“What Is Dead May Never Die” (Season 2 | Episode 3)

Another great episode of Game of Thrones saw the addition of more new characters, less of old ones and a goodbye to a brave warrior. So, just like the Westeroes map, let’s go round the houses…

Firstly to Jon Snow, following on from last week’s finale and it seems he’s gone and got his clan evicted from Casa-de-Caster, in some ways that’s not a bad thing but out on their own, beyond the wall, against the wildlings could prove fatal for some. Mormont already knew the score when it came to Caster’s “offerings” to the white walkers, “The Wildlings serve crueller Gods than you or I,” Bummer, Jon!

Off to the Pyke next, and to Theon, it seems he’s come to a fork in the road, torn between his alliance to the Starks and his own Greyjoys. Writing the letter out and then burning it in that symbolically lit room was a very quick but effective way of portraying his inner conflict. He’s almost past the point of no return and it seems he’s sticking with the old man.

Cat’s visit to Renly’s southern encampment brought with it the introduction to another bunch of characters. Relationships and forbidden love are two themes that are touched upon in almost every episode of GoT, looking at the Lannister’s you’d think they would take first prize in twisted, complicated romance but you’d be wrong. Renly is having a piece of the two Tyrell siblings and what’s more, his Queen, Margaery doesn’t seem to mind too much as long as she gets pregnant – not quite the kind of storyline you’d find in Coronation Street, I guess in a weird way that’s why people love it so much.

Renly’s love affiliations aside, we got to meet another female character in the form of Brienne of Tarth, who is basically a Terminator dressed in a middle aged version of Isaac’s suit from Dead Space. She can kick some serious ass and now that she’s won the warrior apprentice she’s earned herself a place in the king’s guard. Keep your eyes on her, she’s sure to end up in a fight or two.

Back in King’s Landing everyone’s favourite dwarf was playing some serious mind games with his closest associates. Feeding each of them a tall tale about the fate of Joffrey’s sister. So Pycelle is the mole and what’s more he was the one who betrayed Ned Stark’s predecessor Jon Arryn. Nice one Tyrion, his firm evaluation of everyone in contact with the king’s hand continues.

Finally, we said goodbye to another great character in Yoren. The conversation he had with Arya just before the Lannister guards showed up was fantastic, a nice calm interaction that really uncovers the true feelings about these characters. His death was a surprise but at least he went down with a fight. Following this, how smart was Arya? That was one of the best lies I’ve ever heard, at first I thought it was going to be a Spartacus moment but thankfully the quick-thinking Arya shifted her identity to the boy the Lannister guard just killed. Good lass.

No Robb Stark or Daenerys this week – boo, hopefully they’re both due some lengthy screen time in the coming weeks. Another character we didn’t see anything of was Joffrey…but who really cares?

9/10

Scene of the Episode | We’re looking for a bastard named Gendry – this whole sequence was fantastic and chilling, stabbing Lommy through the neck was pretty disturbing, this show is not afraid to go to some very dark places and go there so sinisterly.

Reviewed by Rich Jepson, cult TV enthusiast and author of 24: Terrorism Through Television.