Margaery Tyrell is the game’s newest player – Beyond the Wall

Last week in Beyond the Wall, Bob and I took an extended look at the character of Theon Greyjoy, specifically what some of the story changes might mean for him. Since I don’t want to be accused of ignoring the fairer sex, Bob and I are going to take a look at my most favorite of the new characters this season, Margaery Tyrell. I like the new direction the story seems to be taking her and the interesting energy that Natalie Dormer brings to the character.

As usual, things Beyond the Wall tend to get a bit “spoilery.” The discussion this week certainly covers things that folks who haven’t read the books will want to stay far, far away from. Also, the character links take you to the corresponding page on Tower of the Hand, which does contain spoilers, but only if you set their handy-dandy spoiler filter accordingly.

Ivey:

OK my friend, I’ve been talking about how much I’m infatuated with Margaery Tyrell since I got my hands on the screeners for the third and fourth episode. Like many characters that George R. R. Martin introduced throughout A Song of Ice and Fire, I didn’t pay much attention to her early. Her involvement in the story increased, but she never seemed to be a player in the titular Game of Thrones. As far as female Tyrells go, the political puppeteer is her grandmother Olenna Redwyne, the so-called Queen of Thorns – but I’ll get back to her in a moment.

In just a few short scenes Margaery has proved quite the social climber. I’m not sure how the book version of the character viewed her marriage to Renly Baratheon, but the television version has a rather … unique … approach. She is very pragmatic, recognizing both that her marriage is one of political necessity and that she’s not the Tyrell that her King likes to share his bed sheets with.

Are you as taken with the new Queen as I am?

Bob:

Perhaps not as much. I was a fan of the Tudors, even if I was a bit late to the party, and Dormer was fantastic there as Ann Boleyn, another social climbing queen. Though, something tells me Margaery didn’t do it by seducing the King. I like the vibrance that Dormer (along with the writers) have given to the character. I don’t have a lot of memories of the character until the later books when she is married to a different King.

I think that plays into her current role on the show a lot, though. I think was necessary to give the character more to do now or it would have been odd seeing a virtual background character come into the forefront. Let’s be honest, that’s one of the big problems translating this series to the screen. Even Brienne right now is little more than set dressing, but we know she’s going to be a huge character.

Ivey:

As ever with the changes that producers D. B. Weiss and David Benioff are crafting into the story, there has to be a reason for the tweak to Margaery’s story. As Chekhov taught us, you don’t introduce a player into the Game of Thrones unless you plan on actually having her play. In the books, Margaery is involved with some serious goings on: thrice a queen, but never a player. I don’t mean to discount her character in the novels, later on she became much more interesting, specifically as a teacher of sorts to Tommen and as an antagonist to Cersei.

I have a feeling much “bigger” things are in store for Margaery. I mentioned her grandmother Olenna earlier. Olenna was definitely a player, likely having conspired in the assassination of Joffery (an event I wish they could fast-forward to, because he really is a douche, isn’t he?). Could they fold Olenna’s character, and more specifically her actions against Joffery, into Margaery and have it make sense? I certainly think so, especially considering how much they are going to have to compress the story from A Storm of Swords.

Plus, who was it that Olenna supposedly conspired with? And who was it that Margaery met with in this week’s episode?

Bob:

Indeed, I think it’s a strong theory, and one that will most likely come true. I think it will definitely strengthen Margaery, but I was a big fan of the Queen of Thorns, and she might be the first character I would really miss. Rest assured, I will get over it very quickly. There’s just something about a spunky old lady that gets me everytime (and with all the Betty White love these days, I don’t think I’m alone).

Ivey:

Funny, I’m obsessed with Natalie Dormer, and you’re bringing up Betty White. I’m not sure how to follow that.

But seriously, folks; I like Olenna as well, but that is a pretty big act to give a character who doesn’t really play much of a significant role elsewhere in the story. Tweaking things such that Margaery is complicit in the murder makes her character considerably more interesting, and also creates a much more real threat than the perceived one for Cersei down the road.

Clacked by Ivey West
on Apr 25, 2012 @ 09:00 EST5EDT