Be True To Who You Are...: Game of Thrones 1:07: You Win or You Die

This week I will look back to Lee Adama from "Battlestar Galactica". He was unable to reconcile that in war and in life, you can be a good person, and sometimes do bad things. This meant seeing things in gray, not black and white. He tried to kill himself when he could not reconcile that fact, but when he finally did see that, he became a great leader. Sadly we did not see him as much as we should have in the end, but that's another story.

This BSG moment was dedicated to the brave, and misguided Ned Stark; who just could not see beyond doing the right thing. In the book and here, I could not believe what he did after he found out that Joffrey was not the heir to the throne. He refused to play the game; he just could not do it and he would have died inside if he had. But the consequences of the actions in this episode, change the canvas of Westeros forever.

So, let us begin with the Lion.....

"The Lion does not concern himself with the opinions of the sheep."

Lord Tywin: Father of the Year

And so we are introduced to the infamous and powerful, Lord Tywin Lannister, and he is just as awesome as he is described in the books.

Jaime has made it home and now he and his father are clearly readying for battle, as we see troops, the red tents, and Jaime is now in Lannister armor. His father, is cutting open, cleaning out a stag (literally throwing it's guts out while berating Jaime), and prepping it for roasting, I assume. It actually looks like something he does to relax! Lovely, and PERFECT.

Jaime is reading the letter from Ned regarding the Mountain, etc.., from last week. He says words that are oh so true, in his cocky Jaime voice: " Poor Ned Stark, brave man, terrible judgement.". So true, and so tragic.

Then the humiliation and break down of Jaime Lannister begins at the hand of his father.

So Tywin is chastising Jaime for not killing Ned Stark, while at the same time telling him that he did something really stupid. "Lannisters don't act like fools", he says. Jaime's defense is that Catelyn took Tyrion. He was doing it for his brother !(again shocking at this point in the books, but not for the series), and is really shocked when he thinks for a moment his father actually cares about Tyrion. He says the reason that he does not kill Ned was because one of their men stabbed him in the leg, and it would not have been a "clean death".

"You always cared too much about what people thought of you." which Jaime denies, but sadly TV Jaime does care, and the Jaime I know at the point in this book, is not that way as of yet. His father says something about Jaime and his vanity, which we are seeing is also completely entwined with his sense of honor. Jaime actually does not know who he is, but he does know two things: he is in love with is sister, and killing Aerys, was the right thing to do. This is when the "Kingslayer" comment comes up and my issues with this scene come into play.

So I will digress: I do like the direction they took with Jaime so early in the series. I know they are taking the series in a bit of a different direction, because the characters are written as POV's. The rewriting is done really well, but I take issue with it here and this is why.

The Kingsguard is one of the highest honors in the realm, and Jaime considered slaying Aerys his greatest act. He saw no shame in it, even when we learn more about him. The Jaime that is shown in this scene, is a Jaime that we do not see until the last two books of the series (as of now). Something happens to him that changes him forever. He is the Jaime that I began to love, because he became more than the cocky bastard who had no problem pushing a ten year old out the window, because he saw him w/Cersei.

I did not like that his father insults him for being a member of the Kingsguard, and mocking him as someone who cares what people think of him. It is one of the most honored and respected position a knight may have. But here, his father mocks him for being a part of it, when in truth Jaime became the youngest member, at 15. Ned, Robert, Brandon, everyone saw him receive that honor. Thus, not only was this too much of a departure on the importance of the Kingsguard; but Tywin was mocking him for it.

Jaime could care less at this point what people think of him. But Tywin is right when he says that Jaime is reckless, but this is tied into his vanity and sense of honor. I think that he believes that he is honorable, but we also learn here, and not later per the books, that he clearly uses honor to cover up something else. I will not go into it here, until we see how he develops in the last 2 episodes.

Jaime is both revered and reviled for being the Kingslayer. In fact, he has always considered killing Aerys one of his greatest acts, and we hear him say it to himself:

"I think it passing odd that I am loved by one for a kindness I never did, and reviled by so many for my finest act.".

We saw these words in action at the end of the scene where he is talking to Ned in the throne room. Remember Ned was on his way for his first meeting the council of vipers and weasels?

Anyway, back to Jaime and killing Aerys. He knew it was the right thing to do, and pretty much everyone who participated in that war knew that Aerys' insanity had reached a fervor pitch; after he started burning well, everyone, with it culiminating in the killing of Brandon and Rickard Stark. The problem was that Jaime, who was part of the Kingsguard, had sworn an oath to protect the King, and so while being a savior, he was an oathbreaker. This is why Ned gets all snotty with him in the throne room. Jaime even comments on this later in the books, when he says when you are keeping one oath, you are always breaking another one.

It is okay to show the complexities of his character for TV, but it was not necessary to give the nonreader a better idea of who Jaime Lannister is by changing the importance of the Kingsguard, and his feelings about being called "Kingslayer".

So back to the story:

Then Lord Tywin starts in about the Lannister name, and how it is not about rescuing Tyrion. As he is pulling more guts out of the stag, he continues to say that if the Lannister name is shown to have weakness, then it will make them more susceptible to attack etc.. Tywin says when they are all dead, their name will live on, and if any one of them, even Tyrion, is taken without consequence, it makes them look weak. He wants Jaime to take 30,000 men, attack Catelyn's home, ie. Riverrun, and remind her that the Lannisters always pay their debts.

Tywin wants Jaime to continue
the "Lannister World Dominiation Campaign"

Too bad it looks like Jaime does not want world domination. In fact he is starting to look confused and really sad. See? Essential character traits did not need to be changed, to show another side of Jaime. But seriously, look at NCW in this photo; amazing. He plays Jaime to perfection. He barely speaks for most of this conversation, yet you can see clearly how he is feeling.

Anyway, when it comes to Dad and dynasty creation, Jaime's saving grace, is that he is amazing at battle; even if world domination is not in his plans. He knows he can win and achieve what his father wants for the family. Jaime is vain, confident, and although his father mocks him, he knows what he can do, and he knows he is good. And he almost always gets what he wants; afterall he is a Lion.

My final thoughts on this short scene are that when you meet Tywin, I FINALLY see the Cersei, I hate, because she is exactly like her father. Now we know where Cersei got her thirst for power from: Tywin. It will show why she so often comments how she should have been a man, as she could have had the power she so clearly desires. Finally, the woman that I know so well from the books, is making an appearance.

It is like I have been saying all along: the Lannisters have been planning a takeover since the death of Jon Arryn. It looks like they are going to be quite successful.

The Brothel

I saw this as a way for non-readers to get to know what a slimeball Lord Baelish really is, and what his true intentions are towards Ned. Especially since it seems he still has a grudge against poor dead Brandon for slicing him up, and the Starks in general. Afterall, Cat was in love w/one Stark, but found true love with Ned. So now Littlefinger sees a chance to be with Cat. Dream on my friend. I will just ignore the gratuitous sex scenes which are naturally on all fours, as part of the tool used to do the above.

So why does Roz keep showing up? Well not for Theon, who PS, now seeks validation that he is Lord Greyjoy from Osha. the wildling woman. She could care less, and it turns out she cannot provide him with it either. Well, I think she is still around, because Tyrion has an affinity for prostitutes, but it is than that. He fell in love with one or two in the books. It is a cause for the humiliation he has suffered at the hands of his father, as well as the hatred he has for him. So I think she is going to be the one they use in the series to represent the ones he loves in the book. The resentment Tyrion has for his father has a lot to do with the prostitutes he has met and loved in in his life. It is an important part of his relationship with Tywin, and even Jaime.

Daenerys Stormborn, Khaleesi

Well, we first see Dany trying to convince her husband that they should cross the sea to the other side, and get the iron throne. He does not like this idea, so she lets it go. I have to say they are amazing as an unlikely couple, who is now in love. I am glad they aged her up, as you can see how great they are together, and how his love has helped her lose that frightened girl we saw in the first episode. He is even slightly softened by her love, which unfortunately is not a good thing.

Next we see that Ser Jorah receives a pardon while he is escorting Dany in the market. He also sees the poisoned wine she is about to buy. So, we have confirmed once again that Varys is very good at what he does. It is Ser Jorah who saves Dany, along with an excellent use of a whip by one of her body guards. So they bring him back to Vaes Dothrak, and we see Drogo run to Dany to make sure she is okay:

He thanks Ser Jorah, who is clearly not going home any time soon, as during this scene, Ser Jorah looks, dare I say, a bit jealous? Irregardless, the Khal rewards him with a horse for saving his love, and then does this huge, dramatic scene, which contains a gift for his Dany and his son. His gift is crossing the narrow sea and getting her the iron throne. She is just standing there looking at him, so in love, and entranced by her gorgeous husband, that I have no idea how she stood so still, but she did. It was quite a moment. Also, whomever created that language, did an amazing job, as it sounds just like you think that it would....and here you really feel its' power. So, Dany will be getting her army afterall.

Cersei and Ned

Dear Ned, acts just as badly here, as he does in the books. Meaning that he becomes obsessed with doing the things the right way, and not the smart way—yes I am carrying the quote from the last recap into this onel. They remained true to how Ned makes the same foolish mistakes he makes here, as he does in the book. First, for some ridiculous reason he decides to place trust in the hands of Littlefinger, who he knows is a liar, instead of listening to Renly; who was right to say that he would back him up. Renly has never been stupid, and knows what Cersei is, as no one trusts any of the Lannisters. He was right to say they had to remove Joffrey from his mother, and sequester them until the transition of power took place. But Ned refused to do this as he wanted to keep the line of succession clean, to which Renly was like, well that didn't seem a problem when you and Robert got rid of Aerys. Ouch.

He should have sworn fealty to Joffrey like Baelish said, then he could have moved forward with the plans to remove him from position. But the smartest thing that he could have done? That would have been to do as Renly said; as Renly had Loras behind him, and it was true that Renly was popular with the people. I do not know how he thought that Renly would stand behind him by giving the throne to Stannis, who Ned knew had been holed up in Dragonstone doing god knows what, and believe me, it wasn't good.

I also never knew why he told Cersei, that he knew her secret, and that he knew Bran saw she and Jaime together. And she admits to it! She admitted treason in front of Ned, knowing that she was in the process of having Robert killed by having Lancel make the wine stronger so that he would get hurt during the hunt. I never understood why he, who know what a sneaky, manipulative, lying person she was, actually thought she would leave with her children.

He was remarkably short sighted in how he envisioned the removal of Cersei and the children would go. He had the power to have her arrested and charged on the spot, but maybe he thought that was too risky , and for some strange reason thought this was the right thing to do. Renly was ready to go, and he left because he knew that he would be arrested just as Ned was; for treason. Ned could have used him to get control of the throne, afterall he was named Protector of the Realm (which we know he didn't want), and then moved from there, with the council of vipers and weasels.

This was such a screw up, and then to think that the men of the Kingsguard would revolt against Joffrey, was insane! He knew, more than anyone, that the Kingsguard takes the oath, and move from King, to King, to King. But Joffrey is a sociopath, and when Cersei just rips up the piece of paper, she was backed up by the Kingsguard, who were honorable men. Honorable men, like Ned, who are not oathbreakers, who would not follow Ned, even if he was in the right. Proving that Joffrey was not Robert’s son, would not have been difficult all you had to do was take one look at them, and it was obvious.

So, Ned’s inability to see the future while playing the game of thrones, was his fatal flaw. He did not want to be a leader, he did not want to play the games, and he was not very good at playing them.

The Death of King Robert

Cersei looking afraid; look closely,we'll never see it again.

Varys: "Who gave the king this wine? What a dutiful boy making sure the man did not lack refreshment. I do hope the boy does not blame himself." Oh Varys, you are always sooo honest.

So Robert gets himself speared by a boar, which he also kills. Renly goes to find Ned, and did anyone notice that he was COVERED IN BLOOD? Oh, and not throwing up or passing out. So Ned goes to see Robert, where he's talking to Joffrey, who actually looks sad, and Cersei looks AFRAID.

Ned is just like what did you do dear friend; and he can not bring himself to tell him the truth about the children. I still think that deep down Robert knew the truth. Robert also tells Ned he was wrong about Daenerys and he should have known better, as the reason he wanted Ned there was to do what he did, say NO. It was sad to see final moments between old friends, and to see a great man, who never recovered from the death of Lyanna, and became someone he hated.

However the big moment is when Ned writes down Robert's last will and testament:

Robert names him Protector of the Realm
Ned does not name Joffrey as heir in the letter; he writes the "rightful" heir (the only smart thing he does all day)
Robert signs and seals it.

Then, he asks for milk of the poppy so he can die in peace. Then we see the conversation between Ned and Renly that I mentioned above.

The next time we see Ned is when he thinks he has all his ducks in a row: that Baelish has gotten him men to remove the Queen and her children, and he can make a peaceful transition to Stannis without Robert's last hours being coated in bloodshed. He even has a letter sent to Stannis about coming to Kings Landing to assume the throne. Bad, bad, idea dear, dear Ned. I love Sean Bean.

So Robert dies, without anyone telling Ned, THE HAND and THE PROTECTOR OF THE REALM. When he is suddenly he is summoned to the throne room by King Sociopath Joffrey, and Cersei, he realized things were not right, and as brave as he was, you could see he was afraid.

King "Sociopath" Joffrey

He knows he is in trouble, and he even tells King Sociopath that he is not the heir to the throne. Again; Right move? Yes. Smart Move NOOOOO.

Ned is in BIG trouble.

Adorable Jon Snow on the Wall

Poor Jon: Uncle B's horse is back, w/out his Uncle

Well, Benjen's horse returns, with no Benjen, and Jon is totally freaked out. I felt bad for him, because as he is about to take his vows it seems his Uncle is missing, then his father is jailed for treason, then his sister's go missing, and it goes on and on. It seems like he loses the most, and he thinks so too. Remember he might look 24 years old, but he is supposed to be 16/17, and in the books he is only 14. But it is acceptance of being part of something bigger than him, having Brothers, and a true best friend in Sam, that we see him grow up, and becoming an honorable man, and a smart leader. I particularly loved how Sam straightens him out, and tells him why he is a steward and not a Ranger.

Well, Jon decides to take his vows in the godswood with the old gods....these trees have the faces of the Children of the Forest, who are part of the old mythology. They supposedly lived there first, and carved their faces on the godswood so they would be remembered. I love this image of the open mouth looking like it's screaming, with tears of blood coming out of its' eyes. The foreshadowing is amazing: