Game of Thrones - "The Climb" - Review

If there’s any series that could be slightly considered the spiritual successor to The Wire, it might arguably be Game of Thrones. Sure, there’s plenty that sets them apart, but both tell a number of seemingly disparate stories set in one place and those stories all affect and relate to one another. David Simon, creator of The Wire, claimed that he structured each season of The Wire like a Greek Tragedy. In essence, things that take place have a pre-ordained quality to them. We know watching The Wire really, really terrible things are going to happen to the characters and it’s pretty much impossible for them to escape their fates. Similarly, events in Game of Thrones have a sense of inevitability. There are road markers that the show is just working its way towards. Jaime was always going to lose his hand. Ned was always going to get beheaded. And even now, you can probably guess that fates are being mapped out that may not play out in full until a season or more down the line. But the writing is on the wall long before things occur if you pay close enough attention. The exciting part is guessing where it’s all going and knowing that things are being set up that will get paid off in due time.

“The Climb” isn’t the best episode thus far because it’s clearly a bridge to bigger events just off on the horizon; the tragic, crazy stuff that will blow up in due time. That’s not to say it’s a bad episode. If anything, it’s like a paint by the numbers episode of Game of Thrones. But less intense Game of Thrones is still incredibly absorbing. And part of it comes down to suggestion. Game of Thrones doesn’t exactly have a straight line narrative, but it’s obvious that things are being set up that will come to fruition in good time. Though there aren’t really any of the memorable oh shit moments Game of Thrones has become infamous for, it’s still a very fun episode.

But it works because the show is suggesting quite emphatically that cool stuff will take place if we follow it on its crazy journey. Sometimes that means hoping for payoff that doesn’t come or that doesn’t live up to the suggestion (fans of Lost will know this experience). But when it does payoff things it’s been hinting at, well, Game of Thrones is a powder keg that’s been lighting a fuse often without you even realizing it. So where are the fuses being lit in “The Climb”?

Well, for starters, there’s Jon and Ygritte in the titular climb. Jon’s story this season has been almost solely suggestion. He’s walking towards the Wall in order to do what he does in this episode, climb over the Wall with the rest of the wildlings. But there’s payoff here from previous episodes. Jon’s simmering tension with Orell Skinchanger finally puts his life in imminent danger when the Orell cuts loose the rope holding him to the Wall. Jon’s consummated relationship with Ygritte also puts him in an even more precarious position than ever before. Ygritte knows that Jon is working for the Watch still but doesn’t reveal this secret to the rest of the wildlings presuming that their newfound relationship will keep Jon loyal. Jon at least seems torn and it’s apparent that he has feelings for Ygritte. When Jon and Ygritte got together it wasn’t really surprising. Much of the second season had been suggesting this very thing was going to happen, but it remained a pleasing development. 

Now all television is suggestion. It’s tantalizing us with possibilities. Melisandre comes to take away Gendry, which is a cool development but leaves a supporting character’s fate up in the air. What’s to happen to our favorite blacksmith? Well, only time will tell, but knowing the intrigue on Dragonstone of late, it can’t be anything good. Melisandre also hints that she and Arya will meet again at some point in the future. That’s a piece of dialogue with all sorts of hidden implications about future events (although for now it feels like a bunch of vague, hocus-pocusy nonsense). Then there’s this Red God that Thoros and Melisandre both worship. Of all the religious faiths, this god appears to have the greatest real, tangible power (we see that with the revival of Beric Dondaron) and that implies something about those individuals who believe in it or serve it.

There aren’t a lot of big events in “The Climb”. Besides the climb itself, there isn’t much that’s really massive. But a number of events finally come to pass that have been hinted at for a while. “You’re not as good as you think you are,” Anguy resident archer of the Brotherhood Without Banners tells Arya. And this applies to a lot of characters. Jon’s guise isn’t as deceptive as he seems to think. Theon is led to think he’s outsmarted his captor only to learn that his torturer is deeply sadistic and likes mind games (as if that weren’t already clear). Olenna’s scheming falls short because Tywin’s scheming is always two steps ahead of everyone. Varys’ scheming also falls short as his ever constant struggle with Littlefinger temporarily falls in favor of his arch rival who has Joffrey perform some deadly torture sex on Ros. Jaime gets released from Lord Bolton’s captivity but he’s too shortsighted to see that Brienne won’t be allowed to come with him. 

And though these don’t feel like major steps forward, nothing is standing still. The climb may be drawn out across an entire episode but it’s genuinely a lot of fun, and it also provides a nice thematic tie to the episode (albeit one very bluntly stated to us by Littlefinger – though his take on it is merely one variant of it). Everyone is moving forward, climbing forward towards their destination. It’s a literal climb in Jon’s case. But others are climbing. Arya is climbing towards letting darkness consume her innocence (as Melisandre notes). Theon is climbing towards a torturous demise. Littlefinger is climbing towards the throne.  Bran climbs towards the Wall and greater magical prowess. Sam climbs to Castle Black (as well as greater confidence in his own ability). Robb climbs to an uneasy peace with the Freys. Tyrion and Sansa climb towards an unfortuante betrothal, both to their displeasure. 

Though I’m sure you were probably anticipating something more in this episode, I see all the possibility in the world. Only time will tell how this will play out, but for now this looks forward to some exciting potential outcomes and that’s often just as thrilling as the actual explosive moments. 

Stray Observations:

-Sam and Gilly’s story doesn’t go anywhere but it’s incredibly sweet.

-Thoros explanation for his faith is fascinating. Paul Kaye is great in this scene.

-Beric claims that when he dies there’s nothing but darkness. Well, that’s depressing and also potentially telling about the state of Westeros (especially on a spiritual/magical level).

-Arya acts like the series moral compass in the episode, immediately recognizing the questionableness of Melisandre’s actions.

-“Does this look like it’ll have a happy ending?”

-Edmure is to be wed off to one of the Freys as appeasement. He is not pleased, but does anyone care since this is Edmure who is pretty useless.

-Olenna’s trump card for Tywin noting the shamefulness of Loras’ sexual orientation: it’s not nearly as bad as incestuous sex. Touché.

-The ice on the Wall collapsing is a very exciting and well-staged scene.

-A great cut away after Tyrion says, “This is awkward”.

-Is anyone at all surprised that Littlfinger has counted the swords on the throne?

-Meera and Osha's sniping at each other is a lot of fun even if it's just killing time and reminding us of this group of character's existence. 

-“It’s a rare-enough thing, a man who lives up to his reputation." 

-All the playing up of Loras being gay is getting a bit tiresome. 

Grade: B+