Game of Thrones Season 3, Episode 1 - "Valar Dohaeris"

Game of Thrones Season 3, Episode 1 - "Valar Dohaeris",
Release Date: March 31st, 2013

***Spoilers for Episode 1, Season 3 Game of Thrones***

The opening episode of season three is less dramatic than expected. It basically continues from exactly where it left off on the cliff hanger from the end of last season with Samwell Tarly runnin away from a hoard of white walkers. This episode was more of a character development and set up for plot lines that will be developed over not only this season but into season 4. There are some small changes from the books, but overall a tight effective adaptation.

One exception was, that Jon Snow's little speech to Mance Rayder wasn't very convincing. It was interesting to see more of Margery Tyrell, and see her playing the game with Joffrey, and Cersei beautifully know's the game she is playing. The scene with Margery in Flea Bottom with the orphan children felt very insincere, and mostly a performance for Joffrey. Joffrey in this episode seems to have become much more insane compared to the first season. Joffrey seemed arrogant and idiotic. The dinner scene with the Tyrell's and Lanister's was an interesting display of different ways the families are playing the "game".

Tyrion in this episode was much changed from last season, seemingly paranoid and injured locked up behind bars. Tyrion was clearly not on form, which was evident in the scene between him and his sister Cersei. Bronn's "rescue" of Tyrion was changed from the book, as in the book Bronn makes it clear to Tyrion that his employ is no longer advantageous to him, since Tywin has replaced Tyrion as hand of the king. The scene with Bronn at the whore house while somewhat humourous was entirely gratuitous, and unnecessary and was the only scene in this episode where I felt it was put in for the "HBO feel" to keep up the excess of sex and violence that viewers have come to expect and perhaps "demand" from HBO's Game of Thrones. The confrontation between Tyrion and his father Tywin demanding his right to Casterly Rock was a brilliant scene played out with two of the strongest actors in the show, Peter Dinklage (Tyrion) and Charles Dance (Tywin). That scene played very close to that in the book, and Dinklage played Tyrion beautifully showing the contrast from his usual arrogant and witty self, as the small boy that is shamed once again by his father. Since all children even as adults, are made to feel like children in the presence of their parents.

It was great to see Daenerys for once without hearing her whining "Where are my dragons?" from the last season. A note on costuming and props, Dany's clothing and jewellery were particularly beautiful in this episode. A strength of HBO's production is the detailing that the show goes to. Each people and region has their own style of dress, armour, weapons etc and it is all hinted at subtly in the costuming and props that make the world so realistic because it gestures that there is more to the world of Westeros than what the audience sees in the episodes. Dany's metal necklaces were particularly beautiful.

Another interesting costume was Cersei's dress in the dinner scene, where Margaery even comments on it in the dialogue. Cersei's dress is complemented beautifully by a metal armour worked over the bodice of her dress. This level of detail is beautiful and is rarely seen in most television shows. The costuming choice details that Cersei is vulnerable both emotionally and physically and Margaery's comment on the armour is both observation for the audience's benefit and a subtle threat to Cersei. Margery is letting Cersei know, that she realises that she is vulnerable.

Davos's plotline felt a little rushed compared to the book and his choice to attempt to murder the Red Woman seemed hasty and ill advised. Robb seemed much harsher towards Catelyn in the show than in the book, sending her away to be imprisoned in a cell for releasing the Kingslayer. While the compassion Robb showed toward the survivor of the battle seemed noble, it made it more evident to me the absurdity of his marriage to the healer peasant girl who treats the dying man's wounds.

A note on female characters in this episode: Dany seemingly returned to her somewhat stronger former self, still seemed to be reliant on the men around her, and in comparison to the book, where she speaks to the slave owner alone so that she can listen in to him, when he doesn't know she speaks the language. In the show she is constantly with Ser Jorah and also Ser Barristen Selmy saves her at the climax of the episode. The other female characters in the episode while prominently featured are diaplayed in negative light. Margaery appears false and overly sweet in her wooing of the people of Kings Landing. Cersei seems less strong than her usual manipulative self which is disappointing and she instead is more of an observer of Joffrey and her only sort of high moment is her toying with Tyrion in his chamber earlier in the episode. Sansa while looking older continues her escapism into childish games, trying to engage Shae in her games, and then seems to desperately fall prey to Petyr Baelish's ploy to "rescue" her from King's Landing. Cateyln is reduced to the grief stricken mother that is acting foolishly. I guess we are missing some of the stronger and aggressive female characters from this episode namely Brienne and Arya.

Things that we missed in this episode were the Jaime and Brienne storyline as well as Arya, Gendry and Hot Pie's storyline.

Overall it was a good opening episode of the season and I think it resisted the temptation to overly dramatise the opening episode instead in favour of a slower yet more longsighted development. However it did end the show on a typical cliffhanger with the reveal of Ser Barristen Selmy who saved Dany from assassination.

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Elise Pahlow