Game of Thrones - 1x05 - The Wolf and the Lion

This week no Jon at the Wall and no Targaryens, but the tightened focus led to the best episode so far.

I did miss seeing the Wall, which so far had been my favorite part of series, but the sharpening of the story down to just the two houses of the title (Wolf and Lion, Stark and Lannister) and their deep seated hatred of each other, led to a real stand out episode.  Ned's refusal to stoop to killing a young girl and unborn child sealed his reputation as the morally righteous.  When you here King Robert talking about how badly things would be if the Dothraki crossed the sea, you can't help but wonder if Ned is actually in the right on his side of the argument.  That particular scene with the King and Queen was the high point of the episode.  Them rehashing their loveless marriage made the King seem more sympathetic, when he's been mostly portrayed as an oaf.

Another great moment came when Littlefinger and Varys confronted each other in the throne room.  Both parties trying to one up the other with the knowledge they hold in an incredible verbal sparring match.  Littlefinger seems to come out on top with the knowledge of Varys meeting in the dungeon with Illyrio from across the Narrow Sea that Arya overheard.  With both these characters, you're not quite sure where their loyalties lie, which is what makes them so fun to watch.

It seems that more than just the Targaryens are plotting to take the throne.  The King's younger brother, Renly, has his interest spark by his lover in their manscaping session.  For him to ascend to throne would take the death of both his older brothers and the king's two sons.  That's a lot of bloodshed to put on a man that has never seen battle.

Catelyn may be slowly starting to wonder how guilty Tyrion is.  He does save her life on the Kingsroad from the hill tribes, and he makes an excellent point about giving a one of a kind knife to an assassin that could be easily tracked back to him.  Catelyn is most definitely regretting taking Tyrion to the Eyrie where her sister seems to have gone completely mad.  Tyrion's cell is certainly a wonderfully designed holding place.  Feel free to leave, by plummeting to your death.

Catelyn's abduction of Tyrion leads to the wonderful confrontation between Ned and Jamie at the end of the episode.  Ned nobly takes responsibility for his wife's actions, and Jamie knows he has to keep Ned alive or Tyrion will be killed.  Ned's men on the other hand don't fare as well.  We finally get to see Jamie in action where he easily dispatches Jory with a stab to the eye.  Then Ned and Jamie have at it, the quick vs the powerful and seem evenly matched until Ned takes a stab through the knee by one of Jamie's men.  Great conclusion to a great episode.