1x01: Foreshadowing & Symbolism (Part 2 - Starks)
Jul 19, 2016 13:22:48 GMT -5
alcasinoroyale, izzue, and 4 more like this
Post by Envie on Jul 19, 2016 13:22:48 GMT -5
*Note: I'm only covering the Starks in this part as they carry a majority of the symbolism and foreshadowing for the Premiere and it's lengthy. I'm sure I've missed some of the symbolism as well so please do join in with your own observations!
*Warning: This is a LONG one!
~Winter Is Coming~
Episode 1 - Foreshadowing & Symbolism
(Part 2) - The Starks & Winterfell
The premiere episode of Game of Thrones was massive in terms of setting the stage for many characters that play central roles in the story. The first family we meet and fall in love with are the Starks. Their history and customs are tied to the North as rulers there since the signing of the pact between the First Men and the Children of the Forest.
Our first view of the Stark's world is beautiful Winterfell as a lone horseman is seen riding in to bring news of the Night's Watch deserter. This is one of the most beautiful and serene vistas we see and gives the viewer a sense of peacefulness and happiness - both entirely intentional as symbolic 'innocence' for the story before it unfolds and gets dark.
We then see the first of the Starks in the courtyard scene. Bran at archery practice with Jon Snow and Robb coaching him. These are "happy times" before everything went horribly wrong. Catelyn and Ned are looking on from the balcony above is so heartwarming to revisit. "If only we could go back then." as Sansa will say to Jon much later ...
Arya sneaks off from needlepoint practice to shoot an arrow square in the center of the target. This is one of my favorite scenes of the episode as it introduces us to how "different" little Arya is from Sansa and even from her brothers. Robb and Jon laughing, Bran chasing Arya ... nostalgic memories to hold close as we know the terrible things to come for all of them.
Ser Rodrik arrives with a message about the Night's Watch deserter and Ned goes to do the grim task of executing him. Catelyn begs him not to take Bran, but Ned's "Winter Is Coming" gives us the iconic line that sets the stage. Bran will not be a boy forever (not much longer at all actually) and will have to grow up quickly to face things to come.
There's a symbolic moment of dreadful foreshadowing here just after Catelyn looks down disapprovingly at Jon Snow ... as a very young 6yo. Rickon is told by Robb: "Lad, Go run back and get the rest" in fetching arrows for Jon who is putting them away.
Oh how little did we know what fetching arrows would mean and "running" from them for Rickon 6 seasons later! Rickon would literally fetch arrows for another bastard (Ramsay) as he runs to Jon yet again. This time to his death. What sad irony and foreshadowing that first, innocent scene held for little Rickon.
Sad Rickon death foreshadowing aside, the moment really belongs to Jon Snow then as it will later - looking up to face someone who wishes he did not exist. The same as he would staring at Ramsay Bolton the moment Rickon began to run.
Catelyn's dislike for Jon Snow was not unwarranted in my opinion, as I would have probably felt the same way had my husband shown up with another woman's baby so early on in our new marriage. As we now know for sure, Ned passed Jon off as his own son, even to his wife, all those years - to protect him. This was a heavy burden to bear in the promise he kept to his sister Lyanna. Jon Snow's existence as a bastard son is no less important than the man he would become later despite Ned's efforts to hide him from the world.
The symbolism here for Jon's future to come (which we get many hints about later in the series) ... the first hint we have that Jon Snow isn't just any ordinary child in this family. Catelyn's feelings about Jon will be covered in more detail in later episodes.
Jumping past the execution of the Night's Watch deserter as we already covered in Part 1, the next significant scene we see for the Starks (and it's a big one) is when they are returning to Winterfell and find the dead Stag and Direwolf in the road at the bridge and next to a stream.
For non-book readers this may not have seemed significant, a dead deer is probably a common thing ... but we knew it was much more. The Baratheons were set to visit Winterfell soon and the symbol of their house sigil lay dead and ripped apart (in the gut no less) by a Direwolf. Robert Baratheon would later die similarly but it wasn't a Direwolf that rips his guts out, it's a boar - but weakening Robert was Cersei's doing with the wine.
One thing I loved about this moment was when Theon asks if it was a Mountain Lion that did it, but Ned says "no mountain lions live in these woods" which is some foreshadowing since we know they are soon coming north at that very moment (Lannisters)!
Ned then follows the trail of blood down to the side of the stream where a giant dead direwolf is found with an antler lodged in her throat. Five pups are nursing at their dead Mother. Here again Theon serves as the arrogant antagonist by saying "It's a freak!" and Ned responds "It's a Direwolf." Tough old beast" and pulls the antler from her neck. I love the symbolism here ... foreshadowing Theon's future disdain and betrayal of the Starks as well as the stag (Baratheon) killing the Direwolf (Stark) and vice versa. Their actions would lead to the fall of both houses.
While the symbolism of each pup representing one of the children in the family is unarguably the strongest theme in this scene, I also appreciate the other more subtle bits of foreshadowing. Jon is the one to convince Ned Stark to keep the pups because his house sigil is the Direwolf. Jon's not a Stark but he goes against the opinion that the pups will just die (saves them) for House Stark, which he does 6 seasons later too in saving Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton. Jon saved Winterfell despite his own non-status as a Stark anyways.
There's also another telling bit of foreshadowing between Theon and Robb Stark. Robb tells Theon to put away his blade as he's about to kill one of the pups. Theon again shows his disrespect for Robb by telling him he doesn't take orders from him, only from Ned Stark. Theon will later betray Robb Stark completely.
Last but certainly not least is Jon finding Ghost. The symbolism in this (white for snow) is easy for most viewers, even casual ones to understand. Jon is the outcast wolf, the misfit. Runts and albinos do not normally have good survival chances in a pack of wolves.
Theon again as the antagonist makes a joke of that fact to Jon: "The runt of the litter. That one's yours Snow."
~~~
There's tons more symbolism and foreshadowing to come in this packed episode for the Starks especially.
We next see a raven arrive in the courtyard with a message tied to it's leg. I was so glad to see them portray the ravens of Westeros as the main message bringers. This will of course be symbolic much later of Bran and the Three Eyed Raven.
"Dark Wings Dark Words."
News of Jon Arryn's death has arrived and it's Catelyn who takes the message to Ned in the Godswood where he's cleaning his greatsword "Ice" beneath the Weirwood tree. Again, this is such powerful imagery brought to life perfectly from the book. Catelyn remarks how she's never felt comfortable here despite all the years and 5 children later, which Ned points out makes her far from an outsider. Catelyn's southerner Tully blood makes her feel out of place as she's not a Notherner. This gives us a clue that the two areas of Westeros are vastly different in culture and people.
There's a beautiful symbolic parallel here of Catelyn approaching Ned after he just put a man to death, and six seasons later, where Petyer Baelish will approach Sansa seated in the same place beneath that weirwood after she put a man to death ... love this one!
The message of the Hand of the King's death also includes word that King Robert is traveling to Winterfell with all of his family in tow. This is an unusual thing for this time period given how difficult traveling is and Ned remarks that he would only be coming north for one thing - to ask Ned to take the position of Hand now that Jon Arryn is dead. Catelyn wants Ned to say no, but we get the idea even this early on that Ned will probably say yes as he's loyal to his friend Robert Baratheon.
Next we see Bran on the castle walls looking down as the royal party approaches. We see what a good climber he is as he leaps from walls to roof and down stones where his Mother is waiting to lecture him about climbing and make him promise "No More Climbing!" - which he does promise, but his Mother can tell he's lying. This is so innocent but sets the stage for the fateful climb we know is coming ...
Finally the royal entourage arrives in Winterfell. The Starks are all lined up waiting to greet them - one of the most beautiful moments where all of them are together as a family and for the very last time ... what an amazingly sad moment to revisit.
Catelyn asks where Arya is (we previously saw her watching from a wagon with a bucket helm on her head). Arya arrives just in the nick of time and Ned whisks the helm from her head as she takes her place in the line. This is again such wonderful imagery of how happy and close the family all are, despite Arya's apparent differences with her siblings Sansa and Bran.
I loved this moment where Ned grabbed the helmet off Arya's head and Robb and Jon are smirking in the background ...
After King Robert greets the family and the infamous "You've got fat." line, it's down in the crypts we get a first clues about this "war" that happened (Robert's Rebellion) and why. Robert was in love with and betrothed to Ned's sister Lyanna. For show-only fans this may not have made a lot of sense or been significant other than to establish that there was a war and he took the throne. But book fans were treated to a first hint of Lyanna's significance in the story.
"In my dreams, I kill him every night."
It would be six long seasons later (and many other foreshadowing clues) before the truth of why Rhaegar "kidnapped" Lyanna so long ago and how Ned Stark kept his promise to her upon her death. I was thrilled the show gave us early on symbolism for this from the very first episode!
The Winterfell feast for King Robert is where we learn about his true nature (an obnoxious and lecherous drunk) and see this first hand through Cersei's eyes as he whores right in front of her.
Outside the feast, we have meetings between Jon Snow and his uncle Benjen, who gives him some serious foreshadowing doubts about joining The Night's Watch, and then between Jon and Tyrion Lannister who also gives him some advice which is my favorite quote of the episode:
Tyrion: Let me give you some advice bastard. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.
Jon: What the hell do you know about being a bastard?
Tyrion: All dwarfs are bastards in their father's eyes.
Is this foreshadowing of a reveal later to come about Tyrion's true heritage as many speculate perhaps maybe he's a bastard as well? Or is it just that he understands what it's like to be unwanted and an outcast in a family of nobility so he empathizes with Jon's unhappiness at being excluded from the feast?
The feast itself has a lot of character set up going on. A "Meet and Greet" of sorts for the families and we the audience.
There's the fun moment for Arya where we get to see her mischievous nature in throwing food at her sister Sansa who is busy flirting with Prince Joffrey.
Benjen and Ned meet, where the rumors of the White Walkers is dismissed by Ned - a mistake of course as we the audience know the truth and Benjen seems to suspect it's really true as well.
Sansa also meets the Queen who asks her some questions and admires her beauty. Most importantly she asks Sansa "have you bled yet?" as if Sansa's no more than a breeding mare to her for her son.
Their 'engagement' as children is not uncommon in noble/royal houses but it's obviously setting the stage for some awkwardness and trouble to come for the Starks as they clearly do not get along with the Lannisters.
There's more foreshadowing of this when Jaime Lannister confronts Ned Stark about coming to King's Landing and a tourney. Jaime wants to fight Ned and makes that very clear. But Ned's not taking the bait and says he doesn't fight tourneys so his enemies don't know what he can do. This is a clue that much later Jaime and Ned would indeed fight.
Later that night, another piece of the foreshadowing puzzle comes in the form of that ill-fated message from Lysa Arryn, Catelyn's sister accusing the Lannisters of murdering Jon Arryn. There's also some sad irony here for Ned Stark.
This begins the downward spiral of events that would eventually bring his own death as well as Robert Baratheon's at the hands of the Lannisters. The mountain lion had indeed come to their forest to hunt!
Maester Luwin argues with Catelyn who does not want Ned to go to King's Landing to unravel the murder mystery. He asks "Who but you can protect the king?" which is ironic since Ned has been protecting another (unknown) king ... Jon Snow!
The last scene we have of the Starks is after King Robert and the Starks ride out for a boar hunt. Ned has accepted Robert's offer to be Hand of the King and admits "You're a loyal friend ... the last one I've got" which shows us just how desperate the situation in King's Landing must be.
Young Bran climbs a tower where he witnesses something that will change his life (and the lives of many) forever. The symbolism here is the start of the "fall" of the Starks.
This was a very emotional ending to the premiere episode. We see how ruthless the Lannister twins are about keeping the 'secret' they've had their whole lives, an incestuous relationship. Poor Bran is a victim of this secret and shoved from the window by Jaime which sets the stage for hatred of the Lannisters by the audience.
"The things I do for Love ..."
~~~
This concludes the symbolism and foreshadowing episode for the Starks of Winterfell in Episode 1x01. The last part will cover The Targaryens as we meet them for the first time in Essos - stay tuned and let me know if I missed any great Stark foreshadowing in the premiere you liked!
*Warning: This is a LONG one!
~Winter Is Coming~
Episode 1 - Foreshadowing & Symbolism
(Part 2) - The Starks & Winterfell
The premiere episode of Game of Thrones was massive in terms of setting the stage for many characters that play central roles in the story. The first family we meet and fall in love with are the Starks. Their history and customs are tied to the North as rulers there since the signing of the pact between the First Men and the Children of the Forest.
Our first view of the Stark's world is beautiful Winterfell as a lone horseman is seen riding in to bring news of the Night's Watch deserter. This is one of the most beautiful and serene vistas we see and gives the viewer a sense of peacefulness and happiness - both entirely intentional as symbolic 'innocence' for the story before it unfolds and gets dark.
We then see the first of the Starks in the courtyard scene. Bran at archery practice with Jon Snow and Robb coaching him. These are "happy times" before everything went horribly wrong. Catelyn and Ned are looking on from the balcony above is so heartwarming to revisit. "If only we could go back then." as Sansa will say to Jon much later ...
Arya sneaks off from needlepoint practice to shoot an arrow square in the center of the target. This is one of my favorite scenes of the episode as it introduces us to how "different" little Arya is from Sansa and even from her brothers. Robb and Jon laughing, Bran chasing Arya ... nostalgic memories to hold close as we know the terrible things to come for all of them.
Ser Rodrik arrives with a message about the Night's Watch deserter and Ned goes to do the grim task of executing him. Catelyn begs him not to take Bran, but Ned's "Winter Is Coming" gives us the iconic line that sets the stage. Bran will not be a boy forever (not much longer at all actually) and will have to grow up quickly to face things to come.
There's a symbolic moment of dreadful foreshadowing here just after Catelyn looks down disapprovingly at Jon Snow ... as a very young 6yo. Rickon is told by Robb: "Lad, Go run back and get the rest" in fetching arrows for Jon who is putting them away.
Oh how little did we know what fetching arrows would mean and "running" from them for Rickon 6 seasons later! Rickon would literally fetch arrows for another bastard (Ramsay) as he runs to Jon yet again. This time to his death. What sad irony and foreshadowing that first, innocent scene held for little Rickon.
Sad Rickon death foreshadowing aside, the moment really belongs to Jon Snow then as it will later - looking up to face someone who wishes he did not exist. The same as he would staring at Ramsay Bolton the moment Rickon began to run.
Catelyn's dislike for Jon Snow was not unwarranted in my opinion, as I would have probably felt the same way had my husband shown up with another woman's baby so early on in our new marriage. As we now know for sure, Ned passed Jon off as his own son, even to his wife, all those years - to protect him. This was a heavy burden to bear in the promise he kept to his sister Lyanna. Jon Snow's existence as a bastard son is no less important than the man he would become later despite Ned's efforts to hide him from the world.
The symbolism here for Jon's future to come (which we get many hints about later in the series) ... the first hint we have that Jon Snow isn't just any ordinary child in this family. Catelyn's feelings about Jon will be covered in more detail in later episodes.
Jumping past the execution of the Night's Watch deserter as we already covered in Part 1, the next significant scene we see for the Starks (and it's a big one) is when they are returning to Winterfell and find the dead Stag and Direwolf in the road at the bridge and next to a stream.
For non-book readers this may not have seemed significant, a dead deer is probably a common thing ... but we knew it was much more. The Baratheons were set to visit Winterfell soon and the symbol of their house sigil lay dead and ripped apart (in the gut no less) by a Direwolf. Robert Baratheon would later die similarly but it wasn't a Direwolf that rips his guts out, it's a boar - but weakening Robert was Cersei's doing with the wine.
One thing I loved about this moment was when Theon asks if it was a Mountain Lion that did it, but Ned says "no mountain lions live in these woods" which is some foreshadowing since we know they are soon coming north at that very moment (Lannisters)!
Ned then follows the trail of blood down to the side of the stream where a giant dead direwolf is found with an antler lodged in her throat. Five pups are nursing at their dead Mother. Here again Theon serves as the arrogant antagonist by saying "It's a freak!" and Ned responds "It's a Direwolf." Tough old beast" and pulls the antler from her neck. I love the symbolism here ... foreshadowing Theon's future disdain and betrayal of the Starks as well as the stag (Baratheon) killing the Direwolf (Stark) and vice versa. Their actions would lead to the fall of both houses.
While the symbolism of each pup representing one of the children in the family is unarguably the strongest theme in this scene, I also appreciate the other more subtle bits of foreshadowing. Jon is the one to convince Ned Stark to keep the pups because his house sigil is the Direwolf. Jon's not a Stark but he goes against the opinion that the pups will just die (saves them) for House Stark, which he does 6 seasons later too in saving Winterfell from Ramsay Bolton. Jon saved Winterfell despite his own non-status as a Stark anyways.
There's also another telling bit of foreshadowing between Theon and Robb Stark. Robb tells Theon to put away his blade as he's about to kill one of the pups. Theon again shows his disrespect for Robb by telling him he doesn't take orders from him, only from Ned Stark. Theon will later betray Robb Stark completely.
Last but certainly not least is Jon finding Ghost. The symbolism in this (white for snow) is easy for most viewers, even casual ones to understand. Jon is the outcast wolf, the misfit. Runts and albinos do not normally have good survival chances in a pack of wolves.
Theon again as the antagonist makes a joke of that fact to Jon: "The runt of the litter. That one's yours Snow."
~~~
There's tons more symbolism and foreshadowing to come in this packed episode for the Starks especially.
We next see a raven arrive in the courtyard with a message tied to it's leg. I was so glad to see them portray the ravens of Westeros as the main message bringers. This will of course be symbolic much later of Bran and the Three Eyed Raven.
"Dark Wings Dark Words."
News of Jon Arryn's death has arrived and it's Catelyn who takes the message to Ned in the Godswood where he's cleaning his greatsword "Ice" beneath the Weirwood tree. Again, this is such powerful imagery brought to life perfectly from the book. Catelyn remarks how she's never felt comfortable here despite all the years and 5 children later, which Ned points out makes her far from an outsider. Catelyn's southerner Tully blood makes her feel out of place as she's not a Notherner. This gives us a clue that the two areas of Westeros are vastly different in culture and people.
There's a beautiful symbolic parallel here of Catelyn approaching Ned after he just put a man to death, and six seasons later, where Petyer Baelish will approach Sansa seated in the same place beneath that weirwood after she put a man to death ... love this one!
The message of the Hand of the King's death also includes word that King Robert is traveling to Winterfell with all of his family in tow. This is an unusual thing for this time period given how difficult traveling is and Ned remarks that he would only be coming north for one thing - to ask Ned to take the position of Hand now that Jon Arryn is dead. Catelyn wants Ned to say no, but we get the idea even this early on that Ned will probably say yes as he's loyal to his friend Robert Baratheon.
Next we see Bran on the castle walls looking down as the royal party approaches. We see what a good climber he is as he leaps from walls to roof and down stones where his Mother is waiting to lecture him about climbing and make him promise "No More Climbing!" - which he does promise, but his Mother can tell he's lying. This is so innocent but sets the stage for the fateful climb we know is coming ...
Finally the royal entourage arrives in Winterfell. The Starks are all lined up waiting to greet them - one of the most beautiful moments where all of them are together as a family and for the very last time ... what an amazingly sad moment to revisit.
Catelyn asks where Arya is (we previously saw her watching from a wagon with a bucket helm on her head). Arya arrives just in the nick of time and Ned whisks the helm from her head as she takes her place in the line. This is again such wonderful imagery of how happy and close the family all are, despite Arya's apparent differences with her siblings Sansa and Bran.
I loved this moment where Ned grabbed the helmet off Arya's head and Robb and Jon are smirking in the background ...
After King Robert greets the family and the infamous "You've got fat." line, it's down in the crypts we get a first clues about this "war" that happened (Robert's Rebellion) and why. Robert was in love with and betrothed to Ned's sister Lyanna. For show-only fans this may not have made a lot of sense or been significant other than to establish that there was a war and he took the throne. But book fans were treated to a first hint of Lyanna's significance in the story.
"In my dreams, I kill him every night."
It would be six long seasons later (and many other foreshadowing clues) before the truth of why Rhaegar "kidnapped" Lyanna so long ago and how Ned Stark kept his promise to her upon her death. I was thrilled the show gave us early on symbolism for this from the very first episode!
The Winterfell feast for King Robert is where we learn about his true nature (an obnoxious and lecherous drunk) and see this first hand through Cersei's eyes as he whores right in front of her.
Outside the feast, we have meetings between Jon Snow and his uncle Benjen, who gives him some serious foreshadowing doubts about joining The Night's Watch, and then between Jon and Tyrion Lannister who also gives him some advice which is my favorite quote of the episode:
Tyrion: Let me give you some advice bastard. Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.
Jon: What the hell do you know about being a bastard?
Tyrion: All dwarfs are bastards in their father's eyes.
Is this foreshadowing of a reveal later to come about Tyrion's true heritage as many speculate perhaps maybe he's a bastard as well? Or is it just that he understands what it's like to be unwanted and an outcast in a family of nobility so he empathizes with Jon's unhappiness at being excluded from the feast?
The feast itself has a lot of character set up going on. A "Meet and Greet" of sorts for the families and we the audience.
There's the fun moment for Arya where we get to see her mischievous nature in throwing food at her sister Sansa who is busy flirting with Prince Joffrey.
Benjen and Ned meet, where the rumors of the White Walkers is dismissed by Ned - a mistake of course as we the audience know the truth and Benjen seems to suspect it's really true as well.
Sansa also meets the Queen who asks her some questions and admires her beauty. Most importantly she asks Sansa "have you bled yet?" as if Sansa's no more than a breeding mare to her for her son.
Their 'engagement' as children is not uncommon in noble/royal houses but it's obviously setting the stage for some awkwardness and trouble to come for the Starks as they clearly do not get along with the Lannisters.
There's more foreshadowing of this when Jaime Lannister confronts Ned Stark about coming to King's Landing and a tourney. Jaime wants to fight Ned and makes that very clear. But Ned's not taking the bait and says he doesn't fight tourneys so his enemies don't know what he can do. This is a clue that much later Jaime and Ned would indeed fight.
Later that night, another piece of the foreshadowing puzzle comes in the form of that ill-fated message from Lysa Arryn, Catelyn's sister accusing the Lannisters of murdering Jon Arryn. There's also some sad irony here for Ned Stark.
This begins the downward spiral of events that would eventually bring his own death as well as Robert Baratheon's at the hands of the Lannisters. The mountain lion had indeed come to their forest to hunt!
Maester Luwin argues with Catelyn who does not want Ned to go to King's Landing to unravel the murder mystery. He asks "Who but you can protect the king?" which is ironic since Ned has been protecting another (unknown) king ... Jon Snow!
The last scene we have of the Starks is after King Robert and the Starks ride out for a boar hunt. Ned has accepted Robert's offer to be Hand of the King and admits "You're a loyal friend ... the last one I've got" which shows us just how desperate the situation in King's Landing must be.
Young Bran climbs a tower where he witnesses something that will change his life (and the lives of many) forever. The symbolism here is the start of the "fall" of the Starks.
This was a very emotional ending to the premiere episode. We see how ruthless the Lannister twins are about keeping the 'secret' they've had their whole lives, an incestuous relationship. Poor Bran is a victim of this secret and shoved from the window by Jaime which sets the stage for hatred of the Lannisters by the audience.
"The things I do for Love ..."
~~~
This concludes the symbolism and foreshadowing episode for the Starks of Winterfell in Episode 1x01. The last part will cover The Targaryens as we meet them for the first time in Essos - stay tuned and let me know if I missed any great Stark foreshadowing in the premiere you liked!
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