SPOILER ALERT: This article contains major spoilers about the Season 4 finale of Game of Thrones, titled "The Children." If you haven't seen the episode yet and don't want to be spoiled, read no further!
For everyone else, let's talk about the fallen characters in tonight's episode those who've read the book were expecting a few major casualties in tonight's finale, which wraps up the second half of George R.R. Martin's A Storm of Swords. Coming off of last week's episode, which saw the death of Ygritte, tonight's finale capped that off with Jon Snow's private funeral for his former wildling lover, setting her ablaze north of the wall and then shedding some tears for her. Also tearful was Daenerys, who was last seen locking up two of her dragons, after one of the trio cooked a toddler. Disturbing stuff... which mixes really oddly in my head after seeing How To Train Your Dragon 2 this weekend, come to think of it...
Game of Thrones, right. Let's focus on the three characters who met (or were meeting) their demise by the end of the finale tonight...
Sandor "The Hound" Clegane
"Killed by a woman," The Hound said to Arya, as he lay dying on the ground. "I bet you like that."
The Hound faced off with Brienne in a pretty epic bit of hand-to-hand combat. Brienne was determined to bring Arya to safety, wherever she thinks that may be, and the Hound was all too happy to square off against Brienne, especially when he spotted Lannister gold. Brienne fought hard, throwing everything she had into the battle. She even took a bit out of him, and eventually managed to shove him off a cliff.
Technically, the Hound is last seen alive, but he seems fairly certain that he'll die eventually. In fact, he even went so far as to try to get Arya to kill him, first by trying to anger her and reminding her that killing him would cross a name off her list. He made some rude comments about Sansa and bragged about killing the butcher, but none of that was enough to get Arya to put him out of his misery. Begging didn't help either. Arya left him to die, screaming "Kill me" as she wandered off. RIP Hound? I will miss the humor he brought to the series.
Shae
What's Shae been up to since testifying against Tyrion at the trial? Bedding Tywin, her (new) Lion. After Jaime set Tyrion free from his prison, the night before his execution, Tyrion headed straight to his father's chambers only to find his beloved Shae dozing lazily in bed. The moment Shae woke and saw him, she went for the knife. Was she defending herself? Or was Tyrion defending himself? Or was this just a big 'ol crime of passion between a man and the one he loved, who was sleeping with his father... because, well, Lannisters.
After a bit of wrestling, Tyrion managed to get ahold of the chain around Shae's neck and strangle her to death. RIP Shae. In the words of Tyrion, "I'm sorry."
Tywin
"I am your son. I have always been your son."
Happy Father's Day, Tywin Lannister! Honestly, this man had a bad day. First Cersei tells him that everything he's heard about her and Jaime is true. Yes, Tywin, your grandchildren are the products of your son and daughter's incestuous relationship. And then to add injury to incest, Tyrion caught Tywin unaware while in the privy (Game of Thrones bathroom scene!) and after a few words exchanged, including Tyrion revealing that he killed Shae, son kills father, with the help of a crossbow this time around.
During the words exchanged between father and son, there seemed to be some confusion (not really) over whether or not Tyrion was Tywin's son. First he was, when Tywin was calmly trying to convince Tyrion to put down the crossbow so they could go somewhere and talk, and then when Tywin seemed to realize that talk wasn't going to happen, he attempted to deny Tyrion. But Tyrion made sure it was very clear to his father that he has always been his son. And then he put the second arrow in him.
RIP Tywin Lannister. Not the best dad ever.
Also RIP Jojen Reed, who was brutally stabbed by skeletons. He died bravely.
We'll have a full breakdown of tonight's episode coming soon. In the meantime, see what we know about Season 5 here.
