Game Of Thrones: 7 Things That "The House Of Black And White" Did Right (And 3 It Didn't)
Checking in with some old familiar faces...
Game of Thrones is a phenomenally popular show. Bringing together the unlikely genres of fantasy and historical fiction, the HBO series has managed to create a universe so bizarrely realistic that waits between episodes can be downright painful. Sadly, with only ten episodes per season, rabid fans must sit through interminable hiatuses with little more than spoilers and speculation to sustain them.
Fortunately for viewers chomping at the bit for new material, Game of Thrones recently returned for its fifth season. The second episode – entitled “The House of Black and White” - aired on Sunday night.
“The House of Black and White” saw characters racing headfirst into their plots of the season, with last week’s resolution of Season 4 cliffhangers paving the way for new action. Arya Stark makes her first appearance of Season 5 as she completes her journey to Braavos, and the show makes its first visit to Dorne as the repercussions of Oberyn’s death stir the Dornish against the crown. Add in all of the plots being paid off from last week, and there was a lot going on in the second installment.
Overall, the episode did a decent job of juggling the ensemble. Nevertheless, there were some aspects of the hour that could have been handled better. So, here is a look at 7 things that “The House Of Black And White” did right…and 3 that it didn’t.
Let’s start with the good.
10. Ser Kevan Lannister
The crazy is strong in the Lannister family. The twins have it. Their father had it. Their cousin Lancel has it. Even Tyrion has a touch of the crazy to him. As established in the first four seasons of the show, it was difficult to be a member of the Lannister family without at least a little bit of instability.
Enter Ser Kevan.
How fantastic is Ser Kevan? Not only does he seem to have missed out on the crazy gene, but he has enough of a head on his shoulders to see through Cersei’s political machinations. While Mace Tyrell preens at being honored with a new position in King’s Landing and Qyburn smiles beneficently at being named Master of Whispers, Kevan throws Cersei’s promotion back in her face and demands to hear the offer from King Tommen himself. When denied an audience with Tommen, Kevan announces that he will return to Casterly Rock. Unfortunately, the scene cuts off before Kevan does an epic Westerosi mic drop and storms out of the castle, but it was an effective sequence nonetheless. Come back any time, Kevan.