Game of Thrones - End of the Second Season*

The Prince of Winterfell

Blackwater

Valar Morghulis

The final episode sure left Tyrion a mess. It was him who come up with the wildfire idea that just “blew up” the plans of Stannis Baratheon and his pursuit of the Iron Throne. It was established that when on the ground as the Throne’s soldiers and Stannis’ forces were in the throes of battle that Tyrion’s injury to the face was perhaps ordered by his own family (Cersei) in retaliation for his sending Cersei’s daughter away to be wed and urging Joffrey to lead his troops at the front. As she told Sansa, Cersei puts her children’s safety and well being above all else. Tyrion dealing with Joffrey’s lack of leadership and the near defeat against Stannis (and The Hound’s decision to abandon the battle when fire spooks him due to the traumatic experience as a child thanks to his brother, The Mountain) is immediately brushed aside when Tywin and his men arrived with support from the Tyrells to thwart the Baratheon attempt at a siege and capture of the Iron Throne. Stannis is sent away back to his fire god red witch, Melisandre, defeated and furious. He even chokes her, asking her if her god would come to the rescue. Was sacrificing his brother, Renly, to the dark forces of the fire god really worth it? Melisandre tells him that he would sacrifice much more than just his brother. But Tyrion, once Hand of the King, complete with quite a few privileges, now resides in a stuffy and tight chamber, deprived of any recognition, his own father touted and praised for arriving with help from the Tyrells just in the nick of time. The very Tyrells aligned with Renly now side by side with Tywin and in the presence of King Joffrey and Queen Regent, Cersei, as Lady Margaery, through her brother Loras, requests to marry into the Lannisters and be Joffrey’s queen. How the tide turns when the chance to be the queen presents itself.

Varys is sore that Littlefinger (if you seen your share of first season episodes, the two love to hurl insults at each other in a sport of verbal joust) has received praise for his efforts to bring the Lannisters and Tyrells together and the property of Harrenhal. He goes to Littlefinger’s prize prostitute with an offer to her that would perhaps better suit her unused talents. Varys even visits Tyrion with word that Cersei was behind his near-death and scarred face, the bad news that he is essentially a nothing with no power, no friends, and no prospects. Varys wouldn’t even be visiting him much anymore. Varys does tell him that he will be remembered for his hard work in the victory over Stannis even if the history books recognize his father as the hero. That is a lot to absorb for Tyrion, dealt a lot of woe when awakens to the contemptible Grand Master Paecelle, seemingly amused at his downgraded status. Speaking of Paecelle, he’s a voice in favor of Margaery’s substitution of Sansa as the new fiancé of Joffrey, referring to the actions of Ned to thwart the Lannisters’ claim to the Iron Throne, speaking on the treason as an escape. While Sansa’s safety might be in jeopardy, at least she doesn’t have to give up her virginity to that little psycho shit.

On the topic of Sansa and her virginity, the end of the second season often commented on how keeping herself from being “spoiled” was of definite significance. The Hound (who hasn’t necessarily been a pleasant presence in her life) did keep starving, depraved peasants from raping her, while Tywin and the Tyrells kept Stannis’ brood from potentially molesting and accosting her. Anytime we see Sansa, her security within this den of wolves is obviously facing clear and present danger, but nonetheless as we know, she perseveres. With so many of the fan favorites often eventually betrayed and killed, the likes of Sansa and Jaime somehow beating the odds would seem unlikely. Jaime, released to Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) by Catelyn inexplicably despite his stinging dismissal of Ned and “bastard son”, Jon Snow, with total disregard for her feelings even as his life was hers to obliterate, was certainly vulnerable to a dagger to the back/heart at any time while imprisoned in the enemy camp. Yet Brienne and Jaime were well on their way, sent by Catelyn to hopefully secure a trade for Arya and Sansa…not sure Brienne alone would accomplish that task even if accomplished at swordplay and combat. She sure runs through three Stark supporters when Jaime is recognized. Brienne makes sure to point out that she doesn’t represent the Starks but Catelyn specifically. Jaime, always the needling asshole, loves to try and provoke Brienne by probing her sexual status, aiming his barbs towards her height and pondering if she’s a virgin. He can’t help himself.