Now another unforgettable reason why the 9th episodes of a season were always hotly anticipated:
Season One: Ned's execution Season Two: Battle of the Blackwater Season Three: The Red Wedding
Bran being able to warg into Hodor was so cool, but knowing how Hodor became Hodor, it makes it a lot sadder than the first time I watched this episode.
That look on Ygritte's face is still so devastating. She and Jon had connected so much that even though she knew he was still loyal to the Night's Watch, she wanted to believe that their love was strong enough to make him turn.
Poor Arya. Can't blame her for being so anxious to get back to her family after everything that has happened to her and her family. And she still hated Sandor enough to not care that he was protecting his likely decent ransom that probably wouldn't have been very high, even if he stopped being the King's "Hound".
And now we come to it. I can finally stop using the spoiler tags when referring to the events of this episode. Poor fucking Edmure, he hated agreeing to this union because he had no idea what his bride-to-be looked like or what she even was like. Sure, it was probably shallow, but it's Westeros, so his relieved look when he sees Roslin's face was the last bit of respite he'd have for a long time. Had to spoiler tag this one because it refers to much later events, and alludes to the fact that he isn't killed during all this.
Bran: You saw what I did to Hodor. I have to find the three-eyed raven.
Osha: Listen to me, little lord.
Bran: Don't worry, I'm not asking you to come with me. It won't be safe for Rickon.
Rickon: Me? I'm coming with you!
Bran: No. You and Osha and Shaggydog head for the Last Hearth. The Umbers are our bannermen. They'll protect you.
*Mickey Mouse Clubhouse meme*: "In this fucking show, that's called 'Aging Like Milk'! It's a surprise tool that will be used to break your heart again!
Bran: You don't have to do any of this.
Osha: Your family took me in and was good to me when they had no cause to be.
Finally, a positive result of Ned Stark's legacy that didn't end with some of the Stark kids trying way too hard to emulate him, resulting in their deaths.
This is the last time Bran will ever hug Rickon again. He may be able to "see" him again, with the powers he's going to develop, but this is the last time the two of them will ever be in each others' physical presence.
Osha, to Meera: Keep [Bran] safe. He means the world to me.
This is why this these stories and characters are so compelling: the character arcs. First time Osha met Bran, she had a dagger to his throat to help her other Wildling friends kill him, rob his corpse, and steal his horse. Then she seduces Theon to gain access to Winterfell, kill some of the Ironborn guards, and quickly sneak off and hide with Bran and Rickon to keep them safe. Then she goes against all her better judgement when Bran wants to avoid Castle Black and head closer to the Wall. Now, she's imploring the girl that she recently couldn't stand to protect Bran as she does Jojen.
The success of Daario and Dany's plan after it looked like he, Grey Worm, and Jorah were properly fucked was a nice bit of getting our hopes up before hearing that fucking band start playing The Rains of Castamere. Jorah's reaction to Dany asking about Daario's safety is pretty much how the audience is about to look.
Cat, about Edmure: He complained about this marriage the entire ride from Riverrun, and now look at him.
Blackfish: The gods love to reward a fool. (see the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse meme line above)
Cat: Uncle.
Blackfish: What? He's my nephew, I love him. And he's a damned fool.
Cat: Don't you drink, Lord Bolton.
Roose: Never do, my lady. Dulls the senses.
This was an already-established trait of Roose Bolton's, so for first-time watchers, that probably didn't seem too out-of-character or suspicious. But knowing what's about to happen, it's smart on his part; can't be shit-faced when you're about to commit high treason, regicide, and one of the worst offenses in pretty much all customs in the world of Game of Thrones outside of said high treason and regicide: breaking the custom of Guest Rights, or the sacred law of hospitality.
Notice how there's a platter of bread and salt being passed around while Walder Frey says "you're now under my House's protection" earlier in the episode? That is an ancient custom that is recognized all over Westeros and in some areas in Essos that means the host won't harm the guests, and the guests the hosts. It's so ingrained in the cultures that even invaders sacking a city wouldn't break it if someone offered them Guest Rights. So while all the Freys and all of Roose Bolton's men were deeply involved in this assassination plot, the regicide of Robb was almost as taboo as them breaking Guest Rights.
He had no way of knowing it, but Blackfish drinking enough to need to take a piss just saved his life.
Robb: My mother's alone with Roose Bolton. I should rescue her.
Talisa: Your mother is less in need of rescue than any woman I've ever met.
God, it's so fucking tragic. Talisa had gotten to know Catelyn enough to know that about Cat. Had the following moments not happened, I'm betting Cat would've grown to love Talisa.
Robb: Boy or girl?
Talisa: I don't know. But if it's a boy, I think I know what we should name him.
Robb: Oh, do you? It seems to me the father should have some say in his son's naming.
Talisa: Eddard. Don't you want to teach little Ned Stark how to ride horses?
Fuck! "Hey, here's one more twist of the knife before a thousand more a shoved into your heart!"
The transition from the jovial music to The Rains of Castamere is like if they'd started playing the Jaws theme instead. Very little music in film/TV fills me with as much dread as those opening notes do.
I love that they kept the bit about Cat realizing the threat because Roose was wearing chain mail. It was a different character in the book, and at the moment, Cat had no idea it was Roose who delivered the fatal blow to Robb, but it's moments like that in the book that proved how good Cat was at recognizing a threat...even if it was too late.
David Bradley was the perfect Walder Frey. He looks so excited as he takes a gulp of wine watching the slaughtering happening in front of him.
Goddamn it, can Arya finally have a reunion with her family that doesn't end in death right before she's almost there?
Out of all the unforgivable things that transpired, Grey Wind's slaughter hurts the most. He knew what was about to happen even before it did, and then those Frey cunts just load him with crossbow bolts before defiling his body to mock Robb even more.
"The Wolf and The Hound" continues, though he may come to regret that.
Cat: Robb, get up and walk out! Please! Please!
Walder: And why would I do that?
Cat: On my honor as a Tully, on my honor as a Stark, let him go, or I will cut your wife's throat!
Walder: I'll find another.
Robb: Mother?
Roose Bolton: The Lannisters send their regards.
Jesus Christ, the sheer range of emotions Michelle Fairley displayed in just a minute is breathtaking and heartbreaking. Even before someone comes along to slice her throat, she looks like her brain has finally snapped after years of back-to-back tragedies. Even though Lady Stoneheart never appeared in the series, you can still kinda see Stoneheart right there.
Review by Digital PhreakerBlockedParentSpoilers2024-05-18T01:01:46Z
And what a "joining" it was.
Now another unforgettable reason why the 9th episodes of a season were always hotly anticipated:
Season One: Ned's execution
Season Two: Battle of the Blackwater
Season Three: The Red Wedding
Bran being able to warg into Hodor was so cool, but knowing how Hodor became Hodor, it makes it a lot sadder than the first time I watched this episode.
That look on Ygritte's face is still so devastating. She and Jon had connected so much that even though she knew he was still loyal to the Night's Watch, she wanted to believe that their love was strong enough to make him turn.
Poor Arya. Can't blame her for being so anxious to get back to her family after everything that has happened to her and her family. And she still hated Sandor enough to not care that he was protecting his likely decent ransom that probably wouldn't have been very high, even if he stopped being the King's "Hound".
And now we come to it. I can finally stop using the spoiler tags when referring to the events of this episode. Poor fucking Edmure, he hated agreeing to this union because he had no idea what his bride-to-be looked like or what she even was like. Sure, it was probably shallow, but it's Westeros, so his relieved look when he sees Roslin's face was the last bit of respite he'd have for a long time. Had to spoiler tag this one because it refers to much later events, and alludes to the fact that he isn't killed during all this.
Bran: You saw what I did to Hodor. I have to find the three-eyed raven.
Osha: Listen to me, little lord.
Bran: Don't worry, I'm not asking you to come with me. It won't be safe for Rickon.
Rickon: Me? I'm coming with you!
Bran: No. You and Osha and Shaggydog head for the Last Hearth. The Umbers are our bannermen. They'll protect you.
*Mickey Mouse Clubhouse meme*: "In this fucking show, that's called 'Aging Like Milk'! It's a surprise tool that will be used to break your heart again!
Bran: You don't have to do any of this.
Osha: Your family took me in and was good to me when they had no cause to be.
Finally, a positive result of Ned Stark's legacy that didn't end with some of the Stark kids trying way too hard to emulate him, resulting in their deaths.
This is the last time Bran will ever hug Rickon again. He may be able to "see" him again, with the powers he's going to develop, but this is the last time the two of them will ever be in each others' physical presence.
Osha, to Meera: Keep [Bran] safe. He means the world to me.
This is why this these stories and characters are so compelling: the character arcs. First time Osha met Bran, she had a dagger to his throat to help her other Wildling friends kill him, rob his corpse, and steal his horse. Then she seduces Theon to gain access to Winterfell, kill some of the Ironborn guards, and quickly sneak off and hide with Bran and Rickon to keep them safe. Then she goes against all her better judgement when Bran wants to avoid Castle Black and head closer to the Wall. Now, she's imploring the girl that she recently couldn't stand to protect Bran as she does Jojen.
The success of Daario and Dany's plan after it looked like he, Grey Worm, and Jorah were properly fucked was a nice bit of getting our hopes up before hearing that fucking band start playing The Rains of Castamere. Jorah's reaction to Dany asking about Daario's safety is pretty much how the audience is about to look.
Cat, about Edmure: He complained about this marriage the entire ride from Riverrun, and now look at him.
Blackfish: The gods love to reward a fool. (see the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse meme line above)
Cat: Uncle.
Blackfish: What? He's my nephew, I love him. And he's a damned fool.
Cat: Don't you drink, Lord Bolton.
Roose: Never do, my lady. Dulls the senses.
This was an already-established trait of Roose Bolton's, so for first-time watchers, that probably didn't seem too out-of-character or suspicious. But knowing what's about to happen, it's smart on his part; can't be shit-faced when you're about to commit high treason, regicide, and one of the worst offenses in pretty much all customs in the world of Game of Thrones outside of said high treason and regicide: breaking the custom of Guest Rights, or the sacred law of hospitality.
Notice how there's a platter of bread and salt being passed around while Walder Frey says "you're now under my House's protection" earlier in the episode? That is an ancient custom that is recognized all over Westeros and in some areas in Essos that means the host won't harm the guests, and the guests the hosts. It's so ingrained in the cultures that even invaders sacking a city wouldn't break it if someone offered them Guest Rights. So while all the Freys and all of Roose Bolton's men were deeply involved in this assassination plot, the regicide of Robb was almost as taboo as them breaking Guest Rights.
He had no way of knowing it, but Blackfish drinking enough to need to take a piss just saved his life.
Robb: My mother's alone with Roose Bolton. I should rescue her.
Talisa: Your mother is less in need of rescue than any woman I've ever met.
God, it's so fucking tragic. Talisa had gotten to know Catelyn enough to know that about Cat. Had the following moments not happened, I'm betting Cat would've grown to love Talisa.
Robb: Boy or girl?
Talisa: I don't know. But if it's a boy, I think I know what we should name him.
Robb: Oh, do you? It seems to me the father should have some say in his son's naming.
Talisa: Eddard. Don't you want to teach little Ned Stark how to ride horses?
Fuck! "Hey, here's one more twist of the knife before a thousand more a shoved into your heart!"
The transition from the jovial music to The Rains of Castamere is like if they'd started playing the Jaws theme instead. Very little music in film/TV fills me with as much dread as those opening notes do.
I love that they kept the bit about Cat realizing the threat because Roose was wearing chain mail. It was a different character in the book, and at the moment, Cat had no idea it was Roose who delivered the fatal blow to Robb, but it's moments like that in the book that proved how good Cat was at recognizing a threat...even if it was too late.
David Bradley was the perfect Walder Frey. He looks so excited as he takes a gulp of wine watching the slaughtering happening in front of him.
Goddamn it, can Arya finally have a reunion with her family that doesn't end in death right before she's almost there?
Out of all the unforgivable things that transpired, Grey Wind's slaughter hurts the most. He knew what was about to happen even before it did, and then those Frey cunts just load him with crossbow bolts before defiling his body to mock Robb even more.
"The Wolf and The Hound" continues, though he may come to regret that.
Cat: Robb, get up and walk out! Please! Please!
Walder: And why would I do that?
Cat: On my honor as a Tully, on my honor as a Stark, let him go, or I will cut your wife's throat!
Walder: I'll find another.
Robb: Mother?
Roose Bolton: The Lannisters send their regards.
Jesus Christ, the sheer range of emotions Michelle Fairley displayed in just a minute is breathtaking and heartbreaking. Even before someone comes along to slice her throat, she looks like her brain has finally snapped after years of back-to-back tragedies. Even though Lady Stoneheart never appeared in the series, you can still kinda see Stoneheart right there.