TELEVISION REVIEW: FTN reviews Game of Thrones S03 E06 “The Climb”

 

SPOILER HEAVY – YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

Game of Thrones
S03 E06 “The Climb”

The title of this episode says it all since this episode dealt with both a literal (Wildings climbing the Wall) and metaphorical (others climbing social ladders) climb. There is only up and down and it go can go either way in life, love and more. But most importantly, as this season draws nears it’s close, was one line of dialogue that speaks volumes and further emphasizes the up & down movements of a climb: “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.” Some characters are currently down the ladder, which means they can only go up from here, but to the ones that are up… well, there’s only one other way to go.

The red woman, Melisandre, appears at the camp of the Brotherhood, in which we get more insight on the character of Thoros and the power he wields which has allowed him to resurrect Dondarrion six times. Melisandre knows that the Brotherhood has someone the Lord of Light needs, so they allow her to take Gendry in exchange for gold. Brave Arya approaches Melisandre declaring her dislike for the witch, but Melisandre can see in Arya the lives she will take and that they WILL meet again.

Robb and his advisors meet with two Frey men to discuss an alliance for his plans to take Casterly Rock. The Freys carry their lord’s demands for an alliance, which include a formal apology from Robb, Castle Harrenhal including all of its lands & incomes, and for Edmure to marry one of Lord Frey’s daughters since Robb didn‘t. Edmure is reluctant to marry a woman he has never met, but eventually agrees.

Meanwhile at Harrenhal, during a dinner between Lord Roose Bolton, Jaime and Brienne, he tells Jaime he will send him to King’s Landing under the condition that Jaime swear to tell Lord Tywin that Bolton had nothing to do with the maiming of his hand. But Bolton intends to keep Brienne under arrest for abetting the treason of Catelynn.

Theon is still being tortured by the “cleaning boy” and has to guess who he is or he loses a finger. Theon makes a very good guess that the boy is a Karstark and torturing him for betraying Robb. His captor admits he is, then admits he is also a liar. He begins to peel the skin off of Theon’s pinky until Theon begs for his finger to be cut off.

Somewhere in the North, Bran and his crew are resting. Osha and Meers still cannot get along. Jojen beings to have seizures while dreaming because that’s a part of have the visions. When Jojen awakes, he tells Bran that he saw Jon Snow on the opposite side of the Wall among enemies.

While preparing to climb the Wall, Ygritte confesses to Jon Snow that she knows he is still loyal to the Nights Watch but in order for them to survive they must be loyal to each other. While climbing the Wall, Ygritte accidentally cracks a piece of it which causes an avalanche of ice to break off the Wall, sending the other climbers falling to their death and her & Snow dangling from the line of rope they are attached to. Orell begins to cut the rope they hang from while Snow gets Ygritte & him secure on the Wall again. They manage to climb their way to the top, much to Orell’s disappointment.

Over at Kings Landing, Tywin and Lady Olenna discuss the nuptials and rumors about their families.

Cersei and Tyrion finally have one thing in common in both their desires to not want to wed those who Tywin told them to. Tyrion also learns that it was Joffrey that ordered the hit on him during the Battle of the Blackwater.

In the throne room, Littlefinger and Varys have words. Littlefinger admits to having ‘spiders’ about Kings Landing just as Varys does, and learned about Varys’ arrangement with Ros and protecting Sansa from fleeing Kings Landing with him. We should never doubt the kind of man Littlefinger is, because in discovering their plot, he sent Ros to a customer very eager to try something new. Turns out that customer is Joffrey who used Ros as target practice with his bow and arrow.

The most visually stunning scenes of the episode took place with the Wildings climbing and getting atop the Wall. We have seen how massive the Wall is in both height and length, but to see them climbing it and appearing like ants was amazing. However, the sunrise over Westeros just North of the Wall while at the top of the Wall was breathless. It was fairy tale like, and as we all know a majority of the rewritten fairy tales have in common a ‘happily ever after’ at the end, which obviously will not be the case in episodes to come. So relish in the beauty at the end of this episode, because it is about to get ugly very soon.