Game of Thrones Season 2, Episode 10

• Courtesy of HBO
• WE’RE RIGHT BEHIND YOU: Theon rallies the troops, while one of the troops prepares to bonk him on the head.

After last week’s spectacular episode focused on the Battle of Blackwater, “Game of Thrones” second season finale doesn’t so much tie up the loose ends as leave them dangling for season three. After a season of open war, who’s up and who’s down? Let’s check in with the main characters for a final time in 2012.

Tyrion Lannister: Down. “But what have you done for us lately?” seems to be the attitude of the rest of the court to Tyrion. After holding back Stannis’ siege long enough for the Tywin/Loras Tyrell forces to save the day, the wounded Tyrion awakens in a cell-like room under the ominous care of Maester Pycelle (who was thrown into a dungeon under Tyrion’s orders earlier this season). Tyrion has been demoted from Hand of the King and Varys informs him that he’ll receive no official recognition for his heroism, but the people remember him. Maybe he slapped Joffrey one time too many.

Shae visits and removes his bandage, revealing a nasty scar from forehead to cheek. (Dinklage is lucky, though: in the books, Tyrion loses a sizeable chunk of his nose.) She suggests they run off together, but Tyrion demurs, saying that he’s too fond of out-talking and out-thinking people to attempt anything else. Great scene for Dinklage.

The Lannisters and Tyrells: Up. Like Princess Leia giving out medals at the end of Star Wars, Joffrey salutes the official heroes of the Battle of Blackwater. Tywin sits astride a white horse that makes a big dump before entering the throne room, and accepts the promotion to Hand of the King. (Tywin does, that is. Not the horse. Joffrey hasn’t gone full Caligula yet.) He also gives Harrenhal to Littlefinger and the Tyrells the right to ask a favor. Renly’s widow Margaery, wearing that dumb-looking cleavage blouse again, requests that Joffrey marry her, in Renly’s place. In a show of clearly rehearsed political theater, Cersei and Pycelle suggest that Joffrey’s engagement to Sansa can be nullified, since Ned and Robb are traitors, and Joffrey agrees to marry Margaery. They deserve each other.