‘Game of Thrones’ #ForTheThrone Countdown: “A Man Without Honor” (S2E7)

Previous Episode: “The Old Gods and the New”

 

Episode: “A Man Without Honor” (Season 2, Episode 7)

Original Air Date: May 13, 2012

Director: David Nutter

 

Plot (via HBO)

Jaime meets a relative; Theon hunts; Dany receives an invitation

 

Best Moment: Theon burns the Stark boys

Clearly, this isn’t a good moment, but it’s one of the most-chilling endings to an episode in the history of the series. After the death of Ned Stark, it was difficult to be surprised by anything—but Theon taking Winterfell and seemingly burning the two youngest Stark children is an absolute gut-punch. Of course, we later find out it wasn’t Bran and Rickon but rather farm boys Theon posed as the young Starks. The superb acting by Alfie Allen, who perfectly portrays the look of horror on Theon’s face, helps make it a mind-numbing end to “A Man Without Honor”. The episode might be named after Catelyn telling Jaime that he’s “a man without honor” for what he did to his own cousin, but Theon certainly fits the description, too (as well as new King of Qarth, Xaro Xhoan Daxos).

 

Best Quote

“You know nothing, Jon Snow.” – Ygritte

 

Trivia

This is the first time Ygritte says, “You know nothing, Jon Snow.”

 

Character Deaths

-Alton Lannister

-Torrhen Karstark

-The Thirteen

-Winterfell Shepherd

-Winterfell Shepherd’s wife

-Billy (burned farm boy)

-Jack (burned farm boy)

 

MVP: Cersei Lannister

There are a couple of uncharacteristic moments for Cersei in “A Man Without Honor”. First, she gives some advice to Sansa and appears to feel sorry about the lonely Stark girl being set up with her monster of a son, warning: “Love no one but your children.” Then Cersei really opens up to her little brother Tyrion—who she hates—while questioning if Joffrey is the way he is because of her impropriety with Jaime. The moment of Tyrion not knowing how to comfort Cersei with Cersei simultaneously not knowing how to accept any possible comfort is one of the best moments between the two characters. The acting of Peter Dinklage and Lena Heady in the scene is perfect, and it’s episodes like this that make Cersei a little more sympathetic.

 

#ForTheThrone Moment: Tyrion tells Cersei that Joffrey must start acting like a king

While Cersei was the episode MVP, it was Tyrion that had the biggest #ForTheThrone moment when he told his sister that she must get Joffrey to start acting like a king. This came after Tyrion, in the previous episode, again put his nephew in his place in the aftermath of the mob attack. Tyrion was no big fan of the King, but he was a fellow Lannister and knew Joffrey had to become more regale to have a successful reign on the Iron Throne.

 

Inside The Episode