HBO is busy prepping us for perhaps the biggest episode of Game of Thrones yet. Simply titled "Blackwater," the ninth episode in the second season will have many conflicts to raise and resolve but the main focus will be on the siege at King's Landing. Billed as "The Battle of Blackwater Bay" in this rad poster, the epic conflict from George R.R. Martin's "A Clash of Kings" was written by the man himself and directed by Dog Soldiers Neil Marshall. And judging by the teasers, they will be singing songs about this one for years to come. Speaking of songs (nailed the segue), they are often an intrinsic part of the fantasy genre and I can vividly remember skipping all those pages in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."
Martin was a little more enamoured than I, and saw fit to include many of his own similar historical ballads in his own "Song of Ice and Fire" - or at least reference many by name - not to mention use the word in this series' title. Arguably the most famous song from "Ice and Fire" is "The Rains of Castamere" and The National has performed the Lannister ballad for the upcoming Game of Thrones second season soundtrack. "The Rains of Castamere" is about Tywin Lannister's overwhelming victory over House Reyne during the Reyne-Tarbeck Rebellion and is featured at several pivotal parts throughout Martin's novels. Particularly during... no spoilers. Let's just say it's an important number and the indie rock band's sombre sound, not to mention Matt Berninger's low register do it justice. It's not upbeat by any means but it's definitely worth a listen. UPDATE: If it seems familiar, it's what Tyrion has been whistling! Rad.
(h/t to io9 for the find).
And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low? Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know. In a coat of gold or a coat of red, a lion still has claws, And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours. And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that lord of Castamere, But now the rains weep o'er his hall, with no one there to hear. Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall, and not a soul to hear.
Episode 9, “Blackwater,” airs Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. It stars Kit Harrington, Emelia Clarke, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Game of Thrones was created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, based on the “Song of Ice and Fire” saga by George R.R. Martin.
