Review: The Sword in the Darkness, Episode 3 in Telltale’s Game of Thrones series

Having played through the first two episodes of Telltale Games‘ episodic Game of Thrones series, I entered The Sword in the Darkness, the third episode, with a bit of trepidation. While Episode 1 was enthralling, exciting, and shocking, Episode 2 was a bit of a let down.

Because it had the tragedy at Ironrath, the seat of House Forrester, looming over it like an incredibly sad wet blanket, Episode 2 seemed to have lost a lot of the fire that made Episode 1 so memorable. However, Episode 3 picks up the soggy pieces and sets them on fire…literally…and in a good way.

See the rest of my [Spoiler Free] review, after the jump.

The Sword in the Darkness centers a lot of the story on Gared Tuttle, who finds himself at the Wall, ready to say his words at the very same weirwood tree that Jon Snow and Sam visited in Season 1 of Game of Thrones. Now that he is a sworn brother of the Night’s Watch, Gared will be forced to make some very dicey decisions, especially after the man who killed his father and sister shows up. Uncle Duncan also pays a visit, and that mysterious North Grove is expounded on in great detail.

We also see a lot more of Asher Forrester, the exiled son of House Forrester, who has been spending his time as a sellsword in Essos. Asher is joined by Beshka, his sellsword friend, and his uncle Malcolm. Together, they travel to Meereen—where the Second Sons are said to be in service to Daenerys Targaryen—in search of an army to return home with. This is where the episode gets fun, as a certain black and red dragon shows up and makes an already heated situation much worse.

Back in King’s Landing, Mira Forrester is trying to navigate the pitfalls of royal politics. The player is forced to choose where her loyalties really lie: with Lady Margaery Tyrell, to whom she is sworn, or to her family and House. Of course, navigating the political landscape of King’s Landing would not be complete without a run-in with Cerseri Lannister and her constantly scheming brother, Tyrion. The player will have to decide whether to please Margaery or get involved with the Imp, who could save her House with something as small as an officially sealed note.

In Episode 1 of Telltale’s Game of Thrones series, the Red Wedding kicked things off with a bang. In Episode 3, the player gets a unique point of view on the Purple Wedding.

Since Mira is Margaery’s handmaiden, Cersei Lannister deviously insists that she spend the festivities with the servants and unknowns. Because such rabble aren’t afforded a good view of the action, you only really hear the commotion caused by Joffrey’s death before watching a distraught Tyrion Lannister being led off in chains.

Back at House Forrester, the Whitehills are causing trouble for the people living in and around Ironrath. With the reveal from Episode 2 that eldest bother Roderick is alive and now healing at Ironrath, the tensions between House Forrester’s meager guard and the Whitehall garrison are about to heighten. Matters are only made worse when Lord Whitehill’s fourth born son, Gryff, arrives on the scene, as Lord Roderick and Gryff clearly despise each other.

In stark contrast to Episode 2, the player will have a great deal more to do at Ironrath and on House Forrester’s lands. Who can Roderick trust? Should he play the obeisant Lord until his brother and uncle return with a sellsword army at their backs? Or should he become ever more defiant of the Whitehill occupation of House Forrester lands?

That is the allure of Telltale’s game. You, the player, get to decide how you would act if you were in Roderick’s place. Your decisions will forever alter the events of your own personal game…at least until you hit rewind.

With The Sword in the Darkness, Telltale has once again proven that it is the best in the business. The episode easily gets 10 our of 10 stars from me, and I simply cannot wait for Episode 4.

Beware though, as the title of the episode is a tad misleading. The words “the sword in the darkness” are spoken by brothers of the Night’s Watch as part of their vows, which might lead players to assume that they’ll spend most of their time playing in the frozen North. However, in Episode 3, there be dragons!

• Published on 03/24/2015 at 3:00 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 1:06 PM CDT