“Cripples, Bastards and Broken Things” centers on the marginal groups of people within Westeros, usually deemed unimportant, focusing on their hidden potential and profundity. The episode focuses on thecharacters of Eddard Stark, Jon Snow, and Tyrion Lannister as it delves deeper into identity, dignity, suspicion, and growing unease.
At Castle Black, Jon Snow is socially interacting more with his fellow recruits at the Night’s Watch. He becomes friends with Grenn and begins to socialize. After seeing how Samwell Tarly is treated during drills, Jon fights the urge to step in. He is met with laughter and disdain as his weight makes him an easy target. Sam is not Night’s Watch material and his father is forced to make him enlist. Jon and Grenn take on the burden of training and make his worth clear. It endears Jon to his peers and demonstratesthat he is even more of a power figure among his fellow recruits, regardless of his baseless lineage.
Also at Winterfell, Bran Stark’s struggle revolves around coming to terms with being bound to a wheelchair. His slumber is interrupted with visions of an enigmatic three-eyed raven which he daydreams of frequently and grows increasingly frustrated over the perceived lack of control he has over his surroundings. Robb urges his brother to stay calm, but confusion and restlessness determine Bran’s character arc. A new character, Theon Greyjoy, Robb’s ward, starts to gain more exposure with the audience signaling that his backstory is far from simple.
Ned Stark proceeds with his investigation regarding the complicated murder case of Jon Arryn, who was formerly the King’s Hand, in King’s Landing. In the course of his investigation, he interrogates Ser Hugh of the Vale, who served Jon Arryn. Ned Stark pieces together information suggesting that the former Hand had some peculiar interest on certain lords and their offspring. At the same time, Petyr Baelish (Littlefinger) cautions Ned not to pry too much as the truth is usually dangerous in King’s Landing.
At a tourney hosted in celebration of Ned being appointed as the King’s Hand, one of the most violent bouts of jousting ever recorded takes place; this was between Ser Gregor Clegane (The Mountain) and Ser Hugh. Clegane emerges victorious but with grave consequences. Ned begins to trust less on other people’s opinions as the gravity of the situation begins to dawn on him; concealed calamities seem to lie behind grandiose facades.
Having lost her direwolf, Sansa Stark faces ostracization along with crushing boredom and inactivity while perpetually being a guest in the capital. Distancing herself from her family, Sansa’s only remaining wish is to marry Prince Joffrey. On the other side of the spectrum, her sister Arya displays unyielding courage and resolve to protect herself and starts taking secret sword lessons with a charismatic fencing teacher, Syrio Forel.
In a different location, Bran receives a beautifully made saddle that enables him to ride a horse once more from Tyrion Lannister, who is traveling south from the Wall and makes a stop at Winterfell. While Bran does not trust the Lannisters, the kindness shown toward him adds to the complexity of Tyrion’s character, especially given that he himself understands the “broken” people of Westeros.
“Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things” is an episode that is quieter and less active focused, showcasing those lesser known individuals as primary characters. It furthers the political intrigue in the capital, adds deeper bonds between the Night’s Watch, and suggests the presence of bigger forces around the realm. Each individual’s storyline portrays that weakness is often the source of strength, and that the truth, once revealed, is always in danger.
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