Game of Thrones Season 4 Ep 5 (the clueless about the books POV)

[shapinglight]

Was out all day yesterday and didn't get to watch this until quite late at night, so was too tired to write a review then. Here it is now.

Spoilers behind cut.



Despite the nasty stuff at the end (courtesy of Burn Gorman, and which thankfully never reached the physical level) this episode was an easier watch than many. The hardest scene to watch in many ways was the one where the Hound crushed Arya's treasured memories of Syrio Forel and what he taught her. The Hound has a point, of course. Not too much a fencing master - despite his skill- can do against a big bloke covered in armour (and more than likely on a horse). It was still tough to see the realisation hit Arya, though. Poor thing!

Speaking of poor things, it didn't take Sansa long to realise that she'd jumped from the frying pan into the fire, with the discovery that Aunty Lysa is clearly off her trolley and that she's doomed to marry yet another psychotic teenager (who will probably want to breastfeed from his mother during the wedding ceremony). Not to mention she'll have Littlefinger as a step-father-in-law (and Lysa may be psychotic, but she's not wrong in thinking Littlefinger would like to get his hands on Sansa).

The Stark boys, Bran and Jon, did a little better. Bran and his friends got away from the Nightswatch deserters with minimal damage (ie. no one got raped or killed), and Jon did the job he'd set out to do and was rid of the horrid Bolton spy without even realising the danger he'd been in (good riddance, btw). On the other hand, it was sad that the first time that Bran set eyes on a sibling since he parted with Rickon in season 3 he wasn't able to speak to him.

Yet again, I find myself thinking that the five Stark children still living are unlikely to meet each other ever again. :(

Elsewhere, Cersei confounded expectation by making peace with Margaery (Cersei must have an angle, I just don't know what it is yet) and agreeing that she should marry Tommen one day, while acknowledging that Joffrey was a monster who would have made Margaery's life hell. Then Cersei has reasonable conversations with her father and with Prince Thing-y from Dorne (his name escapes me), but this time I could see through her reasonableness to her underlying motive - to influence the judges in Tyrion's trial. Looks to me like it might have worked too. Great scenes anyway, both of them, especially the Cersei/Tywin scene. Charles Dance is just so good!

Finally, the brief Dany interlude gave me what I've been wanting for ages - a Dany/Jorah scene with just the two of them. At the moment, she will still listen to home truths coming from him - this time a reality check about how all this freeing the slaves stuff has worked out in retrospect (not so well, is the answer). Good to see Dany making a decision to stay and rule the people she's thrown into chaos instead of sailing for Westeros on a wave of self-righteousness.

Dany/Jorah4eva btw - and yeah, I know it's not age appropriate.

Oh, forgot the Brienne/Podric scene. Loved it. I think they're going to get on like a house on fire (possibly literally if Podric doesn't learn how to skin a rabbit properly).

ETA: Eeek! Realised I totally forgot to mention that this was the episode in which we finally learned the answer to the mystery with which the show started - who killed John Arryn (anyone remember him?) and started the poor old Starks on the road to destruction.

Well, it was his wife (no surprise, except that I never for one minute guessed it, heh!-because, as previously noted, psychotic), who had been in cahoots with Littlefinger all along (also no surprise given what a git he is.)

Not sure whether this is an anticlimax or not.

Comments

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Oh I forgot that was a mystery get to be answered. Of course!

Apart from the stuff at the Eyrie and Arya's storyline (they seem to be treading water a bit there), I am still confused. I think I am going to read on again.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I was surprised by the moment of pure longing I experienced for Bran and Jon to speak (though I heavily suspected they would not depart from the book's tradition of starcrossed Starks missing contact with one another).

It's good to remember every now and then that a few characters genuinely (and innocently) love one another. Seeing Jon and Bran together would be a painful reminder of that opening scene when the brothers + Arya were all happy and teasing together in the courtyard of Winterfell. *sniff*

But, Ghost is home. That's good.

BTW they seemingly have skipped over solving another mystery that was solved just before Joffrey's death. It was Joffrey who sent the assassin to Bran's bedroom and who cut Catelyn (causing Catelyn to arrest Tyrion because it was done with Tyrion's knife, so that she blamed Tyrion, and was another of the dominoes that kicked off this war.) Joffrey didn't do it for any sort of deep reason. He was just being Joffrey. The kind of kid who would pull wings off butterflies, disembowel Ser Pounce, or assassinate a crippled boy...

I guess they decided it's all a moot point now as it was a revelation that never went anywhere. Tyrion just realized it at the wedding ceremony (I forget how. Something about the knife).

But, as they've already solved who murdered Joffrey (I always loved Granny Tyrell for deciding that there was no way in hell that she was subjecting her grandaughter to Joffrey. That little snot had to go.) Anyway, it's not even usable storywise as a red herring at this point that Tyrion might have actually killed Joffrey, so I guess they just let it go.

[shapinglight]

I don't mind them treading water if it means we don't have to see the Boltons and Theon.

But I know what you mean. I feel like we're due another set piece like the wedding soon. I suppose it will be Tyrion's trial.

[shapinglight]

I was surprised by the moment of pure longing I experienced for Bran and Jon to speak

God, me too! Bran's actually luckier than the others. He's seen a sibling (Rickon) relatively recently. None of the older Starks have set eyes on another Stark since season 1.

Re: the Tyrion and the knife plot, I'm not altogether surprised they left it out, since I don't see Joffrey having the clout at that time to order Bran's assassination. It seems to make better sense to me to put that down to Littlefinger - like pretty much everything else bad that's happened to anyone since the show began.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

I don't remember whether or not it was in the show, but in the book when Bran and Rickon part, Rickon throws a heartbreaking fit that, people keep going away, saying they'll return, but no one ever comes back. *poor kid*

[ex_peasant441]

The wikipedia summary did sound quite dull, so I was putting this one down as a treading water episode. The Brienne/Podric scene sounded the best thing.

My prediction is that young Tommon won't last long. Although he will perhaps die of natural causes like a disease (GRM will have done Research into the incidence of child death in the Middle Ages). Then it will get fun as Tywin tries to find a way to remain in control. There is a girl isn't there? I'm trying to work out who he will marry her off to. If it happens before Cersei marries whatsisface Tyrell he will presumably switch to marrying the girl to Whatsisface, otherwise who knows. Maybe this new prince. Maybe one of the Stark boys if he finds out they are still alive. Anyway, it should be fun.

Also I reckon the way things are going either Cersei will kill Tywin or Tywin will kill Cersei. Not sure which yet.

It is amazing how much more I am enjoying this show now I'm not actually watching it but just reading about it and then talking with you. Is this why people become spoiler whores? If I'd only known I would have done it far sooner :D

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I didn't read this post. I suddenly decided maybe I could get interested in this show after all. I've just binged-watched season one. We'll see if I catch up.

[shapinglight]

:(

I wonder if we'll catch up with Rickon and Osha at all this season? I suspect not.

[shapinglight]

I'm not that spoilered for the story going forward, but spoilered enough to know that every one of your predictions is wrong.

Try again.

[shapinglight]

Oh, interesting. If you want to comment on season 1 at all, I have posts. You could click on my GoT tag and comment where appropriate.

I just want to know what you think really.

[aphroditemf.livejournal.com]

A big fan theory about Syrio is that he's not dead, since we didn't see him die on-screen, and I wondered if the inclusion of this scene in which the Hound derides him was a foreshadowing that he'd return at some point (this is not a book spoiler, just speculation). A continuation of this theory (which you've probably heard about) is that Jaqen and Syrio are the same person, since we saw Jaqen change his face.

I am so shipping Dany/Jorah - every time Daario flirts with her I think, "Why in Westeros would she want him when she could have gorgeous Jorah?!"

I'd COMPLETELY forgotten that Lysa/Littlefinger colluded in the death of Jon Arryn! I'm glad they mentioned it, even it was a bit obvious as a piece of exposition.

[ex_peasant441]

When have I ever predicted any show correctly?

My predictions would make for better shows of course ;)

[sibilant.livejournal.com]

This episode did feel a bit ho-hum, yet when I consider it again, there was some good tying up of loose ends here.

I can no longer be surprised by the depths of Littlefinger's evilness. I wonder how long poor, mad Lyssa and her creepy son will last once Lord Baelish is officially ensconced? Once again, I say, poor Sansa - she always gets the sticky wicket! But she's so annoyingly passive ....

[shapinglight]

When have I ever predicted any show correctly?

Never, to my knowledge. ;)

[shapinglight]

I don't know about Syrio. I fear he's probably dead. I think Jaqen is another person too, it's just a pity he had to change the face he had in season 2. I liked that one.

I am so shipping Dany/Jorah - every time Daario flirts with her I think, "Why in Westeros would she want him when she could have gorgeous Jorah?!"

I know! Of course, he wasn't gorgeous in the books, was he? Also, we're probably not supposed to 'ship them because of the age gap, which many people would find icky. But....:shrug:

[shapinglight]

I suppose poor Sansa knows her limitations. She's not brave and she's not strong, and she's not particularly clever. I have a big soft spot for her as a consequence.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

I think that might actually be when Robb rides out with the banners.

[shapinglight]

:Misses Catelyn:

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. You've read it more often and more closely than I have.

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Haha! That's a kind way of saying I'm more obsessive than you are :P (In the books, Bran and Rickon split up at Winterfell - Maester Luwin advises them to travel separately as he's dying.)

[mrs-underhill.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this episode a lot, and it was kinder than the most.

Thought of you during that Jorah and Dany scene. She looked so beautiful. And the unfolding of story of freeing of slaves and revolution is very realistic, alas.

Every interaction was sublime and to the point. I especially loved how much did they convey in Sansa/Littlefinger/Lisa plot. So much happened in two minutes. Poor Sansa, she thought her troubles were finally over and she was safe, and oops.

And yes, Sersei is playing calm, perfect, reasonable Queen Regent and daughter, but you can see she has an angle - against Tyrion, yes, but also she aims at being true Tywin heir, as he didn't really accepted her before - and she's falling apart underneath it.

Bran and Jon haven't met in the books, but here at least Bran saw Jon... And I was happy for the Ghost and Jon reunion.

Is it the first episode of the show without Tyrion?

[shapinglight]

and it was kinder than the most.

Yes, while there was violence you didn't mind it so much because the people who got killed were horrible anyway.

Thought of you during that Jorah and Dany scene. She looked so beautiful.

:)

And the unfolding of story of freeing of slaves and revolution is very realistic, alas.

Yes, indeed. Idealism is all very well.

Is it the first episode of the show without Tyrion?

I don't think it's the first but there haven't been many.

[shipperx.livejournal.com]

Heh. I read Storm of Swords once three or four years ago and have quite the faulty memory (and I skimmed chunks of A Feast for Crows).

Whenever I go on a fansite I'm constantly amazed by details other fans remember (and hinted subplots that I never caught onto at all!) :)