As each episode does, "Kissed by Fire" covers a hell of a lot within its running time. I laughed the other day when there was discussion about how certain GoT fans were angered at the first few episodes of the 8th season not running at film time. 52 minutes of this episode covers as much as a chapter in a book and doesn't need 30 more minutes.
Cersei just enjoys it when Tywin passes down commandment to Tyrion, taking great delight in each humiliation. When told to marry Sansa with Tyrion protesting that she deserves better than all the misery already passed down to her, Cersei can't smile wide enough, knowing that Margaery's plan to have the Tyrells and Starks wed. But Tywin has plans for her, too-to marry Ser Loras-so that she could be aligned to the Tyrells and Highgarden. Cersei's own disagreement with this, much like Tyrion, leaves no impact as Tywin demands they bring respect to the name finally. Sansa could have chosen to ship away with Littlefinger (to have a Stark daughter would have been ideal for him as Varys understands all too well) but decided to heed Margaery's advice and remain at King's Landing, hoping to wed Loras (who is all too happy to bed a squire instead). Tywin doesn't want Olenna and Margaery to have an edge over the Lannisters, so his children are to make sure to secure power as he demands. Joffrey might be named King, but the Hand is the one calling the shots, it seems.
Robb Stark is losing the faith of his men, as Cat's release of Jaime left him quite vulnerable, as Lord Karstark led a siege upon the Lannister boys, killing them in retaliation for the murder of his son thanks to Jaime. Robb has those responsible hung and Lord Karstark beheaded (Robb does the chopping, supposedly as a matter of procedure for betrayal). And the gulp in the throat: Robb sees a possible way towards seizing Casterly Rock through the aid of Walder Frey. The Red Wedding is fast approaching. You can see here where Lady Catelyn and her "King of the North" (no longer leaving such an intimidating sheen) son have gradually brought upon themselves their own doom.
So it does appear the God of Fire does have serious potency...Beric Dondarrion, with his flaming sword, does give The Hound a good swordfight but the hulking swordsman gets the better of him. However, with but a few magic words from his drunk companion in the Brotherhood, Beric once again revives. The catch: Beric carries the scars of each death, a little less himself each time. Arya looks into a fire, inside the cavern, fuming over Beric letting The Hound free, wanting him dead for the loss of her friend by his hand. After the loss of Hotpie, who remained to cook in an inn, Gendry also decides to remain with the Brotherhood to be a smith to repair their metal.
Speaking of the God of Fire, the wife, Lady Selyse (Tara Fitzgerald), of Stannis is praying to it when he arrives to visit her, needing to confess his affair with Melisandre. But Selyse is okay with it because she gave him a son. Stannis wants to see his daughter, as her face is "marked" with a type of leprosy, while her heart is pure. She wants to see his Onion Knight (Davos), but Stannis informs her he's locked in a dungeon for betrayal. She goes to visit Davos in his cell, to provide reading and offering to help him learn to read just to be with him. It never hurts to have a little warmth in a show filled to the brim with dark souls and rotten characters. Selyse hasn't been able to give Stannis a son, jars of fetuses reminding her of her failure. And as we have seen in the past, it is no surprise Stannis desire Melisandre so. Seeing the Brotherhood worshiping the same god as Melisandre is quite a shock, but the god of fire wouldn't be so confined to just a certain area and not spread further north.
Roose Bolton offers Jaime help with his wound, better quarters to sleep, and a hotbath to bathe. Jaime doesn't want to lose his whole arm so he will endure a procedure by a doc who was stripped of his maester status due to "experiments". It is an interesting turn of events. Roose even tells Jaime that his family was victors at King's Landing. What are Roose's real intentions? Jaime, at his lowest, sits in the bath, unwilling and not desiring a confrontation with Brienne, tells her of why he killed the Mad King. That he couldn't obey the King and kill his father or allow wildfire to bathe the entire kingdom in some great spread burn. It was a decision that has lived in infamy because Jaime chose his father, families and children, over the oath and honor of a Hand of the King. Brienne listened in horror, understanding his sacrifice. This is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's finest moment in the character because it revealed a vulnerability and weight Jaime had carried. And Christie deserves credit, too, as Brienne's reaction to Jaime's recollection speaks of how awful his situation really was. Best sequence in the episode.
Barristan Selmy riding alongside Jorah tries to prepare him for when they do take the kingdom, speaking about the circle, how they were once rivals, and the idea of actually supporting and representing a Queen worth the trouble. I enjoyed their banter, but Jorah's dedication to Daenerys is unquestioned. Selmy wants to know if she is worth fighting for and defending, and Jorah is without a doubt she is. But Selmy trying to judge both Jorah and Daenerys, whether they are prepared for the pressures and difficulties that come with the Iron Throne, does leave us wondering where he truly stands.
Jon Snow finally can no longer get away from Ygritte and the sexual tension and desires between them. Once inside a cavern with a hot spring, Jon gives in to his urges with just a wee little bit of seduction from Ygritte. We see as they cuddle, touch, and caress each other, talking about never wanting to leave the cavern, that there has been a bond...not just sweet lovin'. When questioned by Giantsbane and his warg about the Night's Watch's forces, Jon tells them but he's challenged on his loyalty. You see Jon aggressively emphasize his words are true...that he is worth trusting in their cause.
Includes is Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye), mentioned by Selmy to Jorah, telling Arya she would be reunited with her brother soon, The Hound fighting through the fire that is his weakness to vanquish in the swordfight (even though only a few minutes, it is incredibly well orchestrated in a cave, with the sword aflame), Tyrion having to negotiate funds for the wedding with Olenna over financial help (her dismissing him as browbeaten just further humiliates the poor guy), and plenty of God of Fire getting some love in the episode.
Cersei just enjoys it when Tywin passes down commandment to Tyrion, taking great delight in each humiliation. When told to marry Sansa with Tyrion protesting that she deserves better than all the misery already passed down to her, Cersei can't smile wide enough, knowing that Margaery's plan to have the Tyrells and Starks wed. But Tywin has plans for her, too-to marry Ser Loras-so that she could be aligned to the Tyrells and Highgarden. Cersei's own disagreement with this, much like Tyrion, leaves no impact as Tywin demands they bring respect to the name finally. Sansa could have chosen to ship away with Littlefinger (to have a Stark daughter would have been ideal for him as Varys understands all too well) but decided to heed Margaery's advice and remain at King's Landing, hoping to wed Loras (who is all too happy to bed a squire instead). Tywin doesn't want Olenna and Margaery to have an edge over the Lannisters, so his children are to make sure to secure power as he demands. Joffrey might be named King, but the Hand is the one calling the shots, it seems.
Robb Stark is losing the faith of his men, as Cat's release of Jaime left him quite vulnerable, as Lord Karstark led a siege upon the Lannister boys, killing them in retaliation for the murder of his son thanks to Jaime. Robb has those responsible hung and Lord Karstark beheaded (Robb does the chopping, supposedly as a matter of procedure for betrayal). And the gulp in the throat: Robb sees a possible way towards seizing Casterly Rock through the aid of Walder Frey. The Red Wedding is fast approaching. You can see here where Lady Catelyn and her "King of the North" (no longer leaving such an intimidating sheen) son have gradually brought upon themselves their own doom.
So it does appear the God of Fire does have serious potency...Beric Dondarrion, with his flaming sword, does give The Hound a good swordfight but the hulking swordsman gets the better of him. However, with but a few magic words from his drunk companion in the Brotherhood, Beric once again revives. The catch: Beric carries the scars of each death, a little less himself each time. Arya looks into a fire, inside the cavern, fuming over Beric letting The Hound free, wanting him dead for the loss of her friend by his hand. After the loss of Hotpie, who remained to cook in an inn, Gendry also decides to remain with the Brotherhood to be a smith to repair their metal.
Speaking of the God of Fire, the wife, Lady Selyse (Tara Fitzgerald), of Stannis is praying to it when he arrives to visit her, needing to confess his affair with Melisandre. But Selyse is okay with it because she gave him a son. Stannis wants to see his daughter, as her face is "marked" with a type of leprosy, while her heart is pure. She wants to see his Onion Knight (Davos), but Stannis informs her he's locked in a dungeon for betrayal. She goes to visit Davos in his cell, to provide reading and offering to help him learn to read just to be with him. It never hurts to have a little warmth in a show filled to the brim with dark souls and rotten characters. Selyse hasn't been able to give Stannis a son, jars of fetuses reminding her of her failure. And as we have seen in the past, it is no surprise Stannis desire Melisandre so. Seeing the Brotherhood worshiping the same god as Melisandre is quite a shock, but the god of fire wouldn't be so confined to just a certain area and not spread further north.
Roose Bolton offers Jaime help with his wound, better quarters to sleep, and a hotbath to bathe. Jaime doesn't want to lose his whole arm so he will endure a procedure by a doc who was stripped of his maester status due to "experiments". It is an interesting turn of events. Roose even tells Jaime that his family was victors at King's Landing. What are Roose's real intentions? Jaime, at his lowest, sits in the bath, unwilling and not desiring a confrontation with Brienne, tells her of why he killed the Mad King. That he couldn't obey the King and kill his father or allow wildfire to bathe the entire kingdom in some great spread burn. It was a decision that has lived in infamy because Jaime chose his father, families and children, over the oath and honor of a Hand of the King. Brienne listened in horror, understanding his sacrifice. This is Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's finest moment in the character because it revealed a vulnerability and weight Jaime had carried. And Christie deserves credit, too, as Brienne's reaction to Jaime's recollection speaks of how awful his situation really was. Best sequence in the episode.
Barristan Selmy riding alongside Jorah tries to prepare him for when they do take the kingdom, speaking about the circle, how they were once rivals, and the idea of actually supporting and representing a Queen worth the trouble. I enjoyed their banter, but Jorah's dedication to Daenerys is unquestioned. Selmy wants to know if she is worth fighting for and defending, and Jorah is without a doubt she is. But Selmy trying to judge both Jorah and Daenerys, whether they are prepared for the pressures and difficulties that come with the Iron Throne, does leave us wondering where he truly stands.
Jon Snow finally can no longer get away from Ygritte and the sexual tension and desires between them. Once inside a cavern with a hot spring, Jon gives in to his urges with just a wee little bit of seduction from Ygritte. We see as they cuddle, touch, and caress each other, talking about never wanting to leave the cavern, that there has been a bond...not just sweet lovin'. When questioned by Giantsbane and his warg about the Night's Watch's forces, Jon tells them but he's challenged on his loyalty. You see Jon aggressively emphasize his words are true...that he is worth trusting in their cause.
Includes is Thoros of Myr (Paul Kaye), mentioned by Selmy to Jorah, telling Arya she would be reunited with her brother soon, The Hound fighting through the fire that is his weakness to vanquish in the swordfight (even though only a few minutes, it is incredibly well orchestrated in a cave, with the sword aflame), Tyrion having to negotiate funds for the wedding with Olenna over financial help (her dismissing him as browbeaten just further humiliates the poor guy), and plenty of God of Fire getting some love in the episode.