First I must apologize to my loyal readers for the tardiness of this post. I spent the latter portion of the long/holiday weekend in a place that's technological amenities are not so far removed from the medieval-esque innovations of Westeros...My mother's house. Seriously....no internet...no cable. I have no idea how she entertains herself when I am not there to visit. But I have finally found the time to watch. Here are my thoughts:

This week's episode has proven to keep in line with the strong story-telling of the past several episodes of season 6. Much like me this past weekend, Samwell returned home. Fortunately for me, my mother is much more proud and accepting of me than Samwell's father is of him. This segment really made me think of the way in which this show both sets up expectations for and simultaneously values legacy.
Clearly Randyll Tarly's vast disapproval of Sam exists as a result of Sam's inability to live up to the legacy of his father's military prowess. Randyll takes every chance he can to shame Sam as insufficient both physically and in regards to his talents (or lack thereof of those skill he deems appropriately masculine). Sam's father is not a fan of the fact that his son prefers books and learning to the physical trials of hunting and war.


Melessa Tarly clearly disapproves of her husband's dismissal of their son. However, she very clearly still propagates the notion that father's ultimately want their sons to grow up in their image. As she takes her new grandson into her arms, she states that she believes her grandson will someday be a scholar just like his father. Her comment here suggests that there is a commonly felt notion among men that sons should grow to exhibit whatever iteration of masculinity that is held by the father.

This rift in acceptable masculine display as it plays out between Samwell and Randyll is similar to other iterations on this theme that have played out amongst other father/son pairings in the world of Game of Thrones. For example, Tyrion, although he is much like Tywin in political prowess, is often denounced by his father as a result of his dwarfism. Tyrion's inability to possess the ideal masculine body is seen as a failure to live in his father's image. Later in this episode we see a similar interaction transpire between Tommen and Jaime. Jaime is disappointed that his son is allowing his power to be taken by the Sparrow. Tommen's meek nature is a disappointment to Jaime who is more assertive. These sons being unable or unwilling to live according to their father's legacies causes the perception  that both father and son have failed.


As much as I have spoken of this idea of legacy in terms of fathers and sons and those sons who tend to fall short, I want to touch upon this theme in a different manner. There are certainly pairs that demonstrate the value of aspiring to be like a parent as well. I would really like to talk about this as it relates to Arya. Arya is arguably quite masculine and although she is not a son of Ned Stark, this episode seems to suggest that she aspires to be more like Ned. There is a moment in this episode when she walks back stage to add poison to Lady Crane's drink and she walks past the prop head of Ned Stark. Even before Arya returns to stop the poisoning that she set in motion. I  knew at this moment that she would not allow the murder to take place and would, in fact start the "return" of Arya Stark (as opposed to pursuing being No One). Arya clearly found a degree of honor in her father's way of living. She clearly is seeing a fault in the Faceless Men's killing paradigm - one that she cannot condone as a relatively honorable person. Although her choice my come to her detriment, as the Waif is now under orders to kill her, she will at least go out knowing that she did the honorable thing: the thing her father would have done.

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After watching the first episodes of the third season, I am feeling so torn as I try to pick a topic to blog about this week. How is it that this part of the process gets so much more difficult the further we get. First I was thinking about how we are being introduced to so many more magic/supernatural elements this season, which really got me thinking about some theories regarding how some of those bits will end up playing out in the long run...but writing about such things right now would mean exposing WAY too many juicy spoilers. Considering a large number of my classmates are newbies to the series, I would like to stay away from such revealing topics.



So in the interest of keeping Game of Thrones plot secrets, instead I thought I would chat a bit about the scene in which Catelyn Stark reveals the story of the time that she prayed for Jon Snow's life (when he had the pox). I must say that the second time watching this season, I was struck by this scene in much the same way that I was the first time through the series. This entire scene feels both incredibly genuine yet contradictory at the same time...which is strangely normal feeling for this particular series.



This conversation takes place with Talisa, who offers to assist Catelyn in making some sort of dream-catcher that, along with prayer, is supposed to help with healing. Catelyn refuses Talisa's help, claiming that it is a job that only a mother can do. Strangely, she reveals that she has done this twice before, once for Bran (after his fall from the tower) and another time for Jon Snow (...who is not actually her son...). I find it intriguing that Catelyn both prays for Jon's death but then feels guilty enough to pray and make promises to the god's to save the life that she was just asking for them to take away.  I suppose, however, that for a mother, this feeling between love and hate for a child that is both innocent but reminds you of a betrayal is one that is hard to navigate.



I think that the most interesting reveal in this scene is when Catelyn tells Talisa that she refused to keep the promises that she made to the Gods for keeping Jon alive. Catelyn feel that this broken promise has resulted in the misfortune her family has suffered.



Interestingly, Talisa herself is a symbol of a broken promise. Robb was supposed to marry one of Walter Frey's daughters but after a short (and narratively strange) romance with Talisa, Robb feels he can no longer make good on that promise and weds whom he wants (Talisa) rather than the person to whom he has promised himself. Although I do not wish to spoil too much of the coming episodes...let's just say that this particular choice does not end well for dear old Robb. Like his mother, a broken promise results in consequences for the Stark family.



Because Catelyn seems to have an understanding of the power of a broken promise, I find it incredibly unnerving that she would allow Robb to break such an important diplomatic promise without thinking through the possible ramifications of such an act. Of course last season Catelyn does naively mention that she does not feel that Frey would ever hurt her (she's known him since she was young...) but one would think that the twists and turmoil of Westeros would make one weary of such general assumptions.



Perhaps this whole thing demonstrates that the Stark clan is best served by not breaking promises. We will have to see how all of this plays out now that Jon is North of the wall breaking his oath to "join" Mance Rayder's tribe of Wildlings.

But really, this scene illustrates that the Stark bunch are not as honorable as we tend to think....
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Choosing what to write about this week was a particularly daunting task. So much happens in the first three episodes of season two. New characters are introduced, old characters continue to act in sketchy manners, plots thicken, etc.



After viewing these episodes twice, I felt overwhelmed when attempting to find some common thread upon which to build this week's blog. There is SO MUCH going on! It was not until stepping away from GoT to enjoy the mid-season premier of another of my television obsessions, The Walking Dead, that I was able to see a natural talking point regarding the first three episodes of season two. It all comes down to children. In times of extreme discord, children are highlighted as being particularly under threat while simultaneously highlighting their ability to cause threats to others.

Children, from a more general perspective (outside of the GoT narrative world) are more often held up as pillars of innocence and, as individuals that represent the future of the world, are often viewed as entities in need of protection. This paradigm seems, to a degree, to be turned on its head in Westeros (and in other narratives that center on destabilization). Here I would like to take a look at the way children are being used in the narrative world of Game of Thrones.

Kids can be so cruel:

Okay, so not ALL children in Westeros lack innocence. Tommen, for example seems to have some redeeming qualities... However, if you have been following along on this re-watch project, we have now seen the degree to which "Joffrey the Terrible" is willing to bend to demonstrate his absolute cruelty. Obviously Joffrey beheaded Ned last season, but his cruelty was particularly pronounced in these first episodes of season two. For example, Joffrey is quite literally out to up his body count; holding death matches atop his castle and wineboarding Ser Dontos purely for his own amusement. He also commands his army to hunt down the illegitimate children of Robert Baratheon to have them killed. Although reprehensible, I, on some levels, can understand Joffrey's stand on Ned Stark and even his murder of Robert's bastard children. Ned and Robert's bastard children posed a real threat to his position on the throne. His roof-top battles and the wine boarding of Ser Dontos, on the other hand, were nothing more than Joffrey exercising power just for the sake of exercising power.



Children who threaten the order of all things:

Children, in the realm of Westeros are viewed as particularly important pawns in determining the outcome of the unrest in Westeros. Laws of primogeniture* rule the land and this has very particular implications regarding the way in which children are able to carry influence over the state of Westeros. Therefore, now that the validity of Joffrey's claim to the throne is being called into question, male children (even those who are illegitimate) of Robert Baratheon are suddenly a threat to Joffrey's position. Even Robert Baratheon's Brothers understand the value of children, which is why both Margaery Tyrell and Melisandre are so intent on extending the Baratheon line through Renly and Stannis respectively. If it is found that Robert has no heirs and one of Robert's brothers usurp Joffrey, they will eventually need an heir to ensure the throne remains in Baratheon hands.



Children as pawns:

Children are being used as leverage quite a bit already this season. We have Craster, who is sacrificing his male children to the White Walkers in exchange for safety. Of course, for Craster, this just means he has less competition for the attention of the ladies within the incestuous family structure he has created.