With so much ground to cover per episode, Game of Thrones usually doesnt have time to worry about thematic consistency. But with Kissed by Fire, the writers are able to work in the motif of fire into nearly every plotline presented without it feeling forced. The flames bind each story together, and like Ygritte with her fire-kissed hair, its what makes it special. Fire burns its way into the battle between Beric Dondarrion and The Hound, as the former sets his sword ablaze to strike fear into the heart of his pyrophobic opponent, resulting in the most visually-striking swordfight the show has yet produced. And then theres the fire brewing between Jon Snow and Ygritte, whose red hair gives the episode its title. The feisty wildling convinces Jon to break his vows of celibacy, leading to a genuine love scene with absolutely no sexposition. Finally, theres Jaime The Kingslayer Lannisters scene with Brienne in the bath, where he delivers the shows greatest monologue to date. In a painful whisper, Jaime tells the true story behind his nickname, revealing that had he not broken his oath and killed Aerys, Kings Landing wouldve burned to the ground. Instead of being hailed as a hero, Jaime was branded a cowardly traitor by countless people who never got to hear the Mad Kings haunting final words: Burn them all. Leave it to Game of Thrones to make you feel for a guy who sleeps with his sister and pushes kids out windows.
J.D. Laney is an aspiring novelist and screenwriter from Cleveland, Ohio. When he isn't trying to write his own material, he is constantly consuming the work of others for analysis and, occasionally, for fun. He has a particular interest in film, literature, and video games.
