“Seven kingdoms united in fear of Tywin Lannister.”
Forget war. Westeros is in a state of chaos. The smart players know, though, that chaos isn’t something to get lost in, but something you use as a ladder to move up in the Game of Thrones.
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Tywin mixes it up
Tywin Lannister, father to Therion, Jaime and Cersei, brings the majority of the chaos. This week, he continued to bring confusion and disorientation to King’s Landing by poking his nose into his children’s love lives. Last time, he suggested that Cersei married Loras (Margaery’s brother) and Therion marry Sansa (who is supposed to marry Loras). It was the “only way” he could reconcile calling off Sansa’s betrothal to Loras. Why would he want to do that? Because having Sansa at King’s Landing and in the Lannisters’ possession is what’s driving the war.
This week, Margaery’s grandmother went to bat for Loras and Sansa. She reminded Tywin that Cersei was old and she might not be able to give the Tyrells a namesake. In turn, Tywin reminded her that his other option for Loras was the King’s Guard… who swear an oath of chastity, so he still wouldn’t be able to give the Tyrells an heir.
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In the end, she relents. For the second time in Cersei’s life, she’s betrothed to someone she doesn’t love. For the second time in Therion’s life, he’s being ripped away from his soul mate (Shay) in order to amuse/please his father. For the second time in Sansa’s life, her plans of love and happiness are demolished at the hands of a Lannister.
Love (and near-death) on the Wall
After Jon, his tongue and Ygritte spent time in the cave, their usually confusing relationship solidified. As Jon and the Wildlings prepare to scale the Wall, Ygritte reminds him of their place. The Night’s Watch men don’t care if Jon dies, the Wildlings don’t care about Jon or Ygritte. The only people they have looking out for them are each other. It’s kind of like an “I love you” but more desperate.
Later, as they’re scaling the wall, an avalanche leaves Ygritte and Jon hanging by a rope. Luckily, Jon lands his pick into the ice just as Mance’s right-hand man slices through the ropes. Jon’s hold on the icy wall saves both himself and Ygritte (who is tied to him). When they make it to the top, things are tense between Jon and his would-be assassin. However, when Jon and Ygritte look out over the lush green landscape on the other side, nothing seems to matter but a quick makeout session.
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Everything else
Can we please kill off Theon already? I’m sick of the torture porn. I like knowing that Robb Stark might be in on it, though.
- That flame-haired prostitute of Littlefinger’s? Dead. She met her fate at the hands of Joffrey and his crossbow. No official word on anything else he might’ve done with her body. But, she was naked and dead when we saw her.
- Arya is also learning her way around a bow and arrow. During a brief run-in with the Red Witch, we learn she’ll most likely become rather adept with it (and/or Needle). The Witch sees the green, blue and brown eyes of Arya’s future victims.
- Brienne in a dress. Just watching it felt uncomfortable.
- Will Bran’s new buddy “seeing” Jon beyond the wall and surrounded by enemies change their course? Hope not.
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Finally, as love and chaos go, I think this is turning out to be a pretty interesting mix of the two. Littlefinger is right, too: Chaos is a ladder. The more chaos Tywin creates, the higher he seems to climb on the ladder and in the game. Meanwhile, the people farthest from his reach (despite not exactly living an easy, confusion-free life), seem to be the happiest. While everyone in King’s Landing is finding their love lives torn apart and twisted to suit Tywin, Jon and Ygritte are falling in love. So far, no one has been able to stop it. But, will that change as the ground turns from white to green?
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