Writers: David Benioff, D. B Wiess.
Director: Michelle MacLaren.
Cast: Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Iain Glenn, Aiden Gillen, Maisie Williams, Charles Dance, Burn Gorman, Sophie Turner, Gwendoline Christie, Lena Headey, Natalie Dormer.
Synopsis: Cersei and Tywin plot the Crown’s next move. Daenrys discusses future plans. Jon embarks on a new mission.
And breathe. After a year away, Game Of Thrones is finally back on our TV screens. After last years Red Wedding debacle we at THN decided that this show should not be watched without a support network, so this year we will be here to hold your hand through the fourth series of the show with our very own Blog of Thrones.
Westeros has a new King with sweet little Tommen being sworn in as head of the throne, and Tywin and Cersei couldn’t be happier as they now have free reign over the land, or do they? We all know that Margaery has been making some nocturnal visits to the young boy. Their secret smiles to one another didn’t go unnoticed though and Cersei decided to grill the younger woman about her feelings towards Joffrey. Margaery made the pretence of being polite whilst Cersei admitted that she knew he was a nightmare. She went onto say that not much shocks her, but even she was rendered speechless by most of Joffrey’s behaviour. The pair then shifted their conversation to marriage with an almost verbal contract that Margaery would wed Tommen, and Margaery reminding Cersei that she would be both her sister and mother once she married her brother Sir Laurel. This remark went down like a ton of bricks.
It seems that Daenrys has finally remembered the mission that she set out to do, seeking counsel from her advisors about whether she now has enough of an army to take the Iron Throne. She quickly forgets this when faced with the knowledge that some of the slaves she worked so hard to free have been re-enslaved. After a brief private chat with Jorah she has now decided that she cannot take Westeros until she has proved herself as a leader, so for the time being she will stay where she is and do as Queens do, and rule.
Baelish and Sansa reach their destination, the home of Aunt Lysa, Baelish’s wife to be. Forgot who Lysa is? Well she’s the mother of the creepy kid from the first series, you know, the spoilt brat who still loves to suckle on mum. Once Sansa was sent to her chambers the extent of Lord Baelish’s plan was unveieled. He really has been playing a very long game. Cat always believed that it was a Lannister who poisoned her brother-in-law, it wasn’t though as it was her sister under the guidance of Baelish who seems to have used her lust for him to his advantage. It would appear however that he has now found himself in a tight spot as he can no longer think of any more excuses for the pair to not be wed and she is so eager that she has the whole wedding party waiting for his arrival.
Back with the Lannister’s, Cersei is informed by Tywin that they are essentially broke, their mines are dry and they are in debt a ‘tremendous amount’ to the iron bank. In order to pay it back they have no choice but to marry into the Tyrell’s.
Arya is still chanting her kill list before bed, which is slowly starting to irritate The Hound. There is one name on the list that they have in common though, ‘The Mountain’ with The Hound remarking that they could kill him together. She had not finished receitting her list though as she was interrupted before adding his name. The next morning she wakens first and begins practicing her sword training, her ‘dancing’ entertains The Hound greatly with him relishing the moment and putting her in her place.
Aunt Lysa really isn’t stable. Poor Sansa has also found herself in yet another dispicable situation. Her joy at being reunited with some flesh-and-blood has already turned to sorrow after her Aunt launched into a scathing tirade about her mother. Lysa it seems has always had a torch for Baelish, or Peter as she calls him, and has long been jealous at his loyalty to her uninterested sister. So consumed by her jealousy, she is certain that something has happened between Sansa and he, only after seeing how terrified the girl was did she calm down. She also promised Sansa that as soon as Tyrion is killed, and she becomes a widow, she will be free to marry Robin, her cousin, the creepy kid who could easily rival Joffrey for warpedness.
The comedy gold award of the episode goes to the wonderful pairing of Brienne and Podd. Podd can’t ride his horse and he burns the rabbit as he forgets to skin it. It seems that he is not a good squire after all, with Brienne exasperated by the situation. She does have a change of heart after hearing of his bravery in the battle of Black Water.
In a rare out-of-the-brothel scene Prince Oberyn is alone writing a poem of all things. His writing is interrupted by Cersei who hopes to bring him onto her side for the trial of Tyrion. She also shows a softer side as she gathers information about her daughter who was sent away during an earlier series.
Jon Snow and his volunteers from the watch arrive at Craster’s Keep. Locke scouts ahead and uncovers Bran, Hodor and the twins, but urges Jon to give the shack a wide berth as its ‘full of hounds’. During the battle Locke sneaks into the shack and kidnaps Bran as Hodor and the twins watch on in horror. Bran then Wargs into Hodor and pursues his own body, snapping Lockes neck in the process.
Jon Snow, his watch and Craster’s daughters all team together and defeat the mutineers, with Burn Gorman’s Karl getting a sword through the back of the head and out the front of the mouth that looks like a wierd ALIEN-esque mini mouth. During the battle Bran calls out to Jon, but is reminded by Jorjen that Jon would not let him continue on his trek North; the group then slip away into the night. Although Bran chose to continue his quest rather than meet with Jon, there was at least one happy reunion in tonights show as Jon and Ghost are back together.
First of his Name continues where last week’s Oathkeeper left off, with the pace kicking-up another notch. We’ve even been treated to our first real battle sequence; having led his first victory could Jon Snow be on his way to leading the watch? Now at the half-way point of the series, I know where has the time gone, it seems that everyone’s agendas are slowly starting to come to the surface. We also have at least two more weddings to live through if the Tyrell/Lannister alliance doens’t fall apart first, and we all know how lavish weddings end in Westeros…
[usr=4] Game Of Thrones airs on HBO in north America, and Sky Atlantic in the UK and Ireland.
Kat Hughes is a UK born film critic and interviewer who has a passion for horror films. An editor for THN, Kat is also a Rotten Tomatoes Approved Critic. She has bylines with Ghouls Magazine, Arrow Video, Film Stories, Certified Forgotten and FILMHOUNDS and has had essays published in home entertainment releases by Vinegar Syndrome and Second Sight. When not writing about horror, Kat hosts micro podcast Movies with Mummy along with her five-year-old daughter.
Latest Posts
-
Film Trailers
/ 2 hours agoAnother new trailer for upcoming horror movie ‘Longlegs’
Coming to cinemas this summer.
By Paul Heath -
Film News
/ 5 hours ago‘Speak No Evil’ star promises that the remake will be different
Last week the first trailer for the English language remake of Speak No Evil...
By Kat Hughes -
Film Festivals
/ 5 hours agoStudio Ghibli to receive Honorary Palme d’or at the 77th Festival de Cannes
This year's festival takes place from May 14 to May 25, 2024.
By Paul Heath -
Film News
/ 11 hours agoNew venue and artwork revealed for Pigeon Shrine FrightFest’s 25th year
This August it will have been 25 years since everyone’s favourite horror uncles –...
By Kat Hughes