The Lion and the Rose - Game of Thrones

Episode 4-02
"The Lion and the Rose"

Written by GRRM

Directed by Alex Graves

Scenes Made for Television
I want to talk about what the medium of television adds to the show beyond the books. While we don't get the same background, from characters or geopolitically, that we do from the books, we do get a lot of scenese that are either occurred "off screen" in the book or are added out of whole cloth.  Often they are speechless scenes, as in "Walk of Punishment" with the Small Council scene or that episode's opening scene with the Tully funeral and the Edmure/Blackfish dynamic.  The thing these scenes have in common is that they use the screen to add depth to the characters involved. 

Tyrion and Jamie
Tyrion and Jamie have the most healthy relationship in the entire Lannister family.  They are much closer than one would expect considering their relationships with other family members. Jamie is understandably insecure about his fighting ability and confides this in Tyrion.  This despite his bravado and bluster when speaking about it last episode with Tywin, Cersei and nephewson Joffrey.  And it's Tyrion who counsels him on further training, as well as finds a sparring partner who is both ably skilled and compelled to keep his mouth shut.  Bronn has also been a great aspect of the show with his role expanded to that of the City Watch commander and Addam Marbrand, one of the more honorable Westerland knights.  Even better that Bronn smacks the sword out of his hand, like Syrio would.

Edit 4/17:
Adding to their already established relationship is that Tyrion and Jamie both share a handicap now.  Oddly enough, Tyrion is the one with experience in this area and can help Jamie through it.  Connecting him with Bronn in training his left hand not only helps with discretion, but with the manner in which he's going to have to train.  Jamie needs to get up to speed as fast as possible, and he needs to do that any way he can.  Bronn's not someone who was trained by a master of arms in a castle, or got private swordfighting lessons.  He is probably largely self taught and with that comes a manner of fighting that would not be described as "classic".  We saw this in Bronn's fight at the Eyrie, where he employs the old adage "speed kills" and while he does not fight with honor, according to Lysa, he is still the one standing there at the end.  And this is why he's the one to get Jamie up to speed, quick and dirty.

Lady Oleanna

• Mace Tyrell appears, only to be shooed away immediately by his mother.  Another thing that says so much in a quick second.
• "The Iron Bank with have its due"  With the crown's debts looming, perhaps this is some foreshadowing?  Perhaps Mycroft Holmes will pay a visit?
• "Killing a man at a wedding...horrid."

Tywin also seems to have some sort of old money/new money rivalry with the Tyrells, as though he doesn't respect them (despite them saving Kings Landing against Stannis) because of how they spend their money (due to them being 'new' to having it).  The Lannisters are an ancient family of Westeros and the Tyrells are the overlords of the Reach for "only" the last 300 years, so I suppose that qualifies them as "new money" in Tywin's eyes.

 Storms & Swords

• Roose Bolton has the North but does not hold it.  It's like a car with no gas
• For just a moment, we think Joffrey may have grown up, taking a cue from Tywin at his side when Tyrion presents his gift.  His human reaction to Tyrion's book is clearly suspicious to everyone there and it only takes another 60 seconds for Joffrey to revert back and hack the book to pieces.
• Last week, seeing Ice melted down was like watching Ned die all over again.  This week Joffrey mentioned every time he uses the new sword it will be like cuttiing off Ned's head again...as if Joffrey had done it himself.  His view of himself was completely encapsulated in that hilarious statute last week.
• On that note I wonder how they are going to incorporate Kevan Lannister or a composite equivalent
• Tyrion has to "White Fang" Shae, something Arya had to do to her actual wolf in Season One
• The wedding is a mix of Naboo from Star Wars, the Castle from Ocarina of Time, and EPCOT.
• Margarey would make both Pippa and Kate stop in their tracks.
• Cersei's new title is Tattletale Reagent
• Oberyn loves to dig into the Lannisters.  Unsure who else can speak to them that way and get away with it.  Probably him and Lady Oleanna.  Just keep driving in that knife though.  We have no Stark army, but we can root for the frenemies of their enemies.  Especially if they are super cool
• Joffrey cannot watch anything for more than a second before he wants to inflict pain on someone.
• Varys got bopped on the head by one of the dwarves during the performance
• The cultural differences between different kingdoms of Westeros have been slight, save for the North which largely operated as a separate entity and was set apart more by their different religion.  The direct interaction between Northerners and Southerners only took place for a limited period of time.  Now we have another geographic outlier, Dorne from the South, with cultural differences highlighted in every interaction.
• We know how many people gave a fluff about Joffrey by the number of people who rushed to help him.  The little pyscho couldn't even open the cake without killing things.
• Tywin, in a grandfatherly moment, holds Tommen, having him look away from his brother. 
• We finally get a good moment.  After Ned, Robb, Cat.  After Arya being imprisoned  and Sansa held hostage and Bran and Rickon forced to flee and Winterfell being burned to the ground.  And it's tainted by Tyrion being arrested. 
• The GOP needs a new standard bearer.  

Bran's vision, which appears to be a mix of a flash back and flash forward includes Ned in the dungeons, his execution, Dany's walk through the throne room via the House of the Undying, the Three Eyed Raven who actually seems to speak to him and a shadow of a dragon.  A quite large dragon.

One of the things about the Theon//Reek scenes with the Bastard of Bolton is that we, like those being hunted/tortured/psychologically abused have no idea what is going on or why it is happening, which makes it all the more unsettling.

Cersei's battle with Margarey continues.  Anything Margarey is in favor of, she is against.  Rather than pull the people of Kings Landing into the fold per Lady Di of Westeros, she feeds the leftovers to the dogs out of spite.  This does a few things.  1) Undermine Margarey.  2) Shows she can still threaten members of the small council 3) Continue her contempt for the small folk

"Lannister" is always inserted more with Joffrey, who it is easy to forget is a Baratheon in name.  He has to keep that name so they keep their claim to the throne, but the Baratheon's have zero presence in Kings Landing.   For example, behind Joffrey and Margarey, there are stags and lions (no roses) but also a big "L" pattern.  This despite that if Joffrey actually only has Lannister heritage, which he does, he has no claim to the throne.  That truth seems widely acknowledged and ignored. 

Imagine the most awkward toast, father of the bride or best man speech you've heard at a wedding.  Multiply that by a thousand for the reactions to Joffrey scolding Tyrion.  So everyone is sitting there listening to the child who they know is not the rightful king make everyting super awkward and tantrumy, all the way until he is made dead.