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.