Take Three: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 3 “Lord Snow” (B)

I’m still not exactly clear on how everyone’s related, but this show is definitely picking up the pace for me by spotlighting a few choice characters that definitely have a whole lot to offer. It’s only fair to start with Lord Snow himself since his name does make this episode’s title. In many ways, he’s a lone wolf, but he also seems to have a real sense of the way things work, and I find his interactions with Tyrion Lannister among the most interesting, although that’s mostly due to the fabulous sarcastic performance delivered by Peter Dinklage. In terms of good acting, it’s very worthwhile to praise two young ladies, Maisie Williams, who play Arya Stark, and Emilia Clarke, who plays Daernerys Targaryen. Arya is a particularly great character, so determined, like Tyrion, not to be relegated to the fate determined by some measure of her birth of circumstances. Her father watching her training at the very end of the episode was a strong way to end it and to capture their relationship in just a few shots and glances. Daenerys is proving to be quite capable herself of defying the supremacy of men in her world, taking charge both on the battlefield (or rather, on the march) and in the bedroom as she discovers her pregnancy. Jaime Lannister is establishing himself to be quite the capable villain, turning the tables on the King when he is called into be mocked. I think I’m easing into this show and should be confident enough to stick with it at least through the end of the season.