FACT#134: Telltale's first Game of Thrones episode nailed one of the show's biggest strengths: that no one is safe. Death can strike at any point, based on any mistake or even no mistake at all, and not even being the protagonist is protection against a swift knife. How appropriate, then, that it started at the Red Wedding, the single greatest example of the story's constant danger.
But that can't be the entirety of the story. Otherwise it's just a constant threat of depressing endings, murder after nihilistic murder until everyone you've ever cared about is in the grave or not worth caring about anymore. Even in the midst of constant death and destruction, there has to be some room for hope, if for no other reason than that the shocking moments contain more weight if they're not the lone, predictable trick in the author's deck.
The Game of Thrones TV show has, to be honest, struggled with this. Its first three seasons climaxed with Lannister victories-the defeat of Ned's coup and his execution; the crushing defeat of Stannis' forces, and the wiping out of the Stark hopes at the Red Wedding. The show has relied on Dany as its symbol of hope-ending the tragic third season with the "Mhysa" scene, for example-but even if that works for you, it's still not everyone. It took another ten months and the Season 4 premiere to give audiences reason to cheer as Arya Stark and The Hound rebelled against Lannister dominance and got some chicken to eat.
Telltale's Game of Thrones doesn't need ten months to wait for that, though. It's just been two since the first episode came out, and the second, "The Lost Lords", immediately gives cause to smile and feel hope for the embattled Forresters....
