Game of Thrones Recap: "Everything and Nothing" - Season 5, ep. 1
At some point, after crawling out of a crate in Pentos, Tyrion says these words to Varys (who helped him escape from last season's fiasco).
Then he proceeds to vomit on the floor... If this isn't an indication of the unpleasant events about to take place this year, then I don't know what is.
This season's first episode left me with a bad taste and feeling unsatisfied, and I couldn't figure out if it was because I was over-hyped for Thrones, or what, but I think it's because, in essence, nothing happened in this episode. Seriously, nothing (besides the death of a prominent character, which I'll get to later) particularly exciting happens here. Most of it involves characters reacting to events that happened at the end of Season 4. Other things that happen are mainly characters setting up their roles for the current season.
Probably my favorite scene of this episode was the first one: We are shown two highborn girls walking through the woods. Viewers can probably guess that this is a young Cersei (blonde hair; red dress, "my dad"...). She and her unnamed friend visit the tent of a witch/magei/??? who gives her a cryptic reading of her depressing future. Based on what we've already seen happen in the series, we already know the witch's prophecy is accurate ("queen you shall be, until...another takes your place"; "three children for you...twenty for the king"; "gold their crowns...gold their shrouds"). I'll just note that the show doesn't mention one other little piece of her prophecy, which I'm not sure or not if they'll come back to...but the book readers know what I'm talking about. *wink* I basically like this scene because I don't think Game of Thrones has ever tackled a flashback scene in the series so far, and this was well integrated.
After that, we see present-day Cersei and Jaime talking to each other at Tywin's funeral/vigil. They have an interaction which is not as crazed as it was depicted in the books (which I'm kind of grateful for). Basically, Cersei knows Jaime let Tyrion out...and she's surprisingly not that upset (well, I guess she didn't like him that much). Good ol' cousin Lancel Lannister also reappears. Don't remember him? The writers thought you might not, so they showed him in the "previously on GOT" segment. He helped murder Robert Baratheon and had an affair with Cersei. Currently, he appears to have become more spiritual and humble, donning only a simple robe and a new haircut. Apparently, he now associates with a group of people known as "sparrows" who are likely religious fanatics. Lancel approaches Ceresi, trying to show her "the way", but she brushes him off. At this point, I think she's more concerned about Tyrion being free..and that "wicked bitch from Highgarden."
The Tyrells are, well...being Tyrells. Loras is still sleeping with that male-Ros, whose actual name escapes me, and Margery hints that she is probably not going to take any of Cersei's shit this year.
We see Brienne and Pod brooding in Nowhereland, and Sansa/Alayne and Littlefinger going West. That's all we know. They're "going West". That's it.
Across the Narrow Sea, Varys and Tyrion are talking, and that's all they do. Varys tells Tyrion he's smart and he should help bring Dany Targaryen to power for the good of the realm. That's basically it. Meanwhile, Dany has problems. In the book there is so much politics going on in her world, that it's sometimes hard to retain it all. On screen, it looks like they're condensing her issues to, the Sons of the Harpy and the fighting pits (good enough for me). When Dany stuck her head (and dragons) inside of Slaver's Bay, she dismantled a culture. These were shit-cultures, but the people who were content with their cities before she invaded are very, very upset and conflict will keep growing. This is evident when we learn that a group called the Sons of the Harpy are assassinating Unsullied. Reopening the fighting pits may help convince the Ghiscari that she is willing to compromise with their customs just a little bit, but does a queen need to compromise?
Also, her dragons are pissed. Children don't usually react well to their mother locking them in a dungeon...
At the Wall, Jon has to deal with Stannis and his precious claim. He's still trying to gather up followers, and this time around, he's looking to have the Wildlings fight for his cause. Jon knows the Wildlings will never bow to Stannis, so Stannis the Mannis suggests making Mance Rayder swear fealty to him, or else he will burn him alive. Now, the viewers know Mance, so even if you haven't read the books, you know Mance isn't going to bend the knee to Stannis.
So he burns, and it's quite an emotional scene, seeing the leader of the Wildlings put to death. I don't know about you, but the live burning of a "king" is definitely not what I would call a good sign of things to come.
I would summarize this episode by calling it a teaser. This was basically an hour long trailer for the rest of the season. Nothing really happens in this episode, but everything you need to know about future events is laid out right here. Shit is going down - Ceresi will have more enemies; The Faith of the Seven may cause some issues; Margery has plans of her own; Stannis will stir up the North; Jon will have to juggle his Night's Watch vows again; Tyrion will set out on a new adventure to Dany, but knowing her current situation, it will not be pleasant. Everything so far is looking grim, so I guess this is why I was left with a bad taste in my mouth after the episode. We already know that good things rarely happen in Game of Thrones, but with this, we get the feeling that it's going to get much more worse.
Also, also:
- No pre-opening credits prologue???
- Speaking of opening credits- did you see the sigil they put on Winterfell? Ugh.
- Yes, Arya and the Sand Snakes, and Theon are missing from this episode, but you just wait!
- Dear book readers: they featured Brienne and Podrik for a reason, so keep your fingers crossed!
- Melisandre asking Jon if he was a virgin: Whut?
- Michiel Huisman: making you forget all about old Daario.
- Jon Snow's mercy kill of Mance was a pretty good ending for this episode. It's shows how he's doing what needs to get done, but he still has respect for the man. Such a good boy!
- At first glance, I thought Lancel was recast by Lucas Grabeel.
- I like how they cast the woods witch/Maggy the Frog as a younger (slightly attractive) woman.
- Looks like they're setting up Robin Arryn to be practically absent from the show by having him "be in training" at the Eyrie. Fine. Whatever. I didn't want him screaming all over the place anyway.
- The little Night's Watch kid is back!!!
- Dany sans dragons? Shit...
- This episode is titled "Wars to Come", which is appropriate. This one sets up half of the major conflicts we are going to see this season. The writers are always so clever with their titles.
- Overall reaction: "Meh...oh wait...I see what they did there."
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