The Point of No Return


"Given the opportunity what do we do to those who've hurt the ones we love?" — Petyr Baelish, "Game of Thrones"

Last night season four of "Game of Thrones" ended much the way it began — with some deaths, some movement of pieces, and some heart-breaking turns for beloved characters. It was the show's darkest season, and arguably its best. We have about 10 months to think on the ending before we renew our dive into the world of Westeros. Below are some reflections on "The Children."

SPOILERS AHEAD

* Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the outcome of the battle between the Mountain and the Viper was the thought of what would happen to Tyrion. Tyrion is one of the best characters on the show, to me, and one of the few that's demonstrated a moral center. The thought of him dying because of his sister, and for a crime he didn't commit, seemed heart-breaking. He didn't die, but the result of his storyline was even more heart-breaking. There are certain moments from which I don't think you can come back. When Tyrion saw Shae in his father's bed following his prison break, he snapped. What followed was one of those moments. I still love Tyrion, but I doubt he'll ever be the same after killing the woman he loved and then his father. When we left him he was sealed in a crate sailing for parts unknown.

* Speaking of the moment of no return, Arya faced her own tough spot after The Hound lost his battle with Brienne. The Hound was badly wounded and would not recover. He begged Arya to kill him and end his suffering. She coldly refused. After seeing Sansa give into the dark side a few weeks back, seeing Arya slip past the point of no return was heart-breaking as well. She, too, ended the episode sailing off to an unknown future.

* Another surprising turn was the magical fate that awaited Bran Stark. "Game of Thrones" is a work of fantasy. It has always had two parts — one about warring families, lying, back-stabbing, and vying for the throne. The other is about White Walkers, boys who can control pets, and other things magic. I love "Game of Thrones" for the former, and I'm leery of the latter. It seems the whole Bran storyline is opening a can of worms that I may not be too excited to see explored.

* Often in stories things get worse before they get better. For all our heroes, season four has seen things get worse. Tyrion was ruined, then became a murderer. Sansa and Arya decided the only way to survive in a world this brutal is to become ruthless, cold, and brutal themselves. And Daenerys sought to bring freedom but learned there were a lot of things she couldn't control, beginning with her dragons.  It was a dark journey for many inside the Seven Kingdoms and out, but the story's not over. It's going to be a long few months until the story resumes and we see where the journey continues.

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