Rewatch Project: Season 4 Episode 1: Two Swords

Recap

Tywin has Ice melted down to make two Valyrian Steele swords. He gives one to Jaime, then tells him it is time to go home. He will be relieved of the King's Guard. Jaime says no, so Tywin disowns him, but he lets him keep the sword.

Trion, Pod and Bronn await Prince Doran from Dorne. When the party arrives they are informed Prince Doran is too ill to travel and has send his brother Prince Oberon in his stead. Prince Oberon however, arrived before dawn. Tyrion and Bronn set out to look for him. They find him and his lover Ellaria in Littlefinger's brothel. They had been enjoying several prostitutes but a couple Lannister soldiers were extremely rude, and so when Tyrion arrives, Oberon is getting the best of them.

Tyrion takes Oberon for a private talk and asks honestly why Oberon is there. Oberon gives the brief version of his sister Elia, her children, and Prince Rhaegar who left her for another woman. He then tells of the Mountain raping and killing her and then killing the children and his belief that if the Mountain did the deed, Tywin gave the order. He tells Tyrion to tell his father the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts.

Dany scratches Drogon behind the ears then the dragons have a scuffle over a sheep that shows their ferocity (and danger). Jorah tells her they can never be tamed. She then checks on her army and finds Daario and Greyworm in a contest to see who gets to ride at her side. She says neither as they kept her waiting.

Sansa's not eating. Shae tries to convince her, then she and Tyrion talk. He tries to convince her her mother would want her to carry on, but she leaves for the Godswood. Tyrion finds Shae in his bed, but refuses her. Their exchange is overheard by the bitchy spymaid.

Qyburn checks Jaime's hand and fits the gold one then leaves. Jaime and Cersei discuss Qyburn, Pycelle and Cersei's drinking, then Jaime admits he was disowned. Jaime tries to get cozy but Cersei says it is all different—he was gone too long. The spymaid comes in with her news.

Ygritte makes arrows and Tormund accuses her of letting Jon go. Then the Thenns arrive. Everybody hates Thenns, not least because they are cannibals.

The Night's Watch trains and Jon tells Sam about Robb (who he has just learned was killed). Jon then faces the Watch leaders to account for his “traitorous behavior”. Aemon, at least, believes he was acting on orders and he is allowed off the hook, though Janos Slynt was a right prick. Jon warns them of the attack that is pending from both sides of the wall.

Olenna hates all the necklaces being considered for Margaery's wedding and sends her hens off to find a better one. Brienne comes to pay her respects and Lady Olenna thinks she is marvelous. Brienne has a word with Margaery to tell her how Renly died.

Joffrey poses like a prat as Jaime and Ser Meryn discuss wedding security. Joffrey peruses the Book of Brothers and mocks Jaime for his lack of deeds, then insults his potential, now that he is old and only has one hand.

Dany's army marches whild Dany and Missendei discuss Meereen. Daario comes to discuss strategy. He shows her three flowers, each telling her something different about the people. She is impressed in spite of herself. They then reach a series of crucified slaves, one at each mile marker. Dany wants to look on each face before they are taken down, de-collared, and buried.

Brienne and Jaime observe Sansa. They debate how to keep their oath now that Lady Caitlyn is dead and Sansa is married to Tyrion. When Sansa is done “praying” Ser Dontos approaches her and begs she take his family necklace so it can have one last moment in the limelight.

Arya and the Hound come upon an Inn. Arya spots Poliver and in spite of the Hound wanting to just move on, she moves toward the Inn. The two are spotted, so have to go inside or it will look suspicious. The Lannister men inside are abusing the Inn keeper's daughter and taking whatever they like. Poliver comes to talk to the Hound. He doesn't recognize Arya. The Hound gets increasingly belligerent and a fight breaks out. Arya just watches at first, until she manages to get hold of a sword. Then she kills one soldier and hamstrings Poliver. She runs through the dialog of what he said to Lommy before killing him, then says what he said to Arya on taking Needle (That's a nice little bladed. Maybe I'll pick my teeth with it) before running Needle through his throat. They ride off, Arya now on her own horse and armed with her own sword.


Review

This is my favorite season opener since Season 1. Truly. I love the sword motif throughout, and the last scene with Arya and the Hound has some of the best quotes of the entire series (most delivered by the Hound). The introduction of Prince Oberon was also extremely well done. I love everything about Pedro Pescal's portrayal, and that was not a given. The character is larger than life and it would have been easy for him to have ended up a caricature.

The Thenns are a little overdone. Especially as, in the books, the Thenns are the tribe north of the wall that actually has royalty and works with iron—the most advanced of the tribes, if you will. But I suppose there is a point to having one tribe of hated Wildlings to allow the rest to be more forgivable.

New Daario is even less Daario than original Daario, but he is hot and I like the actor. I don't think he does a bad job. I just sort of wish they'd kept the character flamboyance from the books. Blue hair. Gold tooth.

Lady Olenna was awesome as always.

And man, Joffrey... he raises prattishness to entirely new levels, eh? He is such a jerk about Jaime. Looking forward to his wedding...