THE RAVEN’S REVIEW—GAME OF THRONES SEASON 2 EPISODE 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Game of Thrones season finale, while many faced their fears straight on, with loose ends still untied and fresh wounds still unhealed, we’re left with wanting more.

Game of Thrones, Season 2, Episode 10, “Valar Morghulis”—If you haven’t read the books, this season may have been a bit challenging, especially the last episode. But doesn’t that always make for good entertainment?

The season definitely bolted through a ton of story lines, which, at times, made the connection with the characters we love feel a bit more distant than we’ve felt for them in the past. Instead, we were left with teasers—a tiny bit of Jon at the wall, small sneak peeks at Daenerys and not enough of Tyrion’s wise cracks. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. It only means that many of us Game of Thrones geeks want more.  But that’s the pitfall and challenge of turning so many great characters in a book series – covering more than 1,000 pages on content – onto the screen. Thanks George R.R. Martin, for getting us so severely addicted.

As a reader of the book series, I do admit that with so many characters involved in Martin’s A Clash of Kings, creators David Benioff and D.B Weis and the writers did an impeccable job of covering the story as best as the can to please both the book lovers and views who haven’t read the books—a tough challenge they should be commended for.

I think of season 2 more as a set up for Season 3, which thankfully got picked up a few months ago. It’s said that   the show plans to split the third book, A Storm of Swords (the most emotionally devastating book in the series, so prepare yourself) into two seasons, so it will no doubt draw out the drama slowly.

The story of Theon, who in the finale went MIA after Winterfell went under attack by Robb’s bannermen led by Roose Bolton, is still left unresolved. While giving a grandiose speech to his men, he shockingly gets knocked out by one of them. It was a great moment, but at the same time, you couldn’t help but feel some pity for him. But after the sack of Winterfell, was he killed?

Things quickly moved to King’s Landing where we saw Tyrion, knocked down a few pegs, healing from his face wound. But in a turn of events, King Joffrey agrees to join forces with the House Tyrell by marrying Margaery Tyrell, setting Sansa aside. But just when Sansa thinks she’s dodged a bullet, Petyr Baelish reminds her that the King never gives up his toys and that he’ll help her escape. But when does Baelish not have a master plan in motion?

Stannis is alive but still in limbo and questioning his red priestess Melissandre. What’s her deal, anyway?

We also saw Robb Stark not only give into his feelings to Talisa (Jeyne Westerling in the books) last episode but taking his defiance against his mother’s warnings to keep his oath and marry the Frey girl further in the finale by secretly marrying her. This will no doubt be an obstacle for him later.

It was great to see Bran again alive and well, but sad to see his maester Luwin die by the Wierwood tree. On his last dying breath he urges Osha to keep Bran and Rickon safe and to take them North to Jon at the Wall. He dies and the boys begin their journey.

Arya Stark is also beginning a huge journey. After escaping Harrenhaal, she, and her two mates, Hot Pie and Gendry, make their way to Riverrun where she’s heard her brother, Robb, and mother, Catelyn, are holding up. But on the way, she runs into Jaqen H’ghar who gives her a special coin and tells her in a time of need she should turn to a Braavosi and use the phrase “Valar Morghulis.” He offers to take her to Braavos and help get her revenge but she declines saying she needs to find her family. He then looks away only to look back revealing a different face. No wonder he was so skilled at killing the men at Harrenhaal so quickly! So eerie, and intriguing.

Things with Jon north of the wall are also not fairing any better. As a wilding hostage along with Quorin Halfhand, he’s forced to kill Qhorin as a mutual plan to infiltrate the Wilding camp and find out what their King-beyond-the-wall’s, Mance Rayder, plans are. It was a short scene, but one that promises to set up a major story next season.

Out East, Daenerys continues her quest to find her dragons in the House of the Undying and subjects herself to hallucinations due to Pyat Preet’s magic. We learn that Pyat Preet plans to capture not only her dragons but her as well, as it makes his magic even stronger. But surprisingly, her little ones spit out their first fire, setting Pyat on fire, freeing Dany, her dragons and her people.

The episode ended on a fantastical note with Samwell Tarly witnessing an army of White Walkers, led by a creepy zombie-like creature with ice blue eyes, leading an attack on the wall.

With fire-breathing dragon, face-changing assassins and zombie-like creatures, the Game of Thrones’ fantastical season finale finally came alive just as it ended. More, please!

Game of Thrones Season 2 airs on Sundays at 9 p.m on HBO. Photos: © HBO.

 

—Toni-Marie Ippolito