DigiPack / Blu-ray + DVD

Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray Review

"The night is gathering. It's coming for all of us..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, January 28, 2014

Valar Dohaeris : "Jugglers and singers require applause. You are a Lannister." Jon is brought before Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, while the Night's Watch survivors retreat south. In King's Landing, Tyrion asks for his reward, Littlefinger offers Sansa a way out, and Cersei hosts a dinner for the royal family. Daenerys sails into Slaver's Bay.

: "Jugglers and singers require applause. You are a Lannister." Jon is brought before Mance Rayder, the King Beyond the Wall, while the Night's Watch survivors retreat south. In King's Landing, Tyrion asks for his reward, Littlefinger offers Sansa a way out, and Cersei hosts a dinner for the royal family. Daenerys sails into Slaver's Bay. Dark Wings, Dark Words : "All this horror that's come to my family is all because I couldn't love a motherless child." Sansa says too much when questioned about Joffrey. Shae asks Tyrion for a favor. Jaime finds a way to pass time. Arya crosses paths with the Brotherhood Without Banners and is recognized by Sandor Clegane. Ravens bring dark news to the King in the North. Jon Snow learns about wargs from the Free Folk.

: "All this horror that's come to my family is all because I couldn't love a motherless child." Sansa says too much when questioned about Joffrey. Shae asks Tyrion for a favor. Jaime finds a way to pass time. Arya crosses paths with the Brotherhood Without Banners and is recognized by Sandor Clegane. Ravens bring dark news to the King in the North. Jon Snow learns about wargs from the Free Folk. Walk of Punishment : "We seem to be running short on patience." Tyrion shoulders new responsibilities. Jon is taken to the Fist of the First Men. Daenerys meets with the slavers. Jaime strikes a deal with his captors. In Storm's End, Melisandre prepares to sail away. Stannis Baratheon pleads with her to stay and make him another son.

: "We seem to be running short on patience." Tyrion shoulders new responsibilities. Jon is taken to the Fist of the First Men. Daenerys meets with the slavers. Jaime strikes a deal with his captors. In Storm's End, Melisandre prepares to sail away. Stannis Baratheon pleads with her to stay and make him another son. And Now His Watch is Ended : "He would see this country burn if he could be king of the ashes." The Night's Watch takes stock. Tyrion visits Varys. Arya is taken to the commander of the Brotherhood. Daenerys exchanges a chain for a whip. Varys meets his better. Cersei and Lady Olenna tour the Sept of the Baelor, where Joffrey and Margaery will marry.

: "He would see this country burn if he could be king of the ashes." The Night's Watch takes stock. Tyrion visits Varys. Arya is taken to the commander of the Brotherhood. Daenerys exchanges a chain for a whip. Varys meets his better. Cersei and Lady Olenna tour the Sept of the Baelor, where Joffrey and Margaery will marry. Kissed by Fire : "It doesn't matter what we want. Once we get it, we want something else." The Hound is judged by the gods. Jaime is judged by men. Jon proves himself. Robb is betrayed. Tyrion learns the cost of weddings. Lady Margaery and Sansa watch as Ser Loras trains with a man-at-arms. In the Brotherhood's hideout, Thoros informs Arya she's a hostage.

: "It doesn't matter what we want. Once we get it, we want something else." The Hound is judged by the gods. Jaime is judged by men. Jon proves himself. Robb is betrayed. Tyrion learns the cost of weddings. Lady Margaery and Sansa watch as Ser Loras trains with a man-at-arms. In the Brotherhood's hideout, Thoros informs Arya she's a hostage. The Climb : "I would have hoped you've learned your lesson about overplaying your position" Tywin plans strategic unions for the Lannisters. Melisandre pays a visit to the Riverlands. Robb weighs a compromise to repair his alliance with House Frey. Roose Bolton decides what to do with Jaime Lannister. Jon, Ygritte and the Wildlings face a daunting climb.

: "I would have hoped you've learned your lesson about overplaying your position" Tywin plans strategic unions for the Lannisters. Melisandre pays a visit to the Riverlands. Robb weighs a compromise to repair his alliance with House Frey. Roose Bolton decides what to do with Jaime Lannister. Jon, Ygritte and the Wildlings face a daunting climb. The Bear and the Maiden Fair : "You've been nursed on pretty lies since you were a baby." Dany exchanges gifts with a slave lord outside of Yunkai. As Sansa frets about her prospects, Shae chafes at Tyrion's new situation. Tywin counsels the king, and Melisandre reveals a secret to Gendry. Brienne faces a formidable foe in Harrenhal.

: "You've been nursed on pretty lies since you were a baby." Dany exchanges gifts with a slave lord outside of Yunkai. As Sansa frets about her prospects, Shae chafes at Tyrion's new situation. Tywin counsels the king, and Melisandre reveals a secret to Gendry. Brienne faces a formidable foe in Harrenhal. Second Sons : "A man who fights for gold can't afford to lose to a girl." King's Landing hosts a wedding, and Tyrion and Sansa spend the night together. Dany meets the Titan's Bastard. Ayra considers killing the sleeping Hound. Davos demands proof from Melisandre. Lady Margaery links arms with Queen Cersei and remarks they'll soon be sisters. Sam and Gilly meet an older gentleman.

: "A man who fights for gold can't afford to lose to a girl." King's Landing hosts a wedding, and Tyrion and Sansa spend the night together. Dany meets the Titan's Bastard. Ayra considers killing the sleeping Hound. Davos demands proof from Melisandre. Lady Margaery links arms with Queen Cersei and remarks they'll soon be sisters. Sam and Gilly meet an older gentleman. Rains of Castamere : "You're almost there and you're afraid you won't make it. The closer you get the worse the fear gets." Robb presents himself to Walder Frey, and Edmure meets his bride. Jon faces his harshest test yet. Bran discovers a new gift. Daario and Jorah debate how to take Yunkai. House Frey joins with House Tully. The Lannisters send their regards.

: "You're almost there and you're afraid you won't make it. The closer you get the worse the fear gets." Robb presents himself to Walder Frey, and Edmure meets his bride. Jon faces his harshest test yet. Bran discovers a new gift. Daario and Jorah debate how to take Yunkai. House Frey joins with House Tully. The Lannisters send their regards. Mhysa: "A good man does everything in his power to better his family's position." Joffrey challenges Tywin. Bran tells a ghost story. In Dragonstone, mercy comes from strange quarters. Varys gives Shae a pouch of diamonds. Bran Stark, Hodor, and the Reeds take up camp in the Nightfort. Tywin confirms what Tyrion already suspected. Dany waits to see if she is a conqueror or a liberator.

' third season is something of a masterstroke for showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. The award-winning executive producers have not only made the unmistakably wise decision of splitting author George R.R. Martin's "A Storm of Swords" (the third book in the "Song of Ice and Fire" series) into two seasons, they've delivered a season to top all seasons, with each episode eclipsing the last. It's rare that a show is able to be as quietly affecting in its downtime (Jamie's confession to Brienne during "Kissed by Fire" for one) as it is deeply unsettling amidst shocking developments (the infamous "Red Wedding," among other season-defining scenes). Butdoes it so often, and with such daring and marvelously crafted clarity of purpose, that it solidifies its place among the HBO greats and TV's finest. Everything from the writing to the performances, cinematography, production design and, perhaps above all, the suddenness and confidence with which the game changes, is exemplary of what television can accomplish when bold creators are given leave to be bold.Condensing a 10-episode season ofinto a neatly organized plot synopsis is nothing short of a fool's errand. Devising a synopsis that touches on every key character, plotline and perfectly cast actor even more so. (Unmentioned thus far are familiar faces Aidan Gillen, Liam Cunningham, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Gwendoline Christie, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Iain Glen, Alfie Allen, Rory McCann, John Bradley, Carice van Houten, Rose Leslie and Natalie Dormer, and newcomers Paul Kaye, Emmy nominee Diana Rigg, Clive Russell and too many others to rattle off here.) More incredible is the fact that most every character is so interesting, so deserving of more attention than they're afforded, that it almost stings when the camera pulls away to follow someone else. Which, I have to point out, is a good problem for a show to have if it has to have one. Not every story comes to a close by season's end, nor does it seem some storylines will ever come to a close; particularly with Martin's penchant for wiping out entire groups of crucial players before any traditional narrative satisfaction is achieved.isn't a series for the weak of heart, and Season Three is its most vicious yet. If you manage to make it to the end without feeling betrayed by Martin, Benioff and Weiss at least three times, you have a heart of stone. But that's the power of the show: to leave you shaking your fist, screaming at your television, gasping for airbegging for more.I could go on and on about everything Season Three gets right, but it would read like a point by point overview of all ten episodes. And who wants to risk spoiling any second of the madness, heartache and drama that transpires? (Although after the hit-or-miss treatment of Daenerys in Season Two, I will take a second to praise the sharp plunge forward Clarke's storyline finally,takes.) Criticisms, meanwhile, are few and far between -- Bran's journey is sometimes more of a holding pattern and... erm... and... well, like I said, few and far between -- and the momentum and suspense that builds from start to finish, whether the series is idle or barreling ahead, is riveting. Overwhelming even. (Binge viewers be warned: the third season can be exhausting.) Humor and wit serve as an oasis. Victories are generally short-lived. Surprises and plot twists are more akin to weirdly welcome sucker punches. The series shifts on a dime and the ride is better for it. The writers aren't beholden to the audience any more than Martin is to his readers. Death and tragedy are commonplace. Stomach churning losses and disheartening falls are everywhere. And no conflict, much less any feud, is ever won. Especially when someone dares to believe they're safe, even for a moment. As crowded asbecomes in its third season, the ease with which it sheds baggage and the fearlessness with which it casts away characters maintains the balance. If the series isn't already sitting on the throne of your DVR season pass list, it should be.The Blu-ray release offeatures ten episodes spread across five BD-50 discs. Episodes 1-2 on Disc One, 3-4 on Disc Two, 5-7 on Disc Three, 8-9 on Disc Four and Episode 10 on Disc Five.) Episodes include: