Episode 9 – Baelor – Recap

Well we’re still here. That means the internet didn’t explode from the awesomeness of this latest episode. Although I’m guessing it was a close call. Episode nine of Game of Thrones was, in a word, epic emotional. I need to watch it again before I give you my full recap. Share your reactions below and I’ll be back later.

Spoiler Note: This post is for those who have read the first book. As such the post itself and the comments will contain spoilers. The new viewer recap and discussion thread can be found here.

Well, I didn’t react to this episode the way I thought I would. That is to say, I was expecting balls-to-the-wall action with an ending that would leave me with a knowing grin for all those shocked at the twist. What I got was a lot of emotional and heartfelt scenes and an ending that left me choked up. Let’s recap…

We open on Ned, still in the dungeon, Varys comes to visit him once again. Varys tells him about Sansa’s plea and has a plea of his own. Put down your foolish honor, confess your “treason” and Cersei may just let you live and take the black. Ned says he is not afraid of death but when Varys reminds him about his children, Ned begins to think twice.

Next we check in on Robb, who is having Theon shoot down all the ravens that are sent from the Twins (which look awesome by the way). They talk about the need to cross the bridge. Cat volunteers to go bargain with Lord Frey for passage. Cat arrives before Lord Frey who is surrounded by his sons and daughters. Frey is just as creepy (and honor-less) here as he is in the book.

Back at the Wall, Jon meets with Commander Mormont who, as a thank you for saving his life, gives him his family’s sword, Longclaw. And some more good news, he has sent Jon’s archenemy Alliser Thorne to King’s Landing. But before Jon gets too excited he gets some bad news from Sam, Robb has rallied his forces and is marching south to war.

Speaking of Robb, Catelyn has returned from meeting with Lord Frey and has some good news and bad news of her own. Good news: Robb and his army can cross the bridge. Bad news: he has to marry a Frey girl once the fighting is done. Theon thinks it is funny, Robb doesn’t. But he agrees and they cross.

Back to the Wall, Jon is acting all emo about not being able to join Robb in his war. Maester Aemon tells him that duty can be a bitch. He knows, because he is a Targaryen and should have been king but had to sit back as his whole family was murdered.

Next, we head across the Narrow Sea, with the only other living Targaryen. And her husband, Drogo is not doing so hot. His wound has become infected and he is weak and sick. He falls from his horse. Dany commands that they set up camp and Mirri Maz Duur be brought to tend to Drogo. Qotho balks initially, but relents.

Now to Tyrion, who attends his father’s war council where he learns that he will be riding on the front lines. He leaves the council in disgust, knowing his father intends to kill him. He arrives at his tent to see that Bronn has brought him a present, a whore named Shae. (In a change from the books, Shae is not from Westeros. This was done to account for the actress, Sibel Kekili’s accent. Kekili is German.) Tyrion explains how their relationship will work. Shae seems to be in agreement.

Back to Dany, who is by Drogo’s side in his tent as he lays dying. Jorah declares he won’t survive the night. Dany insists he will live. Jorah advises that they leave as the Dothraki will turn on her and her child once Drogo is dead. But Dany remains firm, she will stay by Drogo’s side. Jorah goes to get ready for a fight. Dany tells Mirri Maz Duur to do whatever it takes to keep Drogo alive… even magic. (The music takes a nice ominous tone here.) They bring Drogo’s horse and the godswife slits its throat as the blood pours over Drogo. She tells Dany to leave and not to let anyone enter the tent. “The dead will dance here tonight.”

Dany leaves the tent, to find Jorah arriving with his armor on. Qotho arrives too and is not happy about what Dany has done. He heads toward the tent but Jorah commands him to go no further. Qotho and Jorah fight. Qotho has got some moves, but Jorah and his armor are no match for a naked Dothraki with an arakh. He grabs his arakh and slashes Qotho across his face with his broadsword. But now he has a new problem, Dany is going into labor. The midwives refuses to tend to her, they believe she is cursed, Rakharo tells him. Mirri Maz Duur can deliver a baby. Jorah picks up Dany and heads into the tent as outside the sun falls and the witch’s wails come from within.

To Tyrion again, he is playing drinking games with Bronn and Shae. They play a bit of the Westeros version of truth or dare, where we learn that Bronn was once north of the Wall (interesting). Eventually things lead to Tyrion telling the story of his first love and his marriage. “As I said, I was young and stupid.” This seems to turn Shae on.

The next morning, Bronn wakes Tyrion and tells him to get ready for battle. He also has some combat advice for him. “Stay low.” Tyrion gives the hilltribes a pep talk and they charge into battle… and over Tyrion who gets knocked out. The next thing we know, Tyrion is floating unconcious over a battlefield strewn with dead bodies. He wakes, Bronn is there. He fought, we presume since he is bloody and dirty, but somehow is still alive. They won! But it is a sour victory, as Tywin reveals the fight was a diversion, Robb has taken the bulk of his forces and marched towards Riverrun to face Jaime.

We see Catelyn and Rodrik nervously scanning the treeline, awaiting Robb and his men’s return. Just when it seems like things may have ended badly, Robb rides through the trees with his bannermen (accompanied by some lovely music) and a prisoner, Jaime Lannister. Theon wants him killed but Robb says he is worth more dead than alive. Jaime proposes they end the war right there, with single combat between him and Robb. “If we do it your way Kingslayer, you’d win. We’re not doing it your way.” He has Jaime chained up and taken away. Robb addresses his men; they won a great victory, “but this war is far from over.”

Back to King’s Landing, Arya is living in the streets. The crowds are all heading somewhere, the Sept of Baelor some urchin tells her, the Hand of the King is being brought before the crowds. Arya hurries to the Sept to see her father being led out onto the dais and before the throng. He sees Arya, he sees Sansa and he puts aside his honor for once and confesses his “crimes” and declares Joffrey king. Oh happy day! Ned will be spared! He will join the Night’s Watch and meet up with Jon and together they will save the realm from the threat beyond the Wall! What?? What is this? Joffrey just commanded him to be beheaded! Sansa is hysterical. Varys rushes over to Joffrey in shock. Even Cersei calls it “madness.” Arya makes her way through the crowd, trying to get to her father, but Yoren grabs her. Tells her to keep her eyes on him. Time stands still. Ned surveys the crowd, Payne grabs Ice and draws back and with one huge swing kills Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell. Arya looks up at the sky. Her face says it all. Fade to black.

Wow, what an emotional ending. I was not expecting to be affected as I was. I knew the story, I knew what was coming, I thought it was the new viewers who would be shocked and appalled and I would just smile knowingly and say, “That’s Martin for you!” Instead seeing it play out on screen, with Ned trying to save his daughters only to have everything go horribly wrong and seeing Sansa and Arya’s reaction. I’m getting emotional again just thinking about it.

The rest of the episode, was a bit underwhelming, I felt. The loss of the battles hurt a bit. I wasn’t expecting a huge Helm’s Deep-type battle, but felt something smaller scale on either of them would have been more satisfying than just skipping them outright. And some of the other scenes, while good, were very character-driven and, at this point, I expected more plot-driven scenes. Still it was great to see Tyrion and Bronn and Shae and getting to know these characters some more. I’m really loving Jerome Flynn as Bronn.

The stuff at the Wall was good. Peter Vaughan did well with his monologue. And I thought Emilia Clarke was exceptional showing Dany not wanting to let go of her only love. So I guess there was a lot to like about this episode, but like I said, I was expecting non-stop forward momentum and got a lot of emotional character-building moments. I think it is more a case of my expectations being too high. And how can you complain when you get an ending like that? The last scene was so well-done. Hats off to David Benioff and Dan Weiss for the writing (and GRRM originally, of course), Alan Taylor for the way it was shot and Sean Bean and Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner acting it out so brilliantly. Can’t wait to see how it all concludes next week.

• Published on 06/12/2011 at 10:00 PM CDT
• Last updated on 10/20/2016 at 6:04 PM CDT