Game of Thrones review: Karma catches up with Cersei - Hindustan Times
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Game of Thrones review: Karma catches up with Cersei

Hindustan Times | ByVishakha Saxena, New Delhi
May 26, 2015 12:08 PM IST

We've seen her smile wickedly when she's ruining someone's life, we've seen her manipulate her way through every challenge that has presented itself, we've seen (and heard stories of) her fornicating with her brother -- and cousins -- and we've also seen her fiercely protect her children. But karma has now caught on with Cersei Lannister.

Spoilers ahead!

Tyrion-in-Game-of-Thrones
Tyrion-in-Game-of-Thrones

We've seen her smile wickedly when she's ruining someone's life, we've seen her manipulate her way through every challenge that has presented itself, we've seen (and heard stories of) her fornicating with her brother -- and cousins -- and we've also seen her fiercely protect her children.

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But karma has now caught on with Cersei Lannister. And it was brought to her by the very High Sparrow she instated as High Septon. Ah, the Game of Thrones.

From making children with her brother Jaime to lying to her husband (and the then king) about where they came from, there are many secrets the queen-mother should probably be very very worried about right now.

Lena Headey has been absolutely spectacular in her potrayal of the vile queen-mother and she was no different in The Gift, the seventh episode of this season. We saw her in many shades in the episode -- as a mother while she tried to soothe Tommen's nerves, as a master-manipulator when she visited Margaery in her prison cell and later the High Septon and as a woman scorned when she was thrown into prison by the Faith Militant.

"Look at me. Look at my face. It's the last thing you'll see before you die"

It'll be important to see what happens to King Tommen now, who is pretty much left to fend for himself in King's Landing. The young king is helpless and angry over his wife being thrown into a cell, and has already shown signs of how bad things can get if he were in absolute control. Threatening to start a war over Queen Margaery's arrest could prove to be a very bad move, but being in "love" can of course impair one's judgement.

There's also the part about him being just a kid.

***

One of the most interesting scenes this week was between Lady Olenna and the High Septon. In what was probably a first, the Queen of Thorns not only didn't get her way but was also left on the backfoot. In the Septon's words that's what happens "when the many stop fearing the few". In saying that, it'll probably be better that Septon and his religious fanaticism finds their way out of Westeros soon.



***

Lots is going on up North.

The Wall

While Jon Snow's off to join hands with the Free Folk, Maester Aemon is no more and that renders Samwell Tarly almost friend-less at the wall. Effectively, Gilly and junior Sam's lives are in danger from the rapists and butchers that inhabit the Night's Watch 24x7.

On a lighter note, today's episode had a sweet side to it with Sam losing his virginity to Gilly. "Am I hurting you?"

Winterfell

Well you can't hate Ramsay more than you did last week. Not yet, at least. What what you can do is actually understand the depth of his torture and cruelty, seeing how scared Theon (It's Reek, my lady) is of the guy. Sansa's reminder that he is the last living Greyjoy or even being forced to watch her being raped last week hasn't pushed Theon enough to rebel and take Ramsay to task... or help Sansa.

The series has attracted criticism considering its potrayal of rape, marital rape and -- in general -- women being abused, but this has really been the story of Sansa's transformation. From a perpetual crybaby, she has become a woman ready to take her chances. Her reminder to Ramsay that he was a bastard and remained so despite a royal decree (by a bastard king), is testimony to this change.

Seeing that her 'last remaining friend' in Winterfell was skinned alive by Ramsay, may not do much for her spirits though.

There's also Stannis who's marching ahead to Winterfell and losing men and horses to the cruel winter.

***

The setting in Dorne continued to struggle plot-wise but was refreshingly humourous.

The sandsnakes, whose potrayal has been criticised for being weak and almost laughable, were seen playing games with Bronn... and they weren't devoid of classic GoT-style nudity. Meanwhile, Jaime is struggling with his stubborn daughter Myrcella who's in love and has no intention of going home.

***

The most important development in today's episode was the Khaleesi's union with Tyrion and (not-so-much of a reunion) with Ser Jorah. Fans have been raving about the three finally meeting up and the possibilities this get-together opens.

With just three more episodes left in season five, the developments in The Gift could mean that the fans' wait for the series to gain pace will be met with fireworks galore.



(All photos courtesy HBO Defined)

(Game of Thrones Season 5 airs every Monday on HBO Defined.)

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