Game Of Thrones "The Wolf and the Lion" Review

'The Wolf And The Lion" is absolutely the best episode of the series--it's bloody brilliant. The first four episodes established the setting, the tone, the characters, the world, the politics, the families, their dynamics and histories. The incredible amount of information sometimes paralyzed an episode. I felt like a student furiously taking notes from a professor in a difficult theory class. The information was overwhelming at times. During the first four episodes, though, the fog would lift and I knew how good the series would be once I had enough knowledge to appreciate the ensuing plots and arcs. The information download continues in "The Wolf And The Lion" but Benioff and Weiss integrate the exposition more naturally than before--it's more in rhythm with the episode. In other words, the exposition doesn't disrupt the narrative, which is perfect for the fifth episode of the season. I know the characters, the histories, the world and I'm ready to plunge into the insanity that lies ahead.

King's Landing's populated with conspirators. The King's Council makes up the majority of the conspirators to the crown. I naively thought that the Lannisters were the King's biggest threat but I was wrong. Every man wants power. King Robert wanted power so much so that he agreed to marry a woman he loathed for the opportunity to become king of the seven kingdoms of Westeros. Robert once loved Ned's sister dearly but he forgets what the woman looked like. Now, he's too fat to wear his armor, his former Hand is dead and his current Hand openly challenged his decision to assassinate Daenerys Targarayon. If Daenerys convinces Khal Drogo to wage war, Robert believes he'll lose the throne and Westeros will be the Dothraki's because they're one complete, fully formed and dangerous army. More than anyone, Daenerys is the person who terrifies the King most. Even though he's surrounded by those who would kill for his throne, the man wants the future mother of Khal Drogo's baby dead, along with the growing child in her body. Of course, if the Dothraki's invade then it won't matter who's King because he'll be dead and Westeros will be lost.

In "Cripples," Cersei and Ned shared an exchanged about leadership. In an interview with George RR Martin, Alan Sepinwall discussed the idea of leadership and Martin told him that being a good man doesn't make a good leader. Ned's the most moral man in Westeros. When Robert consults him about Daenerys, he openly disagrees with his King in front of the council. Robert fumes. Ned quits. Ned doesn't want Robert to dishonor himself through the murder of the young girl, ("a child" Ned says). Robert could care less about being morally good because the Dothraki's will destroy the Seven Kingdoms. Westeros isn't equipped to deal with the coming Winter, much less a Dothraki army. The Night's Watch at The Wall consists of criminals and cowards and not much else. Benjen's right hand man came to King's Landing in hopes of finding more men to protect The Wall because their numbers are low. Robert tells Cersei that King's Landing's too occupied with back-stabbing schemes. Ned wants to leave King's Landing as quickly as possible after Arya overheard two conspirators conspiring about the throne and the Hand. His disagreement, though, came from a moral place--a place that really has no place in this world now.

Ned tries to pack quickly and leave but Littlefinger promises Ned a conversation with the last person Jon Arryn spoke to. The last person is a woman, a prostitute who had one of Robert's numerous bastards. Why did Arryn visit each of Robert's bastard? Good question. Of course, Varas tells Ned that someone hired Ser Hugh to kill Jon Arryn because he asked too many questions. Now, the review might veer into chaos now because I'm going to dart between plot points. Soon, I'm going to write a paragraph about Lord Varys but I need to finish my Ned thoughts. Following his conversation with the whore, Jaime Lannister meets him outside of the brothel. Catelyn took Tyrion prisoner. Jaime wants his brother back. Ned bears the responsibility for the decision to take him prisoner. The two men fight. It's awesome. One of Jaime's men spears Ned through the leg. Jaime punches his guard in the face because Jaime values a fair fight. The man might sleep with his sister and push 10 year old children off balconeys but he'll damn well fight fairly, and that honestly makes him an awesome villain.

Speaking of Tyrion, Catelyn brought him to The Eyrie so her sister, Lysa, could offer her opinion on the innocence or guilt of the Lannister man. The gist: Tyrion ends up in a Sky Cell. The cell has no window and a very long fall. The introduction of Lysa and her son is by far the most bizarre scene I've watched in quite a long time. Her son's around five or six years old and breast feeds. Lysa shares the same expression as any pissed off 7th grade catholic school teacher fated with a bad class. Why Catelyn thought that bringing Tyrion to The Eyrie would be a good idea eludes me but she also camped in the open-ness where shadowcats and tribal men roam. Also, Bran's very mad that his mother abandoned him. Naturally, I can't wait to spend more time in The Eyrie. I'd write more but, really, one needs to see the scene. It's insane. And I digress.

Lord Varys is an enigmatic man. Like Snow and Tyrion's, he's known for an imperfection. The man's a eunuch. Littlefinger calls attention to this in their excellent scene. Varas plays a strategic game in "The Wolf and the Lion." Varas tells Ned that men want he and the King dead, reveals Ser Hugh as the killer but not the man who hired Ser Hugh to poison Arryn. Later, when Arya's hiding in the dragon's skull, Varas and a foreign dignitary discuss the death of the Hand, the impending battle between the Wolf and the Lion. Varys and Littlefinger share a scene in which they both list reasons the other should not be trusted. Littlefinger's in love with Catelyn, and he wouldn't be above plotting Ned's death if he regained the hand of his beloved Catelyn. They're brilliant connivers, and their scene showcases that brilliance.

Other Thoughts:

-Renley and Loras are lovers. Any one reading who never watched an episode or read the book will wonder who these characters are. Renley's been around since episode three but barely spoke. He's the King's brother. Loras is the Knight of Flowers and he defeated The Mountain in the joust. Their one scene together establishes their homosexual relationship and their mutual interest in usurping the throne. Sansa, the poor girl, has a crush on Loras.

-Arya spends the episode chasing a cat around until she hears that men want her father dead. Soon, Maisie Williams is once again stealing a scene when she warns her father. Everyone continues to mistake Arya as a boy though.

-Robert and Cersei's scene is so good that I feel a paraphrase disrespects it. In one sentence: the couple discuss how their relationship (as dysfunctional and full of hate as it is) keeps the kingdom together. The dialogue, acting and directing is spectacular. The Lannisters are among my favorite characters now because they're so damn interesting. Cersei herself is so damn interesting.

-Well, my eyes have grown weary and these jammies are drafty. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss wrote the episode. Brian Kirk directed the episode.

-Again, "The Wolf and the Lion" is absolutely amazing. Watch this show.

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