We've come to the end of the second season of Game of Thrones, and I've had almost two weeks (so lazy) to mull over the finale and the season as a whole. Comparing it to the first season is inevitable and I think there are ways that the second was better, and ways that it's not.
On the plus side the confidence in the storytelling was markedly improved this year. They took the praise that people had for the scenes in the first season that were not from the book and ran with it. Some of the changes worked, some didn't, but I can't fault them for trying to break out some, as long as the themes and essence of the novels are still there. The main thing that I think didn't work was how disparate the stories became, especially the Daenerys and Jon stories being completely removed from Westeros and everyone else. It's a problem that stems from the book, but what works on the page structurally may not work in the series. I like the Jon and Dany stories, but one scene a week doesn't give you enough time to really connect with what's happeneing. It's a high class problem to have so many great characters and stories you want to follow every week, by trying to service them all in 10 hours every year makes things too convoluted. I wonder if next year they may try more often to do an episode like "Blackwater" that focuses solely on one story and leaves everyone else out. It was the best episode of the season, and while leaving so many people out wouldn't work every week, it would help to drive certain stories when big things are happening.
On to the actual finale. The episode opens with a wonderful bit of camera work with the close up of Tyrion's eye first at the battle and then in his recovery room with Grand Maester Pycelle looming over him. It seems he backed the winning horse by following Cersei and now he's come to gloat about it. Cersei may not have managed to kill Tyrion, but he's out and his father Tywin is in. Even more than in, in the next scene Tywin is praised as the savior of King's Landing and Tyrion's part is completely left out. They then get to act out the farce of dropping Sansa as the future queen and giving that title to Margaery Tyrell. Sansa is initially elated, us as well, but Littlefinger steps in to dash those hopes. He also offers his help, even if it is a little creepy. Later, we get back to Tyrion in what I think was the best scene of the episode (Tyrion scenes normally are, especailly now that there's no more Tywin and Arya). Running away with Shae would most likely be the best course of action, but, as he told Varys before the battle, he loves the game too much and to top it off, he's really good at it. If he hadn't been injured, I'm sure he would have found ways to talk himself into not being sidelined as he is now.
From the victorious to the defeated. Stannis is back at Dragonstone to lick his wounds and take out some of his anger on Melisandre. There is some strange interplay going on here. Does she say what he wants to hear to stop him from strangling her to death? Does Stannis actually see something within the flames or just what he wants to see? We know that Melisandre can survive poisoning and birth shadow assassins, but is her magic powerful enough to grant visions of kingship? Things that I suppose we'll delve into next season.
Another one-scene story this week is Arya's meeting with Jaqen which gives us the episode title. Arya's story this year has been one of my favorites. Since her father's death the shelter of the noble class has been stripped from her and she's learned some hard truths about the world. In every situation that's come her way she's not only found a way to stay alive but has sometimes excelled. These hard truths have hardened her as well, but not completely. She's given an out by Jaqen, but she still chooses to try and find her family. We end this story with a nice reveal of more magic, Jaqen is a Faceless Man, world-class assassins that are able to change their face.
If Jaime and Brienne on the road to King's Landing was an entirely separate show, it's a show I would totally watch. Jaime talks big because he is one of the best swordsmen in Westeros, but his confidence in winning surely went down some after Brienne easily bested the three Stark men. They're delving into book three to give more screentime to Jaime, and I don't care in the slightest because it's one of my favorite stories from that book.
Robb seems to not being doing much warring these days. Instead he's getting married against Catelyn's wishes and breaking the agreement they had with Walder Frey. I've been okay with massive changes with the Robb story up to this point. In the book, Robb has gotten Jeyne Westerling (whom Talisa is standing in for in the series) pregnant. This completely changes his motivations, and in my opinion for the better. He's suppose to be his father's son and holds his honor in high regard. In the case of the book, it was a choice between being honorable by upholding his agreement with Frey or being honorable by marrying the girl he got pregnant. In the show, it's solely a choice between honor and love. It makes him look far more stupid that his only reason to anger the Freys was that he's in love. Love plays a part as to why he chooses to marry in the books, but there are more factors in play that make the decision seem less dumb.
Theon at Winterfell was easily my favorite story of the episode. The scene with him and Maester Luwin as the horn sounds outside was great work from both actors, especially Alfie Allen. Him laying out why he's done what he's done and confessing that he may not be the man he's pretending to be, but at this point he has no other choice, just great work. His speech to the Iron Islanders trying to rally them to die a glorious death in battle was also great in an entirely different way. It was also ended hilariously by Dagmer before they gave him up for their freedom to go home. This show can't let the levity last long, though, before Dagmer stabs Luwin in the gut. Bran, Rickon, Osha, and Hodor emerge to find Winterfell has been burned. Why exactly is a mystery that better get answered next year, or else it makes no sense that 500 northmen would burn the castle of their king.
In Qarth, Dany finds her way to the House of the Undying to confront the warlock and get back her dragons. There was some really cool stuff as Dany had to pass the temptations to finally find her way to the dragons. The most heartbreaking being the return of Khal Drogo and their son Rhaego. Turns out the while chaining the Mother of Dragons near her dragons increases the warlock magic, it is also a bad idea. Pyat Pree is taken down way too easily, but in the moment I didn't care because it was dragons breathing fire, and that was awesome. It seems Xaro was just full of bluster and his great riches are all just smoke and mirrors. There is enough wealth lying around that the Khaleesi can finally get that boat she so desperately wants.
North of the Wall, Jon and Qhorin Halfhand are still captured and on their march to see Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall. The Halfhand finally hatches his plan to get Jon on the inside by letting Jon kill him. It's a nice idea in theory, but the execution comes off a little too blatant. Unless the Wildlings believe that Qhorin would never just give up his life like that. In any case, while he might not be entirely in their good graces yet, they at least untie Jon for the final stretch of their journey. In the final scene of the season, we find ourselves back near the Fist with Sam, Gren, and Edd. I do enjoy the banter these three have with each other. It doesn't last long before the dreaded three horn blasts are heard. The White Walkers and their undead army of wights are attacking, complete with zombie horses! The CG was a little rough on the Walker, but it was good enough that it still looked cool. It was a good way to the end the season after what had been a little too scattershot of a finale.
A few final thoughts on the season:
- Thinking back on Daenerys' story from A Clash of Kings, I'm hard pressed to remember much of anything that happens in Qarth outside her visions in the House of the Undying (very different visions and under very different circumstances, no dragon-napping) and an assassination attempt at the very end. In that light, I can't blame the showrunners for spicing up that story.
- Speaking of Qarth, for a show that is not shy about nudity, I wonder why they didn't have the women wear the traditional garb of having their left breast exposed. I suppose it stems from them being criticized for too much unnecessary nudity in season one, and that would certainly be unnecessary.
- Since they didn't introduce Meera and Jojen Reed, I wonder if they're ever going to become part of the Bran story or if their parts are going to be excised completely. Jojen's a big part of Bran realizing his wolf dreams are part of a larger power he possesses.
- I miss the Greatjon from Robb's bannermen. If you don't remember, he's the guy who lost a couple fingers to Greywind and then laughed about it. What happened to that guy? Off fighting in other parts of the war I guess.
- I laid out my pros and cons for the season at the beginning, but overall I'd put it a little ahead of season one if I had to rank. The increased confidence of the storytelling and the actors being more comfortable in their roles makes up for a lot. Also, "Blackwater" was awesome.
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