Episode 7 – You Win or You Die – New Viewers Recap

Thrones seems to up the ante with each episode and episode seven is no exception. I suspect each week is bringing more and more surprises for you new viewers. I know our newbie recapper, We Do Not Sow, was surprised at some of the developments in this episode. Read his recap after the break and join in the spoiler-free discussion below!

Spoiler note: This post is intended for new viewers only (book fans can discuss the show here). We ask all the series veterans to refrain from posting spoilers in the comments here, veiled or otherwise. This show is best viewed without knowing all the surprises beforehand, so please be respectful of your new, fellow fans. Thank you!

We Do Not Sow: This past week we had episodes 6 and 7 unveiled in the same night. It was great to have a double serving of GoT this weekend, but wow was there a lot of information to process. Episode 7 I treated a little differently than the last 6 episodes, I was able to watch it once through and reflect on it longer than usual before I wrote this.

So let’s dive right in, the first scene Tywin Lannister is telling Jaime his expectations of the Lannister house, that he wasn’t decisive enough when attacking Ned and what kind of man Jaime should be. I found this scene really eye opening in that Jaime really doesn’t know his place yet and seems to be relying on his father Tywin. I feel like Jamie is being told by his father Tywin, his sister Cersi and others who he should be and he still hasn’t grown out of his “king slayer” nickname. The one line that stuck out for me in Tywin’s rant was “Lannisters don’t act like fools”, to me it means every action any of the Lannisters take is well thought over and planned out, that way they can always be in control of this situation. Here’s hoping that one day they find themselves unprepared. Final thought on this conversation, don’t the Lannisters have enough money for someone else to skin and butcher this deer? I’m just saying.

Finally we get back to the north wall with Jon, Sam, Pyp and the rest of the castaways graduating to their new positions at the wall. To much of everyone’s surprise, Jon doesn’t get picked to be a Ranger but rather a Steward assigned to Commander Mormont himself. So instead of scouting the forests for White Walkers he gets to do laundry, keeps the fires going and other meaningless jobs. Jon was devastated until Sam points out that being a steward to the captain isn’t such a bad thing. He will get to know everything that goes on at the Wall, and throughout the Kingdoms and Sam even points out that they may be grooming Snow as a replacement for the commander down the line. Jon and Sam take their vows and start to celebrate with their new brothers as we get another dire wolf sighting when Ghost brings out a frozen hand and forearm out of the woods. The limb reminds me of how the body parts were laid about in the woods in the first scene of the series.

Across the sea Drogo has a change of heart about his theory that a khal only needs a horse to sit on and not a throne to rule. He changes his mind after one of King Roberts’ men disguised as a local merchant tries to poison his new khaleesi. Jason Momoa really has shown a great range in the last two episodes, there has been some intense scenes that he has done brilliantly.

This brings us to the meat and potatoes of the episode, with all the kings enemies can you believe a boar is what does the king in? Of course we all can, hunting with a spear with a full belly of wine, it was bound to happen. So, instead of telling everyone what they just saw, here is how it sounded in my living room.
“it’s about time Ned, everyone knew those weren’t Roberts kids for a while”, ” oh snap, he just called Queen Cersei out on it!”, “are you kidding me that kid is already on the throne already?”, ” should we be counting how many people sit on the Iron Throne”,” Ned is gonna show the King’s note, and just in care he has little fingers army behind him” , ” she ripped it up, are you kidding??”, ” ha! Good call Ned, we needed these men.” and then ” Nooooo, are you serious? ahh Littlefinger I knew you would screw him, ahhh!!!”

And now I have to wait two weeks for episode 8.

How many of you watched the episode early? Back to back episodes with significant deaths, with three episodes left, who’s next? Viewers let me hear what you you thought of the last two episodes and more importantly what do you think will happen with three episodes left?

• Published on 05/29/2011 at 9:59 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/20/2016 at 6:04 PM CDT