Tags
A Song of Ice and Fire, ASOIAF, Bollywood, Death, Duty, Game of Thrones, GoT, HBO, Justice, life, Revenge, suffering
You raped her, you murdered her, you killed her children
These words echoed in my brain at the time of writing this. It has been 1 hour since I watched the long-awaited (2 weeks is a long time for GoT fan like me) Season 4 Episode 8 of the hugely popular HBO’s Game of Thrones – The Mountain and the Viper. Never was I so depressed, not even when the noble Lord Eddard Stark died in Season 1 as I’m now with the death of one of my favorite character in the series till now — Prince Oberyn Martell. It’s not the first time in ASOIAF history that justice was denied to a human.
The reason for my immense love for A Song of Ice and Fire is deeply embedded in the core of its literature: No human is as important as the person right next to him. In the series, every character is shown to be worth something. It’s like that butterfly effect wherein a small disturbance in one side of the world can wreak havoc (read change destinies) millions of miles away. The way G.R.R. Martin treats his characters in Westeros & Essos is akin to the way God (if exists) handles human lives on earth. While the poorest of the poor could achieve stupendous wealth and success; the vilest of creature will be calling the shots that impact the lives of billions.
Prince Oberyn Martell, fondly called The Red Viper, lived an illustrious life. He was second to throne being a younger brother, but that didn’t obstruct his adventures or his love for worldly pleasures. It was his sense of duty that attracted him to the capital – King’s Landing. Not to partake in some crazy king’s coronation but to avenge the ruthless murder of his sister and nephews. He believed, as like all Westerosi that Tywin Lannister was the artist behind the massacre and the mountain, Ser Gregor Cleagane was the mere brush that painted the unholy picture. Oberyn believed in his strengths when he volunteered as Tyrion’s champion to demand justice not only for the imp but for his own sufferings.
That brings us to the fatal day. The fight between the Mountain and the Viper. It took 45 minutes into the episode where we see the two champions getting ready for the combat. A beautifully choreographed fight sequence followed where Oberyn clearly dominated with his quick movements and stylish battling. He was enjoying the game, but he desired more. He wanted Mountain to admit his wrong-doings and declare that he acted so on behalf of Tywin. Few minutes on, Viper was able to put down the Mountain and the latter fall lying on the floor. What ensued was a hope-filled-scene prevalent in many Bollywood movies where the hero, before killing the villain, mutters lengthy dialogues to remind the audience that no matter what justice prevails in the end; came the most gruesome moment in the entire television history.
Before splattering the head of Prince Oberyn, Mountain did confessed to his crimes. Alas, there was no justice that prevailed!
akritik 