Our verdict on the thrilling penultimate adventure in Sky Atlantic's Season Two re-run...There've been several instances in Game Of Thrones' second season where something in various episodes has held them back from their deserved greatness. Blackwater, however, is not one of those unfortunate cases, quite the opposite. In fact, it remains by far one of the series' best outings yet.
It's an unusual feeling at first to realise that the focus of this penultimate episode is going to be almost exclusively focused on the story arc of the Lannisters. Indeed, a factor which has proved to the detriment of previous episodes in the past has been their fast-paced alternation between several narrative arcs. Thankfully, though, this near-singular approach works wonders in this case, with Peter Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister getting a much-needed increase in screen time to become the rallying and charming protagonist icon which Sean Bean's Ned Stark was before his untimely demise this time last season.
What's perhaps most effective about this episode's narrative is its focus on the theme and morales of war. In the past, US and UK shows alike have struggled to deal with the intense moral dilemmas and tests to the integrity of human nature that arise within militarial conflicts, so it's testament to HBO's power as a production company that they can run with this lofty premise for an episode with such vigour and innovation in a pseudo-medieval context. Tyrion, Cersei, Varys and the Hound all had intriguing reactions to the conflict at hand, each justifiable for viewers in 2013 with morally skewed wars such as that of Afghanistan currently raging on abroad. The more Thrones places its focus on these themes, the more accolades it'll surely receive.
Something which musn't be overlooked this week, though, is the masterful direction on show from Neil Masters. No doubt having the episode written by the author of A Song And Ice And Fire as a whole, George R.R. Martin, placed Masters in good stead to produce a compelling series of setpieces, yet it was thanks solely to himself and the production team that the stunning wildfire CGI spectacle came to be. This was visual effects beauty in its purest form, a remarkable rendition of one of A Clash Of Kings' finest moments that should never be forgotten by fans thanks to its sheer awesome glory.
Perhaps if we're being utterly nit-picky, then the closing moments of the episode with regards to Tyrion's near-death encounter and Tywin's forces storming King's Landing were handled a little strangely and too rapidly. Nevertheless, Cersei's tragic tale to her seemingly doomed illegitimate son in the midst of overwhelming odds of defeat was structured brilliantly to wrap up this penultimate instalment. We're left, then, with one of Game Of Thrones' finest episodes yet in Blackwater, a stunning tour de force of the show's best assets that's left me confident for the Season Two finale re-run and indeed Season Three to come in two weeks' time...
5/5
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