Entertainment

'Game of Thrones' is Turning Into 'Scandal' Now

by Rachel Simon

By now, it's no surprise when an episode of Game of Thrones shares some similarities with fantasy sagas like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, but when an hour of the show feels like it could've been written by Shonda Rhimes, you do have to wonder what really goes on in those writers' heads. Sunday's Thrones episode, for all its dragons and Iron Banks, had striking similarities to Rhimes' Scandal, another must-see, high-stakes drama. Don't believe us? Just check out these "coincidences" below:

Identity Loss After Prolonged Torture

Theon's torture has been an ongoing Thrones plotline, but it wasn't until Sunday's episode that viewers got to see the full extent of Ramsay's abuse. When Theon's sister and her men descend on Dreadfort to rescue him, they discover that he's kept in the kennels, a rabid look in his eyes, convinced Yara's presence is a trick. He refuses to join her, denying his birth name and looking horrified at the idea of leaving Ramsay's "care." After being kept so long in this torturous underground, Theon has lost his identity, entirely convinced that he's Reek, a worthless slave without family, desire, or a sense of self.

Sound familiar? It should, because that's exactly what happened to Huck in Scandal, when he was thrown down the Hole for God knows how long. The guy came in there with a wife and a kid, and came out scary skinny, sporting a beard, and not aware he once had a family who loved him. Huck's time in torture, spearheaded by a deranged sociopath (Charlie, aka Ramsay), completely eradicated his identity and left him feeling less than human.

A Manipulative, Powerful Father

Tywin Lannister is a mean, mean man. Thrones fans have known that for awhile, of course, but this season, as he gladly imprisons his son for a crime you know he doesn't believe Tyrion committed, Tywin has taken his awfulness to a whole new level. Sunday's episode saw him lead Tyrion's trial, seemingly not affected by his son's hatred for him or even sympathizing with his grieving daughter. Instead, he pretends to be surprised by Jamie's offer to leave the Kingsguard and birth lots of Lannister babies as long as Tyrion isn't executed, as if it wasn't what he'd wanted all along. Even with competition like Littlefinger and Varys, Tywin might be the most manipulative member of Westeros, not to mention one of the most powerful.

And in the Scandal-verse, that intimidating, calculating father figure is Eli Pope. In the show's third season finale, the former B613 head convinced his daughter to board a plane taking her far, far away from D.C., an action that seemed voluntary to Olivia, but was clearly Eli's intent all along. He also uses his impressive manipulation skills to reinstate B613 and murder the president's kid, and somehow, he's still not considered the most evil character on Scandal.

Someone Getting Called a Whore

Oh, Shae. Tyrion's favorite prostitute used to be a Thrones' fan favorite, but after the events of Sunday's episode, she's lost all our respect. Appearing at Tyrion's trial, Shae reveals tons of condemning information about her former lover, her pain from being dismissed by Tyrion apparently still so real that she's happy to help get him sentenced to death. Oh, and she shocks the court by proudly calling herself a whore.

The word is used in a very different context on Scandal, but its repercussions are just as strong. In season two, Olivia takes down Edison for calling her "a criminal, a whore, an idiot, and a liar" (also the title of the episode), and in season three, Mellie, in a fit of rage, calls Olivia a whore for sleeping with her husband.

Damning Trials for Innocent People

Sunday's Game of Thrones' trial took up the last twenty minutes of the episode, and for good reason; the results were presumably going to determine whether Tyrion lived or died. Throughout the scene, Tyrion listens, resigned, as incriminating quotes and memories are revealed that pretty much seal his fate, despite him being innocent. At the end, he shocks everyone by declaring that he wants a trial by combat.

In season two of Scandal, Quinn's the possible murderer who goes on trial to determine whether or not she's guilty and, if David Rosen has his ways, just might receive the death penalty. Despite her innocence, all the evidence presented points at her being guilty. At the end, the judge shocks everyone by declaring her innocent (thanks to a call to Verna by Olivia, but they don't know that).

No Good Guys Anywhere

This week's episode was the first time in Thrones history that not a single Stark was present — no Arya, no Sansa, no Bran, not even the bastard, Jon Snow. The Stark children are the only truly good characters on the series, except for maybe Hodor; Tyrion is loved, but he's no innocent, and Tommen, while seemingly sweet, can't be that nice with Cersei for a mother.

On Scandal, all three presidential candidates last season were murderers, so that should sum up the number of good people present on the show fairly well. Sorry, Olivia, but that "white hat" thing just doesn't cut it when your actions have nearly messed up the entire country more than a few times.

Images: HBO; ABC