Banana Scoop

Reading the book, I seriously thought nothing would surprise me when it comes to this season of Game of Thrones.  I know all the plot twists, character actions, and stories, but last night literally had my hand over my face in shock and awe.  Game of Thrones continues to smash down TV etiquette barriers with some of the most grotesque and explicit material I’ve ever seen on TV.  Ranging from S&M to live births, things don’t get more crazy than last night.  Oh wait, they actually do.  With last episode, I’m sure we won’t stop hearing the end to how Game of Thrones has hit the fan, simply because it’s oh so delicious to talk about.

Overall, I feel as though the set up episodes have finally met their end, as characters are finally hitting the high points and settings of where their character climaxes will take place.  Everyone is positioned to where they’re supposed to be where some of the most exciting stuff will likely to begin.  Last week, we didn’t really get a glance at Dany and her dragons, and it seems the season is continuing the trend of leaving out major characters in favor of prolonging screen time to certain others.  It wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t get a look at Dany, Catelyn or Robb, in favor for Theon, Bran, or Jon who were absent this episode.  So let’s dive into what may be Game of Thrones most controversial episode yet.

As usual spoilers only pertain to the episodes released so far.

Robb Stark and His Love Interest

The scenes opens up with the Robb Stark war effort story arc.  It seems there is another victory for the Young Wolf, making note that several Lannisters were capture in the recent battle.  We see more and more of ol’ Ned Stark in his son as he demands that the captured prisoners not to be harmed or aggressively interrogated for the sake of honor.  We of course know how far honor gets you in this series.  The banter between the two soldiers before hand is both interesting and fairly revealing, noting that it seems the entire kingdom knows about Renly and Loras Tyrell, a notion I thought only those close to him knew.  The after battle clean up also proved an interesting scene as we see a potential love interest for Robb Stark, a medic woman who’s got a tongue for talking back to kings.  She questions his motives about how good it will do the realm and the young man who fancies himself a king is at a loss for words.  Chemistry!  I’ve mentioned this before, Robb Stark never had his own narrative in the book, so this scene is never actually noted or referenced at all from what I’ve read.  The girl is also apparently made up.  I’ve seen in an interview that they wanted to focus on Robb more for the fangirls, but as long as they don’t mess with the mythology of what’s to come, I more than welcome this new pretty face into the already long list of characters.

Joffrey Baratheon: S&M

Another frightful scene not explicitly said in the books.  I’ve mentioned that there were several moments where I raised my hand to my face to cover it, and this scene was particularly gruesome and difficult to watch.  But first some back story: due to the recent loss in war, Joffrey has taken Sansa to his throne room to answer for the crimes of her brother.  Obviously she had no part in it, but it doesn’t stop Joffrey from commanding his Kingsguard to continually beat her and essentially strip her down.  Before things get too ‘Aery’ [GoT zinger] up in here, Tyrion luckily saves the day and makes Joffrey a fool out of himself with his wit.  Bronn has his one liners as usual, and there is a touching moment between Tyrion and Sansa.  They leave together, both strong willed despite what’s happened and what’s to come.

Tyrion believes that this anger is a result of him being of age and still not losing his virginity, so he sends the boy king a gift for his ‘name day’ [birthday].  Awaiting him are two whores [one of the Roz], who’re to please the king.  Joffrey has a different idea of what’ll please him, as what turns from playful slapping to a full on beat down with a metal rod.  Actor Jack Gleeson portrays the disgusting little sh!t king so well, it’s amazing how easy it is to hate the character.  The scene overall is fairly graphic for TV standards and could well be considered smut if the camera angles weren’t so discretionary as to what was happening.  Usually on whipping scenes, actors have a slate to take the blows and make an authentic sound, but the poor actress must’ve taken some beating, even if it was just a scene.  And if you couldn’t stand the sight of the beating, the sound mixing alone could send the message right to your head just how graphic this scene was.  A truly shocking moment.

The Adventures of Littlefinger

We’re once again reminded of how much of a sh!t Littlefinger is as he kisses ass to at least 3 to 4 different people this episode.  Renly Baratheon, Margaery Tyrell, Catelyn Stark, and technically Tyrion.  But in all honesty, we know how much of a double dealer this man is, as he lies and blackmails his way to making sure he comes out alive in all this.  On one hand he offers Renly Baratheon his services in case he makes it to King’s Landing, and on the other, he may as well betray him.  He tries to take advantage of Catelyn Stark after he technically killed her husband by using words like ‘fate’ or ‘destiny’ and lied about the security of her two daughters.  Luckily, she had nothing of him.  We even see him try to blackmail Margaery Tyrell with her marriage’s reputation.  Luckily the girl is almost as quick witted as he is [something we don’t particularly see in this book, but overall is an interesting notion].

Arya Remembers Yoren

One of the more desolate settings is what’s going on with poor Ayra.  Taken hostage by Lannister forces, she’s forced to live in what looks like a concentration camp, where one-by-one, they’re taken for questioning and essentially killing.  She remembers what Yoren says about saying the names of her enemies before she goes to sleep, slowly adding one by one as the people of Harrenhal and past have wronged her.  Harrenhal is an interesting setting, it looks like a mossy castle and just speaks volumes about the choice of settings the producers have made.  The torturing method is also very interesting.  I immediately recognized what they’re doing because I did a paper on a similar technique in highschool.  Essentially, they put a rat inside a metal bucket and place the bucket on the torturees torso, so that the torso covers the opening of the bucket.  Then they use a heat source to heat the bucket.  The rat get’s hysterical from the heat and attempts to find a way out, which would be to chew through the torso of the torturee.  This technique is extremely gruesome and was only rumored to have been executed by Russian torturers.  And right before Gendry is to be killed by the same technique, Tywin Lannister comes in and technically saves them by making them workers instead of prisoners.  I can say that Ayra’s story arc is only beginning to get interesting, as to not spoil you all.

Hot Pie is delicious comic relief in a desolate time.

See Page 2 for Family Reunions, Threatening Cities with Dragons, and Shadow Births

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