I'll just say this: Episode Five may be the best so far this series. The characters and settings are established, although I'm still getting my head around the different names and characters and what they do and who's dead and who killed here and the like. The audience are used to the various plots. Now we get the action, the blood shed and the conspiracy. So much was going on this week as the series picks up the pace, thus becoming unmissable. There are numerous set pieces to comment on, but first, the plot. The main talking point, which is saying something, is that the King's court has discovered that the exiled Daenerys Targaryen is pregnant with Khal Drogo's child, and so orders Ned Stark to kill her. Ned refuses this dishonourable act and steps down as Hand to the King, angering King Rob. This is after Ned learns from Arya that she heard of a plot to kill him from Verys, part of the King's Council. Meanwhile, Catelyn takes Tyrion to her sister, Lysa, paranoid and mad over the death of her husband, the previous Hand to the king Jon Arryn, whose death was being investigated further by Ned. Ned learns that Jon was murdered for 'asking too many questions' while tracking down King Robert's bastard children. Lysa is mad, all right, and still breast feeds her eight year old son, Robin, in a creepy, creepy scene. I was nervous watching these two unhinged characters screech at Tyrion, who had just saved Catelyn's life. She blames the Lannisters for her husband's death and locks Tyrion in a dungeon. News of Tyrion's arrest reaches Jaime who ambushed Ned just as he's ready to leave King's Landing. Jamie orders his men to kill Stark's men in brutal fashion, before engaging in a brilliantly directed sword fight with Ned. This is a milestone set piece in the series. First, it shows that anyone could die, as seen with Jory getting a dagger in the eye, it establishes Ned as a hard as nails bastard and Jaime as a heartless bastard. The sacrificial lamb count was expanded with Jory's death. For a few seconds the character's death looked to really affect Ned and cement Jaime as an enemy. A lot was at stake here as Ned had just earned the wrath of the King and is now an outsider. Plus, Jaime wants revenge for the arrest of his brother, who's being held captive by the widow of Jon Arryn, and wants to get him back. As with last week, GOT ends the episode on a strong note, with possibly the best scene yet. With all these new characters and conspiracies coming to light, there's so much to look forward to.
There are many characters and plot points being expanded upon in this episode. We have three instances of characters showing their good side. We have the Hound saving Ser Loras from the wrath of his brother, the Mountain in a scene that was gory and memorable. When you start an episode with a horse being beheaded and a sword fight between these two brothers, you know you're watching something special. The moment when The Hound dropped to his knee at the King's command showed what a potentially interesting character he is, more than a bodyguard for Joffrey, but a disciplined and loyal soldier, more so than his barbaric brother. Lord Tyrion saved Catelyn despite being her prisoner, although we knew that Tyrion wouldn't do anything less. Also, King Robert and Cersei appear to be civil to one another when talking at King's Landing. We saw another side to the Queen here other than the manipulative schemer we know. We also learn that Jorah Mormant is a spy working for Varys, who is fact plotting against the king himself, something Petyr knows about. As Baelish said in a previous episode, everyone is a spy for someone. Who else is a spy? Who will betray who? The King's brother, Renly, is part of another conspiracy with his ambitious lover, Loras. Characters such as Verys were established in just a few scenes. Alliances and loyalties are uncertain, bastard children turn up everywhere. This is officially my favourite current programme on right now, and I can't wait for next week's.
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