‘Game of Thrones’ season 4: Discussing Sam and Gilly
Let us start by saying that we know we are heading into some fairly-wild waters here by talking about the Sam and Gilly characters on “Game of Thrones.” Neither one of them is incredibly popular with fans, and they also have been perceived as a distraction of sorts from the more exciting stories of Jon Snow, King’s Landing, or Dany in Meereen.
What we feel like some critics are really missing out on here when it comes to this character is to us what Sam represents: The unlikely hero. You look at characters like Jon, Dany, or Jaime Lannister, these are people who have commanding personalities, charisma, and also at least look capable of dealing damage. Sam is none of these things; he is perceived as a coward, was not wanted by his family, and is barely in fighting shape at all.
The parallel between Sam and Tyrion is perhaps the most interesting one, given that both are outcasts who have been forced to rely on unusual means to survive. The reason why Tyrion is more popular is simply because he is both a hero and anti-hero at the same time; he is shrewd, and he will lie, manipulate, or humiliate anyone he needs to in order to stick alive. These sort of shenanigans are always fun to watch. Meanwhile, Sam relies more on earnestness, and coming across as a non-threatening guy who wants to contribute and be a part of this world.
The love story for Sam and Gilly probably has not been played out enough when it comes to wants and feelings; it is probably more of a survival story right now than it is passion, since they have relied on each other for physical and emotional support. But at the same time, this is one of the few real love stories the series has left now that Ygritte is dead, and it is hard to ship Jaime and Brienne when they are not currently working together.
What do you think we’re going to see from these two moving forward, and do you think that we will see them at all on Sunday’s finale? Sound off below, and head over here to grab a first-look photo from “The Children” now. Also, you can sign up to obtain some additional TV updates on all we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter.
Photo: HBO