Grade: A-
With many main character introductions out of the way, episode 2 of Game of Thrones' first season allows for more intrigue and plot developments, heightening the tension, foreshadowing conflicts to come, and giving more and more reasons to keep on watching.
This episode stands out to me as the one where we first get a sense of how awful Joffrey is. Most viewers will tell you that there are few other characters in the show- maybe in all of fiction- that come close to being as unlikable as Joffrey. By the episode's end, he is responsible for the unjustified murder of both a young boy who didn't deserve to die, and an adorable, completely innocent direwolf, and as hard as it is to believe he can get any worse, naturally, he does. Also established: cute animals and children are not safe from death, in the world of Game of Thrones...
Joffrey had a certain unpleasant aura in the show's first episode, despite having no lines of dialogue, thanks to Jack Gleeson's excellent acting: his sneer and his body language were enough to make you feel a bit uncomfortable right from the start. But here, he's given the opportunity to speak and enact his violent tendencies, and it really is a great introduction for one of the show's most memorable villains. Sansa's direwolf proves to be another casualty- one of the first of many- within the show, and it speaks volumes about Ned's character that he agrees to put it down, though not without comforting it first. Sansa's devotion to Joffrey is hard to buy at points, especially because she will forgive him for her pet's death- I suppose the character is very young and naïve. I buy Sophie Turner's naivety, but I think she looks a little older than the character is supposed to be (it might have something to do with her height?), which gives me this gut feeling that to some extent, she should know better than to fawn over Joffrey.
More believable- though still frustrating and hard to watch- is Catelyn Stark's attitude towards Jon Snow. It's the first of many character interactions where you can understand both sides while not wanting them to have that conflict, and then have to sit with that as a viewer. I can't hate Catelyn for disliking Jon Snow- he is a constant reminder of a time in which Ned was not faithful to her. And I feel sorry for Jon, of course- he's already established to be a friendly and faithful member of the Stark family, who gets on well with his half-siblings and father.
The Stark and Lannister rivalry really begins in this episode too, with the climactic confrontation regarding Joffrey being bitten signifying the first time the houses clash quite violently. There was some tension previously, especially when Jaime and Ned have an uncomfortable exchange at the feast in episode 1, but things get considerably tenser by this episode's end.
For introducing a great villain, establishing one of the show's core conflicts, and beginning to move the characters to locations where important events will play out, The Kingsroad works as a very satisfying episode of Game of Thrones that continues to build things up. And once again, we have a cliffhanger surrounding Bran- he's woken up, and seems to sense Lady's death, despite it happening miles and miles away...
With many main character introductions out of the way, episode 2 of Game of Thrones' first season allows for more intrigue and plot developments, heightening the tension, foreshadowing conflicts to come, and giving more and more reasons to keep on watching.
This episode stands out to me as the one where we first get a sense of how awful Joffrey is. Most viewers will tell you that there are few other characters in the show- maybe in all of fiction- that come close to being as unlikable as Joffrey. By the episode's end, he is responsible for the unjustified murder of both a young boy who didn't deserve to die, and an adorable, completely innocent direwolf, and as hard as it is to believe he can get any worse, naturally, he does. Also established: cute animals and children are not safe from death, in the world of Game of Thrones...
Joffrey had a certain unpleasant aura in the show's first episode, despite having no lines of dialogue, thanks to Jack Gleeson's excellent acting: his sneer and his body language were enough to make you feel a bit uncomfortable right from the start. But here, he's given the opportunity to speak and enact his violent tendencies, and it really is a great introduction for one of the show's most memorable villains. Sansa's direwolf proves to be another casualty- one of the first of many- within the show, and it speaks volumes about Ned's character that he agrees to put it down, though not without comforting it first. Sansa's devotion to Joffrey is hard to buy at points, especially because she will forgive him for her pet's death- I suppose the character is very young and naïve. I buy Sophie Turner's naivety, but I think she looks a little older than the character is supposed to be (it might have something to do with her height?), which gives me this gut feeling that to some extent, she should know better than to fawn over Joffrey.
More believable- though still frustrating and hard to watch- is Catelyn Stark's attitude towards Jon Snow. It's the first of many character interactions where you can understand both sides while not wanting them to have that conflict, and then have to sit with that as a viewer. I can't hate Catelyn for disliking Jon Snow- he is a constant reminder of a time in which Ned was not faithful to her. And I feel sorry for Jon, of course- he's already established to be a friendly and faithful member of the Stark family, who gets on well with his half-siblings and father.
The Stark and Lannister rivalry really begins in this episode too, with the climactic confrontation regarding Joffrey being bitten signifying the first time the houses clash quite violently. There was some tension previously, especially when Jaime and Ned have an uncomfortable exchange at the feast in episode 1, but things get considerably tenser by this episode's end.
For introducing a great villain, establishing one of the show's core conflicts, and beginning to move the characters to locations where important events will play out, The Kingsroad works as a very satisfying episode of Game of Thrones that continues to build things up. And once again, we have a cliffhanger surrounding Bran- he's woken up, and seems to sense Lady's death, despite it happening miles and miles away...