Tuesday, June 7, 2011

What I’m Watching: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 8 “The Pointy End” (B+)

Things are not going well for anyone in this episode. On the home front, things are truly falling apart as the Lannisters swoop in to take control, with Cersei appointing her father and brother to two of the most prominent positions in the realm. Clearly, not everyone is going to take this lying down, and that self-stripping of the armor was rather defiant and memorable. This show always manages to end on an intense note, and having Sansa pledge to convince her father to swear allegiance to Joffrey is not going to be an easy (or possible) task. There’s nothing like a terrifying creature that can come back to life to prompt action on the part of a son seeking to save his father, and ripping off someone’s hand just to prove a point is equally serious. Life is certainly a fickle concept in this universe, as Khal Drogo is ready to slay one of his most formerly loyal compatriots and rip out his entrails just because he insulted his sun and stars. I do love that dialogue, which I guess I hadn’t noticed too much before. Arguably the episode’s most awesome scene was when Arya’s instructor rose to her defense and promptly took out all of the people that were threatening her. Tyrion’s ability to talk his way out of any situation by smoothly promising rewards is quite impressive, and it was interesting to see his father respond in a manner just as manipulative and far more intimidating to those he had promised to reimburse for their life-saving efforts.

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