S4, E7: Brains and Bronn
Early in the first season of Game of Thrones, Cersei Lannister told Ned Stark that when you involved yourself in the titular power…
Early in the first season of Game of Thrones, Cersei Lannister told Ned Stark that when you involved yourself in the titular power struggle, “You win or you die.” Only a few episodes later we discovered exactly how true those words were, as Lord Stark was decapitated after a failed attempt to insert Stannis as “rightful” heir to the Iron Throne.
In the time since, we’ve learned that even winning isn’t permanent and doesn’t guarantee safety. Robb Stark never lost a battle, but ended up dead all the same as a consequence of being guided by organs below the neck. Joffrey successfully sat the Iron Throne, but was poisoned as a consequence of the cruelty he used his position to impose. Even Tywin Lannister, the shrewdest of players, has been relegated to ruling behind the scenes and amassed a debt that led the Iron Bank of Bravos to bankroll his opponent.
Given that the cards seem stacked against those who do play, perhaps the best option in Westeros is to not play at all. Andy Greenwald of Grantland has made this point on multiple occasions citing Sallador Sahn as the paragon of a life prolonged (and enjoyed) by not playing the game. Sahn sticks to what he’s good at — pirating and worshiping his one true god — and by doing so, survives. In this week’s episode we see another example of a character who survives by eschewing the game to stay in his lane with the reappearance of Hot Pie, who seems more than content to spend his days sharing his culinary wisdom and perfecting the direwolf shaped cookie.
But are the only two options for prolonged survival winning or not playing? Perhaps not if you just redefine winning. We’ve seen multiple characters perish as a result of pursuing or aligning themselves with one pursuing the Iron Throne. However, in Mockingbird we witness a character who has consistently moved up the Westerosi social ladder while remaining unscathed.
While Oberyn’s visit to Tyrion’s cell proved more essential to the plot and the shortest Lannister’s survival, Bronn’s visit revealed what perhaps is the blueprint to improving one’s station in Westeros while keeping one’s head. When we first met Bronn of House Hipster he was a significantly talented but otherwise nondescript sellsword. He fought as Tyrion’s champion at the Eyrie but never seemed to question whether he could take Ser Vardis Egen. Bronn always had the edge in that fight because he understood and embraced the idea that “fighting fair” is ultimately only a handicap for those foolish enough to value it.
By saving Tyrion’s life and then helping serve as the muscle to complement Tyrion’s tactical prowess, Bronn improves his station and is knighted. Consequently, when Tyrion demanded a trial by combat many unsullied figured that it would be Bronn, if not Jamie who would fight as Tyrion’s champion.
When Bronn politely declined fighting Ser Gregor of House Kaiju it wasn’t a betrayal of Tyrion, it was simply him avoiding the fatal flaw inherent in the decision making that gets people killed in Westeros: making it personal. Bronn’s logic in deciding not to fight the Mountain smacks of a risk management approach rarely seen in Westeros. He intelligently opts for a marriage to a high born girl (even a “dimwitted” one) and avoiding the ire of Tywin Lannister over going head to head with the Mountain. “I like you…” he says to Tyrion, “…but I like myself better.” Tyrion is left disappointed but notably not bitter towards Bronn, respecting the sellsword’s survival tactic of avoiding permanent allegiances.
By never losing sight of the “…or you die” part of the show’s credence and never making things personal, Bronn seems more adept than most to continually slowly move up in Westeros. He may not rise as high as some, but his head also won’t end up on a spike.
Originally published at raleighco.com on May 20, 2014.