Game of Thrones - Episode 8 "The Pointy End" The Dwarf, the Dothraki and Racism? Do Tell

 Khal Drogos gets ready to rumble

Out of a season of brilliant episodes, 'The Pointy End' stands head and shoulders above the rest. Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister is absolutely magnificent. The way he deploys his wit (and the Lannister fortune) to save his skin time and time again never fails to impress. The scene of him with Shaga, son of Dolf was a perfect example of how well he can think on his feet when his life is at stake (as it so often is, alas) and was even better than the scene last week of how the same quick thinking won him his freedom.

The storyline with the Dothraki is my next favorite element of GOTHR. I must confess that I never had much respect for Jason Momoa (due to his turn as the horribly-written Ronon in Stargate Atlantis, may its name live in infamy) but his performance here as the Dothraki warlord, Khal Drogos, makes it look like his upcoming role in the remake of Conan the Barbarian might work after all. I'm particularly taken with the metaphoric nature of the Dothraki language, where he refers to his Khaleesi as "Moon of my life" and she in turn refers to him as "my sun and stars." It's strangely tender and flowery for a people with such a violent way of life.

I've come across a line of thinking toward Game of Thrones while googling it that accuses the show of a racist depiction of the Dothraki as opposed to the people of the Seven Kingdoms who are clearly a stand-in for the people of Western Europe circa the thirteenth century. It has been said that especially during the wedding between Khal Drogos and Daenerys Targaryen, depictions of the near tribal, Asiatic-looking Dothraki bordered on the offensive, with their displays of public coupling (especially of the non-missionary kind) and consumptions of horses' hearts. I don't know that I agree with that.

While I would agree that the Dothraki are a combination of tribal African and Asian influences, I see the primary historical element of the Dothraki as Mongolian in nature. Of course even Khal Drogos' speech after an attempt on Daenerys' life was foiled is but another bastardized version of the most famous quote of Genghis Khan made even more famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Conan. If you're comparing a group to the Mongols, then you're being anything but racist, since they proved themselves superior, militarily anyway, to the European mounted Knights and crossbowmen on the field of battle.

In my view, George R.R. Martin and the filmmakers adapting his vision to the small screen are simply using the the broad outlines of history to craft a compelling tale of great fiction, no more and no less.  Rather than leveling baseless charges of racism at the show, maybe those offended by certain aspects of it should simply turn the channel instead.

I also love the portrayal of Tywin Lannister by Charles Dance, that introduction of his character gutting a deer in his tent was quite nasty. When he expresses his disapproval in one way or another of both his sons Jaime and Tyrion, it has a really hard-edge to it. And what about Prince Joffrey? (has anybody ever looked more inbred than little Jack Gleeson at the moment?). Anyway, I really look forward to next week's episode. Only three more days to Sunday! With all the maneuvering going on in Game of Thrones to look forward to, it's starting to feel like an eternity.