March 01, 2019

Game Of Thrones S04 E05 - First of His Name

 

They waste no time in King's Landing. Tommen has been crowned king. He looks terrified. He's only a boy. Cersei and Tywin now have a king they can mould into whatever shape they see fit.

Margaery Tyrell has Tommen under her thumb too. One smile and he's willing to do anything for her. Every fella in this show, young or old, is led by their prick.

Cersei is not one bit happy about her influence though. She's lost one son to poison, she doesn't want to lose another to a hussy. They both agree on one thing though, Tommen will be a far better husband to her and king to Westoros than Joffrey would have been.

Across the sea Ser Jorah spreads the news of Joffrey's death to Daenerys. This turn of events pleases her. One less King to face. Daario Nahaaris has also taken command of Meereen's navy. Now they have ships to carry their armies to Westoros. They don't have the power to win yet though.

Astapor and Yunkai, two cities conquered by Daenerys have also fallen back into their old slaving ways now that she's moved on. Jorah tells her to move forward with her plans to invade Westoros. He thinks she can win.

But she's going to be patient. She's going to take back Astapor and Yunkai and prove her worth that way first. More padding. Yay. 

Sansa and Littlefinger (ugh) have arrived at the vale.The home of Lysa Arryn, the woman Littlefinger is to marry. Jesus I hate him. 

He hides Sansa's real identify. She's still wanted in connection with Joffrey's death and this will just make things easier for them both. Lysa Arryn is Catelyn Starks sister though and knows well who Sansa is. Lysa is utterly unhinged though. Family or not Sansa isn't one bit safe here.

She also gets to meet her cousin Robin. A little freak altogether. Once they are alone Lysa demands an instant marriage from Littlefinger. She's been mad for him for a while, even poisoning her husband(!) to get things moving, then blaming the Lannisters.

SO! It was Littlefinger who started the hate between the Starks and The Lannisters. I'd totally forgotten that. His thirst for power set this whole story in motion. He agrees to marriage on this day.



In King's Landing Tywin and Cersei are going to let the wedding of Tommen and Margaery go ahead. This wedding will be rather less ostentatious than the last. Cersei will also marry Loras soon too. 

It's all financial of course, no room for love. The Lannister's are in trouble moneywise and the Tyrell's have loads of riches. War is expensive. The family is running on money borrowed from the iron Bank in Bravos. The go to financial institution for warmonger's.

Cersei tries to sniff out Tywin about the upcoming trial of Tyrion. He's the judge and nips her efforts in the bud. He mightn't like his son but he's a man who sticks to the letter of the law. He has a weird kind of morality.

In the riverlands Arya and The Hound are still heading towards the Vale. Arya's hitlist is getting longer and longer and the Hound is getting ratty over it, especially as his name is on the list as well.

In the Vale Lysa is interrogating Sansa. She doesn't trust her and thinks she has an eye out for Littlefinger. Her addled mind makes her jealous of any other woman Littlefinger deals with. Be wary Sansa. Run! 

Her plan is to marry Sansa to Freaky Robin as soon as Tyrion has been found guilty and executed. Another reason for Sansa to run!!

On the Kingsroad Brienne and Podrick  are heading north to the wall on the off chace they'll find Sansa there. Brienne is not one bit impressed with Pod's squiring skills. She gives him the chance to go but Pod is too loyal for his own good.

The Hound wakes up and Arya is gone. She hasn't done a runner though, she's just practicing her sword skills. She thinks what Syrio Forel taught her is enough but the Hound soon shows her she needs to do far more work.

In Kings Landing Oberyn Martell is still hanging around. Cersei rocks up for a chat. They talk about what they've lost. Her daughter Myrcella is a guest in his home country of Dorne. Oberyns assures Cersei that Myrcella is happy where she is. Cersei really wants to believe thats true.

Pod's every attempt at squiring goes awry. Tyrion taught him nothing. Brienne is aghast. It isn't until Pod speaks of saving Tyrion's life during the battle of Blackwater that she realises how trustworthy he is. She gives him the ok to stay for a while longer.



Beyond the wall darkness still dwells at Craster's Keep. The Rogue Nights watch men are still raping and pillaging but Jon's team has arrived to kill them and Locke is scouting the place out.

Locke spots Bran too. His lucky day. His mission from Roose Bolton can be completed while he ingratiates himself with Jon and the good Night's Watch men.

Jojen admits to bran he's had to same vision as him. The vision of a unique tree in the north where the three eyed raven lives. This scene is like an acid trip. Jojen tells Bran that he, Meera and Hodor are all expendable as long as Bran can succeed. The journey is that important.

Locke informs Jon that the Keep can be easily taken. However, he makes no mention of Bran. Slimy bastard. They decide to attack under darkness.

Karl, the lead mutineer tries to rape Meera but her brother Jojen stops him by foreseeing his death. Little does he know how near that moment is.

Jon and his men attack. It gets vicious. Brother against former brother. Jon and his gang have the upper hands because the mutineers are all pissed and gone to seed. This should be handy. It should be........

During the fighting Locke sneaks away to kill Bran. Bran wargs into Hodor and uses Hodor's super strength to snap Locke's neck. Huh. That was simple. I assumed he'd be around for longer than that. Hodor, the big innocent fella, now sadly has blood on his mitts.

The fighting continues. Bran is now free and shouts for Jon. They are so close but Jojen tells him Jon will stop their journey north and Bran reluctantly agrees. They leave without Jon having ever known they were there.

Jon eventually fights his way through the crowd to Karl. Jon's a great fighter, Karl is sneaky one. It's bloody stuff and Karl almost wins until he get distracted and then gets a sword right through the gob. A very satisfying ending for a scummy bastard.

The mutineers are dead. Jon offers Craster's daughters a life at the wall but they won't go. So Craster's Keep, that hellish place is burnt to the ground along with the dead to stop them rising up as the undead. Jon gets his direwolf Ghost back too. A rare happy reunion.



That was a pretty good episode. Some super action near the end saved the day. These middle season episodes need to be mixed up though. They all seem to consist of people moving into position for the end. The formula is getting slightly dull.

Next up - The Laws of Gods and Men

Series 1 - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10


Series 2 - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10


Series 3 - 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10


Series 4 - 1  2  3  4

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