Game of Thrones Season 3: The Red Wedding and Its Fallout

Game of Thrones Season 3 delves deeper into the chaos of the War of the Five Kings, with Robb Stark’s campaign facing dire challenges. As tensions rise, the season culminates in the shocking Red Wedding, a brutal betrayal that alters the course of the Stark family forever. Meanwhile, Daenerys Targaryen strengthens her forces in Essos, liberating slaves and amassing a formidable army. In the North, Jon Snow grapples with his loyalties while infiltrating the Wildlings. The season is marked by pivotal alliances, tragic losses, and the relentless pursuit of power.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Calarugus Shark Media. Welcome back to TV in the Basement,
your secret lair for all things fantasy, horror and drama.
I'm your host Journey Joe Mitchell, and today we're continuing
our journey through HBO's Game of Thrones with a look
at the show's third season, based on roughly the first

(00:25):
half of A Storm of Swords, the third novel in
George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Game of Thrones third season premiered in March twenty thirteen
and continued to raise the stakes and expand the scope
of the story. With the War of the Five Kings
in full swing and new threats emerging from beyond the
Wall and across the Narrow Sea, the world of Westeros

(00:46):
was more dangerous and unpredictable than ever before. One of
the main storylines of the season follows the continuing adventures
of Denaries Targarian, played by Amelia Clark, as she builds
her army and sets her sights on the city of
Young Kai. Along the way, she faces new challenges and adversaries,
including the formidable slave masters of Astopor and the cunning

(01:08):
mercenary Captain Dario Naharies, played with swaggering charm by Ed Scrine. Meanwhile,
in King's Landing, Tyrian Lanister, played once again by Peter Dinklage,
adjust to his new role as Master of Coin and
tries to navigate the treacherous political waters of the Capitol.
His relationship with his new bride, Sansa Stark, played by

(01:28):
Sophie Turner, is a particular highlight of the season, with
Dinklage and Turner's performances bringing depth and nuance to their
complex and often uncomfortable dynamic. In the North, John Snow
played by Kit Harrington infiltrates the Wildling Army led by
Mance Raider played by Kieran Hines and begins a dangerous
double game that threatens to unravel at any moment. His

(01:52):
relationship with the Wildling warrior Igritta played by Rose Leslie
is another standout of the season, with their tragic love
story serving as a poignant counterpoint to the larger conflicts
and power struggles of the series. But perhaps the most
shocking and unforgettable moment of the season comes in the
penultimate episode, The Rains of Castimir, which features the now

(02:13):
infamous red Wedding sequence. Rob Stark, the King in the North,
has broken his vow to marry one of Walder Fray's daughters,
instead marrying to Lisa Mager, a healer from Valantis. To
make amends and secure passage across the twins, Rob agrees
to have his uncle ed Muir marry one of Fray's
daughters instead. The wedding feast begins as a joyous and

(02:35):
celebratory occasion, with music, dancing, and plenty of food and drink,
but as the night wears on, a sense of unease
begins to creep in. Caitlin Stark notices that the doors
to the hall have been closed and the musicians are
playing a haunting rendition of the Rains of Castimir, a
song that tells of the downfall of house Rain at

(02:55):
the hands of Tiwin Lanister. Suddenly, the musicians reveal themselves
to be assassins, and a hail of crossbow bolts rains
down on the unsuspecting Stark party. Rob is shot multiple times,
while Talisa is stabbed repeatedly in the stomach, killing her
and their unborn child. Caitlin, in a desperate attempt, takes
Walder Frey's wife hostage and begs for mercy, but Fray

(03:17):
coldly refuses, saying I'll find another. The scene is a
masterclass in building tension and dread, with director David Nutter
using subtle visual cues and a haunting score to create
a sense of unease that builds to a horrifying climax.
The brutality of the violence is shocking and unflinching, with
the show's creators making the bold choice to kill off

(03:37):
several major characters in one fell swoop. But what makes
the Red Wedding so effective is not just the shocking violence,
but the emotional impact it has on the characters and
the audience. Rob Stark, who had been built up as
the hero of the series and the hope for a
just and honorable ruler, is brutally cut down just as
he seems poised for victory, and Aria, who arrives at

(03:59):
the Twins just in time to witness the aftermath of
the massacre, is left traumatized and alone, her hopes for
reuniting with her family shattered. The Red Wedding also has
far reaching consequences for the larger story of Game of Thrones.
With the Starks defeated and scattered, the Lanisters and their
allies are left in control of Westeros, setting the stage

(04:20):
for the power struggles and conflicts to come. The event
also marks a turning point in the show's tone and themes,
with the idealism and heroism of the early seasons giving
way to a darker, more cynical vision of power and politics.
In many ways, the Red Wedding encapsulates what makes Game
of Thrones such a groundbreaking and influential series. By subverting

(04:42):
audience expectations and killing off major characters in shocking and
brutal ways, the show challenged the conventions of traditional fantasy
storytelling and proved that no one was safe in the
cutthroat world of Westeros. The Red Wedding se sequence is
a masterclass intention horror and emotional devastation, with director David

(05:05):
Nutter and the show's cast and crew delivering a truly
unforgettable and traumatic moment that left viewers reeling. The aftermath
of the massacre, with the Stark family scattered and broken
in their enemy's Triumphant is one of the darkest and
most harrowing chapters in the show's history. Other memorable moments
from the season include the thrilling battle sequence in and

(05:27):
Now His Watch Is Ended, in which Denaries turns the
tables on the slave masters of Astapor and claims their
unsullied army for her own, the tense and atmospheric sequence
in the Climb, in which John and Egritas scale the
wall and share a passionate kiss at the top, And
the devastating final scene of the season, in which Aria
Stark played by Maisie Williams, witnesses the desecration of her

(05:51):
brother's corpse and vows revenge on those who wronged her family.
Throughout the season, Game of Thrones continues to impress with
its stunning production values, complex characters, and intricate plotting. The
show's world building remains a particular strength, with new locations
like the Wildling Camp, the slave cities of Essos, and

(06:11):
the haunted ruins of Heronhall adding to the rich and
immersive tapestry of the series. However, the season is not
without its flaws and controversies. Some viewers and critics took
issue with the show's depiction of sexual violence, particularly in
scenes involving the character of Theon Grayjoy played by Alfie Allen,
who is brutally tortured and castrated by the sadistic Ramsey

(06:33):
snow played by Ewan Rion. While the show's creators have
defended these scenes as necessary to the larger story and
themes of the series, others have argued that they are
gratuitous and exploitative. Another point of criticism for the season
was the decision to recast the role of Dario Naharis,
with Ed Scrine replacing Mikiel Huesman in the part. While

(06:55):
Scrine's performance was generally well received, some fans felt that
the change was jarring and undermine the continuity of the character.
Despite these issues, Game of Thrones third season was another
critical and commercial triumph for the series, earning widespread acclaim
and a record breaking sixteen Emmy nominations. The show's cast

(07:15):
and crew continue to deliver outstanding work, with standout performances
from Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clark, Michelle Fairley, and many others.
Looking back on the season, it's clear that Game of
Thrones was continuing to push the boundaries of what was
possible on television, both in terms of its storytelling ambition
and its technical achievement. The Red wedding sequence alone is

(07:38):
a testament to the show's ability to deliver shocking and
unforgettable moments that reverberate long after the credits have rolled.
At the same time, the season also grappled with some
of the most complex and challenging themes of the series,
from the corrupting influence of power and the cost of
revenge to the ways in which trauma and loss can
shape and define us. Through its new, duanced, and often

(08:00):
brutal portrayal of these themes, Game of Thrones challenged viewers
to confront the darker aspects of human nature and the
consequences of our choices. As we move into the later
seasons of the show, it's interesting to see how the
events of season three continue to shape and influence the
larger story. The fallout from the Red Wedding in particular,

(08:21):
sets in motion a chain of events that will have
far reaching consequences for the characters and the world of
Westros as a whole. But perhaps the most enduring legacy
of Game of Thrones third season is the way it
cemented the show's status as a cultural phenomenon and a
true television landmark by delivering some of the most shocking
and unforgettable moments in the history of the medium. The

(08:43):
season proved that television could be just as bold, ambitious,
and emotionally resonant as any other form of storytelling. For
TV in the basement, this is journey. Joe Mitchell signing
off until next time. Keep watching the skies, the screens,
and your own backs. Because the Game of Thrones, no
one is safe and the stakes only get higher from here.

(09:04):
Thank you for listening.