Genre: Historical Fantasy
Watched: Episode 36 – May 11, 2014
Title: The Laws of Gods and Men
Summary: Good stuff
Joff’s death set it up, but the next big event is finally here: the trial of Tyrion Lannister. Poor Ty.
Anyway, as usual, I’ll break down the threads into their sub plots for discussion.
Davos & Stannis – Have made the journey across the narrow sea to Bravos. This isn’t in the books as far as I can remember, and it’s our first (but not last) glimpse of the city. And it’s certainly a small glimpse as we see them sailing in, under a giant colossus that was clearly borrowed from the Colossus of Rhodes. Other than that, we see the inside of the bank. The Iron Bank officer sure is insightful, and Stannis isn’t getting anywhere. Davos gives a speech and we don’t know exactly how it goes except…
He shows up at the bathhouse and throws his friend Salladhor Saan a bunch of money to sail with him.
Bank employes have gone downhill since the Middle Ages
Yara & Theon – Yara sails on her mission to save Theon, and she reads the letter from Ramsay to motivate her troops while we intercut with Ramsay and his murderous bedwarmer. The Iron Born storm the Dreadfort and locate Theon (aka Reek) in the kennels. But Reek isn’t Theon and he’s terrified to go with Yara. A blood streaked and crazy Ramsay confronts them, battle ensues, but Reek is so much Ramsay’s creature that Yara flees, claiming her brother is dead.
After, Ramsay has another creepy scene with Reek where he gives him a bath as a reward and tells him he’ll need him to pretend to be Theon to take Moat Caitlin. Creepy. What’s up with the bathing?
I couldn’t resist a shot of the Titan of Bravos
Dany – A Shepherd’s boy in North Ireland (I mean Meereen) has his goats barbecued for dragon food. The father appears before Dany in her throne room with the bones and is given money. A young noble asks to bury his crucified father. Dany agrees and finds there are 212 more cases — ah, being a real ruler is hard work — no wonder Robert and Joff hated small council meetings!
A cozy throne room
Oberyn – Joins the small council with his amusing know-it-all attitude. Mace (Marg’s father) is, as his mother Olena has said, not the brightest bulb. They discuss the house and Dany back in Meereen.
Oberyn and Varys talk in front of the Iron Throne (does Varys meet anywhere else?). Both are perceptive. I’m not sure what to make of Varys’ claim to be free of desire.
Tyrion – Then the meat of the episode, perhaps 25+ minutes. Jaime visits Tyrion in jail, but manacles him and takes him to the throne room and trial. Tommen names the judges and leaves. What follows is a litany of inconclusive but damning evidence. Kings Guards, Pycell, Cersei herself — all paint a story of his culpability.
And this one too, particularly the chair in the middle
During a break Jaime takes Tywin aside and pleads for Tyrion. They strike a deal: Tywin will send Tyrion to the wall and Jaime will throw away his cloak and become heir again.
But back at Trial the crown calls Shae (obviously not across the narrow sea). She paints a terrible picture, claiming to know of his whole plot with Sansa (of course not the case). She even confesses to be his whore, telling their intimate secrets. It really is heart wrenching. Tyrion, taking a play from his own hand back in the Eerie during season 1, “confesses” (not as humorously) to being a dwarf, and on trial for it. He pulls out the emotion. Then demands trial by combat. All eyes (or at least the camera’s) are on Jaime.
Sucks to be the dwarf
A great episode, particularly the second half. The first covers most of the bits and pieces left out of last week, but the second focuses on Tyrion, and as we all know, that means good times — well, perhaps not for the Imp — but certainly for us loyal watchers of this brilliant combination of character and actor brought to life.
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HBO’s official Inside the Episode:
