Game of Thrones Season 3 Ep 3 (the clueless about the books POV)

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Finally got around to watching this, and I must say....

spoilers behind cut



...that was a very odd song at the end. Something to do with a bear, I think, though I couldn't catch the words. Weirdly rock 'n' roll for Westeros anyway.

That apart, another enjoyable, though very episodic, episode. I fear the episodic thing is unavoidable now that the cast is so big. Keeping up with all of them is becoming more and more difficult. Some storyline or other has to be neglected in each episode or there wouldn't be time for anything. Last week, it was Dany who was left out. This week it was Bran and Rickon.

I was very glad to see Dany back. Her scenes are nearly always my favourites, and this one didn't disappoint, though I was honestly shocked that she would even consider bartering one of her dragons, even in return for an army. Aren't they supposed to be like her children? All I can say is, I hope the nasty slavers of Astapor find they've bitten off more than they can chew with this baby dragon and that it soon escapes back to mummy (though it'll probably sulk for some time afterwards).

As for my 'ship, it's not like I didn't know it was hopeless. Why do I always pick the ones that aren't going anywhere, and which the creators/writers can't get their heads around people 'shipping at all? :Gloom:

I knew Jorah and Barristan Selmy would soon be at odds, and sure enough they are. Quite a put down for poor Jorah, to be told off by Dany in the same way as Barristan when he's been with her so much longer. Also, I thought Jorah's point about the advantages to innocent parties of using an army like the Unsullied was a very valid one (though of course still pretty tough on the Unsullied themselves).

Anyway, I like Missandei and am looking forward to seeing more of her interaction with Dany.

Elsewhere, I have nothing to say about the Theon scenes. I could barely bring myself to watch them. I already feel very sorry for him, and I know it's only going to get worse.

The Kingslanding scenes were more amusing. Cersei and Tyrion dragging chairs about in the Small Council meeting was hilarious, and good to see Tyrion rising to the new challenge Tywin has set him (obviously hoping to see him fail).

Beyond the Wall, the White Walkers are showing that they have a sense of humour (well, if you find that kind of thing funny), or possibly a well-developed aesthetic sense (again, probably a matter of taste), and Jon, Mance Rayder and co are still way behind Lord Mormont and the remaining Nightswatchmen, and everyone except Ygritte is still inexplicably hatless. Also, I've a feeling Sam is about to do something very stupid, but I can't blame him. In fact, I don't know why the Nightswatchmen don't just kill Craster and be done with it. What do they need him for now? Horrible man.

The Stark stuff didn't interest me much this episode, though I did take note of the fact that the world's most boring woman promised the two Lannister children they wouldn't be harmed, which is a big, big hint that one, or both of them, is going to die horribly in the next episode. :(

A bit nervous about what Wosserface (still can't remember the Red Priestess's name) said to Stannis. Is she trying to hint that he should kill his own family? Wouldn't surprise me. What on earth is her problem?

Finally, Jaime and Brienne. I really wasn't expecting what happened at the end to happen. In fact, I'm actually not quite sure what happened because I couldn't bring myself to watch properly. I thought Jaime was going to lose an eye, then there was a lot of screaming, then the weird song about the bear. I went back a bit but still couldn't make myself watch. It's a hand he loses, not an eye, is that right? These Boltons are really, really horrible people. In retrospect, I don't know why they stopped raping Brienne. Greed didn't stop them from mutilating Jaime, after all.

Trivial stuff

They upped the female nudity quota in this episode, didn't they? Could have done without some of that, frankly, though the Tyrion/Bronn/Pod scene was quite amusing.
Also, I hope Lysa Arryn throws Lord Baelish out the moon door asap.

Comments

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

In fact, I'm actually not quite sure what happened because I couldn't bring myself to watch properly. I thought Jaime was going to lose an eye, then there was a lot of screaming, then the weird song about the bear. I went back a bit but still couldn't make myself watch. It's a hand he loses, not an eye, is that right? These Boltons are really, really horrible people.

Yup. And that's Noah Taylor, who I mentioned last week, playing the guy who chops it off. The man knows how to play a calm villain - I almost bought it up until the point where he offered Jaime a meal. After that, I knew something awful* would happen. (As for why they left Brienne alone - well, nobody's going to want to miss seeing the Kingslayer get his hand chopped off, are they?)

* Well, it's happening to an awful man, so... y'know.

Dany was kind of awesome in this episode. I'm sure she has some trick up her sleeve re: the bartered dragon. What are they going to do if it returns to her? Chase after the woman who just bought their army?

And another good Catelyn scene. I hope this is all building up to her doing something (people already consider her a traitor, how much worse can it get?)

Robb wasn't half bad either. It helps to have an idiot underling to yell at, of course. And I loved the viking funeral scene. Right as he fired the first arrow I thought to myself "How come they always manage to hit the boat from that far? Flaming arrows aren't exactly easy to aim..." and they delivered beautifully.

I'm going to change the Joffrey slap count to 0/9, since he wasn't in this episode at all that I saw. I'm assuming he was being slapped by the entire palace guard, with their armoured gloves.

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he cut Jamie's hand off. I was horrified and actually shrieked because I had no clue it was coming.

[lizziebuffy2008.livejournal.com]

I kind of wonder if Dani is going to pull a double cross with the dragon (I have not read the books either and the spoilers I have been exposed to do not really involve her.) Also, I wondered if she understood what the slaver was saying all the time (this may be me projecting what I hope, since Dani is my favorite...)

Yes, Jamie did lose his hand. I am wondering if that will make him resent Brienne more, because opening his mouth kind of saved her or if it will bring them closer...

I was confused by the Theon stuff, since that is what I have been most spoiled about and does not seem to be going with the books. I am hoping either they change it completely (doubtful) or they kind of do not show him for a while (until all of the torture is done and he is the bastard's pet.)

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was a hand. :) So wasn't expecting that! Still loving the show, but not really got anything to add to what you've already said. Great stuff!

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Yes, they cut off Jaime's swordhand - you were wise not to watch if you're squeamish because it was fairly graphically severed.

As to your question regarding Locke and greed: Jaime is a valuable hostage for Robb or Roose Bolton; there's no way some lowly Locke fella gets to trade him back to Tywin Lannister and keep Tywin Lannister's gold. Locke knows he has to give Jaime back to his lord; Jaime's too prominent/valuable to secretly trade back to Tywin and if Locke does succumb to Jaime's blandishments, he has to face the wrath of Robb/Roose himself. But no one cares about Brienne, so just as it didn't matter if Locke raped her, it also doesn't matter if he decides to do a side deal involving her after Jaime convinces him that he'll get rich trading Brienne back to her father. The irony, of course, is that Brienne's father isn't rich; Tarth is called the Sapphire Isle because of its blue waters, and in the books, Jaime knows this full well and is just lying his ass off to save Brienne. In his own case, the truth - that Tywin WOULD have paid Jaime's weight in gold - isn't enough to protect him.
And the worse irony is that Jaime kind of gets punished for doing something selfless and good for someone who isn't a member of his family. :(

The song was a rock version of "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" which Locke's men were singing when they had Jaime and Brienne captive earlier.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

As for why they left Brienne alone - well, nobody's going to want to miss seeing the Kingslayer get his hand chopped off, are they?

They left Brienne alone because Jaime convinced Locke that he'd get rich if she were returned to her father unmolested.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Right as he fired the first arrow I thought to myself "How come they always manage to hit the boat from that far? Flaming arrows aren't exactly easy to aim..." and they delivered beautifully.

I thought the exact same thing! Lol! Beautifully played.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

To set your mind at rest on an issue that you haven't brought up: none of the female* characters have been raped during the book series. (There are two mostly off screen, very minor characters that were in the book but one never existed in the show {past tense} and one... I don't know whether she will ever exist. She doesn't as yet and, again she was a quite minor character, and she would have existed in Season 1 and hasn't. Don't know how they are going to handle that one if they ever come to it, but as of yet she doesn't even exist.) None of the ones we know are ever sexually assaulted (beyond what Brienne and Sansa have already endured).

Yes, Jaime lost his hand -- his sword hand {and the hand that pushed Bran from the window}. It's a pretty major turning point for his character (and sort of indicative to how GRRM meets out 'justice'. It's never direct but it's sort of 'fitting' {he crippled Bran... he is 'crippled', that sort of thing).

Of course Sam is not on board for serving up baby for dinner. He's most definitely against.

And knowing Dany and her dragons' connections... well, yeah. There is that, isn't there. ;)

And at least Hot Pie got a happy ending.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I thought they kind of did reveal that she spoke the language in the "All men must die. Yes, but we are not men" scene. Not only did she know the meaning of the phrase, she also revealed that she knew what the dying slave had asked of her on the Walk of Punishment (when she asked Missandei why the slave had wanted to die). Chances are, the dying slave spoke Valyrian to her.

[caliente-uk.livejournal.com]

Yes, Jaime lost his hand -- his sword hand {and the hand that pushed Bran from the window}.

I've warmed so much to Jaime over the last couple of episodes that I'd started to forget just how awful some of the things he's done are, so it's good to be reminded. I so wasn't expecting that to happen, though!

And at least Hot Pie got a happy ending.

So that's the last we see of him then? I was hoping he'd get a happy ending, as I doubt very much many other characters will get one over the course of the show.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Jaime's blandishments, he has to face the wrath of Roose himself.

Personally, I would never, ever, ever, ever want to have to face that!

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

As far as I know. The inn @ the crossroads pops up from time to time though, so it's possible we'll see him again, but I don't remember him specifically (but I skimmed large chunks of Book IV so I cannot say 100%)

[lizziebuffy2008.livejournal.com]

That is kind of what I thought, but then nobody mentioned it, so I thought maybe I was imagining things.

[flake-sake.livejournal.com]

I remember thinking, isn't it stupid to sell your whole army to someone you have just met, when I read the Astapor chapters in the book.

I really loved the chair dragging in the small council.

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And that's Noah Taylor, who I mentioned last week, playing the guy who chops it off.

Ah, okay. I wasn't sure if it was him or that bloke leading the Brotherhood Without Banners.

I almost bought it up until the point where he offered Jaime a meal. After that, I knew something awful* would happen.

Yeah, I was thinking it was too good to be true at that point myself. Poor old Jaime. It only happened because he was trying to do the decent thing for once.

Dany was kind of awesome in this episode. I'm sure she has some trick up her sleeve re: the bartered dragon. What are they going to do if it returns to her? Chase after the woman who just bought their army?

Yes, those slavers really aren't that smart, are they? Serve 'em right.

And I loved the viking funeral scene. Right as he fired the first arrow I thought to myself "How come they always manage to hit the boat from that far? Flaming arrows aren't exactly easy to aim..." and they delivered beautifully.

Yes, that was - well, not funny, but kind of teeth gritting and funny at the same time.

[shapinglight]

Well, at least you got it on the first attempt. I still wasn't clear after watching twice.

Or, in my case, not watching. ;)

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Also, I wondered if she understood what the slaver was saying all the time (this may be me projecting what I hope, since Dani is my favorite...)

Well, reginaspina's recap clarifies that she did understand. No wonder she wants to keep Missandei. She's probably utterly awed by her quick wittedness with those translations.

Yes, Jamie did lose his hand. I am wondering if that will make him resent Brienne more, because opening his mouth kind of saved her or if it will bring them closer...

I don't think it'll make him resent her. He will be very dependant on her, though. That'll be interesting. As for Theon, I've a horrible feeling they're going to make us watch everything.

[shapinglight]

It's terrific (even if I can't watch large chunks of it - usually the chunks where people get chunks cut off them).

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Yes, they cut off Jaime's swordhand - you were wise not to watch if you're squeamish because it was fairly graphically severed.

Oh dear. That's going to cramp his style somewhat.

I hope they manage to escape before Locke realises that Jaime spun him a yarn about Brienne.

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Me neither. And he hasn't even done anything yet.

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To set your mind at rest on an issue that you haven't brought up: none of the female* characters have been raped during the book series.

That's something (though you're strongly hinting the same isn't true of the male characters :(). I'm glad about it. What happened to Sansa last season was horrible enough. Don't want to see anything worse.

It's a pretty major turning point for his character (and sort of indicative to how GRRM meets out 'justice'. It's never direct but it's sort of 'fitting' {he crippled Bran... he is 'crippled', that sort of thing).

That's very...biblical of him. I wonder what'll ultimately happen to Roose Bolton and son, then?

And knowing Dany and her dragons' connections... well, yeah. There is that, isn't there. ;)

Yay! Take that, horrible slavers!

And at least Hot Pie got a happy ending.

So far. I'm not going to think of it as definite until we never see him again, though.

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I remember thinking, isn't it stupid to sell your whole army to someone you have just met, when I read the Astapor chapters in the book.

This comment makes me very happy. I can't think of people who more deserve to have something nasty happen to them.

Except the Boltons.

And Joffrey.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

though you're strongly hinting the same isn't true of the male characters :().

I realized that after posting. I didn't mean it to come off that way, but I sort of think what happened to Theon is worse, so... yeah, I've got nothin'.

I wonder what'll ultimately happen to Roose Bolton and son, then?

Don't know, but they need to be eradicated, only leaving a smudgy spot in the place where they used to be. (I wouldn't be opposed to Arya someday employing her ninja skills on them. Nor would I be opposed to Theon setting their castle on fire while they sleep.)

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

A belated birthday hamster for you

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Arya has ninja skills?

That's something I'm looking forward to.

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Thank you. :)

[spuffy-noelle.livejournal.com]

Who is your ship??

Jaime getting his hand chopped off made me gasp. I'm also clueless about the books (though I have heard one spoiler that I just cannot see happening, and DK if the show is going to go there...) so I was surprised that happened to Jaime and completely grossed out!!

I love Dany she's my absolute favorite character and I hope her dragon flambe's that slave guy alive before returning to her!

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

But they weren't the army of Astapor; Astapor just trains them up specifically to sell them to other cities/countries in need of soldiers, which is why Kraznys was so concerned about whether the potential failure of the not-yet-Unsullied recruits Dany was buying would reflect on Astapor's reputation. Sort of like how a dog breeder doesn't want his/her champion dogs to break down in a show ring even after they belong to someone else because it reflects badly on the dogbreeder; except of course, dog breeders are a lot more conscientious about their dogs than the Astaporians are about their slaves.

Also, this is something I don't think really came out well enough on the show, but Astapor gets its slaves at least in part FROM THE DOTHRAKI! Drogo sacked the Lamb Men's city and enslaved the children and women to sell them to cities like Astapor, and some of the children of the Lamb Men probably ended up as Unsullied-in-training. I'm not even sure whether Dany realizes that, but in all her shock about the dying slaves on their crosses, I'd sure like her to ponder the fact that her quest for the Iron Throne was an impetus for that life for completely innocent people who had done nothing to her or the Dothraki. And had Khal Drogo lived, he would have gone on selling slaves to Astapor and the other cities of Slavers' Bay. (And for that matter, Jorah was exiled from Westeros for selling slaves - so I'm not surprised the idea of a slave army doesn't sound so off to him!)

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Stuff like this was why I couldn't stand Khal Drogo (and was not at all bothered by the fact that he DIED).

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that played a part too. :) But over time*, I'm sure they'll make more money (or at least free drinks) off "Did I ever tell you about that time I saw the Kingslayer get his hand cut off...?"

* Assuming they live very long. Which is unlikely, of course.

[beer-good-foamy.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. That's going to cramp his style somewhat.

Especially if Brienne gets to stick around and remind him that the last time he used it, she kicked his ass anyway. :)

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm just not getting the joke here but Locke called them off raping Brienne because Jaime told him about the sapphires. And there was no hint at that point that they were going to cut off Jaime's hand so unless amputations are Locke's SOP with prisoners, they didn't know that was going to happen.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

It's also why, despite how handsome and sexy Jorah Mormont is on the show, I totally co-sign his being exiled. He sold people into this life because he needed money. And he blames his wife's extravagance for "making" him do it. So ... I think he's another one of the grey characters in the series; it's easier to remember in the books because in not distracted by Iain Glen's hotness ;)

[shapinglight]

Especially if Brienne gets to stick around and remind him that the last time he used it, she kicked his ass anyway. :)

I was going to say, which I'm sure she'll take great pleasure in doing. But in actual fact, I think now Jaime's been hurt, she's too nice to do that.

[shapinglight]

Well, I think he's pretty grey in the show too. I think most people in the story are. Even Dany. Just because she's my favourite character doesn't mean that I think she's perfect. She'd done plenty of horrible things by the end of season 1.

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Who is your ship??

My GoT 'ship is Dany/Jorah, which is clearly not going anywhere. ;)

so I was surprised that happened to Jaime and completely grossed out!!

I think I'd vaguely gathered that something horrible happens to him. It's very difficult to avoid all spoilers, because so many people talking about the show have read the books. I've only read the first, and that was after season 1. I don't see me reading any more.

I love Dany she's my absolute favorite character and I hope her dragon flambe's that slave guy alive before returning to her!

Yes, me too.

[lyr]

I remember seeing Hot Pie again pretty soon in the book, but that may end up getting skipped in the series.

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I expect so. It felt like a goodbye to the character.

[spuffy-noelle.livejournal.com]

DANY/JORAH IS MY SHIP, TOO!!

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:)