Snow Becomes a Man
I cannot believe we are already halfway through the third
season of Game of Thrones. Oh I wish this series had a 22 episode run like
network television (then again if this was network television this series would
not be nearly as good). Once again another event filled episode. Snow and
Ygritte finally give into their inner temptations and get down and dirty. In
order to make her believe that he has truly forsaken his Night’s Watch vows,
she suggests a little afternoon delight. I guess there are worse ways to prove
that you are not a spy. Though this in Jon’s first time, he seems pretty
knowledgeable with how to please a woman. I thought Kit Harrington (Jon Snow)
and Rose Leslie’s romantic chemistry was sizzling but then again the two actors
are dating in reality so it must not be too hard transferring that sexual
desire onscreen. I am intrigued by this story development because I think
becoming romantically involved with a Wildling will make it more difficult for
Jon to carry out his task as a spy.
Arya faced a setback this episode. The Hound fought Beric
Dondarrion to decide his guilt or innocence. Much to my pleasure (but to Arya’s
dismay) the Hound won the battle and was thus set free by the Men Without
Banners. This scene gave the viewer more information about the power possessed
by the Lord of Light. Though the Hound killed Dondarrion, Dondarrion came back
from the dead. Apparently this is not Beric’s first time escaping death but his
sixth. The Lord of Light wishes for him to stay alive. I am beginning to wonder
about the role of the Lord of Light in this series. Is he supposed to be a
mystical representation of the Christian God? Jesus always used the metaphor
that he was the light. Also the followers of the Lord of Light in the series
refer to him as the only god. They follow him and no one else unlike the old
gods that the Starks pray to or the new gods of say the Lannisters. Finally,
the Lord of Light works visible miracles such as bringing people back from the
dead just like the miracles performed by Jesus in the New Testament. Of course
there are many qualities about this god that do not reflect the Christian God
such as burning people who do not believe (then again Mary I burned Protestants
at the stake so the practice is not unheard of) or using his powers to create a demon to
murder Stannis’ brother, but the Lord of Light bears more resemblance to the
Christianity God than the other deities mentioned in the series. 
In this episode, we finally get to meet Stannis’ wife and
daughter. Though they both make appearances in the second novel, the series
does not show their characters until now. Stannis’ wife is a very understanding
woman and is happy that Stannis bed Melisandre and produced a “son.” Once again
another biblical reference came to my mind as I watched this scene recalling the
story of Abraham and how Sarah sent Abraham to her maid so that he might have a
son. I will say that this episode shed some light onto Stannis’ character. In
the second book, the reader learns how devoted of a husband Stannis is, never
straying from his marriage bed. He holds those vows sacred. In the series, that
point is never really addressed until now. In the second season, he takes
Melisandre in the heat of passion without much hesitation. Even last episode,
he was trying to get in her pants again. This is the first time we see the
moral Stannis (at least moral when it comes to marriage vows) making an
appearance and apologizing to his wife for his infidelity. We also get to meet
Stannis’ daughter this episode. Once again there is a difference between the
book and the series. In the book, the daughter is supposed to be severely
disfigured and grotesque. I half expected to see Jessica Lange’s daughter from
the first season of American Horror Story cast in the role. However, the
daughter looked, sounded, and acted normal all except for having half her face
scarred. Though she did have this one disfigurement, it was not nearly as
horrific as described in the book.
Robb Stark followed in his father’s footsteps this episode
and not for the better. Lord Karstark ventured out on his own and killed the
two young Lannisters in custody. Robb seeing this as treason kills Lord
Karstark causing him to lose the bannermen this lord brought with him. I fear
Robb might not survive this series. Eddard lost his head because he was so honorable
and just that he could not play the political game and could not let some insolences
alone even though their persecution would mean more trouble for him. Robb is
making the same mistakes. Both his wife and his mother warn him that by killing
this lord he will lose the men the lord brought with him. They advise that he
should just hold him as prisoner and use his safety as a wager to make the
Karstark bannermen stay and fight. Robb, however, cannot let this treason go
and kills Lord Karstark thus losing his men and depleting his army. Eddard was
correct to teach his children honor and integrity but Robb also needs to learn
political savvy. In order to survive this war he needs to take the lessons he
learned from Eddard but learn from Eddard’s mistakes to become an even wiser
ruler.
This episode ended with an awesome twist. Cersei uses
Littlefinger to try to figure out what the Tyrells are planning. She discovers
that Margaery and the Tyrells are looking to wed Sansa to Ser Loras. Since of
course Cersei is out to ruin Sansa’s life, she informs Lord Tywin. I was half
expecting for Lord Tywin to marry Sansa to Lord Baelish which would be creepy,
but Littlefinger comes off as creepy and semi pedophilic so it would seem to
work. In an awesome twist, Lord Tywin decides to have Tyrion wed Sansa. I did
not see this coming. Poor Tyrion, who also is appalled at how young she is, is in love with Shae (which of course his
father does not know). The only thing I can say for Sansa is that at least
Tyrion has a good heart and will not harm her unlike Jofrrey and she might even
have some protection. This scene got even better, however, when Lord Tywin
ordered Cersei to marry Ser Loras. She was so happy that she was forcing Tyrion
to marry someone he did not love but was completely blindsided by her father’s
second request. It was brilliant. Not only does she have to marry someone else
(at least he is much better looking that Robert) but it is going to be another
loveless marriage because Ser Loras desires other men and no matter how hard
Cersei might try she will never be able to please him. I actually love this arrangement
not only because I like to see Cersei squirm but I think it might create an
unusual alliance between Cersei and Tyrion. I think they might team up to go
against their father, but then again he has such a strong psychological hold
over all of his children, no matter how much they might dislike his orders, I
do not see any of them rebelling. Though if two children were ever going to go
against their father it would most definitely be Cersei and Tyrion. Well there
are only five more episodes left in this season to find out so until next week….
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