True Detective Season 2 Episode 2 Night Finds You

After last week’s lukewarm start, I’m hoping this series begins moving at a brisker pace.  The characters and the main crime are in place and now it’s all about the tangled process to discover the truth.

The episode opens with Frank staring at ceiling musing over a water stain.  Frank confesses he never knew how to spend his money as he contemplates his legacy. Jordon doesn’t seem to share his worry stating she being rich is better then the alternative.  He begins to tell a story about his childhood.  His father was an alcoholic who would lock up six-year-old Frank in the basement when he went on a bender. (Presumably for his own safety.)  On one occasion, his father didn’t come back for days because he was arrested.  Young Frank had to survive in the basement, devoid of food and water and eventually plagued by rats.  He tells his wife how on the fifth day he was so angry he smashed a rat using his bare hands.  As revealing as this story appears to be, I sense a note of artifice.  Did this really happen or is Frank trying to justify the man he has become?  Jordon wonders about the other traumas in his past he hasn’t revealed.  Frank ponders what would have happened if his father had never returned, stating, “It’s all paper mache.”

The water stains on the ceiling meld into the burned eyes of Ben Caspere.  The medical examiner reviews the findings of the autopsy to the detectives Ani and Paul.  The man was bound upside down; hydrochloric acid was applied to his eyes via and eyedropper then he was shot in the genitals at point blank range with a 12-gauge shotgun.  The toxicology report showed Xanax and alcohol in his bloodstream.  He died between 4am and 9am and was placed in an upright position post-mortem. (As we observed in last week’s episode when the victim was riding in the black Cadillac.)

There is a territorial dispute over the case involving Chips, the LA Sheriff and the City of Vinci.  Each department has their motives for wanting the case.  The Sheriff wants to expose the corrupt cop from Vinci. (Velcoro) The City wants Velcoro to help keep hidden their numerous criminal activities.  Ray meets with Frank to give him the autopsy report.  Frank is frustrated stating, “Deals are being done!”  Paul visits his mom in her mobile home.  He tells her he has a special assignment.

Ani and Ray are uncomfortably paired and drive to Caspere’s house.  An appointment book shows the deceased was seeing a psychiatrist. (This dude must be old to have kept a non-digital calendar.)  Ani vaps, and Ray sneers that it this activity is “Like sucking a robot’s dick.”  

Frank meets with a Catalast Corporation executive to discuss the land deals he had in progress with the deceased.  The plan was to buy the land near the high-speed railway and sell it back to the federal government for a large profit.  The deal had not been finalized and Frank’s five million dollar investment is gone.  The executive states if he wants the deal it is now seven million dollars.  Frank leaves the meeting upset, all his capital was in the hands of Caspere.

Ani interviews the Mayor Chessani about Caspere. He appears intoxicated and continues to drink throughout the meeting.  She hopes to discover the identity of his date at a party where he was last seen alive.  Paul works the case in a Quonset hut set up for this joint investigation.  A jaded detective in a suit listens to his progress at “following the money.” (Paul displays his homophobia in a rant about being “hit on” by the bank manager. Boo!)  Ani and Ray join the discussion.  Paul has discovered a four thousand dollar cash withdrawal made each month near the same date.  They also discover he used a car leased by the Catalast Corporation.  Using the GPS from the car, they discover the victim was in Northern California during the days around these cash withdrawals. (North, where the land deals was supposedly in progress.)

Ray and his ex-wife fight in front of a school.  She is disturbed by the reports of the fight with the bully’s dad, which Ray denies.  “You’re bad, Ray!” she shouts.  She has decided to sue him for sole custody of her son and even threatens to force a DNA test.  (Which will likely reveal he is the biological son of the rapist.)  Ray begs her not to go through with it, stating “It’s all I have in my shitty life!”  His ex states he wasn’t  “Strong enough to stay decent.”

A man is rear ended in a silver Mercedes.  As he gets out of the car to confront the other party, he is sprayed in the eyes with pepper spray.  Frank approaches the man and asks, “What did you do to piss off serious people?”  The “accident” is obviously Frank’s doing to put pressure on this man.

Ani and Ray visit the posh office and hospital where Caspere’s psychiatrist works. (An amazingly tan and plastic looking Rick Springfield!)  The doctor is reluctant to share about his deceased patient.  He states Caspere was being treated for anxiety, trauma and guilt stemming from his sexual obsession with young women.  He had treated him for three years and felt his impulses were lessening.  The doctor refuses to say more.  As they leave, he asks Ani is the daughter of Elliot Bezzerides. Ani’s animosity towards her father is evident as she says she has cut ties with her him.  She says of the five kids who grew up in the “Good People” commune; two are in jail, two others committed suicide and one became a detective. (Herself.)

Attorney general Geldof (C.S. Lee from Dexter) announces his formal investigation of the City of Vinci.  Meanwhile, Frank talks to the mayor about his “favors” he’s done for the City over the years.  The mayor is unmoved.  Frank threatens to expose the dirty deals unless the mayor gives him the funds to renew his land deals.  Chessani is upset at the blackmail and makes no promises to Frank.

Ani and Ray discuss the case as they continue to carpool.  They theorize the murder may have been the work of a pimp-prostitute arrangement that soured.  Ray suggests Ani may be able to help check out the escort world by going undercover. Ani asks about Ray’s history.  Ray is vague and states he went to Vinci for better pay. He knows she’s probably heard the rumors about his past; he killed his wife’s attacker, he has been accused of being dirty.  Ani speaks about her own struggles being a petite female officer.  She vows if any man lays a hand on her would bleed out in under a minute.  Ray asks he about her father.  Ani reveals she grew up in a commune near Guerneville. (Near the Russian River in Northern California, however she doesn’t pronounce the town name like the natives, Guuurrr-Nee-Ville, is how I’ve always heard the locals say it.)  Ray muses, "We get the world we deserve" referring to the himself and the choices he's made.  Finally, Ray is frank with Ani, stating this joint investigation is “not supposed to work.”  Ani responds, “How comprised are you?” Ray doesn’t answer.

Paul’s girlfriend is upset about learning of his legal problems with the actress through the tabloids.  Paul is elusive.  She is also upset to learn he worked for “Black Mountain.”  Paul replies stoically, “I don’t talk about the desert.”  Fed up with his stonewalling, she decides to end their relationship.  Paul states he’s on a special assignment in L. A.  She tells him not to return.

Frank visits a strip club.  He speaks to the overweight Asian proprietor.  Frank used to run the club.  He’s trying to find information about women Caspere may have used from his club.  There is a young woman with a Russian accent who remembers, “dating” him.  She describes him as “Kind of weak and passive.”  The Asian man smiles, revealing a golden grill that states “Fuck You."

Ani is searching Internet escort sites for possible leads.  Her partner Elvis calls to update her on the missing person’s case.  He tells her Vera was last in Guerneville. Ani doesn’t seem to realize the connection with her dad’s old commune.  Ani stares at the screen as we are treated to super close-up of a mole under her left eyebrow! Is trolling websites of thousands of escorts really going to help with the investigation or is she just curious?

Paul looks down from his new place at partiers parading down the street.  Next he sees a young hustler get out of a blue car.  Is he secretly gay? Why is focused on this kid? He did seem rather indifferent to the break-up with his girlfriend.

Frank and Ray meet in their seedy bar as the depressed female singer drones on in the background.  Ray sips the strategically placed Modelo beer.  Frank has found the address where Caspere entertained his prostitutes.  Frank promises if this goes well, he could make him chief of police of Vinci.  Ray is completely dejected about the potential loss of custody.  He alludes to a wish to kill himself.  Frank orders Ray to buck up and check out the lead. “Don’t talk like that again.”  He orders Ray as he departs.  A woman with a large facial scar sits down with Ray.  She thinks he just a vacation. Ray replies fatalistically that he can’t live without his work and he’s too old to change careers.

There is a shoot of the L.A. freeways at night.  Ray arrives at the Caspere house.  He easily breaks into the place through a glass-paned door.  The kitchen sink is overflowing ominously.  Ray notices some dark liquid on the floor, possibly blood. Music plays in the background, “I Pity the Fool” sung by the late, great, Bobby Bland.  (Which just made me think of Mr. T!) Animal heads adorn a sound proof wall.  He opens another door to hear electronic ticking and possibly a camera capturing his movements.  A man with a raven mask approaches him with a 12-gauge shotgun.  He shoots Ray in the stomach and chest.  Has detective has become a victim?

The most interesting part of the episode was the last minute.  I confess to some difficulty in viewing Vince Vaughn as a dramatic actor.  The acting and dialogue lacks the intensity shared by last year’s stars McConaughey and Harrelson.  The two remain the executive producers of the show, but I’d rather see them on-screen.  So who is the raven killer?  Is he going to target the other detectives or politicians? Is True Detective simply taking a page from Game of Thrones and killing off the most sympathetic characters? If so, who among these damaged souls should we turn to solve this case? The plot definitely thickens…

True Detective Season 2, Episode 1, The Western Book of the Dead

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s show, thou art more complicated and less fun!” Stuart Smally (Al Franken) used to say “Compare and despair!”  But it’s hard not to compare the new season of True Detective to the brilliantly strange first season.  This season sports a brand new cast of big film stars such as Colin Farell, Rachel McAdams and actors from the small screen like Timothy Murphy from Sons of Anarchy and Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights. Will the second season be able to create and explore this new group of true detectives?

The opening credits role with creepy music and murderous montage set in Southern California.  The camera focuses on white sticks in a field, each affixed with florecent pink tape.  Ray Velcoro (Collin Farrell) is sitting in a car in front of a school with an overweight red-haired boy.  He tries to impart fatherly advice to the kid on his first day of school.  We learn Ray is divorced from the boy’s mother.  The boy exits the car to the immediate taunts from other kids.

Ray meets with a lawyer to discuss expanded visitation rights of the boy.  They discuss the rape and battery of his wife many years before. (The red-haired boy is likely the rapist’s child.)  The lawyer brings up the fact Ray is not likely the biological father.  Ray responds, “My son is my son.”  The lawyer recounts Ray’s work history, first with the L.A. sheriff’s department and later with the fictional L.A. town of Vinci.  She asks him if she’ll find anything negative regarding his work. Ray hands her a stack of cash and tells her to do her job.

Flashback to a younger Ray in his L.A. Sheriff’s uniform as he enters a seedy bar to meet Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn).  Frank hands him a picture of a man and a handwritten note.  He explains the man was possibly the perpetrator of his wife’s attack.  He states the man was addicted to meth and bragged about the crime. (Assuming Frank served prison time with the suspect.)

Frank now lives in a fancy house with a beautiful wife. (Cue Talking Heads track!) The town of Vinci is revealed to have factories and a casino which Frank operates.  Frank and his business partners express concern over an investigative piece in the local paper which seeks to expose corruption in the town.  Frank is due to meet an important Russian mob boss arriving today.

A black Cadillac carries an old man in wrap-around sunglasses.  There is a stuffed raven in the back seat of the car next to him.  For now, this seems to be a David Lynch bit of bizarreness!

Ani (Rachel McAdams) wakes up after a night of casual sex and promptly kicks out the man because she has to go to work.  She is a member of the L.A. Sheriff’s department.  There is a raid on a rural location suspected of being a house of prostitution.  The male owner insists he’s running a legitimate Internet business featuring webcam pornography.  Ani pulls a tall green wigged woman aside.  As they argue, it’s revealed that she is Ani’s sister.  The sister has had trouble with addiction and the law.  Ani seems very angry and judgmental towards her.  The sheriff’s raid is aborted because the operation was legal.  Ani leaves disgusted.

Ray meets with the Vinci Chief of Police to discuss the newspaper’s investigative piece. The City Manager, Ben Caspere has gone missing.  The Chief tasks Ray in finding the man and preventing further negative publicity for the department.

A CHP officer (Taylor Kitsch from Friday Night Lights) stops a woman in a red convertible driving recklessly on the coastal highway.  The woman is very attractive but doesn’t have a driver’s license.  The officer notes she is wearing an ankle monitor. She offers him sexual favors if he’ll let her off. It’s not clear how the officer responded to this offer.

The officer has a meeting with his superiors over the incident which has triggered an internal affairs investigation.  The officer is placed on leave. He mentions being a veteran of “Black Mountain.” (Possibly a mercenary group like Black Water?)  He tells his commander when he was with Black Mountain they were “working for freedom.”

Frank and his wife Jordon ready themselves for a party.  Ray interviews a young office manager from the missing City Manager’s office.  She isn’t too helpful but mentions the manager is important since he holds the purse strings for most city projects.  Ray discovers his home address and leaves with his partner to investigate.

Caspere’s mansion appears to have been ransacked. The City Manager has a strange sexual art collection. After surveying the scene, Ray decides to classify the manager’s disappearance as a kidnapping. The manager’s computer is missing.

Frank Semyon meets with the Russian mob boss Osip. (Timothy Murphy from Sons of Anarchy.) The mysterious black Cadillac continues down the road with its elderly passenger.  Ani and her partner Elvis serve foreclosure papers to a young Hispanic family.  The woman complains to Ani that her sister Vera disappeared without a trace a few weeks ago.  Vera’s last known job was at a religious institute which Ani seems familiar.  Frank addresses the crowd about the new high-speed rail project which will provide a lot of revenue for the town of Vinci.

Ani and Elvis arrive at the Panticapaeu Institute.  An old hippy looking man is giving a lecture about philosophy while dropping Allen Ginsburg’s name.  Ani interviews the maids about Vera but she’s left the Institute and it’s not clear where she went.

Ray is drinking scotch in his car and surveying the neighborhood.  There are papers next to him indicating this is the home of the lead investigative journalist.  Ray dons a balaclava, sneaks past a woman smoking meth and proceeds to kick in the door of an apartment. The blinds move, but the beating takes place off camera.  Ray leaves with a stack of papers.

Ani speaks with the old hippy at the institute who is her father.  They discuss her sister Athena and how she’s earning a living.  Ani’s father isn’t upset by Athena’s choice of occupation.  He seems perturbed by Anitigone’s (what an amazing name!) anger and judgment of her sister and the world.  Ani leaves in a rage.

Ray meets his son at school to give him a sleeping bag for a camping trip. (Unfortunately, the trip was last week.) He inquires about the shoes he bought his son. The kid’s stepfather says there was an “incident” with the shoes.  Ray forcefully pushes his son to reveal some bullies cut up his new shoes.  Ray learns the main kid’s name was Aspen. “That’s a boy’s name?” (Perfect!)

Ray sits in the car after this interaction and speaks into a tape-recorder presumably to apologize to his son.  Would a twelve-year-old even know how to listen to a tape?

The CHiPs officer, Paul, enters his apartment to find his girlfriend eagerly awaiting his return.  He pleads for some time to shower.  Paul has scars on his right shoulder and needs to pop some pills before he can get romantic with his girlfriend.  Paul seems pretty tightly wound.

Frank and Osip discuss their future business partnership. The Russian implores Frank to respect the “old rules” of conducting business.

Ray drives to his son’s bully’s house.  Speaking to the father he asks to see Aspen, and then proceeds to don some brass knuckles and beat him in front of his son.  Ray states if he ever bullies his kid again he’ll “Butt fuck his father in front of his head-less mom’s corpse on the front lawn!”  I don’t think Aspen will be cutting up anyone’s Nike’s again.

The Cadillac stops.  The old man is dragged out of the car and placed on a bench, still wearing the wrap-around sunglasses.

Paul leaves his horny girlfriend to “do some side job.”  She is jealous believing he’s going to see another woman.  Paul assures her he’s not in a good place and is figuring some things out for himself.  Paul rides his motorcycle helmetless at great speeds.

Ray meets Frank at a seedy bar. A depressing woman is singing a depressing song to virtually no one.  Ray hands Frank the reporter’s notes and computer.  Ray slams down shots of Johnnie Walker Black, while Frank attempts to ask him about his kid. Frank reveals he and Jordon are trying IVF to conceive.  Frank’s handler urges him to leave, and tries to take the whiskey bottle with him.  Ray protects the whiskey.

Ani is at Frank’s casino, drinking and gambling.  Paul continues his helmetless ride at over a hundred miles per hour.  Paul stops at a picnic table by the road, only to find the man from the Cadillac.  It’s clear he’s dead and the wallet on his lap reveals he is the missing city manager Ben Caspere.  Paul calls 911.  The coroner reveals the man’s eyes were blinded, possibly by acid, and had sustained a severe pelvic fracture. Ani, Ray and Paul meet one another for the first time.  The camera zooms out on the flashing lights in the breaking dawn.

So ends the first installment of True Detective. Frankly, I’m a little disappointed in the pilot’s reliance on tired clichés.  The addition of a female detective doesn’t do much to change the narrative.  It’s the same story of cops with poor interpersonal skills, dysfunctional families, and anger at the criminals and the world in general. One of the strengths of the first season was its focus on two main characters.  Now, we have four main characters and the tension and focus is diluted. Hopefully, the spark of weirdness will catch and become a more interesting 

Game of Thrones, Season 5 Finale, Mother’s Mercy

This season has been a slow warm up to the explosive last three episodes.  Of the three, the season five finale almost felt a bit tame.  It seems completely unfair to have to wait another ten months to see what happens to our favorite characters. (The few who remain alive!) Nothing is ever certain in this world, no matter what the spoilers and social media try to preach. The Game of Thrones world is cruel and unpredictable and certainly this finale encompassed these elements.

The finale opens in the gray world of Stannis, especially since the “sacrifice” of his only daughter Shireen.  Melissandre gazes out at the melting icicles as she speaks to Stannis.  “The Lord of Light has melted the snow. He has shown me victory!”  But despite this reassurance, Stannis seems more defeated then ever.

Stannis leaves the tent to be informed half his army has deserted after Shireen’s execution.  The men led him to a tree where the Queen Selsye has hung herself. “Cut her down.”  But he doesn’t seem too surprised.  Melissandre takes to her horse and rides away.  Stannis commands his remaining troops to head to Winterfell and near certain defeat.

Jon and Sam share a quiet moment in the library at Castle Black.  Sam, being the intellectual, wants to know what can be done to better prepare for the upcoming battle with the White Walkers.  Jon is pessimistic, “All the dragon glass in the world won’t be enough.”  Sam is fascinated by the fact Longclaw killed a Walker.  Jon observes there is an unknown and quite finite quantity of Valaryian steel, using it won’t be practical.

Jon knows his recent actions have not helped his popularity as Commander.  Sam has a special request for his friend, to send him to Old Town to become a Maester. Sam observes his strengths are in research not fighting.  He asks if can take Gilly and young Sam with him.  Jon reluctantly agrees he wishes his friend luck with his relationship and studies.  “I’m glad the end of the world is working out for somebody!”

Stannis marches with his remaining horseless army towards Winterfell.  Sansa scurries around with her hair covered by a cloak.  In the hills above Winterfell, Poddrick spies the approach of Stannis’s rag-tag troops and alerts Breinne.  Sansa runs up the broken tower and places a candle in the window.

The Flayed-Men prepare for battle.  It seems they are going to leave Winterfell to bring the battle to Stannis. (Ramsay’s plan.)  Stannis leads the charge toward the Bolton troops.  In the next shot, we see the Baratheon banners in the dirt.  Stannis is wounded and stumbles around in a daze.  Two men approach the battered king. He still has enough grit to fight them off, but not before they seriously injury his leg.

Brienne of Tarth finds Stannis.  Stannis, sneers at her, “The Bolton’s have women fighting for them?”  Brienne explains she is not fighting for the Flayed Men but was a personal guard for his brother Renly.  Brienne recounts how she saw Renly murdered by a shadow with Stannis’s face.  Stannis confesses to killing his brother, and Brienne formally sentences him to be executed.  She asks him if he has any last words.  Stannis sighs, “Do your duty.”(It reminded me of Hank’s last words on Breaking Bad, “Do what you gotta do.”)  Brienne executes him, keeping her oath to avenge her dearly departed king.

Ramsay is busy at his favorite pastime, killing people. (This time on the battlefield.) Myranda finds Theon and Sansa running around the looking suspicious.  Myranda aims an arrow at Sansa and taunts how interesting Ramsay will make her torture.  Sansa seems to be daring Myranda to take her shot, “If I am going to die, at least kill me while there is some of me left!”  Theon throws the kennel master’s daughter off the high wall, killing her. (Death toll of characters with names is now at three!)

Ser Meryn Trant is busy at the brothel, whipping ten-year-old girls for fun.  It’s painful to watch, but one of the girls is resistant and he singles her out.  Arya is wearing another face and she starts to stab the man’s eyes out.  She tells him how he is responsible for killing her sword teacher then she stabs him in the heart with a sickly sweet smile on her face.

Returning to the house of Black and White, Arya puts the face back on the strange columns of faces.  Jaqar and Nan interrupt her.  Jaqar scolds her by saying she has taken the wrong life and she was acting not as “no-one” but as Arya Stark.  Nan sneers that she knew Arya wasn’t ready.  Jaqar says a debt is owed and drinks poison.  Arya beats his chest crying, and she looks up to see Nan now has Jaqar’s face.  The body that has fallen begins to morph into many faces before Arya finally sees her own face.  The standing Jaqar says, “You are still someone.”  With that, Arya screams she can no longer see.

Arya’s adventure this season to Braavos has been one of the more complicated story arcs.  Unlike Westeros, the Braavosi worship the “Many-Face God.”  In the many faces, he is no one.  Akin to Buddhism, the goal of their faith is to achieve “nothingness.”  By doing so, these faithful take action in the world to right injustice.  Arya has struggled with the concept of being “no-one.”  She seeks justice for those who have wronged her family, but not in an impartial way.  When she took the life of Ser Trant it is clear she enjoyed being the blade of justice and even identified herself as Arya Stark.  Jaqar had tried to teach her humility by having her play the “lying game” and wash the dead.  But as Nan observes, she still wasn’t ready to serve the Many-Faced God as she was still following the desires of Arya.  For this she needed to be punished, to challenge the identity which she still clings.

Prince Doran and Ellaria Sand and her daughters have come to bid Jaime, Bronn, Myrcella and Tyrstane goodbye.  Tyne bites Bronn’s ear and whispers something naughty.  The sea shines beautifully and the scene seems too happy an ending for Game of Thrones.  Inside, Jaime and Myrcella have a heart to heart talk.  Jaime is trying to steer the conversation towards “unconventional” love.  Myrcella dons the necklace her mother gave her which was stolen.  She laughs, and says she had long suspected Jaime was her father and she is glad he’s her father.  As she utters these words, her nose begins to bleed and it’s clear she’s been poisoned.  (How? Maybe the silly necklace she has just put back on? Never loan your jewelry to the Sand Snakes!)  On shore, Ellaria’s nose begins to bleed and she smiles and swigs some antidote.  That was it?  All the storyline this season in Dorne seems to be as superficial as Tyene’s personality…

Dario, Tyrion and Jorah sulk in Khalesi’s throne room in Myreen.  They are sad and confused about what they should do.  Tyrion observes nobody can take Khalesi’s place.  Grey Worm and Missandei enter.  Grey Worm is angered by Jorah’s presence and by the fact Jorah saved her life, not him.  The “warriors” among them want to go find Daenery’s and bring her back.  Tyrion is the natural choice to stay back and govern.  Grey Worm must remain as he’s too injured and he needs to lead the Unsullied to keep order in the city.

Tyrion goes outside and there is his old friend Varys!  The Master of Whispers is a little upset at his old friend for being kidnapped.  Tyrion reports things went well with Daenery’s as evidenced by her not executing him.  Varys offers to help Tyrion govern Myreen.

Drogon lies listless on a green and rocky shore.  It looks as though all those Harpy masks have given him indigestion.  Dany is alone and desperate to get back to civilization.  She walks away from Drogon and suddenly she sees men on horseback.  A tribe of Dhothraki circle around the Queen of Dragons.  What will they make of her?

Cersei is visited again in her cell by the nun and given the opportunity to confess.  This time, Cersei decides she is ready to, stating, “I want absolution.”  She is given an audience with the High Sparrow.  Cersei asks for “The Mother’s Mercy”. (The Mother being one of the Seven Gods.)  But, Cersei only confesses to the affair with Lancel which is a small sample of her sins.  The High Sparrow warns her not to lie anymore and states there will still be a trial.  Cersei asks again for the “Mother’s mercy” to reunite her with Tommen.  The High Sparrow grants her wish to go home, after her “atonement.”

The nuns prepare Cersei by giving her a rough scrubbing and shear her hair into an unflattering “crazy lady” haircut.  The High Sparrow addresses the crowd, “A sinner has come before you.  She has confessed to falsehood and fornication.”  Cersei is stripped of her gown and forced to walk naked through the streets back to the Red Keep.  Each step she takes is punctuated by the nun’s mantra of “Shame, shame, shame!”  The commoners throw garbage, urine and feces and spit on her as they make rude gestures and taunts.  She cries, but its in reaction to her punishment, not out of real change in her character.  Personally, I don’t feel there is one bit of regret or humility in Cersei. Like most sociopaths, she only cares she was caught.

When she finally makes it to the Red Keep, Qyburn introduces her to the “Newest member of the King’s Guard.”  There only could be one man in the history of Westeros of his stature.  The shady necromancer Qyburn has resurrected the Mountain to assist with taking down her enemies.  All those people who just threw poo at the Queen Mother better watch out!

Jon Snow and Ser Davos quarrel as Melissandre approaches Castle Black.  Davos anxiously asks about the fate of Stannis and Shireen. (Note he doesn’t ask about the Queen.) Melissandre nods her head “no” and walks away.

Theon and Sansa walk along the high walls of Winterfell.  They look at each other and jump. (Is this suicide or escape? Is there enough snow to break their fall?) I’m choosing not to presume their deaths until we know for sure.  It’s certain they are desperate enough to do anything to get away from Ramsay.

Jon is alone in his study looking at messages when he is interrupted by Olly reporting there is some new information about his long missing uncle Benjen Stark. Jon hurries outside to meet the Wildling who supposedly knows the details.  He looks up to see a sign with the word “Traitor”.  Ser Alliser leads the gathered crowd, stabbing Jon in the gut and yelling, “For the Watch!”  About five more men stab Jon this way until Olly finishes the job with the final thrust into Jon’s gut.  (It reminded me of Omar’s death from the Wire.)  Jon bleeds out onto the snow and the season has ended.

It was not clear from the books if Jon survives this attack.  Spoilers abound that this is the end of Kit Harrington’s tenure with the show.  He made the same mistakes as his father Eddard, he thought he could do what was right and hope the people would come to respect his decisions.  But, you can’t govern without soiling one’s hands with the deceit of politics.  That is why Varys and Tyrion and Littlefinger will probably outlive all the fools who are scrambling for the Iron Throne.  Even our beloved Daenerys couldn’t get the common people to embrace her vision of a world without slavery or fighting pits.

Overall, it seemed too short of a season to cover all the stories without the familiar feeling of Game of Thrones whiplash.  I do embrace some of the shows editing of the meandering books but there were several instances in which they change the fundamental personalities of the original.  Stannis doesn’t murder his daughter in the books and after he does on screen, it’s hard to care about him anymore.  If Jon is dead, it is a huge loss for the series.  Many have expressed hope Melissandre will resurrect our hero, but why would she?  Where is Jon’s dire wolf Ghost?  Ghost saved Sam, but not his master?  Will they burn Jon’s body?  Will he become a commander in the White Walker’s army?  Will Bran enter his body? He’s just sitting under the frozen ground anyway, and he could animate the hell out of his older brother’s body!   Ten months to ruminate, marinate and forgive those bastards who killed our favorite bastard!