Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 4 Review (ialmopia english version)

Sunday night’s episode of HBO hit series Game of Thrones was full of surprises. It also was a farewell for a longtime character in the true “Thrones” style of killing nice people. The episode was written by Dave Hill and directed by Mark Mylod.

WARNING: SPOILERS for Episode 5.04

Setting Sail near Essos

Things start off with Ser Jorah stealing a boat from a local fisherman in order to transport Tyrion to “the Queen”. Later Tyrion gets Jorah into a conversation and figures out who his kidnapper is and what he is up to. The Imp finds ways to insult the man from Bear Island and pays the price with a knock on the head. WIth Tyrion knocked out, Jorah continues sailing in peace.

Dorne

Another Lannister on a boat. This time it is Jamie and his sellsword sidekick Bronn. The two discuss why Jamie is taking on this mission at all and not using the King’s soldiers to rescue princess Myrcella from the Martells. Jamie explains that he does not want to start a war and that he feels like he must be the one to bring her back. Bronn sees through this attempt at chivalry and figures out that Jamie is doing this to prove something to his sister, Cersei. Soon the two are ashore in Dorne and are discovered by a squad of Dornish riders. Bronn fights with skill and Jamie uses luck along with his golden hand as they dispatch the southerners and take their horses. In the next scene we are introduced to the “Sand Snakes”. They are a fiery and dangerous group of fighters who all happen to be daughters of the deceased Prince Oberyn Martell. The plot they hatch together involves using Princess Myrcella Baratheon as a tool to start a war with the Lannisters. But who will get to the young maiden first, the vengeful women or Jamie with Bronn?

King’s Landing

Cersei finds herself in another small council meeting in which she assigns Mace Tyrell the duty of travelling to Braavos to deal with negotiations on the crown’s behalf with the Iron Bank. And just like that the Queen gets closer to the dictatorship she desires by sending another council member out of the capitol. Later she meets with “the High Sparrow” and reinforces their relationship by allowing him to reform the faith militant. It is a group of religious soldiers with the duty to protect the interests of the church of the seven. She then gossips to the holy man about another “sinner” she wants dealt with. Soon after King’s Landing is given a cleansing of sorts by this newly formed army of fanatics. Sinners, pagans and perverts are beat up or taken prisoner including another of Cersei’s problems, Ser Loras Tyrell. This does not sit well with the current Queen Margaery. King Tommen is forced in between his mother and his wife, a situation he does not have the skills to maneuver. He is also unable to approach the High Sparrow and eats some insults on the streets near the church.

The Wall

At Castle Black, Melisander discusses battle plans with Stannis as he prepares to leave the Wall and attack Winterfell. Lord Commander Jon Snow needs recruits for The Wall but does not want to ask every lord in the north for reinforcements. Sam explains that even the Bolton’s can offer the men they need and reminds Jon that his family is in his past and now he must forget what the Bolton’s have done and ask for their help. The red priestess then interrupts his work to make him an offer no other man would refuse. Melisandre has used her sexual powers for strange reasons in the past but Jon does not give in and declines her advances. Jon really knows nothing. Stannis then has a conversation with his daughter Shireen. He explains to her that he was to blame for her catching grayscale and that he did all in his power to heal her. It is a rare moment of affection for Stannis and one the shows he is not only a king but a father too.

Winterfell

Sansa Stark visits the crypts where she and and Littlefinger discuss her aunt Lyanna. Lord Baelish gives the young Stark a history lesson about the tournament at Harrenhal. He then explains that he must return to King’s Landing. Littlefinger explains that Stannis and the Boltons will soon fight and how Sansa can take advantage of both potential outcomes. 

Meereen

Queen Daenerys has a conversation with her trusted advisor Ser Barristan Selmy and for the second time in this episode we are given a history lesson about prince Rhaegar. An astute watcher would call this foreshadowing. Dany gives Selmy the day off and the knight heads to the streets of the city. Hizdahr Zo Loraq petitions the queen to re-open the fighting pits a tradition that she does not agree with. In the streets below the Sons of the Harpy ambush some of the queen’s forces with the help of some locals. A group of Unsullied, including Grey Worm, find themselves surrounded and outnumbered in a narrow alley. The captain of the queen’s forces is injured and his men are killed when suddenly Ser Barristan the Bold, as he was once called, enters the fight albeit without his knightly armor. The old knight shows his skill and defeats a dozen of the attackers. Eventually their numbers prove to be too great and the man who served kings his entire life and killed. The episode ends with Grey Worm being the only combatant left alive. 

“It is known” that Game of Thrones is not scared to kill characters we have grown to respect and admire. Tonights death will remain in the minds of fans for weeks to come. It also has a huge impact on Daenerys Targaryen's prospects for survival in Meereen. How will her new situation resolve itself? Furthermore, she is not the only woman in a difficult spot as Sansa is now alone at Winterfell. Loras Tyrell is being held captive. Tyrion is still a prisoner. The viewer is left with many things to consider until next Sunday’s episode.

Check out Episode 5 preview below. 

By Theofilos Papadopoulos

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