Game of Thrones Recap: Two Swords
The dust continues to settle after the Red Wedding and the fall of Yunkai. No new significant events, just some plot buildup. Joffrey and Margaery still aren’t married. Daenerys still hasn’t made it to Westeros, or Pentos for that matter. She’s still marching around Slaver’s Bay. John Snow still knows nothing.
In King’s Landing, Jaime surprised his father by rejecting rule of Castlerock. He wants to stay near his sister/lover. Cersei is upset, feeling he came back too late. She might think he could’ve stopped her engagement to Loras Tyrell if he were there. This is a problem. Jaime endured years of sharing Cersei with King Robert, but he was the king. Course he won’t have to share Cersei with Loras. Loras doesn’t swing that way. Ironically, this triangle could work out for all parties.
A major intra-house conflict is brewing. The Lannisters may have learned of Tyrion’s relationship with Shae, and the fact he hasn’t consummated his marriage with Sansa. This is a serious problem for my favorite character.
Tywin Lannister is running out of worthy successors. Jaime has taken himself out of the running, Cersei is about to become a Tyrell, and Tyrion is a dwarf. His grandson, the king, is a psychopath. Who is left? There’s two other grandchildren, including the young Tommen. Officially Tommen is a Baratheon, so is Joffrey. Castlerock cannot pass to either of them, only the throne. Tywin might have to swallow his pride and let Tyrion rule there. Of course he needs to produce an heir, which isn’t going to happen.
The future of House Lannister revolves around Tyrion.
Prince Oberyn Martell has entered the capital and wants revenge for what happened to his sister. She was the queen before King Robert usurped the throne. She was raped and murdered by Gregor Clegane, one of the Lannisters’ bannermen. He is the youngest, so he doesn’t call the shots for his family. The fact that they sent him rather than the eldest son is telling as is their absence from the war to date. They despise Baratheon and Lannister, and probably wanted them to wear each other out then maybe make a run at the throne themselves. Too bad the Lannisters gained the advantage so quickly.
The likely targets of Oberyn’s rage are those involved in the war: Tywin and Jaime. If Gregor Clegane was around, I’m sure he’d take a run at him. A possible duel or some sort of confrontation is brewing. It could start a war, if the Martells want it.
Here is a missed opportunity: The Martells and Starks would’ve been natural allies. Robb Stark should’ve tried to ally with them in exchange for the right to secede and become an independent kingdom. Neither Robb nor the Martells considered this. It is the same missed opportunity of Stannis as well.
John Snow recovered from his wounds but could face execution for desertion and violating his oath (getting some action). The King Beyond the Wall, Mance Raydor, is preparing an attack on the wall. They claim to have 100,000 men but I doubt it. There’s no way that many fighters could survive in that climate without access to natural resources. As usual, he probably exaggerated. Still, he may have enough to bust through the Night’s Watch and into the North. Roose Bolton and Balon Greyjoy would have some interesting decisions to make then.
In the East, the Mother of Dragons approaches another slave city. Her attraction to her new servant, Daario Naharis is a serious threat to her future. He got to see her in her birthday suit and has already declared his love for her, as his queen. Clearly he meant more. If Daenerys wants the Iron Throne, she must be available to marry a prince from one of the other houses. Even if she never does, like Queen Elizabeth I, the prospect must always be available to keep the other Houses vying for her attention. If she is sleeping with one of her knights, it weakens the prospect of a royal alliance, making it difficult to retake the throne.
The Unsullied are fantastic soldiers but aren’t enough to overcome the armies of the Seven Kingdoms. The Lannisters, Baratheons, and Tyrells all have formidable forces. Daenerys could find allies in House Martell and in the north but the rest are rivals. Unless one of the challengers is convinced they can’t get the throne, they will oppose the return of the Targaryens.
DEATHWATCH:
Arya’s situation has improved. She got her sword back and has a horse. The Hound is protecting her, although he won’t admit it. Still, they are going through hostile territory towards the Vale. Lady Lysa is not very stable and Littlefinger will be there by now. Arya may not be safe there.
Joffrey is making enemies everywhere he goes. The major players in King’s Landing despise him and Tywin is finding him difficult to control. If he can’t manage him, Tywin may find alternative means of ruling the Seven Kingdoms.
Tyrion is in serious danger. Joffrey wants him dead. If his family finds out about Shae, they may decide he’s more trouble than he’s worth. Joffrey will at least. I don’t think Tywin or Jaime want him dead, or see any gain by it. Sansa is back on deathwatch. As Tyrion goes, so goes Sansa, the adorable fool.
Prince Oberyn is instantly put on deathwatch as well.
Two Swords was a fairly boring episode, other than Arya’s revenge and some nudity in the whorehouse. The first episode was used to build up new plot lines. We’ll see how long it takes for them to reach fruition.
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