Having realised that Joffrey is the son of the Queen's twin brother Jaime Lannister rather than the king he confronts Queen Cersei and warns her to take her family and flee before the king returns from his hunting trip. This is an act of kindness he could pay dearly for as when the king returns he is mortally wounded, having been gored by a boar. His final decree is that Ned should rule as regent till his heir becomes of age but it doesn't seem likely that Cersei and Joffrey will honour that 'scrap of paper. The king also tells Ned that he was wrong to order Daenerys' death but it is too late to countermand the order. Across the Narrow Sea the would-be assassin offers Daenerys wine from a cask fit for somebody of her standing; Jorah Mormont sees through the man and saves Daenerys. When Khal Drogo learns of the plot to kill his wife he swears that he will take his army across the Narrow Sea and put her on the Iron Throne. Meanwhile on the wall it is time for Jon Snow and the other recruits to take their vows and become members of the Night's Watch; he anticipates that he will become a ranger, patrolling north of the wall but is disappointed when he learns that he is to be a steward; a mere servant to a senior officer in his eyes.
After the action of the previous episode some may consider this episode a little quiet; that it may be but it does serve to raise the tension as the political dynamics change. King Robert's demise puts Ned in the most perilous position he has been; his enemy's now rule King's Landing and he and his daughters are in grave danger. The fact that he told the queen what he'd learnt about Joffrey may have been a mistake but it served to show that Ned isn't without compassion even when dealing with his enemies. The events on the wall weren't exciting but it was good to see Jon Snow taking his vows but not becoming a ranger; having him get what he wanted would have been a bit cliché. Of interest this episode introduces us to the much mentioned Tywin Lannister; patriarch of the house. We first see him skinning a stag as he addresses his son Jaime; Charles Dance does a great job in this small scene; I'm sure he will impress even more as we get to know his characters. Overall this was another solid episode with a twist in the final scene.
After the action of the previous episode some may consider this episode a little quiet; that it may be but it does serve to raise the tension as the political dynamics change. King Robert's demise puts Ned in the most perilous position he has been; his enemy's now rule King's Landing and he and his daughters are in grave danger. The fact that he told the queen what he'd learnt about Joffrey may have been a mistake but it served to show that Ned isn't without compassion even when dealing with his enemies. The events on the wall weren't exciting but it was good to see Jon Snow taking his vows but not becoming a ranger; having him get what he wanted would have been a bit cliché. Of interest this episode introduces us to the much mentioned Tywin Lannister; patriarch of the house. We first see him skinning a stag as he addresses his son Jaime; Charles Dance does a great job in this small scene; I'm sure he will impress even more as we get to know his characters. Overall this was another solid episode with a twist in the final scene.