Game of Thrones: episode by episodeGame of Thrones

Game of Thrones: season two, episode eight – The Prince of Winterfell

Betrayal, intrigue and despair feature in an occasionally slow-moving but fascinating episode

Spoiler alert: Don’t read on unless you have watched the first eight episodes of Game of Thrones season two. For the purposes of this blog we are also going to (hopefully) avoid book spoilers as well.

Sarah Hughes’s episode seven blog

‘A day will come when you think you’re safe and happy and the joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you will know the debt is paid.’

Sometimes the most important message in Game of Thrones is never trust your family: they’ll be the first ones to hurt or betray you. That was the case throughout an occasionally slow-moving but fascinating episode, which felt like the calm before Stannis arrives to storm King’s Landing.

Thus all thoughts of reconciliation between Tyrion and Cersei were abandoned as the Queen revealed she had spent her spare time torturing Ros, under the mistaken belief that she is Tyrion’s whore. As Tyrion remains somewhat better at playing the game than his crazy sister he allowed her to continue believing that. But the scene where he then sought comfort from Shae was beautifully acted by Peter Dinklage, and heart breaking in the way it revealed Tyrion’s desire for love.

Elsewhere we learnt that Yara might think Theon’s stupid but she does love him. Although she abandoned him to what looks likely to be an increasingly nasty fate her parting was surprisingly tender, showing us her love and frustration with her stubborn younger brother. If there’s any sadder eulogy than “Don’t die so far from the sea” I’ve yet to hear it.

Meanwhile we learnt that Stannis still feels his brother’s betrayal very deeply – he held Storm’s End in nearly impossible circumstances yet Robert then casually handed it over to Renly. Poor Stannis, once you get over the whole shadow baby thing, you can see he’s understandably bitter. He did his duty under trying conditions and Robert didn’t even manage a thank you. Admittedly he’s gone on to bear a grudge for a very long time but nobody’s perfect and hey at least he likes dogs – Stephen Dillane’s gruff delivery of that line was my favourite part of the episode – even if in the end he unfortunately had to eat them.

Finally, Robb faced up to Catelyn’s betrayal by doing the only thing he could by making his mother a prisoner. Catelyn’s decision to free Jaime is always one of the more debated moments among book readers but I think it’s true to the character. Yes, they’re at war. Yes, it’s undoubtedly a stupid decision and one that fatally weakens Robb tactically, but I don’t think reason comes into when you’re talking about your children. Plus Lord Karstark intends to kill Jaime, which would rather lessen his value as a hostage anyway. That said I think Benioff and Weiss dropped the ball by having Catelyn be unaware that Theon has supposedly hanged Bran and Rickon – in the books she frees Jaime after learning of their deaths and it’s easier to see her as being driven by fear and despair.

‘It’s not the fighting that kills most people, it’s the starving’

This was an episode largely filled with people sitting around in very dark rooms – seriously there were times where I could barely see what was going on – but luckily much of that talking involved Tyrion with either Bronn or Varys. Ah, Varys how I have missed you. Where Littlefinger blusters, you whisper; where he attempts threats, you hint at disasters; where he pretends to know everything, there’s always the fear that you really do. The scene between Tyrion and Varys at the top of the castle was a little gem with each man subtly probing the other for information. A word of caution for Tyrion, however, yes it’s very flattering to be told that you’re good at the game but when the man telling you is Varys shouldn’t you stop and ask his motive?

‘You needed that bridge. I hope it is a very beautiful bridge’

I have considerable issues with Robb’s relationship with Talisa, and not just because I’m now stuck thinking of her as Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman from Volantis. The scenes between Robb and his doctor were well acted but it doesn’t disguise the fact that the relationship itself is pretty cliched. It’s also a huge diversion from the books, which doesn’t really bother me, although I’ll be interested to see how Benioff and Weiss dig themselves out of a potential hole next season. That said I liked Talisa’s speech about Volantis and her brother and thought Robb’s response – “Oh god I love you, let’s do it” – was pretty spot on, given he’s tired, stressed-out, inexperienced and frustrated.

Additional thoughts

Did anyone else get the impression Arya did always intend to have Tywin killed but she underestimated the cat and mouse game they were playing and ran out of time?

The short scene between Dany and Jorah moved me, if only because Iain Glen really sold the line: “Until my last breath I will remember, long after I have forgotten my mother’s face.” That said I’m really itching to get to the House of the Undying now – it’s been built it up so much, can’t we just go there now?

Jaime and Brienne are clearly this year’s candidates for the Bronn/Tyrion mismatched buddy movie and their brief scene was very enjoyable. As was the brief check in with Sam, Edd and Grenn. Given how dour Jon has been of late it was nice to spend time with the rest of the night’s watch. I’m also growing rather attached to the Roose Bolton vignettes where he pops up to utter cryptic advice before glowering and exiting, filled with doom.

Finally, poor Bran, he really does have to carry the weight of the show’s guilt around with him. Probably because he’s one of the few characters to truly understand the concept of guilt and consequences.

Violence count

Minimal this week with just the brief sad appearance of the tortured Roz and Qhorin’s attack on Jon.

Nudity count

Again brief with Talisa and Robb’s joyous coupling taking centre stage. Poor Robb and Talisa: they were so happy to sleep together that it can only end very badly indeed.

Random Scot of the Week

John Stahl, who formed a major part of my teenage TV viewing because he played Tom Kerr AKA Inverdarroch in long-running Scottish soap Take The High Road, demanded vengeance as Lord Rickard Karstark. I wouldn’t have messed with him.

So what do you think? Should Theon have gone with Yara? Will Arya and her not-so-merry band escape from Harrenhaal? Which is the greatest betrayal: Catelyn’s to Robb or Robb’s to the Freys? And which will lead to the bigger trouble? And most importantly if you had to cast a Westerosi buddy movie would you go with Tyrion and Bronn, Varys and Littlefinger, Stannis and Davos, Tywin and Arya or Brienne and Jaime?

Quick Guide