Lights in the darkness: a look at the happy relationships on Game of Thrones
We’ve talked about the relationships that have survived the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (and on this show, there are a lot of those). Now, let’s talk about the ones that are gone but not forgotten, starting with…
THE DOOMED ROMANCES
EDDARD and CATELYN STARK
As the patriarch and matriarch of the Stark family, Ned and Catelyn’s love for each other seemed not to have mellowed over the years. Theirs was a common political union, but it had blossomed into a love affair for the ages, a model of caring and respect which both survived Ned’s apparent one-time philandering (and the resulting bastard Jon Snow, which Cat was, with great bitterness, forced to house under her own roof) and produced many children. As good lords and parents joined both in love and power, it’s not surprising that they were unable to survive when sucked into the vortex of treachery and chaos.
JON SNOW and YGRITTE
Like the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, who fell in love amidst the fight between the Montagues and Capulets, this torrid love affair was never going to end well. Yet the intensity of the attraction pulled us in, and we rooted for the couple even when everything fell to pieces. They were two noble people, but only Ygritte was in a position to give it everything she had. Honor kept Jon from forsaking the Night’s Watch for Ygritte, and in the end his punishment was to watch her die in his arms.
DAENERYS and DROGO
Yes, this one started out on the rough side, considering how Dany was married off to Khal Drogo in order to secure his army for Viserys, but once she proved herself his equal, their two great hearts conquered one another. They became a fun power couple who had the gusto to rule a Dothraki khalasar together. The intimate scenes between them were, surprisingly, some of the sweetest the show had to offer. Dany’s fate, to watch Drogo’s slow death, was agonizing, and once he was gone, her fortunes toppled.
ROBB and TALISA STARK
Like the love stories of Jon/Ygritte and Dany/Drogo, we had the pleasure of watching the early stages of this relationship. Those scenes were witty and endearing, and their sexual heat was icing on the cake. Both Robb and Talisa tried their best to be noble in a world gone rotten, and one could see the great potential for good this duo had. But Robb’s decision to forsake his arranged marriage to a Frey daughter in order to take Talisa as his bride was an insult that resulted in both of their undoing.
TYRION and SHAE
One might suspect the concubine Shae of playing the vulnerable-hearted imp here, but I think her love for Tyrion was genuine. Tyrion, despite his flaws, is a man capable of immense love, even if that love always seems to be kindled by the kind of low/fallen woman his late father hated. Shae, as a survivor, is a chameleon who makes her living by moving between the beds of the rich and powerful, but she is also highly perceptive, and she found both love and a way out of her difficult life in the arms of Tyrion. Once she realized the danger in King’s Landing, she was willing to forgo her luxuries and riches and run away with the man who loved her. Tyrion’s decision to try and protect Shae by dumping her simply reactivated her survival instincts, and her next move—to find another powerful man who could protect her—was predictable. The fact that Tyrion ends up killing her in a rage of emotional betrayal is shocking, but we knew things were going to end poorly for these two.
Game of Thrones Seasons 1-5 also introduced some entertaining non-romantic pairings that didn’t survive its brutal world. I think the best example is:
ARYA and THE HOUND
While it wasn’t all honeycakes and roses for these two, this beauty-and-the-beast, captive/captor twosome did develop a strange bond that provided us with humor and small flickers of warmth. Can I say it was sweet to see how much they disliked each other? We never saw the Hound actually expire, but I’ll put this duo in another category if he ever shows up again.
Lastly, let’s highlight the relationships active pre-Season 6 which are currently…
IN LIMBO
TYRION AND BRONN
I’m not sure what happened to Bronn this season, but despite his pairing up with Jaime for the ill-fated Dornish expedition last season, I’ll always be fondest of the great adventures he and Tyrion had in the early days. Theirs was the perfect Westerosi bromance, and I miss their humor and shenanigans.
JAIME AND BRIENNE
After a long and arduous journey together, Brienne came to respect Jaime, and he found someone he cared about other than his siblings. Her purity and devotion left a lasting impression upon Jaime, and she even kindled what was left of the goodness inside him. Their last scene together was memorable, though Tormund’s come-hither eyes may end up torpedoing any potential for romance.
THE TRIUMVIRATE: DANAERYS, TYRION and VARYS
These three characters are still very much with us, but I have long awaited the Dany/Tyrion/Varys triumvirate to form up and take on the world. The scenes between Dany and Varys before her escape from Meereen offered some great exchanges, and the banter can only be enhanced by throwing Varys into the mix. Maybe now that Dany has gained both her freedom and her army in Season 6, she’ll return to Meereen and brainstorm with her two highly capable advisors. I’d expect tons of fabulous dialog.
With all of its characters, Game of Thrones features many relationships, and it’s likely I may have omitted one or two of your favorites. Certainly one could mention the warm master/apprentice teams of Jon Snow and Jeor Mormont, or Bran and the Three-eyed raven (even Arya and Jaqen H’ghar might qualify for you), or the unrequited love between Jorah Mormont and Daenerys.
But what is certain is that “Book of the Stranger” brought back some of the sweetness that Season 6 was sorely lacking: dark epic fantasy needs sources of light, epic love affairs, and legendary friendships to keep the scales from tipping over into the abyss. Game of Thrones Season 6 crashed down upon us with cold resurrections, hangings, sword fights, and towers of blood, but it was smart enough to get its heart beating again as well.