George R R Martin | Thinking about books

Game of Thrones: Season 2 — the HBO series considered

August 14, 2012 David Marshall 4 comments

Game of Thrones is based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin. The content of Season 2 in this television adaptation by HBO is drawn from A Clash of Kings. As before, the production is helmed by David Benioff and D B Weis. Here is the link to my retrospective overview of Game of Thrones Season 1. This is a spoiler-rich discussion of what happens in each episode, so do not read this if you want to watch without prior knowledge.

Having now watched both seasons, I’m convinced there’s an insuperable problem in trying to bring these novels to the small screen as written. We see separate scenes with no meaningful interaction between them. The best way to resolve this would have been to make the Iron Throne the central point of view. We could then watch who held it and lost it, who gained it and held it, and who ended up with it when all the fighting was over. Reports could come in telling us what was happening in different parts of the world, and we could see different characters reacting, or not reacting, to each piece of news. So Varys (Conleth Hill) might be interested in how Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was getting on, but no-one else would care. No-one at all would care what was happening north of the Wall, but there would still be reports coming in from the Night’s Watch. That’s the way bureaucracies work. News comes into the centre and plans are, or are not, made in response. So this season could have been the world as seen through the eyes of all the key players in Kings Landing. Watching Tyrion Lannster (Peter Dinklage) try to manage Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), manoeuvring to make alliances with Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) and Varys, and generally acting as the Hand would have provided the necessary focus.

In any society, when history looks back, it sees only the one unique set of circumstances that caused this particular result. Everything else is either irrelevant or conjectural. This season is littered with events that have no real bearing on the reality of who controls the Iron Throne. We see all the people who might, if circumstances had been different, have advanced their claims. Many are now dead. Well that was exciting.

In this, I acknowledge joining the ranks of the iconoclasts. For some reason, fans of the books are demanding a word-by-word translation of their sacred text to the screen. Yet what works reasonably well on the page definitely does not work well on the small screen. In this season, we build up to the Blackwater Battle only to have a whistle-stop tour round the rest of the known world finding out how everyone else is getting on. How can that possibly have any dramatic tension? Does anyone still care what happens to Daenerys and her dragons. And as for the Starks and Jon Snow (Kit Harington), they’re just boys flailing around and making a mess of things. The books are sprawling works and, as they proceed to get ever more diffuse, I found myself as a reader increasingly bored with some elements. Trying to bring all these characters to a television series is completely wrongheaded. There’s no way any story can maintain pace and momentum when we keep moving from one disconnected set of scenes to another with a cast of thousands no-one cares about.

More importantly, even as adapted, the faithful are howling in despair over the departures from the books. For example, the whole plotline featuring Daenerys and her dragons has been rewritten. George R R Martin has Daenerys go into the House of the Undying to learn about the future. The dragons have not been kidnapped. That all this additional drama was felt necessary is an admission by the show’s developers that, as written, this section of the Daenerys story is fundamentally uninteresting. “I must rescue my babies. . .” is a sign of desperation. Then we have the drive to make Joffrey even more hateful with his voyeuristic sadism towards the girls sent by Tyrion. It’s the same with Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) where the scriptwriters have done their worst. In the books, he’s allowed to surrender Winterfell. Moving in the opposite direction, everything between Arya (Maisie Williams) and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) has been changed. While at Harrenhal, she almost never encounters Tywin and she’s the one who kills the guard to complete the escape. This is her final transformation from a reasonably nice little girl into a cold-blooded killer. I see absolutely no justification for television forcing her to rely on Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) for a rescue when she’s perfectly capable of saving herself. Finally, this new storyline involving Robb Stark (Richard Madden) and Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin) seems unnecessary. Any relationship with a woman from outside the Westeros would be bad karma. At least the books have some degree of credibility in the casual way in which Robb beds Jeyne Westerling. I could go on pointing out novelties but you should get the idea. Most of these innovations are not an improvement.

So, sadly, I’m lining up with the naysayers to this series. Season 1 was terrific but Season 2 has completely lost its way by too literally following the structure of the novels.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Alfie Allen, Conleth Hill, Emilia Clarke, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Onna Chaplin, Peter Dinklage

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 10. Valar Morghulis

August 13, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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When Tyrion Lannster (Peter Dinklage) wakes, he discovers Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) has assumed the role of the Hand and, to celebrate, has made Tyrion a prisoner — a perfect end to a perfect day. Varys (Conleth Hill) explains to Tyrion he’s now without friends among the nobles. Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) did, after all, try to have him killed on the battlefield. But the people love him for saving the city which makes him feel a whole lot better. Shae (Sibel Kikilli) wants Tyrion to leave, but he likes being close to power so decides to stay and play the game.

Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau literally bonding

There’s a tearful moment as self-interest finally pays out with a reward. Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) is given Harrenhal for bringing the Tyrells to rescue the Lannisters. Looking seductive, Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) asks whether she can be Queen to Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) and, after Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) is cast aside, Margaery gets a round of applause if only for having the nerve to wear that dress in public. Varys meanwhile moves to recruit one of Littlefinger’s whores as a spy — you just can’t have too many spies. Out in the sticks, Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) fights Stark’s men to keep Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) safe — a stupid if noble thing to do given she’s only loyal to Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) and could just have left Jaime to his fate. Now back in family mode, Robb Stark (Richard Madden) discusses the notion of love with his mother and confirms his desire to marry Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin), the immediate bird in the hand, and not the politically convenient bird on the House Frey bridge. So he ignores Catelyn’s warning about what happens to oath breakers, and the happy couple tie the knot in an official civil ceremony.

Alfie Allen inspiring his troops to fight

Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) remonstrates with Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) for failing to warn him he was going to lose. She puts on a brave front and convinces him he will be victorious and become King. The only price is that he must betray everyone around him. Having ordered the death of his brother, he should have no problem with that. And talking of experts in betrayal, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is under siege in Winterfell and remembers as a child how everyone said he was lucky to be a hostage. Sadly, he feels he can’t run because everyone will think him a coward — an incredibly stupid reason even by his standards. Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) makes the constructive suggestion he could make a strategic retreat to the Wall where the law can’t touch him. Unfortunately his loyal Iron Islanders think he would do better in the care of those besieging them. They knock out their revered leader, leave Maester Luwin fatally wounded and burn Winterfell. Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is there when the Maester dies. With his final words, he sends them north to the Wall where he says Jon Snow (Kit Harington) will look after them. Except Laughing Boy Snow is a prisoner of the Wildings and, to impress the locals with his betrayal skills, he kills Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) in self-defence. Now he’s going to meet the King Beyond the Wall while Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) has a more exciting encounter with some dead folk.

John Bradley gets his first sight of one of the “Others”

In the House of the Undead, there are visions of the Iron Throne in a ruined King’s Landing, of the ice beyond the Wall, of Khal Drogo and the son that was never born to them, but always Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) hears the cries of her dragons and is not tempted by the unreal. When Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore) finally puts in an appearance in the flesh, her dragons burn him and set her free — sadly the wrong way round but you just can’t get sensible dragons these days. When she and Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) open the giant safe, they find it empty. Yet another con trick revealed, so they fill it with the giant personality of Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie), steal all his moveables and go off to buy a ship. And Arya (Maisie Williams) gets the magic password featuring as the title to this episode. More about that comes in Season 3 if we feel strong enough to watch it. Fortunately, this brings Season 2 to an end with just a final set of conclusions to come from me.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Alfie Allen, Conleth Hill, Emilia Clarke, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Onna Chaplin, Peter Dinklage, Valar Morghulis

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 9. Blackwater

August 10, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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Well, for better or worse, here comes the battle for Kings Landing. Believe me when I tell you, watching this serial has become a chore. The first series was beautifully structured to give a direct plot line development to confirm the death of the King and his Hand, leaving the field open for the claimants to fight. This was something we could all relate to and cheer on. Sadly, the set of episodes to date has been all over the map without any clear idea of where it’s going. As evidence of this, welcome to the battle that should be the climax to this season. What we should have seen is all the dead wood cut away and a simple series of events leading to the failure of the primary claimant to take Kings Landing. We could then have gone away, licked our wounds, and considered what was happening north of the Wall and in other parts of the world as the start of the next season. As it is, we have to sit through an hour-long battle, only then to have a further hour to see what’s happening elsewhere. What should have been a real cliffhanger with everyone who has not read the books uncertain as to whether Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) survives, is going to be dragged out with redundant information in the final episode.

Jerome Flynn as Bron showing that, to start a battle, just point and shoot

So with Neil Marshall, a film director, brought into play in the hope his visual style can make a television hour of fighting a watchable fifty minutes, we’re off with Ser Davos Seaworth (Lian Cunningham) and his son leading the Navy towards King’s Landing. His son has naive faith they will win. Ser Davos has the experience to know it will not be easy. Tyrion lies with Shae (Sibel Kikilli) and reflects on his fear. But he’s a Lannister and he doesn’t have a choice. Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) gets some poison — just in case. Bron (Jerome Flynn), Tyrion’s sell-sword, and Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann) as The Hound exchange pointers on killing as they put the whores to one side and get ready for battle. Varys (Conleth Hill) gives Tyrion a map of the tunnels under the city. The captain of the ship always says he will go down with it when the ship is still afloat. But Varys offers the encouraging thought that Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) is being helped by dark forces and having such a man on the throne would be a disaster. So Tyrion had better win. Cersei keeps order by killing those who would run away. She keeps herself calm by drinking wine. Lots of wine. She mocks Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) for praying.

Lena Headey as Cersei in her cups

Ser Davos wonders where the opposing fleet is. Then only one unmanned ship comes into view and the wild fire is released. Stannis and some of the army survives and they press the attack on the walls. The Hound decides he’s had enough and leaves the field with a sack of wine. Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) has enough sense to see he’s losing and makes a strategic retreat. This leaves Tyrion to rally the citizenry as troops. “Don’t fight for honour. That’s your city he’s attacking, your women he’s going rape.” he tells those who will listen. When put to it, Tyrion has a nice inspirational line for those daft enough to still be around to listen. Sansa also starts a choir singing hymns but, on Shae’s advice, runs to hide in her room where, to her surprise, the Hound is waiting. He proposes to leave the King to die on his own, and offers to take her to Winterfell, to keep her safe.

Jack Gleeson gives words of encouragement to Peter Dinklage

When Tyrion’s last play seems to have failed, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) and his troops suddenly show up and drive off the remnants of the invading army. So near and yet so far. So much for the powers of the seer! Now Cersei need not commit suicide and we’ve another season of her witlessness to suffer. Even Joffrey survives! If only Tywin could have kept his deus in the machina and killed off Robb, we could have had a great Season 3 with him fighting Stannis to recover the Iron Throne. As it is, we have a city siege on the cheap with a lot of running around in the dark with mist to help conceal the small number of extras in the attacking and defending armies. It shows what can be done with flair and style on a shoe-string budget. Thanks to whatever divinity you believe in there’s only one more episode to go.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Blackwater, Conleth Hill, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Lena Headey, Liam Cunningham, Peter Dinklage, Rory McCann

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 8. The Prince of Winterfell

August 9, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) gets a lesson in leadership from his sister who calls him weak and stupid. Their power comes from their ships, not from the land. Now he’s killed the boys, every man in the North wants to kill him, so she begs him to come home with her to avoid death at Winterfell. For once his sister is showing signs of affection. Showing a similar female desire to save the men from themselves, Ygritte (Rose Leslie) protects Jon Snow (Kit Harington) but Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) has also been captured, the rest of the not-so-elite SEALs killed. The two survivors are being taken to meet Manse Rayder — and not before time.

Alfie Allen still alive

Robb Stark (Richard Madden) tells Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin), his girlfriend-in-waiting, that he’s pledged to marry as the price of controlling a bridge. Being a lord is like being a father except you have thousands of children to protect. Thinking of her children, Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) lets Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) go as the price she agreed with Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen), supposedly for releasing Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Arya (Maisie Williams). As a reward for giving in to her maternal instincts, Catelyn is to be kept locked up until Robb decides she’s been locked up long enough. Meanwhile, Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Chrstie) and Jaime bond as she takes him towards King’s Landing probably aware in their bones that Robb has sent men to track them down. Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) decides to march against Robb so Arya wants to escape Harrenhal. Thanks to a nice trick, Arya gets Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) to help her escape. It’s all working out well for her.

Oona Chaplin tempting the man from the path of righteousness

While Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is looking in books to find out how to defend King’s Landing against Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), his loyal sell-sword, now promoted to wear the Gold Cloak, has been going around killing all the known thieves. He offers the insight, not in books, that the biggest danger during a siege is that the people get hungry and, when there’s nothing left to steal, they eat the weak (or the rich who can’t defend themselves). In his description of war at StormsEnd, Stannis Baratheon confirms this foody trend to Sir Davos Seaworth (Lian Cunningham) who will be the Hand if Stannis wins. He ate all the animals he could find.

Peter Dinklage and Conleth Hill read Warfare For Dummies

Most Kings are groomed for the role as Princes. They grow up watching their fathers and his court rule. Robb is different because he grew up with no expectation of ruling anything other than Greyfel. He wants to know how Talisa Maegyr became interested in medicine. She describes a scene as children when her younger brother drowned. A slave who worked on a fishing boat, applied artificial respiration until he could breathe on his own. She decided she would not waste her time as a noble lady and would never live in a slave city again. So Robb gives up the bridge and beds the doctor. Tyrion describes how Tywin put him in charge of the plumbing. He was good at making the shit flow down into the sea. And talking of shit flowing, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) thinks she’s found Tyrion’s woman and puts it to him that, if Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) dies, his whore will die. Unfortunately she has the wrong whore. Later, when he’s with Shae (Sibel Kikilli), he comes close to admitting real love. It’s his weakness.

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) asserts the dragons are her children and the only children she will ever have. Against his better judgement, Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) agrees to take his (love) to the House of the Undying where Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore), the warlock, is keeping them. At Winterfell, Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) discovers the trick with the bodies and begs Osha (Natalia Tena) not to tell Bram.

As the calm before the battle for King’s Landing, this is a moving meditation on the value people place on their own lives and the lives of others. We see the stupidity of Joffrey who has no idea how to rule or mount the defence of King’s Landing. Stannis and Sir Davos Seaworth have been through thick and thin, taking all the abuse society can pile of them, but now they have the chance to rise to the top. Tyrion and Varys (Conleth Hill) finally acknowledge each other as excellent players of the game. Robb does something for himself, and Theon sinks deeper into the mire.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Alfie Allen, Conleth Hill, Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Oona Chaplin, Peter Dinklage, Rose Leslie, The Prince of Winterfell

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 7. A Man Without Honor

July 13, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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With only nuts to keep them going, Hodor (Kristian Nairn) carries Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) with Osha (Natalia Tena) and Rickon (Art Parkinson) in support

As is appropriate given the episode’s title, A Man Without Honor, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is frustrated and angry when he discovers Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) has disappeared, but manages to say encouraging things to Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) about what a good-behaved little boy he’d been when he was a hostage. His conclusion as he leads the pack of hounds to track down the runaways, “Don’t look so grim, Maester, it’s all just a game.” The idea that it’s better to be seen as cruel rather than appear weak neatly sums up this unpleasant little man. Meanwhile, with Osha (Natalia Tena) leading the way, Hodor (Kristian Nairn) carries Bran further away with Rickon (Art Parkinson) in tow. But they know they can’t outrun the hounds forever. Waking after a night without passionate sex, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finds himself the butt of sexual jokes from Ygritte (Rose Leslie). Do you have sheep at the Wall? No! No wonder you’re all so miserable! It’s a laugh a minute, but the vow of celibacy defines Jon as a man of honour and forms the basis of his emerging reputation. The sparky argument with Ygritte does pose an interesting question. If people have been living on both sides of the Wall for generations, why are they fighting each other? She tries to seduce him into abandoning his oath and joining Mance Rayder. When that fails, she runs off and leads Jon into a trap where he’s captured. At least he’s saved the embarrassment of having to pretend he’s in control.

Arya (Maisie Williams) offers Tywin (Charles Dance) a little more conversation

Back at Harrenhal, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) thinks he was the intended victim of the murder at his door yet, in his new role of surrogate Daddy to Arya (Maisie Williams), he still has time to chat with her and feed her mutton. He tells her how Herrenhal fell to the dragons, but she fills in all the gaps in his version of the history. He concludes she’s only pretending to be low born and that she’s too clever for her own good. At least he’s not completely stupid. Alton Lannister (Karl Davies) returns to Robb Stark (Richard Madden) with the rejection of the peace terms by Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and, as a reward for having the honour to keep his oath to return, he’s placed in the same lock-up as Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Happy as two peas in a pod, the prisoners remember the fun times they had when young and then Jaime explains his plan to escape. Meanwhile Robb Stark has taken Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin) off to the Crag to top up her supply of medical supplies. Naturally, to preserve his reputation for nobility and honour in battle, he wants her to be able to treat the wounded of both sides. This leaves Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) to defend the recaptured Jaime until Robb returns.

Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in a spot of bother

Having held back time for months, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) bleeds and thereby announces she’s physically able to bear children and so available to marry Joffrey (Jack Gleeson). Overcome with joy at this prospect, she runs to Cersei who offers womanly wisdom. Essentially this comes down to loving her children and trying to avoid being killed by everyone else. Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) has news that a fleet representing Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) is about four days away and twice the size of their navy. He and Cersei lack confidence in the planning of the defence. Caught in a moment of truthfulness, Cersei admits to the incest and opines that Joffrey is her punishment. Off in distant Qarth, Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) trusts Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) to find the stolen dragons. He gets the information from Quaithe (Laura Pradelska), but arrives too late to stop the coup organised by Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie) and made possible by Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore). It seems the warlock has the dragons.

Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie) and Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore) seize power

It’s fascinating that a contemporary fantasy series should feature two such awful people. This is not to say any of them are very nice. Indeed, by and large, they are a murderous bunch except for Tywin Lannister who’s increasingly demonstrating a cuddly side. But several of them have qualities we can respect if not actually like. This leaves us with Joffrey as a sadistic boy with megalomania coming on fast. Theon, however, must win a prize because his cruel streak comes from his cowardice. He’s genuinely despicable — his deception over the burning of the boys is gratuitously callous to protect his reputation but without any sense of what that does for his chances of survival in one piece. The women come out of this well. Ygritte is having fun at Jon’s expense, and the tag team of Catelyn and Brienne is shaping up well. Unfortunately, the pace of events north of the Wall is appropriately glacial, King’s Landing is in a holding pattern until Stannis arrives, and Winterfell is under the control of a boy who grew up into A Man Without Honor. Events in Qarth are happening, but I can’t say any of this is terribly exciting.

Thematically, the episode seems to be about the different ways in which people can enhance or lose their reputations. When she no longer controls the dragons, Daenerys discovers she has nothing (except the undeclared love of Ser Jorah Mormont). This continues her underwhelming contribution to the excitement level in this series. Xaro Xhoan Daxos has an impeccable reputation for having climbed to the top of the commercial heap from nothing, while the Spice King (Nicholas Blane) proves a disposable asset when he’s on the wrong side. Theon doesn’t realise that being seen as cruel is usually taken as a sign of weakness by others. Jaime no longer cares what others think of him, hence his successful plan to escape, while Cersei is finally prepared to admit Joffrey is a monster. In all this, the most interesting man is Jaime. It’s not that he’s without honour. It’s just that his code is not the same as everyone else’s. All in all, A Man Without Honor offers a lot of violence to compensate for the lack of sex. HBO must have some element to maintain its reputation for being edgy even though the pace of progress is slowing down quite dramatically.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: A Man Without Honor, Alfie Allen, Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Oona Chaplin, Peter Dinklage, Rose Leslie, Season 2

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 6. The Old Gods and the New

July 11, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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What makes The Old Gods and the New interesting is that it signals an increasing willingness on the part of the production team to move away from the book. It’s always appropriate when adapting a novel for a visual medium to change things around. But the continuity between this episode and the last is challenging. We leave it with Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) being rowed out to his single ship and return with him actually taking Winterfell. I’ve no particular axe to grind but there’s a lot missing with him landing, laying siege to Torrhen’s Square with a token force and then capturing Ser Rodrik (Ron Donachie) as our doughty defender marches to drive off the attackers. I suppose the important question is whether the increasingly selective way in which scenes are being chosen and fitted together actually works. In the main, what we see in this episode is reasonably easy to follow and not unenjoyable despite the slow-moving sequences north of the Wall. I’ll come back to all the changes to the main story at the end of the reviews of the individual episodes.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) reaches a critical point in his relationship with Ygritte (Rose Leslie)

Personally, Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) is helpless but also mindful of the fate of the people in Winterfell so, with Theon and his crew of cut-throats threatening the few staff in residence, he mouths the words of surrender. This should have kept everyone safe except the weak-minded Theon listens to the wrong advice and decides to behead Ser Rodrik. Botching this simple task signals the end of respect for the man. Because this is an HBO show, Osha (Natalia Tena), the Wildling girl, sleeps with Theon, steals a knife while he’s in post-coital slumber, kills a guard and then leads Bram away from his home on the back of Hodor (Kristian Nairn) with his younger brother Rickon (Art Parkinson). In any other show, Osha would have picked up one of the hundreds of knives lying around Winterfell, quietly killed a guard and escaped. Beyond the Wall, Jon Snow (Kit Harington), shadowed by his direwolf, Ghost, goes off with Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) and three other rangers on a commando raid to kill Mance Rayder. Among the first group of Wildlings they fight is a girl called Ygritte (Rose Leslie). Jon Snow now demonstrates why he’s also an ineffective person. In this type of raid behind enemy lines, there’s no place for sentimentality. Not understanding the extent of the boy’s weakness, Halfhand leaves him behind with instructions to kill her. Except he can’t bring himself to do it. She runs off and there’s then a tediously long chase. He catches her but he’s stubborn enough to lie out in the open with her. Good job he’s taken the vow of chastity. This saves HBO from having to show another sex scene — danger money would have been required for lying down and baring tender bits. Who knows what might get stuck to the ice.

Tywin (Charles Dance) looking the part as the head of House Lannister

To help us understand why Robb Stark (Richard Madden) is on a winning campaign, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) is shown having trouble with his senior officers, all of whom are as thick as two short planks. This is cartoonish. If Tywin Lannister is really so competent, he would have ignored all these lightweights and brought in military professionals to get the job done. Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) comes to report Renly’s death. He correctly identifies the Tyrrels as the unknowns since they have not yet declared what is to happen to their troops. He also reports on Tyrion’s plan to trade the Stark girls for Jaime. Lurking in the background as the cup bearer, Arya (Maisie Williams) listens carefully. Then, somewhat improbably when they are alone, Tywin tells Arya about teaching Jaime to read and talks candidly of his own father who was weak and almost lost the House. Although it’s interesting to consider what Tywin’s attitude to Arya might have been, seeing Tywin as less than ruthless in his dealings with her does rather blunt his reputation. But Arya’s impetuosity puts her in danger and she takes a second life from Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) to protect herself. She’s leading in the ruthlessness stakes.

Cersei (Lena Headey) and Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) say goodbye to Myrcella (Aimee Richardson)

Back at King’s Landing, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) finally gets his way and sends Myrcella Baratheon (Aimee Richardson) out of the city. Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) vows she will take revenge by killing anyone he loves. The presence of the great Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) in the city streets sparks a riot. Sandor Clegane (Rory McCann) as The Hound literally carries Joffrey out of danger, but Tyrion worries where Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) is. She’s caught and men are about to rape her when The Hound finally does the right thing and rescues her — plenty of feeling on his part when slaughtering the wannabe rapists. No-one’s going to touch his Sansa. Tyrion has the satisfaction of slapping Joffrey. Fortunately, no-one kills Tyrion for his lèse majesté. After her rescue, Sansa and Shae (Sibel Kikilli) exchange notes on who to trust. There’s no explanation of how The Hound could find Sansa, but perhaps we’re supposed to infer an ability to track her scent through city streets and slum tenements from his name as The Hound.

Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin) could tempt Robb Stark (Richard Madden) into the wrong decision

In Qarth, Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore) makes his first appearance as the warlock, while Quaithe (Laura Pradelska) offers a warning to Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen). Despite her pleading, the Spice King (Nicholas Blane) refuses to give any of his ships to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke). She has no army. She has no allies and cannot explain why the people will rise for her as the rightful Queen. He offers the wisdom of the ages. That wishes and dreams are not enough. She protests she is not an ordinary woman. She dreamed of dragons and her dreams came true. But the Spice King is all business where logic conquers passion. When she returns to the home she has been given in Qarth, she finds many of her supporters dead and the dragons missing. In a moment of peace, Robb Stark meets up with Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin) again. This time, she not amputating limbs after a battle and they manage to talk more romantically to each other before being interrupted by the return of Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) with bad news about Renly. Great timing as a crow also comes in from Winterfell.

On balance, The Old Gods and the New is one of the weaker episodes. Although we appreciate that the landscape north of the Wall is full of ice and snow, it’s not necessary to show us quite so much of it for so long. I also appreciate the difficulty in training animals, but the failure of the direwolf Ghost to put in anything other than a token appearance is a bit worrying. A little foreshaddowing of future events would be more useful than extended chases. In the Westeros, the characterisation of Tywin Lannister feels wrong. He’s far too likeable. Although Arya is the third most intelligent person in Harrenhal (after Tywin and Jaqen H’ghar), that’s no reason for Tywin to treat her like his own daughter. Yes, he’s probably a lonely old killer, but that doesn’t mean he would open up to a girl he’s only just met. So this is all disappointing.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Alfie Allen, Charles Dance, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Oona Chaplin, Peter Dinklage, Rose Leslie, Season 2, The Old Gods and the New

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 5. The Ghost of Harrenhal

July 6, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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It’s often said that the buck stops when it gets to the top of the food chain or, when there’s no-one else to blame for a decision, you blame the leader. Except despite the generations of experience that should have taught us about morality, our modern society has still not resolved the question of accountability. Borrowing the Americanism, the 99% want the CEOs of the top corporations to be held liable when their organisations do something terrible, yet it’s the top 1% that controls governments and so laws rarely impose any personal liability. Why raise this? Well, at the end of the last episode, we saw Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) use her dark powers. It’s rather like the British Government deciding to firebomb Dresden to demoralise the civil popoulation and hopefully bring a German surrender closer. Had Britain not been on the winning side, a war crimes tribunal would have been very interested in what Winston Churchill had to say about the decision-making. Robb Stark (Richard Madden), on the other hand, is doing his best to ensure his reputation for fairness in battle and the treatment of prisoners afterwards remains unblemished. He wants to win, but not at any price. This may actually be a sign of weakness. Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) is the ruthless one, prepared to kill his brother while Robb Stark may lack the killer instinct and political pragmatism to get the job done (whatever he thinks the job is which doesn’t always seem entirely clear to him).

Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) and Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) reach agreement

Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) and Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) had negotiated a deal when the dark spirit sent by Melisandre strikes. Catelyn covers for Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Chrstie) as she escapes and, in due course, they bond. Naturally, Brienne wants to kill Stannis Baratheon to avenge Renly’s death, but that’s postponed until it becomes a practical proposition. Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) continues to do a wonderful job of lurking in the background and so saves Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones) and Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) by persuading them to make a strategic retreat with their troops. He rightly blames Stannis for the death of Renly and advises them it will be safer to keep their options open. Meeting Stannis at this point might provoke the wrong alliance. Interestingly, Lady Margaery says she doesn’t want to be a queen. She want to be the queen. Now that’s an interesting thing to say to a fixer like Littlefinger. In King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) understand the threat of an army unified under Stannis. Unfortunately, Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) is so full of his own importance, he has decided to run the defence personally. To keep tabs on what everyone is doing, Tyrion pulls strings with Lancel Lannister (Eugene Simon) who’s currently sleeping with Cersei in her brother’s absence, and discovers Cersei is persuading Pyromancer Allyne (Roy Dotrice) to make wildfire — an art that kept the Targaryens in power. Tyrion takes over control of the manufacture, but is deeply worried about the risks of using it anywhere near the city. To further complicate the defence of the city, there are signs of revolution in the air as Joffrey’s cruelty and Cersei’s short-termism begin to bear fruit.

Davos-Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) the honest man who rises in the ranks

Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) tries to remonstrate with Stannis about how Renly died but is fobbed off. Stannis prefers willful blindness as his defence should he come before a war crimes tribunal. As a reward for asking awkward questions, Ser Davos is put in sole charge of the fleet to attack King’s Landing — as the Onion Knight, this is not exactly the level of responsibility he was looking for, but he genuinely is the right man for the job. Better still, he persuades Stannis to leave Melisandre behind lest she gain too much power. If they are to win, it must be a secular victory without any reliance on magic or new gods. Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen), on the other hand, is humiliated by his father and sister. They give him a single ship to command. Arya (Maisie Williams) has a confrontation with Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) and discusses the art of survival with Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha). As her reward for saving three lives, Jagen offers her three deaths. At least she’s completely honest about using murder as a tool. It’s all about accountability. As she says, anyone can be killed and that’s an acceptable way of doing business when the survival of those she values is at stake.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) walks on into the North to meet Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) who confirms that Manse Rayder has collected all the Wildlings together and will attack the Wall. Jon Snow goes off in a small raiding party to kill Mance. He accepts assassination as an acceptable means of winning a war. Back in Winterfell, Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) dreams that the sea comes to Winterfell and floods the castle. Being a seer is deeply frustrating when the messages are framed as unexplained allegories. Osha (Natalia Tena) listens with interest to all his questions and confirms there are legends of the three-eyed raven north of the Wall — a useful fact to know.

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore)

Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie) offers Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) a fortune if she will marry him. The political situation in Qarth is interesting as the dragons represent a long-term investment in power. The question for Daenerys is whether she should take immediate help and sail across the the Westeros as the other contenders for the Iron Throne fight among themselves, or go slow and return on her own terms when she’s ready. Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) advises slow and steady wins the race.

This is a more compact episode keeping the focus on the moves to win the Iron Throne or perhaps just take control of a part of Westeros. When we move briefly away to other places, we see everyone taking strategic decisions as they try to make the best of their individual situations. That said, it’s a bit workmanlike. There’s an awful lot crammed in here and I’m not sure everyone will follow what’s happening unless they’ve read the book. Worse, the chance to make a frightening opening is lost with a perfunctory death for Renly. I really don’t understand why this was not featured. There’s also little made of the consolidation of military power as a result of the death. Having had the confrontation between Stannis and Renly, it seems a shame not to deal with the aftermath more clearly. So this is good in parts but not quite so good together.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Emilia Clarke, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Lena Headey, Liam Cunningham, magic, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Season 2, Stephen Dillane, supernatural, The Ghost of Harrenhal

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 4. Garden of Bones

July 2, 2012 David Marshall 2 comments

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Thematically we’ve moved beyond a mere consideration of the nature of power and into a study of what it takes to be an effective leader. Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) is almost completely without charisma, but he has the best claim to the throne so people follow him if only because it feels the right thing to do. Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) demonstrates it’s possible to be a complete nightmare for almost everyone around him yet still command by virtue of sitting on the throne. It’s a case of being in the right place at the right time with enough people cowed into following. As the Hand, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) is proving highly effective in making himself safe and signalling to the other clever people around him that, if they hang together, they can survive despite Joffrey and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). He’s a survivor as leader because he has real political ability. Robb Stark (Richard Madden) has that rough northern charm that other northerners appreciate and the southeners think is evidence of mental deficiency until he beats them in battle. Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) is quietly competent and people would follow her because she’s full of common sense. Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) is a leader in the making because she’s not afraid and instinctively loyal to those for whom she accepts responsibility.

King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) on the Iron Throne

Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) also has charm, albeit of a different variety, and would prefer to negotiate rather than fight. He may have a big army, but it’s more for show. He’s also not pragmatic enough to be successful in the long term. He should get his wife, Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), pregnant but is so completely gay, he can’t find her attractive enough for an erection. Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) is a taker. He doesn’t talk or negotiate. He just takes while the taking is good. People follow him because they all get their share. So far, no-one apart from Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) is following Jon Snow (Kit Harington). I suppose more people will follow after he’s had a chance to read Leadership For Dummies, due to be delivered by an Amazon in the next seven days. Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) is showing all the symptoms of opportunism hampered by a shortage of brain but unhindered by any sense of morality. Apart from deciding who next to take to bed, he’s never had the chance to lead anything but a life free of responsibilities while held as a hostage by the Starks.

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Samwell Tarly (John Bradley)

We see Robb Stark winning the latest battle and taking the strategic high moral ground. He refuses to allow prisoners to be tortured to discover what the Lannisters might be planning. He prefers not to give them an excuse to harm his two sisters, while actually taking time to comfort his own wounded as best he can. There are also signs he may be running short of supplies. When challenged by Talisa Maegyr (Oona Chaplin) to defend killing innocent conscripts in the Lannister army, he has no good reply. His denial he would sit of the Iron Throne rings true but when he says he has no plan as to what should happen if he wins the war. . . Is that what leaders are supposed to be like? Joffrey, being on the losing side of the most recent battles, decides that hitting Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) is the best response. Fortunately for her, Tyrion is on hand to save a complete humiliation. Joffrey, however, is diverted by a voyuristic S&M session with two girls sent by Tyrion (HBO just can’t resist that extra sex scene of casual cruelty). To bolster his position, Tyrion blackmails Lancel Lannister (Eugene Simon) into spying on Cersei for him. Forewarned is forearmed, so they say.

Robb Stark (Richard Madden) wins another battle

Meanwhile Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) is off to see Renly and Lady Margaery Tyrell who seem to think numerical superiority wins battles. Littlefinger scathingly dismisses this idea with the insight that, if this was true, mathematicians would rule the world. To his surprise, Littlefinger finds Lady Margaery loyal to Renly (for now, anyway). When he meets Catelyn, there’s no love but the possibility of a deal is offered if she trades the hostage Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). As a token of his good faith, Tyrion returns her husband’s head (that should swing the deal). Brothers Renly and Stannis briefly discuss whether Stannis will be acclaimed king. Even Catelyn’s attempt to speak sense to the boys fails. So, to settle matters, Sir Davos Seaworth (Lian Cunningham) secretly brings Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) ashore and she gives birth to a dark shadow. Presumably, this is the seed she collected from Stannis in their sexual frolic now given a slightly different existence from the one he was expecting.

Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) out in the desert

In the desert there’s word from a scout Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and the survivors will be welcomed in Qarth, a city three day’s march away. Standing outside the city in the so-called Garden of Bones, the Spice King (Nicholas Blane) asks her to show the dragons as a condition of entry. Instead, she threatens to return when they are fully grown and have the dragons burn the city down. Laughing at this display of gumption, Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie) gives surety for them and they enter. Arya and the others arrive in jail at Harrenhal and are forced to watch as one of their number is taken every day and tortured. Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) arrives in time to save the remaining prisoners and recruit Arya as a his cup bearer.

This is a better episode and is moving things forward with a more urgent feel. Pleasingly, both Robb Stark and Tywin Lannister are shown with a good practical feel for what’s necessary to keep their troops focused on the essentials. The selection of which scenes to pluck from the book is working well to create a rolling series of insights into the characters and their motivations. Although we’re still in the slow build-up to the big battle coming near the end, we can now see where the real battlelines are being drawn.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: fantasy, Game of Thrones, Garden of Bones, George R R Martin, magic, Peter Dinklage, Richard Madden, Season 2, Stephen Dillane, supernatural

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 3. What Is Dead May Never Die

June 23, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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Let’s start this review of What Is Dead May Never Die by thinking about the amount of sex we’re being offered as viewers. A part of HBO’s reputation depends on its willingness to push the boundaries of taste. Content will not be denied a showing simply because it’s explicit. We need to see this in context. Anyone who wants material classified as pornography can find it easily, whether online or in other published media, but HBO is classified as a mainstream television network. For genuinely explicit content to appear on a prime-time show is therefore challenging established cultural norms. Of course, Americans at this point begin waving their copy of the Constitution and chanting about First Amendment rights as if laws somehow justify bad taste. This is the old, no-one forces you to watch an HBO show argument. When you switch to the channel, you know what to expect. Except what’s the actual benefit to the story? If A is notoriously a libertine, do we actually need to see him engaging in sexual intercourse to understand what that means?

Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) and Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) enjoy the ride home

To understand this point, we need a few examples. There’s been a repetition of a brothel scene from Season 1 where Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) is teaching one of his new whores the art of simulating sexual satisfaction to enhance the enjoyment of paying customers. Actual sex seems gratuitous. Since the training depends on the noises made, physical expressions and the body movements, this can be practised by everyone with their clothes on. It’s actually tiring the staff if they have to keep exerting themselves and tired staff make for unhappy customers. We’ve also had Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) demonstrating both the missionary position and penetration from behind. We’ve seen Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) so overcome with excitement he has sex with Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) standing up and over a table laid out with maps of battlefields. Surprisingly, we see brother Theon Greyjoy feeling up Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan), his sister (that’s also in the book and nothing to do with HBO trying to push the envelope — being faithful to the text always offers the television station a better defence against the charge of introducing gratuitous sex to sell the adverts). Although he was not aware of her identity, she was not averse to allowing him to continue at the heavy petting stage. Thematically, we’ve also been flirting with incest between the Lannister brother and sister, and between a father and his daughters. The Lannisters were shown together in Season 1 but, so far, the Crasters have kept all their clothes on. Presumably it’s too cold to expose the vulnerable bits for us to see. And then there’s the gay sex with Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) and Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones). Not bad for the first three episodes. When HBO runs out of sexual options to display, it will presumably be time for the gratuitous violence.

Arya (Maisie Williams) really coming into her own as a boy

Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is finding it tough to reconcile his private code of morality with the circumstances surrounding him. As Jeor Mormont (James Cosmo) explains, the Watch needs men like Craster (Robert Pugh). For Rangers north of the Wall, it can be the difference between life and death. No matter what the Watch thinks about the religion, they are to look the other way when Craster offers all his baby boys as sacrifices to the old Gods. Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) and Gilly (Hannah Murray) do, however, make a real connection. Bram Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) tells Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) the old retainer about his dreams as a direwolf. The Maester tries to dismiss such stories as old wives’ tales. The dragons have gone, the giants are dead and the children of the forest are forgotten. Bram, however, is sure he can tell the difference between mere dreams and actual experiences.

Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) standing tall

Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) arrives at the home of Renly Baratheon in time to see the impressively tall and muscled Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) winning a tourney. Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) makes her first appearance as Renly’s wife even though he actually prefers her brother, Ser Loras Tyrell, the most appropriately titled Knight of the Flowers (who was knocked to the ground by Brienne but didn’t enjoy the experience of being beaten by a woman). The Greyjoys are also planning their campaign knowing that Robb Stark (Richard Madden) has gone south and left the north unprotected. Now Theon must choose whether to make an essentially cowardly attack upon Stark lands or retain some vestiges of loyalty to the family that held him safely as a hostage for so many years. In the end, he chooses his own family. A pragmatic decision since, otherwise, he probably ends up with nothing.

Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Shae (Sibel Kikilli) are also finding their relationship difficult when she may be taken hostage to persuade the Hand to act in ways he would usually deny, while Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) confronts the reality that, come the end of the campaign against Robb Stark, she will have to marry Joffrey (Jack Gleeson). Tyrion’s solution is to hide Shae as Sansa’s handmaiden. Perhaps they can give each other moral support. Tyrion tries to find out which members of the Council are trustworthy by looking as if he wants to forge alliances through by marrying off Myrcella Baratheon. Naturally, Cersei is outraged that her daughter should become a pawn and this reveals Pyclle (Julian Glover) as Cersei’s spy. When Pycelle is imprisoned, Varys (Conleth Hill) philosophises to Tyrion about the nature of power. It’s all illusion, residing temporarily where the majority people believes it to be found. Littlefinger is disappointed his own commission was a deception. Perhaps there are other ways he can help Tyrion.

Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony) and Lady Margaery (Natalie Dormer) holding court

Arya (Maisie Williams) is still having trouble sleeping, remembering the execution of Ned Stark. Yoren (Francis Magee) offers what comfort he can, sharing that he watched the murder of his brother. Years later, he killed the murderer and took the Black. All this comes minutes before the King’s men come back in numbers to kill Gendry (Joe Dempsie). Yoren falls and the soldiers start sacking the camp. Arya opens the cage to release Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) and the other two criminals. She survives as a captive and tries to convince the soldiers they have already killed Gendry. She points to the helmet he fashioned as a blacksmith lying beside a dead body. She’s not only brave but also loyal to those who may become her allies or friends.

Well, that’s What Is Dead May Never Die. I fear the structure that works well in the written form, is less successful on the small screen. Short episodes with different points of view, switching chapter-by-chapter in a continuous text, can maintain interest. The fact of reading through to the end of the book maintains the continuity. But television seems to separate out the narrative threads and encourage a certain lack of cohesion. Season 1 managed a better focus. Season 2 is more diffuse without a strong individual character to unite around. Ensemble pieces only work well when the characters actually interact. I wait with interest to see how the writers manage the transfer of the rest of the text to the screen.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Aidan Gillen, Carice Van Houten, dragon, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Gwendoline Christie, Kit Harington, magic, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Season 2, supernatural, What Is Dead May Never Die

Game of Thrones: Season 2, Episode 2. The Night Lands

June 18, 2012 David Marshall Leave a comment

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Game of Thrones is based on A Song of Ice and Fire by George R R Martin. The content of Season 2 in this television adaptation by HBO is drawn from A Clash of Kings. As before, the production is helmed by David Benioff and D B Weis. Here’s the link to my retrospective overview of Game of Thrones Season 1. This is a spoiler-rich discussion of what happens in each episode, so do not read this if you want to watch without prior knowledge.

One of the fascinating things about the way production companies cast and then directors direct is the way they deal with “foreign” accents. Now as one originating on the North East coast of England on the north bank of the Tyne, I can tell the difference between all the major northern accents and some of the Scottish ones. If you asked me about American accents, I could vaguely distinguish between the north and south, but it’s a vast country and it would be guesswork as to where anyone came from. So here’s the thing. This American production company wants to make a series about a fictional world, but it would be convenient to map accents on to our world. So, for example, since British actors come more cheaply than their American counterparts, we could cast all the Lannisters as southern English with received

Jaime Lannister emoting in Danish

pronunciation (apart from the Danish guy, that is — he looks so good, viewers will just eat up anything he manages to say in English). That would leave us with a convenient group of accents for the northern folk, Scottish for the wildlings and Irish for the Iron Islands (Danish for the good-looking). Except it hasn’t worked out with any degree of consistency. We’ve people in the same families speaking with different accents. Now, of course, we’re not striving for realism here. This is fantasy and it’s a miracle any of them can actually string two sentences together. More to the point, Game of Thrones is actually been made with the American market uppermost in HBO’s mind so the accuracy of accents is the last thing anyone’s worrying about. Who among the millions of American viewers will know or care whether a father and son should speak with the same accent? This is the real world of television production and I should just “get over it”. Except, since these Americans are hiring some of Britain’s best acting talent, they could have asked these Brits to sort it out among themselves. Leaving it to random chance is sloppy directing when it was so easy to fix.

Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha) not looking quite as deadly as usual

As we start off The Night Lands, Arya (Maisie Williams) investigates the contents of the cage on the King’s Highway and so meets Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha). She watches from the safety of the ditch as Yoren (Francis Magee) drives away the first two soldiers searching for Gendry (Joe Dempsie) one of the Baratheon bastards. They exchange brief family details but the two runaways fail to bond. Varys (Conleth Hill) comes to see Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) and Shae (Sibel Kikilli) so they can exchange ritual threats and then watch Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) meet with Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) and reject the terms for peace he brings from Robb Stark (Richard Madden). With no awareness of the dangers, she also refuses to send more men to the Wall demonstrating little sense of diplomacy or long-term interest in self-defence. Later Tyrion confronts Janos Slynt (Dominic Carter) for his role in slaughtering the bastards. That leaves Bron (Jerome Flynn) in charge as the Commander of the City Watch. His morals are no better, but at least he’s a known quantity. The argument over Slynt’s fate then spreads to include Cersei who has never forgiven Tyrion — their mother died while giving birth to the “dwarf” — and finds it hard to take criticism from him on her style of government. He, on the other hand, feels obliged to point out that rulers depend on the passivity of their people. If the masses rise up, one or two rulers and their guards stand no chance. It’s therefore refreshing that Cersei was not the one to order the slaughter of the bastards. That was Joffrey (Jack Gleeson).

Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) and Melisandre (Carice van Houten)

Equally lacking in the sense department, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finds himself under pressure from Samwell Tarly (John Bradley) to take Gilly (Hannah Murray), one of the Craster (Robert Pugh) “wives”, with the group when they leave. It seems Craster acts ruthlessly when the wives produce boys. The trouble is that Jon Snow has too much initiative and even more curiosity. He finds it difficult to follow orders.

There’s more sex in this episode as Balon Greyjoy (Patrick Malahide) and the fierce Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) welcome the randy and, to them, effete Theon Greyjoy to the Iron Islands. Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen) offers a shoulder to one of those in his brothel whose bastard child was murdered (that’s a cold shoulder, of course). Salladhor Saan (Lucian Msamati) talks to Davos Seaworth (Lian Cunningham) as one pirate to another on whether Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) can succeed when he has the smallest army. As men of honour and atheists both, the old pirate comrades agree to combine their naval forces. This puts them slightly at odds with Matthos Seaworth (Kerr Logan) who’s rather devout in the new religion. Stannis is also having trouble with his conversion to the ways of his seer, so Melisandre (Carice van Houten) turns to seduction to complete the conversion. She’s the means to the end of making her own prophesies come true.

This episode is moving us along at a reasonable pace, showing just how dangerously incompetent the Cersei/Joffrey combination has become. While enjoying the company of the Stark family, Theon Greyjoy has also lost touch with the ways of his family. Politically, everything is falling into place for the different claimants to start fighting for the throne. The remaining Starks and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) have less to do. In a way, The Night Lands is still all set-up but the slightly brooding atmosphere of the episode is easing.

Categories: TV and anime Tags: Aidan Gillen, Alfie Allen, fantasy, Game of Thrones, George R R Martin, Lena Headey, magic, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Season 2, Stephen Dillane, supernatural, The Night Lands

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