"I think it passing odd that I am loved for a kindness I never did, and reviled by many for my finest act" Jaime Lannister , "Clash of Kings"
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| The Gorgeous Jaime Lannister |
I know that many viewers hate Jaime Lannister as he is a man who pushed a child out the window to keep his affair w/Cersei a secret, kills Jory in order to incite Ned Stark to fight him in front of a brothel in Kings Landing, and ends up injuring our beloved Ned. He tortures Brienne by calling her ugly and like she doesn't feel bad enough, he is very cruel, much more so than we see on the show. This is also the same man, who was the only one who loved Tyrion, and who we later find out questioned the fact that he was protecting the Mad King, as he proceeded with his burning and raping; amongst his other lovely hobbies.
As a book reader, we know that many also hated him because he was an oath breaker, and thus the nickname Kingslayer. Many disagree with me, but he did not hate being called Kingslayer because of what people said about him. He hated it because he could not understand why no one thought killing a man for the horrifying death of Ned's father and brother, was a bad thing, even though it made him an oath breaker. Thus the infamous quote about oaths, which he says to Jon Snow in 1.01. He tells Ned, in 1.07 , that standing in a room of 500 people that was deathly quiet except for the screams of his father being boiled alive in his armor, and the laughter of Aerys, truly was a reason for why he killed the Mad King. But naturally Ned did not believe him, and just calls him an oath breaker.
Therefore, he may seem an odd choice, but losing his sword hand, turns him into a completely different man. It puts him on a path (both painful & long, as it continues in ADWD), where a man, who believes he has lost everything, slowly begins to see his world with clearer eyes. He loses everything when he loses his hand, including his identity. The fact that he sees himself as nothing more than an amazing swordsman, is actually sad in and of itself.
The show has written his arc quite well, and NCW has captured his essence, and really is the Kingslayer. The way he is described in the books, seemed to me as if he looked like a young Brad Pitt in that movie "Legend". His image as rich, gorgeous, unbeatable with a sword, and unbelievably arrogant is important. Even Book Cat, when she frees him w/Brienne, notes that even dirty, with wildly grown out hair and beard, he was still glowing like an adonis. This is important, as it is a juxtaposition to Brienne's looks, and the relationship that develops between them.
Since the first season Jaime's future character development was shown by throwing out bread crumbs to the non book reader, many of whom many did not like him at all. We see him in moments where suddenly he was all alone, ie standing in front of Robert's door, and suddenly everyone was gone. It was done both metaphorically and literally, which I loved, because seeing the infamous Kingslayer, worshipped by many a young squire and many women as well alone, really alone, was not what you would expect.
Here is a great example:
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| HBO Jaime: if you have not read the books, I think this photo shows there is more to Jaime that meets the eye |
In this episode he tells Brienne that she should "close her eyes and pretend its Renly", so that she will not be killed. Yes, it is cold hearted, but if you know what he heard/saw Aerys do to his wife, it is not a surprising comment. So when he is sitting against the tree listening to her screaming, he makes up the lie about how the sapphires that come from the land of Tarth, will be given to Locke, if she is returned "unbesmirched".
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| I can't sit here and let her be raped and killed. I had to listen to it before, but this time I am going to do something about it. |
NCW was amazing in this scene. His tone, and how he throws money and titles at Locke, gets him into trouble, as this psycho does not like the fact that he is being looked down upon by the great Jaime Lannister.
And then we see Jaime being forced onto a table with a knife in his eye, and well, we know what happened next. I thought the music was perfect, because after the hand was cut off, there's a brief second, & he screams. The viewer's reaction is, wtf just happened? was mirrored by the music.
I fell in love with the Kingslayer after he loses his hand, and I hope many of you will see, what I did, while reading ASOS.
Let's get into it:
Kings Landing
So here we are again at the Council of Vipers and Weasels, and it looks like weasels #1 & #2, aka Littlefinger and Varys are closest to Tywin, who is still standing, and then Pycelle. Cersei decides to drag her chair at the corner nearest to Tywin, and Tyrion places his chair so that he will face Tywin. The stimulating conversation consists of no one being able to find Jaime, the location of the King of the North, and Roose Bolton has settled in to Harrenhall. Thus we move to other topics such as the fact that Littlefinger is becoming Lord of the Vale, by marrying the insane Lysa Arryn! You know, the one who was still breast feeding her nine year old? Lord Baelish says how they were fond of each other in their youth (hopefully non-book readers will learn how friendly), and he looks forward to his big move. Tywin wants him to ensure that she is on Team Tywin, but I think if he knew that she was crazy, he might want to kick her off it. This leaves an opening on the Council! So, Tyrion becomes the Master of Coin, and I just know this is going to end badly, I just know it.....and so we are at Littlefinger's office/whorehouse.
Littlefinger's office/whorehouse
We have some sextaposition thrown in as Tyrion, Bronn and Podrick take out all of the books. Baelish thanks Tyrion for saving Ros, and wonders why would Cersei even think that she was Tyrion's whore? Tyrion just tells him to go ask Cersei. Suddenly it is the best day ever for Podrick! He gets was it 3 or 4 whores with a variety of skills, who have been generously paid by Tyrion to be deflowered. Then he returns, with Tyrion's money, which apparently no one wanted to take, because well, Podrick the virgin is gifted in the bedroom, although he has no experience. I know there is more to this than it just being there for a laugh, I just know it!
Tyrion and Bronn
I love the Tyrion and Bronn show, just as much as I love the Jaime/Brienne show. So Tyrion is flipping through the massive books of debt that has been accumulated, and discovers that Baelish has been borrowing from the Iron Bank of Braavos. Well, now we know why Tywin placed Tyrion in this position, because now he can be the fall guy when the Iron Bank, aka Braavos' version of the mob, come and get all of the money that they are owed. As Tyrion says "they always get their money back". And I would not be surprised if the Faceless Men, are the ones who do it, and as we saw with Jaquen, they are badass, and can never be caught, because they can change the way they look!
Stannis
I have no idea what was going on with this scene, as Stannis was downright pathetic, which is so un-Stannis. Melisandre says, "Your fires are burning low my Lord", so I guess no more shadow babies to get rid of your enemies for you! Ouch! But she does inform him that he needs to make sacrifices to the Red God, and she needs kings blood. In the book, there is a character who is alive, and named Edrik Storm, and the last of Robert's living bastard children. However, in the show, we have our dear Gendry, who now has an enormous bulls-eye on his back. But don't forget, Melisandre will be put on Arya's kill list if she messes w/her boy, and believe you me, I would not want to be on that list.
Theon
This is such a waste of precious story time, that I can hardly stand it. Last season when he is about to behead Ser Rodrick, he says "Gods save you Theon Greyjoy", I knew exactly what he meant. Theon deserved to die for what he had done to the Starks and Winterfell. But when we see him again in the books after about 2+ years of torture, was a fate no man deserves.
In any case, I do not think the writers are trying to cultivate sympathy for Theon, but rather reveal he is being punished, and he is also a victim of a war that his father had started eight years prior. We could have figured out that he was being tortured all this time, if we saw him in 3.05 and 3.10. The reveal that his captor is Ramsey Snow, bastard son of Roose Bolton, could have been in 3.10, and that would have been enough. I mean really "Winter is Coming?", those are not only the Stark's words, but the words of the North.
We barely saw Jaime in season 2, why couldn't we see very little of Theon in season 3? If you think King Sociopath is bad, Ramsay Snow makes him seem like a walk in the park. He's a defcon 5 psycho, who infamously loved letting his prisoners think they escaped, capture them and torture them some more.
Arya
Sadly we did not have much happen here, but we did get rid of Hot Pie. I was glad they wrote him out quickly, and as in the book, he remains at the inn, where he can happily bake bread. It was a sweet moment when he gives Arya some bread which is supposed to look like a wolf, and she yells back to him that it tastes really good.
Our beloved Arya, is also po'ed at Gendry for making armor for people she does not trust. But she is most interested in staring at the Hound being loaded up into the paddy wagon.If you remember, the Hound is on her kill list, for running down the butchers boy after the incident with Joffrey.
Riverrun
So here we are at the funeral of Lord Hoster, where Robb has just pushed his grandfather's funeral pyre to the afterlife into the river. But then we see, wait, it's Brutus! No way, so we have Julius Caesar and Brutus on this show! Now all we need is Marc Antony, who I want on this show so bad, but he's on "The Following" right now. Anyway, it actually is Edmure Tully, who is trying to shoot the flaming arrow so that it will land and burn his father's funeral pyre. He looks like a complete idiot, and than the totally awesome Blackfish, grabs the bow and arrow, looks at the flag, shoots the arrow, sets the pyre on fire, throws the bow at Edmure and walks away.
Awesome! So then we move to a conversation where the Blackfish is basically calling Edmure an idiot, and he should not call Robb, "nephew", but your Grace, because Robb is his King. Edmure has gone for the glory, and not for the "smart choice", in regards to a battle where he lost slightly above 200 men, and captured 2 Lannister kids. Robb also states quite eloquently that this kind of ruined his plan of luring the Mountain out so they could surround and kill him. He said this strategy would have worked because the Mountain is "a mad dog, without a strategic thought in his body". Well, I bet Edmure was feeling really empowered after this meeting.
Then we have a scene with Talisa and the two young boys and a little bedtime story about how Robb really does become a direwolf at night.
We also have a great conversation between the Blackfish and Cat. She is talking about how she believes that Bran & Rickon are dead (which I might add is pretty important that both she and Robb think that they are), and compares it to her waiting for her father to return from war. The Blackfish tells her that she must be strong for both herself and Robb that they are alive. You could see how tired she was of having to be "strong", as she really has not even had time to adequately grieve for the love of her life, Ned.
Beyond the Wall
Jon Snow
Well, I guess that I will have to accept that Ghost is still very confused and lost. However, two important events take place: we arrive at the Fist of the First Men where we see no men of the NW, but we do see some beautiful artwork courtesy of the Others, who apparently have watched the Godfather.
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| Wow! I guess the Others have seen the eye of a hurricane |
The jury is still out as to whether or not Mance and Tormund are good representations of the characters in the book. Tormund and Jon develop an important relationship in the book. As Jaime losing his hand was the best thing to happen to him, infiltrating the wildlings is the best thing to happen to Jon, and is essential to the his character's development. I remember thinking as I read the books, that oddly as time went on, that ironically, Jon was actually safer than everyone else. (as safe as one can be in their world)
The Nights Watch
Craster's Keep, ugh. Craster is his warm and fuzzy self, and was not too thrilled at having to host the much smaller NW. During a lovely meal, Craster insults Sam, and says they should eat him, you know, he being in such great shape and all.
We also hear the screaming of a woman in labor, and Craster lovingly says "she can bite on a rag, or bite on my fist". Sam leaves the happy tent, and goes to see who is in labor and it is Gilly. At least we know how long they have been gone, right? Unfortunately Gilly has had a son, and all the women immediately have looks of fear in their faces. But remember only Jon, Craster and Jorah Mormont know that Craster sacrifices the baby boys to the Others.
We still have not gotten an explanation as to why The Others are hermaphrodites, and take baby boys and turn them into, well an Other.
Oh wait, I forgot, Ghost seems to still be confused that Sam is Jon, and is following the NW, because Sam sees him in the woods.
Dany
She is walking down the Walk of Punishment with her two sidekicks, and decides to try to give water to a dying slave on the crucifix. He refuses the water, and says something that we cannot hear.
OT: I have just finished watching Spartacus, and if you are familiar at all with Ancient Roman history, they had something called the "Appian Way". It crucified the rebels from the armies of Spartacus as a reminder of what happens if a slave rebels against his master.
In Astapor, the message is the same, as its society is built upon a culture of slavery. Thus Dany, who we know is obsessed with freeing slaves, is all fired up, which is good, because she is going to buy herself some Unsullied.
However, there is a discussion between Joras and Ser Barristan as to why and why not she should purchase the Unsullied. Ser Barristan, does a Ned, and states that her brother's men followed him, because they loved him, and that is more honorable than having an army of slaves. He thinks that she should go to Westeros and gather an army of loyal soldiers there, and not in Astapor. Jorah, says that's all well and good, but it will not remove the horrors of war such as rape, slaughter of the innocent, etc.. "There is a beast in every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand", aka, a man is a man, but if they will do whatever you want w/out question, the beast will remain contained. Yet, Ser Barristan insists that his way is better, but than Ser Jorah, who is looking more sexy than usual, says : "Rhaegar fought valiantly, Rhaegar fought nobly, Rhaegar fough honorably and Rhaegar died.", which maybe is not the honorable reason, but it is the SMART reason to buy the Unsullied.
Since I have been waiting for the culmination of this scenario since the first trailers of season 3, I felt very impatient as I watched Dany, via a translator, buy all 8,000 of the Unsullied, and take Missandei as part of the deal. Naturally the slave owner, keeps insulting her, and that she can't afford any of them, but she says that she will give them her largest dragon. Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan are horrified, and tell her that she can't do that, etc....
When leaving the slavers, she says to the most loyal men that she will ever find; "You're both here to advise me, and if you ever question me in front of strangers again, you'll be advising someone else". Yeah! the Dany who I loved in the books is back! I was very disappointed last season because I had just finished reading ADWD, and by the end of that book, I had lost all respect for Dany and her antics. Prior to reading that book, I loved her, and missed her in "A Feast for Crows". But, I felt the same way listening to her say "I will burn you, blah, blah, blah", in S2 that I did at the end of the fifth book!
Finally, as she strolls off with Missandei, and describes the incident with the slave and did she know what he said to her? "Valar Morghulis", "all men must die", and she says,"but we are not men". Oh yes, and she's back on track, and I am sooo psyched!
Yeah, and I know that I am a week behind, but I will still see you for 3.04!!
**Images courtesy of HBO "Game of Thrones" 3.03
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