Rain Varela
Staff Writer
After weeks of seeming inactivity Peter Dinklage, as Tyrion Lannister, was given this week to shine. I smell an Emmy or a Golden Globe for his performance in this episode.
The first scene we see is Braavos where Ser Davos Seaworth, together with Stannis Baratheon, have come to ask a loan from the Iron Bank. Unfortunately for them, the members of the bank are not impressed and they deny the request for a loan. Ser Davos argue on their behalf, showing his fingers that were ordered cut in payment for his criminal past by Stannis. He convinces the members that Stannis is honourable and will uphold his duty and will repay the bank.
We have no idea how the bank answer the loan request at first because we are taken to another corner of the city where we find a character we haven’t seen in a while, Salladhor Saan, Davos’ old pirate friend who is in a bathhouse cavorting with a couple of women. Busy with the naked ladies, Saan’s fun is interrupted when Davos walks in telling him about the bank request situation. Salladhor then leaves with Davos and Stannis and rebukes him of course, until Davos shows him some coins to buy his service. The handsome bit of money confirms the approval of the loan.
Back in Westeros, Yara is seen sailing towards land as she reads the letter Ramsay Snow had sent her father (detailing what happened to Theon) out loud to her loyal crew. The reading of the letter is followed by a speech about the atrocity that has been carried out against her brother before they attack in the night as Ramsay is busy with a woman in his bed. Theon’s rescue party finds him in the kennels but his mind is so compromised from all the torture, he refuses to join his sister, while Ramsay arrives and fights off Yara and her men. Yara retreats to the boats and as she is asked about her brother, she curtly replies, ‘My brother’s dead’.
In the east in the countryside of Mereen, a goat herder and his son are watching their flock, when they are attacked by Drogo, the black dragon of Daenerys. The beast sets fire to the entire flock and grabs one as he flies away.
Later within the City of Meereen, we are given our first glimpseof Daenerys’ new and imposing throne room, which is even more impressive than the one in King’s Landing. The goat herder is there and he tells the Queen of what her dragon did. She grants him payment, three times the value of his lost flock. The goat herder gives his thanks and the next petitioner is called. It is a Mereenese nobleman who asks that he be allowed to bury his father who was one of the Masters Daenerys had ordered crucified in payment for the slaves they had crucified before. At first Daenerys stands her ground, but ultimately decides to grant the petition. She starts to feel the weight of ruling as she wearily asks how many other petitioners there are.
In King’s Landing, Prince Oberyn attends his first meeting with the ruling small council headed by Lord Tywin. They discuss what has been happening far away, which included reports of the Hound being disloyal and roving the countryside, and Daenerys invading Meeren. Later after the meeting, Prince Oberyn and Spymaster Varys hold their own private conversation in the throne room. Oberyn tries to probe into Varys’ past but little is revealed. Instead, Varys leaves him saying, ‘The absence of desire leaves one to do other things,” alluding to his lack of sexual appetite and his manipulation of powerful people.
In the dungeons, Jamie fetches his brother Tyrion and brings him to the trial in the throne room. It is now filled with spectators, and King Tommen sits on the Iron Throne with his grandfather Lord Twin standing by his side. Tyrion ascends a stand reserved for the accused. Tommen then stands and proclaims that he will not sit in as judge for this trial. He says that Lord Tywin , Lord Mace Tyrell and Prince Oberyn Martell will take his stead. The young King leaves as Tywin sits on the throne and is flanked by the two other judges who sit on chairs prepared for them on both sides of the throne.
The whole trial is a parade of witnesses obviously prepped to convict Tyrion. Jamie takes notice of this and asthe court adjourns for a recess, he seizes the time to speak with his father. He offers his dear old dad the chance to prolong his dynasty. He says he will leave the Kings Guard and marry in exchange for Tyrion’s life. Tywin immediately accedes and tells Jamie that Tyrion will be convicted, but he should beg to join the Night’s Watch in lieu of execution. Tywin will then grant this plea, saving his life. Jamie agrees to the deal and he immediately tells his brother about it; instructing him to beg to join the Night’s Watch. Tyrion seems suspicious about the whole arrangement but the judges returned to their seat and the trial resumes before he can ask more questions.
Lord Tywin then summons the next witness. Tyrion is shocked as he sees his former lover, Shae enter the throne room and take the witness stand. She tells lie after lie to convict Tyrion and even threw in some things that made him laughable. Tyrion is really hurt by Shae’s lies and accusations, pleading her not to continue but it falls on deaf ears as Shae continues her tirade.
Not wanting to hear more, Tyrion speaks out and says that he will confess. Tywin grants him leave to speak, but instead Tyrion addresses the crowd, “I saved you” he says to them all, “I saved this city, and all of your worthless lives, I should have had let Stannis kill you all!” letting his bitterness bite at every word. Tywin interrupts him and prompts him to get on with his confession. With hate in his eyes he then speaks towards the judges that he is guilty, not guilty of killing the king, but guilty of being born a dwarf.
“I did not kill Joffrey, but I wish I had,” he says. Then he turns his eyes towards his sister the Queen, “Watching your vicious bastard die gave me more relief than a thousand lying whores,” he spat seeming to offer the words to both his former lover and the Queen. Tyrion turns his vitriol on the crowd again, “I wish I was the monster you think I’m. I wish I had enough poison for the whole pack of you. I would gladly give my life to watch you all swallow it,” he screams at them. Tyrion turns his attention to the throne and Tywin. Tyrion wants to let the Gods judge over him, and demands a trial by combat. Tywin and Tyrion’s eyes meet, and the episode ends.
So do you think the lovable Tyrion will survive next week’s trial by combat or will his head end up on a pike?
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