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| I knew this was the first, last and only time we would see the Stark boys together. Any image from the RW, was too upsetting, so I put this bittersweet moment at the beginning of this entry. |
Although this was not what I expected, this was still one of the best episodes of the series, with "Baelor" being the best.
There were two events that I have dreaded since Season 1: Ned's death, which still makes me well up, sick to my stomach, and the Red Wedding. But the reason Ned's death affected me so much, was how a good, honorable man's last words were everything he was not, and he got his head chopped off for it.
As a book reader, I knew from day one, that King Tywin was writing all of those letters, so he could plan this wedding. He is the only person, who is more of a sociopath than people think, and a narcissist, who could have planned such a well thought out attack.
As for the wedding itself, I was underwhelmed upon the first viewing. I was very upset after reading this event, almost, if not more than the death of Ned. It was a chaotic, drunken, bloody mess in the book, that included the great families of the North, so that we knew what the repercussions of this event meant to the future of the North and the Starks. Robb had body guards who tried to protect him, Grey Wind was chained outside, it was a nightmare. They were also drunk and rowdy, prior to the carnage, which alluded to how well planned this was, and how many of those supposedly loyal to Robb, jumped ship before it sank.
The carnage outside was seen through Arya's eyes, who knew immediately that it looked more like a battle than a wedding. There was fire, and killing everywhere.
And killing a King because he married for love, and honor, is not a slight, worth of mass murder.
So, I am wrapping this up a bit late, as I still was getting a little weepy, but here are my thoughts.....
RW: The Book
I rewatched the episode two more times, to see if I was being too harsh in my feelings about this episode. But although horrified, this was not what I had envisioned for the HBO version of the RW. If you have not read the book, read it, and believe me, there are no words, to describe how much worse this event was on the page, than the one depicted on screen.
I am all about The North and the Starks, being that Jon Snow is my favorite character, hands down. When I saw the burning of the Direwolf flags for 3.10, I felt devastated, as that made me feel as I did when Ned was murdered.
The RW was a brutal act of genocide planned by Lord Tywin, who as usual, got someone else to do his dirty work. Tywin understood that everything the Frey's did that night, would taint them forever, and not the Lannister name. He knew that the Freys were not part of the Higher Houses Club, kind of shady, and Lord Walder desperately wanted to be a player in the game. He was the perfect patsy because he was blinded by the fact he wanted his daughter to be Queen. Thus, Tywin knew that that a man like Lord Walder would not even blink about breaking traditions, because he was not exactly the most clever of men. Afterall, Lord Walder is like the Craster of Westeros.
Tywin made sure that an important event, like the wedding of the King's Uncle, would bring all the of the great houses of the North in one place. In fact, in the book he tells Tyrion, that this way was the cheapest way to get rid of Robb & crew. Oh, and PS-he was supposed to be killed by an arrow, but the bodyguards screwed that up. So Roose, decided to take charge of the situation and use Jaime's name in vain, thinking that he was glorifying himself, by ingratiating the Lannisters. But really, all he did was add some more bonus points to his traitorous ass. It's like I said, Tywin is a monster, he just gets other people to do his dirty work for him. Makes you wonder if Joffrey is not only a monster because he's a product of incest, but because of Tywin, right?
The marriage to Jeyne Westerling was very important because Robb proved that he was his father's son. He married Jeyne, because he slept with her after she nursed him back to health. He was 15 years old, in love, and did not fully realize the implications of his actions. If Robb had been more experienced, he would have seen that marrying Jeyne was honorable, but not worth the cost of breaking an oath to the Freys. This was war, and the stakes were high.
I rewatched the episode two more times, to see if I was being too harsh in my feelings about this episode. But although horrified, this was not what I had envisioned for the HBO version of the RW. If you have not read the book, read it, and believe me, there are no words, to describe how much worse this event was on the page, than the one depicted on screen.
I am all about The North and the Starks, being that Jon Snow is my favorite character, hands down. When I saw the burning of the Direwolf flags for 3.10, I felt devastated, as that made me feel as I did when Ned was murdered.
The RW was a brutal act of genocide planned by Lord Tywin, who as usual, got someone else to do his dirty work. Tywin understood that everything the Frey's did that night, would taint them forever, and not the Lannister name. He knew that the Freys were not part of the Higher Houses Club, kind of shady, and Lord Walder desperately wanted to be a player in the game. He was the perfect patsy because he was blinded by the fact he wanted his daughter to be Queen. Thus, Tywin knew that that a man like Lord Walder would not even blink about breaking traditions, because he was not exactly the most clever of men. Afterall, Lord Walder is like the Craster of Westeros.
Tywin made sure that an important event, like the wedding of the King's Uncle, would bring all the of the great houses of the North in one place. In fact, in the book he tells Tyrion, that this way was the cheapest way to get rid of Robb & crew. Oh, and PS-he was supposed to be killed by an arrow, but the bodyguards screwed that up. So Roose, decided to take charge of the situation and use Jaime's name in vain, thinking that he was glorifying himself, by ingratiating the Lannisters. But really, all he did was add some more bonus points to his traitorous ass. It's like I said, Tywin is a monster, he just gets other people to do his dirty work for him. Makes you wonder if Joffrey is not only a monster because he's a product of incest, but because of Tywin, right?
The marriage to Jeyne Westerling was very important because Robb proved that he was his father's son. He married Jeyne, because he slept with her after she nursed him back to health. He was 15 years old, in love, and did not fully realize the implications of his actions. If Robb had been more experienced, he would have seen that marrying Jeyne was honorable, but not worth the cost of breaking an oath to the Freys. This was war, and the stakes were high.
It is also important to remember that Robb is seen through a mother's eyes, as he is not a POV. Cat was smart, and knew from her interactions with the Freys over the years, that there could be greater repercussions for Robb's actions. I believe that Lord Walder had tried to marry some of his brood into Riverrun when she was younger, and her father had flatly refused. Lord Tywin was also angry (and added to the lack of respect that he had for his father), that his father had married his sister to a Frey, because he thought they were beneath them. Cat knew that this marriage would be more than a slight, because Lord Walder wanted his daughter to be Queen.
Cat made sure that they ate upon their arrival, so that they would be protected by the Guest's Right. If you break this tradition which is hundreds of years old, the taint will never leave your house. But Grey Wind, was freaking out on the way in, so the reader immediately knew that something was very, very wrong. In fact, he attacked the welcoming party, and Robb could not calm him down. He had to actually get off his horse, and talk to him, so he would stop attacking Freys. In an earlier scene, Grey Wind had been barking at a Frey and Cat begged Robb to send him away, (he does, even though he thought she was overreacting) because she knew that the wolves were special, and Grey Wind always knew when someone was dangerous. But Robb had to kiss up to Lord Frey so he could get his men, and make amends for breaking an oath.
He was very angry that he had to leave Grey Wind outside, as the Freys tried to put him in a kennel (as they do in the show), and Robb tells them that he's a direwolf, not a dog. Everyone knew that Grey Wind could take out a large group of people without a problem, (he's the size of a pony & likes throats) and would have protected Robb, until either he or Robb were killed. Thus, the Freys asked Robb to chain him up outside, before he entered the Hall.
He was very angry that he had to leave Grey Wind outside, as the Freys tried to put him in a kennel (as they do in the show), and Robb tells them that he's a direwolf, not a dog. Everyone knew that Grey Wind could take out a large group of people without a problem, (he's the size of a pony & likes throats) and would have protected Robb, until either he or Robb were killed. Thus, the Freys asked Robb to chain him up outside, before he entered the Hall.
The path to Robb's death was very similar to that of his father's; he put too much faith in loyalty and honor. He even says that he was always trying to rule as his father did, and had trouble understanding why Karstark, in particular had betrayed him. But the other strong houses of the North remained loyal, and supported his decision to name Karstark a traitor, and to kill him as such; kinsman or not. A huge part of Robb as King of the North, was the unflinching loyalty of the great leaders, like the Greatjon.
Some ask if Ned had run this campaign, would he have lost his life for the same reasons? No, because he was older, an experienced fighter, and would have made smarter choices. Ned was an anomaly of a man in Westeros (except for Jaime, who never cheated on Cersei), who as far as I understood, never cheated on Cat (I do not think that he is Jon's father). If Robb had been older, and knew the gray world of Westeros, he probably could have taken back the North. Ned lost his life, not because of his honor code on the battlefield, he just refused to compromise it, so he could play the Game.
Some ask if Ned had run this campaign, would he have lost his life for the same reasons? No, because he was older, an experienced fighter, and would have made smarter choices. Ned was an anomaly of a man in Westeros (except for Jaime, who never cheated on Cersei), who as far as I understood, never cheated on Cat (I do not think that he is Jon's father). If Robb had been older, and knew the gray world of Westeros, he probably could have taken back the North. Ned lost his life, not because of his honor code on the battlefield, he just refused to compromise it, so he could play the Game.
RW: HBO & some Book
We all know that they had to age up all of the characters because they were too young to be doing certain things like: Arya becoming a soicopath at 9 years old, and Dany having sex at 13 years old.
I liked the fact they aged Robb up, and gave him a bigger part in the show, as he did not have a POV. But Richard Madden is in his late 20's, he was physically much larger between season one and two, which was good, as it made his being King of the North, more believable. He was always impressive in his full Stark gear, and when he had conversations with Karstark for example, he spoke to him, man to man. As we saw in S2, he inspired loyalty amongst his men, and that was impressive for someone so young. He was supposed to be 17, but I easily forgot that he was that young, as he made his decisions w/conviction. They showed him walking amongst his men, as any good leader does, to make sure he is in contact with his men. Cat warned him, when she saw him drooling over Talisa, that he was his father's son. Ned fulfilled his obligation after Brandon was murdered, and he needed to keep his oath to the Freys.
HOWEVER, I really liked the final scene between him and Cat, when he apologizes or as much as a man/son could, and that he should have listened to her about Theon. He says that she was right about Theon, and that cost him Winterfell, his brothers, and the North. The attack of Casterly Rock was a huge risk even w/the Frey army behind him, and both he and his mother were aware that they could end up like Ned, or worse. It was go big, or go home, because as Cat said, she wanted vengeance. This was a bold plan, and I began to see a tiny glimpse of our King of the North again; even though I knew that the end was near.
The choice to marry Talisa, was in complete juxtaposition to the man we had seen throughout most of S2. The writers should not have made him look so oblivious to the consequences of his actions. Robb was a smart, honorable man, and this made him look like a foolish boy king. Talisa was from Volantis and the people of Westeros did not care about anyone beyond the Narrow Sea. He could have been w/her, married the Frey girl, and she would have vanished.
It also diminished the huge influence that Ned had upon Robb as a ruler. It made him look selfish, not honorable, because he put his own feelings above winning back the North, and defeating the Lannisters. Marrying Jeyne Westerling, was a bad move, but at least we saw that it was about youth, love and it reiterated the cost of truly being his father's son.
His love for Talisa, never should have been above winning back the North, and that is what it started to look like to me. Even though they had the second damning moment of his campaign: killing Karstark, as something that only Ned's son would do, the damage to his character had been done.
The most annoying moment of all, was when we had to listen to: "we're so happy and in love, and guess what? I'm pregnant and I'm going to tell my mom, and oh honey, you're the best. Oh, and then when you win, you can come to Volantis and meet her!" Go to Volantis? Are you kidding me with this? Yes, that's what the King of the North would do, especially after all that he would have to do to win it back. Plus, winter REALLY is coming.
It also diminished the huge influence that Ned had upon Robb as a ruler. It made him look selfish, not honorable, because he put his own feelings above winning back the North, and defeating the Lannisters. Marrying Jeyne Westerling, was a bad move, but at least we saw that it was about youth, love and it reiterated the cost of truly being his father's son.
His love for Talisa, never should have been above winning back the North, and that is what it started to look like to me. Even though they had the second damning moment of his campaign: killing Karstark, as something that only Ned's son would do, the damage to his character had been done.
The most annoying moment of all, was when we had to listen to: "we're so happy and in love, and guess what? I'm pregnant and I'm going to tell my mom, and oh honey, you're the best. Oh, and then when you win, you can come to Volantis and meet her!" Go to Volantis? Are you kidding me with this? Yes, that's what the King of the North would do, especially after all that he would have to do to win it back. Plus, winter REALLY is coming.
But that moment disappeared pretty quickly, as Robb & Talisa were all lovey, dovey at the wedding, and the tension was palpable. When they are talking about baby names at the event right before the killing begins, it was supposed to make her murder, more poignant. But again, it was a waste of a scene, as we already knew about the baby, and he should have been more aware of his surroundings.
It was also unfortunate they did not have the GreatJon there, although small clues of the other houses being there, were seen by the reader. Plus, Robb might have been in love, but he was not fool enough to act that way (Talisa did stop him the first time) and further insult Lord Frey. Frankly, I did not think he was quite so comfortable in the book, as he wanted out of there, and to be done with it. But this Robb seemed relieved that the wedding was done, ignored the uneasy feeling in the room, and forgot that the woman beside him was the reason that he was there in the first place.
It was also unfortunate they did not have the GreatJon there, although small clues of the other houses being there, were seen by the reader. Plus, Robb might have been in love, but he was not fool enough to act that way (Talisa did stop him the first time) and further insult Lord Frey. Frankly, I did not think he was quite so comfortable in the book, as he wanted out of there, and to be done with it. But this Robb seemed relieved that the wedding was done, ignored the uneasy feeling in the room, and forgot that the woman beside him was the reason that he was there in the first place.
I also did not like how Roose deliberately let Cat see the armor beneath his shirt. I know it was done to show that he was sticking it to her for setting Jaime free, but it ruined the shock value. In the book, she sees the mail by accident on a Frey, as he shuts the door. Roose was a traitor, plain and simple, and I think that he was on the verge of jumping ship, when they arrived at Harrenhall and saw the dead bodies. Remember he was telling Karstark that he had his best hunters looking for Jaime as they were watching Robb and Talisa look at the dead Northerners? Makes your remember this line:
"You lost the war, the day you married her", Lord Karstark to the King of the North.
Roose did not want to end up w/his head on a pike next to Ned's. When they were eating & drinking at the reception and he is w/Cat and the BlackFish, he states that he had married a Frey and was now a very rich man...hint, hint, Lannister gold?
"You lost the war, the day you married her", Lord Karstark to the King of the North.
Roose did not want to end up w/his head on a pike next to Ned's. When they were eating & drinking at the reception and he is w/Cat and the BlackFish, he states that he had married a Frey and was now a very rich man...hint, hint, Lannister gold?
After Edmure and his wife were bedded, Cat heard the song, and saw the doors being locked. Lord Frey silenced the room, and speaks to Robb, so that so he will be in position to be hit by the arrows. Roose does his show and tell, Cat slapped him, and he dashed to the other side of the room. Cat screams at Robb to run, and the first thing we see is Talisa looking confused, and then brutally stabbed in the stomach, as Robb watches in shock and is taken down by the arrows. Watching the soldier going straight for Talisa's stomach, made the betrayal seem all the more palpable, because they knew she was pregnant, and deliberately ensured (or thought they did) that the Stark line was now dead.
The carnage begins as throats are slit, arrows fly, and the room is in total chaos. Lord Frey is laughing as he watched the slaughter of the North, and even mocks Robb "look at the King of the North now", as he drags himself to Talisa's body. It was nauseating...But Cat saved that final scene, as I was still in shock over Talisa. Robb pushes himself up to stand, he turns to Cat and says "Mother", Roose kills him, and says the famous line about the Lannisters (sans Jaime). Cat's scream sealed the deal, and her grief brought Robb's death up to and beyond that of Talisa's, because she watched her first and (and who she thought was her last living child), murdered before her eyes. He was all she had left, and then she slits the Frey girls throat, someone slits hers, and black.
Arya
Our dear girl, although saved by the Hound, is once again at the scene of the death of her family. In this case it was her mother and brother, and it's like watching Ned die all over again. You can see the hope in her eyes as she jumps out of the wagon, and watches the Northerners partying. But then she starts to look worried because Grey Wind is going insane & is locked up. It looks as if she is about to set Grey Wind free, but suddenly Northerners are being slaughtered, Grey Wind is killed, and the Hound knocks her out.
Unfortunately, this is the last straw, and Arya will become a lost soul, and is just done. Vengeance will be the only thing that will sustain her, and I look forward to seeing Maisie Williams show Arya go stone cold, as we will follow on her journey to Braavos in S4. It will lead her to, you guessed it, the temple where her training to become one of the Faceless Men shall begin.
Since the finale is tonight, I do not want to discuss Dany, Jon and Bran in 3.09. But I will talk about them and the characters we saw in 3.07/3.08 in a separate posting, after I complete 3.10.
Next up: 3.10 Part I "Mhysa" (important events from 3.07 & 3.08 were merged in 3.10 Part I)
*"Images and Quotes courtesy of HBO's "Game of Thrones"3.09
Arya
Our dear girl, although saved by the Hound, is once again at the scene of the death of her family. In this case it was her mother and brother, and it's like watching Ned die all over again. You can see the hope in her eyes as she jumps out of the wagon, and watches the Northerners partying. But then she starts to look worried because Grey Wind is going insane & is locked up. It looks as if she is about to set Grey Wind free, but suddenly Northerners are being slaughtered, Grey Wind is killed, and the Hound knocks her out.
Unfortunately, this is the last straw, and Arya will become a lost soul, and is just done. Vengeance will be the only thing that will sustain her, and I look forward to seeing Maisie Williams show Arya go stone cold, as we will follow on her journey to Braavos in S4. It will lead her to, you guessed it, the temple where her training to become one of the Faceless Men shall begin.
Since the finale is tonight, I do not want to discuss Dany, Jon and Bran in 3.09. But I will talk about them and the characters we saw in 3.07/3.08 in a separate posting, after I complete 3.10.
Next up: 3.10 Part I "Mhysa" (important events from 3.07 & 3.08 were merged in 3.10 Part I)
*"Images and Quotes courtesy of HBO's "Game of Thrones"3.09
I think the show producers, "D&D" blew the RW!
ReplyDeleteOthers have noted that the show did not bother to make the RW buildup/atmosphere the same as in the books so I will mention 2 other negatives that struck me about the episode.
1) A lot of book readers seem to have forgotten that after the crossbow volleys (a more violent weapon in reality than the show portrayed I think) a second wave of attackers, some in plate armor, rush into the eating hall with LONGAXES to hack up Robs lead bannermen.
This was a key event that kept the shock of the attack ramping upwards to end with Rob and Cats deaths. It said a lot about the bannermen, who, even after taking a wave of crossbow bolts. still tried to put up a valiant fight and where just overwhelmed by the utterly ruthless violence of the attack (which was in effect a military attack in a civil setting!).
In the book, right after the RW chapter is Aryas where she and The Hound desperately try to survive the massacre occuring outside the Frey castle, as Robs men are being killed by fire and sword in the tents. An altered & reduced version of this was shown in S3E10 but the week long delay and changes watered down the effect and connection with the evens happening inside the castle.
2) Talisa's death; the graphic portrayal of a pregnant woman getting stabbed in the womb was tasteless and has really soured the show for me. Basically you need a LOT more justification before such an atrocity can be shown and GOT has not earned it.
All sorts of excuses are being given by show apologists for this bit of gore-porn garbage, but I put it down to the producer-scriptwriters "D&D" just being neither subtle nor responsible (these guys are also responsible for the superfluous/gratuitous nudity that GOT has become infamous for).
The poor handling of the RW in the show leads me to doubt the producers have what it takes to do ASOIAF justice, which is a real shame because in many areas it has set new standards for fantasy and drama (the scope of it, the acting, costuming, sets, FX and cinematography).
I absolutely agree with you! I am actually writing 3.10, and I am just mixing a lot of other thoughts in there. But, I wrote in an earlier post, that I believed that Roz, who PS wasted valuable screen time, and was a non entity as far as I was concerned, was written so that she could be a reminder of King Sociopath's sexual proclivities. It was horrific, and after seeing them write Talisa in the same way, ie. she was a fake character, there was no reason that Jeyne Westerling should not have been used, and the brutality of her murder, convinced me that these two women really were tools that the writers used for shock value.
DeleteBut, this will sound better, when I finish my next recap. But I am so glad someone agreed with me! and that you enjoyed my thoughts