February 05, 2019

Game Of Thrones S03 E01 - Valar Dohaeris



Sam is legging it towards the wall. He's the only thing between the Night's Watchmen and the Army of the dead. Along the way he finds a decapitated brother and just as he's about to become the next victim Ghost intercedes and saves him. Those direwolfs are quare handy.

Commander Mormont rocks up and burns the white walker.  He can see from Sam's eyes something horrifying is coming. It's time to defend the wall.

Further North Jon Snow has reached the Wildling camp. He's like a mouse in a field of cats. Everyone wants him dead. The fact that he has "changed sides" matters to no one.

He witnesses his first giant too. Another Westoros creature he'd assumed was a myth. They are genuinely impressive. Anyone fighting alongside those is onto a winner. He's here to meet Mance Rayder though.

His first introduction is a trick. A bearded shaggy wildling called Tormund Wolfsbane. Jon makes a twat of himself bowing before who he thinks is Mance. The real Mance is slightly more civilised.

He's wary of Jon, doesn't trust him, not even after he killed Qhorin. It's Jon's distaste for Craster and his sacrificing of baby boy's that settles Mance's mind.

Wildlings are looking more and more honourable every day.

In King's Landing Bronn is enjoying the fruits of being a knight. *Gratuitous nudity klaxon* His bowmansip at the battle of Blackwater has made him a star. 

He still works for Tyrion but can charge a lot more now. A battle scarred Tyrion is reclusive. Avoidning his father's gaze. Even Cersei has to request an audience with him. His victory in battle has been forgotten. Tywin Lannister is getting all the praise. Tyrion can't avoid him forever.

Bronn is making a name for himself and the other knight's don't like it. They look down on him. He doesn't give a damn. Snobbery exists in every facet of King's Landing life.



Ser Davos is alive. He's survived the Battle Of Blackwater. His son is dead, his fleet is decimated and his master Stannis has gone into retreat. He's not having the best time in fairness.

He's rescued by the pirates he used to work with. The death of his son has broken him. But finding out where his master is gives him a purpose. Something to work towards. Until he finds out Melisandre has total control of Stannis. Now he is out to kill her. It's her fault his son is dead. 

At Harrenhal Robb and his forces have turned up to take on the forces of Gregor Clegane. They're too late though. Clegane has left and all his prisoners have been tortured to death.

In the ruins death is everywhere. It's a disgusting, disturbing scene. The stuff nightmares are made of. 200 Northern men butchered. Roose Bolton is still bitter Catelyn freed Jaime Lannister and the sight of all this death spurs him on to destroy Jaime.

In amongst the bodies Catelyn discovers her father's bannermen dead too. Nowhere in the north has been untouched by this massacre. One man has survived though. An old man named Qyburn.

At King's Landing Tyrion has finally met his father. Tywin has nothing but contempt for his son, seeing him as a freak and an embarrassment. Tyrion's drinking and whoring is a source of shame for him. He acquiesces to Tyrion demand for battle recognition but nothing else. No rights to the Lannister ancestral home, nothing. Jaime is heir to everything.

Finally Tywin comes clean about his hate for Tyrion. He blames him for his wife dying in childbirth. Oh man, what a brutal scene. As bad as any bit of violence. Tywin also knows about Shae. She's in danger now.

Sansa is still in King's Landing. She's a free agent now that Joffrey has set his eyes on Margaery Tyrell. Littlefinger (ugh) is sniffing around her now. Jesus I hate him. He has a plan to get himself out of the city and wants her to come along. DO NOT TRUST HIM!

Meanwhile Ros and Shae get to know each other. Two low born women who have travelled far and come up in the world. Ros might be with Littlefinger but she doesn't trust him and tells Shae so in no uncertain terms. Good woman Ros.

Daenerys has gotten herself a boat and is on the move. Her dragons are growing everyday and he entourage of Dothraki is building again. But it's not enough. She needs an army. And Astapor is the place to get one. Because the Dothrak's don't do well on the high seas.



In Astapor are the Unsullied. A slave army who's fearlessness rivals the Dothraki. She'll need to harness their strength to gain power.

Davos has arrived at Dragonstone, the hiding place of Stannis. That was fast. Melisandre has wormed her way into Stannis something fierce and planted a seed in his head that the loss was Davos's fault. 

Davos questions their ongoing use of dark magic. Melisandre senses his true purpose. This confrontation won't end well. For Davos anyway who finds himself in a cell fast.

In King's Landing Joffrey and Margaery Tyrell are passing through the poorest parts of the city. He's disgusted by the poverty but Margaery embraces it. She's making a name for herself as a woman of the people. Joffrey has having none of it and it's making him look like a coward.

At dinner it becomes clear the Tyrell's are a much more together family than the dysfunctional Lannister's. Joffrey's lack of respect for his mother is disturbing but Margaery can overlook it in her quest for power.

Daenerys has reached Slaver's Bay. The port of Astapor. She gets her first glimpse of The Unsullied and witnesses just how much pain they can withstand. The treatment they receives horrifies her though. As does the knowledge that they are all castrated at the age of 5.

In a display of their strength, an Unsullied soldier has a nipple sliced off. He doesn't even wince. Unlike me who runs screaming from the room. Game Of Thrones excels at these small moments of brutality. Ugh.

This Unsullied owner is pure filth. He knows Daenerys hates him. He doesn't care. He has what she needs. She won't harm him. He'll sell her 8000 Unsullied. She needs them but she's troubled. She wants to be a queen not a slave owner.

At the market she's tracked by a caped figure. An assassin? Who could it be.

He's no assassin. He's Ser Barristan Selmy. Former hand to the king. A man who once served the Mad King Targaryen He saves her from another assassin. And now he's promising to serve her faithfully. He's a good man to have on your side.



Not a bad start to season 3 at all. Plenty of action, not too much leaping to and fro and three new and interesting characters. Qyburn, Mance Rayder and the awesomely bearded Tormund.

Next up - Dark Wings, Dark Words

Series 1 - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10


Series 2 - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

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