Game of Thrones 4.03 “Breaker of Chains”

Joffery’s dead! Hooray! In case you forgot about the murder of the most reviled character in television today, then Game of Thrones 4.03 is happy to remind you with an opening shot of the little snot’s dead, derped face. It would be nearly impossible to top the events of the previous episode, so HBO does the wise thing and spends an hour moving pieces around the board and setting up tensions for future conflicts. Even through all the exposition and hand-wringing, they still manage to pull off an entertaining show despite a few rough patches in the middle.

Poor Sansa Stark. Since leaving Winterfell she’s been tossed about like a windsock in a Cat 5 hurricane. Well, now she’s been swept away by a pudgy knight wearing motley. At least she’s finally away from King’s Landing. Sophie Turner has very little to do in this episode other than looked shocked and appalled which, I believe, sums up most of her duties during the last three seasons. Things are looking up, for us anyway, as Ser Dontos delivers Sansa to the Petyr Baelish. Aidan Gillen steals every scene — why fight it?

Littlefinger explains Sansa’s situation in creepy uncle fashion and gives Dontos his reward; an arrow to the face. Thank you for that bit of verisimilitude, HBO. I do love me some headshots but most times the entry wound is dead center to the forehead. Dontos took it in the cheek like a champ reminding me a bit of Don Fanucci’s demise in Godfather Part II. As much as I admire Baelish’s ability to tie up loose ends, I am in awe of his prowess at The Game. Nobody in Westeros does it better.

Except for…

… Olenna Tyrell. Dame Diana Rigg continues to play the matriarch of House Tyrell to perfection. God help anyone who makes her cross. Margaery seems to be in the clear for Joffery’s murder as she jokingly believes herself cursed with dead husbands. Not sure how I feel about this. Margaery has been portrayed as clever, capable and not above using guile to get what she wants. It appears that she didn’t do it though she certainly has the most to gain by Joffery’s death. I’m keeping my eyes on Gramma Tyrell, though. She’s wiley.

The King is dead. Long live the King. Little brother Tommen receives a regal history lesson from Tywin Lannister over Cersei’s objections in the sept where Joffery lay in state. Best scene of the episode. Tywin inserts himself, intellectually and physically, between Cersei and her remaining son ushering him out of the room and out of Cersei’s control. Luckily, Jamie is there to lend a shoulder to cry on but that turns into incestuous sexual assault so… Cersei is having a bad day all around.

Meanwhile, on the winding road to the The Vale, The Hound is just fun to watch. Whether he’s demanding chickens, splitting heads, or stealing money from unsuspecting smallfolk, the guy just demands our attention. Next to her Bravossi dancing instructor, Sandor Clegane is the best teacher Arya has ever met. Their journey together is proving to be a highlight every week.

Off to Castle Black for a bit of back and forth with Gilly and Sam. You know what? We got it. Sam doesn’t understand women. We’ve seen this sort of thing between two would-be lovers before and it’s all gotten a bit boring. Let’s hope Gilly’s new living situation brings some life back into this sub-plot. Her being surrounded by women who hate her for being a wildling and men who are just as depraved as her father/husband should help me stay awake during the next episode.

Davos continues to be the most honorable man in Westeros that follows a deluded, would-be King. Too bad no one really listens to him. I believe I’m ready for something else in Stannis’s story to shock me. It’s been a long time since the Shadow Baby killed Renly and I believe that we need to be reminded how serious the Red God is.

Interrupting yet another reminder of The Red Viper sauciness, Tywin Lannister makes an appearance and offers Oberyn Martell revenge and power. I’ll need to look it up but this might be the first time Tywin has acknowledged Daenarys’ threat to the Seven Kingdoms. If I need to be corrected, let me know.

In a cell once again, Tyrion’s future looks pretty bleak. His faithful squire, Podrick Payne, informs him exactly how bleak. Have I mentioned that Pod is a faithful servant? Well, he is and it bears repeating. Tyrion informs him to stop being faithful and to get the hell out of Dodge. The best parts of the entire series have been watching Tyrion dig himself out of a hole. Regicide. Nepoticide (nephew killin’ according to Wikipedia). This is going to be a fun trial!

Back at Castle Black, no one but Jon seems to understand the Wildling threat except the boy whose parents got eaten by Styr. I think he gets it. The Brothers of the Night’s Watch are reeling with indecision without guidance from Lord Mormont. I believe things are about to get interesting fast. This is a good thing.

Lastly, we catch up to Daenarys approaching the walled city of Meereen with her ever-growing army. While I’m patient for most everything else is the show (except Sam and Gilly) the scenes beyond the Narrow Sea have me biting my nails and yelling “Hurry Up” at my TV.  Certainly, urging others to defeat your enemy instead of using your military might may be good strategy but it makes for some dull television.  Let’s see what happens next week.

Overall, this was a good episode, if a trifle slow in the middle.  It got the job done and moved the story forward.  You know I’m going to keep watching.