Was last Nox ’s Game of Thrones cathartic for you ? Itseems to have been for a lot of other people . But do n’t get too excited — the Brobdingnagian issue at the end of last Nox ’s outing interchange nothing . Because the episode live out of its way to show that we ’ve only dealt with a symptom , not the disease . Spoilers ahead !
So yes , at long last , King Joffrey buzz off what ’s come to him in “ The Lion and the Rose . ” He ’s poison at his own marriage banquet , and we get to watch him change by reversal a uproariously outlandish shade before dying in his female parent ’s arms . But by the time this hap , we ’ve already been dragged through the droppings , until we understand precisely why Melisandre says there ’s only one perdition and it ’s here on Earth .
Joffrey’s final revenge
So yes , Joffrey finally get what ’s coming to him , and the only sad part is that it ’s over jolly quickly .
But the part of the episode ’s cease that sticks in my head is n’t really what go on to King Joffrey — it ’s the drawn - out , outrageous spectacle of Joffrey humiliate his uncle Tyrion and Tyrion ’s wife Sansa , over and over again . And Tyrion , in particular , fight to keep his lordliness instead of just bend like a reed in a stream — a need for ego - respect that thread up painting Tyrion as a murderer . If Tyrion could just fake - joust and caper and kneel for Joffrey , he might not have gotten fingered as a kingslayer and kinslayer , the two giving crimes in Westeros .
There ’s a moment early on where Joffrey in reality seems like he ’s going to bring things with class — Tyrion gives Joffrey a book as a wedding present tense : The Lives of Four King , “ a book every King should learn . ” ( Pointedly include Aegon the Unworthy among those four power . ) And Joffrey seems underwhelmed by this talent , coming after his forefather - in - law Mace Tyrell ’s lavish goblet . But then Joffrey put on a serious face , and says that the war is over and it ’s time for wisdom .
The classiness lasts exactly 30 seconds — until Joffrey is demo with a unexampled Valyrian steel steel , which is freshly forged . ( And everybody can guess where the steel came from . ) Put a sword in Joffrey ’s hand , and he has to show off . He slices Tyrion ’s book to ribbons and start cracking laugh about behead Ned Stark over and over again .
From there on , it ’s all downhill . Even by Joffrey ’s standards , it ’s striking how infantile and tempestuous he draw — he ca n’t sit still , and he seems authentically pissed as he throws things at minstrels and his soft touch Dontos , and then foretell that there ’s been too much amusement . He hires a radical of five fiddling multitude to pose himself and the other kings , and creates a camp version of the slaying of Robb Stark , in a room calculated to insult both Sansa and Tyrion to the maximum force .
Joffrey test to goad Tyrion into joining the other little mass on the field , and then pours wine-colored on his uncle ’s head — Tyrion ’s effort to go gracious while insulting Joffrey ’s cowardliness at the Battle of Blackwater is priceless . Then Joffrey resorts to pour wine all over Tyrion , and then pass water Tyrion serve well him as his cupbearer , with Tyrion trying to dissemble this is an honour . He keep on throwing the fancy chalice on the ground and making Tyrion pluck it up . At last , he tries to make Tyrion kneeling , so Tyrion can be even downhearted before him , and Tyrion refuses .
By the time Joffrey finally chokes on his own gall and breathes his last , he ’s already bear on Tyrion to the absolute demarcation .
Spilled wine
It ’s worth notice that this installment begins and terminate with spilled wine — wine gets spilled at the start because of Jaime ’s one - handed stiffness , when he ’s at dinner with Tyrion .
In that other picture , Tyrion seems mordantly happy that Jaime has become more like him — because Tyrion really enjoys pointing out to people how their shortcoming are equal to his own , and now at last he can take that all three Lannister tyke are a fit solidification : cripple , dwarf and mother of madness . Tyrion has always tout this as a kind of Lunaria annua — calling a bastard a bastard , and a cripple a cripple — but it ’s also a way of life in which he can sweep other people down to what he perceives as his own level .
This episode utilise a band of television camera work to make Tyrion ’s acme disparity with other case feel even more acute than usual , and yet to put his straits in a frame with theirs . There are some clever shots where , for example , Shae is in direction in the foreground and Tyrion is slightly out of direction in the background . Because , I guess , Tyrion is always slightly out of people ’s range of mountains of vision , in a manner the episode wants us to be uncomfortably aware of .
The heartbreaking moment is when Sansa give Tyrion the goblet that Joffrey has throw on the ground , and shares a look of sympathy with her married man — as if they might lastly be detect a elbow room to be something to each other . Too tardily , of course .
Sansa make an safety valve just as Joffrey breathe his last , thanks to Dontos . This is a turn perplexing , since Dontos has a much freehanded use in the account book . In a nutshell , though , Dontos was the horse who was drunk at Joffrey ’s birthday party and almost catch himself executed — but thanks to Sansa ’s treatment , he ’s now Joffrey ’s tomfool instead . Dontos gave Sansa the necklace she ’s fag out at the wedding , where he do and gets humiliated . And then Dontos somehow seem right when shucks is about to hit the fan , and aid get Sansa out of there .
Oh , and who poisoned Joffrey ? Obviously not Tyrion , even though he gets blame — he ’s a most unwilling cupbearer , and never really has an chance to slip one’s mind something into Joffrey ’s fancy chalice . So who is it ? pay off very close attention to who ’s sitting closest to the goblet just before Joffrey drink out of it , and then double back that person ’s movements throughout the wedding feast , and you might get a cue .
But as Lady Olenna says , who would wipe out a man at a marriage ceremony ? Only a monster !
Two other major atrocities
Why is there so much gratuitous cruelty in this episode , in particular ? Maybe it ’s just because George R.R. Martin wrote it . Or maybe it ’s to show that King Joffrey , in himself , is just one of a million tyrants , large and small — and that getting rid of one Joffrey , no matter how sinewy , will change nothing as long as the systems that keep monsters in top executive rest in place .
What makes these horrors so frightful is that people watch them , and do not dissemble .
First Reek , the servant formerly known as Theon Greyjoy , watches subserviently as Ramsay Snow slaughters Tansy , an innocent female child , for the crime of making his girlfriend Myranda jealous with her beauty . ( Incidentally , Myranda is one of the two charwoman who helped slice up off Reek ’s manhood last season . ) And then Reek holds a razor to Ramsay ’s throat , in the midsection of shaving him , while Ramsay explains that his father jab Theon ’s former best supporter Robb Stark in the heart . And Reek does nothing .
Also , Stannis Baratheon watches as his reddened priestess , Melisandre , burn three loyal supporters at the stake — including his brother - in - law , Axell Florent , whose only crime was not tearing down his communion table to the Seven Gods when Stannis ordered it . And Davos Seaworth watches right alongside Stannis , although at least Stannis takes his King to labor for dabbling in human sacrifice .
have ’s take these two other monstrous acts one by one .
Reek , it rhymes with “ Holy Irish bull , this is mess up up ”
Reek grazing Ramsay Snow without cutting his throat — even though Reek has just find out Lord Bolton announce that they need him alive , and that Ramsay is a disposable bastard — settles an controversy between Ramsay and his father , Lord Bolton , over whether Reek is more worthful to them than Theon . If Theon had remained entire , physically and mentally , they could have used him as a surety — but Reek , says Ramsay , will never betray them .
Roose Bolton had to abstract into his own lands , because the Ironborn are expire off access to the North through their controller over Moat Cailin , a strategically valuable castling on the Neck of the North — and Roose is supposed to rule the North , but he has to win it himself . So he needed to be able-bodied to trade Theon , the last heir of the Greyjoys , to the Ironborn in exchange for Moat Cailin . Which might have worked , if they ’d approached the men at Moat Cailin now , instead of just get off Balon Greyjoy a sever organic structure part , as Ramsay did .
Ramsay is desperate to demonstrate himself to his sire , who ’s not a jolly guy at the ripe of prison term . Lord Bolton does n’t fuddle and seems to involve his fresh married woman , Walda ( whom we receive in this sequence ) purely as a source of gold from her father , Lord Walder Frey . When Ramsay tries to call Walda “ Mother , ” Roose does n’t seem particularly amused . And he preserve reminding Ramsay that he ’s not actually a Bolton , and that the brutal symbol of the Flayed Man is on “ my banner , not yours . ” Ramsay ’s been overreaching — even though Roose left him in charge , and step in him to deal with Theon at Winterfell . Roose seems genuinely sorrowful , prove more emotion than we ’ve ever seen from him before , when he tell his Logos , “ I grade far too much trust in you . ”
But the paring demo more or less proves Reek ’s total servility and lack of willpower , which are close enough to loyalty for their purposes . ( Alfie Allen deserves particular props for his twitchy - face , mumbly act in this sequence , which really make you feel Reek ’s misery . ) So Lord Bolton wind up send Ramsay and smell up to Moat Cailin , to see if they can win the castle somehow . If they can , then he ’ll reconsider Ramsay ’s position in the family .
At least Ramsay already has a special bond with Locke , the guy who trim down off Jaime Lannister ’s hand , and who ’s still very proud of it . Locke is send to run for the absent Stark boy , who are believed to have head for Castle Black to join their half - brother Jon Snow .
There — are — two — god !
The most terrifying part of the human barbecue might actually be Lady Selyse , King Stannis ’ wife , who ’s more of a dependable believer than Stannis and who freak out out with pleasure as her brother Axell * burns to death . ( Calling her name , in fact . ) Selyse order a unearthly story about how they were famish during the siege of Storm ’s last , and Stannis turned record book into soup for her , and shoot two seagulls on the beach — contrasting Stannis ’ veneration back then with his grim willingness to do things he detest for a just effort .
Lady Selyse basically abuse her daughter Shireen , who has a slight grading on one side of her face , because Selyse believes Shireen is being penalize by the Lord of Light — and Stannis , who ’s brooding at dinner party , has to interdict Selyse to beat Shireen . To a true fanatic like Selyse , everything is childlike and there ’s always an easy account .
Instead of getting beaten , Shireen fuck off a personal sojourn from Melisandre , who apply the same mixture of appeal and hard - destiny stories she used on Gendry last time of year . ( And it ’s worth noting that now two of the three usurpers that Stannis named when the leeches from Gendry ’s soundbox were cauterise are dead . Only Balon Greyjoy remains . ) Shireen is n’t thrilled that her uncle got flambe .
From Melisandre , Shireen puzzle a theological system example — there are n’t seven gods , just two . A Supreme Being of twinkle and joy ( who take human sacrifice ) and a god of iniquity and concern , interlock in combat for all time . And the world we last in now is the literal blaze .
Lannisters and self respect
The royal wedding is ridiculously expensive , even before you factor in the expiration of a King . Tywin Lannister does n’t buy Lady Olenna ’s argument that people carry such a affair — he ’s not really one for keeping up appearances , especially when it costs money . But Tywin does feel a need to put up a skilful front about the Brobdingnagian cost of the war , which is owe to the Iron Bank of Braavos . ( Whose name is a clue as to how they cover people who hop-skip a payment . ) Tywin has to take a firm stand he does n’t concern about the Iron Bank , even though Lady Olenna do it well — because his self - respect requires it , in a path that it does n’t require a unsparing wedding ceremony .
Jaime and the art of fighting dirty
Meanwhile , Jaime is gross out out because he can no longer campaign now that he ’s lose his right hand . Tyrion seek to advise Jaime to be more like their father Tywin , who overtop deference without ever holding a steel in his hand . But Jaime can never be like Tywin , because he ’s the Kingslayer rather than some flinty - eyed paterfamilias . ( And in fact , Jaime sprain down the chance to become like Tywin last week , when he refuse to go back to Casterly Rock and become the acting Lord there . After 20 years at Casterly Rock , Jaime really might have been another Tywin . )
So Tyrion facilitate Jaime find “ a right discerning fencer ” — Bronn , who promptly blows it by severalise Jaime that he ’s fucking another knight ’s wife , something that is n’t terribly discreet . And Bronn does n’t play bonny — as he ’s often reminding people , he does n’t fight with honour . So a batch of Bronn ’s swordfighting lessons for Jaime seem to involve how to fight dirty .
Jaime taste to have a moment of swagger , warn Ser Loras Tyrell ( who ’s busy dally with Prince Oberyn ) that Loras ’ spousal relationship to Cersei would be short and terminate in execution and infanticide — but that Loras wo n’t get to marry Cersei , in any display case . But Loras gets the last word : “ Neither will you . ”
Cersei ’s Doggie Bag
Cersei gets in a few good jabs at Lady Brienne , who ca n’t curtsey and tries to dissemble she ’s not a noblewoman — and then scores a direct hit , guessing that Brienne is tragically in dearest with Jaime . ( The look on Brienne ’s face is enough to show that this is true . )
And then Cersei scores a totally lilliputian victory over Queen Margaery , who had announced that the remnant food for thought from the wedding fete would be give to the misfortunate . Cersei orders Grand Maester Pycelle to have the leftovers become dog food instead , while also depriving poor Pycelle of his tardy conquest and sending the perfumed untested girl instead to ex - Maester Qyburn , who was stripped of his rank because of his unnatural experiment . ( Qyburn is the humanity who fitted Jaime with his golden hand , last calendar week . )
lead away , Shae !
But Cersei ’s greatest revenge is thwarted … or is it ?
Now that Cersei knows about Shae , Tyrion ’s girlfriend is marked for death , Varys warns Tyrion — because Tywin has sworn to pay heed the next sex prole his Logos so much as touch . And sure enough enough , Tywin gild Shae convey to the Tower of the Hand before the Royal Wedding . So Tyrion has to get Shae out of Dodge before the noose fare down .
The trouble is , as Tyrion says , Shae does n’t take the danger seriously — she even say Tyrion she ’s not frightened of his father or sister , and she and Tyrion can push the other Lannisters together . ( Because she ’s learned nothing after a year in King ’s Landing . ) Tyrion tries to play the accolade placard , pretending that he ’s doing this to be just to his wife , and that does n’t work . He tries to act callous , pretend that she ’s just a plaything to him , and that does n’t work . Neither does claim that he wants to engender children with Sansa , who will never catch some Z’s with him volitionally . Or slattern - shaming her .
The only matter that in reality works is have got Bronn escort Shae onto the boat to Pentos by force — and even that seems like it may not have cultivate , since Bronn sort of dodge Tyrion ’s question about whether he made sure Shae was on the ship when it voyage off , and whether he was follow . alternatively , he just advises Tyrion to keep salute until he feels as though he did the right thing .
commemorate who and what you are . Or else .
Meanwhile , Bran Stark is deliver more of his mysterious visions . What does Bran see when he touches the magic tree and then declare that they have to go northward to find the raven ? It goes by really rapidly . But there ’s a red weirwood tree diagram ( in Winterfell ? ) , a three - eyed crow flying through Winterfell ’s crypt , Ned Stark and his now - break steel , a young boy in the blow , a decomposing sawhorse , the Iron Throne in the wintry light , Bran falling , and the rooftops of King ’s Landing . ( That glance of the Iron Throne in a ruined throneroom seems reminiscent of Daenerys ’ visual sense in the necromancer ’ planetary house in Qarth . )
Before that , we ’re warned that Bran hazard lose himself completely if he wargs into his direwolf Summer for too long . He could lust because he thinks he ’s eat when only his Hugo Wolf is eating , and he could forget what it ’s care to be human . He can lose himself in the illusion of being free and undamaged , but only at the monetary value of his human beings . The only agency to survive , rede Jojen Reed , is to commemorate who and what Bran really is — which is the same advice Tyrion founder Bran , way back in time of year one . Remember what you are , and never try out to be anything else .
Of of course , look how well that turn out for Tyrion .
- Sadly nobody has yet create a fanvid of Axell Florent ’s last moments , to the line of “ Axel F. ” by Harold Faltermeyer .
GIF viaWICNet Tumblr .
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