***Spoilers through season 4 episode 7, Mockingbird***
The Mountain and the Viper was one of Game of Thrones' best episodes this season. Every scene moved with purpose, three in particular were heart stopping, all for different reasons.
The Night's Watch receives disturbing news that the Wildlings are closing in on Castle Black, and that it's only a matter of time before they storm the once great castle with an army that greatly outnumbers the Night's Watch forces. This was merely a setup for what is to come next week as it appears that an all out war will commence between the Night's Watch and the Wildlings.
We see the aftermath of the events in the Vale after Littlefinger pushed Lysa Arryn through the moon door.
Sophie Turner turns in her best performance to date, and she's been doing a brilliant job for years. It felt like all the torture and torment she has endured has led to this one moment, and its pay off was tremendous.
Sansa has fully evolved into a different beast in every aspect. From the way she dresses to her motivation, to her candor. Everything about her is heading in an entirely new direction.
A ghost from Ser Jorah's past is revealed and results in he and Dany's best scene since probably the first season. It was a true stunner and tapped once again into what Game of Thrones is all about, the evolution of its characters.
Emilia Clarke and Iain Glen deliver first rate performances as true emotions are revealed and their relationship changes forever. This was every bit as good as any scene in the history of the show.
Ramsay Snow and Theon attempt to take an important castle in what was probably the weakest moment of the episode. Not because it was handled poorly, or anything like that, only because it couldn't match the emotional gravitas of the rest of the episode.
Jaime and Tyrion share one last moment together before the trial by combat commences in which both characters are trying not to think about Tyrion's possible doom, but thinking back to different times in Casterly Rock.
Jaime and Tyrion's scenes have been great this year as the two are reunited for the first time since season 1. This scene caps off what has been a slew of great scenes between Peter Dinklage and Nikolaj Coaster-Waldu. It also perfectly foreshadows the impending fight as Dinklage waxes poetically about the meaning behind death.
Then we get to the long awaited showdown between Oberyn Martell and The Mountain, as Tyrion's fate hangs in the balance.
The fight's choreography is superb, and the emotions of the two characters drive it. Oberyn screaming for the Mountain to confess before he kills him and the Mountain not caring who Oberyn is, he just wants to murder him.
What plays out is one of Thrones' most shocking, disgusting and most powerful moments.
A tremendous scene for a tremendous series. While season 4 has been my least favorite season thus far, this episode reminds us of just what Game of Thrones still has to offer when it's focused, condensed and strikes hard and true.
The Mountain and the Viper was one of Game of Thrones' best episodes this season. Every scene moved with purpose, three in particular were heart stopping, all for different reasons.
The Night's Watch receives disturbing news that the Wildlings are closing in on Castle Black, and that it's only a matter of time before they storm the once great castle with an army that greatly outnumbers the Night's Watch forces. This was merely a setup for what is to come next week as it appears that an all out war will commence between the Night's Watch and the Wildlings.
We see the aftermath of the events in the Vale after Littlefinger pushed Lysa Arryn through the moon door.
Sophie Turner turns in her best performance to date, and she's been doing a brilliant job for years. It felt like all the torture and torment she has endured has led to this one moment, and its pay off was tremendous.
Sansa has fully evolved into a different beast in every aspect. From the way she dresses to her motivation, to her candor. Everything about her is heading in an entirely new direction.
A ghost from Ser Jorah's past is revealed and results in he and Dany's best scene since probably the first season. It was a true stunner and tapped once again into what Game of Thrones is all about, the evolution of its characters.
Emilia Clarke and Iain Glen deliver first rate performances as true emotions are revealed and their relationship changes forever. This was every bit as good as any scene in the history of the show.
Ramsay Snow and Theon attempt to take an important castle in what was probably the weakest moment of the episode. Not because it was handled poorly, or anything like that, only because it couldn't match the emotional gravitas of the rest of the episode.
Jaime and Tyrion share one last moment together before the trial by combat commences in which both characters are trying not to think about Tyrion's possible doom, but thinking back to different times in Casterly Rock.
Jaime and Tyrion's scenes have been great this year as the two are reunited for the first time since season 1. This scene caps off what has been a slew of great scenes between Peter Dinklage and Nikolaj Coaster-Waldu. It also perfectly foreshadows the impending fight as Dinklage waxes poetically about the meaning behind death.
Then we get to the long awaited showdown between Oberyn Martell and The Mountain, as Tyrion's fate hangs in the balance.
The fight's choreography is superb, and the emotions of the two characters drive it. Oberyn screaming for the Mountain to confess before he kills him and the Mountain not caring who Oberyn is, he just wants to murder him.
What plays out is one of Thrones' most shocking, disgusting and most powerful moments.
A tremendous scene for a tremendous series. While season 4 has been my least favorite season thus far, this episode reminds us of just what Game of Thrones still has to offer when it's focused, condensed and strikes hard and true.