Game of Thrones 9: Baelor
Aug. 11th, 2011 03:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shapinglightI finally got around to rewatching this episode yesterday. Parts of it are a tough watch, which is why I didn't want to watch it earlier in the week when I was sick with worry about my daughters. By yesterday, I was only sick at the sight of our political masters of whatever stripe mouthing hypocrisies, so I managed.
Spoilers behind cut.
This is the episode where Ned's story spirals to its grisly conclusion. It's weird. Sean Bean has played Ned all along as someone who was basically doomed. Even if I hadn't been slightly spoilered, I think I would have been surprised if he'd lasted the season, and I'm very surprised indeed that his death caused such a hoohah.
I also think that, despite his 'confession' Ned himself didn't expect to survive. The way he bows his head for the sword suggests a certain fatalism. I think now that he only made the confession at all to distract the crowd from Arya and the Night's Watch recruiter (can't remember his name), and seeing that it seemed to have worked, he was resigned to die.
So in the end I don't feel that sorry for Ned. He saved the daughter he loved. The other daughter, who probably he did love but didn't understand at all, is left alone in the hands of his enemies. Not, I suppose, that he was in much of a position to do anything about it. Poor Sansa! She really believed she'd saved him, and so did Varys, I think. Joffrey's stupid and whimsical decision took them both, and Cersei, completely by surprise. A pity Tyrion wasn't around to slap him a few more times.
Elsewhere, Ned's sons are growing up fast. Robb agrees to marry one of Walder Frey's dopey looking daughters if it will get his army across the river. Then he wins a decisive battle and takes Jaime Lannister prisoner, and turns down Jaime's offer of single combat with contempt. Robb is proving to be both competent and pragmatic. Ironically, Tyrion Lannister's first taste of battle is also a victory, but he's unconscious through most of it and even when he comes round, gets to enjoy the victory for a very brief time before Tywin spoils it for him. Still, at least Tyrion gets to reciprocate the favour by not dying, and he, Bronn and Shae have a pleasant pre-battle evening. I love their scene, and find Bronn's rubber-face and laconic comments absolutely hilarious.
Jon Snow, meanwhile, loses one father - though he's not aware of it yet - but finds another in the form of Lord Mormont, who bestows on him the family sword that was meant for his son, Jorah. Jon also learns that he's not alone in being forced to choose between love and duty -and a good thing too, as his teenage wail about how no one can possibly understand what he's going through is a teeny bit irritating. Have to say, Sam Tarley seems way more mature than Jon. It's a good thing Jon has a friend like him to keep his feet on the ground.
Across the Narrow Sea, Dany's decision to be merciful to Mirri Maaz Duur and the other women has rebounded on her horribly, as Khal Drogo lies dying of the wound received from Mago and his power - and consequently Dany's - ebbs away. Some are still willing to stand by Dany, though, despite her desperate turning to dark magic, including Jorah Mormont (he made his choice way back), and we get a practical demonstration of the relative merits of the long sword versus the Dothraki giant sickle thing-y (conclusion: the sickle thing-y is probably more effective if you're on horseback and your opponent isn't).
This episode won an award, I believe. It is a terrific episode. But I think the last three episodes of the season, from GRRM's on, are probably better seen as one long one. However, after Ned's execution, it's hard to believe that the show could have even greater shocks in store.
Yet it has.
Spoilers behind cut.
This is the episode where Ned's story spirals to its grisly conclusion. It's weird. Sean Bean has played Ned all along as someone who was basically doomed. Even if I hadn't been slightly spoilered, I think I would have been surprised if he'd lasted the season, and I'm very surprised indeed that his death caused such a hoohah.
I also think that, despite his 'confession' Ned himself didn't expect to survive. The way he bows his head for the sword suggests a certain fatalism. I think now that he only made the confession at all to distract the crowd from Arya and the Night's Watch recruiter (can't remember his name), and seeing that it seemed to have worked, he was resigned to die.
So in the end I don't feel that sorry for Ned. He saved the daughter he loved. The other daughter, who probably he did love but didn't understand at all, is left alone in the hands of his enemies. Not, I suppose, that he was in much of a position to do anything about it. Poor Sansa! She really believed she'd saved him, and so did Varys, I think. Joffrey's stupid and whimsical decision took them both, and Cersei, completely by surprise. A pity Tyrion wasn't around to slap him a few more times.
Elsewhere, Ned's sons are growing up fast. Robb agrees to marry one of Walder Frey's dopey looking daughters if it will get his army across the river. Then he wins a decisive battle and takes Jaime Lannister prisoner, and turns down Jaime's offer of single combat with contempt. Robb is proving to be both competent and pragmatic. Ironically, Tyrion Lannister's first taste of battle is also a victory, but he's unconscious through most of it and even when he comes round, gets to enjoy the victory for a very brief time before Tywin spoils it for him. Still, at least Tyrion gets to reciprocate the favour by not dying, and he, Bronn and Shae have a pleasant pre-battle evening. I love their scene, and find Bronn's rubber-face and laconic comments absolutely hilarious.
Jon Snow, meanwhile, loses one father - though he's not aware of it yet - but finds another in the form of Lord Mormont, who bestows on him the family sword that was meant for his son, Jorah. Jon also learns that he's not alone in being forced to choose between love and duty -and a good thing too, as his teenage wail about how no one can possibly understand what he's going through is a teeny bit irritating. Have to say, Sam Tarley seems way more mature than Jon. It's a good thing Jon has a friend like him to keep his feet on the ground.
Across the Narrow Sea, Dany's decision to be merciful to Mirri Maaz Duur and the other women has rebounded on her horribly, as Khal Drogo lies dying of the wound received from Mago and his power - and consequently Dany's - ebbs away. Some are still willing to stand by Dany, though, despite her desperate turning to dark magic, including Jorah Mormont (he made his choice way back), and we get a practical demonstration of the relative merits of the long sword versus the Dothraki giant sickle thing-y (conclusion: the sickle thing-y is probably more effective if you're on horseback and your opponent isn't).
This episode won an award, I believe. It is a terrific episode. But I think the last three episodes of the season, from GRRM's on, are probably better seen as one long one. However, after Ned's execution, it's hard to believe that the show could have even greater shocks in store.
Yet it has.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-11 03:01 pm (UTC)My brother keeps saying, "I can't believe they killed him; I can't believe they killed him!"
Joffrey's git-ness reached epic proportions in this episode! (It's interesting, I think, when the old counsellor -- I don't remember his name -- tells the prostitute that he thinks Joffrey will be a good king. He's presumably seen enough kings to know what he's talking about...)
What I couldn't believe was that Dany would trust Mirri to dress Drogo's wound. Mercy is one thing, trust is another. And I can't decide whether Mirri deliberately infected the wound or whether she just didn't bother to clean it. Any clues?
no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 03:09 pm (UTC)I guess if nothing else, it must seem like a bizarre thing to do, given that Sean Bean is so well known.
(It's interesting, I think, when the old counsellor -- I don't remember his name -- tells the prostitute that he thinks Joffrey will be a good king. He's presumably seen enough kings to know what he's talking about...)
Hmm, I suspect he has a different definition of 'good' to most people. I took that scene as an indication that Maester Pycelle was either a clueless idiot or (more likely) even sneakier than I'd first thought.
And I can't decide whether Mirri deliberately infected the wound or whether she just didn't bother to clean it. Any clues?
Not really, but it does seem very likely. Also, I noticed that when Mirri told Dany there would be a price for restoring Drogo to life, she glanced at Dany's belly before telling them to bring her Drogo's horse. I think she knew very well what would happen to the baby.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 03:15 pm (UTC)That's what I meant by interesting -- a 'Machiavellian' good, though Machiavelli said that ruthlessness was good, cruelty wasn't.
what would happen to the baby
I haven't seen the episode for a while, but it struck me at the time that the description of the baby was quite ambiguous -- it sounded very much like a dragon...
no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 11:16 am (UTC)Yes, it does. I suppose the implication could be that Dany can't bear human babies. Of course, she doesn't need to now. She has her dragons.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-11 04:21 pm (UTC)And the after the talk to Varys I figured it would be the wall. When they actually killed him I was really quite surprised.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 03:10 pm (UTC)It is a perfectly understandable reaction. Authors don't usually kill off the character who appears to be their main protagonist in such a way.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-11 04:28 pm (UTC)It has a lot to do with American Television Formula or what the mainstream audience is used to. The lead or "star" is never killed off on American TV. And they sold Scean Bean as the star of the show - his name is at the top of the credits and he's on all the posters. Also he's the "traditional/classical" hero trope. Killing Ned from a lot of people's pov was akin to well killing Detective McNulty in S1 of the Wire or say, Malcolm Reynolds in the first season of Firefly or the lead of the Sopranoes in the first season of it...or Henry the VIII in the first season of The Tudors...
But yet they did and only after 9 episodes. That surprised people who are used to that trope.
I agree with you - even in the books, Ned's death felt pre-ordained. He's clearly not the main character here.
The people who marketed the tv series sort of mislead the audience into thinking he was - so when he died, they'd shock people. (shrugs) It's a gamble.
This episode was one of the better ones. The opening scene between Ned and Varys is a work of art.
Also agree...that it was hard for me to feel sorry about Ned's loss...he was never a character I could care that much about one way or another. I'll give Martin credit in this - so far, he's only killing off the characters I'm highly ambivalent about.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 03:14 pm (UTC)The people who marketed the tv series sort of mislead the audience into thinking he was - so when he died, they'd shock people. (shrugs) It's a gamble.
Hopefully it's paid off. It's probably a good thing it happened in the next to last episode rather than the last one.
I'll give Martin credit in this - so far, he's only killing off the characters I'm highly ambivalent about.
I think I'm sadder about Syrio Forel, to be honest.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-11 04:31 pm (UTC)I think he hated what he had to do so much that yes, he was "happy" to die. He only wanted for his daughters to be safe (ironically, if he knew that Arya is safe he may be made another choice?
no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 03:15 pm (UTC)Quite possibly. That does seem to be his main concern.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-11 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 03:16 pm (UTC)If nothing else, it teaches the reader/viewer to be wary of getting too invested in anyone. I, for one, have taken that lesson to heart.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 11:11 am (UTC)