Last week I mentioned that things were setting up for the bigger moments to come. Well, this episode delivered a couple of those bigger moments, in spades.
Jeor Mormont, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, his watch has ended. It is the kind of tragedy that riddles Martin's work. He survives a battle with the White Walkers, only to be stabbed in the back by his own man. James Cosmo will be sorely missed. It seems strange that we made it all the way to episode four of the season before a major death happened. Don't worry, though, this is Game of Thrones, there's more to come. I feel like the show did a poor job of setting up the death. We know Rast wasn't happy with the way things were, but most of that was focused on Craster. When he stabs Mormont, it sort of comes out of the blue. In the books, we know people are dissatisfied and up to something even before the White Walker attack. At least Crastor gets what he deserves. Sam manages to escape with Gilly and her son, but how long can the the two of them take care of a newborn in the Haunted Forest.
Heading south, Bran is still on his trip to the Wall, and still having dreams. It's a very short scene just to remind us Bran is around since he wasn't in the last episode. The dream includes his mother, which made me wonder when the last time they had a scene together. I then realized whenever that was, Bran would've still been unconscious in his bed. People have gone a long way since the beginning of this story. Also, in the North, we have Theon's "rescue." Alfie Allen makes a strong case for why it was a good idea to keep around despite not being in this book of the series they're currently adapting. Him lamenting his poor choice to betray the Starks was great work, especially his delivery of the line about his real father losing his head in King's Landing.
In the Riverlands, Breinne has to get Jaime to buck up and deal with real tragedy for once. For a story that started out as a buddy comedy, it has gained some real weight and the character dynamics have gotten stronger since things took a less than comedic turn. I know things tend to go bad on this show, but the two of them bonding makes you think they might be able to get through this whole horrible affair.
Elsewhere in the same country, Arya, Gendry, and the Hound have been brought to the leader of the Brotherhood Without Banners, Lord Beric Dondarrion. This is not the first time we've seen Lord Beric, though it was a different actor and only a small scene. A long time ago, back in season one, Tywin Lannister was upset about Catelyn taking Tyrion hostage, so he sent Ser Gregor Clegane, a.k.a. the Mountain, to raid the Riverlands, Catelyn's homeland. Ned Stark, in turn, sent a band of men from King's Landing to take care of the Mountain, and Lord Beric was to command them. These men became the Brotherhood Without Banners. The show did the best it could by having the prisoners in Harrenhal last year being tortured for information of the Brotherhood, but with limited exposition time, it's tough to have people remember something that happened almost two seasons ago.
Joffrey is touring the Great Sept where is wedding will be, and Margaery shows once again that she has him completely under her spell. Last season Joffrey was rightfully reviled by his citizens for his horrible acts, now Margaery is showing him the power of being loved. She's not making him any less of a vile person, but giving him a taste of what it's like to have your people behind you. Cersei is having none of it, though, and is constantly giving disapproving glances to what's happening as she talks with Lady Olenna. Her and the Tyrell matriarch have a lot in common, as they discuss the troubles of letting men rule the world. They differ in one key point, Cersei only thinks she's as smart as Lady Olenna actually is.
Now we come to the two scenes that were easily the best of the episode. Lord Varys' long monologue to Tyrion about how he was cut in Myr as child and his slow revenge. The reveal of the sorcery was masterfully done. You spend the whole scene wondering what it is Varys has in this box, and slowly realize as he comes to the part about revenge. Conleth Hill has been consistently great since his first scene, but this one takes the cake as his greatest, topping even the dungeon talks with Ned near the end of season one.
Then we have the final scene, a scene I've been waiting for since Daenerys arrived in Astapor. No matter what else you say about Game of Thrones, it knows how to land the big moments. Ned Stark's execution, The Battle of Blackwater, and now the sacking of Astapor. Emilia Clarke had a great performance in season one, but was saddled with a lackluster story in season two ("where are my dragons?!"). Here she shows season one was not an anomaly, and she does it in a fake language to boot. When she starts speaking Valaryian to the slaves and commanding them to take the city and kill all the slavers, it a triumphant moment. Then you realize she understood every vile word that came out of the slayer's mouth right before Drogon melts him. To top it all off, the looks on Jorah and Barristan's faces when they realize what is going on. You can bet they won't be question their Queen nearly as much anymore. It was an amazing scene, I just hope they didn't blow all of their special effects budget on it.
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