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Ten Thoughts on Game of Thrones’ “And Now His Watch Has Ended”

By | April 22nd, 2013
Posted in Reviews | 5 Comments

Hello and welcome to our weekly Game of Thrones recap! Unfortunately, David is out this week and could not provide you with five thoughts for non-book readers, nor could we find anyone to take his place. Sadness. So, for non-book readers, all I have to say…

1. Holy

2. Shit

3. What

4. An

5. Episode!

Now that that’s out of the way.

We have five more thoughts on last night’s Game of Thrones, but as a reminder the second five thoughts contain massive spoilers. This half of the Game of Thrones review is mainly for clarification on certain things and general speculation about what this season is going to contain, designed for readers of the books in mind over folks who just watch the show. We will be covering material not seen on the show but seen by the end of “A Storm of Swords,” though, so please keep that in mind if you’re not fully caught up with this series or that particular book.

For the most part this just offers half of the show’s audience who read this site and have read all the books a place to say “OH, so THAT probably means THIS! AWESOME!” without spoiling anything for the other half. Everyone wins!

So, without further ado,

6. The Boy’s True Face

Well, we’d assumed that Boy was Ramsay, and this episode would make that indication seem quite right, wouldn’t it? After all that, a heartfelt moment and everything, and Ramsay just leads Theon right back to where he started to be flayed some more. Oh, that Ramsay!

I will note, though, that the scene right before Theon sees the crucifix was heartbreaking, and is predominately why I like the character of Theon Greyjoy so much after watching the show. Granted, I liked him from the books, but Alfie Allen’s performance and all the little additions really give the character the depth that he needs. And that line, “My real father lost his head in King’s Landing,” or something along that? Heartbreaking stuff. I know a lot of people hate Theon, and rightfully so, but it’s hard not to love Allen’s performance.

And that smile from Iwan at the end there. That story is only just beginning.

7. Letters

There’s not too much to say on this one other than it’s funny to know the books and see how the writers play that sequence up without tipping their hand too much. Most of the time we’ve seen Tywin in his study he’s been writing, so this could just be another throwaway scene of him working. But when you listen to the dialogue and hear Tywin’s remarks about what he’d do to get back his son, this scene’s importance is rather clear.

8. And Now His Watch Has Ended

The revolt at Craster’s is one of the things in the book that caught me off-guard when it happened, and while the show certainly changed some things about the scene (not to mention the skipping of Sam the Slayer) it was pretty well executed. Seeing Jeor Mormont die was incredibly sad, and that he never got to talk to Sam one last time is perhaps one of the few things that the show didn’t really do well. But considering how much the show got right, it’s perhaps forgivable — especially if Cold Hands shows up next time we see Sam.

9. Dracarys

There are many great scenes in “A Storm of Swords,” but this was by far one of my favorites. I love Daenerys Targaryen’s character and journey, she’s one of the most fascinating players in the game as far as I’m concerned, and while she has a lot of moments that are very symbolic as to how far she’s come from when the show/book began, this was pretty much the scene to say “I am the dragon!” And she did. And the show nailed it — her revelation that she speaks Valyrian, her control of the Unsullied, her command to Drogon. Just perfect. One of the most visual scenes in the book, the most satisfying moment of the episode.

And how great was it when Dany basically just dropped the mic there in the dirt? HBIC!

Continued below

10. And All The New Stuff

This episode was host to quite a few scenes not in the book, specifically those revolving around Varys and Margaery. Both play their roles of manipulators throughout the episode, seemingly for mutual goals in controlling Sansa Stark. Margaery’s role this season is definitely heightened, and it’s particularly interesting to watch it happen. Natalie Dormer is supposedly a big fan of the book, having read them all extensively to learn about the character, and given that Margaery is a character who is never given narrative time (only appearing in the background or being talked about), a lot of the stuff being done with the character is just absolutely fascinating to watch. I never had too much against her in the book, but watching the show I wouldn’t trust trust her with a halfpenny.

What’s interesting to me, though, is that Varys makes note of Littlefinger being the most dangerous man in Westeros (“He’d burn the kingdom to the ground if he could be king of the ashes”). This is true to a point; Littlefinger is perhaps one of the most dangerous players of the game, and we may even see some of his machinations come to light this season or the next. But that’s like calling the kettle black — if you ask me, Varys is far more dangerous than Littlefinger, and the opening of this episode (new to me; I do not recall anything of that sort happening in the book) is proof of that. Among other things, of course (everyone remembers that scene with Arya in the catacombs from season/book one, right?).


//TAGS | Game of Thrones

Matthew Meylikhov

Once upon a time, Matthew Meylikhov became the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Multiversity Comics, where he was known for his beard and fondness for cats. Then he became only one of those things. Now, if you listen really carefully at night, you may still hear from whispers on the wind a faint voice saying, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine is not as bad as everyone says it issss."

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