I am finding it extremely hard not to compare the events in HBO’s Game of Thrones episodes to that of the events of George R. R. Martin book series so I will try to develop a bout of amnesia and focus on the show. I believe I will start with the end of last night’s episode first. I always worried about the trouble Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) found herself in. Poor Yoren (Francis Magee), her protector, brave ’till the very end. See, it was Yoren that ‘saved’ Arya from witnessing the brutal beheading of her father, Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) in season 1. Calling her “boy,” Yoren took her away and intended to return her safely to Winterfell. Alas, he was killed by the very cowards who follow an idiot boy king.

In The Night Lands, Arya and Gendry (Joe Dempsie) had just escaped the inquires of the royal guard set to find dead King Robert’s remaining bastards across the realm. They returned and in full force, taking the horde of Night Watch recruits as prisoners, but not before inquiring Gendry’s whereabouts. Arya–clever girl–informs the guard they had already killed him; “He always loved that helmet.’ Also important to note, just before they were captured by the guards, Arya helped to free the three men caged, and one of them is the assassin Jagen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha).

With friends like these…

Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) is one of my favorite characters of the show, second only to Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). The guy is calculating and I won’t define this as being a bad thing–but both Varys, Tyrion, and Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) know how the game of thrones is played; such intellectuals. Tyrion is tasked to be the Hand of the King and it is of utmost importance that he patch alliances with the best of the best. But first, he must test his surroundings and root out the “mole” that reports to his sister, Queen Regent. Being the genius that he is, he told each member of the Kings council he wished to arrange the marriage of his niece. Instead of telling  them all of a similar plan, he tells each a different marital bond–just to see which pairing his sister disagrees with.

Needless to say, Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover) had been advisory to Eddard Stark and he lost his head–as well as the prior hand of the King being poisoned. Pycelle will now be forced to call home the black cell sans the body of a whore, and his long beard (it was aptly cut off) to keep him warm. Tyrion–my hero.

You can’t turn a whore into a handmaiden.

Admist all the political calculating, Tyrion’s companion Shae (Sibel Kekilli) is becoming bored with being hold up in Tyrion’s room and wishes for more freedom to roam King’s Landing. At first, he thought it favorable for her to work in the kitchen. However, she finds herself assigned as Sansa’s handmaiden. Poor Sansa has to dine with the very Lannisters (oops, Baratheons) who mercilessly killed her father.

Find your place. Our ships sail with or without you.

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is torn between his iron family and his adoptive family, the Starks. When he returned home he has had to constantly prove his loyalty to his Greyjoy family–not so much as denouncing his allegiance to the Starks, but in a effort to reason with his father that the Starks would make better allies than enemies. But Balon Greyjoy is set in his ways; he is determined to restore his family’s honor by paying the iron price by taking the North as their own.

When Theon learns of his father’s plans, he pens a letter to Robb Stark but chose to burn it. It seems Theon has chosen his blood family over the family to raised him, educated him–deciding blood is thicker. He is still competing for his father’s favor and that pissed me off. After all he learned from the Starks, he pisses his loyalty away for a chance to find himself in his father’s good graces once again.

Beyond dreams.

Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is still at Winterfell and still having intense dreams. There is a connection there between the wolf and Bran (resisting the urge to relate to the book) and he knows his dreams are more than what Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) tells him they are. Oh and Hodor (Kristian Nairn) speaks! He is the loyal stable person to the Starks and is currently Bran’s “legs.”

His mother, Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) spoke with Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) at the insistence of her son Robb, King of the North. Aside from the awkward encounter between Catelyn and Renly supporters, Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) is no lady. I imagine Brienne reminds Catelyn of Arya–strong willed and brave. I am eager to see just how she will fair in the series.

Not much sexual involvement in this episode, aside from Renly’s advances to Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones) went unoticed–seeing as how he just got his ass kicked by a girl; and his lover marrying his sister may have also put a damper on their romance. What of his sister? Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) is already a political schemer; she is well aware of her brother’s relationship with Renly and is more than willing to include her brother in her bed to secure an heir to the throne. Understand this–getting her pregnant will help quell the rumors regarding his sexuality. I am wondering if HBO will be daring enough to produce a scene between the three of them. It seems they already exposed us to much of the book’s um, curiosities. What’s the harm in adding a few more?

Power is a curious thing.

I guess it will be better if Jon Snow (Kit Harington) kept his mouth shut about Craster’s baby sacrifices to the White Walkers beyond the wall. What must be done is done it seems, and Commander Mormont (James Cosmo) knows what’s going on! Game of Thrones has a large cast and I am wondering just how the show will keep in the order of things?

We did not get to see Robb nor did we get to see Dænerys and her dragons. This episode was truly epic and emphasized just how complex the books are. There are many characters and cards yet to be played and thus far, I believe that HBO is handling things pretty well. Of course, the show is nothing like the books–I know that many of the books fans are possibly wishing that more be included in each episode–alas, we will have to endure what is presented to us and keep our fingers crossed that the television series continue to bring our favorite characters to life in a bold and impressionable way–and maybe extend the length of the show at some point via more episodes or longer time slot.

How else are they planning to fit in all of this?

Source Game of Thrones – HBO