Game of Thrones: Oathkeeper

Tonight’s ep opens in Meereen. Gray Worm is learning English, but is interrupted by Daenerys who has a task for him, which is to infiltrate the city. But that’s only part of his duty. His main task is to convince the slaves to fight against their oppressors, which they do willingly. Wanting justice, the Great White Hope and Mother of Dragons, Dany orders the surviving enslavers to be nailed to posts in the same manner the murdered 163 children were.

In King’s Landing Jaime continues his training with Bronn, who hilariously bitch slaps Jaime with his own gold hand and shames Jaime into visiting Tyrion, which he does after their session. While in his cell,  just for the sake of hearing his brother say it aloud, Jaimie asks Tyrion if he had anything to do with Joffrey’s death. Tyrion, who is of course innocent, tells him no and emphasizes Sansa had nothing to do with it either, stating she wasn't capable of such an act.

You got served

Perfect segue to Sansa and Littlefinger on a boat-heading god knows where. LF informs Sansa he’s to marry her aunt. This news is of little consequence to Sansa who only wants the truth, which she receives with little prodding. Lord Baelish admits to smuggling the poison that killed Joffrey in Sansa’s necklace. He also admits to having an accomplice.

The accomplice is none other than Margaery’s grandmother Tyrell Olenna, who didn’t want her granddaughter to marry the animal Joffrey. After admitting to playing a hand in Joffrey’s glorious demise she instructs Margaery to work her magic on her next husband, Tommen who will be much easier to control.

At Castle Black the Knight’s Watch are training for the impending assault  against The Wildlings. Jon Snow, who once knew nothing, now knows quite a damn bit and is leading the charge. We see Locke again, who was sent there to find and kill Bran and Rickon Starke. Don’t trust him Jon Snow!

Snow knows

Back at King’s Landing, Cersei is still a mess and wine has become her best and only friend. Jaime, complete with stylish leather coat, drops by her quarters for a visit and is immediately ordered to bring back Sansa. Cersei is adamant that both Tyrion and Sansa murdered her son and she wants them to pay the price. Jaime rejects the command and tries to convince his twin otherwise but is coldly dismissed.

Following her grandmother’s instruction, Marg slips inside Tommen’s bedchambers. The twelve-year-old was alarmed at her surprise arrival, but good ol' Marg charmed him very quickly and convinces him to keep future visits a secret. The besotted soon-to-be-king was more than willing to oblige.

Jail bait, schmailbait

Wanting to see the pact he made with Lady Catleyn through, Jaime sends Brianne to protect and find Sansa but not before bequeathing her with a sword forged by Valyrian steel and a suit of armor. Plus Brienne is also given Tyrion’s squire, Podrick who is entrusted with Tyrion’s axe. Yak now, I think I smell the makings of a comedy spinoff. How about, The Pod and I? We can add music to it. It will be fantastic. No? Yeah, probably not.

Brienne names the sword Oathkeeper then she and Pod go off on their quest.

I will always love you

We return to Castle Black where Sam is worried about Gilly’s safety. The conversation between he and Jon turn to Bran and his whereabouts, which they believe is Craster’s Keep. Jon proclaims he is heading there to seek help from the mutineers and brings a few volunteers along. Locke is one of them.

The ep then moves to Craster’s Keep where women are being violated (Seems to be a thing with this series as of late) and a male newborn is left in the forest as a sacrifice to the White Walkers.

Unlucky in life, the remaining legitimate Starks and crew are captured by the mutineers and before one can have  his way with Meera, Bran admits to who he is, which of course changes everything.

Finally the episode ends with White Walkers. The offered baby is carried by one of them on horseback to their ice dwelling and set upon an ice like alter in the center of a circle of pillars. What I assume to be the head White Walker, retrieves the child and after a tense moment touches the infant’s cheek with a finger, turning the babe into one of them.

Do you wanna build a snowman?

Pretty cool right? White Walkers aren’t eating babies or killing them, they are creating more like themselves.

So what did you think of tonight’s episode? I liked it.  I just have a couple gripes. Major one having to do with Jaime. Last week he rapes his twin and now all of a sudden he’s Mr. Nice Guy. Second annoyance, which is a minor one, is White Savior Khaleesi. The imagery is a bit vexing.

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Game of Thrones: Breaker of Chains

As expected, this episode deals with the aftermath of Joffrey’s death. I’m still very glad the sucker is dead. The only one who ever loved the bastard and will miss him is his mother. Things get underway very quickly and pick up where they left off, which is with Cersei screaming at Tyrion while Sansa is whisked away by Ser Dontos.

Who orchestrated this escape? Well, it’s no other than Little Finger himself, Lord Baelish. I figured he was scheming somewhere. Good servitude never goes unpunished. As payment for delivering the goods, Baelish kills Dontos with an arrow to the head. A precautionary measure lest his loyalty be bought.

Margaery is still recovering from her husband’s death. A second husband lost, she is shaken and deems herself cursed. But Grandmother Tyrell reassures her. Pointing our their alliance with the Lannisters is still important she says, “You did wonderful work on Joffrey. The next one should be easier.”

Perfect transition to Joffrey lying in state with his mother and younger brother Tommen at the alter. Tywin comes in and instead of paying respect to his dead grandson he starts grooming the next king, who is certainly of a nicer temperament than his fallen sibling.

Jaimie enters the chamber once Tywin leaves with Tommen and requests to be left alone with Cersei. Cersei, who is wrecked with grief, calls for vengeance for their son. I think this is the first time we hear her admit this aloud. Then what happens next is more disturbing than Joffrey’s death. Jaimie forces himself on his twin sister, right there at the alter. As if incest between twins wasn't enough.

Arya and Hound are still in route to the Eyrie. While they’re resting beneath a bridge, the owner of the land and his young daughter approach them. Hound is gruff, Arya apologies for him, stating they’re watering their horses and they’ll be on their way.

The story she concocts results in shelter and food. At the dinner table a rather humorous exchange between Hound and landowner transpires. But the serenity doesn’t last long. The next morning, the Hound steals the man’s silver. His rational for doing so? Neither the landowner or daughter will be alive next winter.

Arya was thrilled by his reply.

Onto Castle Black we go. While Gilly is defeathering geese, Samwell drops in on her. By now it’s obvious Sam is fond of Gilly and the feelings are mutual. But he worries about her safety there and suggests she and baby Sam go to Moles Town. Believing that Sam just wants to get rid of her, she’s unhappy with the suggestion

News of Joffrey’s death reaches Stannis, which reinforces his faith in the Red Woman. To this Stannis believes he can win the war, his right hand Davos is against it. They don’t have an army. After taking a tongue lashing from Stannis about not having said army, Davos leaves to have a reading lesson with Stannis’s daughter, Shireen. During his conversation with her he comes up with an idea to write a letter to the Iron Bank of Bravos. It’s unclear what is in the letter and what it will accomplish. I’m thinking it will lead to the army Stannis requires.

Sam and Gilly arrive at Moles Town at a brothel where Gilly is expected to cook and clean and look after the babys of the other women working there. Gilly isn’t happy with this arrangement but Sam convinces her it’s for the best. He can’t leave Castle Black.

So, basically Sam, fearing his brothers will take advantage of Gilly sent her someplace where others will. Yeah, that makes sense.

Those who were disappointed by the lack of nudity so far this season will be happy with the insatiable Oberyn and Ellaria who we see in the middle of an orgy, which gets cut short by Tywin. Tywin speaks to Oberyn alone and questions him about his exchange with Tyrion. Oberyn informs him they spoke of his sister’s death, which he blames Tywin for. Dun, dun, dun.

Tywin then offers Oberyn the third judge’s position at Tyrion’s trial. If he does so, he will be able to sit on the council as one of his Tommen’s advisors and he’ll arrange a meeting for Oberyn with The Mountain to discuss his sister’s murder. Of course Tywin is doing this to ensure a proper alliance against Daenerys and her dragons.

Page Podrick informs a jailed Tyrion of when he’ll stand trial and that Mace Tyrell, Oberyn and his father will be his judges. Tyrion can have witnesses vouch for him, but the two he’d choose, Sansa and Bronn are eliminated for obvious reasons. One escaped and the other is deemed biased. After Podric admits to being approached by someone to testify that he saw Tyrion with poison, Tyrion orders Podrick to leave Kings Landing, fearing for the page’s life.

Still no sign of Shae or idea of her whereabouts.

Next is a gruesome scene where the Wildlings attack a village near the wall. The cannibal guy that resembles an alien from Prometheus sends a boy off to inform Castle Black of it, thinking it will draw Jon Snow and his man out to slaughter.

On her continued freedom tour, the episode then ends with Dany, at Meereen. A Meereenian champion is sent to challenge Dany and her army. New Daario accepts the contest and levels the man and his horse. Finally, in a move of badassery, after a fantastic speech, which is meant to enlighten the enslaved, Dany, launches barrels filled with chains against Meereen property.

The Breaker of Chains triumphs again.

Side note, seems a debate rages on about the scene. Apparently sex was consensual in the books.  I’ve not read the series, but I did find a couple excerpts online:

"Hurry," she was whispering now, "quickly, quickly, now, do it now, do me now. Jaime Jaime Jaime." Her hands helped guide him. "Yes," Cersei said as he thrust, "my brother, sweet brother, yes, like that, yes, I have you, you're home now, you're home now, you're home." He kissed his ear and stroked his shortly bristly hair. Jaime lost himself in her flesh. He could feel Cersei's heart beating in time with his own, and the wetness of blood and see where they were joined.

For those who read the books, what are your thoughts on this issue?  Feel free to comment. Check out gamfaqs.com for an interesting debate on the scene too.

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