Game of Thrones Review: And Now His Watch Has Ended

As many of you probably know at this point, I’ve given in and started reading the Game of Thrones book series. This is partly because I don’t feel like dodging spoilers on the internet for the next five years, and also because they’re supposed to be just damn good books. And after two of them, that’s been proven true.

I’m about a third of the way through Storm of Swords and in an awkward position of being caught up with, ahead of and behind the show simultaneously. This is due to George RR Martin’s often non-time specific style, but also because they have to modify his mammoth books to fit the format of the show.

This obvious has to change my reviews somewhat going forward, and it’s likely going to take a while for me to find my footing. I’m definitely not going to spoil anything for anyone, but I also don’t want to be one of those book know-it-alls either who thinks everything about the novels is just infinitely better. But I will likely mention comparisons to the book from time to time when appropriate.

All this said, this was one HELL of an episode, certainly my favorite of the season, and possibly one of the best to date. It’s hard to know where to begin, as the show likes to now cram in as many stories as possible so we don’t lose track of them. I think the only major groups missing this week were Robb Stark and Jon Snow, but judging by next week’s episode title, Kissed by Fire, we’ll be headed back to Snow soon enough. Damn, that’s something only people who read the books would get. It’s starting already…

It’s interesting to see them really start to make Varys a central character on the show. He’s both Tyrion’s lead contact in terms of spying around the realm, and he’s now doing deals with the Tyrell Matriach. With another scene speaking to Ros, Varys actually had full three scenes all to himself this week when most of the major characters had one, if that.

What’s in the box???

I thought it was a bit out of character for him to exact revenge so specifically and brutally like he’s apparently going to do with his imprisoned sorcerer. We’ve been waiting to hear about the  tale of how he got cut, but I have to say I was surprised to find the culprit in the box at the end of that tale. It just didn’t seem like his style, though perhaps he’s starting to get more of an edge to him.

The battle being fought inside King’s Landing is no longer for the castle or throne, rather it’s for Sansa Stark. Littlefinger wants to whisk her away with him as he journeys to the Vale. Varys and the Tyrells would see her off to Highgarden to marry Loras. I will thump the book here as this is a bit different in Storm of Swords so far. Littlefinger seems to have only a passing interesting in Sansa there, and here on the show, I don’t quite understand why they’re talking about him trying to marry her as she’s the “key to the north.” Isn’t he trying to marry Lysa Arryn to become Lord of the Vale? The Vale seems a bit more relevant than the smoldering corpse of Winterfell now, doesn’t it?

Also in the book, Sansa can’t marry Loras because he’s sworn to the Kingsguard and they can’t take wives. She’s promised to his older, crippled, unseen brother instead, who is actual heir to Highgarden. But that said, I think it’s fine they forgot that little rule for the show. I think it’s a more interesting premise to present her with the option of marrying Loras, which makes her little hear flutter, rather than some brother we’ve never seen or heard of. It’s one of those changes that works well for the purposes of the show, and maybe even improves on the original rendition. Will Sansa’s dreams come true? I’m not sure, but have they ever?

Elsewhere, Jaime Lannister is learning how to deal with losing his claim to fame, his sword hand. And he’s not dealing with it well. He’s wishing for death, having lost the only thing that meant anything to him, other than Cersei perhaps. Brienne is trying to pep him up, but it’s likely going to take some time for him to get his mojo back. I really am impressed with how they turned him from one of the most hated characters on the show to one of the more likable ones.

It’s a shame to do this to a face so pretty.

Arya has been lead by the Brotherhood without Banners to some secret cave where they reveal their true intentions. Well, sort of. They serve Beric Dondarrion, a character who comes up quite often in the books, but whom we last saw on the show when he was being tasked with hunting down the Mountain for his crimes midway through season one. A lot has changed since then, including the death of  the man who sent him, but now apparently Dondarrion is a solo agent, serving the “one true Lord of Light.” Uh oh. Does that mean he’s in league with Stannis and Melisandre, or is he just doing his own thing with the same religion? And is he really going to be the one to down the Hound? It seems unlikely, but you never know. Pretty bad luck for the Hound to be captured by a group who worships fire.

Despite being a third of the way though this book, Theon Greyjoy hasn’t even come up yet, so believe me when I tell you I have no idea what the fuck is going on with him and this crazy asshole. We all thought that Theon was being saved by the young man, but let me get this straight. Despite being loyal to the Flayed Men, he frees Theon, kills five of his own men, then brings him back? What in the seven hells is wrong with this guy? Is he just a psychopath? Was there some other plan in motion I just can’t see? Was that a test orchestrated by his father? In any case, I’m really looking forward to seeing where the hell this is going.

Now we get to the real tumultuous events of the evening. A thought occurred to the oppressed men of the Night’s Watch that dawned on me ages ago. Why don’t they just kill that insane pervert Craster? Any guy who feeds babies to the White Walkers deserves it, not to mention his crazy endless daughter-wife pyramid . Unfortunately, when the Rapist springs that plan into action (I don’t know his actual name), Mormont is honor bound to try and stop him. He doesn’t, and the Old Bear is hacked to death on the floor of Craster’s hut, right alongside the man himself. Quick aside, who was the guy who killed Craster who dared to call him a bastard twice? Were we supposed to know who that was?  I’d never seen him before. In any case, I was sorry to see Mormont go like that. “And now his watch is ended.”

And then, Daenerys.

Holy. Shit.

We’ve all been waiting for this moment for eons now, when Dany finally becomes the badass she was destined to be. I had no foreknowledge of tonight’s events when I made my prediction last week, but I was right nonetheless. Turns out it’s not a good idea to trade an army of instantly loyal slaves for a dragon that hates you. And yes, Dany DID hear you calling her a slut, you asshat. Asshat the Dragoncooked. That’s what they’ll call you from now on.

At long last, Dany is finally a force to be reckoned with as she has an army of 8,000 hardasses and three growing dragons. That alone probably isn’t enough to conquer Westeros, but it’s a damn good place to start. I can’t wait until she smashes onto  the scene, though I’m not quite sure how long of a walk that is.

Again, a rather fantastic episode, and this season is already shaping up to be better than the last. Now, next week. How much nothing can a Jon Snow know if a Jon Snow could know nothing?