Sean Bean - Game of Thrones

Jon Snow and his comrades at the Wall get new recruits; also the gutter obviously is growing empty, now they are in dire need. I somehow like him: Dark unruly curls, a rare but beautiful smile, still green but eager to learn, with the stubbornness and agility of his father...

In the meantime the train of the Dothraki reaches their capital Vaes Dothrak, but Viserys insists again that the throne of the Seven Kingdoms belongs to him, because the dragons blood which runs through his veins is more royal than any other blood. And his sister should never forget that!

In King’s Landing a rather unwilling Samsa is introduced to the secrets of the Throne and the kings. Enthusiasm is different. For example, Ayra, who learns balancing with a sword, but when her father tells her that once she has grown up she must marry a High Lord and will have lots of beautiful children, she runs off. Ned’s facial expression – or is it the one of Sean? – isn’t a particularly happy one.

Ned tries to solve the mysteries surrounding the untimely death of his predecessor as Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, who was married in 3rd marriage with Lysa, the sister of his wife Catelyn. And while he is on the prowl Ned discovers the trace which Jon had been following right before his death, and finds an expertly crafted helmet. This one would perfectly fit at the tournament held in his name, but Ned prefers to dig into his administrative work. The King is drunk, the Queen is annoyed and leaves and the other guests of honour aren’t really fascinated by the jousting. Only after blood begins to spill their attention is finally caught.

Since the Queen suspects that Ned has found out most of the dirty secrets of the royal family, she pays him a visit to talk tentatively about children and his work at court. To which Ned in his best Sharpe manner replies: “I was trained to kill my enemies, your grace!”

This would have bean a perfect closure of this episode, but Catelyn wants to have the last word…

...but Ned - of course - the last picture.

EFi: Yes, I liked the episode – lots of Sean in well crafted scenes and with good dialogue, and not too little of Kit Harington (Jon Snow). Bit by bit I now manage to follow the entangled family ties and the secret alliances. This makes the visit to Westeros way more entertaining.

rg: I only saw this episode once but I will certainly repeat the pleasure – all these interwoven stories – a wide epic arc, which more and more draws one in.

< to episode 3

rg & Evi / upload 24.11.2011


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