The original creator himself, George R. R. Martin, the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire books, has penned a very intriguing episode. A lot of balls are in the air and things are gearing up for final two episodes.
Things pick up immediately where they left off last week. However, not in the same location as the cliffhanger in the throne room. Lannister men are rampaging through the part of the castle used by the Hand, killing all of Ned's people, whether guard or cook, man and woman. It seems the only people left of the Stark household are Ned, Sansa, and Arya. Septa Mordane goes to a noble end, while Syrio gets the more gallant treatment. His protection of Arya and his taking down of the knights with only a wooden sword really shows why he is considered a master swordsman. His fate is left uncertain and I sincerely hope that he somehow survived.
Ned himself has been thrown into a cell to stew on the stupidity of the his actions. And if he didn't realize beforehand that stupidity, Vary's drives it home for him. Ned wanted to spare the children, because he knew telling Robert would be their death sentence. He, in turn, let Cersei scheme to have the king killed. Vary's line of Ned's mercy killing the king really drove home to him how his decisions have royally mucked things up.
Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys does not like the treatment of women by the Dothraki in their pillaging. Ser Jorah tells her that it is their culture and that this pillaging is necessarily if they are to buy boats to get to Westeros. The Khaleesi may realize the necessity, but draws the line at the sexual enslavement of the women. She pleads her case to Drogo who is willing to oblige his wife, but one of his men disagrees. Drogo easily dispatches of him but it shows doubts among the rank and file of the Dothraki. They may be willing to follow their Khal, but the Khaleesi is an outsider who more and more seems to be forcing her outsider ways on the Khal and the Dothraki. The invasion of Westeros hasn't even started and already there are problems, but nothing goes easy in this world.
Tyrion returns and I was very glad to have him back. His little speech to Bronn about how he should stay in his service and then his conversation with the hill tribes were classic Tyrion, filled with mirth and laced with truth. His conversation with his father was much more subdued, and you can tell he doesn't care much for dealing with his father. Bronn's line of "You wouldn't know him," was my favorite from the episode. Tyrion and him are becoming a nice comic duo. And now Tyrion is forced to fight against the men the Starks have amassed.
Robb has now upgrading to an actual character as opposed to that eldest Stark son. He has put together an army of 20,000 and has been able to quell any resistance to a mere boy commanding that many men. The way he wins over Greatjohn was a comically morbid scene with him losing two fingers to Robb's direwolf. Robb also talks of his father's mercy when a Lannister spy is caught. While Ned's mercy killed his friend, we have yet to see is letting the spy go will end badly or not.
Osha's warning to Bran this week is entirely true, because zombies are loose at the wall. The White Walkers may be starting to gear up for actual fighting. Those bodies sure were left close to the wall, and the zombie Jon killed went straight for the commander. Cut off the head before attacking sounds like a good plan to me. Sam also gets to show his worth by pointing out the bodies did not smell of rotting even though they had been dead a while.
The final throne room scene ends the episode with a much quieter tone than the previous episode's throne room scene. Poor Ser Barristan, faithfully served for many years in the Kingsguard only to be shoved out the door of what is supposed to be a lifelong service. If only he had backed up his words of being able to take out the other knights and dealt with Joffrey then. I don't think we've seen the last of him and Cersei will come to regret his forced retirement. Also, poor, naive Sansa. She still believes that Joffrey has feelings for her and she can convince him to show mercy. She may be whiny brat, but this scene makes you feel for her through the love she has for her father. The episode ends with many things in play that are sure to lead to an explosive final two episodes.
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