Game of Thrones season 4 episode 6 review

by Daniel Falconer | 12 May 2014

NOTE: Spoilers

Stannis is finally makin a move when we rejoin Game of Thrones this week - sailing to the Iron Bank in Braavos (which looks amazing on screen) looking for a loan with his trusty sidekick Davos Seaworth - and suddenly the show gains some realistic elements to balance out all the fantasy that has come before this moment, proving that whilst these Kings battle it out for a throne, the true people who hold power are those three bankers sitting on their rather oversized thrones.

Stannis is swiftly rejected by the Iron Bank. They seem to be rather comfortable providing for the Lannisters despite their ever-increasing debt, and the measly amount of ships and men that Stannis holds at this moment isn't enough to whet their appetites.

That is until Davos steps up and puts up a fight. The man they're sending away empty handed is by law the rightful King, and he isn't someone who forgets to pay people back. This is proved by the removal of Davos' glove, so he can show off his fingerless right hand - a punishment for his prior crimes that Stannis had commanded. Their minds are swayed and the Lord of Light-loving army may get themselves off the ground running quicker than they'd thought.

Iron-born Yara Greyjoy is commanding her men through the waters to the shores of The Dreadford, where Ramsey Snow - Roose Bolton's bastard son - is keeping her brother Theon captive as the newly named 'Reek'.

Her rescue mission goes swimmingly, but when she finally finds her brother and the Prince of the Iron Islands he fails to recognise her and is scared of what she might do to him - the flaying and brainwashing of Ramsey truly has had a major effect.

Before long, Ramsey arrives to put up a fight and set loose the dogs, causing Yara and her men to flee without Theon. "My brother is dead." she states on the way home, before 'Reek' is rewarded by his master with his first bath in some time.

A disturbing scene follows - 'Reek' is forced to strip and Ramsey noticeably grins when he sees his handiwork in Theon's castration - and manipulation continues when he begins to help wash the body of the man he abuses so much, telling him he needs his help. He wants full control over all the castles on the Iron Islands, but 'Reek' will have to pretend to be Theon Greyjoy in order for them to gain control.

We also catch up with Daenerys who's decided to stay put in Meereen and rule over those who she's freed. There's a moment of brilliance when a farmer in the city is tending to his flock of goats with his son sitting casually on the side of the mountain.

Suddenly, the largest of Daenerys' three dragons appears and roasts the goats alive, scooping one up and taking off to consume his prize.

The Queen then hosts the people of the city to come to her with any problems that they may be facing, and the goat farmer is one of those who hopes to be heard. He tells her of his trouble and that he now has nothing, and so she repays him three times over for the value of what he has lost.

She's happy and believes she's doing the best she possibly can - she's finally at a place of peace and joyfully remarks "send the next one in!", until she hears what this man has to say.

Daenerys crucified his father - a man who spoke out against the crucification of the children that masters were being punished for - and he wants approval to take the men down from their crosses to be given a proper burial as to respect the city's tradition.

Permission is granted but she's visibly rattled. She's trying her best to do right by everyone, but things could soon come caving in around her.

Sooner rather than later if the council back at King's Landing have anything to do with it. The new Small Council's first meeting gets underway - with Prince Oberyn Martell and Mace Tyrell residing in their new positions - and the news of her slowly gathering a strong army is something that Tywin wants dealing with at some point.

For now though he's more worried about the trial of his son Tyrion for the murder of King Joffrey, and as things get underway in the Throne Room, Tyrion can't help but continue his verbal lashings of quick wit (and I can't help but remember the dance moves he showed during an outtake of filming this very scene.)

What follows is one of the best courtroom scenes in television history. Witnesses take to the stand one by one, painting Tyrion out to be a monster who wanted to kill his nephew for most of his life - someone who'd plunder the Grandmeister's poison cabinet; someone who'd slap his nephew just for the fun of it; someone who'd love to see his sister hurt just because; someone who is truly a monster.

This is interrupted momentarily by a courtroom break before another witness is called, upon which Jaime manages to convince his father that when Tyrion is found guilty he will be given mercy and spared his life - instead being sent to The Wall, taking The Black and serving as part of the Night's Watch.

Informing his sibling of this, he tells him that he's to have no more outbursts and simply plead for mercy when everything is over - then the trial resumes.

'There's no way this is going to stick' we're all thinking alongside Tyrion himself, and then his former lover Shae appears, takes to the stand and tells the fabricated story of Tyrion and Sansa's plot to kill the king.

She says Sansa wanted revenge for the deaths of the Stark family, and Tyrion wanted to jump into her bed so much he was willing to go along with her and help murder Joffrey. Her betrayal is something tremendous, and one that tips Tyrion over the edge.

"I wish to confess." he mutters, before repeating himself and delivering a fantastic monologue of speech.

In short, he feels stupid for saving King's Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater and would happily see its people die on the same poison that killed Joffrey - but he still didn't kill the King, though he wishes he had.

And when we think things can't get any crazier, he makes one final statement.