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After a premiere full to the brim with extensive exposition and a huge array of characters, Game of Thrones’ second episode – ‘The Kingsroad’ – was a somewhat quieter affair. The focus here was not on the need to introduce us to Westeros, its dark and wonderful inhabitants and their sordid tales – but allowing the audience to breathe more easily and get to know some of the characters that we will no doubt come to love and hate in equal measure over the coming weeks.
We pick up with Bran very much suffering at the hands of his unfortunate ordeal from last time. Catelyn (Michelle Fairley) is unrelentingly distraught, but grief and worry turns to fear and suspicion when danger knocks at the young Starks door again. Meanwhile, Ned (Sean Bean) and Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) both leave Winterfell to travel in different directions. Jon sets out to join the Knight’s Watch, but begins to grow suspicious of the extent of the honour available. Meanwhile Ned’s trip to King’s Landing proves far from smooth.
It is hardly surprising that Monday’s edition was less action-packed than last week’s and in fact it was all the better for it. The first episode felt a little overloaded, however, after ‘The Kingsroad’ the series already seems far more settled. The pacing of the episode was perfect, allowing for comfortable character development without completely sacrificing drama.
Quieter than the premiere it may have been, but this week was by no means devoid of action. With swords, daggers and Direwolf attacks, there is plenty to keep even the most bloodthirsty viewer happy. Thankfully however, the almost clumsy barrage of sex and violence was toned down somewhat. I say this not in the name of prudishness, but subtlety. It was almost necessary to debut with such a liberal use of both as a means of setting out Game of Thrones’ stall as savage, thoroughly adult fare, despite the fantasy setting. However to continue in such a vein may have seen the series wander aimlessly into the realm of ‘tits and gore’ exploitation – more Piranha 3D than Rome.
Helped by some strong performances, this week provided much insight into the complex and oft tempestuous relationships of Westeros’ inhabitants – most notably those between Ned Stark and others. Sean Bean is subtly grim and thoroughly brilliant throughout. There is quiet yet tangible anguish in his eyes throughout, most brilliantly depicted in his promise to Jon that they will discuss his mother another time. His subtlety brilliantly balances Mark Addy’s scene stealing performance.
Sean Bean and Mark Addy have already established a wonderful onscreen partnership. The two veteran British actors have a very easy, natural onscreen rapport and are entirely believable as old friends. While the casting of the likes of Bean and co-star Peter Dinklage were those praised for role-suitability, Addy seems born to play Robert. He appears to be having the time of his life while exclaiming lines such as “thank the Gods for Bessie…and her tits”. However, he is more than able to be dire and imposing on a second’s notice.
Similarly believable is Ned’s relationship with Catelyn, her reaction to his departure is poignant without even nearing schmaltz. Fairley’s Catelyn was foregrounded this week and rightly so. As heart wrenching as her torment as a wife and mother is, her icy cold reaction to Jon is brutal and unsympathetic (although many fans of the book have noted her words have been softened for the series). Fairley however, is pitch perfect, successfully managing to evoke a range of feelings from sympathy to disdain to sympathy again in the space of only minutes of screen-time.
Even the comparatively weaker scenes surrounding Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) indicate a shift in character relations. Her quest to learn to ‘please’ the alpha male figure of Khal Drogo (a silent but thoroughly imposing Jason Momoa) at first seems somewhat inane. And yet, in their last scene together there is a sense of a new, somewhat more mutual dimension to their relationship.
On the surface, there appear not to have been any true watershed moments in ‘The Kingsroad’. However, one cannot help but wonder whether some of the developments may well prove surprisingly important as the series progresses. After last week’s enjoyable yet uneven start, the series seems to have really found its footing. Any doubts I might have had as to my potential enjoyment of this series have been completely and utterly dispelled.
Game of Thrones airs on Mondays at 9pm on Sky Atlantic
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