I decided to rewatch the first season of Game of Thrones. I thought it would be fun to write about the seasons, but with the knowledge of what is to come. These posts will just be my random thoughts, not an episode-by-episode breakdown.
The first thing I noticed is how the speech was clipped in the first few episodes. The scene where the Stark boys are getting shaved for the arrival of King Robert, it is just very awkward and weird. Also, when the king arrives, the guards are flying Lannister banners. I cannot remember if Ned comments about that in the book.
Why is Benjin Stark allowed to leave the Wall and head down to the feast at Winterfell? Is it one of those things where the Lord Commander sends a Night’s Watch representative, and figured it might as well be his First Ranger, who happens to be Ned’s brother? Just one of those things that is never really explained.
I think my favorite scene from the first season is either when Bran’s direwolf shows up to kill the assassin, or the fight between Jaime Lannister and Ned Stark. The wolf just leaps out of nowhere and rips the guy apart, and it was great since Cat sent Summer away right before the attack. Kingslayer vs. Warden of the North was such a fun fight. The show built this tension between the two characters, and they finally meet in the field, and it gets stolen from us by an idiotic guard. I love that Jaime strikes the guy out of frustration for ruining his fun. The great debate still stands, who would have actually won? I think Jaime wins, but I think Ned surprises him with his skill. My guess is that Ned has not trained nearly as much since the war, not as much as Jaime Lannister.
The scenes of Cersei talking to just about anyone are gold. The discussion about her children with Ned, or the conversation with Catelyn about losing her first child. That is what makes her such a powerful character, you sympathize with her at times, but then she shows her vicious side.
The moment the sword comes down on Ned Stark’s head…it still shocks me. Joffrey is such an awful character, love to hate him. There is also the moment when Tywin informs Tyrion that Robb’s army was only 2000 men, and that the other 18,000 were attacking Jaime. Tyrion was right about Robb and the Starks, Tywin finally realizes his son is worthwhile, and sends him to King’s Landing as the Hand. Probably one of my favorite parts.
One thing I constantly think about during the first season was what if Ned quit as Hand while on the road to King’s Landing. He had the opportunity after the Joffrey and Arya incident. He could have refused and just went back to Winterfell. Robert would have been pissed, but oh well. What would Littlefinger have done in that circumstance? How does he sow more chaos? As Ned returns, Catelyn would not need to go to King’s Landing, which would mean she would have no need to return and run into Tyrion. She does not take him prisoner, no war between Starks and Lannisters. Soooo, how does Littlefinger sow chaos? A fun exercise.
