GoT Episode Investigation Season 2 Episodes 7-10

I hate migraines. Anyone suffer from migraines out there? I got one yesterday afternoon and it stuck with me all night. Blech.  Anyway, it didn't stop me from doing this! Luckily I had just finished the season 2 finale yesterday morning HA! Suck it migraine!

SEASON 2 EPISODE 7 - A Man Without Honor

Synopsis - *taken from HBOGo* Jaime meets a distant relative; Dany receives an invitation to the House of the Undying; Theon leads a search party; Jon loses his way in the wilderness; Cersei counsels Sansa.

Thoughts/Clues/Evidence found:

- 3rd to last episode of Season 2, Theon has taken Winterfell, but there is still a Stark sigil on the castle during the opening credits. There's never a Kraken, despite the opening shot being Theon waking up underneath a Kraken banner.

- Last post I said something about not completely understanding why Jon kept Igritt alive. I said that mostly because she annoys me with all that, "you know nothing Jon Snow" stuff. As a writer, I know exactly why she's kept alive. In this episode she says, "You're a boy who's never been with a girl." Which is accurate. It's at this point in Jon's life that he's trying to convince everyone around him that he's a man now, but he's not sure himself. He told Sam that story about how close he came to "doing it" with Ros from the Winterfell brothel, but couldn't stop thinking about knocking her up and leaving her with another bastard. Jon likes Igritt, even if he's not ready to admit it yet. And she likes him. I forget who said it, but I believe the line is, "it takes a good woman to make a good man." Well, I don't know how good she is, but Jon is becomes a good man and a lot of that is because he meets Igritt who helps him get his shit together.

- A scene with Tywin giving commands to Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides. This is where Tywin is best; when he's commanding and appearing strong. Yes, he has all of these stories about how victorious in battle he's been. I do not discredit his victories, but his defeats tell us so much more about Tywin. A lot of stuff I didn't notice before. I'm going to have to do a separate post on Tywin.

- I really did enjoy the brief friendly relationship between Arya and Tywin. She learned a lot and was able to keep up with news regarding her family, while he had someone to vent to that was intelligent enough to keep him interested. They go back and forth about the history of Westeros at one point when Tywin was talking about his legacy. "Aegon Targaryan changed the rules. That's why everyone remembers his name, even 300 years after his death."
Then Arya comes back with, "Aegon and his SISTERS. It wasn't just Aegon and his dragon. It was Rhaenys and Visenya too..."
"...Rhaenys rode Veraxes, Visenya rode Vhagar. Visenya Targaryan was a great warrior. She had a Valaryan steel sword called Dark Sister!" (wanna know more about the dragons of Westeros? Then click here and check out my post about ALL THE DRAGONS ever found in Westeros!)
Arya almost gives away to much detail about herself here, and Tywin notices that she knows a lot. The next exchange is just as interesting.

- Arya has a kind of smart ass remark to Tywin who says, "Careful, girl. I enjoy you, but be careful." And then calls her out as posing as a commoner. He notices this because she says, "my lord" rather than "m'lord", which is the slang and regarded as the less educated way of saying it. Arya goes on to say that her mother worked for Lady Dunston, and so therefore she was taught "how to speak proper, properly!" She says with a smirk. Tywin says, "You're too smart for your own good, has anyone ever told you that?" "Yes" she replies, again smirking. Then he dismisses her, as she goes Tywin looks after her and smiles for several moments in the most honest and revealing moment we get from him. What interests me about this scene is how easily Arya has created a "no one" character already. She made up all of this back story just to keep her safe and secured in a job that gives her a lot off intelligence. This is EXACTLY what they're trying to teach her at the House of Black and White. Now I'm even more excited to see what she does in season 7. Arya is one of my favorite characters.

- Back in Qarth, Dany is feeling the embarrassment she should have felt before speaking to the Spice King. It's good to hear that she recognizes the faults of her brother and that his methods did not work. She's finally starting to see the long road that lays ahead of her.

- Cersei giving Sansa advice, "The more you love, the weaker you are." Says the meanest mean girl to ever grace the screen. Maybe if Cersei had a human soul or just an inkling of compassion for another person she would understand that the more love you give, the more love you get. This is a character trait that plagues her throughout her life and what will ultimately lead to her downfall. Dany is surrounded by people who love her and who will happily fight and die for her. Cersei does not inspire that kind of feeling amongst people.

- Jorah meets Quaith again. Without even turning around to see him arrive she says, "Jorah the Andal, this man (probably referring to the man she's painting at the moment) must said past Old Valyria. ALL who travel too close to the Doom must have protection." This is clearly a warning to Jorah! I mean, come on! First of all, the words she chooses to say are exactly related to Jorah's fate in season 5, 2nd is her voice changes and seems to emphasize the word ALL. I wasn't sure where he would go to find a cure before, but after being reminded of that; well I'm convinced that Jorah seeks out Quaite before returning to Dany  in season 7! YAHTZEE!

- Quiathe also gives Jorah immediate reason to believe her by asking if he'll betray Dany again. Something, no one but him and the King's small council knew about. Very, very interesting.

- The last scene of this episode is really cool and kind of freaky. Xoro Xoan Ducksauce, I mean Daxos, reveals that he is the new King of Qarth and then also reveals he's teamed up with Pyat Pree, who then murders the rest of the Council of the 13 with their own bodyguards. Except the bodyguards all look like Pyat Pree now! Then Jorah kills one and he disappears into a pile of clothes like Maurice in Little Monsters, only to reappear unharmed right behind them! Freaky magic, I wonder if we'll meet more warlocks in the next 2 seasons.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 8 - The Prince of Winterfell
Synopsis - *taken from HBOGo* At Winterfell, Theon receives a visitor and holds down the fort. Arya calls in her final debt with Jaqen in a way that displeases him. Robb is betrayed. Tyrion and Varys find common ground. Dany ignores Jorah's advice. Stannis and Davos approach their destination, and Davos is offered a reward.

- North of the Wall, Grenn finds a rock with markings made by the First Men. The Night's Watch has made camp at the Fist of the First Men, so this makes sense. It's not like they're just randomly out in the wilderness and discover this. Underneath the rock is the cache of dragonglass and a broken horn. The horn is DEFINITELY there, but isn't discussed much, if at all. It's then dismissed. Where is it now? And is THAT horn the Horn of Joruman?

- Arya makes a deal with Jaqen in order to escape from Harrenhal. She does this by breaking his rules. Remember? He asks for 1 more name and she names him, and he begs her to take it back. Only when she's safe from Harrenahal does she agree to unnamed him. She breaks his rules here and outsmarts him, just like her training in the House of Black and White.

- Tyrion's threat to Cersei sounds really serious, but is not as serious as her threat was to him. Tyrion might find an opportunity to hurt his sister in the way he describes, but Cersei WILL MOST CERTAINLY come through with her threat. It's that trait that separates the two more than anything else. Tyrion is just not as into hurting people as she is. She just hates so much.

- Teleesa (Jayne Westerling) interrupts Robb and Roose Bolton for , at least, the 2nd time. If I were Roose Bolton, I'd be getting annoyed too. She is an obvious distraction to Robb and for some reason feels the need to interrupt him while he's talking to one of his advisors. Not cool, lady. Can't you just wait a few more minutes? Roose is clearly not happy about this. He's definitely making moves.

- In a very interesting scene between Varys and Tyrion, we see some major set ups for the future. Varys presents the idea of Tyrion being Dany's Hand of the Queen without Tyrion realizing it. The conversation starts off with them both admitting something about Tyrion's tenure as Hand to Joffrey. Varys admits that Tyrion was good at the job and especially at playing the game of thrones, while Tyrion admits that he'd like to keep playing it. Varys then brings up Dany, and Tyrion takes this as "she's the enemy", but now we know that Varys is working to bring Dany back to Westeros. He already sees the value that Tyrion would have in a Targaryan administration. The conversation and scene ends with Tyrion saying, "one game at a time, my friend."

SEASON 2 EPISODE 9 - Blackwater
Synopsis - Confident of victory, Stannis Baratheon's fleet and army arrive at King's Landing and the battle for the city begins. The Lannisters are badly outnumbered but Tyrion has make sensible preparations and strikes a blow. When no one else will lead the troops beyond the city wall, Tyrion decides he will do so himself. Cersei plans for her and her children's future. It appears they are all headed for certain death but help suddenly arrives. Written by garykmcd *taken from IMDB.com*

This is the best episode of Season 2 for the visuals alone! The explosion during the battle is amazing, and if you happen to have a HDTV and a big screen then it's even better!

Thoughts/Clues/Evidence found:

- Davos' son tries giving Davos a lesson in faith. Davos, though, has a different type of faith, which is based on life experience. That's why it's his faith that Melisandre wants and what R'hllor needs.

- The Hound keeps talking about much he loves killing. Even tries to pick a fight with Bronn by telling him that Bronn loves to kill just as much as the Hound does. This is a clear example of projecting. The Hound is confused about how he's feeling on the inside, and he's nearing his breaking point.

- I wonder if Cersei treat Sansa so terribly because of the Maggy the Frog prophecy. If Cersei truly believes that prophecy, then she fully expects any woman younger than her that is set up with Joffrey is the one that the prophecy talks about; the one that will take everything from her. But who does that really? Sansa? No. Margaery? Kind of. Joffrey dies at their wedding, and Tommen dies because of his devotion to her and the Faith of the 7, and Myrcella dies in Dorne. It seems to me that the only taking things away from Cersei, is Cersei herself.

- The Hound finally breaks after seeing a man run towards him while on fire, and then shot in the face by Bronn. When confronted about why he stopped fighting, he literally says "fuck everything" and bounces. I love that. A few scenes later we find that he made his way to Sansa's room before leaving King's Landing altogether. Do you think he was wondering and found himself there? Or do you think he went directly there? I think he left the battle, thought about how shitty Sansa had it and thought he could help. He is clearly seeking redemption, and when Sansa refuses his help he figures it's because he's already beyond redemption. This changes in season 3, where Arya gives him new reason to change. The Hound is actually a very interesting and somewhat complex character.

SEASON 2 FINALE EPISODE 10 - Valar Morghulis
Synopsis: *taken from IMDB* Joffrey puts Sansa aside for Margaery Tyrell. Robb marries Talisa Maegyr. Jon prepares to meet Mance Rayder. Arya says farewell to Jaqen H'ghar. Daenerys tries to rescue her dragons.

Thoughts/Clues/Evidence found:

- What an introduction to the new Hand of the King. The first shot of the episode is of a horse taking a big shit. Says to us that Tywin is here to shit on everything that was done while he was away.

- Littlefinger is made Lord of Harrenhal. So, does that mean he's Lord Protector of the Vale AND Lord of Harrenhal?

- Margaery immediately appeals to Joffrey's vanity to manipulate him. It's enough to free Sansa, but Cersei sees right through it. Again, if this is part of the Tyrell plot, then Margaery should scale back the flattery a bit.

- Littlefinger is already planting seeds in Sansa's mind. He's making her think that only he can help her escape, only he can be trusted. Sansa is still so young and while waking up to the terribleness in the world, she's still naïve. I'm wondering how much influence Littlefinger will have on her in season 7, because so far, he's got his hooks in deep.

- Varys walks around in a robe with a hood and looks like a Jedi, but he schemes and plots like a Sith.

- Jamie sticks to his image of being a real asshole for the first part of the journey with Brienne. It's only after witnessing her fighting skills, ferocity, and sense of justice that he starts to show interest in her.

- Melisandre actually says to Stannis that she has been fighting "far longer than you", which Stannis doesn't really believe. Stannis, of course, thinks he's he hardest, most bad ass leader in Westeros. He has no idea the true power Melisandre possesses. We now know that Melisandre is hundreds of years old and has been "fighting far longer" than anyone in Westeros.

- The death of Maester Luwin is sad, but I'm over it at this point. He's leaned against the weirwood tree in the Godswood of Winterfell, and it looks like the weirwood trees eye's a open just a little bit, but not enough to be like 'OH SHIT LOOK AT THAT!" So, yeah, nothing major in that scene. In the books though, this is the spot where Bran (warging into Summer at the moment) thinks he sees a "flying snake" roaring, and twisting through the smoke of the burning castle. Nothing like that is seen or mentioned in the show. If there was or is a dragon underneath Winterfell, the show has yet to tease it or reveal it, which says to me that they never will. I'm going to say that the dragon underneath Winterfell theory (for the show) is debunked. That's not official, I just have not seen any evidence to support it within the show. The books on the other hand, over many more clues.

- Dany's visions. This part was a major inspiration for my investigation. She walks into a destroyed throne room, covered in snow. The roof has been burned away, and it looks as if the Red Keep has been abandoned for some time. It's also here that we get a tease about her possible fate in season 7 or 8. Dany approaches the Iron Throne and reaches a hand out to touch it, but the sound of her dragons makes her pause and continue to walk through the vision. She never actually touches the throne, which could be a sign that Dany never actually sits on the throne. She may conquer Westeros with her dragons, but (and I believe this myself) she will never be Queen, or at least never rule from the Iron Throne. I think it's totally possible to think that after Cersei is defeated, Dany destroys King's Landing and rebuilds the capital somewhere else. Maybe Winterfell?

- At the end of her journey through the House of the Undying, we come to one of my favorite Daenarys scenes. She gets locked up by chains from Pyat Pree's magic during their final confrontation. And how does she escape? By believing in her own power, and telling her dragons to burn the warlock. She says, "dracarys" and the dragons light up Pyat Pree. Awesome moment. Then as her shackles disappear she turns to Drogon, his chains turn to dust and he looks up at her and chirps. Almost like he's saying, "hey, Mom." Great scene.

- The last scene of season 2 is of Sam, Grenn, and Delores Edd looking for poop to use to heat their fires. Three horn blasts are heard which is the signal for White Walkers. A warning that hasn't been heard in thousands of years. Grenn and Edd run away, but Sam is too fat and turns to see the snow storm get closer. Why do they let him live though? The Other looks right at him and orders the other Others to attack. The Night's Watch is about to be slaughtered.