Tyrion Lannister continues to play the game incredibly well. Last week he removed Janos Slynt from the council and the city watch and sent him to The Wall. This week, Tyrion played a game with the other three members of the council. Each one heard a different plan about how Myrcella would guarantee an army from either the Martells in Dorne, the Greyjoys in the Iron Islands, or the Arryns in The Vale. Tyrion waited patiently for his sister to erupt, curious about which name she'd drop in reference to Tyrion's plans for her only daughter. Grand Maester Pycelle turned out to be the snitch. Tyrion confronted Pycelle in the man's chambers as he rested with a naked prostitute. Pycelle stuttered and mumbled denial but utterly failed to convincingly argue why Cersei would know about Dorne if not for him. Tyrion explained his reluctance to die via a council member's betrayal, a fate Jon Arryn and Ned Stark shared, so he sent Pycelle into the Black Cells. Bronn couldn't contain his glee. Tyrion smiled wide and gave Pycelle's girl two gold coins for her troubles.
The plan to send Myrcella away to ensure more men for the war isn't a ruse designed to merely oust a council member or a move designed to simply anger Cersei. Tyrion never intended to send Myrcella to the Iron Men or to the Arryn. Tyrion drew Littlefinger in with the promise of a Harrenhall (described as haunted). The scene with Littlefinger served an additional purpose: a bit of revenge for his role in Tyrion's fun with Cat and at the Vale. With a smile, Tyrion said that one must forgive enemies in a time such as these. The lines meaning eluded Littlefinger. The man was thoroughly taken by the idea of becoming the lord of the Riverlands. But war is coming. Catelyn tells Renly that her son couldn't come to the Stormlands because of the war he's actually fighting rather than playing at, which is a dig against Renley's Kingsguard and the festive atmosphere of his camp. Balon strategized two separate attacks on the North. War is coming. The Lannisters need more men with four kings' sights set on King's Landing and Joffrey's throne. Dorne and the Martells are strange names, located in the south, but powerful enough to aid King's Landing in the coming war. Myrcella will ensure their loyalty and their men. Cersei reacts violently to the plan, but Tyrion is resolute.
Tyrion's story is definitely about power and protection. In the south, Renly and the Tyrell siblings are concerned about power and protection. The Starks, too, feel concern about protection. Robb sent his mother to Renley for more men, and he sent Theon to Pyke for ships. Renly didn't enthusiastically join the North because he fancies himself a king, more suitable for the Iron Throne than his sour puss of a brother Stannis. Renly's sexuality is the most pressing issue of this story. Margaery Tyrell, his wife and Loras's sister, undresses for him in hopes they'll make a baby. Renly cannot respond to Margaery no matter how beautiful or alluring or seductive she is; Margaery, though, explains how Renly can protect himself and that's by putting a baby in her belly. Theon, meanwhile, burned a letter of warning to Robb about the impending Iron Islands attack on Deepwood Motte and the Stony Shore. Balon treated Theon terribly once more, intent on making his son feel shame and guilt for his nine years at Winterfell. Theon feels slighted when Yara earns the command of 30 ships to attack Deepwood Motte. Suddenly, young Theon is at a crossroads, torn between his 'brother' Robb and his father. Theon sat in a dark room as he burned the letter of warning and one can't help but notice Theon's descent into a dark place. It's a chilling scene. Later, Aeron Damphair (right?!?) baptizes Theon and he rises a reborn man of the sea.
The men of the Night's Watch in the deep north and in the south have limited means with which to protect themselves. Craster throws a beaten and bloodied Jon Snow in front of Lord Commander Mormont and bids them all a strong adieu. Jon is horrified to learn that Mormont knew about Craster's sacrifices. Mormont just grumbles that the wildlings worship crueler gods than anyone south of The Wall. Now, the Night's Watch have no shelter, no protection, and must sallyforth deeper into the Frost Fangs. Yoren's crew in the south slept in a barn for the night, a brief stop on their long journey north. Arya opened up to him about the nightmares she has of her father dying. Yoren tells her a story about the man who killed his brother and how he repeated the killer's name night after night so he wouldn't forget his face. The man came around his village and Yoren put an axe into his head. Arya just listens to Yoren about this 'prayer' he used to remember the man who killed his brother. The gold cloaks soon attack the small group of men headed to The Wall in their pursuit of Gendry. Yoren goes down swinging (literally). Arya watches in horror and then tries to run, stops to save Jaqen and the other two criminals from burning in the fire, but is caught by gold cloaks. Amory Lorch or someone announces they'll all go to Harrenhall as prisoners. Without Yoren, the boys and Arya have no one to protect them and they're quite powerless to defend themselves. All they can do is watch helplessly as Lommy is coldly killed and march north to Harrenhall.
There are other instances of powerlessness in "What Is Dead May Never Die." Sansa needs to answer as the queen trained her when Mycella excitedly talks about the dress she'll wear to their wedding and when Tommen asks his mom if Joffrey will kill Robb. It's a scene that turns sweet when Tommen opines that he wouldn't like it if Sansa's brother were killed. Good hearts do exist in the Lannisters; not all their hearts are cold; indeed, Myrcella and Tommen's are warm. Sansa sadly retreats to her room and gets into an argument with her new servant Shae. Tyrion could be exploited or ruined or whatever if Cersei discovers Shae so this is another attempt by Tyrion to protect himself.
And then there's Varys' iconic riddle about the sellsword and the three kings who order the sellsword to kill the other two. There is no answer and the riddle makes Tyrion uncomfortable because of its unsettling truth. Power is the dominant theme of the season. "Who's in power?" is a question without an answer, but we're just three episodes into the season, so there's plenty of time for that to change.
Other Thoughts:
-Bran and Luwin's scene shouldn't be forgotten about; but many people don't have tolerance for the Bran asides. Luwin dismisses the idea of Bran entering into the body of Summer and insists that they're just dreams. Bran objects by citing the shared dream between he and Rickon regarding their father's death. Luwin insists that wargs are long gone from the world; that giants no longer walk the forests; that the children of the forest are forgotten; magic, in sum, is long gone from the world. Bran isn't convinced and neither am I.
-Brienne of Tarth nearly killed the Knight of Flowers until he yielded. Loras pouted when Renly accepted her into his Kingsguard (what the hell happened to the Rainbow Guard?). Brienne is a gigantic woman who wants to do nothing but protect her king. Brienne is going to be important.
-Sam gave Gilly a memento for her to keep safe until he comes back for her. Gilly just walks away, seemingly doubtful she'll see Sam again.
-No Dany nor Robb nor Jaime in tonight's episode. The absences do not surprise me in the least. Though I look forward to what the previews showed of Dany's next step in Essos. Stannis, Melisandre and Davos were also MIA. But, again, not surprised.
-I promise not to mention the books versus the series much in the future but I am disappointed when epic scenes turn out to be not so epic. The final scene with Arya and the Night's Watch is extraordinary on paper. Similarly, I loved Arya's adventures in Westeros before she's captured by Lannister men. That is not a spoiler because the show dropped those chapters.
-Bryan Cogman wrote the episode. Alik Sakharov directed it.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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