TV Show Review

TV Review: GAME OF THRONES: Season 1, Episode 9: Baelor

Emilia Clarke, Game of Thrones, Baelor

TV Review for Game of Thrones, Season 1, episode 9 – entitled Baelor – has premiered. Baelor was the finest episode of HBO’s Game of Thrones to date. Game of Thrones writers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and director Alan Taylor did a great job.  Fantastic twists and turns (I haven’t read the books yet but I am working on it).

The witch/blood spell scene between Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was like watching a movie: Excellent camera work and sound effects. Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) was right about the armor and the Dothraki not being used to fighting against it. It was the only reason he won.

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Lord Walder Frey (David Bradley)’s scene was hilarious and perverted, his hand on his fifteen-year old wife’s ass as he receives Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley), surrounded by a multitude of children of various ages, most of whom seem in their mid-forties.  Why would they stay at The Twins and be verbally abused instead of leaving and living their lives somewhere else?

Why is it always these scenes that stick in the mind?

I couldn’t believe Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) got killed at the end of the episode but it was wonderfully done: Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) under the statue of Baelor Targaryen, all the low-borns cursing Stark, not knowing the truth, the Night Watch man being there plus the viewer never sees it coming. King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) has begun his reign with an enormous mistake. He killed possibly the most honorable man in the kingdom whom completed his part of his deal and gave Joffrey and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) exactly what they wanted.

When the death blow was about to be struck, with a sword a large as Ice (was it Ice?), and everything went silent and slowed down, I still didn’t think it was going to happen. I thought something or someone was going to intervene. No one did. Yoren holding Arya, making sure she didn’t see was a well-acted emotional moment. I actually thought she was going to get up there and intercede on her father’s behalf with Needle.

Lord Varys (Conleth Hill)’s backstory gave credence to his earlier assertions about serving the realm and the “role” he plays. The peace that Varys wanted is now gone, never to be return.

When Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrik Cassel (Ron Donachie) were seated on their horses, the viewer had no idea what they were waiting for. Then Robb Stark (Richard Madden) appeared, then Jamie Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) appeared. Jamie is the Stark’s ace in the hole. Joffrey is a fool. With Eddard dead, Jamie is far less valuable to them and closer to death. Cersei Lannister and Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) are going to go crazy if something happens to Jaime (what more can they do to the Starks but kill Sansa) and now their bargaining chip is dead. Only Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) remains and Robb will never trade Jamie for Sansa.

Any affection Sansa had for Joffrey is gone. He had her father killed in front of her and thinks her feelings for him will not change.

Needless to say, after Fire and Blood, the season finale of Game of Thrones airs, I will be delving into the books the the show is based on find out what happens next. I am not waiting to next season to find out what happens.

High Resolution Photos of this episode can be found here: Game of Thrones: Season 1, Episode 9: Baelor Photos.

For more Game of Thrones videos, photos, and reviews, check out our Game of Thrones Page.

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Rollo Tomasi

Rollo Tomasi is a Connecticut-based film critic, TV show critic, news, and editorial writer. He will have a MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University in 2025. Rollo has written over 700 film, TV show, short film, Blu-ray, and 4K-Ultra reviews. His reviews are published in IMDb's External Reviews and in Google News. Previously you could find his work at Empire Movies, Blogcritics, and AltFilmGuide. Now you can find his work at FilmBook.
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