Thursday, May 23, 2013

Raw Data: Second Sons

These are initial observations for Game of Thrones episode 3-08 "Second Sons" written by showrunners Benioff & Weiss and directed by Michelle MacLaren, who directed last week's episode.

Probably the slowest episode of the season, including longer scenes, but still not without major events/payoffs including:

  • Stannis cursing his enemies: Balon Greyjoy, Robb Stark and Joffrey
    • Significant because we know this god is real and has special powers.  We've seen them in action twice already
  •  Davos gets out of jail
  • Sansa and Tyrion got freaking married, and his goal is to not treat her terribly.  Also, Tyrion sets a new life goal to become an alcoholic
  • Holy effing ess!   Sam KILLED AN OTHER
    • Obviously Sam doing so is big, but even bigger is discovering the true use of Dragonglass.   
    • They found the cache of Dragonglass a full season ago, wrapped in the Night's Watch cloak.  Lost used to pay stuff off like this, where something was introduced so long ago that you don't even realize when the payoff happens
The rest of the pieces appear to be more about putting things into motion, figuratively and literally, toward the annual episode nine climax

  • The Hound taking Arya to the Twins
  • Cersei threatening Margery.  Not even in a subtle manner.
    • Margery should have known better than to try to curry favor with Cersei the saem way she did with Sansa.  She's way too savvy to make a mistake like that
    • Featured some exposition that wasn't sexpostition
  • Daenerys secures a mercenary company, growing her army
    • Almost as important she has another member of her entourage and maybe more, in Daario
Each scene ran a little longer than your typical Game of Thrones scene so fewer storylines going on.

Ever since season one, Joffrey's been a little pyscho who everyone roots for to bite it in the worst possible manner.  He's completely despicable with no redeeming qualities.  For GRRM to let Joffrey survive all this,he's have to be as sadistic as, well, Joffrey.

It stands to reason they would either double down on his terribleness or soften him a bit.  Both would still leave the door open for him to die soon.  We all hope sooner rather than later of course.  While after his encounter with Tywin showing warranted concern for dragons, I thought the show may take the sympathetic route.  After the Sansa-Tyrion wedding though, it's clear they doubled down.

Hodor!

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