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Game of Thrones Season 2 Episode 3

What Is Dead May Never Die

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AIRED: Apr 15, 2012

8.6

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Game of Thrones: Off the Page

"What Is Dead May Never Die" highlighted one of the series' biggest obstacles: handling the story's ever-expanding universe.

By Tim Surette, Apr 15, 2012

Fan Episode Reviews (9)

What is Dead May Never Die

10

By AJLane-TCP, May 02, 2012

The Good:

-"Every man who's tasted my cooking has told me what a good whore I am."

-It is really interesting to see Cersei lose control of herself for a moment, and even more interesting (for those who've read the books) to actually see interplay between Renly and Margaery.

-Tyrion's cleverness gets to shine, and Grand Maester Pycelle gets a haircut.

-Arya too gets to exhibit both her cleverness, as well as her loyalty.moreless
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great episode

9.0

By aneley, May 01, 2012

What is dead may never die. What an ending? I've never read the books, but S2 is turning out to be very intriguing. It is now quite somber and even more suspenseful making it somewhat more pragmatic for a fantasy tale. The soundtracks at the end I must say are very good, especially on this episode. It was fitting, if you know what I mean. Anyways, two thumbs up for Game of Thrones S2. doing well so far.moreless
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Lots of Tyrion + Greyjoy's = great episode

9.0

By Shane747, Apr 26, 2012

So far, my favorite character in GoT has been Tyrion Lannister, and since he's also the most relevant character to the plot, any episode that has a lot of Tyrion in it is bound to be good. Dinklage once again stars in his role with several good scenes here. At KL, Tyrion is still getting rid of all his enemies to ensure no one betrays him and does in a very clever and brilliant way.

The other scenes we focused on were the ones in Pike, with the Greyjoy's. I felt last episode that the directors were needlessly adding another location and more plotlines by including this family but now I'm glad they did. Seriously, Theon's arc in this episode was awesome. And the baptism by salt water scene was simply great.

Though Catelyn arrived at wherever Renly is, they didn't really converse about anything important, so the scene simply introduced us to more characters. The scene with Sansa and shay was boring but near the end of the episode we did see Arya and Yoren, and how badass was his death? That really made my day tbh.

Anyways, I'd say this was one of the better episodes this season, though I still feel the show needs more politics and war. After all this is a war, and we still haven't even seen Papa Lannister.moreless
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The Good, the Bad and the Ugly?

8.5

By BearLuvsPanda, Apr 23, 2012

The story moves on apace and struggles with what to leave in and out from the books.

The Good? Bran's first experience as a warg, Jon's confrontation with Craster, Theons turncoat moment, Tyrion's scheming to trap Cersei's snitch and Sansa's dismay at her self-made situation are pitched perfectly.

The Bad? Arya's plight is done a real disservice by condensing 3 to 4 of her chapters into 2 scenes. This criticism can be levelled at almost any episode to a degree but in this one Aryas friendship with Hot Pie, Lommy and Gendry is sadly underdeveloped. Also Aryas interaction with Rorge, Biter and Jaqen, which is crucial to their later stories, is pretty much cut completely. Why does this matter if the the story gets told? Well for me Arya is one of the strongest characters in the whole saga. Along with Tyrion, Jon, & Dany she stands out as a character we sympathise with and love to watch (or read about).

The Ugly? (Well not quite but it fits with the title) Briennes intro was excellent. She isn't exactly the masculine brute described in the books so I'm not sure the ridicule she attracts because of her masculine features will be justified but she certainly is a tall woman, towering over Caitlin and most of the men in the show. I was worried about Briennes casting because GRRM is so keen to describe her god awful looks but I think my worries were misplaced.

My only other Ugly issue with the episode is the gay scenes with Renly & Loras. Not very subtle though admittedly more restrained than the hetrosexual scenes. GRRM is noted for being quite graphic in the sex department but he doesn't make this aspect of Renly's sexuality explicit for a reason, it leaves the reader thinking and this should be how the producers treat other sex scenes too. The producers, sadly, overplay the adult aspect of the books to the detriment of the story. I'd rather see more of Arya's story and less rutting, which brings me to Margaery. The casting of Natalie Dormer was only going to result in a bit of bare flesh, which I don't mind as she is an unconventionally beautiful and fine actress but when we get to later seasons and she is a target for Cersei's hatred, we really are not going to believe she could be the virginal queen she insists she is. It doesn't help that she is supposed to be a similar age to Sansa, who lets face it portrays the consummate virgin princess. Margaery, however, reveals that she is not only a sexually avaricious schemer but also into the same level of deviancy as the Lannister twins. I do like Natalie Dormer though and I think she will be a credit to the show.

Overall it was a good episode but unfortunately the restriction of 10 episodes per season means we only get a few scenes per episode for each major character. Some viewers will find this a real disappointment or even a turn off. I sympathise with the producers problem; spend more on the cost of each episode but cap the seasons budget. Lovers of the books will want to see more episodes in line with other major TV dramas but sadly the money is probably never going to be forthcoming.moreless
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A Crazy Little Thing Called Lying

9.0

By Neksmater, Apr 18, 2012

The widening of Westeros continued in finer fashion than last week as Alliance were partially made or entirely destroyed. Catelyn's visit to Renly's camp was awesome as we learned a LOT about the dynamic of Renly's relationship with Loras and Margaery and how his subjects suspect his night time activities which gave us book readers something we never got other than hints from the series. Jon got a snippit after Craster kicks him and the Night's Watch out of his home. Robb is absent but Theon went through a rather harsh phase as he joined his father's ranks to raid the North since Robb Stark has the entire northern army in the riverlands and after writing Robb a warning letter burns it and becomes baptized to the Drowned God. Dany was absent as well. But Renly's camp was the show stealer as we see what all the young "Summer Knights" who are unblooded and eager for war but don't know what they're really in for. Brienne is perfect in her armor and her demeanor. And in the books, it's the Rainbow Guard for Renly, should've kept that. Arya and the other Night's Watch recruits are attacked by Lannister Guards and Yoren (spoiler) gets shot by a crossbow and is given a super badass death but it's always good to see Lannister blood be spilled before yet another good person bites the dust. Tyrion played the game of thrones by finding out who is leaking information to Cersei by promising he will wed Myrcella to a different heir to different kingdoms and Pycelle, who also sold out Ned Stark shockingly. He locks Pycelle up in the Black Cells and shaves his beard off as punishment and Pycelle, as the audience already knows, is much more virile and lively than he comes off as. But it was a much healthier offering to move the story forward and didn't feel quite as scattered as last week's sexposition heavy episode. But seeing Tyrion in power and throwing Cersei for a loop with his games.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- The title of this episode, "What Is Dead May Never Die", is quoted from the Iron Islander's religious worship of the Drowned God. The Iron Islanders, called Ironborn, often use it as a war cry, or even as a formal greeting.
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QUOTES (3)
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- Tyrion Lannister: My sister wants to hurt me; she'll look for any weakness she can find. She can't know about you.
  Shae: I'm the weakness?
  Tyrion Lannister: It's a compliment, My Lady.
  Shae: How is being a weakness a compliment?
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- Lord Varys: Power is a curious thing, my lord. Are you fond of riddles?
  Tyrion Lannister: Why, am I about to hear one?
  Lord Varys: Three great men sit in a room: a king, a prince, and a rich man. Between them stands a common sellsword. Each great man bids the sellsword kill the other two. Who lives? Who dies?
  Tyrion Lannister: Depends on the sellsword.
  Lord Varys: Does it? He has neither crown nor gold nor favor with the gods.
  Tyrion Lannister: He has a sword, the power of life and death.
  Lord Varys: But if it's swordsmen who rule, why do we pretend kings hold all the power? When Ned Stark lost his head, who was truly responsible? Joffrey? The executioner? Or something else?
  Tyrion Lannister: I've decided I don't like riddles.
  Lord Varys: Power resides where men believe it resides. It's a trick, a shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow.
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- Shae: Every man who's tasted my cooking has told me what a good whore I am.
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