Eddard Stark wakes in a world much different than yesterday...

Following on from last week’s excellent addition to the season, this week’s Game of Thrones once again knocked it out of the park. Last week I remarked how impressed I was that the writers had elected to focus almost entirely on King’s Landing for the episode, and that this focus made the craft of the storytelling so much tighter and more focused, giving fans the chance they needed to become fully immersed in one situation rather than hastily passed on from one to another. This, week, though divided across four different locations, the episode managed to feel solid in each strand of the story.

Opening with Ned recovering from his wound at the hands of the Lannisters last week, we’re quickly thrust into the mounting tensions between Starks and Lannisters with King Robert of all people acting as referee. With Cersei quick-firing bullshit about Ned’s provocation for attacking Jaime, it’s not entirely unfair to say she earned the smack that Robert gave her. Her comment on this “I’ll wear this as a badge of honour”, and Robert’s subsequent reply “Wear it in silence or I’ll honour you again”, were taken straight from the books and gave me no end of pleasure to behold.

At Winterfell, Bran finally manages to crack a smile as he tests out Tyrion’s specially designed saddle while Theon and Robb discuss taking the fight to the Lannisters. It’s interesting to see the writers giving Theon a more sympathetic angle than to the one shown in the books. As he urges Robb to man up, he’s clearly overeager and unthinking in his insistence on an attack that would clearly lead to out and out war. Cocksure though Theon may be, by contrast Robb comes across as something of a coward. This scene never took place in the books, but it was an excellent addition, and gave us a good insight into the bizarre relationship Robb and Theon have; though not brothers, they have grown up together, and while Theon is not a Stark, he does seem eager to prove himself and for his loyalty to be acknowledged. When he saves Bran from the Wildlings, Robb doesn’t reward him and instead chastises him for risking Bran’s life despite clearly having just saved it. Fans of the books will know this certainly foreshadows some of the things to come.

As for the Wildlings themselves, and our introduction to Osha (the as yet unnamed female survivor of the group), I was a little disappointed. In the books, Osha could be best characterised as a tough, lean and intelligent woman whose survival instincts often hide the ultimately decent person underneath.  The TV show was almost the opposite, portraying Osha as “just another Wildling”, with a craggy inbred look to match. I was expecting someone reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley or Carrie Anne Moss’ Trinity. What we got was more akin to a slasher-horror cardboard cut-out.

Truly, the Sansa of the TV show has more lion in her than wolf, and she’s actually a perfect match for Joffrey.

Fortunately, that’s my biggest gripe about this episode. At the Eyrie, Lysa Arryn continues to demonstrate her lunacy while Tyrion struggles to negotiate with his jailer, Mord. While a lot of the humour that helped characterise these scenes in the books was absent, they still managed to make a strong impression. You can visibly see Tyrion trying to dumb down his plea in terms that Mord might comprehend. “Sometimes possession is an abstract concept” is one of the best lines in the show so far. The fight scene that held Tyrion’s life in the balance was also well choreographed if somewhat predictable. Ser Vardis’ exit through the Moon Door was a nice touch, though.

Back in King’s Landing, Sansa’s inner bitch once again goes above and beyond the call of duty, asking about Septa Mordane’s birthplace only to change her mind an instant later and say she doesn’t care. I’ve said it before and I’ll said it again, this is not the Sansa Stark of the books. Truly, the Sansa of the TV show has more lion in her than wolf, and she’s actually a perfect match for Joffrey. Speaking of the prince, his soft-spoken promises carried an air of serious gravity almost to the point of sincerity and Sansa has fallen right for it. Arya continues her “dancing lessons” with Syrio as Ned reluctantly returns to the office of the Hand of the King.

Given the recent events with the Lannisters, Ned is understandably concerned for his family’s safety and wants to send his daughters back home. It’s only then when Sansa protests so much, harping on about how she’s going to give Joff “sons with beautiful blonde hair” that realisation finally dawns on Ned as he uncovers the same truth Jon Arryn died for: Joffrey is not Robert’s son. This was a great scene and Sean Bean was on top form even if the reading aloud was a little clunky.

Finally, and perhaps best, was across the sea in Vaes Dothrak. Harry Llyod has given what’s probably one of the more underappreciated performances on Game of Thrones, his portrayal of Viserys has been that of a petty, megalomaniac boy drunk on the image of himself as king, and that’s precisely who Viserys is. In other words: he nailed it. And as irritating as he can be, part of me is sad to see him go. Bastard though he might be, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for Viserys when Khal Drogo said he will give him what he wants. Viserys cracks a genuine, disbelieving smile, his first (and last) of the series, as he thinks he’s getting what he’s been waiting for for seventeen years. Then he starts to realise something is seriously amiss. Despite his begging and pleading, Dany makes no attempt to spare her brother’s life, in fact she almost seems to take pleasure in it. When Drogo finally crowns Viserys with molten gold, the screams of agony are believable and the harsh brutality of the killing feels like a reminder from HBO as if to say “Yeah, that just happened. It’s not TV, it’s HBO.” Once again, kudos to Harry Lloyd, and while his character may not be missed, his talent certainly will.

Next week promises the introduction of a character all of the fans are chomping at the bit to see: Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister as well as a return to Jaime, the Wall, and a conversation between Ned and Cersei that is long overdue. I’m psyched.

See also:

Game of Thrones S1E6 recap

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