3.06: Game of Thrones - The Climb

[Lenny]

Tywin plans strategic unions for the Lannisters. Melisandre pays a visit to the Riverlands. Robb weighs a compromise to repair his alliance with House Frey. Roose Bolton decides what to do with Jaime Lannister. Jon, Ygritte and the Wildlings face a daunting climb.

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My standout scene this week was Melisandre's visit to the Brotherhood Without Banners - I've got tingles!

Coming in second was the meeting between Olenna and Tywin: what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? In this case, it turns out that maybe the object isn't quote immovable, but the confrontation is no less spectacular for it. Imagine what the pair of them could have done if they'd met earlier in their lives!

In third place was the horribly uncomfortable torture scene with Theon trying to guess the identity of his tormentor. We're still no closer to knowing who he is (though there are clues), but we do know that Theon's tormentor is a sick S.O.B.

A special mention has to be given to Jon and Ygritte's scenes. Much like last week, theirs are the only happy moments in the episode, and the ending with the two of them stood atop the wall was sweet.

As for the rest of the episode:

* It's nice to see that Arya is still obviously left-handed (drawing the bow back with her left arm).
* Whilst you can't help but feel sorry for Sansa, at least she is being spared the heartbreak of a marriage to Loras. On the other hand, she now has to marry the man who shattered her dreams of having the life of a beautiful princess.
* Varys and Littlefinger obviously don't care who they use in their schemes. Poor Ros.

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*BOOK SPOILERS*

Spoiler

Sam does have a dragonglass dagger! Maybe he'll become the Slayer after all, even if only in action and not in name?

As I mentioned above, Melisandre's visit to the BWB gave me tingles - a couple of important things have been set up:

* selling Gendry is going to give Arya a clear reason to leave the BWB, and her future with the Faceless Men has been foreseen by Mel
* with Gendry in her possession, Melisandre now has the blood of a King (after all, he is Robert's *******). Much like Theon's time at the hands of Ramsay is being told through original scenes, it looks like we're going to see the events leading up to Stannis appearing at the Wall... at the expense of Gendry. I wonder if this means that Edric Storm is being written out?

I'm finding the greater focus on the agents of R'hllor fascinating (though there is simple a chance that I missed the subtext in the books). We know that the Red Priests have power, but the conversation between Thoros and Melisandre indicates that the Red Priests also have designs on Westeros. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

*END SPOILERS*

 

[ctg]

It's so good to see you taking over this Lenny. You got such enthusiast for the GoT and it shows clearly. And my on criticism is the advance knowledge.

I don't know and possible cannot guess where this is going in book wise as I refuse myself to read the spoilers. But at the moment, the interplay between the main characters is creating such a tension, that I don't know what to really say about it.

Well, I could say that they're certainly aiming with remaining four episode to climatic ending, as well as really highlighting the next episode, which has been written by the GRRand Master himself.

Pun intended.

Sorry.





PS. My favourite quote comes from Tyroll, when he was staring outside the balcony and he said, "With or without Jamie I'm truly f***ked."

 

[tangaloomababe]

Tywin and Oleena scene wonderful, these two are great in any scene so to have them together was brilliant.

Melissandra you know I didn't like her in the books and I still don't. She hasn't warmed to me like other characters.


Varys and Littlefinger, again great interaction between these two, ill miss Ross thought, chalk up another mark on the board for reasons to want to slap Joffrey.


Jamie and Brienne are like an old married couple already, she's helping him cut his food!


Couldn't watch poor Theon, seriously I turned away and as much as I have never really liked Theon I do feel for him now and things can only get worse.


At the rate Bran and Co. are going the WALL will have melted by the time they get there !


A great episode with only four to go.

 

[svalbard]

I loved the scenes around the climbing of The Wall. It really looked epic and fantastical.

The melding of the Gendry and Edric Storm story is being handled well and I was particularly taken with Melisandre' short speech to Arya. Thoros of Myr is becoming one of my favourite characters in the show.

Theon, Theon will his suffering ever end. You got to hand it to the actor playing his tormentor. He is one sick puppy!

Poor Ros! I was not expecting that end for her.

 

[Culhwch]

I never liked the addition of Ros, but she didn't deserve that ending!

I agree with you Svalbard - Thoros was a bit of a non-event in the books, largely, but I'm a big fan of the way he is being portrayed in the show. Though selling off Gendry like that was low.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

This episode was meh for me, but I too have enjoyed Thoros in the show. I am completely unentralled with Theon's scenes. It will be very tiresome to watch him be tortured each show (if that's the way they go).

And the wall didn't look wide enough to me at the end of the episode?

 

[Bugg]

And the wall didn't look wide enough to me at the end of the episode?

I thought that as well - climb all that way up and then slip and fall off the other side . . .

 

[Nerds_feather]

This episode was meh for me, but I too have enjoyed Thoros in the show. I am completely unentralled with Theon's scenes. It will be very tiresome to watch him be tortured each show (if that's the way they go).

Agreed. I also found Littlefinger's "I'm coming up" speech in front of the throne a bit corny. Some things are better dealt with through insinuation than exclaiming it loudly.

That said, I did like Tywin/Oleanna scene and the Thoros/Melissandre scenes.

 

[Mouse]

Also thought it was a bit dull. The old lady/Tywin scene was the best. Plus I did like the awkward Sansa/Loras chat. Oh and Brienne/Jaime, as always.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Although I really enjoyed the episode (as always) and could not fault anything I did feel as though it was a bit of a filler episodes, with lots of little scenes for everyone, with the climbing of the wall taking centre stage.

It's amazing how well the show has been put together and cast, with all the characters coming to life so well. A credit to the actors too.

My only observation, and this is just one of those things that no one can do anything about, is how quickly the actors are aging - most notable with the younger ones. Just one of the dynamics I guess of filming a series that takes a year per season, but covers substantially less time. (Noticed it most with Arya and Sansa.)

Who would have thought that the scenes that steal the show are two 'conversations'?

But there was the little sinister ending too, as we see that once out of his intendeds company, Joff is still the little psychopath he has always been.

 

[Verse]

But there was the little sinister ending too, as we see that once out of his intendeds company, Joff is still the little psychopath he has always been.

Actually, as far to my knowledge Joffery hadn't directly killed anyone. He'd issued the command plenty of times, most notably the one that separated Ned Stark's head from his body. This is the first time Joffery has killed someone with his own hands and it looked like he really rather enjoyed it.

As Little Finger said, his client wanted to try a new experience.

 

[Perpetual Man]

You are right Verse, I used the term psychopath incorrectly. (Mainly because half the words I wanted to use to describe Joffery are not suitable for the site )

 

[Brian G Turner]

Had to whizzy through the Theon scene, but otherwise some nice conflicts, and nice to see Littlefingers allegorical reference to "the climb" description juxtaposed with Jon's literal climb.

Tywin and Olenna are really coming up strong in this series.

 

[Marvin]

My only observation, and this is just one of those things that no one can do anything about, is how quickly the actors are aging - most notable with the younger ones. Just one of the dynamics I guess of filming a series that takes a year per season, but covers substantially less time. (Noticed it most with Arya and Sansa.)

Its a good job they're not waiting for GRRM to write the series' they would need a new child actor each time! Possibly some of the elderly actors too!!

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

Tywin and Olenna are really coming up strong in this series.

Agreed. I think the casting has been great, but these two really stand out. Olenna, especially, is one of my favorites.

 

[Allegra]

Didn't enjoy this eps as much as the last one. I had to look away and turn down the volume at Theon's torture scene. Also didn't feel comfortable about the skinning rabbit competition. But yes, Tywin and Olenna is such a pair! And poor Ros, what a terrible death...

 

[Darth Angelus]

You are right Verse, I used the term psychopath incorrectly. (Mainly because half the words I wanted to use to describe Joffery are not suitable for the site )

Yeah, I would have a few nasty words about him, too. In my opinion, he is the lowest, most loathsome character in the entire series, followed by Littlefinger, and there is plenty of competition in that department, obviously including from the Lannisters.
While there are plenty of characters who perform detestable acts, most do it as a means to an end. With Joffrey, wicked acts seem to be an end unto themselves, and Littlefinger's views of the world, as shown in his speech, are chilling (and his acts do match these said views).
When the two most loathsome characters act in unison, you get this sickening outcome, unsurprisingly.

Really, though, Joffrey's sadistic nature has been rather strongly hinted upon quite a few times earlier on. He just takes his twisted urges to a new level.

However, I agree with I, Brian that putting the figurative and literal climb "side by side" was a neat way to play it out.

 

[doglim]

I never liked the addition of Ros, but she didn't deserve that ending!

I agree with you Svalbard - Thoros was a bit of a non-event in the books, largely, but I'm a big fan of the way he is being portrayed in the show. Though selling off Gendry like that was low.

Wow. Couldn't have a more opposite view point on Thoros.

Loved him in the books, don't think he is right at all on the show. Nothing special about the way Kaye is playing him IMO. Expected much more 'character' to him.

Maybe it's because Anguy is also not how I wanted him to be and I'm throwing all my Brotherhood hatred at Thoros. No Lem? No Tom? Hmmm . . .

 

[Christopher Fritschi]

Diana Rigg is fantastic as Olenna. I haven't read the books (yet) but personally can't wait to see that little jerk Joffrey get knocked off his perch.