So we come to the end of the first season of Game of Thrones, and what a good season it has been. The first few episodes were slow moving. but did a wonderful job of setting up this new world. Any slowness of the beginning has completely vanished in the back end of this season. Things did, however, slow down ever so slightly in this last episode.
Here there be dragons! More on that at the end, though.
My initial reactions to this finale was underwhelmed. It's in the HBO tradition to have the climax in the next to last episode, with the finale dealing with the fallout. The ending with the Night's Watch and Daenerys were great and overall I loved the episode, but other story lines seemed to just kind of end instead of setting up a new beginning like those two. Looking back over the various stories, I feel my snap judgement was a little harsh. Other stories did set up the next chapter, just not as boisterously as those final two.
Let's start with my favorite scene besides the closing ones. Sansa and Joffrey at the pikes. Joffrey being king has really stepped up his horribleness, but it has also done wonders for Sansa. In the beginning, Sansa was merely an annoying character, there mostly to be a foil for Arya. That scene on the bridge, with her horror at seeing her father's head morphing into anger at Joffrey. Her small act of deviance, and then her contemplation of pushing him to his death were just wonderfully played by Sophie Turner. Was there anything more despicable than the way Joffrey casually told his Kingsguard to hit her? And it seems the Hound may be a little softer than he portrays himself to be.
Sansa's, the Queen's, and Bran's were the stories I felt didn't really feel like they moved forward into something and more were just cut off to be resumed next year. It seems the Queen did send Lancel the squire to kill Robert with poisoned wine, and now she's sleeping with him. I know the Queen is beautiful, but is there any member of the Lannister family that just says "ew, we're related." It also seems that Bran may be forming some kind of prescience with his three eyed crow dreams and knowing that his father had died. Interestingly enough, in his small appearance, Rickon may be, too.
It seems Robb's strategies and leadership have won him enough support that his people no longer feel the need to deal with the goings on of King's Landing. They have declared autonomy and Robb Stark as their King in the North. Robb has really been pushed forth these last few episodes as Ned was moved to the dungeon then killed. It feels a little abrupt, but appropriately so, with a young man having to grow up fast in a harsh world. That young man was still a boy, though, when he was beating on a tree in reaction to his father's death. Both Richard Madden and Michelle Fairley (Catelyn) played their grief beautifully.
Jaime seems remorseful in capture. At least, as remorseful as his bravado lets him get. He seems to hate himself for pushing Bran out the window, but also feels like he would do it again because that's just who he is. I hope this complexity of Jaime comes more to the forefront next year. With Jamie captured and Tyrion finally proving himself, Tywin may actual be respecting his youngest son. Tyrion as the Hand has a wealth of story potential behind it, something I'm very much looking forward to from my favorite character.
Jon at the Wall. This story has never failed since it was introduced a few episodes in. The two weeks we were away from the Wall felt incomplete as episodes. Jon is a man who never felt truly accepted in his life, but his friends show him that this is not the case anymore. Jon has come to the end of his journey of self-defining, he is no longer the unwanted bastard of the Stark household, but a true brother of the Night's Watch. A Night's Watch that is finally going head on against whatever threats are forming beyond the Wall.
Finally, Daenerys, and the wonderful work Emilia Clarke has done all season. Her character, more than anyone else's, has had to grow up this season, and in this final episode she learned her last lessons. Magic saved Drogo's life, but at what cost and to what end. Her son is dead and Drogo lives the life of one just barely above a vegetative state. Dany's talk with the witch opened her eyes to the true cruelty of the world. When she euthanize Drogo, she was also killing the child we saw at the beginning of the season. But from the flames comes rebirth, and in this case, dragons. King Joffrey has a lot more to worry about than Baratheons and Starks and White Walkers. He has a Taragaryen Queen and dragons now, too.
This finale can be viewed as a simultaneous epilogue for season one and prologue for season two, but I know I can't wait for next spring.
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