A note concerning spoilers and these Game of Thrones recaps: I myself have not read the A Song of Fire and Ice book series that the HBO series is based upon, so all of my knowledge and any insights come directly from what I see on screen. I immediately fell in love with the show and simply prefer for the story to be fresh and surprising to me. That said, there are many other fans that have not read the books either. I completely understand how hard it might be to converse about the show without making mention of things that happen in the books, but I ask kindly to not mention or discuss any book related spoilers in the comments. Any book spoilers will be deleted so as not to spoil any future goings on or anyone else’s viewing experience. That said, the episodes of each week are fair game to discuss away, and I’d love to hear what you’ve got to say.
The summer is done. Winter is coming. The night is dark and full of terrors.
I’ve been waiting for Season 2 of HBO’s latest flagship series Game of Thrones with Christmas Day-like anticipation. HBO’s always compelling marketing onslaught has only been fueling that desire more and more each week. It quite a relief to finally have it back. Life is about to get awesome.
Season two’s premiere episode, ‘The North Remembers,’ isn’t quite as action-packed as many may have hoped, serving more as a “here’s where our characters are and here’s where they are headed” type of story. With the length of time between seasons, I’m sure many were grateful for a little bit of catching up. It actually quite reminded me of the first episode of Season 1 in theme and pace, and lays a great deal of foundation for the remainder of the season.
In King’s Landing, King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) is still ruling through cruelty and making me hate him more and more with every single breath that he takes. Between having the Hound completely pummel commoners to nearly drowning his new fool by pouring a jug of wine down his throat, Joffrey’s cruelty knows no bounds. This will be further displayed by episode’s end as he, or his mother, or both, orders all of his “father’s” bastard children be slain. Dear God, I hope he eventually meets a long, vile and cruel death.
Until then, though, there is at least comfort in knowing that some will remind him that he is merely a boy, and no one does that better than Joffrey’s own uncle, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage). At the end of last season, Tyrion was appointed as Hand of the King in his father’s stead, and he’s come to make sure Joffrey and his mother don’t completely destroy everything the Lannister’s have built. His initial moments allow him to coyly shame Joffrey, insult the Hound, console and accept Sansa’s pain, surprise the Small Council with his new title and basically call out Cersei (Lena Headey) for all of the dumb decisions she’s been making since King Robert’s death. It was glorious and captivating, every step of the way.
The Starks remain spread out across Westeros and beyond, and are still adjusting to and accepting their new roles. Young Bran is the current head of Winterfell in the absence of his mother and older siblings and he couldn’t be more bored with it. He’s also having peculiar dreams again. This time, instead of three eyed birds, he’s seeing things from the perspective of a dire wolf, which, I must admit, is unbelievably awesome. I have no idea what it, nor the bright red comet he sees, actually alludes to, but I can only imagine it’s going to be something incredible to see.
Robb, the newly appointed King of the North, has really come into his own story wise. At first he seemed a bit bland and one note, but this episode really gave the character (as well as actor Richard Madden who portrays Robb Stark) a chance to shine. His late night meeting with captive Jamie Lannister proves he is a true force to be reckoned with, especially with his dire wolf by his side. Robb also gets to have some softer moments; one with Theon further establishing their friendship and trust, and another with his mother Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) as he tasks her with a quest while still displaying a sense of reverence for her. I have a feeling that this is going to continue to be Robb’s season to shine and I hope he continues to take down the Lannisters one battle at a time.
Across the world we find Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), lost amdist the Red Wastes struggling to find some hope for her people. She’s been losing people and horses, and is at her wits end. She’s promised them salvation and fears that there is none in sight. Despite her problems, she does have something that no one else has; dragons. Hungry dragons, at that. One can only imagine it’s simply a matter of time before all of Westeros trembles at the sight.
Jon Snow and his brothers of the Night’s Watch find themselves deeper within the woods beyond the Wall, and what they find isn’t much to Jon’s liking. All of the Wildlings have disappeared save for one man, Craster, and his house of daughter-wives. Something evil is out there (please come back to me, White Walkers!), and it’s only a matter of time before Jon’s face first with it. Sam does point out that while Craster marries his daughter’s and his daughter’s daughters, that he must be doing something with all of the boys, as there are none to be seen. I can’t help but feel this is foreshadowing some sort of reveal.
The show adds a bit more darkness with its introductions of Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) and his spiritual adviser of sorts, Melisandre (Carice van Houten). It’s quite a first impression being surrounded by the burning old gods, now renounced for one sole god. Stannis is cold and standoffish, while being unintentionally funny for a brief moment. He’s also not willing to make any sort of alliance with anyone, feeling himself to be the rightful king now that Robert has died. He also owns what might be the greatest table I’ve ever seen.
Melisandre is quite an enigma. Her head to toe red makes her standout easily amongst the drab and dull surroundings. She also has got the old man with the killer sideburns all worked up enough to try and poison her, although it has no effect. She’s either a sorceress of some sort or seems to have built up quite a tolerance to Iocane powder. Jokes aside, I’m very interested to get more story on this mysterious lady in red.
As I mentioned earlier, Joffrey’s greatest cruelty of the episode is the mass murdering of the late King Robert’s bastard children. This turn of events comes courtesy of Stannis sharing the information across Westeros of Jamie and Cersei’s incest and how none of her children, Joffrey included, have any rights to the throne. Joffrey calls for the death of all possible bastards, even the babies. One remains, however, and he’s off in a cart heading to the Night’s Watch with Arya.
This knowledge being out in the open leads to two scenes of differing weight for Cersei. In one, she’s attempting to obtain Littlefinger’s help in tracking down Arya, who has gone missing since her father’s beheading. Littlefinger hints that he knows her truths just before Cersei exhibits the power she commands and how quickly she could end his life. On the other side, Joffrey himself confronts her about these “lies” and, in a moment of anger and humility, Cersei gloriously slaps the brat King and immediately realizes the monster she has created. As much as she seemed to hate him, I can only imagine she’s missing Robert in this moment.
All in all, ‘The North Remembers’ was an excellent first episode. Yes, it was setting up pieces, but everyone has come into their roles in such incredible ways, that each moment is nothing less than captivating. The show plays a little loose with giving out any exposition on certain events and characters, but I find it refreshing. The pieces are easy to put together, and I imagine will be even more so as the season continues.
– Matt Hardeman
