Game Of Thrones (newbies): “The Prince Of Winterfell” (for newbies)

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This might be the first episode of Game Of Thrones’ second season that gives off a hint of discomfort, prompting squirming reactions akin to Milhouse watching Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie and saying, “When are they going to get to the fireworks factory?” Which, really, is to the show’s credit. Since we’re in the closing act of the season and shit is likely about to get real, an episode that’s about getting characters in position is forgivable. While the show has mostly eschewed a storyline or two per episode to keep the focus narrowed and more involved, “The Prince Of Winterfell” checks in with nearly the entire cast and ladles in a heavy dollop of romance to keep things intriguing. Which is fine, but when you’re waiting for Stannis to invade King’s Landing, or Daenerys to invade the House of the Undying, or Robb to invade anything, kissing will only get you so far.

Perhaps the most involving stuff revolves around the titular Prince, Theon Greyjoy, who greets his sister to start the episode and quickly sees the writing on the wall: His triumphant conquest of Winterfell was meaningless before it began and even more so now that he’s supposedly killed the Stark children (more on that later). It’s amazing that Theon’s plot still pulls focus, since he’s such a difficult character and his behavior since arriving at Winterfell has been foolish even by his standards.

But Yara’s surprisingly sympathetic confrontation, and Theon’s insistence on seeing his conquest through, added even further shading to the twisted Greyjoy saga. Yara’s moment of compassion for her brother kinda clicked everything into place. In all of the scenes on Pyke, Yara had come off as a bit of a kiss-ass; her reputation was clearly earned, but she basically chimed in on everything her father said. But here, alluding to she and Theon enduring Balon’s parenthood and their connection as young children, Yara makes it clear that she’s mostly interested in survival, not glory. The Greyjoys are not Targaryens, and they don’t care about controlling the North; they’re just perpetually in search of battle and strife and ways to prove themselves.

Once again, Theon’s been acting like a mainlander, thinking Winterfell the grand prize (although his troublemaking first mate is partially to blame for all this). Later, it’s confirmed that he didn’t kill the Stark children—just the two orphan boys, in an attempt to prove a point to the villagers. He offers to pay off the farmer to keep his mouth shut, but, of course, the farmer has already been put in the ground by Theon’s men. Theon’s demise, or at least his overthrow, can’t be far off. Yara knows it, telling him to leave and not die near the sea. But I understand Theon’s thinking: He can’t return to the Starks, he can’t go back to his father, so why not stand his ground?

The Stark family is behaving pretty badly right now too (although for far better reasons than Theon). Last week’s little cliffhanger with Catelyn and Jaime is resolved with a fairly surprising twist: She sends Brienne off with him to trade him for her daughters, a bonehead move by anyone’s standards since Jaime is one of the best fighters in the world and Brienne, walking into King’s Landing, would pretty much be doomed to death. Remember, this is Cersei we’re dealing with: she’s doesn’t honor contracts brokered by Petyr Baelish.

It’s a twist that’s been hinted at for many episodes, though, and it’s a dramatically promising one. Robb has to lock Catelyn up to try and fend off further discord within his own forces. Meanwhile, the quippy, nihilistic Jaime is on the road with the pious Brienne, a comedy team made in heaven. This’ll be a great way to draw both characters out of their shells. They’re both very intriguing, but they both operate behind a thick veneer: Jaime’s dark humor seems to be masking even darker pain, and Brienne’s thick skin has obviously been built up over years of taunting. So setting them to work on each other is a genius move.