Game Of Thrones: 7 Things That "The House Of Black And White" Did Right (And 3 It Didn't)

3. Loose Interpretation Of The Vow

Despite Gilly’s use as the individual to exposit the wildling outlook on greyscale, she continues to be a character who emphasizes one of the greatest flaws of the narrative at the Wall. The brazenness with which she asserts herself as Sam’s lady love and the scarcity of challengers to the situation contradicts the vow that is meant to be of paramount importance to the men of the Night’s Watch. Sam’s encouraging of Jon to accept Stannis’ offer and accept legitimization to become lord of Wintefell is no better. The vow is for life.

The first episode of the show saw Ned Stark beheading a deserter. The first season saw Jon and Sam making their vows before the old gods in a weirwood. The fourth season saw Grenn and his fellows face their deaths chanting the vow to bolster their courage. Indeed, for the brothers not consigned to duty at the Wall and present of their own free will, the vow is meant to sustain them as they live without hope for wife or child or position for the rest of their lives. The loose interpretation of the vow cheapens the dedication of the men who took it, and the series needs to remember the power of the words.