Post by Envie on Aug 2, 2016 23:52:14 GMT -5
Episode 5 - The Wolf and the Lion
Foreshadowing & Symbolism
This episode was the big turning point in the story. Appropriately placed at the halfway point of the season, it gave the big pay-off for the first four episodes of character and story arc building. It was also one of the best if not the best episode of the first half.
I felt like the overall theme of the episode was about conflict. Conflict between the Starks and Lannisters being the most obvious and symbolic of the pairings we saw together throughout the episode. But there was plenty of conflict between a lot of other important characters and we'll explore that conflict between each a little bit with a ton of foreshadowing that played out for the terrible sequence of events to come in the second half of Season One.
Main Theme: Conflict of Interests and Conflict of Honor
Baratheon vs. Stark
One of the most significant areas of conflict in 1x05 was when Ned and Robert disagreed about assassinating Daenerys and Ned quits the job as Hand and says he's leaving. It's really felt like this moment sets in motion the wheels of serious danger to Ned himself. While yes the overall theme of the episode is how the Lannisters and Starks are attacking one another, there's this great scene between Ned and Robert:
My favorite line in the episode is from Ned here where he really lets Robert have it:
"I followed you into war -- twice, without doubts, without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now. The Robert I grew up with didn't tremble at the shadow of an unborn child." ...
What's so special about this moment, to me now on re-watch is that we finally have confirmation that Ned's entire protection of Jon Snow, and the promise he gave his sister to protect him has been played out over Ned's whole life and even to this moment, in defying his best friend and the king. The symbolic importance of Jon's life ... measured against that of Daenerys' unborn child is not lost on me here.
Ned says: "You're speaking of murdering a child."
Thinking of so long ago... 
In his mind, he had to have been wondering what Robert would have done with Jon Snow if he'd have found out about Jon ...
In Ned's mind, he could probably see Daenerys, carrying an unborn child dying the way his sister Lyanna died, giving birth to Jon Snow. Lyanna gave her life to save her child, but Dany would lose her child to blood magic anyways. There's some sad irony there in knowing Ned Stark's entire battle in King's Landing revolved around trying to save Dany's life and her child's life after losing his sister and protecting Jon.
Fast forward a lifetime later ...
But back to the present day time of the past in episode 5! ...
Baratheon vs. Lannister
It becomes painfully obvious in this episode that the 17 year old marriage between King Robert and Queen Cersei has not been all 'roses' under any circumstance.
In the very first scene at the tournament, we get treated to the bullying of Robert's poor Squire Lancel Lannister who really is just a young bumbling idiot. Robert wants to joust but he's too fat for his armor and Lancel can't get it to fasten around him. We get the infamous "breastplate stretcher" joke and hear Robert's disgust for being surrounded by Lannisters.
We also get a little history about how Robert ended up marrying Cersei, by recommendation of Jon Arryn who Robert blames for his miserable marriage but laughts it off.
The foreshadowing here is that Robert has been circled by lions but seems oblivious of his own danger. A stag king, surounded by golden lions is imagery there. A drunk stag at that.
That fact is not lost on Ned who asks if Lancel is a Lannster and has a thoughtful look... perhaps wondering just how much danger Robert's in.
~~~
One of the best scenes in the episode is between Cersei and Robert later towards the end of the episode after Robert and Ned have had their falling out. It's here we get the biggest insight into their relationship and a very rare moment of vulerability for Cersei who admits she once loved Robert and asks if there was ever a time they could have had a true love...
We also see Cersei's understanding of politics and war in this scene with Robert comparing her to her Father which I liked. It shows how Cersei could have been as powerful as Tywin had she been born a male.
A key bit of importance in this scene is when they talk about the threat of Daenerys and the Dothraki (which will not become a real threat until six seasons later!) ...
Foreshadowing: Robert is right about the Dothraki. A single, giant army united behind one leader (A Khal, or a Khaleesi) is a stronger bet than 5 (or 7) individual kingdoms and armies and leaders...
Robert talks about how Seven kingdoms are divided and everyone wants something different and that division weakens Westeros overall. The conversation then goes:
Cersei Baratheon: What do you want?
Robert Baratheon: We haven't had a real fight in nine years. Back-stabbing doesn't prepare you for a fight. And that's all the realm is now, back-stabbing and scheming and arse-licking and money-grubbing. Sometimes I don't know what holds it together.
Cersei Baratheon: Our marriage.
Symbolism/Foreshadowing: Cersei is very calculating and patient here was my take on it. She realized long ago that being married to Robert was no fairytale but has bided her time, raising children born of incest with her brother and is nearly to the time she's ready for the lions to take control over the stag.
~~~
Stark vs Lannister
Probably the biggest conflict of the episode takes place between the Starks and the Lannisters, on several different fronts.
First we have Catelyn with her captive Tyrion Lannister. It's easy to see he's really struggling to grasp what's going on and to point out the ridiculousness of Catelyn's accusation against him trying to kill Bran.
The best line we have of that evidence is on the road after she takes the sack off his head and reveals she's taking him to the Eyrie.
Tyrion says that Cat's sister Lysa has changed in the last years and that she might as well kill him right now. Cat says she's not a murderer and Tyrion quips back "Neither am I!" Catelyn then points out they have the dagger as evidence and Tyrion once again uses sound logic to argue: "What kind of embicile arms an assassin with his own blade???" This really does point out the stupidity of the impulsive decision to take Tyrion like that without first getting more proof and evidence.
Symbolism & Foreshadowing: The Starks are again out-witted and making mistakes based on assumptions and accusations rather than sound proof and logic. The irony here is that Bran's life was actually threatened by Lannisters, but not Tyrion. I found it odd that even after finding the long blonde hair in the tower, Catelyn is more focused on the dagger and that threat to Bran than the original threat of who/why he was thrown from the tower.
Later, at the Eyrie, we see Catelyn starting to lose a little of her control over Tyrion when Lysa has him thrown in the sky cells to await a "trial" and would have thrown him out the moon door then (as Robin wanted) except for Catelyn's reminder that Tyrion is her prisoner and not to be harmed. At least she realizes killing Tyrion would be a huge mistake ... but so was taking him captive in the first place.
We also get to see Catelyn's shock that Lysa, as predicted by Tyrion, has changed a lot and is a paranoid marginally insane person now.
Back in King's Landing, things are going quickly from bad to worse between Starks and Lannisters.
Littlefinger manages to convince Ned to follow him to the brothel to see the last person Jon Arryn met with before his death. This is of course all planned on Littlefinger's part as Ned leaving for Winterfell would effectively end the carefully laid plans he's made for chaos and civil war starting.
Outside the brothel, Jaime and Lannister men show up to demand Tyrion's return. Ned honorably says Catelyn took Tyrion on his command to cover for her and Jaime then points out that Ned's no longer hand of the king when Jory tells him to back away. Ned reminds him that if Jaime kills him, Tyrion's a dead man and this is also quite smart.
Honor vs. Morality is the theme of this encounter:
This fight scene is well done and one of the saddest moments is how we see a much older Ned keeping up with Jaime blow for blow in the duel until one of Jaime's Lannister guards stabs Ned in the back of the leg with a spear. Jaime doesn't like that and knocks the guy out - which really shows how someone labeled 'dishonorable' like Jaime actually has a quite complicated code of honor.
The symbolism here of honor and dishonor being strangely interpreted things and often the opposite of expectations is quite evident. Again, six seasons later we'll be shown the fight at the Tower of Joy which through Bran's eyes wasn't exactly how his Father had told the story.
There's some really cool parallel imagery and symbolism here...
Long ago ...
and then ... 
Honorable Ned finished off Dayne after Howland Reed stabbed him in the back. All those years later, it would be someone else (a lowly Lannister guard) who takes out Ned from behind and yet Jaime does not finish Ned off and punches out the guard instead. I thought the irony of this turnabout in circumstance was really interesting.
Other great conflicts that happened in Episode 1x05:
Sandor vs. Gregor Clegane
Clegane-bowl started in episode 1x05 and has yet to reach it's conclusion ...
Littlefinger vs. Varys
Their conversation in the Throne Room before the Small council meeting is one of the best ever done and shows how each of them has dirt to dish on the other.
Varys: "If the Lannisters were behind the attempt on the Stark boy's life and it was discovered that you helped the Starks come to that conclusion... To think... A simple word to the Queen..."
Countered by a well played parry from Littlefinger ...
Petyr Baelish: "And not long after that when I saw you escorting a certain foreign dignitary... Council business? Of course you would have friends from across The Narrow Sea. You're from there yourself, after all. We're friends, aren't we, Lord Varys? I'd like to think we are. So you can imagine my burden, wondering if the King might question my friend's sympathies… To stand at a crossroads where turning left means loyalty to a friend, turning right, loyalty to the realm."
Varys: "Oh, please."
Petyr Baelish: "To find myself in a position where a simple word to the King --"
~~~
Please join in and share other areas you found as great symbolism and foreshadowing in this episode as I only covered half the scenes!
Foreshadowing & Symbolism
This episode was the big turning point in the story. Appropriately placed at the halfway point of the season, it gave the big pay-off for the first four episodes of character and story arc building. It was also one of the best if not the best episode of the first half.
I felt like the overall theme of the episode was about conflict. Conflict between the Starks and Lannisters being the most obvious and symbolic of the pairings we saw together throughout the episode. But there was plenty of conflict between a lot of other important characters and we'll explore that conflict between each a little bit with a ton of foreshadowing that played out for the terrible sequence of events to come in the second half of Season One.
Main Theme: Conflict of Interests and Conflict of Honor
Baratheon vs. Stark
One of the most significant areas of conflict in 1x05 was when Ned and Robert disagreed about assassinating Daenerys and Ned quits the job as Hand and says he's leaving. It's really felt like this moment sets in motion the wheels of serious danger to Ned himself. While yes the overall theme of the episode is how the Lannisters and Starks are attacking one another, there's this great scene between Ned and Robert:
My favorite line in the episode is from Ned here where he really lets Robert have it:
"I followed you into war -- twice, without doubts, without second thoughts. But I will not follow you now. The Robert I grew up with didn't tremble at the shadow of an unborn child." ...
What's so special about this moment, to me now on re-watch is that we finally have confirmation that Ned's entire protection of Jon Snow, and the promise he gave his sister to protect him has been played out over Ned's whole life and even to this moment, in defying his best friend and the king. The symbolic importance of Jon's life ... measured against that of Daenerys' unborn child is not lost on me here.
Ned says: "You're speaking of murdering a child."
Thinking of so long ago... In his mind, he had to have been wondering what Robert would have done with Jon Snow if he'd have found out about Jon ...
In Ned's mind, he could probably see Daenerys, carrying an unborn child dying the way his sister Lyanna died, giving birth to Jon Snow. Lyanna gave her life to save her child, but Dany would lose her child to blood magic anyways. There's some sad irony there in knowing Ned Stark's entire battle in King's Landing revolved around trying to save Dany's life and her child's life after losing his sister and protecting Jon.
Fast forward a lifetime later ...
But back to the present day time of the past in episode 5! ...
Baratheon vs. Lannister
It becomes painfully obvious in this episode that the 17 year old marriage between King Robert and Queen Cersei has not been all 'roses' under any circumstance.
In the very first scene at the tournament, we get treated to the bullying of Robert's poor Squire Lancel Lannister who really is just a young bumbling idiot. Robert wants to joust but he's too fat for his armor and Lancel can't get it to fasten around him. We get the infamous "breastplate stretcher" joke and hear Robert's disgust for being surrounded by Lannisters.
We also get a little history about how Robert ended up marrying Cersei, by recommendation of Jon Arryn who Robert blames for his miserable marriage but laughts it off.
The foreshadowing here is that Robert has been circled by lions but seems oblivious of his own danger. A stag king, surounded by golden lions is imagery there. A drunk stag at that.
That fact is not lost on Ned who asks if Lancel is a Lannster and has a thoughtful look... perhaps wondering just how much danger Robert's in.
~~~
One of the best scenes in the episode is between Cersei and Robert later towards the end of the episode after Robert and Ned have had their falling out. It's here we get the biggest insight into their relationship and a very rare moment of vulerability for Cersei who admits she once loved Robert and asks if there was ever a time they could have had a true love...
We also see Cersei's understanding of politics and war in this scene with Robert comparing her to her Father which I liked. It shows how Cersei could have been as powerful as Tywin had she been born a male.
A key bit of importance in this scene is when they talk about the threat of Daenerys and the Dothraki (which will not become a real threat until six seasons later!) ...
Foreshadowing: Robert is right about the Dothraki. A single, giant army united behind one leader (A Khal, or a Khaleesi) is a stronger bet than 5 (or 7) individual kingdoms and armies and leaders...
Robert talks about how Seven kingdoms are divided and everyone wants something different and that division weakens Westeros overall. The conversation then goes:
Cersei Baratheon: What do you want?
Robert Baratheon: We haven't had a real fight in nine years. Back-stabbing doesn't prepare you for a fight. And that's all the realm is now, back-stabbing and scheming and arse-licking and money-grubbing. Sometimes I don't know what holds it together.
Cersei Baratheon: Our marriage.
Symbolism/Foreshadowing: Cersei is very calculating and patient here was my take on it. She realized long ago that being married to Robert was no fairytale but has bided her time, raising children born of incest with her brother and is nearly to the time she's ready for the lions to take control over the stag.
~~~
Stark vs Lannister
Probably the biggest conflict of the episode takes place between the Starks and the Lannisters, on several different fronts.
First we have Catelyn with her captive Tyrion Lannister. It's easy to see he's really struggling to grasp what's going on and to point out the ridiculousness of Catelyn's accusation against him trying to kill Bran.
The best line we have of that evidence is on the road after she takes the sack off his head and reveals she's taking him to the Eyrie.
Tyrion says that Cat's sister Lysa has changed in the last years and that she might as well kill him right now. Cat says she's not a murderer and Tyrion quips back "Neither am I!" Catelyn then points out they have the dagger as evidence and Tyrion once again uses sound logic to argue: "What kind of embicile arms an assassin with his own blade???" This really does point out the stupidity of the impulsive decision to take Tyrion like that without first getting more proof and evidence.
Symbolism & Foreshadowing: The Starks are again out-witted and making mistakes based on assumptions and accusations rather than sound proof and logic. The irony here is that Bran's life was actually threatened by Lannisters, but not Tyrion. I found it odd that even after finding the long blonde hair in the tower, Catelyn is more focused on the dagger and that threat to Bran than the original threat of who/why he was thrown from the tower.
Later, at the Eyrie, we see Catelyn starting to lose a little of her control over Tyrion when Lysa has him thrown in the sky cells to await a "trial" and would have thrown him out the moon door then (as Robin wanted) except for Catelyn's reminder that Tyrion is her prisoner and not to be harmed. At least she realizes killing Tyrion would be a huge mistake ... but so was taking him captive in the first place.
We also get to see Catelyn's shock that Lysa, as predicted by Tyrion, has changed a lot and is a paranoid marginally insane person now.
Back in King's Landing, things are going quickly from bad to worse between Starks and Lannisters.
Littlefinger manages to convince Ned to follow him to the brothel to see the last person Jon Arryn met with before his death. This is of course all planned on Littlefinger's part as Ned leaving for Winterfell would effectively end the carefully laid plans he's made for chaos and civil war starting.
Outside the brothel, Jaime and Lannister men show up to demand Tyrion's return. Ned honorably says Catelyn took Tyrion on his command to cover for her and Jaime then points out that Ned's no longer hand of the king when Jory tells him to back away. Ned reminds him that if Jaime kills him, Tyrion's a dead man and this is also quite smart.
Honor vs. Morality is the theme of this encounter:
This fight scene is well done and one of the saddest moments is how we see a much older Ned keeping up with Jaime blow for blow in the duel until one of Jaime's Lannister guards stabs Ned in the back of the leg with a spear. Jaime doesn't like that and knocks the guy out - which really shows how someone labeled 'dishonorable' like Jaime actually has a quite complicated code of honor.
The symbolism here of honor and dishonor being strangely interpreted things and often the opposite of expectations is quite evident. Again, six seasons later we'll be shown the fight at the Tower of Joy which through Bran's eyes wasn't exactly how his Father had told the story.
There's some really cool parallel imagery and symbolism here...
Long ago ...
and then ... Honorable Ned finished off Dayne after Howland Reed stabbed him in the back. All those years later, it would be someone else (a lowly Lannister guard) who takes out Ned from behind and yet Jaime does not finish Ned off and punches out the guard instead. I thought the irony of this turnabout in circumstance was really interesting.
Other great conflicts that happened in Episode 1x05:
Sandor vs. Gregor Clegane
Clegane-bowl started in episode 1x05 and has yet to reach it's conclusion ...
Littlefinger vs. Varys
Their conversation in the Throne Room before the Small council meeting is one of the best ever done and shows how each of them has dirt to dish on the other.
Varys: "If the Lannisters were behind the attempt on the Stark boy's life and it was discovered that you helped the Starks come to that conclusion... To think... A simple word to the Queen..."
Countered by a well played parry from Littlefinger ...
Petyr Baelish: "And not long after that when I saw you escorting a certain foreign dignitary... Council business? Of course you would have friends from across The Narrow Sea. You're from there yourself, after all. We're friends, aren't we, Lord Varys? I'd like to think we are. So you can imagine my burden, wondering if the King might question my friend's sympathies… To stand at a crossroads where turning left means loyalty to a friend, turning right, loyalty to the realm."
Varys: "Oh, please."
Petyr Baelish: "To find myself in a position where a simple word to the King --"
~~~
Please join in and share other areas you found as great symbolism and foreshadowing in this episode as I only covered half the scenes!
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