Episode 2x02: Foreshadowing / Parallels .. "Quick & Dirty"

Season 2 - Episode 2:  The Night Lands


Symbolism / Parallels / Foreshadowing Discussion


Themes to Explore: Exploitation of those in weaker positions (via Sex and otherwise), Sexism in Westeros, Not all is as it apppears ...


**NOTE: I was tempted to pan this week's write-up but then I decided to do one because I really felt like there were some great moments in this episode that deserved some attention because of the strong theme I picked up on in my re-watch. I hope you enjoy it and if you saw other themes and symbolism, please add on to mine in comments! 


Season 7 Foreshadowing?

Before I get into the dirty of this episode (and it had a lot of dirty in it) I just wanted to quickly highlight a brilliant piece of foreshadowing in one of the conversations between Tyrion and Cersei. They are always brilliant together and I loved the constant tension and parrying of words they did as they fought one another's control back in these early King's Landing days. When Cersei confronts Tyrion about exiling Janos Slynt to the Night's Watch, we get this awesome exchange ...

Tyrion: "Listen to me, Queen Regent.

You're losing the people.

- Do you hear me?"



Arrogant as always, Cersei dismisses the common-folk as if they were nothing. She's even had the city gates barred so they cannot enter anymore (starting that theme of rank/privilege over the less fortunate) ...

Tyrion: You might find it difficult to rule over millions who want you dead.

Half the city will starve when winter comes.

The other half will plot to overthrow you.

And your gold-plated thugs just gave them their rallying cry, "The Queen slaughters babies."

Boom. There you go. 

Oh Cersei ... if only you had actually listened to your brother's wise counsel back then. So full of hate and arrogance, you ignored his warning. Now you are a Mad Queen, sitting alone on your Iron Throne, despised by all ...

To quote Balon Greyjoy in this episode:





But wait, there's some good bits mixed in with the not so good ones:


Theme: Sexism & Social Rank in Westeros


1. "Arry" is called out by Gendry for being a girl. That itself doesn't seem to bother him so much until he finds out she's actually Arya Stark of House Winterfell and then everything changes. The rules of society in Westeros are hard set and Arya doesn't fit the normal role at all... not as a girl, and not as a noble at all. 


 ... Poor Arya. The beginning of a long road of being a misfit, not having family, and identity issues. 


2. Varys and the fish pie joke. Tyrion & Shae assume he's gay because he's a Eunuch. This is an assumption that will be made by others (Littlefinger and Oberyn) It was a bad joke but just last episode we had to endure the "Gash" discussion between Varys and Littlefinger. It makes you feel for the guy's ability to shed it like water off a duck's back really.





Speaking of fish ... Varys has some fishy advice for Tyrion:



"... and I keep on paddling." says Varys ...

Varys clearly understands the game and how bullying works - that's how others get ahead in this world. In fact this episode has a lot of bullying along with the sexism...

Hell, even Ghost wants to take advantage of Gilly holding a skinned rabbit because he's bigger than her. A LOT. BIGGER ...



"No Ghost! Shoo!"

Gilly tells Sam he's very brave for commanding Ghost to leave her alone. It's here we see Sam first fall for the wildling girl who sees him as a kind/good person rather than just a fat coward. Again, the theme of not everything is as it seems is strong as is sexism stereotypes in a sense that men are supposed to be strong and brave (and Sam's not) and women are supposed to be meek and fearful (Gilly's really not). 

Sam is a great person to point out these unfair inequalities in the Westerosi social system ...

Theme: People as Property



When Gilly convinces Sam to ask Jon to help her escape, Jon's response is that of typical nobles towards commonfolk ... "Not our problem" even though he's right, trying to take one of Craster's wives would cause all hell to break loose. The fact that the Night's Watch turns a blind eye to Craster's wrongs is not lost on me. They are using Craster for information and shelter in exchange for letting him live as he does and not fighting him as a wildling. If you think about it, it's the same position Craster has with the White Walkers. They don't destroy him because he gives them something they want. 


So the theme here is going along that people (women in particular) are often seen as property in this story world. I can understand why some may have felt the show was over the top with sexism, particularly in this episode. I'm not going to talk too much about those awful brothel scenes leading up to Littlefinger's talk with Ros, but I do feel there was a very important message relayed in his talk to her. Not only because we would later see Ros fall prey to just the sort of 'special client' Littlefinger tells her about as a warning, but also because we see very clearly how Littlefinger's business as a pimp is just that, a business and he does not see the women in his employ as people, but property to be used. Do keep that in mind later as he meets and takes over Sansa's life ... it will be important to remember. 




And lest we forget how awful this episode was with hitting us over the head with the indignity of women in sexually degrading positions of being used ... let us not forget that poor captain's daughter on the ship Theon took to the Iron Islands ...



Not only does she not get the title of "whore" as she claims her Father will call her (because Theon didn't pay her), but she doesn't even get the equally degrading title of "Salt Wife" because Theon refuses to take her with him after using her. If you think about it, a Salt wife is just another way of saying a girl you got to have sex with and not pay for services. Basically this girl's life was just ruined by Theon. Oh you poor sweet summer child, you're just the first of many he's going to fuck over my dear. 

This continues the theme of "Everyone has a price..." (even if free) and that someone else is always going to take advantage of that price and use them. Nowhere is this better pointed out than the discussion between Bronn and Tyrion after Tyrion has Janos Slynt taken away. Janos (and the Goldcloaks) were bought and paid for by Littlefinger which is why Tyrion is keen to get rid of a man so easily bought. But then look what Bronn says when Tyrion asks him "If you were asked to kill a baby, would you do it without question?" Bronn says ... "Without question? No. I'd ask 'How much?'"




But wait, the episode wasn't entirely bad!  Even with the repeated sexually degrading and de-humanizing overtones, there were some really great moments too. There were also subtle quiet moments of symbolism.


There was a great Jon and Daenerys book-ended set of scenes - and a potential parallel between Jorah/Jon that I feel will later come full circle in both loving Daenerys also.

At the end of the scene with Sam and Gilly ... We see Jon reflect on his feeling of helplessness in doing what's right for people. His honor is warring with his sense of duty and keeping peace with Craster. The scene then transitions to Jorah sighing the same as Jon was ... only now it's he who feels helpless as Daenerys and the Dothraki are suffering (no water or shelter). I liked this parallel between the honorable men and the people they love. Jorah's love for Dany and Jon's love for Sam. Both are honorable men who will later do anything to save those they love.

   Ice .... and ... Fire   


We're sighing with you guys ... hoping next week's episode improves over the first two!


*EDIT: Oh I almost forgot this one! Another awesome but sad parallel for Theon...

  Hopeful Theon (S2) ... then Sad Theon (S6) ...