Game of Thrones 4.1 FAQ
What’s it called?
“Two Swords.”
Who’s responsible?
Showrunner D.B. Weiss makes his directorial debut from a teleplay credited to series masterminds Weiss and David Benioff.
What says HBO?
“Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) welcomes a guest to King’s Landing. At Castle Black, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) finds himself unwelcome. Dany (Emilia Clarke) is pointed to Meereen, the mother of all slave cities. Arya (Maisie Williams) runs into an old friend.”
Is it great?
Yes. This is a fabulous episode of the best series on television.
Is the guest Tyrion welcomes the vengefully Inigo-y Prince Oberyn Martell of Dorne?
It is. Those who have read the books know Oberyn is no fan of brutal Lannister henchman Gregor “The Mountain” Clegane.
Oberyn’s from “Dome”?
Caps could help. DORNE.
Jon Snow is unwelcome at Castle Black?
He wienered a wildling, an act still frowned upon by Watch management.
Which old friend does Arya run into?
Someone from her Harrenhal days. (Hint: not Tywin or The Mountain.)
The big news?
There’s a lot of Lannister in this one, but absolutely no (true) Bartheon, Greyjoy, Melissandre, Davos, Baelish, Bran, Jojen, Meera, Osha, Hodor, Varys, Edmure or Blackfish.
What else is HBO not telling us?
With the Baratheons and Starks defeated, one could judge this episode the start of the series’ post-War Of The Five Kings era. It’s even a relatively peaceful installment for those far outside King’s Landing like Jon Snow and Dany Targaryan.
Relatively peaceful? Sounds boring.
It is in no way boring, you swine. There are important developments that seem destined to imperil very popular characters, and the episode concludes with some exciting business involving the orphaned Arya Stark and fire-fearing deserter Sandor “The Hound” Clegane.
How does it start?
With a rare pre-credit sequence in which a minion of King Joffrey’s uberweatlhy grandpapa, Tywin Lannister, gives this episode its name. The first dialogue, spoken by one-handed Jaime Lannister, is “Magnificent.”
What’s great?
Bron & Tyrion. Tywin’s prediction for himself. Jamie’s goodbye to the hand-fitter. The dragons. Jack Gleeson’s reading of “Busy getting captured.” “But as long as I’m better than everyone else I suppose it doesn’t matter.” “So. Decisions.” “What’s the prize for winning this stupid contest?” “Except reading.” “They smell like Pycelle.” “Listening to talkers makes me thirsty.” “Something wrong with your leg, boy?” “Someone is.”
What’s not so great?
The long week-long wait for 4.2.
How does it end, spoiler boy?
Quite wonderfully, with a funny, applause-worthy reveal.
9 p.m. Sunday. HBO.
