The cast of thousands arrives at King's Landing and Ned's called to a small council meeting. On the way he and Jaime posture a bit in front of the throne. We meet Varys, Renly, Baelish, and Pycelle.
“We are the lords of small matters here.”
We learn the realm is in debt. A lot. Because Robert doesn't like to count coppers. Ned resists going into debt farther for a tourny. The king will decide.
Cersei shares her philosophy with Joffrey that the truth is what the king decides and gives him some truths about ruling as she sees them. (North is too large and wild to hold by force).
Stark girls have a tense breakfast and Arya is sent to her room. Sansa gets the doll from Joffrey, then Ned goes to Arya where he learns of Needle. They have a wonderful talk about the dangerous place and sticking together, though I miss some of the book talk here where we learn about the early deaths of the wild wolves (Brandon and Lyanna) and that Arya reminds Ned of Lyanna who was said to be very beautiful but also willful and wild. Ned lets Arya keep Needle.
Nan tells Bran stories (I love this part--see favorite bits below).
Cat arrives at King's Landing and is promptly taken to a brothel. Varys knows whaddup except whose knife it is. (It was Petyr's until he lost it to Tyrion... or so he says...)
PYP AND GRENN ARE AT THE WALL!!! (Sorry. Still in mourning). Anyway, Jon beats them all at fighting, breaks Grenn's nose while Tyrion and Mormont (Jeor, not Jorah) talk. Mormont has a raven for Jon.
Pycelle gives the same raven's message to Ned then Petyr leads Ned to Cat.
Jon's pledge brothers attack him and Tyrion saves him with his words.
Cat, Ned, Petyr and Varys try to figure out the truth and Cat stupidly says, “trust him. He's like a little brother to me” Say... is that a Valonqar reference? #bookcryptic
Bobby and Barriston discuss first kills, then bring in Jaime for the same. Bobby mocks Lancel horribly, but with that haircut, who can blame him?
Jorah shares a bit of Dothraki culture with Dany. Dany stops the whole line of riders which wakes the (apparently very small) dragon. Viserys then has to walk.
Jon meets Benjen on top of the wall but is rejected as a ranging squire for Benjen's pending journey. Yoren and Tyrion yuk it up and Benjen comes in all irritable. Apparently he hates Lannisters. But who doesn't?
Dany is learning Dothraki and Irri feels her up and realizes she's pregnant. Jorah needs to ride to Qorhall.
Tyrion watches as Jon actually teaches rather than beating up his pledge brothers. And there is an Aemon sighting!!! He and Mormont plead with Tyrion to ask the king for more men.
Dany tells Drogo it's a boy.
Tyrion pisses off the wall. (which is to say he has a piss standing on it, not that he angered it) Jon and Tyrion part with mutual respect.
Arya has her first “dancing lesson” --this is one of my favorite scenes of all seasons. I love the interaction, but to me the big hammer moment is Ned coming in and seeing them spar. Syrio repeatedly says “dead, dead, dead” and Arya is grinning like crazy, but Ned seems to have a moment of premonition and his face falls and it gives me a chill every single time. Brilliant face acting on the part of Sean Bean.
Locations and Characters
Kings Landing (where we meet the small council: Varys, Renly, Petyr, Pycelle) [Red Keep, Tower of the Hand, Petyr's Brothel]
Winterfell
Wall (where we meet, though not by name yet, Grenn, Pyp, Rast, Alliser, Mormont, Yoren and AEMON!!!--I love Maester Aemon)
Notable Quotes
Cersei: “Everyone who isn't us, is an enemy.”
Benjen (to Tyrion): “You're right. Wildlings are like us, a bit rougher may be, but they're made of meat and bone. I know how to track them and I know how to kill them. It's not wildlings giving me sleepless nights. You've never been north of the wall, so don't tell me what's there.”
Aemon: “The Starks are always right eventually. Winter is coming. And when winter comes, gods help us if we are not ready.”
Ned's LAST WORDS to Cat: “Off with you.”
Favorite Bits
Old Nan's Story: Oh my sweet summer child, what do you know about fear? Fear is for the winter, when the snows fall a hundred feet deep. Fear is for the long night, when the sun hides for years and children are born and live and die, all in darkness. That is the time for fear, my little lord, when the white walkers move through the woods. Thousands of years ago there came a night that lasted a generation. Kings froze to death in their castles, same as the shepherds in their huts. And women smothered their babies rather than see them starve, and wept and felt the tears freeze on their cheeks. So is this the sort of story you like?
[Bran nods]
Old Nan: In that darkness, the white walkers came for the first time. They swept through cities and kingdoms, riding their dead horses, hunting with their packs of pale spiders big as hounds...
[the door opens and Robb enters]
I also liked Jon's lesson from Tyrion about who he was there with and that he should have some compassion. Jon takes it to heart right away and by the end is teaching his fellows. This shows both a good heart and an instinct for leadership (how do you deal with disadvantaged lads? Train them up so they are no longer at a disadvantage).
And then BOTH Scenes with Arya—her talk with Ned and Ned letting her keep the sword, and then her first “Dancing Lesson” (with Syrio Forrell!) and the bit that gives me chills, mentioned above.
There is nothing I DON'T like here, but this episode, like the second, is heavy on introduction, so seems to move a little slow.
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