaign so we can share our game with the whole fandom. Watch our teaser video at castlepong.com and let us know what you think!
Oh, and speaking of drinking and GoT…yeah, I’m really glad Ser Dontos the Drunk is here for Sansa to play off of this season. I was worried they wrote him out when he only showed up in that one episode in Season 2.
I was thinking that Ser Dantos is a further inversion of the courtly fantasy that fueled Sansa for so long, and which was obliterated so completely. She not only did not marry the dashing prince and live happily ever after, but her courtly “knight” is literally a drunken fool.
As for Brienne, I found her fashion choices (or at least, the costumers’ choices) interesting. Her skirt was of the blue color favored by the female Tyrells, especially Margaery. Her top — what would you call it? Not a blouse, not quite a vest — is of the brown color worn by the Lannisters. An indication perhaps of her dual loyalties to those two houses, given her love for the (now dead) Renly and her emotional relationship with Jaime.
I too thought that the shots of Arya plunging the swords into her prey were very well done — she is a small person wielding heavy metal, and she is careful and deliberate. It’s not Kill Bill.
I had to check out who Omar Little is/was … a character on The Wire. Now there is a fan mashup that would be a thrill to see: Game of Thrones meets The Wire.
So… it’s like kubb but indoors, with alcohol and optional silly hats? Brilliant idea! Although hats should be mandatory. I would add more complex, silly, arbitrary rules and archaic terminology. Like, you must shout “HAVE AT THEE, BRIGAND!” or “HARK, THINE CUPPE OVERFLOWETH!” whilst throwing, or the opposing team must say “A BANDY, SIR” when catching rebounds (that one was an actual rule in medieval tennis). The winner will be known throughout the evening as “kingslayer”, and anyone who doesn’t use that term gets punished. There must be oppressive rules, lest the game devolves into tomfoolery and fratboyery. Imagine Tywin, sword in hand, glaring at you while you are playing.
Or, your rules can be known as “colonial rules Castle Pong” (which must be said with a disdainful sneer, as you colonials couldn’t possibly handle the intricacy and elegance of the real game), and my superior rules will be called “Real Castle Pong” by us purists. [cf. Real Tennis]
Sorry, the previous pong-reply should have been a reply to Alex, of course.
Maybe Dantos will serve as a wake up call for Sansa? His “yeah, I’m not a knight anymore, but I’m alive” seems to have struck a chord with her. It’s as if she, shellshocked as she is, hadn’t considered being something other than a princess. Like Hamlet said: “get thee to a nunnery”.
I think I’m colourblind when it comes to colour symbolism in TV. Breaking Bad had tons, and I never ever caught any of it until it was pointed out by others.
Brienne’s top would be a “doublet”. It’s what you’d wear under a suit of armour or ringmail as padding to avoid chafing. Her bottoms are even more intriguing. It is not a skirt, even if it looks that way at a casual glance. It is more akin to plusfours (1920s golf pants), but flared and untucked. Or a capri-length Hakama (Kendo pants) without pleating. That is what got me started on the whole “Brienne compromising with the tailor”-thing. She *should* be wearing a dress or skirt, but chooses to dress in the most practical way possible, while still having *technically* girly clothes. She’s not one to trip over the hem of her skirt if an assassin steps out of the shadows.
The cut of her clothes serves to separate her from the other females. Her clothes are martial and practical, with no frills or decor, much like Tywin’s. Compare this to Joffrey, whose clothes are martial and IMpractical. He wants to be a warrior king, but can’t resist brocade cloth and gold. Joffrey’s choice of cloth places him next to Sansa on the warrior scale.
Also, the cut of Brienne’s pants makes her look taller. WWII German uniforms (especially Army officers and SS) worked the same way. High boots and a high-belted tunic elongates the body and makes you look impressive and warlike. It is a very masculine look, and thus very suitable for her.