This episode opens with Robb Stark's forces inflicting another crushing defeat on the Lannister's army. This puts his sister Sansa in grave danger; Joffrey orders her stripped and beaten but luckily for her Tyrion intervenes and saves her
while also giving his nephew some words of advice. Tyrion wonders if Joffrey needs some 'female company' so sends a pair of prostitutes to his bed chamber. This just leads to Joffrey ordering one to severely beat the other; both to send a message to Tyrion and to satisfy his own sadistic urges.
Away from the capital Arya finds herself captive at Harrenhal; a dangerous place where a prisoner is brutally killed each day leading her to add more names to her 'little list'. Luckily the danger ends when Tywin Lannister arrives and orders that the prisoners should be put to work rather than killed he also sees that Arya is a girl and orders that she must become his cup bearer; a safer position so long as her identity remains secret. At Renly Baratheon's camp Lord Baelish pays a visit; something Catelyn Stark is not pleased about; although he does later give her Ned's remains. Renly also meets his brother Stannis; each claims to be the rightful king but it remains to be seen what will happen between then; Renly has more men but Stannis has Melisandre. Across the narrow sea Daenerys and her people seek shelter and sustenance in the city of Qarth but it is far from certain that they will even get through the city gates.
This was another really good episode; Joffrey has always been the series' most despicable character and here he is at his worst; first when he orders Sansa be abused and then what he does to the two prostitutes; this was a distinctly disturbing scene. Jack Gleeson does a great job making us believe that Joffrey is truly vile rather than a mere pantomime villain. As always Peter Dinklage is brilliant as Tyrion; especially in the scenes where he saves Sansa and then when he blackmails Lancel Lannister into reporting on the queen's activities. There are often fairly brutal scenes in this series but this episode features some of the most disturbing thanks to its sadistic nature; notable the aforementioned scene featuring Joffrey and the prostitutes and later a scene where a prisoner at Harrenhal is killed in a way that involves a rat these scenes don't feel gratuitous though as they emphasise the unpleasantness of certain characters and aren't fun to watch. These scenes of brutality aren't the only disturbing moments; the final scene where Melisandre 'gives birth' was certainly nightmare fuel what happens next will be interesting to see.
Away from the capital Arya finds herself captive at Harrenhal; a dangerous place where a prisoner is brutally killed each day leading her to add more names to her 'little list'. Luckily the danger ends when Tywin Lannister arrives and orders that the prisoners should be put to work rather than killed he also sees that Arya is a girl and orders that she must become his cup bearer; a safer position so long as her identity remains secret. At Renly Baratheon's camp Lord Baelish pays a visit; something Catelyn Stark is not pleased about; although he does later give her Ned's remains. Renly also meets his brother Stannis; each claims to be the rightful king but it remains to be seen what will happen between then; Renly has more men but Stannis has Melisandre. Across the narrow sea Daenerys and her people seek shelter and sustenance in the city of Qarth but it is far from certain that they will even get through the city gates.
This was another really good episode; Joffrey has always been the series' most despicable character and here he is at his worst; first when he orders Sansa be abused and then what he does to the two prostitutes; this was a distinctly disturbing scene. Jack Gleeson does a great job making us believe that Joffrey is truly vile rather than a mere pantomime villain. As always Peter Dinklage is brilliant as Tyrion; especially in the scenes where he saves Sansa and then when he blackmails Lancel Lannister into reporting on the queen's activities. There are often fairly brutal scenes in this series but this episode features some of the most disturbing thanks to its sadistic nature; notable the aforementioned scene featuring Joffrey and the prostitutes and later a scene where a prisoner at Harrenhal is killed in a way that involves a rat these scenes don't feel gratuitous though as they emphasise the unpleasantness of certain characters and aren't fun to watch. These scenes of brutality aren't the only disturbing moments; the final scene where Melisandre 'gives birth' was certainly nightmare fuel what happens next will be interesting to see.