‘Game of Thrones’ #ForTheThrone Countdown: “Two Swords” (S4E1)

Previous Episode: “Mhysa”

 

Episode: “Two Swords” (Season 4, Episode 1)

Original Air Date: April 6, 2014

Director: D.B. Weiss

 

Plot (via HBO)

Season Four Premiere. King’s Landing prepares for a royal wedding; Dany finds the way to Meereen; the Night’s Watch braces for a new threat.

 

Best Moment: The Hound and Arya fight the Lannister men

Arya Stark hasn’t had much luck over the first three seasons of the show, and that of course hit a low after the Red Weeding, as she was so close to reuniting with Robb and Catelyn. Things begin to change when she and The Hound run into Polliver and some Lannister men in “Two Swords”, though. The hungry duo first go into the tavern without conflict, but when Polliver—who has Arya’s sword Needle from when she was captured with Gendry and Hot Pie—doesn’t stop talking and angers Sandor Clegane, a fight breaks out, with the Hound and Arya killing all the men. It was fitting that the final blow was Arya taking her sword back and mocking Polliver before stabbing him through the throat like he did to Lommy. Then, the episode ends with The Hound and Arya riding off—each on their own horse with chicken in hand.

 

Best Quote

“Tell your father I’m here. And tell him the Lannisters aren’t the only ones who pay their debts.” – Oberyn Martell

 

Trivia (via IMDb)

Diana Rigg’s (Olenna Tyrell) surprised exclamation towards Gwendoline Christie’s (Brienne) height, when the latter approached her table, was quite genuine. Rigg was aware the Christie was taller than most women, but was unprepared for just how tall. The producers kept it since it fit in so well with her character.

 

Character Deaths

-Lowell

-Polliver

 

MVP: The Hound

“Two Swords” saw Sandor Clegane at his absolute best, as not only do we get to see him in action against some bad guys, but he’s also funnier than ever. First, The Hound makes fun of Arya and everyone else that names their swords, but it becomes increasingly apparent that he is kind of a good-hearted person. The young Stark was complaining about not having a horse of her own, but after they fight and kill the Lannister men, he trusts her to ride by herself when they take their horses. Clegane also says how a man must have a code, and he didn’t steal from King Joffrey before leaving because he’s not a thief.

 

#ForTheThrone Moment: Tywin Lannister melts Ice

Jaime Lannister declaring that he will stay in the Kingsguard, against his father’s wishes, is another #ForTheThrone moment (while Jaime mainly wanted to stay with Cersei, staying in the Kingsguard meant protecting the King despite not being close to as capable as before). But the top #ForTheThrone moment of the Season 4 premiere is Tywin’s melting of Ned Stark’s longsword, Ice. The melting of Ice and the forging of two Lannister swords—one for Jaime and one for Joffrey—symbolically displayed that House Lannister was at the height of their power while House Stark was at its low point. The Iron Throne was secure, and this moment indicates that Tywin couldn’t really be touched as the true power of Westeros.

 

Inside The Episode