Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 6: The Climb

The GOT universe has many recurrent themes, most borderline nihilistic, one of which is that love or desiring someone else is probably going to result in abject failure. A person in this universe must always be scheming, not loving, sex is a distraction, not a means of enjoyment. And yet, I found it interesting that this episode was bookended by two love stories. The voice over goes to Littlefinger, reminding the viewers that life in the GOT universe is a relentless climb through the chaos of life to gain more power. And though a voice over, and a 700 foot climb up a sheet of ice, make it seem like the theme of the episode, strangely, what I took away was love.

There was a certain verisimilitude to the two love stories that began and ended this episode of GOT, though juxtaposed against one another it’s rather easy to point out the differences. The episode begins with Samwell and Tarley sitting in the darkness, miles from the wall, attempting to make a fire while the baby sleeps in her arms. Naturally the camera pans away to a longer shot, revealing the woods, the darkness, the snow, the not so subtle reminder that the song Samwell is singing about the father loving the baby and taking care of him must be taking place in some other world. It was an important moment though, one that should give a viewer pause, because it stands out like a beacon in the night, two people enjoying one another’s company and trying to convince each other that everything will be all right. Granted they’ll probably get eaten alive by White Walkers and then the dragons will come along, burn the walkers and roast their bones, but they had a nice moment in the dark there didn’t they? Aren’t we all just like that, sitting in the dark and the cold reminding one another, trying to convince each other that it’s going to be okay?

The latter love story, which takes place at the top of the wall is a GOT first. Jon Snow and Ygritte’s relationship was culminated last week in sex, but the real test of their relationship happens before they begin to climb the wall, when Ygritte tells him that she knows he’s lying about not being a crow. Jon Snow, not the consummate liar, looks like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar, but just as surely as a forgiving mother, Ygritte immediately tells him that his secret is safe, but she reminds him to be loyal to her or risk castration. Juxtpaosed with Samwell singing against the night, the threat seems violent and real, and thus, more in keeping with the GOT universe. Jon and Ygritte are the first real couple that we’ve seen develop on the show, and though their relationship is built on love caves and threats of castration, it’s about as good as we’re going to get. As Sam and Gilly remain at the bottom of the wall, Jon and Ygritte, spend the episode climbing to the top, barely surviving after old crazy eyes tries to cut them loose. And, in a scene reminiscent of any good romance, they kiss fiercely and take in the view from the wall. Heart swells, kind of. Unlike Sam and Gilly whom the night seems to be watching like a hungry wolf, Jon and Ygritte have the sun shining down on them at the conclusion of the episode, and though they’ll probably also end up roasted by dragons and reaten by white walkers, at least they’ll do it together.

The real question of the episode seems to be whether love and loyalty will work in GOT. The answer seems to be, maybe, but it helps to be able to cut some people with a sword. Ros, who’s smarts at playing various games have brought her from prostitute way up north to trusted companion of Littlefinger in King’s Landing, makes one false step and winds up spending the evening being riddled with arrows by King Joffry. Though it was not surprising to see Joffry at the other end of the crossbow, it certainly gave the audience more fodder, as if they could have possibly needed any, to look forward to his death. This is also an episode in which we learn that he tried to have Tyrion killed by a member of the King’s guard. And, the only lesson to be drawn is that it’s good to be king, because otherwise, he’d be off in a dungeon somewhere having his finger split in two like Theon.

Whatever retribution is being carved out of Theon will need to start paying off rather soon. If I’ve had a concern with the season thus far, it’s that some of the scenes are moving too slowly because of the surfeit of characters. I think it was an intelligent decision by the directors to get something beyond slogging through the ice happening north of the wall. Granted, the White Walkers remain a silent partner, the obvious enemy to untie the people, but I can forgive the directors, and Martin, for not playing their hand too early. These guys have last battle written all over them. And yet, it was time for something to happen to the people north of the wall and sticking with Jon and Ygritte as they climbed the wall was a nice tough. Theon, on the other hand, continues to be tortured in a way that we’ve seen in movies before, by some merciless fellow, which generates some sympathy for him, however, we’re more than halfway through the season and his situation remains exactly the same. It’s a test of the audiences patience, and if I hadn’t come across a couple of articles saying that Danerys was at a dead end for a bit, plot wise, I’d be clamoring to have Theon cut altogether (pun intended) in favor of seeing more CGI budget expended.

The bonds of love and loyalty are also being tested with Robb Stark’s army, and though he fell codpiece first over an exotic foreign woman, he has to virtually insist that his uncle take his place by marrying the daughter of Lord Walder Frey. The uncle does briefly try and barter for at least getting the pretty daughter, but he’s immediately shouted down by his comrades, who then go home and sleep with their pretty wives.

Ironically, the bonds that are strengthened in this episode are those of the Lannister children. Tyrion learns that Cersei didn’t try and have him killed at Blackwater, and though they seem entirely unaware that they could say no to their father, at least they point out that they’ll be united in their misery. If love is happening north of the wall, down south, it’s being conducted as it always has been, as a means of fortifying power. Sansa bawls her eyes out watching Littlefinger sail away, once again proving that all the Stark brains were spent on the other children and Tyrion has to break the news that he’ll be marrying her in front of his current girlfriend. It is unclear at this point whether the Lannister children will ever break free of their father, or what the outcome would be. Perhaps the lots have already been thrown and it’s best to ride out the rest of the bet

 Jaime Lannister continues his quest to be the character who changes the most during the course of the season, attempting to save Brienne, only to be told that she’ll be tried for treason. The other interesting piece to consider is what value Jaime will have to his father now that he’s missing his sword hand. Jaime is now somewhere between the Samwell and Gilly’s and the Jon and Ygritte’s. A good portion of his power was beholden to him via his ability to fight. It will be interesting to see if King’s Landing has room for two clever, wounded Lannister children.

Lest we forget the last reminder that loyalty doesn’t always pay off, the band of brothers agrees to sell of Gendry to Melisandre. Though, to be fair, it sounds like she intends to make him a kind or high priest or something, which is the sort of thing they should explain to Arya as it would probably clear up some misconceptions. I mean, if being taken away in a cart in chains means you get to return breathing fire and conquering kingdoms, maybe it’s best that he goes.

In the end, this episode, like many episodes before, seemed intent on telling two stories. One, loyalty, family, honor, the other, be loyal to the right people, family might marry you off to an ugly sister, and honor is useful when it suits you. I suppose we’ll see which view winds up winning out in the end. Though, as far as we are into this show, I fear that the most likely thing we’ll get is everything descending into Littlefinger’s chaos and everybody reaching for a ladder.