Game of Thrones “The Night Lands” [Review]
Unfortunately “The Night Lands” was a weaker episode following a strong start with last week’s “The North Remembers”. With the exception of some fantastic acting work and creepy incest this episode was a whole lot of slow burn as the second hour continues to be a whole of set up with little payoff. This is a mark of a specific kind of storytelling on television, a trend identified by television critic Ryan McGee in a widely discussed article published on the AV Club.
McGee describes a mode of storytelling that is not inherently ideal for the way we currently consume television week to week. It is an entirely different way of creating and viewing television involving stories being told over a season and single episodes (or installments rather) don’t necessarily have a beginning middle and end but are all part of a single whole, the season. Game of Thrones, perhaps being true to its source as a novel makes use of this long game method. For this to work the audience has to have faith, knowing that this less interesting piece will become more significant in the context of the story later on.
I do have faith in creators Benioff and Weiss, I believe that the incredibly talented cast and crew can and do successfully bring this epic tale to the small screen on a regular basis. Even when the action is slow, the characters are so well drawn and played with such depth that watching them exist within the brilliant sets and cascading, lush landscapes allows viewers to simply enjoy the experience of being in this world for an hour.
However, with an ever growing cast and expanding world I have begun to worry where in the ten short hours of storytelling, there will be room for action amid the never-ending exposition, or if the characterization and world-building will feel the squeeze. All this being said all the moving pieces continue to flow together in almost as a dance as each scene carefully leads into the next in subject and theme.
I would watch the Arya and Gendry show, all the time. Make that an entire channel of Arya and Gendry. The two of them have such fantastic chemistry together that their relationship is so well defined in their brief screen time together. It’s fantastic work by both Maisie Williams and Joe Dempsie that they are able to communicate such closeness and ease in so few moments. Credit also goes to the direction of those scenes, I love how Gendry was so easy to have his back facing Arya while they carried on a conversation, it’s a position of vulnerability that when surrounded by criminals isn’t to be taken lightly.
Because we understand the implicit trust between them it’s comforting instead of surprising when Gendry confesses his guilt about the Hands of the King coming to visit and their subsequent death, and Arya responds by revealing her identity as the runaway Stark. Often on in Westeros confiding such secrets can be dangerous, but I believe this is a bond that can be trusted. The tension in the scene was broken so perfectly with Gendry teasing Arya about being a lady, it was sweet and light and funny. It was so refreshing to see such serious young people able to relax, even for a moment.
“The Night Lands” also featured heavy hitting duo Tyrion and Cersei Lannister. Lena Headley has been hitting it out of the park playing off the always on Peter Dinklage. Headley has always given a very textured performance letting on that the icy Cersei really does have layers. The cracks in her facade have begun to crumble as she struggles to keep her power and her family together. Her son has turned into an uncontrollable monster, committing terrible crimes that she is struggling to justify in the name of survival. Jamie, her lover-brother is a prisoner of war and her youngest brother Tyrion is torture for her to look at because in him she only sees the death of her mother.
In the scenes between them the love, the hate and resentment hang heavy in the air. Tyrion’s realization that his sister had nothing to do with the slaughter of the children was a turning point. He knew the situation had spiraled out of Cersei’s control and was even more serious than he had anticipated. There is war in the Kingdoms and rumblings of an uprising within the city walls, these are dangerous times and Cersei is right to believing that no one is safe.
I would be remiss to not mention the sex and sexposition that took place in “The Night Lands” so here it is. I don’t want to end up analyzing every bit of sex and nudity that happens in Game of Thrones, though there are times where the sex and nudity add substance to the scene and others where it seems excessive, or even distracting. The term sexposition has been developed to describe the use of sex and nudity to help maintain interest in scenes with heavy exposition, on the other hand there’s “Hey Boobs”, or H.B. for short, recently coined by Maureen Ryan to describe the boobs (or other nudity) that appear on screen because, “Hey, Boobs!”. With such a premium on screen time to tell a huge story “The Night Lands” had a lot of sex for the sake of it (the scenes at Littlefinger’s for example) without propelling the story forward. The scene with Theon on the ship helped define his feelings towards women setting up his difficult homecoming to the Iron Islands where he believed himself to be the sole heir of Pyke but was instead cast aside for his sister who leads armies. Though he had been away for nine years his reception was hardly a warm one, practically disowned by his father and mocked by his sister this was not the welcome he had anticipated.
Other Notes & Quotes:
“It’s a funny thing, people worry so much about their throats that they worry about what’s low” – Yoren, always quick on the draw
– I will never get used to all this incest. I don’t have a problem with it existing within this particular fictional space, it’s important for understanding this world and how it works. I am saying that it is a feature of the show that will without fail completely squick me out every time. Theon getting handsy with his sister on that little horse ride was no exception.
– Religion continues to be a hot topic in season two. Daenerys people are relying on their religion more than ever when they have nothing left to guide them. Davos and his son Matthos Seaworth discuss religion and it’s connection to kingship while Melisandre demands that Stannis have faith. If time permits it would be nice to learn more about the role religion and belief play in the lives of our characters because it seems to have such a strong off screen presence.
– I’m always concerned for the babies on this show, the arrival of a newborn has never brought good news. In season one Daenerys sacrificed her unborn child in a vain attempt to save her husband with blood magic. Last week’s “The North Remembers” saw the slaughter of many children, infants included. Now we have two very ominous pregnancies, with one new born being sacrificed in the north and Melisandre’s ominous promise to Stannis, that she will give him a son. I think we know enough to be aware that nothing comes free and this can’t end well.
– Ned Stark’s shadow continues to loom large over season two. . His death sparked many of the ongoing conflicts in Kings Landing and the subsequent wars in the Kingdom. This week he was discussed by Tyrion at length with his sister and with Lord Janice, even with Varys. He also lives on in the shared secrets of Gendry and Arya, it must have been a huge relief for her to be able to grieve for her father aloud, even just briefly.
– The look that crosses Tyrion’s face when he realizes what Bronn is capable moments after putting him in charge of the King’s Guard
– I certainly hope the Littlefinger/Ros scene pays off in a significant way, otherwise it was a waste of precious screen time. I usually relish his quick wit but this scene fell flat.
– Last week I discussed the changing of the guard in leadership from the older generation to their children, what I’d like to mention this week is the changing ways that women are able to have power. Last season who would have thought that little Arya could be a Knight, though seeing Yara as a commander of men on the Iron Islands, and Daenerys lead a Khalasar despite objections, there is hope for her yet.
– Love the gorgeous overhead shot of the small council as Cersei reads out Robb Stark’s demands
– I would have liked to spend a little more time with Jon and Sam, I hope to learn more about what happens to the boys beyond the wall
– Though not much is happening in the Dothraki camp the scene was set up panning across the camp out of focus captured the desperation of their situation, tired, thirsty and hanging onto faith
– Is a knight just a man who wears armor? Is a battle fought only among men in armor? I hope these questions are indicators of future events.
“How many kings is that? Five? I’ve lost count”
What did you think of “The Night Lands”? What were your favourite moments?
