Banana Scoop

Read The North Remembers Review Here.

The second episode of Game of Thrones was aired yesterday.  Fortunately for me, I was able to write this article in advance thanks to a leaked Dutch version of the show that aired the following Monday of episode 1, I would usually follow up and share the link to you guys so that we all my enjoy it, but unfortunately it was taken down very soon after it was leaked.  It was truly a glorious day for me, and hopefully the Dutch have made the same oopsie daisy as they did last time by the time this post is published and I’m able to take a look at episode 3.

Episode two picked up immediately after where the one left off.  As a whole, the episodes are still following a ‘set up’ format, where nothing is actually happening, but a lot of cliff hangers and unfinished conversations are being dropped here and there.  As a man who’s read the books, I can see why they include every conversation they had, but if I had not read the books, it would feel like an overwhelming drabble that holds no significance to so far.  So I advise the non-readers to truly try and perk up their ears, and even have a pen and notepad to right down names so you may remember if/when they show up later.  Also, the show’s penchants for sex doubled this week, notably.  As usual, no book spoilers here people.  Or under penalty of Bruce the Ape’s wrath, I shall end you [or at least give you a very stern talking to.]

The three stooges, but one of them is not to be messed with.

We open up exactly where we left off, where Ayra Stark is going under the name boy Arry.  As Yoren, the man of the Night’s Watch who took her from King’s Landing, advised her, ‘go off deep into the woods when you take a piss’, where is exactly what we find her doing, to shield her true identity and gender from men who would otherwise rape her and hold her ransom.  After a brief verbal exchange between some of the more dangerous recruits of the Night’s Watch [keep an eye out for Jaqen H’Ghar, he’s a monster], we interestingly also find what is a follow up to the Robert Baratheon Basterd Massacre in episode one as the Gold Cloaks go as far as where the Night’s Watch is camped out to demand the basterd child Gendry.  Yoren displays some badassness as he threaten’s a Gold Cloak’s manhood and steals his sword.  A wee bit later in the episode we finish up the Ayra Stark arc when Gendry finds out Arry is actually a girl and a lady of Winterfell.  Nothing too concrete here besides the relationship between Ayra and Gendry growing.

In the next scene, Tyrion’s conversation with Varys also proved to be one of the better moment’s of the episode.  It is the beginning of what I imagine to be a series of interesting conversations between the Imp King of the Hand and the ball-less Spider, based on the previews and the book readings.  Tyrion displays his dominancy and isn’t afraid to show how much power he has as when he responds to Vary’s ‘threat’.  We’ll soon later see what will happens when Tyrion backs up his words with power to Janos Slynt, Captain of the Gold Cloaks, who was in charge of killing babes and betraying Ned Stark.  This scene immediately transitions to the meeting of the small council where they discuss Robb Stark’s terms and the rising dead north of the Wall.   Neither of which merit anything too interesting.

"Ned Stark was an Honorable Man"
"I am Not"

When I asked for more dragons, the produces didn’t seem to have been heard me as Daenerys’s story arc had them still sitting in the sand again.  The head of one of her riders returns, further emphasizing how much of a pickle they’re in.  I like the idea of having godly dragons and having them do nothing for their current predicament is an irony they’re truly trying to drive in.  And there still aren’t any dragons to be seen or have them do any cool stuff.

The past couple of paragraphs have been rather straightforward and non-readers should have been able to keep up with all the familiar characters and their predicaments.  The next part of the episode heavily focused on Theon Greyjoy and his return to his homeland, and seeing how the minor character from season 1 is now a main character, I find it more important to emphasize his part to potentially shed any light on confusing series only people.  The show takes us on the sea which is an aftermath of Theon Greyjoy begging Robb Stark to let him sail home to Pyke to forge an alliance.  Nearly 10 years ago, Pyke had raised a rebellion where Eddard Stark had been instructed to put it down, costing the lives of 2 out of the 3 sons of Lord Balon Greyjoy.  As Theon as his only heir, the consequence of Lord Balon Greyjoy’s rebellion is that his son was sent as a hostage to Lord Stark in Winterfell.  There, Lord Stark raised him for 10 years.  Now Theon Greyjoy is sailing back to Pyke, claiming heir to his father’s lands.  Admist an awkward sex scene, Theon talks about some Pyke back story and culture that can only truly be appreciated if you’re familiar with the culture via the books, but he gets most of the important points down.

Page 2 for Lannister Banter, Greyjoy Ulterior Motives, and the Adventures of Jon Snow

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