‘I don’t want to marry the Frey girl’ – King Robb

The Prince of Winterfell (May 20, 2012) – King Robb Stark (Richard Madden) met with a set of circumstances this episodes: dealing with the betrayal of his mother and maintaining the status of his engagement. One met with harsh words, the other a reward of intimacy. While out for a walk with Lady Talisa Mægyr (Oona Chaplin), he is alerted that the King Slayer, Ser Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), has escaped–and Lady Catelyn, his mother was behind it all. This did not sit well with Robb and nor should it. I understand that Catelyn wants her daughters and sons unharmed–but Robb is right, they just lost critical negotiating leverage. With Jamie heading ever closer to Kings Landing–shackled and chaperoned by Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) –Robb loses his edge in battle.  His mother was instantly placed under guard–for treason. Way harsh, Robb.

Luckily, Lady Talisa is there to relieve Robb of all that is ailing him.  I like her; she challenges Robb by forcing him, in one way or another, to confront the circumstances of his engagement and his duties as King of the North. Robb is promised to marry anyone of the Frey girls so that his armies can access a bridge that will allow for them to move effortlessly South and confront the Lannister armies. Talisa also challenges his heart, which she has already won.

A man needs a name. But not his own name.

As Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) grows every more impatient with the advancement of Robb’ s armies and as Stannis Baratheon get closer to King’s Landing, Tywin decided not to retreat to King’s Landing but he decides to surprise Robb’s forces and leaves Harrenhal. Arya rushes to find Jaqen (Tom Wlaschiha) in an attempt to take out Tywin, but he is nowhere to be found–”a man has patrol,” you see. She gives him a name: Jaqen J’ghar. In order for Arya to “un-name” him, he must help her and her friends escape Harrenhal–”a girl will obey.”

When Arya, Hot Pie, and Gendry approach the gates, they are nerved because there are guards on watch. After building up enough courage–she approaches the gate and realizes, the men there guarding are already dead.

Meanwhile, Stannis (Stephen Dillane) make an offer to Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham). to make him hand once he has seized King’s Landing.

“Joy will turn to ashes in your mouth. And you’ll know the debt is paid.”

It’s no secret that Cersei (Lena Headey) and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) hate each other. After a satisfying meal, Cersei was beside herself with laughter. But the joke is on her. She thought that she could “worry” my boy with her bullshit. Even though Cersei is a cleaver girl, her little birds linked Tyrion to Ros (Esmé Bianco) and he gave her a Lannister Lion’s necklace. Tyrion, relieved that it wasn’t Shae, played it as if his true love were captured. He told her to be brave and Ros did not betray Tyrion, but played into his sincerity. Tyrion promises Cersei that he will have his revenge over her when she least suspected it.

Immediately after, Tyrion escapes to his room to find his true heart, Shae, unharmed. They make a promise to each other that they are each others until, well let’s save that for the books.

Tyrion and Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) have the most interesting partnership; both love the Game of Thrones, and yet this isn’t enough for them to truly trust each other.  Even though he isn’t a “friend” to the hand, they both share common traits. Namely, Varys doing whatever it is he can to save his own ass.

Jon Snow and the Wildlings. Theon’s a cunt. Dænerys Dragons.

Looks like the episode ventured a bit into the third book of Song of Fire and Ice: A Storm of Swords. Y’gritte brings the bastard Jon Snow to the Lord of Bones as Eddard Stark‘s son–this was the point that it was implied that Jon “slept” with Y’gritte–who seems to catch on to what Qhorin (Simon Armstrong) implied. Trust me, she is eager to “verify” his suspicions. Back at the Frostfangs, Dolorous, Grenn, and Samwell uncovers a cache of dragonglass wrapped in a Night’s watch cloak.

Theon (Alfie Allen). You cunt. Even though he got to brag with his sister that he took Winterfell with a whole of 20 men, she reminded him that this was the dumbest thing he had done. They are sea born and Winterfell is very far from the sea. It was at that moment, Theon realized again, what a mistake he has made. This was an important moment between the siblings–she cares for Theon. She knows if he stayed at Winderfell, he will die. Meanwhile, Bran and Rickon are safely tucked away in the nearby crypts of Winterfell.

At the edge of the world, Dænerys has made the decision not to leave Qarth without her baby dragons. As much as Jorah (Ian Glen) try to get her to leave (he has a ship and a captain ready) she insists that if he truly cared about her, if he truly wanted to serve her, that he should stay and help her get her dragons back.

Another brilliant episode. Fantastic writing and it is such a shame that we are down to the last two episodes of the season. It seems that in next weeks’ episode a war is coming. Here’s luck that Joffrey will die.

On the horizon…a war of Kings.

Source: HBO