Three More Thrones

Amazingly, the third season of Game Of Thrones is 70% over.  Just like each episode, the ten shows are over before you know it.

If the show has a flaw, it's that so many separate characters are in so many places the story only moves forward by inches each hour.  And so for most of the season everyone is maneuvering around.  But it's not so bad. The smart dialogue and fascinating characters often come out best when they're just maneuvering.

After the latest, "The Bear And The Maiden Fair," where are we?

Well, Sansa and Tyrion seemed resigned to their upcoming nuptials.  We'll see if they have to go through with it. (I haven't read the books, so no spoilers.) They've become two of the most sympathetic characters, even though they couldn't be more different. He's short and squat, but very clever.  She's tall and slender, but hopelessly naive. (Naive enough that some viewers are sick of her, actually). If anyone is really unhappy about their marriage, it's Shae, but what did she expect?  Tyrion loves her, but won't run away from being a Lannister, it's all he's got.

Other action at King's Landing--Joffrey is schooled by Tywin and out in the water Gendry learns from Melisandre how important he is.

Meanwhile, Jon Snow travels south with the Wildlings.  Ygritte is certainly very cute, but the way she mocks him every step of the way is getting a bit tiresome.  Speaking of tiresome, we've now had at least three weeks straight of Theon being tortured.  They're even starting to cut off parts oh him he'll miss.  Either free him or kill him. Then there's Bran, still having visions. He's been having visions since season one--also time for a payoff.

Then there's Robb, the conqueror, bogged down in the rain on his way to Walder Frey. I'm not sure how his strategy is working out, but Talisa's pregnant--that's got to change things a bit.

More troubling, Arya, who's turning into a very dark character, runs away from her fairly nice captors, Beric and Thoros, who were about to sell her back to her family, and into the arms of Clegane (I think).  Not sure what the Hound will do, or whom he's loyal to, but he knows he's got something and won't be letting go if he can help it.

The most fascinating stuff is at Harrenhal and out East.  First, we've got the new odd couple, Jaime and Brienne, who've both seen better days.  Roose is ransoming the Kingslayer to the Lannister clan back in King's Landing.  He leaves Brienne to the tender mercies of Locke, and no sooner is he gone than the Maid of Tarth is in a pit with a wooden sword and an angry bear (hence the title).  Jaime uses his leverage to rush back and save her, putting himself in danger.  So they're back together.  Not sure what will happen, but they've gone from mutual contempt to a deep connection.

Finally, we've got Daenerys (whose list of titles keeps growing) and her gang outside the walls of Yunkai.  She's advised to leave it alone, she doesn't need to take it.  But she can't stand the idea of 200,000 slaves and offers her terms of peace--let them go and I'll let you live.  Pretty nervy. She's offered gold and ships, but refuses, and they rebuff her right back.  Is she going to attack now, freeing all the slaves between here and the Narrow Sea?  No matter how her plan goes, it's great to see the Mother Of Dragons feeling her oats.  Her development has maybe been the most interesting in the series, from timid sister and frightened wife to dragon owner and powerful leader.  And considering she spent most of the first two seasons in impotent fury, it's fun to see her finally get to release it. I don't know who (if anyone) wins in the end, but Dany's got my vote.