Thats What Ygritte Said

Weekly Game of Thrones Musings by Sam Ryu

Given its a fantasy show, Game of Thrones is peculiarly characterized by how grounded in reality it
actually is. Maybe even more so than a lot of serious non-fantasy shows. (Im looking at you,
Breaking Bad and Homeland.) On a lesser show, the victors are decided on the battlefieldthe
contending king with the strongest army, best swords, and biggest dragon wins. But the titular
game on this show is played in the courtrooms, the banks, and the chambers. (In fact, I think weve
only seen one full-blown battle scene throughout the course of the show, S2E9.) This show is
more concerned with things like basic macroeconomic principles (Team Stannis has a horrible
GDP, due to its nonexistent exportsas the Iron Bank points out). It revels in the sweet irony that
the most powerful house in Westeros might have to change their most used catchphrase from A
Lannister always pays his debts. to (a not as quotable) A Lannister is sometimes late on
installment payments for large Braavosi loans. It makes a prospective queen take a break from her
Justice Crusade and actually work for her title by giving her 212+ supplicants worth of office
hours. On paper, this is nowhere as sexy or intriguing as how Game of Thrones and similar shows/
movies are marketed (Dragons! Forbidden love! Massive CGI armies!). In execution, however, the
show is better off for its focus on the small details and harsh pragmatism of this fictional world.

Season 4, Episode 6 The Laws of Gods and Men

We are now firmly in the second half of Season 4 and you know what that means. To kick off the
craziness, we got the courtroom drama Ive been waiting for since Joffrey died in Episode 2
which took up the last half hour of the episode, similar to how Joffreys wedding episode was
structured. We finally got to visit Braavos (both in the gorgeous opening credits and during the
episode), we saw Tywin look the most comfortable anyone has looked sitting on the Iron Throne,
we had the first episode ever without any of the Starks, we learned that the Iron Banks coin
dispensers look like lightsabers, and we got to witness Tyrion Lannister channeling both his familys
official motto (Hear Me Roar) and Jack NicholsonYOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH!
May 18, 2014
Today in History of Westeros, we ask: Why is Ser Davos missing his fingers again? I thought
Jaime was the only one missing manual appendages. During Roberts Rebellion, Stannis (Roberts
younger brother) was being surrounded in Storms
End (the seat of House Baratheon). Davos smuggled
onions into the castle to help Stanniss forces survive.
Davos reminds us yet again that he didnt steal the
food, just smuggled it. Stannisbeing the poster boy
for blind justice he ispunishes Davos for his
smuggling crimes by cutting off his fingertips and
then rewards him with knighthood for helping win the
battle. Hence, Ser Davos a.k.a. the Onion Knight.
Quick Hits: Bathhouse dweller Salladhor Saan is Davoss pirate friend, who in S2E2 agreed to
lend his ships to Stannis for the Battle of Blackwater in return for gold and (basically) dibs to rape
Cersei after Kings Landing is sacked. He also rescues a shipwrecked Davos in S3E1. Though the
Ramsay and Theon/Reek bathtub scene can be seen as homoerotic, it might just be straight up
sadistic that Ramsay wants to see Theons lack of genitals. Like an artist admiring his own art.
Unsolicited Advice of the Week: Yo Daenerys. Maybe if you shortened your introduction before
each supplicant, you might get through all 212+. How about just Queen D instead of Daenerys
Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, the Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the
Andals and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons. (Is it
sad that I typed more than half of that without looking?) And if you had a No-Blowing-Smoke-
Up-the-Queens-Butt-About-How-Beautiful-and-Kind-She-Is policy for each supplicant before they
ask for what they really want. Kind of like the No-Clapping-Between-Names policy at graduations.
Lets also talk about Jaimes negotiating skills with his father Tywin. My favorite course in college
was Negotiation and Persuasion. One of the first things we learned was that when you make an offer
(though you should never make the first offer) and someone agrees immediately, then youve
already lost. When Jaime offers to leave the Kingsguard and go back to Casterly Rock as Tywins
heir if Tywin would spare Tyrions life, Tywinwithout missing a beatsays done. Remember
when Tywin gives Jaime the Valyrian steel sword in S4E1 and tells him to get honorably discharged
from the Kingsgaurd and go back to Casterly Rock? Jaime refuses then, but now plays right into
Tywins hands. Jaime has shown that he is the only Lannister who loves Tyrion. But his plea to
Tywin might also come because his main reason for staying in the Kingsguard was so he could stay
in Kings Landing with Cersei and not have to marry (and therefore feign love for) another woman.
His post-rape relationship with Cersei is on the rocks, so we dont know where they stand.
None of things the witnesses during Tyrions trial say are necessarily false. But they are lies.
Whether a lie by omission, by false attribution, or by recontextualization of facts. Weve seen
Tyrion wear his emotions on his sleeve before, but weve never seen pure rage seep out of his face
like we do. As he snarls at the court crowd, he begins to look like the monster they think he is. Lets
overanalyze the scene and the major reaction shots.
May 18, 2014
Jaime realizes how rigged this trial is. Oberyn seems like he knows too, but has fun with it
regardless. These two seem like the most likely champions for Tyrions trial by combat. Note that
the champion that Tyrion names has to actually agree to fight for him. This leaves the pool of
possible champions at three: Bronn, Jaime, and Oberyn.
Why Bronn: He volunteered to fight for Tyrion (and a sack of gold) during Tyrions first trial by
combat at the Eyrie in S1E6. Bronn is also the most savvy fighter of the three.
Why Not Bronn: He has very little to gain (and more to lose) by fighting for Tyrion. He also (half-
jokingly) has reminded Tyrion a few times that their relationship works because Tyrion pays him.
Why Jaime: Tyrion initially named Jaime at the Eyrie, but
Lysa wouldnt allow it at the time. Also, choosing Jaime as
the champion would put Tywin and Cersei (who will have
to name a champion of their own) in a tough spot. If Jaime
is fighting for Tyrion and loses, Tywin has no more male
heirs. If Jaime wins, then Tyrion is deemed not guilty.
Why Not Jaime: Hes missing his sword hand. We know
hes been training with Bronn using his left hand, but we
dont know how good he is yet.
Why Oberyn: Hes a huge wildcard. Very unpredictable.
He has shown an affinity for Tyrion before (S4E1) as a
fellow second son. He also hates the Lannisters. If Tywin
and Cersei name the Mountain as their champion (likely),
then Oberyn would have all the reason he needs to
volunteer as Tyrions champion. The Mountain killed
Oberyns sister and her kids. Oberyn is an expert fighter.
Why Not Oberyn: Other than revenge, he really has
nothing to gain (that we know of) by fighting.
Other reactions: Margaery knows Tyrion is innocent
because she knows Olenna is responsible. Though it is
disappointing to see Varys testify against Tyrion, he is just
being pragmatic. Even if he came to Tyrions defense, the
case is so stacked against Tyrion that it wouldnt matter.
Varys sang a similar tune while visiting Ned in prison
before the execution, saying he is no hero and that he has a
role to play. His role here is to lay low and serve the realm.
Shaes motives are the most ambiguous. Though it is likely
that Tywin or Cersei bribed/threatened her to testify
(remember Tywin tells Cersei to have her brought to the Tower of the Hand before the wedding.
in S4E2), she seems genuinely pissed off and is just nasty about it. Fucking whore. Literally.
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May 18, 2014