The Rewatch Project: Season 3, Episode 9

Synopsis

Robb asks Catelyn's opinion on his plan. She is skeptical at first, but then agrees. The northern troops arrive at the Twins and are served bread and salt in greeting. Robb makes his apologies to Lord Walder's daughters and granddaughters. Walder calls Talisa up to look at her and says some very forward, bordering on rude, things. Robb bristles but holds his tongue. Frey says Robb's nobles can stay inside and there will be tents outside for the rest.

Daario shows Dany his suggested plan—a back gate. He will lead Dany's two best through to fight through and open the gates to the rest of Dany's troops. Jorah expects betrayal but asks Grey Worm's opinion. Grey Worm trusts him. Barristand wants to go but Jorah says as Queen's Guard his place is by the Queen.

Sam prattles about the castles and a sally port at the Nightfort that should let them through. Gilly is amazed he could learn all that from marks on paper and she says he's like a wizard. They look on the wall.

The Hound helps a pig farmer fix his cart, then knocks him out. Arya stops the Hound from killing him. She taunts him about being “so hard—killing children and old people”. She convinces him to let the man live. When the man comes to, Arya hits him with a rock to knock him out again and they take the cart.

Bran and company reach a small village, discussing why it's empty. Jojen senses a storm so they decide to stay in the tower.

The Wildlings spot a man and horses and intend to rob him. Jon insists on not killing him. The Wildlings keep arguing that it's necessary. They surround him but Jon clanks his sword to warn the man to run.

Arya looks across the river at the Twins. They have a philosophical conversation about fear: being almost there and fearing she won't make it. She comes back with his fear of fire. She knows why.

The thunder is rolling outside the tower as Bran and company discuss getting past the wall. Osha took a boat through Bay of Seals. Hodor freaks as they discuss their options. Meera spots the rider (the horseman Jon's Wildlings are chasing). Hodor freaks loudly. Bran has to possess him to shut him up. Orell has heard but no one else. Bran quiets Hodor and nobody believes Orell. Orell insists Jon should kill the horseman to prove he's one of them. In the tower Jojen tells Bran to go into Summer to see what's going on below. Bran insists he doesn't know how but then he manages it. Jon hesitates so Ygritte kills the horseman with an arrow. Orell accuses him of being a crow and a fight breaks out. The wolves join in. Jon kills Orell and his eagle attacks Jon. Jon runs for a horse and takes off. Ygritte looks livid.

Daario will whistle for Grey Worm and Jorah. He does. They go in and it looks pretty clear until a bunch more guards attack. They have a big fight on their hands.

The people wrestle outside the Twins in fun as Walder walks his daughter up the aisle, veiled. When he removes the veil it turns out she's very beautiful and Edmure is stunned. He cloaks the bride and they say the words.

Bran tells the others Jon was there. Osha says that means Jon will be back at Castle Black but Bran insists he has to go north. Osha won't go and Bran says that's fine. It won't be safe for Rickon. She should take him to the Last Hearth. Osha and Rickon leave right off. Safer in the darkness. Osha tells Meera to keep Bran safe.

Dany is nervous, waiting. Jorah and Grey Worm come back to Dany confirming success. She asks after Daario and he comes in with the Harpy Flag and tells her the city is hers.

The Wedding Feast is underway. Edmure eats out of Roslyn's hands and music and laughter occur... The Blackfish goes out to take a piss. Robb and Talisa bander as Lord Frey calls for the bedding. Men come up to carry Roslyn off and a flock of women herds Edmure. Talisa finds the whole thing baffling. Robb talks of it as proof the marriage was consummated, but she runs her belly reminding him there is other proof. She suggests if it is a son they should name him Eddard.

The music stops and the doors are barred, then the Raynes of Castermere begins to play. Grey Wind cries. The Hound and Arya arrive but are turned back. As the Hound argues, Arya disappears. Catelyn looks around in concern then Walder calls for his grace and says he has been remiss: he hasn't given his new queen a gift. Talisa is stabbed in the belly. Arrows rain down. Arya makes her way in, sees the northmen slaughtered. She hears Grey Wind, but then they come shoot him with bolts. The Hound tells her it is too late and knocks her out. Robb makes his way to Talisa. Catelyn grabs Walder's wife and begs that Frey let Robb live. She offers herself as a hostage. Roose steps forward to Robb and says “The Lannisters send their regards” and then stabs him, so Cat cuts Lady Frey's throat, her own is cut from behind.


Notable Quotes 

Catelyn (about Robb's plan to attack Casterly Rock): Show them how it feels to lose what they love. 

The Hound: Go on. Run. You might make it. They're just over the river. It's the closest you've been to family since Illyn Payne snipped your daddy's head off. 
Arya: Some day I'm going to put a sword through your eye and out the back of your skull. 

The Blackfish (about Edmure and his pretty wife): The Gods love to reward a fool. 

Book versus Show 

The tower Bran and company stay in in the book is actually in the middle of a small lake. They use a “causeway” which is an underwater, impossible to see bridge—you have to know it's there to even look for it. It makes the tower a very safe place—much safer than it looks in the show.

Also in the books... Jeyne Westerling (Robb's Wife) does not go to the Red Wedding. Catelyn thinks it better to not rub her in the face of Walder's daughters, so she lives. Though it is also not established she is pregnant and in fact there are some hints her mother has been giving her moon tea to avoid that. (there is also a theory she may in fact BE pregnant and the Westerlings switched girls, but that is deep into fan speculation). In any case, what she is NOT is dead Talisa.


Review 

There is a lot of amazing stuff this episode but let me just start with how impressed I was with Little Art Parkinson when Rickon and Osha are leaving Bran and the Reeds. Child actors can be hit and miss and this kid is only 8 or 9—he did SO WELL.

This episode was huge. From Arya's devastation, to Dany's big win, Bran warging Hodor, Jon escaping the Wildlings... but the Red Wedding of course steals the show. Three big characters—two MAIN characters, dead. Walder Frey has broken Guest Rites, which in the book is a HUGE deal. Through all the rest of the thus far published books Frey becomes synonymous with lack of honor. This harkens back (forward) to a story Bran will tell in the next episode about the Rat King, but I will include that text in full when I do that review.

Of interest is the people who managed to NOT get killed... Edmure and his wife had already been shuttled off for the bedding... The Blackfish had gone out for a piss... The Great Jon, in the books has gone out, I believe.

The Rewatch Project: Season 3, Episode 8

Synopsis 

Arya wakes up on the ground and spots a rock. She gets it and goes to smash The Hound. He wakes up and says she has one chance. If she kills him, she is free. But if not he will break both her hands. He tells her she'd lucky. Someone worse could have found her. When she claims there is no one worse he tells her some men beat or rape little girls, then he tells her of the men he saved Sansa from. Arya calls him a liar. They reach a river and Arya thinks they are going to King's Landing. The Hound says Fuck Joffrey and fuck the queen. They are going to the Twins because Edmure is marrying a Frey girl and the Hound intends to get a ransom.

Dany and company watch a group of sell swords, discussing whether they can use the Second Sons. Jorah says they may not meet with her, but she insists they will. And she's right. Three officers arrive, one of them rudely forward. Dany banters with them. He continues to proposition, gooses Missendei and says he will think about it. She gives them wine as a gift and two days to decide, but she tells Barristan as they leave “If it comes to battle, kill that one first”.

Melisandre and Gendry arrive at Dragonstone. Stannis grabs his face, noting half Robert, half low-born. Melidandre orders Gendry taken for a bath and new clothes. Stannis questions her, but she has an argument about avoiding fear before the slaughter.

Davos makes a valiant effort at reading in his cell. Stannis arrives to see him. He tells Davos he is sorry about Matthos. Then he tells him about the bastard Melisandre brought back. Davos points out he is Stannis's nephew. They debate the sacrificing of one to save many. Davos asks why Stannis is there. Stannis says he will free him if he promises never to raise a hand against Melisandre again. Davos agrees but says he can't promise not to speak against her. (leads to EXCELLENT quote, below) They then discuss the red god and what they've seen.

The Second Son Captains discuss beating Dany as a whore sits on the Tital Bastards lap. Daario won't pay whores because he only wants to be with women who want him. They discuss who should kill Dany and draw coins to see who the job goes to. Daario gets the Bravosi coin and the job.

Tyrion comes for Sansa. They exchange compliments. Tyrion asks for a moment alone with her. He tells her he didn't ask for this. She keeps her courtesies until he says “I know how you feel” to which she can't hold back an “I doubt it.” He tells her he won't ever hurt her.

Margaery tells Cersei she looks radiant and Cersei tells her the story of House Rayne, making clear the parallels between Houses Rayne and Tyrell.

Sansa enters Baelor's Sept and Joffrey steps in to give her away. She is repulsed and can't really hide it. He walks her up the aisle then moves the bench Tyrion was meant to use to cloak her. Sansa has to kneel for him. The Septon says some words.

Gendry is in awe of his room. Melisandre comes in and talks of growing up poor. She pours him wine. He is distrustful but she does her word magic, then undresses him. He says it doesn't seem very religious. She shrugs out of her dress, putting down the faith of the Seven. She then says they can “stop it” and pushes him down onto the bed. She pulls his pants part way down, climbs on him, then binds his hands and feet. When he is trussed and unable to move she puts leeches on him. He appropriately freaks as Stannis and Davos come in. She gives Stannis the box with the leeches that have sucked Gendry's blood and he throws them in the flames, each with a name “The Usurper Robb Stark, the Usurper Balon Greyjoy, the Usurper Joffrey Baratheon.”

At the reception Lady Olenna goes through the twisted double relationships Margaery and Loras will have once they have married Joffrey and Cersei respectively. Tyrion is getting very drunk and Sansa excuses herself. Joffrey goes after her. Tywin critiques Tyrion's drunkenness and says he has a duty; he takes his wine. Loras spots Cersei and tries to approach her but she is a colossal bitch to him. Joffrey corners Sansa and suggests he will come to her that night—he notes she isn't pleased and says Ser Boros and Ser Meryn will hold her down. He then calls for the bedding ceremony. Tyrion says there won't be one and Joffrey commands it. Tyrion threatens him with a wooden cock and Joffrey has a hissy fit until Tywin makes it clear he wants everyone to accept the story that Tyrion was making a joke. Tyrion goes along with it, acting very drunk and leading Sansa away.

In their room he pours more wine. He is hung up on her youth. He says he's been commanded to consummate the marriage and Sansa pours herself a glass of wine. She then starts to undress. He stops her and tells her he won't share her bed, not until she wants him to.

Dany bathes with Missendei helping her. They discuss languages. A man grabs Missendei and says no screaming or she dies. It's Daario. He says he wants her. She knows he was sent to kill her. He has cut off his captains' heads. They ordered him to kill her and he chose her. Dany gets out of the bath. Missendei robes her and he swears a vow to her.

Shae comes into Tyrion and Sansa's room all pissy until she spots that the bed linens are not bloody.

Sam and Gilly find a falling down cabin and decide to stay. They huddle under the furs and discuss the baby. Gilly is upset about Sam's fancy talk, but he isn't doing it on purpose. They discuss names, Sam sharing his father's cruelty, then the birds outside go nuts. Sam goes to see what it is. The cacophony stops suddenly and a White Walker appears. Gilly says he's come for the baby. It grabs Sam's sword and the sword shatters. The baby cries and the White Walker goes for him. Sam gets out his dragon glass dagger and stabs him. The White Walker shatters. They run.

Notable Quotes

Daenerys: They will. Men who fight for gold can't afford to lose to a girl. 

Stannis: You have little regard for your own life.
Davos: Quite little, your grace. Verging on none. You could have freed me yesterday or tomorrow. But you came to me now, before this boy was put to the knife because you knew I'd counsel restraint. You came to hear it from me because you believe it yourself. You're not a man you slaughters innocents for gain or glory. 

Cersei (to Margaery): If you ever call me sister again, I'll have you strangled in your sleep. 

Sansa (to Tyrion): What if I never want you to?
Tyrion: And so my watch begins.

Book/Show

In the books Sansa refuses to kneel for Tyrion. She feels humiliated and in the moment wants to humiliate him in turn, though later she feels badly about it. Tyrion is always kinds to her but he does think repeatedly, “why couldn't she have knelt?”

Review

I really like this episode... I mean there is creepier than creepy Joffrey, but Tyrion doing the right thing by Sansa and especially Sam killing the White Walker—showing his hero potential for the first time. And the first episode of Team Fuck the King. I also like Dany's new ally, though two years later we still don't know if she can count on him or not... Davos. Gendry... Cersei being as awful as she ever outwardly is—she usually restrains herself a bit, but she really didn't hold back on either Margaery or Loras. So good.