The Big Moment in Episode 3

Published July 31, 2017 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hi Guys!

I’ve written to you guys before in regards to your Westworld Pod Cast and I’m thrilled you are doing “On the Throne” this season for GOT!

I just listened to the instacast form GOT episode 3. I know this is a quick take but I did want to point out 2 big things I thought you guys missed in your first watch. I’m sure you’ll be covering these in the longer episode but just in case, I’m going to point 2 things out that I think were huge in this episode.

1. Cercei’s punishment of Ellaria Sand is absolutely the worst thing that could possibly be done to a mother. I totally agree with Big D on this and I’m sorry Gene….you’re wrong. This is in NO way a softening of the Mad Queen (I’m calling her this because this woman is bat-shit crazy!). I think what was missed in the initial watch is that not only does Ellaria have to watch her daughter die a slow death by use of the same poison she used, but Cercei also says that Ellaria will have to stay chained up in that cell for the rest of her days watching her daughter’s body rot. The skin fall away from the bones and the bones turn to dust. Cercei orders that the torches be tended to at all hours so that there is always light, removing from Ellaria even the small solace of darkness shrouding the scene. Also remember, these are women, they are mothers, and they are emotionally battered by different things than are men. They are motivated by different things than men. Brutal does not even come close to describing this.

2. Jon’s walk up to Dragonstone is the pivotal moment in this episode. So much so, that they cover it from more than one perspective. The first person perspective is key as Jon and Tyrion are talking and Tyrion says “Rule of thumb. Stark men don’t fair well when they travel south.” Jon says, “True, but I’m not a Stark.” At that exact moment they are swooped over by one of the Dragon’s flying low. The Dragon takes a good look at Jon on the way over. Now, we as the audience already know Jon is a Targaryen but everyone else does not….and who’s watching? Melisandre. Which brings us to the 3rd person perspective.

Melisandre, as Varys points out, is actively avoiding Jon and Sir Davos. So why is she there overlooking Jon’s entrance at all? Wouldn’t it have been safer for her to tell Dany to summon Jon Snow and just leave then? Why stay and watch? …..because Melisandre suspects that Jon may be a Targaryan. She watched his entrance to the castle with great interest and did not seem surprised at the reaction of the Dragon to him. This I believe, was the confirmation she was looking for and it seemed to solidify some idea within her or some prophesy she has seen in the fire. She admits, for the second or third time now, that she had made mistakes, “terrible ones”. and she tells Varys that her work is done and she is leaving because she is finished “whispering in the ears of kings”. But she points out, she will be back to die in this strange land and so will Varys. Whatever prophesy was solidified by what she just saw on that cliff has given her the direction she is now going to follow to her own end.

Melisandre tells Varys she is going to Volantis. This is the seat of the religion of the Lord of Light and where the red priestesses hail from. Could she be going there to tell the other priestesses what she has seen at Drgonstone and what she suspects (or now knows) of Jon Snow? Remember also that she has been at Winterfell for a time and has been in the crypt…..

Other than house Tyrell falling to the Lanister army, this is absolutely the pivotal moment of this episode. It is a HUGE set-up of probably everything that follows in the show pertaining to Jon’s relationship with Dany, the war with Cercei, the prophesies of the Lord of Light, the question of Jon’s parentage and the war with the whites.

As always, GREAT podcast guys. I love listening to you and I’m thrilled you’re now doing this for GOT!

Christina from Ohio

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