Game of
Thrones
Season 4
Episode 2:
The Lion
and the Rose
Summary:
A trembling Theon
Greyjoy follows Ramsay Snow and Myranda as they savagely hunt down a
young woman and leave her for the dogs.
Upon returning to the
Dreadfort, Ramsay greets his father, Roose Bolton, Roose's new bride,
Walda, and Locke, who have just arrived.
Roose is irritated with
his bastard when he sees what's become of Theon Greyjoy, no longer
useful as a hostage.
Although Roose is now
Warden of the North, the Bolton claim on the land is tenuous as long
as the Ironborn hold Moat Cailin.
Eager to demonstrate
that "Reek" is both docile and useful, Ramsay commands his
prisoner to give him a shave. Reek delicately handles the blade and
answers Ramsay's questions, informing Roose that Bran and Rickon
Stark are alive.
Tasked with finding the
boys, Locke heads for Castle Black, based on Reek's guess that the
Starks sought shelter with Jon Snow. Impressed with Reek's
submissiveness, Roose makes a proposition: If Ramsay can use Theon
Greyjoy to win Moat Cailin, Roose will reconsider his bastard's
legitimacy.
After Jaime Lannister
confides to Tyrion that he cannot fight with his left hand, his
brother advises Jaime to train with a discreet swordsman, and
recommends Bronn for the job. Jaime is initially insulted when the
sellsword insists on fighting with dull sparring blades, but soon
acknowledges that he is no better than a beginner.
Tyrion Lannister
receives disastrous news from Varys: Cersei has learned of his
relationship with Shae, and Varys will not cover for him. When Shae
goes to Tyrion's chamber later that day, he is clear: She must leave.
He has prepared passage for her to Pentos.
Shae rejects the idea,
but Tyrion cuts her short: "You're a whore." He maintains
that he doesn't love her and that their time together is over. She
flees in tears. Later that day, Bronn assures Tyrion that Shae
boarded the ship.
Melisandre oversees an
"offering" to the Lord of Light at Dragonstone. Three
traitors are burned at the stake, including Stannis Baratheon's
brother-in-law. Davos Seaworth questions his king's complacency, but
Stannis brushes him off. Later that night, Stannis defends his
daughter to his wife, Selyse, who believes Shireen to be tainted by
sin. Selyse backs down when Melisandre agrees to talk to the child.
The Red priestess explains to Shireen that the gods of the Seven are
false; there are only two gods - one of light and one of darkness,
and they are eternally at war.
Bran Stark hunts as his
direwolf Summer when he's woken by Hodor. Meera and Jojen Reed warn
Bran about spending too much time in Summer's skin; after a certain
point, Bran will forget his humanity entirely.
The hungry travellers
press on and notice Summer standing beside an ancient weirwood.
Compelled by the tree's face, Bran touches the trunk and experiences
a series of visions. "I know where we have to go," he tells
his companions.
King Joffrey receives
wedding gifts at a breakfast held in his honour. Tyrion presents his
nephew with a rare book, which the king promptly hacks to shreds once
his grandfather presents him with a new Valyrian steel sword. The
king names his new blade "Widow's Wail."
Joffrey and Margaery
are wed in the Faith of the Seven. Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand
greet Tywin Lannister and dowager queen Cersei at the lavish
reception. Oberyn mentions his sister's murder, silencing the
Lannisters.
Tywin has a pointed
exchange with Olenna Tyrell, who also offers her sympathies to Sansa
Stark.
Jaime Lannister greets
Loras Tyrell, and exchanges barbs with the Knight of Flowers.
Cersei confronts
Brienne of Tarth about her relationship with Jaime but cannot get a
read on the warrior woman.
Fuming, Cersei dresses
down Maester Pycelle and commands him to give the leftovers to the
dogs, defying Queen Margaery's decree that the surplus go to the
poor.
Joffrey silences the
crowd and introduces a show, "The War of Five Kings."
The performers are five
dwarves, dressed as Joffrey, Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon,
Balon Greyjoy and Robb Stark. Joffrey grins at Tyrion while the crude
show plays out. Sansa is equally insulted by a vulgar re-enactment of
her brother's death.
Once the show is
completed, Joffrey suggests Tyrion join the fray. When his uncle
snubs the offer and retaliates with a reference to the Battle of the
Blackwater, Joffrey retaliates by pouring a glass of wine on Tyrion.
He then demands Tyrion
serve as his cupbearer and sends him scrambling under the table for a
goblet.
The tension is broken
when Margaery draws attention to the next course, a giant pigeon pie.
Joffrey cuts through the crust, releasing live birds inside.
The pie is distributed
to the crowd and Joffrey digs in, and washes it down with wine. He
begins to cough violently, and falls to the ground.
In the ensuing chaos,
Dontos ushers Sansa out of the reception.
Jaime rushes to the
king's side, while Olenna comforts Margaery. As he takes his final
breaths, the Joffrey points to Tyrion.
Cersei cradles her dead
son and commands that Tyrion be arrested for Joffrey's murder.
Review:
Well, well, well, long live the King indeed eh? It was the moment we
all knew was coming and yet, it was still a surprise. The death was
suitably horrible and so, so, brutal in keeping with the show we know
and love.
Besides that, there was a rather lovely wedding where Joffrey got to
first base with Margaery, Sansa finally found and embraced her inner
sassiness, Cersei was actually nice to Margaery, she even kissed her,
it was only on the cheeks and there were no flowers involved but let
the #Cersaery shipping commence anyway!
Tyrion rejected Shae and everyone across the realm shed a manly tear
in sympathy.
Also, Shae slapped Bronn and Bronn got to spar with Jaime's
remaining hand so it was a good day for him at least.
Everyone put down their weapons at the wedding and Loras and Jaime,
Cersei and Brienne, Cersei and Pycelle and Joffrey and Tyrion had a
war with words.
Joffrey poured wine over Tyrion and forced him to, rather
humiliatingly, to serve as his cupbearer.
Melisandre, Stannis and Selyse burnt Selyse's brother and then had
the most awkward and uncomfortable dinner that the realm as ever
known. Selyse is still madder then someone left out in the sun for
too long but at least there were no picked male babies to look at.
Melisandre visited and bonded rather nicely, which is kind of creepy
when you think about it, with the unquestionably cute and engaging
Shireen.
Bran Stark has the coolest vision ever witnessed. Theon 'Reek'
Greyjoy is suffering terribly as Ramsay Bolton's bitch... I mean
servant.
And then, in Margaery Tyrell's own words: “Look the pie!”
And then an almighty cheer echoed throughout the world as the bastard
everyone loved to hate died horribly.
Cersei and Jaime naturally ran to his aid but there was nothing they
could do. And in his dying moments Joffrey pointed to Tyrion and
Cersei raged like a woman possessed to have him taken prisoner.
Naturally, I loved everything about this episode as well and now, I
want more. Monday's in the UK can't come quick enough.
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