Game of Thrones - "Walk of Punishment" - Review

These reviews I’ve been writing have been way too long and I’ve been trying to figure out a better way to approach them, and then it dawned upon me while talking about the reviews with my friend Eric Luby (Yea, I listen to my readers’ thoughts, people, so if you have anything you want to tell me or suggest, go right ahead). I realized that theme is largely not a good way to write about these reviews; instead, since Game of Thrones is largely built around characters and not theme, it makes sense to do these reviews with that in mind. I intend to lovingly adopt the “power ranking” model that Grantland does for its Mad Men reviews; this seems fitting since the overarching theme of Game of Thrones is power and who is winning or losing at the “game of thrones” is one of the key aspects of the show. For those of you unfamiliar with power rankings, this is how it goes: I’ll rank who is or isn’t in the best position of power in the latest episode. There are 10 ranks to be filled and I’ll try to cover as much as I can through the lens of characters and their rising or falling of power and fortunes (or just how good the material for the episode was for them). It’s won’t all be serious though; sometimes I’ll get a bit cheeky with it (this is a good episode to do that with too, but more on that below). Most of all, remember, it's pretty arbitrary and meant as a fun way to tackle examining the episode.

1) Dany – After being put into the middle of one of the most God-forsaken stories in all of television history (as far as I’m concerned: Qarth never happened), we’re reminded why Dany was such a great character to follow in the first place as well as just how phenomenal of an actress Emilia Clarke is. Clarke is largely reacting to things here and yet she communicates so much with so very little. Jorah and Ser Barristan argue over the proper course of action, but neither of them is in control in this situation: Dany is. Dany is young and she’s idealistic, but underneath it all she hides an inner power. She takes charge and purchases all 8000 plus Unsullied soldiers. The price is one of her dragons, but the lack of concern Dany gives off has got to leave you wondering what she’s up to (she’s definitely got a trick up her sleeve). If anything this demonstrates how smooth of an operator Dany is. The fact she doesn’t claw off this slave trader’s face takes all the willpower as is, but then the fact she plays the situation to get exactly what she wanted: well, damn grrrl. 

2) Littlefinger – Littlefinger doesn’t do anything especially memorable in “Walk of Punishment” but he does weasel his way once more to an even stronger position of power. Varys may mock his titles, but titles can be much more than a claim on paper, they can be gateways to real power. Peter Baelish intends to marry Lyssa Arryn (aka Catelynn’s batshit crazy sister we met way back in season one). Lyssa has been holding up is the Eryie with her sickly son Robin, keeping the Vale out of the war. Littlefinger may not have armies or money, but he’s an exceedingly clever individual and not one to be trifled with. 

3) Mance Rayder – “I’m going to light the biggest fire the North has ever seen,” Mance growls and by the old gods and the new, we can tell he’s not fucking around. The action north of the Wall is finally starting to pick up to a pace where events feel like they are going somewhere as opposed to just stalling slightly for chronological reasons. This is something that’s true of the episode as a whole; there’s much more focus and there’s a lot less jumping around. Some stories are put on hold but those that aren’t take up the majority of the episode and land some memorable moments. Mance’s plan is finally in action: Tormund Giantsbane (Mance’s second-in-command) is going to climb the Wall, along with Jon, and route Castle Black. 

4) Brynden “Blackfish” Tully – After a slew of awkward character introductions, the show sticks the landing for the awesome Blackfish, Catelynn’s uncle, and Edmure, her mostly useless brother. Edmure is kind of pathetic (his failure to accept chain of command cost them the chance to stop the Lannisters from getting back to King’s Landing). He fails to light the funeral pyre, not once but three times, and the Blackfish has to step up all epically and show him how to get shit done. The scene provides a lot of laughs, but it also perfectly establishes just who these two new characters are.

5) Poderick Payne – Well, damn. Who knew Poderick, Tyrion’s squire, had the way with the ladies? Tyrion’s thanks for Poderick saving his life at the Battle of the Blackwater is to buy him a gaggle of willing courtesans. We cut to Poderick with a skip in his step, returning Tyrion’s gold; he pleased the prostitutes so much that they refused to accept his gold. Now I know this is almost a throwaway joke, but it’s a really funny one and though it’s not exactly the best way to further develop this character, it’s just too funny not to be amusing. This is on the whole a very funny episode (while simultaneously, in that Game of Thrones way, being a very grim episode).

6) Theon’s Rescuer – Well, Theon is getting his comeuppance for his actions at Winterfell. Not only is Theon tortured but he’s nearly raped before being saved by this newly appeared nameless savior. I dislike Theon as much as everyone else probably does right now, but there are some things that even I can’t tolerate occurring to a character and rape is one of them. Who is this mysterious figure and what’s he aiming at? He claims to work for Yara, but Yara wasn’t where he claimed she was. 

7) Melisandre – Though her and Stannis's appearance is probably far too brief, it does a very good job of showing the increasing hold Melisandre has over Stannis. Melsandre has this way about her where even when she essentially has no power, she has all the power. She has taken an even stronger hold over Stannis who just wants her to have his babies. She insists that someone with his same blood needs to be sacrificed, but keeps it mysteriously unspoken as to who that might be.

8) Hotpie – Sometimes the best way to play the “game of thrones” is to get out while you can. Though this is Arya’s story (and I’d much rather follow Arya who is played by a better actor and who is just all around a more interesting character), you can’t help but feel a little sad about Hotpie’s decision to settle down and become the baker his name always suggested he was destined to be. Much of this is far more touching then it has any right to be and it’s carried mainly by the actors who have sold much of this relationship when the writing just didn’t make the friendships of Arya, Gendry and Hotpie any more than a plot device. Now who wants a wolf cookie?

9) Tyrion – Tyrion was nominally the main character last season, but now he’s no longer the most powerful individual he was.  Not only did he not get title to Casterly Rock, but he’s been left with the unpleasant duty of being Master of Coin, a job that formerly belonged to Littlefinger, who seemed to make money appear magically. He’s not pleased by this task nor should he be; it’s one more added injury to insult for saving the King’s Landing from Stannis’s siege (the Kingdom is seriously in debt and Tyrion has been given the job because it's pretty much an impossible task).

10) Jaimie – Technically if this list were truly just a list about power and the positions of power people are in, Jaimie wouldn’t be on the list, but the fact is that there’s no way I can not mention the fate of Jaimie. Jaimie is a character that we know little about if we’re to be honest. Much of our ability to like him is being sold by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s (whose name is ripe for copy and pasting and never actually learning how to pronounce) performance; he’s a very charming guy and he captures the biting, good-humored wit Jaimie uses as a defense mechanism. It helps that were finally getting development moments such as Jaimie’s decision to save Brienne from being raped. It’s a great moment and it provides just enough humanizing to make Jaimie’s hand getting cutoff be as truly awful as it is. It's a holy shit! moment in a way that this series pulls off like few others. And then we cut to credits left wanting more!

Not Ranked/Other Thoughts:

Tywin - If I really was being honest Tywin would be number one pretty much every episode (he's the most powerful person in the Seven Kingdoms), but since he doesn't do much here, I'll be polite and leave my hero worshipping of Charles Dance to this here dangling participle section until he does something major.

Sam – The Crow’s return to Crastor who continues to be an absolute asshole, and Gilly has a son (a problem since Crastor offers sons up as sacrifices to the White Walkers). The tension crackles wonderfully in these scenes.

Cersei – The small council scene is really funny. Littlefinger pushes ahead to the first seat with flourish; Cersei moves a chair so she’s at her father’s right hand side. And Tyrion, finding this all absurd, drags a chair to the opposite head of the table. 

Varys – HE RETURNS! (Though with very little to do)

Davos – Still locked away in the dungeons of Dragonstone. 

Missandei – Dany takes the former servant of the slavemaster as a gift. 

Bran – Is missing once again but presumably is still trudging ever on towards the Wall.

Catelynn - Michelle Fairly is a great, great actress but there's got to be more to do with her than moody monologues where she regrets her past actions. 

On the whole this is the best episode of the season. It’s was at times fun and at times thrilling, moved forward with purpose, and utilized the characters well without coming off as if the writers and editors were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of story they need to tell. 

Grade: A-