"The Laws of Gods and Men" is one of Game of Thrones' finest moments, further advancing four story lines, it feels that every minute was well- used, this episode.
We open with a fantastic view of Bravos, and an always unimpressed Stannis. It's excellent to finally see his story progress, having seemingly spent a lot of time licking his wounds on Dragonstone. An excellent performance from Liam Cunningham (Davos) allows Stannis to successfully win some money, which leaves me eagerly awaiting the next step in their storyline, in rebuilding his army and claiming his throne again.
Next, in a perhaps anti-climactic scene we see Yara attempt to rescue her brother, but we see how deep the scars run in Theon, when he denies that he wants to be rescued, and wants to remain with Ramsay as "Reek". It was a good moment of action in this otherwise story-driven episode, and the scene where Ramsay bathes Reek is their best performance yet. Ramsay creepily and sadistically admires the "work" he has done on Theon's body, and the acting is so well done in this scene, that we see how a relationship has developed between the pair. Whether this is genuine, or a charade born of Theon's fear of Ramsay we don't know, but it shows the effect the abuse has had on 'Reek'; especially when he is asked to pretend that he is someone else for Ramsay's task - Theon Greyjoy, a now distant, forgotten personality.
At last, we get so see Daenerys be a Queen. And it was not all she thought, having to sit through endless supplicants, she realizes that having a throne was not all she thought it would be. The small council in King's Landing however awards her threat (Unsullied and Dragons) the same complacency given to the White Walker threat in the north, that it cannot harm them because it is so far away.
The best moment of this episode came from Tyrion's trial, for the murder of King Joffrey. The performances from everyone are fantastic as always, in this scene that keeps very true to the books. We see how once (slightly) trustworthy characters, even Shae, are manipulated by Cersei to alter the truth and use it against Tyrion in their testimonies, which erupts in one of Dinklage's greatest performances yet, and one of his character's greatest speeches, in which he rightfully condemns all of those around him, and confesses only to the crime of being a dwarf, before demanding trial by combat, leaving us wanting more.
An overall exciting, plot driven episode, with the usual excellent performances from the cast. One of the best episodes of the show so far, perhaps only beaten this series by "The Lion and the Rose".
We open with a fantastic view of Bravos, and an always unimpressed Stannis. It's excellent to finally see his story progress, having seemingly spent a lot of time licking his wounds on Dragonstone. An excellent performance from Liam Cunningham (Davos) allows Stannis to successfully win some money, which leaves me eagerly awaiting the next step in their storyline, in rebuilding his army and claiming his throne again.
Next, in a perhaps anti-climactic scene we see Yara attempt to rescue her brother, but we see how deep the scars run in Theon, when he denies that he wants to be rescued, and wants to remain with Ramsay as "Reek". It was a good moment of action in this otherwise story-driven episode, and the scene where Ramsay bathes Reek is their best performance yet. Ramsay creepily and sadistically admires the "work" he has done on Theon's body, and the acting is so well done in this scene, that we see how a relationship has developed between the pair. Whether this is genuine, or a charade born of Theon's fear of Ramsay we don't know, but it shows the effect the abuse has had on 'Reek'; especially when he is asked to pretend that he is someone else for Ramsay's task - Theon Greyjoy, a now distant, forgotten personality.
At last, we get so see Daenerys be a Queen. And it was not all she thought, having to sit through endless supplicants, she realizes that having a throne was not all she thought it would be. The small council in King's Landing however awards her threat (Unsullied and Dragons) the same complacency given to the White Walker threat in the north, that it cannot harm them because it is so far away.
The best moment of this episode came from Tyrion's trial, for the murder of King Joffrey. The performances from everyone are fantastic as always, in this scene that keeps very true to the books. We see how once (slightly) trustworthy characters, even Shae, are manipulated by Cersei to alter the truth and use it against Tyrion in their testimonies, which erupts in one of Dinklage's greatest performances yet, and one of his character's greatest speeches, in which he rightfully condemns all of those around him, and confesses only to the crime of being a dwarf, before demanding trial by combat, leaving us wanting more.
An overall exciting, plot driven episode, with the usual excellent performances from the cast. One of the best episodes of the show so far, perhaps only beaten this series by "The Lion and the Rose".