Do not read on if you have not seen Season 2, Episode 6 of HBO's "Game of Thrones," entitled "The Old Gods And The New."
"Don't trust anyone. Life is safer that way." -- Shae
Everything is going pretty badly for everyone: Joffrey sits the Iron Throne, but no one -- no one -- wants him there; Theon seizes Winterfell, but instead of a pat on the back, receives a household full of men who hate him; and Daenerys loses her dragons.
In "The Old Gods and the New," we learn that it doesn't matter who you pray to, how often or how hard. It doesn't matter whether you were born to rule or born in a hut across the wall. It only matters whose sword is raised above your neck, ready to cleave it from your shoulders, and how quickly you can shove your own blade into your opponent's stomach.
The Power Rankings
Using a complex algorithm that takes into account each player's wealth, military might and dominion over lands, along with a "bonus" factor that adjusts for unquantifiable assets that could influence events, we've surveyed the lay of the land to figure out who's winning the game of thrones at this point of Season 2.
No sign of Stannis this episode; the title "The Old Gods And The New" left no room for The Red God, the very newest one, as far as Westeros is concerned. Still, between the mysterious power Melisandre, his own fleet, Salladhor Saan's fleet and the bulk of Renly's army, Stannis is the one to beat. How long will he wait before marching north to King's Landing?
The smart wing of the Lannister family is doing what it can with somewhat limited resources. Tywin is surrounded by semi-illiterate buffoons (plus one highly literate cupbearer) up in Harrenhall. And Tyrion is spending all his time and energy putting out fires starting by his nephew. Indeed, one of the most satisfying moments of the season this far is his post-riot castigation of Joffrey -- including one of his trademark Kingslaps!
Still, TyTy, as we like to call the pair, is very good at working mediocre situations to benefit the Lannister position: Tyrion showed that by following through on his plan to send Myrcella to Dorne, in the hopes of securing soldiers from the powerful House Martell. And Tywin, in his discussion with Lord Baelish, seemed open to the idea of binding his house to House Tyrell. If those two negotiations go well -- which never a given in turbulent Westeros -- they could end up mustering a force strong enough to defeat Stannis, Robb and anyone else that comes their way.
"Don't trust anyone. Life is safer that way." -- Shae
Everything is going pretty badly for everyone: Joffrey sits the Iron Throne, but no one -- no one -- wants him there; Theon seizes Winterfell, but instead of a pat on the back, receives a household full of men who hate him; and Daenerys loses her dragons.
In "The Old Gods and the New," we learn that it doesn't matter who you pray to, how often or how hard. It doesn't matter whether you were born to rule or born in a hut across the wall. It only matters whose sword is raised above your neck, ready to cleave it from your shoulders, and how quickly you can shove your own blade into your opponent's stomach.
The Power Rankings
Using a complex algorithm that takes into account each player's wealth, military might and dominion over lands, along with a "bonus" factor that adjusts for unquantifiable assets that could influence events, we've surveyed the lay of the land to figure out who's winning the game of thrones at this point of Season 2.
No sign of Stannis this episode; the title "The Old Gods And The New" left no room for The Red God, the very newest one, as far as Westeros is concerned. Still, between the mysterious power Melisandre, his own fleet, Salladhor Saan's fleet and the bulk of Renly's army, Stannis is the one to beat. How long will he wait before marching north to King's Landing?
The smart wing of the Lannister family is doing what it can with somewhat limited resources. Tywin is surrounded by semi-illiterate buffoons (plus one highly literate cupbearer) up in Harrenhall. And Tyrion is spending all his time and energy putting out fires starting by his nephew. Indeed, one of the most satisfying moments of the season this far is his post-riot castigation of Joffrey -- including one of his trademark Kingslaps!
Still, TyTy, as we like to call the pair, is very good at working mediocre situations to benefit the Lannister position: Tyrion showed that by following through on his plan to send Myrcella to Dorne, in the hopes of securing soldiers from the powerful House Martell. And Tywin, in his discussion with Lord Baelish, seemed open to the idea of binding his house to House Tyrell. If those two negotiations go well -- which never a given in turbulent Westeros -- they could end up mustering a force strong enough to defeat Stannis, Robb and anyone else that comes their way.