‘Game of Thrones’ #ForTheThrone Countdown: “Breaker of Chains” (S4E3)

Previous Episode: “The Lion and the Rose”

 

Episode: “Breaker of Chains” (Season 4, Episode 3)

Original Air Date: April 20, 2014

Director: Alex Graves

 

Plot (via HBO)

Tyrion ponders his options; Tywin extends an olive branch; Jon proposes a bold plan.

 

Best Moment: Podrick visits Tyrion in his cell

Accused of King Joffrey’s murder, Tyrion is at about his lowest moment and is essentially just waiting for his father and others to sentence him to death. When Podrick arrives, it gives more clarity on the situation: Tyrion cannot see Bronn; he learns Tywin, Mace Tyrell, and Oberynn Martell are the judges for his trial; Sansa is missing and/or she escaped; Varys will testify on behalf of Cersei. There’s a ton packed into the conversation between Tyrion and his squire. It’s interesting hearing Tyrion go through the possibilities of who murdered Joffrey, only ruling out Cersei because he knows how much she loves her children. Tyrion also shows his nobility by telling Podrick to protect himself, adding, “I will not have you dying on my behalf. Do you hear me? If I have to take that long walk to the executioner’s block, I don’t want to see your head already mounted,” before telling him to get out of King’s Landing. The emotional moment is capped with Tyrion telling Podrick “there has never lived a more loyal squire.”

 

Best Quote

“You won’t be a very good Hand if you see the word ‘knight’ and say ‘ka-niggit’.” – Shireen Baratheon to Davos Seaworth

 

Trivia

This is the first time “Red Wedding” is said on screen.

 

Character Deaths

-Dontos Hollar

-Guymon

-Olly’s mother

-Oznak zo Pahl

 

MVP: Daenerys Targaryen

“Breaker of Chains” is the title of the episode, and it is named after Daenerys Targaryen for her previous freeing of the Unsullied and the Yunkish slaves. She now wants to free the people of Mereen, who are helpless to the wealthy slavers that control them. After Daario Naharis quickly mows down the Meereenese champion, Oznak zo Pahl, Daenerys gives a speech to the slaves while indirectly intimidating the slave owners. She then orders the dozens of barrels to be launched into the city, as they break open and reveal the chains of the people she has already freed.

 

#ForTheThrone Moment: Tywin lectures Tommen

Right in front of his daughter Cersei a dead King Joffrey, Tywin Lannister was already exerting his influence over his grandson Tommen by lecturing him on being a good king. Tywin used the history of Kings to get to the point of “wisdom” being the most important trait for a king to have, noting that a wise ruler will listen to his counselors until he comes of age—and if he’s smart, even long after that. Basically, Tywin was trying to control Tommen and rule through him as Hand of the King.

 

Inside The Episode