Friday, April 10, 2015

Discussing Game of Thrones: Blackwater

* Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen “Blackwater.”

Remember back in Season 1, Episode 9 ("Baelor"), when the Stark and Lannister armies were about to clash and Tyrion conveniently got knocked out and woke up just in time for the fight to be over because there wasn't really a budget to pull off a huge battle scene? Well, "Blackwater" makes up for that. Big time!

Here Comes Stannis!

Stannis's fleet is seen sailing for Blackwater Bay. Davos is having a profound, father/son moment with his son, Matthos, who is a fervent believer in Melisandre's Lord of Light, unlike his very skeptical dad.

The Eve of Another Battle

Shae asks Tyrion if he's afraid of what's to come. He says of course; Stannis is going to kill every Lannister.

Cersei's Insurance Policy

Pycelle is trying to offer the Queen advice, as if she listens to anybody but the voice in her head. She's rarely seen without a wineglass in her hand these days, and later, once Stannis's battering ram starts knocking on the door of King's Landing, it becomes her best friend. Pycelle gives her essence of nightshade; one drop helps calm the nerves, but by the time one gets to ten, well, it's all over.

You're Just Like Me

Bronn is hanging out with some of the troops and adds his lovely voice to a rousing rendition of "The Rains of Castamere." The arrival of the Hound is a total mood killer. He says Bronn loves killing, just like the Hound.

The Bells

As the bells of the sept ring out, Varys is talking to Tyrion, who is suiting up for battle. At least he has a squire this time—Podrick! Varys says Stannis has relied on the dark arts to get him to King's Landing, and a man like that cannot sit on the Iron Throne. It's up to Tyrion to save them all!

Stay Alive, Bro

Bronn tells Tyrion not to get killed, lol. Sansa (and Shae) will be with the other highborn ladies in Maegor's Holdfast after she sees Joffrey off. She asks him if he'll be in the vanguard, and he gets testy.

I'm Not Worried; I've Got Wine!

Cersei joins the ladies, and her solution to Stannis's attack is drinking wine. LOTS of wine. Ser Ilyn Payne, AKA the guy who chopped off Ned's head, is also in Maegor's Holdfast, and if you think he's there to protect the women if Stannis's forces break through the city gates, think again. In Cersei's mind, it's far kinder to be killed by Ser Ilyn than face what Stannis's men have planned when they pillage King's Landing.

Bronn Lights Up Blackwater Bay

Everyone except Tyrion is puzzled by why the royal fleet consists of one ship. Davos's archers take aim at it, and it becomes clear that there's no one on board. But it is spilling wildfire all over Blackwater Bay, which Davos realizes just before Bronn releases a flaming arrow into the Blackwater. The ensuing explosion rocks Stannis's fleet, but he still has a substantial number of troops about to make landfall.

Shae's Narrow Escape

Cersei catches sight of Shae and is in the process of interrogating her when Lancel, who took an arrow earlier in the battle, bursts in with an update from outside. Cersei asks where Joffrey is and orders Lancel to pull the King from the battlements and bring him to his chamber.

Things Get Too Hot for the Hound

The fire gets too close to the Hound, and he goes back inside the city's walls. For just this once, Tyrion and Joffrey agree on something: they tell the Hound to rejoin the fighting, and he's like, f**k you all! I'm outta here!

Joffrey Ditches, Too

As Stannis and his men doggedly attempt to break through the gates and the chaos of battle roars everywhere, Lancel arrives to retrieve Joffrey, per Cersei's command. Tyrion tells his nephew that the King needs to fight, but Joffrey leaves anyway. So it's up to Tyrion to lead the attack and defend King's Landing.

The Hound Says Goodbye

Lancel's latest report is dire: Stannis's troops are at the gates, and they're going to burst through at any moment. When the Gold Cloaks saw Joffrey leave, they lost their will to fight. Lancel wants to bring the King back, and Cersei hits Lancel in his wound. While the other ladies look on, Shae urges Sansa to run. She goes to her chamber only to find the Hound. He says he could take her to Winterfell, but Sansa's like, ummm, I'll be OK where I am.

Pod to the Rescue

Ser Mandon Moore, one of the Kingsguard, attacks Tyrion, and not by accident, either. Pod kills Ser Mandon and saves Tyrion's life.

An 11th Hour Save

Cersei is sitting on the Iron Throne with Tommen and is about to administer the essence of nightshade that Pycelle gave her at the beginning of the episode when Lord Tywin rides in to save them all. Not only has he brought the Lannister host, but the Tyrells have joined forces as well, and it's Loras Tyrell who bursts into the throne room just before Tywin announces that they've won.

4 comments:

  1. I can't wait for the premiere of GOT this weekend! SQUUUUUUUUEE!

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    1. YES! I am so EXCITED! Between GoT and Outlander, I can't wait for the weekends!

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  2. I think I laughed my head off when I first saw this episode and the Hound was all eff the king! I watched the first season before I read the books so everything was new at the time. And two cheers for Podrick coming through in the clench! I really like Podrick and I'm glad he ended up with Brienne.

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    1. The Hound told Joffrey exactly what everybody else in Westeros was thinking, lol. I love Pod, too, and I think he and Brienne make a great team!

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