What I’m Watching: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 7 “You Win or You Die”

Well, this is definitely a game-changer. To think that something as minor as a hunting accident could fell King Robert and cause such enormous upheaval is rather alarming, but that’s the nature of the way things work on this show. Cersei put it well when she spoke the line that give this episode its title and mentions the name of the show at the same time – “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” That’s definitely true, as she enforces her cutthroat nature by ripping up Robert’s deathbed declaration appointing Ned to be protector of the realm. Seeing Cersei and her arrogant son give orders to the guards only to have them countermanded by Robert was intense. Ned continues to be the diplomat, proclaiming his desire for there not to be any bloodshed only to have guards stab each other only seconds later. Most unfortunately, of course, it seems that he has trusted the wrong people, as he finds a traitor’s knife at his neck, yielded by Petyr Baelish, as the screen fades to black right in the middle of the action. Worst of all, Ned may have made an enemy he tried not to make by failing to stop the assassination attempt on Daenerys before it was too late. I like how she was so innocent in that setting and then managed to put on a more serious, watchful air when it became clear that the jolly wine seller was actually an assassin. One thing is for sure: the final three episodes of this season are going to be exciting.