Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Women of Thrones

OK, let’s talk about “Game of Thrones” again. I will say, after the Cersei and Jaime/Caster’s Keep horribleness of early and midseason, Season 4 got a lot less rapey. So, um, huzzah – or something. What I find most interesting at the close of Season 4 is how its women are doing. Getting raped a little less (for now), which is always good. But now that (oh, right, SPOILER ALERT, duh) so many key male characters have been disposed of, it begs the question: Can sisters finally start getting the respect they deserve on Game of Thrones?

[Please note, I have not read the books. So this is just based on character progression so far and the random thoughts that bounce around in my head.]

Daenerys Targaryen

So how are things going for Daenerys Stormborn,The Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Queen of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mother of Dragons? Ruling shit is hard work and dragons are a pain in the ass. Look, I love Khaleesi, but a dragon is not a slave! I have to think chaining up her precious Dracarys will have serious repercussions. And not the good kind. Also, my secret GoT ship is Daenerys and Brienne. There, I said it out loud. Make it happen, G.R.R. Martin. We all know you’re still writing the damn books.

Cersei Lannister

This lady will absolutely have you strangled in your sleep. Though, you have to admit, she does love her children. And she is finally pissed enough at her father to reveal her the terrible awful she and Jaime have been doing all these years to protect them from his influence. Granted, her eldest son turned out to be a psychopath. But Tommen has a kitten named Ser Pounce. So, maybe she wasn’t the worst mother ever? (Just kidding, she’s awful – but cunning as fuck.)

Margery Tyrell

Mags might be even more cunning than Cersei, though a little less vicious. Maybe. I don’t know what happens next in the books. Also, I think she has her eyes on Tommen which is gross. But, hey, behind every Boy King is a strong women with a questionable marriage history. (It’s true, at least so far in the Seven Kingdoms.) Though, as far as cunning goes Margery is no match – nor is anyone, really – for her grandma Olenna Redwyne. I mean, she killed Joffrey. Grannies get shit done.

Brienne of Tarth

Sign me up to the Lady Knight fanclub. Brienne is strong, moral, awesome. OK, fine, so she is having a little bit of a hard time keeping all the oaths she has promised so far. (her king died, her lady died, Jamie lost a hand, the Stark girls are nowhere in sight…) But if nothing else, I feel like I can believe in her unwavering sense of honor. Plus, how hot is she in that armor? I understand her brutal fight with The Hound was added into the series. Hey, works for me. Now she needs to find her way to Meereen. Daenerys is down one knight adviser (buh-bye, Jorah), so there’s an opening. Just saying. Also, I cannot wait to see her in the new Star Wars.

Arya Stark

Holy fucking shit, Arya. First, let’s all do the slow clap and rise for 17-year-old Maisie Williams who is absolutely killing it as Arya. The way she impassively stared at The Hound as he begged her to kill him? And then just turned and walked away. I am equal parts frightened and awed by her. And I absolutely cannot wait to see what she becomes. Also a little scared. But, yeah. Arya. I always thought Khaleesi was the baddest bitch in the Seven Kingdoms. But little Arya and her Needle are making a strong run at the title.

Right, so there were also other ladies. Sansa (yawn), Ygritte (breakups sucks), Lysa (can’t fix crazy), Melisandre (smoke monster baby says what), et al. But this season was really time four the five I mentioned to shine. And, with any luck, keep on shining.

p.s. Wasn’t the penultimate episode at the Wall just a total snoozefest? Yeah, yeah, we get it – there are giants. I don’t care. This show has 2 trillion characters. No one wants to watch a “Lord of the Rings”-lite battle in Antarctica for an entire hour.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

The great thing about Game of Thrones in the books and movies are that there are so many strong female characters. Greyjoy's sister has her own army in the book and the series. Brienne and Arya. Women are controlling men-Cersei and the Red thing. They both have equally strong, weak and evil men. The author obviously did not have trouble with his mama and thinks women are great. I think this is very refreshing an unusual. Generally strong women die are killed or are evil. Game of Thrones doesn't do that.

Anonymous said...

Loved the Arya/Brienne meet-up, but the show runners absolutely blew it by not ending the season with Lady Stoneheart. Bad, bad choice.

Anonymous said...

All of that and you entirely miss out on Sansa Stark? Really?

Anonymous said...

I never understand when people /yawn at Sansa.. outside of the first book. I'm sure its just a personal thing since I"m fascinated with her and love her story arc.. QUEEN IN THE NORTH or bust!

Lurker said...

I am so glad I wasn't the only one completely bored with ep 9 (with all of them fighting at the wall). It's as you've said we've already done Lord of the Rings and that thing was 2 hours too long as is. I found myself completely tuning out during the giants and mammoths and whatever else was there. Good thing episode 10 brought it home.

Anonymous said...

I loved the fight on the wall and am bored to death by Sansa Stark.

Carmen SanDiego said...

Arya is my favourite character and Maisie Williams is amazing. The way she looked at Brienne with awe and admiration when she asked if she was a knight and if her sword had a name was totally saying " I wanna grow up to be like you"

Carmen SanDiego said...

And by the way this weeks episode of Gay of Thrones is priceless

Anonymous said...

Love Brienne and Arya and their meetup, of course and have never been a fan of Sansa until the last few episodes this season. I think she's catching on and learning how to - not - play the victim. It will be fun to see how she evolves next season.

Anonymous said...

Excellent use of 'penultimate,' and yeah, total snooze fest! Your blog rocks…new reader :)

Your friend, Rusty said...

Sansa is my pick to win the Game of Thrones. Her Small Council will include Brienne of Tarth as Commander of the Queen's Guard, Arya as Master of Whispers, & Tyrion as the Hand.

I finished my re-read of the books a couple's of weeks ago and highly recommend that for other fans. It was incredible the way some lines leapt from the page and smacked me.

My next re-read will be one POV character a time. Ned first and then Sansa, Arya, & Brienne of.

Anonymous said...

rose lesile as gyritte is absolutely captivating, it's too bad she has to die.