Game of Thrones is in something of a pickle. Despite the many good scenes we’ve had so far this season, it still feels like one step forward and two back.
An example of something going well: Arya’s story. This week sees Arya performing her first mercy kill (ironically this lack thereof previously with the Hound seemed to be holding her back), and finally see the hall of faces. The set-piece is terrifically spooky and one can only imagine the amount of work that went into making the face asks that adorn it (and doubtless there are plenty of cast/crew cameos therein). Arya herself is slipping further away as No One takes over, of course, Arya buried Needle so hopefully we won’t truly lose her.
I’d like to give special props for Jorah and Tyrion’s conversation this week. Jorah seems to have mellowed a little towards everyone’s favourite Lannister since contracting Grey-scale. The two share a moment that reflects on father’s, with Jorah learning of the death of his own. It’s been two seasons since Lord Commander Mormont was killed by mutineers, but it still feels incredibly raw here and Iain Glen nails it.
Cersei and Olenna Tyrell finally have a scene together, with the former doing her best Tywin Lannister impression and the latter doing her best at not caring in the slightest. Unfortunately, Loras is still being investigated for his alledged ‘perversions’ (the words of the Sept in the show, not mine), and with the evidence brought to light, Margery herself is in trouble too. Tommen should probably grow a spine at some point, and one can only hope that Cersei’s plans blow up in her face soon so that she can stop doing that stupid smirk.
Littlefinger has a bit of a verbal spar with Lancel. It should be noted that despite being a registered chess master, Littlefinger’s scheming as of late has been sloppy at best. Unless his plan was to leave Sansa with the psychotic Boltons, he’s really dropped the ball this time. Having said that, he’s playing Cersei like a harp and she hasn’t there were-withal to notice.
Now onto the bad. Dorne has been getting something of a short straw this season. However, I’m willing to give it good faith based on Doran Martell and Areo Hotah’s presence. As such, they are the best acted characters from this new section of the cast. Trystane and Myrcella feel particularly wooden, and perhaps a few more scenes before having them confess love for each other might have made it more believable.
While we’re there, Bronn sings part of ‘The Dornish Man’s Wife’, a song from the novels that many fans feels should have ended ‘The Mountain and the Viper’ last season (myself included). Back on the bad, Jaime apparently really didn’t have much of a plan for getting into, or out, of Dorne. I suppose that’s what you get for following Cersei’s plans. Then again the Sand-Snakes equally terrible plan has the same problems. In fact, both parties launch their supposed plans in broad daylight in the place where Doran Martell has the most swords.
In any case, bad acting and planning aside, I will admit I enjoyed the fight scene. Having said that, there is no way that if Obara Sand is the best fighter of Oberyn’s daughters that she wouldn’t be able to kill Jaime in a fight. Bronn himself manages to fend off two of the Sand-Snakes at once, though he is sooo poisoned by Tyene’s knives so hopefully there will be help for him.
Now onto the Ramsay/Sansa wedding. Well, actually first let’s talk about Myranda. I don’t know what Ramsay did to her, or maybe she has several screw loose, but what the heck? She is legitimately jealous of Ramsay’s impending nuptials to Sansa. That is the equivalent of ‘No! I want to be the one you abuse!’. Her little list of girls Ramsay ‘got bored with’ does at least indicate the fate of her first partner in crime who’s actress didn’t return to the show after becoming pregnant (makes sense, makes so much sense).
The wedding itself is brief. The consummation scene is already being pegged as the show’s darkest moment to date. I think that may be the result of people holding out hope that eventually something will go well for one of the characters. Alas, Sansa is now Ramsay’s wife, and everything that comes with that. Believe it or not, the story-line arc in the books is so much worse. One can only hope that Theon can get it together long enough to try and help.
Has Game Of Thrones gone too far? Will Cersei ever stop smirking? Let us know what you think in the comments below…
