Hot off the heels of the Game of Thrones penultimate episode “The Rains of Castamere,” the fandom is all but physically dead from the shock. However, some of us are left with a yearning for more.
In this article, staff writer Kyle (who has not read the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and went into this episode unspoiled) shares his uncommon opinion about the much-anticipated episode and the Red Wedding, which occurred within.
First, let me start by saying that I thought the episode was great. The plot developments with Arya, Daenerys, Robb, and Jon made great headway for the rest of the season and/or season 4.
However, the only truly exciting part for me as a non-book reader was the last five minutes, and even then I saw it all coming.
I’m only in the middle of the first book, and luckily I haven’t been spoiled for the majority of the series, but I’ve heard references to the Red Wedding for a long time now.
At first I thought it was referencing the upcoming wedding between Joffrey and Margaery, or maybe the one between Tyrion (my favorite character) and Sansa, but clearly that was not the case.
However, regardless of who I expected to be wed, it was obvious that it was actually about the bloodshed.
For people who are fans of the show but haven’t read the A Song of Ice and Fire series, we know from everyone who has finished it that there are a lot of character deaths. In fact, the series has been hyped so much for the amount of death that occurs that I’ve come to expect everyone to die.
I have no idea at this point who’s still alive by the end of A Dance With Dragons, so when someone does die it’s become more of a, “Oh… well… okay :(” rather than a “omfgwtfholycheddarcheeseonrice” moment.
Naturally, when Robb and Catelyn Stark both bit the dust I was shocked, but not overwhelmed by the idea of George R.R. Martin ending their character arcs.
However, I will say the two horrifying and most “omfgwtfholycheddarcheeseonrice” moments were Talisa being stabbed repeatedly in her belly, followed closely by the murder of the defenseless Grey Wind. I seriously thought Arya was going to save him! That’s twice now that poor Arya has failed to save a Stark, and that just broke my heart.
I know that this event will have huge consequences for the Starks and the King of the North, but losing them from the series is not overly heartbreaking. The act of their murders is abundantly more interesting and sad than the loss of their characters in the story, at least from this one episode.
Here’s hoping that next week’s finale will provide us with more emotional scenes and a bigger hole in my heart than the needle sized prick this episode brought on. (Yes, I’m a television masochist.)
When watching death on television, I’ve been spoiled by amazing scenes like The Vampire Diaries’ (SPOILER: highlight to reveal) Jeremy Gilbert or Merlin’s Arthur Pendragon.
Those series were able to take the deaths of their characters and focus on them for longer than the final two minutes, and the impact that leaves on my fanboy heart is substantial and devastating.
However, since it did happen at the very end of the episode, I’m sure there’ll be some emotional fallout in the season 3 finale – and I can’t wait!
This episode was filled with great plot development, but left me wanting more emotion than action, and unfortunately I was disappointed. I sincerely hope that next week will truly bring on the feels, because I want those tears to flow.