Lady Catelyn Stark shares a very emotional story with Queen Talisa (Robb’s wife)
SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the latest episode of Game of Thrones.
This one’s for the girls! The women get highlighted in the second episode of the HBO series. Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) learns the fate of her father; the men of the North (loyal to Robb) travel to Riverrun for the funeral. Bran and Rickon could be in great danger (or worse). Catelyn reveals more of her story (and character) by recalling Jon Snow’s illness as a child. (I loved the piece of music that accompanied the scene!)
Lady Olenna Tyrell of Highgarden (Diana Rigg) talks with Lady Sansa Stark
We meet the tough, straight-talking grandmother of Margaery (Natalie Dormer), Lady Olenna (veteran British actress Diana Rigg) who asks for a chat with Sansa. With some coaxing from the ladies, the innocent and sensitive Sansa reveals her true feelings for Joffrey. To sum it up: “He’s a monster.”
Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer) gets to know more about her fiancé, King Joffrey Baratheon
Margaery, who’s a clever young woman, listens to Sansa very carefully as she talks about the king. (The wheels are spinning in her head, no doubt.) Recall how she tried to make things work with Renly (who preferred her brother, Loras)? Later, we get the scene with Margaery, Joffrey, and a very fancy crossbow. Yes, she really wants to be “the queen.”
Arya (Maisie Williams) and friends meet the Brotherhood without Banners
Arya (Maisie Williams), Gendry (Joe Dempsie), and Hot Pie (Ben Hawkey) meet some of the men from the Brotherhood without Banners in the woods not far from Riverrun (the ancestral home of House Tully). Their leader says that they don’t fight for any lord, but want to protect the forest. In the tavern, Arya’s true identity is revealed by The Hound, who left the royal court during the Battle of Blackwater Bay.
Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick)
Another new character is Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick from The Diary of Anne Frank), who protects her brother Jojen (Thomas Brodie-Sangster from Love Actually) on the quest to find Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright). They are the children of the man who saved Ned Stark’s life during the Targaryen rebellion.
Brienne (Gwendoline Christie)
Let’s not forget Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) and Jaime’s (exciting) fight on the bridge! They are getting to know each other (a little) and have good chemistry. They are both knights, but have very different values.
SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from the season premiere of Game of Thrones.
Jon Snow (Kit Harington) has left his “brothers” of the Night’s Watch and traveled a long way with Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and her fellow Wildlings. He meets the much-discussed Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds), who was once a ranger, but is now “the King Beyond The Wall.” (It’s great to see Hinds on a weekly series; many of my regular readers will know him from Persuasion, The Mayor of Casterbridge, Rome, and more recently- Political Animals).
Three unlikely heroes of the city: Tyrion, Bronn, & Pod
In Kings Landing, the recovered Lord Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) still has the loyalty of his (newly knighted) sellsword, Ser Bronn of the Backwater (Jerome Flynn), and young valet Pod. Too bad that his older sister and father still hate him, There is a great scene between Lord Tywin, the new Hand of the King (Charles Dance) and Tyrion, where both actors get to shine and reveal more about their characters. The son is rejected (once again) in a cruel manner.
Ser Davos strikes out at Melisandre when she mentions his dead son
We see that Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham) is alive after the terrible battle which claimed his son Mattos. (I was especially waiting to see this fine actor return!) He’s picked up by his old smuggler friend, Salladhor Sam (Lucian Msamati), who advises him to stay away from Dragonstone. (Recall what Davos said to his son in Season 2? “You want me to have a god? Fine. Stannis is my god. He raised me up and blessed me with his trust. He gave you a future I could never have imagined.”) The very depressed Lord Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane) sees no one but the “the red woman,” Melisandre (Clarice Van Houten). We get the impression that she’s running things, even burning prisoners who reject her god (“the Lord of Light”). Unfortunately, “The Onion Knight” is unable to persuade Stannis that Melisandre is evil, so is placed in the dungeon.
The dragons are growing fast while Daenerys, Jorah, and some of the Dothraki sail across the Narrow Sea
Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is worried about finding an army. Her dragons are growing up. Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) is still by her side, though he’s skeptical about the future. (Glen doesn’t get to do much in this episode, but it’s great to see him, as usual. Let’s see him in some new/snazzy outfits!) The Dothraki are very uneasy at sea (“the poison water”). Jorah thinks that the eunuch/slave army, the Unsullied, are worth a look.
Littlefinger comes to have a private talk with Sansa; her loyal handmaiden Shae watches on with suspicion
Lord Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aiden Gillen) brings Lady Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner, now 17) a bit of news about her mother and little sister, Arya. He says that he can help her escape- soon. The disenchanted Sansa is still part of the royal court, though King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) has chosen Lady Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer from The Tudors) as his future wife/queen. The Tyrells of Highgarden joined with Lord Tywin’s army to defeat Lord Stannis’ army (end of Season 2.)
The politically savvy Margaery visits an orphanage in Flea Bottom, giving kids presents… and hope
I especially liked the dinner scene where we see Queen Cersei (Lena Headey) being supplanted by Margaery in the eyes of Joffrey. (Choosing an experienced actress like Dormer, aged 31, was a smart move after all!) Cersei can no longer control Joffrey, but perhaps Margaery is up to the task?
Opener Nicholas can’t get work anywhere, though he’s a good worker. He’s known as a union leader by all the masters. Margaret tells her father that things could work out if Nicholas and Thorton could talk “man to man.”
Mrs. Thornton has a talk with Margaret
Two strong ladies go at it! Mrs. Thornton comes to warn Margaret about her behavior, saying that “many a young lady has lost her character” by being out late at night with a man. Margaret cuts her off, saying that she’s not going to just sit there and take such insults.
Thornton talks with Mr. Lattimer, the banker
I don’t think anyone ever accused me of being careless!
Here we see our man very worried and on edge- he snaps at Mr. Lattimer for no good reason, then asks forgiveness. When Lattimer mentions “speculation,” Thornton gets very stiff and serious. (Remember that his father killed himself after he “speculated wildly.”)
Nicholas meets with Thornton
I’m a steady man. I work hard.
With his cap in hand, Nicholas comes to ask for work at Marlboro Mills. Thornton turns him away. Nicholas says he was sent “by a woman who thought” Thornton “had a kindness” about him. This piques Thornton’s curiosity.
The Thorntons at home
Fanny is riding high now that she’s engaged to Watson, another of the Milton mill owners. She cut down Margaret again, calling her “so severe.” When she mentions speculation, John tells her angrily that “there is nothing certain about speculation!” (The emotion in Armitage’s voice is so strong and powerful!) The little joke (about Fanny’s spending) and smile at the end of the scene is just wonderful, too.
Thornton comes to the Higgins home
Thornton sees the little children (of Boucher) playing and reading. Thornton admits that he could not have taken on “a man such as Boucher’s children.” He asks Higgins’ forgiveness, offers him work, and they shake on it.
Thornton, Tommy, and Higgins in the mill yard
Tommy is learning how to read when Thornton comes over (helps with pronouncing “animal”). Both men have been working late. Thornton and Higgins discuss the importance on having a good meal for both working and studying (thinking of Tommy). Higgins has an idea that might work. The two men have a grudging respect for each other.
Higgins and Thornton
Aftermath of Mr. Hale’s death
Look back. Look back at me.
Mr. Hale dies (peacefully) while on a reunion trip to Oxford. Aunt Shaw comes to take Margaret home (her house in London). Margaret apologizes to Mrs. Thornton for her previous behavior. She gives her father’s copy to Plato to Mr. Thornton and politely wishes him well. Her eyes are sad, as are his. Then we have the great “look back” moment as Thornton watches the coach drive away in the snow. He feels a great loss, knowing that she will never come back to Milton.
Visit to Helstone
After three months in London, Margaret is still wearing black (color of mournng), which worries cousin Edith. Mr. Bell takes her for a visit to Helstone, but things are different from when she was a girl. Margaret thinks back to her time in Milton, and tells Mr. Bell about the drama at the train station and its aftermath. She feels bad because Mr. Thornton knows she lied. Is that all? Her godfather wonders.
Mr. Bell settles his affairs
Mr. Bell signs off most of his fortune to Margaret before sailing for South America to live out the last of his days (he’s ill). Margaret is “landlord in name only” of Marlboro Mills. When he tries to explain more to Thornton, the younger man cuts him off. Thornton is too busy with his financial problems to deal with anything else. We see him even sleeping in his office.
The Ending
Mr. Thornton’s mill stands empty
We learn that Marlboro Mills has gone under. Thornton feels the loss keenly, of course. His mind goes back to Margaret- they met in the mill. Higgins “got up a petition” of men that would be willing to work again for Thornton. Then we have the big reveal about Margaret’s brother- finally! See the relief and happiness on Thornton’s face?
Margaret sees Thornton at the train station
This mini-series has one of the best pay-offs, in my opinion. Margaret and John finally connect and share one of the best (effective) onscreen kisses you’ll ever see! (Trust me, I’ve seen a lot of TV shows and movies.) These characters have grown and changed over the course of the four episodes (about 2 years). Each episode reveals more about their personalities, feelings, values. Margaret gets on the train with Thornton to return to Milton, which will truly be her home.
Hats off to Richard Armitage for bringing Mr. Thornton to life! It’s a great and nuanced performance (for all you newbie fans). It’s not just about being brooding, smoldering, or whatnot- it’s about the subtlety of his acting. Even in today’s (modern/liberal-minded) world, it’s rare to see a leading man who can also be vulnerable (another fine example: Mad Men star Jon Hamm). Thanks for reading!
Knightleyemma 