“Oathkeeper”. Now that’s a pretty ominous name for an episode, at least to me. After the events of the stunning trio that opened the fourth season, nothing could surprise me, could it? Hmmm. Let’s find out below in my look at the latest from “Game of Thrones”.
As per usual, this will discuss details from this week’s episode, all from the perspective of a non-book reader, so please, NO BOOK SPOILERS. Looking for the perspective of someone who has read the books? Please see Matt’s review which follows.
1. It’s a Sword!
Let’s start with what the titular “Oathkeeper” is: it’s the name of the Valyrian steel sword Jamie was given, but now owned (after Jamie gave it to her) by Brienne. Jamie tasked Brienne with protecting Sansa after he found out that Cersei was after her head, and everything that transpired between the two – the exchange of the sword, the giving of armor, the bequeathing of Pod (!!) as her new squire – was just wonderful.
I have to admit, the way that Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau handled the scene of their goodbye, and how Christie shared the name she came up with her sword, was nearly tear inducing. It was a very powerful sequence heightened by two superb actors, and the team of Brienne and Pod has immediately become the 1b to the 1a of Arya and the Hound in my favorite duos in the show. Wonderful stuff.
2. Hero Jamie > Villain Jamie
Speaking of, I am all about Jamie the good guy. I know his Q Rating is way down after the events of last week, but everything he did here, from his sparring with Bronn, his just fantastic conversation with Tyrion, his handling of his sister, to the aforementioned scene with Brienne, was completely excellent. Coster-Waldau was always charming in the role even as he was doing horrible things, but now that he’s on the side of angels (relative to everyone else), he’s immensely likable.
The scene with Tyrion was particularly fulfilling, especially he quickly responded to Tyrion’s “Do you really think I’d kill your son?” with “Do you really think I’d kill my brother?” Coster-Waldau’s evolution of the character has been exceptional, and he has become one of my favorite characters in the show.
3. The Tyrell/Littlefinger Pairing Revealed
Soooo…I was wrong about that whole Ser Dontos poisoning Joffrey thing. How I didn’t realize that it was Olenna Tyrell who actually poisoned Joffrey is beyond me now, but, you know, there was a lot going on, right? Littlefinger’s machinations and Olenna’s duplicity are elevated by the work of Aidan Gillen and Diana Rigg, and in particular, Littlefinger unleashed has been something I’ve loved seeing. Everything he has to say to Sansa was delicious, especially about confusing his enemies. I always felt like he was going to be a bigger player, and now that we’re getting it, I couldn’t be happier.
4. Crasssssty
I have to imagine all of the people who were upset about last week’s episode were not much happier about this one, especially with all of the Night’s Watch mutineers activities up at Craster’s Place. All of that was just straight up horrible, but believably so. In particular, Burn Gorman’s Karl is now moving into Ramsay Snow territory for evil characters. Okay, maybe not that bad, but to be the leader of that band of heathens who terribly mistreat women, dire wolves AND Hodor is absolutely scummy.
I am very, very eager for Jon Snow and his band of Merry Men (now featuring Locke!) to take them out, and I am really hoping their righteous retribution arrives next week.
5. Tommen: President of the Margaery Tyrell Fan Club
Let’s be honest: Natalie Dormer’s Margaery Tyrell could woo damn near anyone on the planet. The fact that Oberyn Martell hasn’t gone to war over the chance to bed her is pretty astounding, but it’s probably because he’s just too busy at brothels. Anyways, Margaery begins her charm offensive on Tommen Baratheon in this episode (as motivated by Olenna, who shared her own sexy strategies with her granddaughter), and oh my god, I had to fan myself during that scene. 13 year old David Harper would have been sweating bullets if that happened to me, and I would not have let her leave the room without endlessly proposing marriage.
But Tommen’s not me, and my mom isn’t Cersei (THANKFULLY). With the rather not so happy place Cersei is mentally right now, I would not want to be someone crossing her, especially with her one remaining son being the object of said crossing. This should be good. And by good, I mean horrifying.
