Game Of Thrones: 12 Things You Learn Rewatching Season 2

4. They Really Tried To Warn Us About The Red Wedding

Game of Thrones Varys Tyrion
HBO

The Red Wedding is the most shocking moment in Game of Thrones, and a real turning point of the show. Part of its impact is how it comes out of nowhere, and yet, looking back, there are plenty of signs along the way.

There were warning in Season 1 about marriage pacts and the Freys, but Season 2 doubles down on them even more. With Robb marrying Talisa, we're given further warnings about the dangers. Catelyn tells him in the season finale: "Walder Frey is a dangerous man to cross." She also warns him: "Treat your oaths recklessly and your people will do the same."

It goes further than that though: there's a lot of mystery around what's actually happening at Winterfell, with Roose Bolton sending his bastard to Winterfell to take it back from the Greyjoys, and Winterfell then being burned down. How did we not see the Boltons' betrayal coming? Even just watching Roose's face this season, there are looks served up that suggest what's to come once you know where it leads.

Then there's Varys and Tyrion's conversation about the bells: "I always hated the bells,” Varys says. “They ring for horror, a dead king, a city under siege...”

“Or a wedding,” Tyrion replies.

“Exactly,” Varys says.

Now we know.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.