“Since we have spent so much time in Kings Landing this season, this episode visits some plots that have been neglected lately.” – Zoë DiGiorgio
One of the most interesting aspects of Game of Thrones is the show’s handling of the series’ bountiful number of plotlines. In the books, the chapters are told from different characters’ perspectives, which helps keep things pretty simple to follow. However, the show tends to favor some characters more than others each episode and even on a season-by-season basis.
Even with a large number of plotlines cut off abruptly in the Red Wedding last season, Game of Thrones viewers still have a lot of ground to cover this with this season’s cast of characters. Since we have spent so much time in Kings Landing this season, this episode visits some plots that have been neglected lately.
The episode opens with Stannis arriving in Braavos, the mysterious land we have heard much about but haven’t visited yet in the show. It’s exactly the kind of cutthroat place you’d expect it to be, except think “cutthroat” in the sense of splitting a check with a stingy friend; it’s all a numbers game.
Stannis struggles to make his case to get the funding he needs for his army, but Davos comes to the rescue, proving his loyalty and cleverness as he makes a case for Stannis’s army.
It’s times like these that I’m inclined to believe there are actually truly good characters on this show. But then you have to consider that Davos is only a “good” guy in the context of people like the Lannisters and Roose Bolton.
Speaking of the Boltons, Yara Greyjoy — remember her? — receives a threat to her people from Ramsey Snow/Bolton, who taunts her about having Theon locked up. Out of that strange mix of pride/love Yara has for her brother, she leads a rescue party to free Theon. When she finds her brother in the dog kennels, he doesn’t recognize her. He fights against her attempts to free him and tries to stay in his cage, declaring that he is Reek and doesn’t know her.
Ramsey comes to the kennels, the Yara’s people and Ramsey’s people fight, and Yara realizes she isn’t winning this one; her brother is too far gone. Ramsey rewards Theon/Reek’s loyalty with a bath in a moment that feels strangely ripped from Harry Potter: “Master has given Dobby clothes!” The point of this is that the Iron Aisles are now back in the game, and Ramsey is up to something creepy.
We revisit Danaerys’ throne in Meereen, where she actually takes care of some queenly duties, like helping the poor farmers her awesome CGI dragon terrorizes. However, some problems are not so easy to solve; as you remember from last week, her attempts to overthrow slave-owning governments in Essos are going sour.
She finds out that her rule in Meereen is less stable than it initially seemed when the son of a man she crucified earlier in the season confronts her. She learns that this man opposed the torture of the children, but nevertheless was made to face the same fate as them. Dany is torn between holding her ground and sympathizing with the son. Though she allows the man’s body a proper burial, it’s at this moment that the revelation finally dawns on her: Heavy is the head that wears the crown, Dany. It’s not all Mhysa and Grey Worm.
Having gotten all those plotlines out of the way, it is back to Kings Landing, where we check in on a council meeting with Tywin and friends. The council meeting is a good recap for viewers who might have forgotten some of the extraneous plotlines.
An interesting plot thread begins to form between Varys — remember him? — and Oberyn Martell, the goofy sex addict from Dorne. Loving sex is most of Oberyn’s character, but we learn more about him as he probes Varys; he’s cleverer than he lets on. More importantly, we get to see Varys again. Last season the whole show felt like a duel between Varys and Littlefinger, so I’m curious what Varys has been up to while he’s been off screen.
Finally, it’s time for the moment we’ve been waiting for since the Purple Wedding: Tyrion’s trial. It’s exactly as trumped-up as Tyrion said it would be, but at the last moment, Jaime makes a plea with his father for Tyrion’s life; he offers to leave the Kingsguard and become Tywin’s true heir if only Tywin lets Tyrion live.
Tywin agrees, promising to only send Tyrion to serve on the wall, when the last witness is called to give testimony: Shae. Like everyone else, Shae spews a cocktail of lies and truths so potent it’s difficult to separate one from the other. Tyrion is hurt and betrayed beyond measure and though his life is on the line, he still refuses to go down without a fight, hurling out insults before the court and calling for a trial by combat.
If that scene doesn’t get Peter Dinklage the Emmy, nothing will.
Of course, after that spectacular ending, the credits play a familiar tune: The Rains of Castamere. As any audience member knows, the song never hails glad tiding.
Something is going down next week, and I can’t wait.
