For this season of Game of Thrones, instead of a regular recap which goes in-depth and scene-by-scene, we’ll construct an analysis of the episode while pointing out key factors that were interesting, has potential to influence the rest of the season, or were just cool enough to warrant mention. As always, there will be spoilers.
When last we visited the seven kingdoms, the Starks were at war with the Lannisters. Ned Stark had been killed, Arya Stark was on the run, Sansa Stark was held captive, as was Jaime Lannister. Detestable incest spawn and all around jerkface of the first order, Joffrey Lannister Baratheon was still king, Jon Snow was off with the Night’s Watch, Tywin Lannister had made a decision about Tyrion’s future, and Daenerys Targaryen had emerged from a funeral pyre with three dragons in tow.
When we return, Joffrey hasn’t taken strides to become a king worthy of the throne, and instead is occupied with bloodsport and spectacle. He much rather enjoys seeing men suffer at his hands, than actually ruling them with any sense of goodwill for his realm. As he shows time and again his vanity and ego does most of the thinking for him, which is why he’s stunned when his uncle, Tyrion, comes marching in and says to him and his mother that he is there to actually work, while it’s acknowledged that Joffrey would rather redecorate and calm his insecurities by slaughtering innocents. Sansa, Joffrey’s betrothed captive, has learned a thing or two about her intended. Mostly that he’ll kill her for insolence, but that in order to survive (and manipulate) she must 1) cater to his inflated sense of self, and 2) do so under the guise of adoring fealty.
For his mother’s part, Cersei, who’s used to being the favored daughter, now finds that her father would much prefer Tyrion, the imp, rule the Baratheon house and the kingdom. Not that Tyrion plans to play within the rules. He’s brought his girlfriend-prostitute, Shae, with him to court against his father’s wishes and we can tell that this decision while a slap in Tywin’s face, may also serve to be the first streak of independence shown by Tyrion. In addition, the way in which he appears dressed in full armor, snidely, chastising, and ready to take both Joffrey and Cersei to task, shows a dominance he heretofore lacked in his contentment to follow along, carouse, and let Jaime and his father do the thinking and the strategizing for the family in the past. His new found role of adviser and ipso facto king promises to be an arc in his character that will probably turn the season on its head.
We are now introduced to Stannis Baratheon, younger brother to King Robert. In the opening scene of his arrival we see a ceremony lead by priestess, Melisandre. We find that Stannis has been lured into following the advice of this coven leader(?) cultress(?) and as any Camelot story will tell you, something seems more than a bit ominous about the enchanted lady with the mischievous smile, and often hidden intentions. Stannis’ right hand, Davos, seems unconvinced by her importance in taking back the throne from Joffrey. However, powered by her guidance, and the fact that Stannis now knows of Joffrey’s true parentage, he feels he can rightfully claim the throne. He sends out a bunch of Raven G-mails to the seven kingdoms to alert them all of Joffrey’s fraudulent status. The one person he will not sway is his brother Renly Baratheon who has his own claim to the throne, and hopes to win it with force.
The Starks while winning the battles with the Lannisters, still have a much farther road to travel. They don’t have ships, and a divided allegiance between the brothers Baratheon proves to be an obstacle to their cause of defeating the Lannisters and securing independence from the South. Young King of the North, Robb, sees this. Despite some pretty tough talk which is sent by messenger to King’s Landing, he sends his loyal ward Theon Greyjoy to talk to his father, an enemy of the Starks, to acquire ships, and sends his mother to talk with Renly about an alliance. Robb also visits Jaime, held captive at the Stark’s camp, once hearing about the true nature of Joffrey’s birth and to accuse him of attempted murder and the crippling of his brother Bran. We see how much Rob seethes with wanting justice for Bran and his sisters, but he holds back and lets the value of having The Kingslayer as a hostage keep him focused. That doesn’t stop Jaime’s attempt to call Rob out for being an inexperienced boy, and Rob counters that this boy has bested the Lannister’s army thrice. He leaves Jaime with the threat of a Direwolf chomp to the face, and we see Jaime perhaps start to wonder if he’ll ever be rescued. A fair question given Joffrey’s penchant for leading the seven kingdoms into chaos.
Jon Snow and the Night’s Watch have gone further north of the wall in attempts to find Jon’s uncle Benjen, and to see what’s going on with all those riled up Wildings. They come upon the lady-farm run by a man named Craster. Apparently, as they conduct their investigation, the Night’s Watch stays with the locals in hopes of gaining information, shelter, and to plan strategy. The nutty thing we find out is that Craster has nineteen wives that are all his biological daughters. Incest abounds! As Jon Snow sits in this man’s company we see him looking at all the blank faces of the girls in this house whom Craster calls “wife.” He doesn’t like it. The practice of bedding one’s daughters is labeled as foul. And some wonder where all the “boys” are. Craster is insanely protective of his prizes, and threatens to kill the Night’s Watchmen if they get close to his daughter-wives, especially Jon Snow, whose protruding bottom lip tells everyone just what he thinks about the incest rodeo happening on Craster’s homestead. The important thing is that the Commander could care less about Craster’s disgusting family habit. He just wants the information and tells Jon that he needs to learn how to follow if he wants to someday lead.
There is no shortage of descriptive wording to describe different areas or actions of the participants in Game of Thrones, so when we’re introduced to the Red Waste, we just assume it’s a bloody stretch of road, but it’s more like an unending desert Daenerys Targaryen travels with her dragons, Ser Jorah her noble bodyguard, and a handful of Dothraki followers. While we know the dragons are important, for the time being Dany doesn’t have a clue what they eat or how to take care of them. They are too weak and small for combat and could easily be stolen. The only hope she has is of sending out a few scouts in all directions in hopes of finding shelter as they make their way back to Westeros.
Cersei now feeling the pressure of Tyrion’s appearance, seeks to redeem herself if not in the eyes of her father, but those in the council. She has an exchange with Littlefinger where she’s able to flex her muscle, and staunch his ambitious notion of gathering a force of his own inside the kingdom. She also has an ill-advised moment with Joffrey where she presumes to treat him like a boy, or more to the point, her son. He’s wondering about those rumors milling around regarding his parentage and the activities of his father Robert and his whoring. When asked point blank about why Robert left Cersei’s bed, she slaps Joffrey. Stunned by the action she cowers slightly when Joffrey reminds her that the action could have caused her death. Regardless of Cersei’s answer, Joffrey has taken the step of relieving Westeros of the many, many children of Robert Baratheon, and executes a wholesale murdering on all black-haired offspring, even several incidences of infanticide.
Yet, one still lives. The bastard traveling along with Arya to the North.
From the first episode we find that with King Robert dead, and a boy king in his stead, this has started a rash of kingships across the lands. There are those who believe being king should come from lineage, and others who feel it is a position earned, not one heaped upon you by luck of the draw. So who really has claim to the throne, but more importantly, what will it matter if Winter proves to be as dastardly as it is forecast? With dragons and witches and the bitter unknown coming down from the North, it may be more about who bands together, and less about which new King has a crown on his head.
So what did you think of the premiere episode?
For your reference, here’s a character infographic of the central birthlines of the GOT chracters. For new characters, please check out Screenrant.com’s character guide of new and familiar faces.
Via: Screen Rant
The Game of Thrones airs Sunday nights at 9pm on HBO.
