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| CHOP THAT WOOD... ERRR LEG, TYRION! .gif Credit: Warming Glow |
Many people will point to the action scenes in the 54 minute frame as to why this episode ruled so hard. I agree that there were very impressive visuals. In fact, the .gif that I have here was my favorite scene. That being said, if it was only gore, crushing decapitations and Wildfire, it would've been good but not the best in my estimation. Game of Thrones is a full-service series, and with the carrots of graphic violence and titties (and dimwitted giant's penis) galore, it's easy to see why they bring an audience to the table. That being said, it keeps me sitting there wanting more because of acting and characterization. As good as the effects, action and visual spectacle were in "Blackwater", what I thought made the episode shine brightest was the acting.
For example, it might have been hard to notice in the backdrop of the entire series, but Peter Dinklage may have turned in his strongest performance as Tyrion Lannister across both seasons. It's hard because he's consistently turning in standout performances every time he's on screen, playing the "half-man" with all the cleverness and cutting sarcasm that readers of the books would've come to expect from the imp. We saw a different side of him here, a knowing sense of the doom that was about to befall the forces he was leading. Despite the fact that he was considered to be the least of all the men because of his stature, he was the one who stood tallest during his rallying speech before the final portion of the battling began. Maybe the most poignant of his acting came with no spoken lines at all, as his face told the entire story of resignation and crushing disappointment after he was slashed in the face. He didn't have to say a word; the look in his eyes accepted defeat and maybe even the death that would've befallen him had his father not saved the day not minutes later.
We also got glimpses into the realization of other characters who haven't had the chance to have climactic moments throughout the season. Stannis Baratheon's determination and will became manifest through his actions. His steely gaze was fixed on King's Landing the entire time, even as the green flames of Wildfire surrounded him. He kept charging even as his retainers were slashed, stabbed and crushed around him. Even as Tywin Lannister, his forces and the Tyrells' troops swarmed the beach, he had to be dragged from the siege by his men. The man literally gave zero fucks, and did so without announcing to the world as such. The Hound became a fully realized character here as well. While we got glimpses of his character through facial expressions at King Joffrey's barking commands and through one scene with Sansa earlier on in the season, this was his breakthrough. Sansa herself started to show her hand as well, revealing through one short frame all her insincerity and "putting on a happy face" by clutching a doll that her father, a man that she publicly denounces as a traitor, gave to her.
For me though, the real eye-opener here was Cersei Lannister. I always thought her as droll, coy, understated, but when Lena Headey had to break out the colorful, vibrant acting, she totally did. Holding court like a drunk aunt snarking on the rest of the family uncomfortably at Thanksgiving, Cersei found her niche, and it was brilliant. Like the man trying to take her city, she gave zero fucks, but it was a different kind of non-fuck-giving. While Stannis' was born of determination, Cersei's felt borne of apathy, or more accurately, powerlessness. IT felt like she had given up to the idea of death and was just waiting for Ilyn Payne to get the word to start slaughtering her and every other woman in the room so that they didn't have to fall victim to the rapey penises and marauding axes of the Baratheon bannermen.
Right there is what separates Game of Thrones from some other films and TV shows purveying action like that on an epic scale. If Michael Bay were directing this, there'd be no pathos, no spirit, no soul, no sarcasm, no power. The Wildfire scene would've taken up more than half the episode and had more explosions, and then Tywin riding in at the end would've been to conquer both forces using the Allspark or some shit like that. Instead, we got action that meant something. The ax-chopping depicted above wasn't violence for violence's sake; it was the manifestation of Tyrion's leadership with a commentary on his size mattering not. The Wildfire scene was a spectacle and was probably meant to be as such, but would it have packed as much power if we didn't see Ser Davos going overboard, if we didn't fear for his safety?
Mindless action films or TV series can be great, but why not give the audience a full buffet? Game of Thrones is just that. It is a visual and mental smorgasbord. That's why it's the best show on television right now, and that's why even after going through such a draining viewing experience (in a good way), I am still looking forward to seeing even more going down in the season finale this Sunday.
And in a way, Game of Thrones represents what I want out of my wrestling. It's not just the action and the payoff, but it's got nuance, story, character. Maybe WWE should start taking cues from George RR Martin instead of whoever it is they're aping nowadays.
