A little late to the party here but I have been rather busy the
last month. That being said…
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| When you play the game of thrones you win or you die |
You don’t agree, huh? Well, for starters, this season saw
the highest ratings set by any previous season of Game of Thrones.
But let’s dial it back to the very beginning. We start this
season with the Lannisters triumphant, the Baratheon and Stark threat all but
eliminated and nothing seemingly in their way for complete control of Westeros.
Before things start to get comfortable for the Lannisters, the crazed boy-king,
Joffery Baratheon weds Margaery Tyrell of the House Tyrell – a
marriage-alliance that has almost made the Lannisters dependent on the Tyrell’s
as without them, the Lannisters would not have won on the battlefield.
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| The mad boy-king Joffrey, was played superbly by Jack Gleeson |
The wedding celebrations are cut short – in a very Game of
Thrones-esque manner, of course – that sees the rather vivid death of Joffery
by the hand of a poison. His uncle and the imp, Tyrion Lannister is wrongly
accused of the murder, with only his brother Jaime believing him. This results
in a lengthy trial and “investigation” into the murder.
This season also sees the arrival of House Martell into the
picture with the arrival of instantly-likable Prince Oberyn. The Martells and
Oberyn almost loath the Lannisters ever since their sack of Kings Landing years
ago , when Ser Gregor Clegane raped and killed Elia Martell and her children
(sister to Oberyn and the ruling prince of Dorne) and Tywin Lannister, who now
seems untouchable and in complete control, did nothing to punish him.
This allows for another riveting trial by combat between
Cersei Lannister’s champion Gregor Clegane and Tyrion’s, Oberyn Martell, in the
battle for Tyrion’s life and justice in The Mountain and The Viper. This gives
way for one of the most gripping scenes in the series before one of the most
gruesome of deaths with Oberyn’s speech:
“Say it. Say her name. Elia Martell. You raped her! You
murdered her! You killed her children! Say it!”
You can watch the fight here:
…Right before his arrogance kills him.
But if that wasn’t enough for you, you have Daenerys
Targaryen across the Narrow Sea who has control over three dragons and
eight-thousand Unsullied warriors, who is on a path of slave liberation along
Slaver’s Bay. At the closing stages of the season, Daenerys learns of Jorah
Mormont’s previous desire of spying on the mother of dragons for a pardon. Upon
hearing this, she banishes her closest friend and wise advisor. What lays in
store for Jorah in season 5?
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| These dragons are getting pretty big... |
Back to Westeros and far to the North, the Night’s Watch is
all that stands between the realm and the horrors that lie beyond the Wall. The
White Walkers have emerged in force, and the wildlings have rallied behind the
king-beyond-the-wall, Mance Rayder, in the tens of thousands in an attempt to
flee the undead. This army even includes mammoth-riding giants. GIANTS!
So as you can imagine, a lot has already happened in this
season as it is. But there’s so much more. Littlefinger is more mischievous than
ever, becoming lord of the Vale, killing Lyssa Aryn and even “wooing” Sansa Stark
after helping her escape Kings Landing with him.
Arya Stark is becoming more brutal and heartless; exactly
what is needed to survive the brutality of Westeros. In the process, she learns
how to kill, kills and leaves the Hound to die without showing any mercy before
she jumps ship towards Braavos.
On to the last surviving Stark (not many left now)
is Bran. Heading North beyond the Wall, Bran, Jojen and his sister – along with
Hodor of course – find the 3-eyed raven, stumble upon Ghost (Jon Snow’s dire
worlf) freeing him, all before finding the sacred tree of the first children of
Westeros. However, this comes at a price. The price of Jojen’s life along the
way.
This season also has undoubtedly one of the biggest battles
ever seen on TV that rivals even the greatest film battles. The penultimate
episode of the season, The Watchers on The Wall, saw a whole 40+ minute fight
sequence between the Night’s Watch and the Wildling army. The entire episode
was the battle; a battle that was engrossing, daring and heartbreaking all at
the same time. It saw Jon Snow take charge of Castle Black and his “crow army”
and unleash the Wall’s greatest defences from a double attack and Samwell Tarly
becoming a man, for lack of a better phrase.
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| "You know nothing Jon Snow" |
The battle for the Wall sees the loss of many supporting characters
such as Ygritte, Pip and Grenn, who the latter gets arguably one of the greatest
and noblest of deaths within the entire series. Reciting the Night’s Watch oath
as he and five other brothers are the last line of defence that stands in the
way of a charging giant and the realms of men, it is just spine-tinglingly
euphoric. Moreover, the fact that he manages to hold the gate and kill the
giant before succumbing is heart-breaking yet awesome.
The best (or worst?) thing about this act, is that the rest
of the world don’t even realise it is happening, especially after ravens were
sent to all the houses last season from the Wall, requesting for help… That is
until Stannis Baratheon arrives in full force to catch the wilding army
off-guard and more or less sorts things out. Well at least until next season.
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| "I have always been your son..." |
Oh and did I mention that Tyrion escapes? By the help of
Varys and his brother? Well he does, but not before he goes off to his father’s
chambers to find his love, Shae, in his bed just days after she betrayed him –
or days after she had stopped playing him – and where Tyrion strangles her.
Only to go off then with a crossbow to find his father Tywin, where he puts to
bolts into his chest, only after this does he seem to escape with the eunuch.
As you can see, a lot happens in this season and I am barely
scratching the surface here. To say that this season has not been eventful, or
calling it slow is just foolish! Yes, there may be many things that the
writers/directors could have done differently and perhaps better, but when they
are creating something on a scale that easily rivals that of the biggest
Hollywood films, you will always have criticism to accept and various ways to
go about it.
As the producers start to go off-script a little bit
compared to the books (as nothing really happens for a while) season 5 will be
no doubt interesting and highly anticipated. All I know is, we’ll have to wait…
Winter is coming.
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