The third episode of this fifth season of “Game of Thrones” has one standout sequence, which is to say I could watch Margaery (Natalie Dormer) and Cersei (Lena Headey) trade barbs and “pleasantries” for an entire episode. In fact, I’ve watched the sequence multiple times – starting from Cersei being transported to the sept for the wedding as the crowd calls for Margaery, all the way through Cersei offering to help Margaery with anything she needs.
Â
Cersei is fast becoming my favorite part of this season. A concerted effort has been made to bring the queen mother to the forefront. Between opening the season with the show’s first ever flashback to watching her attempt to consolidate power in the wake of her father’s death, Cersei is the most active character so far this season.
Â
Cersei’s prophecy hangs over her actions like a heavy shroud. As her status quo continues to shift in dramatic ways (this week her youngest child is married to her greatest enemy), she is fearful of appearing weak. My favorite part of the episode comes from Lena Headey’s performance during the scene when Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) asks if she would be happier at Casterly Rock.
Â
Her reaction is a subtle mix of disgust, anger and shock with the smallest hint of hurt. Cersei certainly knows Tommen would never suggest something so personally offensive on his own. Clearly Margaery has already insinuated herself into the affairs of the court. What makes this scene really work is how Cersei has to shield her naïve son from what is really happening between the Lannisters and Tyrells but still make sure she isn’t ordered to go back to Casterly Rock.
Proximity to her son is the only tenuous aspect that keeps Cersei and, to a larger extent the Lannisters, in power. Tommen is a weak king, his loyalty sways from his wife to his mother just based on who he spoke with last. He has never had to face a decision let alone a crisis in his entire life. If Cersei is not there to guide him, the Tyrells will assert their dominance and Cersei’s prophecy will come to fruition.
The rest of this episode is less successful for me. The show picks up the threads from the previous two episodes and checks in with our characters as is its natural rhythm. I normally don’t like comparing the show to the books, they are different mediums and plots and characters need to be adjusted in the adaptation process. That being said, I was looking forward to Arya (Maisie Williams) arriving at the House of Black and White this season.
Â
However, based on how this season has started that story, and judging by reaction I’ve seen to Arya around the web recently, this adaptation hasn’t been all that successful. Even knowing where this particular storyline went in the books hasn’t made it any easier for me to pay attention when we’re inside the darkly lit rooms spending time with the Faceless Men. Only three episodes into the season, the show still has plenty of time to turn this plot into something exciting but it’s currently set at a snail’s pace thus far, and the information is doled out at less than a trickle.
Â
We also don’t get much new information, but do witness one exciting development at the Wall. We check in with Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) as the newly elected Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch. The interesting part of these scenes is how his posture and projection of confidence seems to belie his inexperience. His interaction with Stannis (Stephen Dillane) is measurably different than what we’ve seen previously. He has an air of authority, seemingly heeding a piece of advice Ser Alliser Thorne (Owen Teale) yelled at him last season. A leader will always be questioned by those he commands, the key is for the leader not to question himself. He has to make a hard decision towards the end of this episode, one similar to that which his father had to make at the beginning of the series. This is the first time in a long time (I know I’m in the minority on my usual indifference towards Jon), but I’m interested to see where Jon is going.
Â
Are you interested in Cercei’s machinations? What do you think about Sansa coming back to Winterfell? Where do you think Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) is planning to take Tyrion (Peter Dinklage)? And what do you think of the Sparrows appearing in King’s Landing? Let me know below!
