In Watchers on the Wall’s Memory Lane series this spring, a number of guest authors will be stopping by to share their thoughts on the day’s episode. Our first guest post features a friend to the site and commenter you know by the name of Sir Squinty. He joined us in New York City last fall for the Night of Ice and Fire, and today he’ll be steering you through season 2’s third episode, “What is Dead May Never Die,” written by Bryan Cogman and directed by Alik Sakharov. Please give a warm Watchers welcome to Sir Squinty! – Sue
Time to revisit one of my favorite episodes of season 2! It’s interesting because in retrospect, season 2 is my least favorite season of Game of Thrones, but it is largely notable for its small moments and themes that would pay off in later seasons.
The episode starts in the middle of a story, as Craster throws Jon to the floor for spying on him. This also gives us our first look at Jon fighting back at Lord Commander Mormont. Here we see the further developments of the hero Jon would become, on his mission to do (like his father) what is right.
While the episode title “What Is Dead May Never Die” are Ironborn words, we can actually derive some further meaning when looking more closely at certain scenes. The episode’s opening is explicitly a response to Jon learning that Craster is sacrificing his baby boys to the White Walkers. Those babies might be dead, but they certainly will never die, and they most definitely will rise again harder and stronger.
This episode also sowed the seeds of the couple I have dubbed ‘Silly,’ in which Sam makes his first move on Gilly, by being so forward as to offer her a thimble. A thimble?! Samwell Tarly! You sly direwolf, you!
Bran talks to Maester Luwin about his wolf dreams, which is another major seed planted for future seasons. Sure, Bran and Summer had been linked as boy and pet earlier, and a closer suggestion had even been hinted at, but nothing was as overt as Bran actually acknowledging their connection out loud. This is yet another monumental moment in this quietly fantastic episode.
Brienne makes her series debut by kicking Loras’ ass – a fitting start to her character. She ascends to Renly’s Kingsguard within her first few spoken lines – not a bad promotion.
While I love the introduction to Renly’s camp, where a tourney is being held in good fun, when Catelyn indicates that Robb is busy fighting a real war, I feel that if Robb’s storyline had appeared in this episode, her words would have had a stronger parallel.
The weirdest love triangle emerges in this episode, with the coining of Margaery’s famous phrase, “Do you want my brother to come in and help?” Additionally, the episode’s title comes back into play here. Just because Renly and Margaery are married, doesn’t mean his sexuality goes away; it will persistently return harder than ever if Renly doesn’t sleep with someone to whom he is sexually attracted.
Theon has a huge episode here, and it’s his turning point. He’s not exactly past the point of no return (that won’t happen until he beheads Ser Rodrik later in the season), but the scene where he sits in the dark and contemplates mailing a warning letter to Robb versus aligning with his family’s plan to conquer the undefended North is one of the most powerful in all of Game of Thrones.
The camera cleverly places Alfie Allen (a titan among the incredible cast) against a completely black backdrop, to emphasize how alone in the world Theon feels. After watching him agonize over what to do, he gives into his destiny and burns the letter. Five seasons in and this remains among my favorite scenes of the show to date because of how wonderful an example it is of how good an adaptation can be. I love it when adaptations make bold choices that didn’t occur on paper. Aragorn didn’t ever fall off the cliff in The Two Towers book version, any more than Theon ever wrote Robb a warning note – but the visuals make for an exceptional scene.
Meanwhile at King’s Landing, other pieces are falling into place. An awkward family dinner scene offers Sophie Turner the chance to showcase the acting she never got much of an opportunity to during season 1. Cersei mistreats her at dinner, but what else is new?
Sophie is especially powerful during the scene where Shae announces she is going to be Sansa’s new handmaiden. And – spoiler alert – Shae is a TERRIBLE handmaiden: “What would you like me to do first?”
This episode actually has two of my favorite scenes, come to think of it – Tyrion’s “two lies, one truth” game that he plays with Varys, Littlefinger, and Pycelle is masterfully directed and is still a delight to watch years later. It remains one of the most interesting and stylistic directorial choices the show has had so far.
Wait. Wait. Wait. This episode has THREE of my favorite scenes – Varys tells Tyrion the very nature of power and poses the epic riddle of Game of Thrones, where there is a priest, a king, and a rich man, and a common sellsword has to choose which two to kill. It examines the nature of power, which would go on to be season 2’s dominant motif. I think this might be Conleth Hill’s (Varys) most shining moment in all of Game of Thrones thus far.
When Cersei later inadvertently exposes Pycelle as the rat, it offers Lena Headey a rare moment to display the vulnerability Cersei most often keeps locked up. I know I keep gushing over the actors but MAYBE THEY SHOULD STOP BEING SO GOOD.
Yoren’s final moments (RIP) involve teaching Arya to use her past burdens and demons guide her future. This is perhaps the least overt meaning of the episode’s title yet, but serves as a continuing reminder that just because something is dead does not mean it is gone. And as I’d mentioned earlier, season 2 laid a lot of groundwork for future seasons – well, now we don’t even think twice when Arya repeats her hit list to herself, but that would have never happened if Yoren hadn’t taught her to combat her demons head on.
Notable Quotables:
Lord Commander Mormont: “Many a time, that monster has been the difference between life and death – your uncle among them. We have other wars to fight. Like it or not, we need men like Craster.”
Catelyn Stark: “My son is fighting a war, not playing at one.”
Margaery: “Do you want my brother to come in and help?
Varys: “Power is a curious thing….Power resides where men believe it resides. It’s a trick, a shadow on the wall. And, a very small man can cast a very large shadow.”
First appearances:
Brienne of Tarth, Margaery Tyrell, Amory Lorch, Polliver, and we get a mention of the Martells.
Deaths:
Yoren, Lommy Greenhands, and Grand Maester Pycelle’s beard
The post Game of Thrones Memory Lane 203: What is Dead May Never Die appeared first on Watchers on the Wall.
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