Game of Thrones - The Ghost of Harrenhal

 

After finishing up “Garden of Bones” I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to watch and put together a write-up for “Ghost of Harrenhal”. And I realize why: so much ground is covered and a lot squeezed in. What I personally found very disappointing is the treatment of Renly Baratheon’s death. Renly was a good man, a likable leader, and considering the monsters (literal and human) that occupy Westeros one of a few who might have done some good as King of the Iron Throne. Not even minutes after Renly agrees to an alliance with Catelyn (she tells him Robb doesn’t want the Iron Throne, just to operate the North, especially Winterfell), the black creature that birthed out of Melisandre stabs him from behind with Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) unable to protect him. Brienne looks guilty of it as swordsmen arrive to defend the lost Renly, resulting in her escape with Catelyn, later declaring her allegiance to Ned’s widow in exchange for the right to kill Stannis when the chance comes. My favorite scene has Catelyn embracing Brienne into her fold while Brienne dedicates herself to the widow of Eddard Stark, both looking to return to where her son currently occupies. Stannis not even giving his deceased brother much of a thought while Davos talks to him about what he saw in the cavern with Melisandre really reminded me of just why nobody liked him or wanted to serve him. That someone like Renly no longer lives in Westeros while Stannis gains access to his soldiers who flee into his company definitely bothered me. Stannis does inform Davos he would be leading the fleet despite Davos’ reservations to do so. The Tyrells (Margaery, who wants Littlefinger to make her *the* Queen, and Ser Loras, having lost is lover in Renly) get away before Stannis could draw into the camp. Trying to just separate this from all that happens during the episode was a bit exhausting because I just felt that Renly’s tragic fate deserved better service. He’s more or less dismissed with little dramatic weight, while the Brienne and Catelyn scene is more in line with how Renly’s demise should have been treated. The news makes its way to King’s Landing, of course, much to the horrible Cersei’s delight. Tyrion, trying to gain insight into how Cersei will handle the incoming Stannis forces (Renly’s now joining his fold), is shutout by his sister who just repeats that her son has it under control. Thankfully Lancel is the right spy to infiltrate Cersei’s bed for Tyrion, discovering that a “pyromancer” (Tyrion later meets with his sellsword, Bronn) is to assist in using a type of “wildfire” as a catapulting weapon. Tyrion recognizes that the impressive cache behind locked door in the pyromancer’s possession should be used under his careful instruction.

The public are starting to get restless as Joffrey’s antics (and the purported incest that spawned him) continue to cause building anger and frustrations. Listening to a defiant vocal critic of Joffrey’s dismiss him as the locals laugh and agree, his use of the insult “demon monkey” to describe Tyrion leaves him perplexed because the king’s behavior (blamed on Tyrion who is considered the puppeteer of Joffrey) has nothing to do with him. Tyrion does know that Stannis should be taken seriously even as Cersei appears unmoved or concerned about it.

Danaerys takes Xaro’s marriage proposal under advisement because he offers her gold to fund an army and supplies while Jorah thinks that the idea is questionable due to the sacrifices she’d make (believing he’d want to possess her and oversee her decisions) in a partnership with him. An invite to the “House of the Undying” and trying to determine the right dress to wear. I must admit that I think this subplot within the Game of Thrones universe could have been left off and given time in the next episode. The same feelings towards The Night’s Watch discussing “the first men” (Samwell gets on his fellow Night Watchers’ nerves with all his book knowledge and unwanted history lesson sharing) when determining the next course of action in regards to Mance (former ranger who left them in favor of a life off the Wall) and the wildlings, as Jon wants to accompany Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong), a ranger who understands the situation all too well, on the mission to take out a major outpost that would make them more vulnerable. These two subplots, while important, could have been saved just so that Renly’s death had more impact. Enough of that soapbox. But, still, Stannis is such a dick. His brother is dead and not even a passing thought given to the loss. In fact, Stannis is happy to add to his forces…so fuck Renly. When Stannis is unsuccessful in his attempt to take the Iron Throne, dry eyes remain. Joffrey and Cersei might be incorrigible monsters, but Stannis isn’t much better. Does he have an argument towards securing the Iron Throne? Sure. But embracing Melisandre in order to do so is akin to selling your soul.

I love the little scene involving Arya as Tywin’s servant, pouring his drink, getting the chance to listen in on his table discussion with those in charge of his men of war. Charles Dance is just an incredible presence. Riding on his horse in the Harrenhal castle ruins as Arya faced impending torture for whatever information she might or might not know, Dance arrives and makes you stand at notice. While his children continue their games back in King’s Landing, Tywin fights their battles…and has been losing because he just doesn’t have the braintrust capable of truly serving successfully on the field against Robb. If he did, Tywin wouldn’t be losing as he is. But when Dance occupies the head of his table and looks over at Arya, recognizing that her Northern accent didn’t fit where she says she came from, Tywin proves that he’s quite an observer. He sizes up folks well. Maisie Williams, as Arya—looking through her face-covering hair and trying to remain cautious of what she says in order to keep her identity hidden—follows her previous moment with Dance in the torture dungeon (rendering Porville an idiot for being oblivious at Arya’s gender) with an even better scene as he questions her for history as she serves Tywin. Being as young as she was at the time, Williams getting to work opposite Dance, she is never overwhelmed…really cool. And the episode also brings Arya back in contact with Jaqen, who informs her that because she allowed him and the two other prisoners to go free, the “Red God” must be appeased. So three lives are to be chosen by Arya to replace them: and the head torturer at Harrenhal will be the first. Jaqen is a man of his word, later tossing the torturer from a building. Who will be the other two Arya selects for execution?

Exhaustively detailed, even the lesser critically successful episodes are quite expansive. This one has so much to cover I always have memory recall that brings to mind content I had briefly forgotten about. Arya trying to give advice to Gendry who is swinging a sword he fashioned himself, eyeing the sword taken from her, and Roy Dotrice as the pyromancer rather irritated by Tyrion's questioning of his talents and equipment by Bronn are even wonderful smaller moments that often slip my mind until later. Just too much, I find myself overwhelmed.
-----------------------
1 As anticipated, both Bran's response to a key stringhold suffering attack and Theon deciding to agree with new #2, Cleftjaw, to attack the North to impress his men (and prove his father wrong) weren't mentioned. Again just so much material to absorb and think about!