The Rewatch Project: Season 4, Episode 9: The Watchers on the Wall

Recap

Sam and Jon head for watch atop the wall discussing Ygritte. Sam gets technical about what the Night's Watch vows mean, then he makes it clear Jon is no poet on his description of sex. Jon sends Sam to get some sleep.

An owl that is warged watches and brings a message to the wildlings and Torman tells his tale about his bear. Ygritte loses her temper and wants to think only of her arrows. The Thenn leader accuses Ygritte of letting Jon go, but she forbids anyone else from touching him, as Jon is hers to kill.

Sam and Aemon discuss wildlings. Aemon insists Sam loves Gilly. He tells Sam a story of a girl he loved, then sends Sam to bed.

Gilly arrives at the wall and Sam insists they let her in. He tells her from now on, wherever she goes, he will go. Two horns sound.

The warg says it's time and the wildlings south of the wall set out. At Castle Black the men prepare, Jon atop the wall sees the fire Mance had said was the sign. Alliser says Jon can say it. They should have sealed the tunnel.

Sam settles Gilly into a store cellar. She argues with him about leaving her, but he insists a man of the Night's Watch has to do his duty and he kisses her. He then promises he won't die.

Pip and Sam prepare to defend. Pip frets, but Sam talks him down.

Ygritte watches and reports back to the wildlings on numbers on the south side of the wall. The wildlings attack from both sides. Janos comes to the top of the wall insisting Alliser is needed below. Alliser leaves Janos in charge but Janos is a panicky, worthless leader, so Grenn tells him he is needed below and Jon takes command.

Pip frets about dying. Wildlings clime the walls. Alliser gives a good speech. The wildlings breech the southern wall and battle breaks out. On the other side, climbers start up the wall.

Battle rages. Janos panics and hides himself in the same cellar Gilly is in. Pip gets an arrow in the neck and Sam holds him as he dies.

A giant and mammoth begin pulling at the gate at the base of the wall. Jon sends Grenn and five recruits to hold the inner gate. He then calls for oil at the top of the wall.

Sam goes down to join the fighting and by fluke kills a Thenn. He asked Grenn for more men, but Grenn is on his mission and tells Sam he needs to go up and ask Jon.

At the top of the wall they drop burning oil. The mammoth below understandably panics and as he runs away, one of the giants gets hit in the back in what must be exactly the right spot and falls. The other giant howls with rage and begins to heave up the gate on his own.

Sam tells Jon Ser Alliser has fallen and he is needed below. Jon leaves Edd in charge.

Grenn and his men hold the gate, taking inspiration from the Night's Watch vows.

Jon sends Sam for Ghost and then roles into supreme fighting mode. He has a lengthy battle with the lead Then, then staggers to stand in front of Ygritte. He is unarmed and she aims at him but can't seem to shoot, then an arrow comes out her chest. Freaking Ollie. She dies in Jon's arms.

To the north side of the wall the climb up the wall continues. Edd calls for the scythe to be dropped and they are all knocked down, one short an arm. The wildlings retreat for the night.

Tormund is captured. Sam and Gilly reunite

Jon intends to find Mance to kill Mance. It's a bad plan, but there's no better one. On the way through the wall, Sam and Jon find Grenn and his men, along with the dead giant—they held the wall.

Jon leaves Sam with Longclaw and heads out north.


Review

The episode is strong, but it is all action. I realize I am probably in the minority on this, but I like a bit more pacing variety in episodes. Ygritte dying was beautiful and emotional. And Sam promising Gilly he's live was great. And Janos hiding with Gilly was it's own kind of great (funny, since Janos is so pathetic). There were feels related to both Pip and Grenn. I just like an episode that is not all one thing a bit better. Don't get me wrong. I gave it 92 out of 100—this is not BAD at all. Just not as strong as the last two, in my opinion.