Episode 3 Recap: Walk of Punishment
The plot is getting out of hand in this installment of Game of Thrones. The episode opens with Catelyn and her brother, Edmure, traveling to their father’s funeral at River Run. You almost feel sympathy for Edmure as he misses the funeral barge with his flaming arrow, showing just how incompetent he truly is. If missing his father’s funeral barge was not enough to prove this, Edmure is also reprimanded by Rob for leading an ineffective military campaign in the north. Rob is visibly angry at the amount of men lost, and he notes that the Lannisters are at a vast advantage over them. Later, Talisa tends to the wounds of the captive Lannisters and jokes with them. Catelyn is reunited with her uncle, Brynden, also called the Blackfish.
The focus is then shifted to Daenerys as she barters with the slave traders. The young woman tries to free the 8,000 eunuch soldiers within the slavers’ bondage by offering the slave trader payment. This payment is not mere gold, but she offers these slavers a mighty dragon. Jorah and Barristan argue about whether the purchase of the Unsullied is appropriate. Daenerys conceals her knowledge of the Valyrian language to give her an advantage over the slaver.
We then return to the Seven Kingdoms and Tyrion Lannister. The tactical genius has been given the position of Master of Coin by Tywin. Tyrion is insulted by this position as he has no experience in managing money, and there is not much that he can do to remedy the imminent bankruptcy of the kingdom. Tyrion notes that the bank will fund their enemies if the kingdom does not repay any loans that they have. He also realizes that Littlefinger has loaned vast amounts of money for the Iron Bank of Bravos. Tyrion also has a conversation with his squire, Podrick, after Littlefinger’s girls will not take his money for sex. They say that Podrick is just too amazing in the bedroom, and Tyrion demands he tell him his secrets; however, if he does tell him, we do not hear it.
Stannis Baratheon and Melisandre consult about their next measures. After convincing him that she must leave, Melisandre departs to find king’s blood: one of Robert’s bastard children. Arya and Sandor Clegane continue their move northward, leaving behind Gendry and Hot Pie.
The focus then shifts to Samwell, who watches as Gilly of Castor’s Keep give birth. This baby is doomed to be sacrificed to the Others, and a horrible feeling settles over the scene. Tormund and the other wildings continue their advancement toward the Wall. Jon Snow continues to work with the wildlings, as instructed by Qhorin Half-Hand.
The most startling aspect of the episode, however, is the scene with Jamie Lannister. His quick and silvery tongue keeps Brienne from being sexually assaulted, which she is grateful for. By doing this, Jamie Lannister angers his captor. This moment of bravery and chivalry causes him to get his right hand chopped off in the last few moments of the episode.