Our favorite Imp took home TV gold last night during the 2011 Emmys for his role as Tyrion Lannister on HBO’s Game of Thrones. The award was in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category and is Peter Dinklage’s first Emmy Award.

The diminutive actor certainly didn’t expect to win, and he was up against some talented competition, but Dinklage is certainly deserving of the golden statuette. His performance as the despised, cunning and witty third Lannister child and son of Tywin Lannister is brilliant and memorable and definitely one of my unexpected favorites on the show. Despite Dinklage’s size (he is only 4’5″) his character is larger than life and infused with tons of charm, confidence and joie de vive.

“I think everybody levitated when Peter Dinklage won supporting actor,” Martin told The Hollywood Reporter. “We were hoping for that but you never know how these things are going to come out. Tyrion has always been my favorite character in the series – though I love them all. Peter has embodied it so marvelously. It was an incredible win for Peter and the show.”

Game of Thrones is based on the bestselling fantasy series A Song of Fire and Ice written by George R.R. Martin. The series was adapted and developed for HBO by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. The popluar fantasy already had a remarkable fan base so it’s debut on April 17th, 2011 was highly anticipated and embraced by critics and fans alike. The first season finale was spellbinding and surpassed expectations bringing a spotlight to a strong cast and actors whose names were not well known before the series. Thankfully Game of Thrones has been picked up for a second season (2 days after it premiered BTW!) so we’ll get to see a lot more of Tyrion and the fantasy world he lives in.

Check out Peter Dinklage’s funny and sweet acceptance speech below!

ΩPhoto Credit 1, Photo Credit 2, Photo Credit 3

"I do not have a gentle heart."

***Do not read on if you haven’t watched the last episode of Game of Thrones because this post is full of spoilers!***

“Only death can pay for life.”

As far as season finales go the one for Game of  Thrones season 1 was everything you could hope for. The last scene with Daenerys Targaryen sitting curled up with her baby dragons after the heat of Khal Drogo’s funeral pyre fire burned itself out was the coolest thing I have ever seen. Seeing her rising like a phoenix from the ashes and honed like steel for the battle ahead of her filled me with such excitement for next season. (Excitement which is usually reserved for TrueBlood. BTW did you catch the sneak peek for TrueBlood after GoT?) When thinking about how things played out, how they’re going to play out and the future of the characters next season, I can’t help but feel absolutely hooked by the brilliance of this fantasy series.

The first thing we see is Ice covered with Ned’s blood. You even see a strand of hair or two in the dripping gore, and then the executioner Sir Ilyn raises Ned’s severed head for all the world to see. Sansa is collapsed on the dais and Arya is being clutched by Yoren of Night’s Watch who is preventing her from seeing the grisly sight. Suddenly he starts calling her a boy and drags her away from Baelor’s Sept and begins to shear off her hair with his dagger. They are going north to the Wall.

Bran is talking to Osha about his recurring dream of the raven with three eyes. Osha is carrying Bran on her shoulders and Hodor follows behind. They are going to the crypts of Winterfell. Once there Bran begins to tell Osha who’s who and we finally learn why Robert Baratheon went to war and ended up as king.

While in the crypts, Rickon’s dire wolf rushes out of the darkness snarling and menacing. Rickon emerges and tells Bran of his dream and that he saw Ned so he’s looking for him in the crypts. It seems both he and Bran share the same dream. Rickon returns to the darkness, his dire wolf Shaggydog at his side and Bran and Osha leave. As they are talking, Maester Luwin meets them in the courtyard at Winterfell and tells them of Ned’s death.

"We will kill them all."

The stoic Catelyn is grieving her beloved Ned’s death when she hears sounds in the wood. She finds Robb repeatedly striking a tree with his sword, overtaken with grief. Catelyn comforts her son and though they both want to kill them all, they first must get the Stark girls back from their enemies.

At court, we see another example of the type of king Joffrey is. His reign of terror has only begun and already he’s cut off heads, massacred a household, and cut a minstrel’s tongue out of his head for singing an amusing song mocking the goings on in the realm. Without waiting to see Ser Ilyn carry out his orders, Joffrey takes Sansa out to see the sights. Those sights are heinous indeed. He forces her to look at Ned’s head and Septa’s both resting on pikes on the Red Keep’s ramparts for anyone to see that it is death to be caught in treason or to be an acquaintance of a traitor.

Joffrey threatens to deliver her Robb Stark’s head as well, and to my surprise it is here that we see some backbone from Sansa. She taunts Joffrey saying that maybe it will be Robb who brings her Joffrey’s head instead. Unable to do his own dirty work, Joffrey gets one of his guards to strike Sansa for her impertinence. She will be Joffrey’s prisoner both before and after they are wed. In a moment of crazy, it looks like Sansa planned to push Joffrey off the bridge, but the moment is passed before it can come to fruition. The Hound offers Sansa a piece of cloth to wipe her bloodied lip and a warning to play nice because it will be easier for her. Things look bleak for Sansa indeed, but will she find an unexpected ally in the Hound in the future?

"Or maybe he'll bring me yours."

With the news of Ned’s death the bannermen of the North hold a meeting to decide their next move. They no longer want to be ruled by a king who sits in the south who knows nothing of what it is like to be a man of the North. They proclaim Robb the king of the North and they all pledge their allegiance to him. Catelyn looks on pleased as punch and like it was inevitable all along.

Later Catelyn goes to see the captive Jaime Lannister. After bashing him over the head, she asks him why he tried to kill Bran and he admits he did it, admits he had hoped to kill the boy, but he doesn’t say why.

While Cersei reads the message that Jaime was taken captive, we discover that she has been bedding her cousin and that there is no end to her disgustingness. Tywin is also deliberating on his next move. He tells Tyrion he was right about Ned Stark. He knows that killing Ned was plain stupidity. He makes Tyrion the Hand in his place and sends him to King’s Landing where it will be his job to bring Cersei and Joffrey to heel.

We finally discover the fate of Dany and her loved ones. She wakes, noticeably weakened and frail seeming with Ser Jorah by her side. Her child died, deformed and monstrous when it was born. The Khal is alive but he is senseless, just a shell of his former glorious self, unaware and unresponsive to anyone or anything around him. The witch Mirri has gotten her revenge for the destruction of her home and the violation of her person. She knew what Dany was in for. She claims it was the price for the spell. She gloats to Dany’s face that her son was destined to be the Stallion That Mounts the World and now he will not. Now he will never be anything or harm anyone. Yes, her revenge is fait accompli, but Dany is the Dragon and her vengeance will be terrible.

Jon takes off from Night’s Watch wanting to be with his family as they fight this war and grieving over Ned. He is followed by Samwell and the rest of his “gang” who persuade Jon to return by reminding them of his oath to his new family. Even though he broke the law of the Watch and Lord Commander Mormont knows, Jon isn’t punished. Instead Mormont asks him to make a choice. Is he with the Watch or not? The last we see of Jon he’s mounted up with his brothers of the Watch as they go out to find Benjen and see what is out there rather than waiting for whatever it is to come to them. And whatever it is, it is far worse than a war for the crown.

We also see that appearances are more than meets the eye, especially when it comes to the king’s councilors. As Baelish eyes the Iron Throne with a covetous gleam, Varys enters the room and throws a few taunts his way, taunts that are predictably parried by Baelish. Even though Varys and Baelish squabble at every chance they get they also admire each other. Who knows what they’ll be up to during Joffrey’s reign.

Yoren instructs Arya how to conduct herself now that her father is dead. He brings her to the caravan that is headed to the Wall and leaves her to fend for herself. Almost immediately she is set upon by bullies who try to intimidate her and take her sword Needle. At first it looks like Arya has been broken by her father’s death, but in pure Arya fashion, not only does she defend herself, she puts the fear of the gods in the would be bullies. In addition to being able to handle herself, it looks like she has found an unexpected ally. Robert Baratheon’s bastard son Gendry who worked as a blacksmith also happens to be in the caravan headed to the Wall. He backs Arya up and off they head to the North.

This is good for Arya because Jon will eventually return, and even if he doesn’t she will be trained as a warrior for you just know she’ll keep up the ruse of being a boy. And it looks like her and Gendry will become boon companions in their exile. Wouldn’t it be funny if Arya and Gendry end up being husband and wife and the rulers of the seven kingdoms? The one that wanted to be a lady the least and the least likely candidate for the throne. That would be ironic indeed.

And just like I always knew, Dany has finally come into her own, but sadly it isn’t without much sadness, tragedy and loss. Dany tended her beloved Drogo tenderly, urging him to come back to her. Finally she realizes that he is gone from her even though there is still breath in his body. Knowing that this is no life for him, she ends his life and smothers him with a pillow. Double crossed by Mirri, bereft of both husband and child, and heartbroken, Dany becomes what she was always meant to become and it was thrilling and exhilarating to behold.

In a scene that will go down in the annals of awesomeness, Dany has her vengeance. She frees the Dothraki’s slaves and promises those that remain that no one will ever harm them and those that do will die screaming. She has the loyal Rakharo place her dragon eggs next to Khal Drogo on the huge and majestic funeral pyre and has the betrayer Mirri the witch tied to the pyre. Then Dany lights it up and everything goes up in a blaze worthy of the Viking burials of old. But that is not the end. Despite Ser Jorah’s worry for her, Dany regally steps into the flames and disappears.

At dawn, Ser Jorah and the remaining freed slaves that are loyal to Dany watch in amazement as they find a soot covered Dany sitting unharmed and naked in the embers of the funeral fire. Snuggled and clinging to her are three tiny yet fierce dragons. Dany stands, her silver blond hair glowing and the baby dragons draped lovingly and protectively around her body, as the people surrounding her bow in reverence to the Dragon Queen, Daenerys Stormborn of the old house of Valyria. The dragon perched upon her bare shoulder lets out a piercing shriek, a sound that is no longer myth and memory. Pretty amazing stuff, huh? Dany wasn’t kidding when she said she didn’t have a gentle heart.

I can’t wait for next season! Can you?

I Can’t Believe They Actually Did It!

***SPOILER ALERT!!! DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN GAME OF THRONES EPISODE 9, “BAELOR”.

All good things must come to an end.

In what has to be one of the most shocking episodes yet, Game of Thrones serves up the most upsetting and hit-you-like-a-ton-of-bricks death of the series in episode 9, “Baelor”. With the tableaus in Westeros and beyond a mess and the Iron throne firmly within the evil and conniving grasp of the Lannisters, things are going from bad to worse and it is very clear that no one is safe.

Ned is wasting away in the dungeons of the Red Keep and Varys comes to visit him, once again bearing more water for Ned. He also arrives bearing bad news of Sansa begging for mercy for her father of Joffrey and of the army Robb has gathered in the north. He counsels Ned to confess to treason, tell Robb to cease and desist with his war effort, and here’s the kicker, proclaim Joffrey as the rightful king. And all for the sake of peace. But, and this is no surprise, Ned refuses. He won’t do it to save his own skin, so Varys asks him if he’ll do it for his daughter’s. Well, even if you’re not a parent you know the answer to that.

Greyjoy is shooting down the ravens that are being sent from Walder Frey’s keep even though so far all they are carrying are inane messages of no importance to the realm. Not wanting Robb to put himself in danger, Catelyn decides she will be the one to parley a crossing agreement with Walder since he is known to her family. The obstinate lord is a disgusting old lecher who gripes about his poor treatment at the hands of Catelyn’s family, so we know this is going to cost her.

Lord Commander Mormont gifts Jon Snow with his family’s sword as a thank you for saving his life and rescuing him from the zombie. It is a great honor being that it is a sword handed down from father to son and is made of Valyrian steel. Mormont adds to the gift by putting the head of a wolf, Jon’s family sigil, upon the hilt. But in this show you know that good never comes without the bad and it isn’t long before Samwell tells Jon that Robb has gone south to war. Jon wants to be there with his brother and support the family he left behind, and knowing how strong his love for his family is, we can only wonder when Jon will bail and desert his vows and his brothers of the Watch.

When Catelyn returns she brings news that Walder Frey has granted them crossing — for a price of course. In return for crossing, extra men and holding the Trident against enemies, Robb must take one of Walder’s sons as squire with a knighthood in the offing, Arya must wed Waldon when they are of age, and Robb must wed one of Walder’s daughters. Walder definitely drives a hard bargain, but out off necessity bordering on desperation, Robb agrees. I mean, does he have a choice?

Meanwhile back at the Watch, we’re not the only ones waiting for Jon to desert his post. Blind maester Aemon sends for Jon and they begin to talk of love, family, honor and duty. Jon has little patience for this talk from the elder man until Aemon imparts a huge secret. He is a Targaryen. And not just any Targaryen. He’s the uncle of the Mad King Aerys, and while the Lannisters were busy slaughtering his family, Aemon stayed true to his duty and his vows, making him the perfect candidate to remind Jon of his oath and the choices one must make in life and of sacrifice.

I have never been nothing. I am the blood of the dragon.

All is not well in the Dothraki kingdom. Even though Drogo is the greatest warrior to ever sit a horse, it seems he will be felled by a scratch. The small wound he got in the fight last week looks like it will be his downfall. As they are riding, Drogo topples from his horse. Dany rushes to him, fierce as ever and protective over her ailing husband. Despite resistance to her commands, Dany orders the horde to make camp so Drogo can be tended. His impending death can only mean trouble for the Silver Lady.

In Tywin’s war camp, the head of the Lannister clan feasts and receives news of Robb’s progress. They don’t seem worried by the young Stark who no one believes can be successful in his campaign against the mighty Lannisters. Tyrion is informed that he will be in the vanguard the next day, and as you can imagine, Tyrion does not receive the news well. Thinking he’ll die on the morrow, Tyrion spends his last night doing what he does best.

Since Drogo’s death is certain, Ser Jorah counsels Dany to flee to safety for the sake of her son. Despite the threat to her life and that of her unborn child, Dany refuses to leave the love of her life. Ever loyal, Ser Jorah stays as well, yet there is nothing he can do when Dany commands the witch/healer to perform a Bloodmagic spell to save Drogo’s life. As with everything in life, there is a price, and desperate to save the life of the man she loves, Dany recklessly agrees no matter what that price may be. The Khal’s horse is brought in and it’s throat is slashed (what is it with the killing of horses in this show?) spraying blood over Dany, and copious amounts of blood all over Khal Drogo. Outrage erupts among the Dothraki and Dany is called a witch and accused of being cursed. While the spell is in progress, no one is enter the Khal’s tent.

Without Drogo to support her, the Khaleesi has no power. Drogo isn’t even dead yet and the jackals are fighting over the crown. The warriors are defying her and Qotho, one of Drogo’s cadre, is about to defy her orders to stay out of the tent. Once again it is an armored Ser Jorah to the rescue. He kills the warrior who defied and injured Dany, but even so, he cannot stop the baby from coming. Because she had been pushed roughly to the ground and landed on her distended belly, Dany has gone into early labor. Ominous growling sounds are coming from the Khal’s tent and you can just imagine the demons swirling around in there. Lifting her into his arms, Ser Jorah approaches Khal Drogo’s tent even though no one is supposed to enter while the witch performs the Bloodmagic.

Tyrion gets a rude awakening and is thrust into battle. Robb Stark and his army is a mile north. Seconds after riling up his barbarians, Tyrion is accidently knocked out and knocked to the ground where he spends the entire battle passed out. When he awakens it is to a Lannister victory.

An anxious Catelyn Stark awaits the return of her son and when she sees him riding up her joy and relief at the sight of him is palpable. Robb has returned but he’s not alone. He has a very valuable and unexpected prisoner  — Jaime Lannister. Finally! One for the good guys!

Jaime, who likes to think he’s clever, but if you ask me he isn’t quite as clever as Tyrion, proposes that he and Robb end the war with little bloodshed by fighting mano-a-mano. Usually I’m all for single combat between two warriors. However, not in this case since I do not trust that Jaime Lannister will be honorable with so much at stake. And I do not think Robb could beat him and there is too much riding on it for Robb to succumb to pride and fight Jaime. Luckily Robb refuses, showing wisdom beyond his years. Battle has changed Robb. He has left boyhood behind forever. He knowingly sent 2000 men to their deaths as part of a ruse to trick the Lannisters. He succeeded, yet he knows that even though they won the battle and outsmarted their arch rival this time, the war is far from over.

Arya is in the streets trying to survive when her father is brought to the Sept of Baelor in chains. Ned sees Arya in the crowd, and ever the loving and protective father, tells one of the men of the Watch that she is at the statue of Baelor so she can be brought to safety. Shockingly Ned confesses to treason and proclaims Joffrey the rightful king infront of Cersei, Sansa, Joffrey, the council, and the huge crowd that has gathered infront of the raised dias. The deal is that he will be stripped of all title and nobility and exiled to the Watch for the rest of his days in return for his confession.

It seems everything is going perfectly, just as Cersei planned it. Except Joffrey turns out to be a wild card. Breaking free of the puppet strings and showing what a vile little runt he truly is, Joffrey orders Ned’s death. Ned searches the crowd for one more glance of Arya, but she is no longer at the feet of Baelor. With one swift strike of the executioner’s sword, the noble Eddard Stark of Winterfell is unjustly murdered at the hands of the Lannisters.

The unfortunate end of innocence.

For me, the heart of this show was just extinguished. Ned was the moral compass of this story so far. With him gone, I feel like these characters will be lost for a while. I can’t help but think of his children. Arya will be affected the most by his death I think, and I wonder if silly Sansa will be so eager to marry Joffrey now. She witnessed everything. This has to turn her against all things Lannister for sure now, otherwise she is just as heartless as Cersei and Joffrey and she deserves whatever she gets.

And Ned, the most noble man in this entire work of fiction. How horrible is it that he will go down in Westeros history with the false admission of his treachery on his lips. No matter what else he did in life, if the Lannisters have their way(for isn’t history written by the victors?) he will forever be known as a traitor to the crown who died a traitor’s death by the blade of Ice, his own family’s sword. The horror of it all has left me reeling.

At least he was brave and bowed his head, facing his fate with noble courage. Ned, honorable to the bitter end. One thing is for sure. All hell is going to break loose in the North and it will be unleashed upon the Lannisters.

What did you think of the episode? Was it as shocking and upsetting for you as it was for me?

Will you be tuning in next week for the finale? Of course you will, and I’ll see you there!

It’s All Downhill From Here…Or So It Seems

"You want a piece of me?"

Sunday night’s Game of Thrones episode “The Pointy End” was a massacre. The House of Stark is being annihilated and Ned is rotting away in the King’s Landing dungeons as Cersei’s prisoner. Named a traitor to the crown, his future and that of his family looks bleak and his allies seem like a puny number against the might of the Lannisters. Tyrion is set on getting even with the inhabitants of the Vale and Daenerys and Khal Drogo’s love is causing discord within the Dothraki ranks. With Joffrey set up as Cersei’s puppet king on the Iron Throne, Daenerys coming into her own, and Catelyn Stark by her son Robb’s side encouraging him to fight, it’s becoming clear that it is the women moving the force of fate in Westeros and beyond the Seven Kingdoms.

The episode opens with Syrio and Arya sparring. As the Starks are preparing to move their household back to Winterfell they are being mercilessly slaughtered by Lannister men. With Cersei ruling through Joffrey, this injustice goes unchecked. Walking in the halls, Sansa and Septa hear the sounds of fighting. Being wise, Septa tells silly Sansa to flee to her room and bar the door. Sansa runs and Septa bravely faces the armed men in the corridor. What is her fate? We are left to imagine, but I’m certain she isn’t spared the sword.

While Syrio and Arya are practicing sword play, Lannister soldiers bust in and demand that Arya come with them. Though they try to trick her by telling her Ned Stark summons her, Arya is too clever for that ploy, and in lovable Arya fashion, she tells them off. Both Arya and Syrio know better. It is here that we see the extent of Syrio’s skill and honor. Though he only has a wooden sword and they are armed to the teeth, he manages to defeat a handful of men effortlessly. One Lannister soldier remains standing, the leader, and he and Syrio prepare to fight. Syrio tells Arya to flee again and even though she is reluctant, for she knows what is in store for her sword master, she has no other choice and flees for her own safety. Syrio’s departing words to her are, “What do we say to the gods of death?” Her answer to that is, “Not today.” We do not see what happens to this sage master swordsman, but one can only imagine the worst.

Meanwhile, the Hound intercepts Sansa as she is running to the safety of her rooms. Sansa threatens to tell the queen, who she foolishly believes to be her friend and ally, if he doesn’t leave her alone. With a malevolent laugh the Hound responds, “Who do you think sent me?” Wily Arya, arrrives in the courtyard to see the carnage of her slaughtered household, poor thing. She ‘s so young and yet she is realizing that sword play is ultimately about dealing death and dying by the sword. As she searches for Needle, a boy determined to gain a reward by delivering the ‘Wolf Girl” to the queen, accosts her. In one shocking moment, a moment that shocks both us and Arya, she kills him.

The oily eunuch Varys visits Ned in the dungeons, bringing him water and news of the realm. “Why is it that no one ever trusts the eunuch?” he asks. I’m not sure what to think of him at this point, are you? There’s just something about him that inspires trust, and having the nickname Spider doesn’t help either. Ned asks after his girls and Varys matter of fact-like delivers the news that Ned’s household is dead. Varys questions Ned’s foolish actions and claims his mercy killed the king. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I mean don’t you question the way Ned handled things? I mean, I understand his honor and all, as well as his desire to spare the children, but come on, Ned! You are dealing with vipers in a pit! There’s a time for honor and there’s a time for survival. As much as I like and respect Ned, he put his honor and pride before the kingdom and his family, and has made some bad decisions to boot. What did he think would happen? He’s dealing with the cunning Cersei. He underestimated her, and that has proven to be deadly. I can’t wait for him to unleash hell. It’ll be glorious to see Ned the Warrior.

Ever the bearer of bad news, Varys informs Ned that Tyrion is free.  Obviously disheartened by the sequence of events, Ned tries to decipher for himself who Varys serves. Varys answers in cryptic Varys fashion that he serves the realm. Why does he care if Ned lives or dies? Why bring him water and news and check on him? Varys’ motives are unclear. I want to think that he will prove to be trustworthy, that he’s not so unprincipled as to switch loyalties like he does his clothes. Hopefully he really does serve the realm and wants what is best for it. Hopefully he can see that Cersei is not the best candidate to run things. At this point, Ned knows he’s a dead man and wonders why Varys toys with him? Ned says, “Slit my throat and be done with it.”  Oh Ned, don’t you know Fate isn’t done with you yet?

At Night’s watch, two dead members of the Watch have been brought in. One is the source of the hand that Ghost found. They rode out with the missing Benjen and now they are dead. Samwell, who is obviously educated, notices that they do not have the rotting smell of dead men and so instead of burning them, the Lord Commander wants to do a little CSI work and orders an autopsy.

A raven brought the grim news about Ned Stark being charged with treason from King’s Landing and Joffrey’s ascension to the throne. Jon can do nothing to help his family because of his vows. Jon can be a bit of a hothead, so I wonder how he will handle this yoke.

Silly Sansa falls for Cersei’s obvious manipulation and writes to her brother Robb, urging him to come to King’s Landing and bend the knee and keep the King’s peace. Robb and Master Luewin see right through the ploy. They know that the queen’s hand is all “in ya on ya all over ya” in the letter. So what does Robb do? He calls the bannermen — all of them. The flock of ravens that leave Winterfell is astounding. He’s riding south with an army.

We all know Lysa Arryn, Catelyn’s sister and lady of the Vale, is off her rocker. Refusing to put her precious and inappropriately still nursing son in jeopardy, Lysa refuses to help her sister. Her refusal isn’t shocking. And she will have a war of her own on her hands soon. Tyrion is set on revenge for his treatment at the hands of Lysa. Wily tongued and clever as ever, Tyrion manages to enlist the aid of his would be captor Shagga son of Dolf, leader of the Stone Crows. They escort Tyrion out of the Vale and straight into Tywin Lannister’s war camp.

Meanwhile, Jon’s temper has got the best of him and he’s confined to his rooms. Ghost senses that something is wrong (Thank the gods for the dire wolves, hey?) and Jon straps on his sword and scabbard and goes to investigate, disobeying orders. Yet it is because of his lack of discipline that he manages to be in the right place at the right time. Remember those dead men? Well, they’re zombies. One of them is reanimated and happens (coincidentally?) to be in Lord Commander Mormont’s room. The zombie attacks Jon and is immune to being skewered through the chest by Jon’s sword. Jon manages to toss a lantern on the zombie and the monster goes up in flames. Jon has just managed to rescue his master. In the end the bodies are burned and the threat beyond the Wall, the White Walkers has just become a reality.

The Dothraki are doing what they do best — warmongering. Dany isn’t down with it, even though they’re raiding to fund her bid for the Iron “chair” as Khal Drogo calls it. “I do not have a gentle heart,” Dany states boldly and claims all the women of the conquered clan, saving them from being raped. This pisses of the Dothraki men who have been denied their spoils and they tattle to Drogo about his foreign wife’s interference.

Dany proposes an honorable solution for the women and this does not sit well with the warriors. Siding with his wife who he obviously adores, and admiring of her fierce spirit thinking it is his son growing within her — the Stallion Who Will Mount the World— that is giving her her fire, Khal Drogo lets Dany keep all the women she claimed. This starts a mutiny and Drogo is challenged by a disgruntled Dothraki warrior. Drogo, who is a bit of a madman as well as mighty,  defeats the other man without a weapon. It’s a bit of a crazy and thrilling barbarian moment; the fight shows us why Drogo is feared and why his reputation as the best fighter is well deserved. He does get a small wound that he calls a scratch and this concerns Dany who insists it be taken care of. A big deal was made about the wound. Is this a hint that something is going to happen to Khal Drogo?!? NOOOO!

Robb has proved that he is capable of leading an army into battle. Greatjon Umber opposed him for a little while, but after getting his fingers bitten off by Robb’s dire wolf Grey Wind, he has a change of heart. You don’t pull steel on the Lord of Winterfell in his own hall! All the men share a great laugh over all of this, Greatjon laughing the loudest. This scene makes me wonder about the minds of men.

Robb visits Bran to say farewell. Robb tells the boy, “There must always be a Stark in Winterfell.”  The next day, feeling alone and scared for his family, Bran is praying at the foot of a heart tree in the Godswood. Osha tells him that his brother is marching the wrong way and that the gods won’t help Robb because they have no power in the south. Basically she’s telling him that in the south they are godless, which Cersei and her clan of Lannisters have proven to be true.  She also tells Bran of the threat of the White Walkers and that it is this threat that Robb should be marching against. At Castle Black they are burning the zombies. Samwell has read that this is the only way to defeat them. He prays that the Walls are high enough to keep them safe.

Catelyn and Ser Rodrik Cassel arrive in Robb’s camp. Despite the fact that they have less soldiers than the Lannisters, Catelyn tells Robb he must fight— their  lives depend on it. The only problem is that they must cross the Trident, and their success depends upon the unpredictable Lord Walder Frey.

Tyrion is seemingly safe in his father’s camp and learns about the state of the realm. Wanting to pay his debt to Shagga, he begins to list what he owes to his Hill Tribe allies. His request is interrupted by a messenger who tells Tywin that Robb and his army have arrived. Tywin makes an offer to Shagga asking the barbarian leader to fight with him against the Starks, promising to reward him even more richly than Tyrion promised. Shagga agrees only if Tyrion fights with them. Not something Tyrion is keen on doing.

At King’s Landing a rearranging of nobles as per the new regime is taking place as Joffrey holds court. Tywin Lannister is named Hand to the king and Ser Barristan is fired in a way that leaves him shamed and angry and storming out of the throne room absolutely disgusted.

Sansa begs for mercy for her father and I can’t help but think that she was coached and this big display was all planned. Joffrey — and his adolescent, smug puppet of a presence on the throne sickens me — declares that Ned, who is still languishing in the dungeons, must confess his crimes and declare that Joffrey is the rightful king or there will be no mercy. Silly girl that Sansa is earnestly replies that her father will do this.

Oh Sansa, don’t you know that you shouldn’t count your chickens before they hatch?

Ned confronts Cersei about her adultery.

Well, the manure’s really hitting the fan now. And you know how much I love Ned Stark, but sometimes I want to strangle him with his stubborn honor. *Sigh* Although it may serve him well in the end. Yet one thing I am noticing though about Ned is that when it serves his purpose he will bend the rules if he thinks it’s in the name of justice and honor.

Jaime Lannister is in his father’s war camp reading Ned’s summons for Tywin to come to court and mocking Ned’s decisions. We finally get to meet the dread Tywin Lannister and he is formidable. He never stops skinning that stag as he imparts some more Lannister life lessons to Jaime and tells him the fate of the Lannister dynasty rests upon his broad shoulders. He thinks Jaime was a fool to not only attack Ned Stark but to then let him live. He also orders Jaime to take 30 000 men and raid Catelyn Stark’s childhood home to prove that you don’t mess with the Lannisters. In life, all that matters is the power of the family name. All the while he’s talking, Tywin is skinning and butchering a stag like it’s nobody’s business. Quite menacing and gross.

The formidable Tywin Lannister.

Meanwhile back at King’s Landing, Ned confronts Cersei. He calls a spade a spade, meaning, he bluntly tells her he knows her children are Jaime’s and he’s going to tell the king. He also accuses her of hurting Bran. She doesn’t even deny it — in fact, she defends her actions. Ned tells her to get out of Dodge and run far, far away. This doesn’t phase Cersei at all. I think Cersei is the most deadly and cunning character on the show. She will kill them all if it means the Lannisters will win. And to think, all of this could have been avoided if only Robert had loved her.

Littlefinger is revealing his master plan to the women of pleasure in his employ as he instructs the newly hired and very clever Roslyn in her craft. It is here that we get the first tangible and ominous glimmer that Ned is in some very big trouble and is about to be double-crossed and he won’t even see it coming. How did I ever trust this guy? I mean, he runs a brothel for goodness sakes! (As 50 Cent would say, he’s a P**P!)

Back at Winterfell, the new Wildling servant Osha (better known as Nymphadora Tonks in the Harry Potter films) is being harassed by Theon Greyjoy when Maester Luwin puts him in his place and sends him away. Osha too had put Greyjoy in his place for his arrogance two seconds before and something tells me that Osha and Theon will have words again. Osha, who seems very matter of fact, tells Maester Luwin that the White Walkers are not sleeping. This is dire news indeed. Even more dire is the fact that Benjen’s horse has returned to Night’s Watch riderless and now all Jon Snow can think of is becoming a Ranger so he can find his uncle.

The hedonistic Robert Baratheon has been gored by a boar. He was drunk while on the hunt and he is on his deathbed. Robert summons Ned, and Cersei and Joffrey are there when he arrives. Robert kicks everyone out except for Ned and this makes Cersei nervous of course. He gets Robert to write down his last will and testament proclaiming Ned Regent and Lord Protector until Joffrey, his rightful heir, comes of age. Ned only writes rightful heir, a small tweak that doesn’t tarnish his honor too much and Robert signs his John Henry on it. Ned doesn’t tell Robert that his kids aren’t his but Jaime’s.

I understand this, but you just know Cersei wouldn’t have hesitated to spill any beans, dying or no. Robert at least does the honorable thing and calls off Dany’s assassination. He also asks Ned to help Joffrey be a good man and king. Yeah, good luck with that. Joffrey’s the spawn of full on evil. Ah, poor Robert Baratheon, murdered by a pig because he was drunk. An ignoble end. And wouldn’t you know it? Another Lannister was in the mix and supplying the wine no less.

Ned orders Varys to call the hit on Dany off, but alas, it’s too late. And this can only play into Dany’s plan to go home and claim her birthright, the Iron Throne, for her son. In fact she’s trying to use her wiles on Khal Drogo to entice him to win her throne back. She even teaches him the word throne. Drogo however has no interest, so Dany’s little scheme is thwarted before it even begins. Tenacious little thing that she is though, she tries to enlist Ser Jorah’s help in convincing her husband, but Ser Jorah is of the opinion that nothing before its time. But there’s nothing like an assassination plot on his beloved wife’s life to light a fire under Khal Drogo’s fierce warrior butt.

While in the market of Vaes Dothrak, an assassin in disguise as a wine merchant tries to get Dany to drink some poison wine. The ever watchful Ser Jorah (did I mention he receives a secret pardon missive from the Spider? I wonder who’s side Varys is on?) comes to the rescue (again) and the plan is discovered and the assassin is captured for punishment. When Khal Drogo finds out, he’s furious and swears before his Khalasar and Dany that he will cross the sea and conquer and subjugate the men and women of Westeros and lay claim to the Iron Throne. The assassin is tied naked and bloodied to walk behind Dany’s horse.

Jon Snow Beckoning Ghost

At Night’s Watch, Jon and the other new inductees are readied to take their vows. Instead of being made a Ranger like he and everyone else thought, Jon is made the personal steward of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. Jon is crushed, but Sam talks some sense into him, telling Jon that he is being groomed for command. This heartens Jon and together with Sam, Jon takes his vows in the weirwood at the foot of a Heart tree. Moments later, Ghost appears carrying a severed hand in his mouth, which definitely isn’t good.

Renly pulls Ned aside and suggests he take Joffrey into custody to stop Cersei from seizing power and reveals he wants to sit on the throne, but Ned is stubbornly determined to uphold the succession which means Stannis is next. Ned has just lost an ally in Renly. Seeing that a struggle for the throne is in the offing when Robert dies, Ned sends a missive to Stannis. He’s also summoned Littlefinger to ask for his help with attaining the support of the Gold Cloaks (Littlefinger pays them, so you see, even in Westeros it’s all about the Benjamins!) to head Cersei off at the pass. But it’s so obvious that Littlefinger has ulterior motives. Littlefinger also offers Ned advice on how to run the realm, and how he’ll be right there to help Ned run things. With suggestions of treason coming at him from all sides, Ned stubbornly clings to his honor.

Joffrey on the Iron Throne.

Robert dies and Cersei swiftly plants Joffrey on the throne and proclaims her son king. Ned descends on the throne room with Varys, Littlefinger, guards and Robert’s last wishes in his hand. Ned gives the scroll to Ser Barrister to read, and Barrister hands it over to Cersei when she demands to see it. She’s all puffed up with confidence, surrounded as she is by both Lannister guards and the Kingsguard and rips up the scroll that holds Robert’s last wishes and demands that Ned bend a knee to Joffrey. Finally Ned spills the beans about Joffrey, and just when I smell a massive coup for Ned here comes the big doublecross. Ned thinks the Gold Cloaks are with him and he orders Cersei’s guards to surrender so there is no bloodshed. And just when you think all’s well that ends well, Littlefinger betrays Ned, and holding a dagger to Ned’s throat hisses that he warned Ned not to trust him.

Favorite quote of the Night…

“I always wanted to be a wizard.” ~ Samwell Tarly

Predictions…

Well, I only see this going one way. Ned in the dungeon and the Starks in big trouble. At this point, maybe Khal Drogo crossing the ocean and coming for the throne is a good thing. I think the fact that Ned never wanted Dany dead in the first place will be a good thing for the Starks. Maybe Ned, who I think would make a great king BTW, will join with the last Targaryen in her bid for the throne once he’s sprung from the dungeon — because you know that’s where he’s headed and you know he will be sprung. And then there’s Stannis. What will he do? He’ll come to Ned’s aid too because of Ned’s letter upholding the succession.

Thank goodness for Ned’s honor. It will serve him well in the end, though at times it can be maddening, especially when it seems only the bad prosper because they are willing to do whatever it takes. Things are really heated now. Next week’s episode is going to be even more dire. It also looks like Ned may find an unexpected ally. (Did we judge Varys too harshly?)