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.