by Grace Crawford

All Game of Thrones images courtesy of HBO.

4×07: “Mockingbird”

So this was an interesting episode that I’ve been looking forward to for a while. Again, it was sort of a filler episode in some ways, but it sets up the next episode, “The Mountain and the Viper,” which I think will be absolutely insane.

Let’s go in order of things I liked, starting with the things I didn’t. Up north at the Wall, Jon Snow is sulking because nobody’s listening to him about the wilding attack and Castle Black’s defences. He has this good idea to fill their big tunnel to the north with rocks and ice, effectively blocking it against the wildlings. But as per usual, Ser Alliser Thorne starts making fun of him.

Obviously the master builder thinks this is a pretty decent idea, even if it means their main supply channel is blocked, but even though he’s a grown-ass man with opinions of his own, he won’t speak up against Thorne. I’m getting pretty tired of Thorne and his attitude, so I’m gonna be glad when they finally get around to electing a new Lord Commander.

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by Grace Crawford

All Game of Thrones images courtesy of HBO.

4×06: “The Laws of Gods and Men”

So this episode was about a few different things, but let’s be realistic here: nobody cares about anything that’s not Tyrion’s trial. That being said, I have a certain responsibility to tell you what happened, so I’m gonna do that before I get all up in the trial’s business.

Let’s start with Daenerys, because she’s my favourite. She’s holding court, listening to over 200 people airing out their grievances and asking for stuff, when a shepherd comes in. Apparently her biggest dragon, Drogon, decided that this shepherd’s flock was lunch, flambéed the lot of them, and ate them. And because Dany is a wise and kind leader, she pays the shepherd three times the value of his sheep.

Then comes Hizdahr zo Loraq, a young Meereenese nobleman whose father was crucified as justice for the slaves who met the same end. He asks permission to bury his father’s bones. And after some deliberation, Dany agrees, even though the slaves who the slavemasters killed had no such consideration.

But here’s the interesting thing: as a reader (spoilers ahead), I know that Hizdahr has a larger role to play in Dany’s story. This is going to become a slippery slope that results in enormous changes for everyone, not to mention a fair amount of carnage before it’s all through. And it all started here, with a single act of familial loyalty and a corresponding act of compassion. But I’ll circle back around to that.

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by Grace Crawford

All Game of Thrones images courtesy of HBO.

4×05: “First of His Name”

So when I was first watching this episode, I thought it was about resignation. Then I thought it was about the decisions that people make. And then I figured, maybe it’s not anything that complicated. Maybe it’s just some really good action setting the stage for the events of the rest of the season. And that’s the theory I’m gonna go with when I break it down for you.

Daenerys receives word that her cities, the ones she freed from slavery, are back under the thumbs of slavers. This causes a crisis of confidence, because how can the people of Westeros trust her to be their queen when she can’t even hold onto Slavers’ Bay? So Dany decides to stay in the Bay and rule as queen there. And I think that’s pretty big of her, given how much she’s lost in the course of her young life. She’s placing the needs of her people above her own needs, and that’s one of the qualities that’ll make her an awesome queen of the Seven Kingdoms, assuming she ever gets that far.

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