Season 2 Episode 5 - Have NOT Read the Books

Niall09 · 30-04-2012 2:48pm #1

The beginning :eek:

30-04-2012 3:06pm

Bit of a slowburner episode. Nice to see Arya being able to listen in to the Lannisters war council like that though

Kiwi_knock · 30-04-2012 3:55pm

Nothing really exciting in the episode, more of a progression of the storyline and setting up future storylines. Was expecting a shock or a surprise at the end to make us look forward to next week.

jakobgallagher · 30-04-2012 4:12pm

The shock was at the start of the episode, i'm delighted the writers dont feel the need to end every episode with a cliff hanger.

Oranage2 · 30-04-2012 4:40pm

Just watched it there - very good I thought, not as slow as the third episode.

Nice to see Bran Stark and making decisions esp in contrast to king Joffrey's decision making.

Just one thing - Who is the guy that promised Arya

the 3 kills

- I know he's the guy she saved from the fire in the jail cart but which family is he from or what has he done?

I'd google it but you always get spoilers.

Frisbee · 30-04-2012 4:47pm

Oranage2 wrote: »

Just one thing - Who is the guy that promised Arya
the 3 kills
- I know he's the guy she saved from the fire in the jail cart but which family is he from or what has he done?

I'd google it but you always get spoilers.

Jaqen H'ghar. Not of any of the families/factions of Westeros. He's from Braavos, one of the free cities. The same place Syrio (Arya's dancing master) was from in Season 1.

expectationlost · 30-04-2012 5:32pm

i vow to protect you with all my might, ... oh dear... i vow to protect you with all my might.

OctavarIan · 30-04-2012 7:39pm

People who say nothing really happened in this episode, wut?

pixelburp · 30-04-2012 7:50pm

Well perhaps it wasn't a case that nothing happened, but certainly there wasn't as much clear progression in the storylines as there was previously; it was more a case of expanding on what we saw last week. Each arc got some time to stretch out its respective plotline. With the possible exception of John Snow's arc: that's simply going nowhere really. I have to say though, I didn't expect the ghost-pregnancy assassin to be successful, that was a surprise.

Mentioned already, but watching Bran rule was an interesting parallel to Joffrey. Whilst the latter is an aimless, untutored & brutal tyrant, Bran is showing himself a wise and fair ruler despite his lack of years. As for his powers, that vision he spoke of is obviously allegorical for Greyjoy's attack on the Stark lands. Guess the Lannisters are finally going to get a reprieve from Rob's steamroller attacks, all thanks to Balon's idiocy.

As for the star of the show, I'm beginning to wonder what game Tyrion is really playing at. Yes, he seems to be trying to keep the peace, the innocents & Kings Landing safe, but to what aim? If he won't allow the napalm to be used in battle, then surely Stannis will arrive and then what? I suspect Tyrion has a masterplan that might involve exchanging Joffrey in exchange for the rest of the Lannisters' safety.

I do kind of wish Danaerys would get her arse back to Westeros, because I'm beginning to share the same thoughts of Ser Jorrah; she and Rob Stark are the only two claimants who seem like they might actually be reasonable, fair rulers.

CastorTroy · 30-04-2012 11:18pm

OctavarIan wrote: »

People who say nothing really happened in this episode, wut?

They mean there was a lack of nudity. :rolleyes:

I know we saw the 3 eyed crow, but I don't remember seeing the water. Did it show that?

I'm confused with what happened in Qarth. The guy says he has the key to open the vault, but why does he need Dany then?

johnnysmack · 30-04-2012 11:22pm

CastorTroy wrote: »

The guy says he has the key to open the vault, but why does he need Dany then?

He's only a merchant at the minute. With her claiming the Iron Throne he can become royalty and own half the known world with their kids becoming princes and princesses! He's aiming higher as they said in the episode.

krudler · 01-05-2012 12:07am

Its cool how grown up Bran already seems. I like how Charles Dance plays Tywin, he's a bastard but a charismatic and smart one, Dance is a great actor though he's watchable in anything I've ever seen him in. Good episode this week, just nicely progressed but no major events. It'll probably kick up a gear in the next episode or two

ricero · 01-05-2012 12:57am

last week ratz from paths to freedom and this week finchy from the office. i love it :P

don ramo · 01-05-2012 2:07am

i really hope deany takes up that invite to go to that magic house (cant recall its name), she should make the best of being in qarth, she would be stupid to leave any time soon and i dunno why sir whatshisname wants her to leave now, they are in no way ready to head back to westeros, there are army's to be had on essos and deany should take advantage of that, why rule the 7 kingdoms of westeros when you can rule the world,

i do wonder how rob or bran will react when they find out its theon thats attacking them,

Professional Griefer · 01-05-2012 3:39am

Those magic lads looked weird.

That 'thing' was pretty cool as well. When the guards came in, Catelyn saying it wasn't Brienne. How would you explain that one Cat? :pac:

Good episode. Things are building nicely.

Lothaar v2 · 01-05-2012 9:39am

pixelburp wrote: »

Mentioned already, but watching Bran rule was an interesting parallel to Joffrey. Whilst the latter is an aimless, untutored & brutal tyrant, Bran is showing himself a wise and fair ruler despite his lack of years. As for his powers, that vision he spoke of is obviously allegorical for Greyjoy's attack on the Stark lands. Guess the Lannisters are finally going to get a reprieve from Rob's steamroller attacks, all thanks to Balon's idiocy.

I don't know if it's idocy. My take was that Bran fell into Balon's trap. If Theon's attack draws the few remaining soldiers away from Winterfell, while the Starks' lines are already spread too thin (mentioned in the show), then there's nobody to stop Balon from taking Winterfell. It seemed to me that Bran's dream was a premonition of the Iron Islanders taking Winterfell itself.

The juxtaposition between Bran's ruling and Joffrey's is similar to that of Ned and Joffrey. Bran is taking the honourable path, out of respect for his bannermen. Meanwhile, Joffrey is stockpiling wildfire to ensure his attackers meet a firey end. The series has already shown that honour isn't always the right path in the game of thrones

don ramo · 01-05-2012 9:59am

Lothaar v2 wrote: »

I don't know if it's idocy. My take was that Bran fell into Balon's trap. If Theon's attack draws the few remaining soldiers away from Winterfell, while the Starks' lines are already spread too thin (mentioned in the show), then there's nobody to stop Balon from taking Winterfell. It seemed to me that Bran's dream was a premonition of the Iron Islanders taking Winterfell itself.

The juxtaposition between Bran's ruling and Joffrey's is similar to that of Ned and Joffrey. Bran is taking the honorable path, out of respect for his banner men. Meanwhile, Joffrey is stockpiling wildfire to ensure his attackers meet a fiery end. The series has already shown that honor isn't always the right path in the game of thrones

but balon doesn't know theon is attacking winterfell, the first mate put that idea in his head,

Johnny Bitte · 01-05-2012 10:23am

don ramo wrote: »

but balon doesn't know theon is attacking winterfell, the first mate put that idea in his head,

Think Lothaar v2 means Theon.

don ramo · 01-05-2012 10:29am

The_Goose135 wrote: »

Think Lothaar v2 means Theon.

but still unless balon knows theon is attacking that square place he wont try and take winterfell, and theon has one ship,

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 01-05-2012 10:32am

and bran has sent 200 men down to the fishing village to protect it, with most of the able bodied men with robb fighting down south
winterfell is pretty much undefended

mikemac1 · 01-05-2012 10:36am

Wildfire to burn an entire fleet?
I know this show doesn't do big battle scenes but that sounds incredible

Can't wait for next week

Though it's dangerous, you're as likely to kill yourself then the enemy with that wildfire.

Lothaar v2 · 01-05-2012 10:55am

don ramo wrote: »

but balon doesn't know theon is attacking winterfell, the first mate put that idea in his head,

Doesn't he? Doesn't he?

... ok, maybe he doesn't! That's just what I took from it. The exchange between Theon and the first mate left a suggestion hanging, but I might have misread it. It went something like this:

Theon: This is a test, isn't it?

First Mate: Yes, it's a test. Those men got where they are by doing what they like, not what they're told. Y'know, [the tower place] isn't far from Winterfell.

Theon: And if we attack it... (smiles and trails off)

I can't remember exactly, but it seemed to suggest that the 'test' was to see if Theon would take the initiative and go plundering. Could Balon know that Theon would choose a strategically advantageous location for plunderage? Even if he didn't know, Winterfell is extremely weak and Balon's planning to head that way.

Sleepy · 01-05-2012 11:20am

It was Theon that suggested Torrhen's Tower was close to where they plan to land.

don ramo · 01-05-2012 11:56am

Sleepy wrote: »

It was Theon that suggested Torrhen's Tower was close to where they plan to land.

Torrhens square, according the map on HBO is up a river and across a lough and is a fair distance from pyke,

http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-of-thrones/season2/#!/locations/riverrun/

Sleepy · 01-05-2012 12:24pm

Presumably he's planning to land south of Sea Dragon point as that map portrays it, that'd be about a day's march from where they'd land.

pixelburp · 01-05-2012 1:29pm

Lothaar v2 wrote: »

I don't know if it's idocy. My take was that Bran fell into Balon's trap. [...]

Idiocy insofar as Balon siding with a family that shows no love or loyalty for him (he himself pointed out that he was surrendered as a child), and openly attacking & betraying the only real family he has ever known. Not to mention scuppering the chances of what looked like being the winning faction. Nor is it a case that the Iron Islands are any sort of paradise either: they seems like miserable rocks, filled with pirates & rapists. So yeah; idiocy in my book.

Sleepy · 01-05-2012 1:50pm

You're confusing Balon and Theon pixelburp. Balon is Theon's father and ruler of the Iron Islands.

mikemac1 · 01-05-2012 2:01pm

Useless with names but Natalie Dormer's character said she wanted to be the Queen, not just a Queen

I'm guessing she'll have a big role in the future

don ramo · 01-05-2012 2:27pm

mikemac1 wrote: »

Useless with names but Natalie Dormer's character said she wanted to be the Queen, not just a Queen

I'm guessing she'll have a big role in the future

if she become queen yes, but if she doesn't, well as it says in the tagline "you either win, or you die"

Lothaar v2 · 01-05-2012 2:47pm

pixelburp wrote: »

So yeah; idiocy in my book.

As Sleepy says, you're confusing Balon and Theon. The post I was responding to referenced Balon's idiocy for attacking the Starks, giving the Lannisters some reprieve. I was saying that Theon's attack on Torrhens Square could work out in Balon's favour, as most/all the remaining soldiers have left Winterfell to repel the attack, leaving Winterfell perilously undefended. Balon can swoop in, behind the over-stretched Stark lines, and take their home stronghold.

01-05-2012 4:28pm

Really enjoyed that episode. I want the dragons to get bigger!

Season 2 Episode 5 - *Have NOT Read the Books*

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Season 2 Episode 5 - Have NOT Read the Books