She won’t be a “boy” forever…

If last night’s episode got any more sexier, I’d swear that I would have been watching something more than an HBO television series (i.e. porn). Game of Thrones has it all–and the in-your-face sex scenes are only miscellaneous extras.

Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) is still keeping up with her male guise –well, not from Gendry, he knows that she is a girl already–when the royal guards approached their caravan, it was of no surprise she took to hiding. However, these royal scouts were looking for Gendry (Joe Dempsie), who still has no clue that he is the bastard son of dead King Robert Baratheon. Their guide sent the scouts on their way–a knife to the groin isn’t the best way to impress the royal guard. I am sure that they will be returning. Dænerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her caravan are still trying to navigate the harsh deserts. Things aren’t particularly going well for her–one of her scouts returned as a head in a saddle bag.

Now one of the more engaging occurrences in this episode is Theon Greyjoy’s (Alfie Allen) incestuous groping of his sister, Yara (Gemma Whelan). He arrives at his father Balon Greyjoy’s (Patrick Malahide) castle to solicit ships for Robb Stark’s attack on the Lannisters–to dethrone Joffrey Baratheon, the false king who currently occupies the iron throne. If it wasn’t enough Theon was with the Stark’s for 9 years and still has to constantly prove himself–his father anoints his sister to lead his fleet fearing that his son has been corrupted during his time with Ned Stark and sons. I am looking forward to seeing just how Theon will progress beyond this point. He definitely has a lot to prove. Not only to his father, but to Robb Stark as well.

Cersei and her undeniable ignorance

It isn’t enough that everyone notices that Cersei pine over her captured brother/lover. But her failure to realize that Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) may be a powerful ally for her to have and she is wasting time still blaming him for the death of their mother–instead of worrying about the potential uprising against them by allowing her son, King Joffery to brutally murder former King Robert’s potential heirs to the throne in the streets.  Tyrion has his work cut out for him. Doing damage control isn’t the easiest of jobs and never matter just how tactical he is going about it. He still knows how the game is played and if careful, he will form several stout alliances along the way.

Tyrion met Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) in his “love den” chatting it up with his whore lover Shae (Sibel Kekilli). Now, Lord Varys has been horribly underused so far and whenever he appears onscreen it is that moment to pay close attention to what he says. The craftiness of this series character is of pinnacle importance that Tyrion himself knows better than to make an enemy of him. Lord Varys, just as Petyr Baelish, has a hand in everything–both would be a strategic and valuable ally to have on his side.

What of Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his stay over at his Craster’s (Robert Pugh) keep–along with his many daughter-wives (incest)? Gilly (Hanna Murry) informs both Jon and Samwell (John Bradley-West) that her father/husband does something with the baby boys when they are born. She doesn’t goes into specifics but she does want to travel with them in an effort to save her baby. Of course she cannot go with them–they don’t want to feel the wrath of Craster, nor be responsible for delivering a child.

We sort of find out this episode what Craster does with the sons born to him–he goes deep into the woods and leaves them there. Jon Snow followed him and noticed this, but was then knocked unconscious for his curiosity.

The Red Priestess Melisandre. She went there.

Lest we not forget Stannis’s right hand Melisandre, The Red Priestess, getting in on Stannis’s desire for a male heir and suggested that he “offers himself” fully to the Gods–by impregnating her. Stannis’s followers aren’t impressed with him being counseled by Melisandre. It’s only a matter of time that her true intentions will reveal themselves.

All the pieces are set. Now let the Games begin. Who will win? Who will lose? This is something that is yet to be decided in The Game of Thrones. Quite honestly, the massive amount of information contained in the books that I just can’t see how HBO can fit it all into a 10-hour; 10 episode season. This episode wasn’t particularly eventful and  The Night Lands can be considered a ‘filler episode.’ It brings us up-to-date on what is going on around the realm. A good episode, not great, but I am certain we will learn a great deal in What is Dead May Never Die, Game of Thrones, episode 3.

Game of Thrones return Sunday, April 15th 9/8c on HBO.

Source HBO