”Given the opportunity, what do we do to those who hurt the ones we love?”
First things first. Waiting is the worst. That rhyme was not intentional. Seriously, though. What in seven hells is up with the schedule? Is HBO taking Memorial Day Weekend off? Or paying respect to AMC's Mad Men by not airing a new Game of Thrones against the former's final mid-season finale? Maybe the network added an extra week between "Mockingbird" and "The Mountain and the Viper" just to make audiences salivate even more for the highly anticipated showdown the series has been showcasing since the fourth season's very first trailer? A heavyweight bout needs to be promoted. In the meantime, fans will have to busy themselves with bit chomping. Oh, and meditating on the major (and not so major) events that happened in "Mockingbird."
”Whoosh. Right through the moon door.”
Who would have thought Game of Thrones would kill off a significant character? It feels like every episode someone we've come to love or hate meets their untimely end and, since the victim most certainly belongs in the latter category, it was especially enjoyable to watch. The "Mockingbird" just keeps creating chaos to continue on climbing. Can little Lord Robin be the next one out the moon door? And now that he's taken over the Eyrie, there's no better place than Winterfell for Littlefinger to set his sights on next. Well, except for the Iron Throne.
It also doesn't hurt that the key to the North happens to look a lot like Catelyn when she was young and, you know, alive. We've seen Petyr do some slimy things on the HBO series over the last few years but kissing Sansa is one of the worst in recent memory. As far as ‘getting caught,’ I'm sure Littlefinger had plans to send his wife 'flying' as some point. He seemed quite pleased when sharing his love for Lysa’s sister and wasn't exactly being careful when it came to smooching his supposed niece. Imagine hearing, 'Petyr Baelish, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North.' Ned would roll over in his tomb beneath the castle.
”Them lot from Winterhell?.”
Speaking of Starks and sisters, the seventh installment of Season 4 caught up with Brienne and Pod on their journey to find the wolf girls. It seems that sisters are on (almost) everybody's mind this week. Brienne's decision to treat her and Pod to a warm meal turns into a chance encounter with Hot Pie, the chubby and long-winded friend of Arya's from when she was pretending to be a boy two seasons ago.
After hearing, in great detail, how the kidney pie is made, Brienne tells Hot Pie that they're looking for Sansa Stark and the risky decision pays off. While they are collecting their horses outside the Inn, the chubby cook comes out with his secret. And direwolf shaped bread. Even though Brienne's approach worked this time, I think Pod shared some solid advice about keeping mum in the Lannister infested lands. He actually showed a lot of 'street smarts.' Let's hope their dumb luck with Hot Pie this week doesn't make them too stupid to use it in the future. To the Eyrie!
”That’s not going to get better.”
Pod's instincts are right, not only is Sansa already at the Eyrie but the Hound has been 'taking' Arya there since the 'Red Wedding.' The Hound and Arya always battle to be the best part of any episode in which they appear and both of their two short scenes in "Mockingbird" were delightful. The first saw them get all philosophical with a dying man before adding a few names to our burgeoning killer's list. The banter leading up to the murder was wonderful.
The second scene was more emotional than any of the Hound and Arya's exchanges so far, and I loved how he quoted her words back to her as though they were burned in his memory. It's a touchy subject and highlights just how good the Starks had it growing up. Not everyone has a (half-)brother that loves them enough to make them a special sword. Some families only leave scars. Will Brienne and Pod catch up to the Hound and Arya? Will the Stark girls be reunited before the end of the season? Sansa could sure use her little sister's help now that's she's learning the right way to kill a man.
”They will see the lie for what is was, a trick that led them to the truth.”
The two storylines in "Mockingbird" that I could have done without took place at the Wall and on Dragonstone. Neither short-stop had the impact of the extended sequences in the other locations probably because they just set-up further conflicts. Jon's mission to kill the mutineers was successful and his return to Castle Black with Ghost pisses off Thorne even more than usual. The two squabble over properly preparing for the inevitable attack by Mance's army and, surprise, Thorne doesn't listen Jon. I wonder how that will work out for "The Watchers on the Wall."
While last week showed Stannis and Davos in Braavos searching of funds, "Mockingbird" caught up with the King's better-half back in Dragonstone. Am I talking about Melisandre or Selyse? Who cares. Davos is the only one worth liking in this cause. Sorry. Melisandre oddly downplays her magic but we've seen her conjure a shadow assassin so I'm not buying the whole potion speech. Oh, actually Shireen is also worth liking so it makes sense that the Lord of Light would need her. Bloody zealots.
”It’s tempting to see your enemies as evil, all of them, but there’s good and evil on both sides in every war ever fought.”
The trip to Meereen also wasn't the most thrilling sequence but at least we got to see Dany have a little personal time. It's been a while since the Khalessi was with someone and it was only a matter of time before Daario Naharis ended up in the royal bed. Right? Who didn't see that coming? The Queen apparently has a type. Someone who is young, fit and likes fighting to the death.
Sorry, Jorah. That was a tough moment. Catching Daario right in the middle of his walk of 'shame.' Don't worry. Dany's more than happy to heed your advice. And she'll even let you tell her lover that you changed her mind. Isn't that nice of her? Something's got to give with this triangle. Will Daario listen to Jorah's new orders? Will Dany ever find out that he was spying on her for Varys? Will someone die?! After all, it's Game of Thrones.
”Won’t that make a great song?.”
Sisters are also the topic of conversation in King's Landing with Cersei doing everything she can to ensure that her brother is put to death. Of course, she didn't factor in Oberyn and his desire to bring those responsible for his sisters death to justice. And the person directly responsible just happens to be Cersei's champion. The scene of the Mountain 'practicing' was hilariously over the top.
On the other hand, the scenes between Tyrion and his first, second and, well, no choice for his champion couldn't have been more compelling. "Mockingbird" opens with Jaime paying his baby brother a visit, scolding Tyrion for his actions at the trial and breaking the bad news that he can't be his champion. Bronn says the same, although the reasons are very different. Still, their goodbye is no less heartfelt. Finally, comes Oberyn and his memory of the first time he met Tyrion. This is the second or third time the Red Viper of Dorne has given us a history lesson and I can't wait for the next one. If he's survives to teach it.
”I will be your champion.”
The fourth season of Game of Thrones continues with Episode 8, "The Mountain and the Viper," on Sunday, June 1 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO. Based on the "Song of Ice and Fire" novels by George R.R. Martin, the TV series was adapted by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and stars Peter Dinklage, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, Lena Headey and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
