Another week, more things to say about HBO’s Game of Thrones. Let’s get to them, this time about an episode titled “The Prince of Winterfell,” below. If you haven’t watched the episode yet, by god, do not read this review.
1. I can’t believe I’m going to say this…
But this episode was sort of a struggle. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a good episode, but it was the eighth episode of the season and it was still a lot of moving around and not much action. Granted, the preview for next week looks pretty wild with violence, but it seems to me that of all of the people we follow, pretty much no one has made very much forward movement this season (besides Theon, I suppose, but he’s a terrible person and I don’t want to talk about him). I really enjoy this show and I love the character moments we get (more on that soon) but we need some momentum going forward. I’m hoping episodes nine and ten wrap up the season with a little more action.
2. Clever girl
Good lord Arya is smart. That girl is something else. Her move on Jaqen H’ghar at Harrenhal, basically using his fierce amount of honor against him to get his aid to escape, was astoundingly great. I loved their exchange and how she lightly mocked his “a man” speak, and I love that she knew that their deal could include him AND that he would actually follow through if she kept him on her list.
Plus, him killing the guardsmen at Harrenhal and arranging them to look as if they were still on guard? Brilliant. I feel bad for whomever is fighting Jaqen H’ghar, but I get the feeling that in some ways, a man might not want to fight.
3. Catelyn did a bad, bad thing
I’m still not sure how I feel about Catelyn releasing Jamie Lannister. On one hand, it is understandable that she would so she could earn back, in her mind, Sansa and Arya, but to trust him? That’s just foolish. Best case scenario, she just gave him back to the Lannisters and Brienne makes it back alive. Worst case scenario, she just gave their opponents back their fiercest warrior and they’ve earned nothing. It was a remarkably dumb move, and it is completely understandable that Robb would have reacted as such.
4. Tyrion puts on a show
Besides Arya and one other sequence I’ll touch on, all of the standout scenes in this episode belonged to Tyrion. Whether it was interacting with Shae or Cersei or Varys, every scene with Peter Dinklage was an acting tour de force. His simmering emotions when he believes Cersei has taken Shae, the complexity of his reaction to figuring out is actually Ros, his raw passion and love for Shae when he returns to their room, and his casual discussion with Varys about the game of thrones they are all mixed up in all easily could make it into his Emmy reel this year. The guy has basically locked up another Emmy. It would be crazy if they gave it to anyone else.
5. Stannis and Davos make an impression
This episode featured some standout stories from some surprising sources (namely, Talisa’s touching tale as to how she became a nurse), but none more so than Stannis’ story of holding Storm’s End in an explanation to his man Davos as to why he will be his Hand if and when they take King’s Landing and the Iron Throne. Stannis, for being the impetus of so much of season two’s action, hasn’t had much time to shine as anything besides kind of an angry jerk of a guy. This story layered honor, friendship and a whole lot else his way, which is perfectly timed given their rapidly approaching raid of King’s Landing. Not to mention the fact Davos, a guy who has already stood out thanks to a sharp, soulful performance by Liam Cunningham, was given even more to play with. Good stuff leading up to the last two episodes, right here.
