Game of Thrones Series Blog: Two Swords

Game of Thrones is back, and it’s on form. ‘Two Swords’ has all the hallmarks of a traditional episode—with violence, angst and nudity abound—but something is tangibly different. For the first time, there is no adult, independent Stark opposing the Lannister’s, not after the horror of last series’ Red Wedding. Not only that, but Stannis has seemingly been vanquished after his defeat on the Blackwater; indeed, his story is conspicuously absent onscreen. The open scene says it all, with Tywin Lannister(Charles Dance) melting down the Stark great sword Ice into weapons for his own family, and, just in case you missed the subtle symbolism there, burning a wolf pelt.

So the War of the Five Kings has concluded, but by no means should anyone relax. The Lannisters, who for all intents and purposes were the victors of the war, are visibly fragmenting. Tywin and Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) are the first to be shown at odds, with Tywin presenting his son with one of the swords forged from Ice, and asking him to relinquish his position in the Kingsguard in order to return to Casterly Rock. The ensuing fall out, finishing with Jaime’s refusal to turn in his gold cloak and Tywin verbally rejecting him from the Lannister family, echoes another argument in last series’ premiere when Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage)asked to replace Jaime as heir because of his position in the Kingsguard, and Tywin rejected his claim and called him an embarrassment. It seems Tywin is losing control of both his sons, and is not currently in his daughter Cersei’s (Lena Headey) good books either, having arranged a marriage between her and Loras Tyrell.

“Now I’ve been forced to marry my eldest son to a wicked little witch from Highgarden while I’m supposed to marry her brother, a renowned pillow biter.”

The previously strong partnership, in every sense of the term, between Cersei and Jaime is also crumbling, as a result of the multiple strains of Jaime’s long absence, his lack of hand, and the siege King’s Landing suffered while the Lannister’s greatest knight was in captivity. Indeed, the only person that stands to benefit even slightly is Tyrion, who is currently in a position of tense solidarity with Cersei over their respective marriages, and has always gotten on better with Jaime over their sister. But with Tyrion currently attempting to console his child bride Sansa (Sophie Turner) over the murder of her family at the hands of his own, this internal conflict between the ruling family is more than any of them can afford, particularly with the arrival of Oberyn Martell on the scene.

Ah, Oberyn. Really the only new information provided in ‘Two Swords’, the introduction of Pedro Pascal’s character gave the episode most of its dynamism; within minutes of his arrival on screen, the Martell had organised a foursome and stabbed a Lannister in the wrist. The latter was perhaps the more plot-relevant of the two, as it gave violent manifestation to what the audience had already been told; the Martell’s, and Oberyn in particular, harbour a decades old grudge against the Lannisters. When Tyrion finally catches up with what will loosely be called his foreign ambassador Oberyn’s set up as a new threat to the Lannister family is complete, and the audience is treated to a little more of the history of Westeros. Oberyn’s sister, Elia, was married to Rhaegar Targaryen (the king overthrown by Robert Baratheon’s rebellion) and bore his children.

“They butchered those children, my nephew and children. Carved them up and wrapped them in Lannister cloaks. And my sister, you know what they did to her? I’m asking you a question.”

“I’ve heard rumours.”

And speaking of Rhaegar, his younger sister is shown not to have been idle. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is marching on Mereen with her army of Unsullied, and dealing with a number of troubles along the way. Her dragons have grown since we last saw them, and the potential is there for them to continue growing out of their mother’s control. She’s also dealing with the flirtations of Daario Naharsis (who, after being recast as Michiel Huisman, is still sadly lacking in blue hair. Honestly, do we really need any more attractively rugged men in this series?), and is shown to be far more cool with him than in the last series. It’s a pleasing change of pace to see Dany back in control over the one aspect of her life that she currently can be sure to be, especially when we see Mereen’s message to her.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2598495/Game-Of-Thrones-season-premiere-features-Daenerys-dragons-quest-free-slaves-Lannister-house-solidifies-base.html

The story we are updated on in ‘Two Swords’ is Ayra’s (Maisie Williams). Having already seen Jon’s miserable response to finding out about Robb and Catelyn’s deaths—stricken and contained, both because of his position as a member of the Night’s Watch, and therefore supposedly without family connections, and because that very position and his life is currently at risk—we find his half-sister’s way of dealing with her grief very different. Ayra is currently in the company of her old enemy the Hound (Rory McCann), in one of the most peculiar and engaging pairs seen so far. The two come across another of Ayra’s foes, Polliver (not that she’s accumulating them with frightening speed or anything), and he is one that she dispatches. Mercilessly. Sandor Clegane has his moment, his character gaining a lot in this episode between his fighting prowess and the careful dimensions being added to him with the confession of his code, but it’s Ayra who steals the show. Polliver is the man who killed Lommy so sadistically back in series two, and Ayra repeats his words back at him, before sliding her reclaimed sword into his neck. The scene was fantastic, showing Ayra as no longer a child to be ignored, by the audience or her fellows, but shows the youngest Stark girl as becoming far more twisted than anyone can really be comfortable with.

All in all, an excellent series premiere, even a little dour. But hey, we have Joffrey and Margaret’s wedding to look forward to. I’m sure a party will lighten the mood.