The scene is fantastic because of the depth it gives Yara (Asha) Greyjoy. I worried about this scene before the episode. Benioff and Weiss needed to nail the beats between Yara and Theon. The Theon who came to Pyke, and the Theon who left Pyke, are different. Post-Pyke Theon is a man desperate for power and validation. Yara doesn't care about humiliating her brother; she cares about her brother. Theon doesn't listen to her. Yara leaves to return to Deepwood Motte. Later, Theon and Dagmer discuss payment for the farmer who allowed the orphan boys to be taken and burned by Theon. Bran and Rickon weren't killed; but a prince must do what's needed to send a message to the kingdom. It's a different kind of power play, a desperate kind, but a power play. This aspect of power, through threats and illusion, is seen throughout "The Prince of Winterfell."
Arya desperately tries to find Jaqen before Tywin leaves Harrenhal for battle. Tywin, Kevyn, and his other men, were strategizing their plan of attack for Robb Stark. Tywin admitted the difficulty in plotting against Robb, the king who's never lost a battle he fought, and decided on riding in the night and attacking the North before they caught wind of the Lannister army. I don't want to call Tywin's decision desperate just to fit my argument for what the theme of the episode is; however, the decision is a bit desperate, especially when Stannis moves on King's Landing. Tywin's most concerned about Robb attacking Casterly Rock. Arya, naturally, wants to kill Tywin, but she doesn't find Jaqen in time. Instead, she turns Jaqen's promise against him, as her third name is Jaqen, unless he helps her, Gendry and Hot Pie escape Harrenhal. Arya's decision is desperate. The boys wonder whether Jaqen is trustworthy. Arya can't help but believe. Her belief is rewarded as her and her friends walk through the gates, passing decapitated guards on the way.
Two of the episode's strongest scenes occur at King's Landing. Cersei smiles devilishly as Tyion finishes off his lamprey pie and Arbor wine (no idea if it's actually arbor wine but who cares, right). No, the pie isn't poisoned, nor the arbor wine, but Cersei feels like she caught Tyrion's beloved whore in a web. Tyrion's genuinely concerned until he sees that the captured whore is Ros and not Shae. Cersei imprisoned Tyrion's whore because he sent Myrcella to Dorne, and she's worried that Tyrion is plotting Joffrey's death by suggesting he fight in the impending battle. The move is about power, but the power is illusory, and while Tyrion's sad to see a woman suffer because of him, and bothered enough to level a menacing threat against Cersei, Cersei's power play is ultimately fruitless; however, that Cersei still made this move is grounds for concern. Tyrion promised to turn something she loved into ash before he left. His dear sister sipped her wine and said, "Get out."
The second best scene in King's Landing happens as Tyrion and Varys gaze out at Blackwater Bay. Tyrion wondered why Varys led his sister to the wrong girl, so he asked the eunuch what he wanted, and Varys answered enigmatically. He switched his tune to the Targaryen girl in Qarth to tell Tyrion that once her dragons are grown, they'll have a whole new mess to deal with. Of course, Varys spoke more eloquently, because he's not only a master of whispers but a master of language. Tyrion stated his desire to remain the active Hand in King's Landing. Varys complimented Tyrion's ability to play the game, which suggests Tyrion won't meet an end like Jon Arryn or Ned Stark. I loved how their conversation emphasized one of the story's essential elements, which is a reflection of their riddle conversation in that power is in the eye of the beholder and the smallest man can cast the biggest shadow; but a eunuch can be as dangerous as Jaime with a sword. It's just a matter of perspective.
Meanwhile, Catelyn let Jaime escape with Brienne because she wants her daughters back. Robb arrests her and sends forty more men to join the forty men already hunting for Jaime. The betrayal deeply wounds him and lays waste to his advantageous position. The kingslayer is gone; Theon holds Winterfell; things have gone to shit. Robb and Talisa soon copulate. Robb takes a stand for himself when he says "I don't want to marry the Frey girl." Perhaps, in his mind, he thought his mother took away his power in front of his men. Robb's declaration about the Freys, and the subsequent naked time with Talisa, suggests this thought process of Robb Stark.
"The Prince of Winterfell" really emphasized that kind of thought process. There's security in power, in free will, in not being a pawn in the game. I thought it was handled masterfully.
Other Thoughts:
-Brienne and Jaime began their journey to King's Landing. Jaime insulted her 8-10 times in two minutes. Brienne basically ignored him whilst keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings. This arc has the potential to be terrific.
-Stannis hasn't been used enough in season two. Benioff and Weiss left him out of the last two episodes. Stannis returned with his best scene in the series; the character delivered a long monologue about the rebellion against The Mad King, which showed why he's so loyal to the onion knight, Davos Seaworth, and why he's so bitter and pissed off at his brothers, both dead now. Stannis promised Davos the position of Hand of the King once he's seated on the Iron Throne.
-Qhorin and Jon Snow's scenes with the wildlings actually fit into what I discussed in the main text of the post. Qhorin told Jon to win the wildlings trust and then decided to attack and curse Jon for disappearing with Ygritte, which caused two good men to die. The scene isn't explicit enough to warrant any further comment, considering Jon doesn't know what the hell just happened when Qhorin throws him down a mountain, so I'll just wait to write more about Jon and Qhorin. Also, Ygritte spares Jon's life when the Lord of Bones wants him dead.
-Oh, Dany. Oh, oh, Dany. The Qarth adventure hasn't been good. Dany just needs to follow Pyat Pree into The House of the Undying.
-I tried to convince people that Bran and Rickon were dead. I really did. No one bothered to play dumb elsewhere on the internet. Perhaps playing dumb is a detriment. Folk want to appear intelligent and 'in the know' about a show. The fake-out wasn't handled well. I'll admit that. The fake-out in the book really got me. I wanted people who never read the books to feel the way I felt in that moment. There isn't always a need to 'call' things. Sometimes, if a show says something happened, just let it be. It can be more fun that way. I don't know. Anyway, I'll also wait to write about Bran/Rickon/Osha/Hodor in the crypts.
-Bronn stressed the importance of food and how food can be used for power during a siege. Keep that in your mind, friends and well-wishers.
-Talisa also delivered an important monologue about her time in Volantis. Speaking of Essos, Jorah mentioned a placed called Astapor. That's all.
-Grenn and Sam found a bunch of dragon glass a.k.a. obsidian in the Fist of the First Men. Yes.
-Next week is George R.R. Martin's hour, "Blackwater." I'll be away. I'll write about the episode on Monday night or Tuesday morning.
-David Benioff and D.B. Weiss wrote the episode. Alan Taylor directed it.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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