Having settled in at King's Landing Ned Stark is starting to look into what his predecessor was doing shortly before his death; a search that takes him to the king's illegitimate son and to a book listing the high-born of Westeros, their children and what they look like. While there are no revelations it is clear that if the wrongs truths are exposed his life will be in danger. At The Wall Jon Snow is settling into his training and stands up for new recruit Samwell Tarly; a fat lad who is frightened of everything
this leads to a speech Ser Alliser Thorne about what they can expect north of the wall went winter comes. Over the sea Viserys Targaryen makes the mistake of striking his sister and learns she will not be dominated by him anymore.
In many ways this is an episode where not much really happens; it is however a series of interesting scenes that hint at things to come or tell us more about the characters. We learn why Theon Greyjoy lives with the Starks in a brief but interesting scene and Alliser Thorne's speech to Jon and Sam tells us just how bad winter can be something we will no doubt see at some point in the series. We see that there are strong women in the story in a couple of great scenes; first when Daenerys stands up to her brother and tells Jorah Mormont that her brother will never sit on the Iron Throne and then when Catelyn Stark has Tyrion Lannister arrested; Emilia Clarke and Michelle Fairley are great in these roles. This is counterbalanced by a delightful scene between Ned and his daughter Arya where he makes it clear what is expected of her as a young woman things that are of no interest to her. There isn't much in the way of action but as the tournament gets underway a jousting accident leads to one of the series most disturbing deaths to date as a knight gurgles blood after taking a lance to the throat. Overall yet another solid episode.
In many ways this is an episode where not much really happens; it is however a series of interesting scenes that hint at things to come or tell us more about the characters. We learn why Theon Greyjoy lives with the Starks in a brief but interesting scene and Alliser Thorne's speech to Jon and Sam tells us just how bad winter can be something we will no doubt see at some point in the series. We see that there are strong women in the story in a couple of great scenes; first when Daenerys stands up to her brother and tells Jorah Mormont that her brother will never sit on the Iron Throne and then when Catelyn Stark has Tyrion Lannister arrested; Emilia Clarke and Michelle Fairley are great in these roles. This is counterbalanced by a delightful scene between Ned and his daughter Arya where he makes it clear what is expected of her as a young woman things that are of no interest to her. There isn't much in the way of action but as the tournament gets underway a jousting accident leads to one of the series most disturbing deaths to date as a knight gurgles blood after taking a lance to the throat. Overall yet another solid episode.