After the events of the previous episode one may be forgiven for thinking the slaughter at The Twins was over but as this episode starts we see Robb's forces are being massacred as his body is paraded with the head of his direwolf sewn on in place of his own. Sandor Clegane rescues Arya from the scene and later must come to her aid again when she slips from his horse and kills a man who she hears boasting about taking part in what happened to her family. On the wall Bran and his party arrive at an unmanned fort; here they meet Sam and Gilly as they head south; Sam warns Bran about the White Walkers but Bran insists that he must head north to find the three-eyed raven. Nearby Ygritte catches up with Jon Snow and three arrows prove that she can't forgive his actions. Seriously wounded he makes it back to Castle Black where he is reunited with his friend Sam. As news of the White Walkers becomes known it becomes apparent that they are the real threat to all the people of Westeros not the Wildlings. Back in King's Landing Tyrion once again clashes with Joffrey and it quickly becomes apparent that Tywin hold Joffrey in contempt as he suggests the petulant king should go to bed. Elsewhere Balon Greyjoy learns what happened to Theon but proposes nothing; his sister meanwhile vows to take the Iron Islands' best killers to help him; Davos Seaworth frees Gendry, mush to the annoyance of King Stannis and Daenerys meets the freed slaves of Yunkai.
Inevitably this isn't as shocking as the previous episode but there is still a decent amount of action; it was certainly satisfying to see Arya Stark getting bloody as she kills one of those responsible for the death of her family at The Twins; Maisie Williams does a great job in the role as she makes us believe this young girl has what it takes to kill a man. The scenes in the Small Council chamber were equally good; Peter Dinklage's performance as Tyrion as he confronts his nephew was top notch; Charles Dance and Jack Gleeson were also on top form as Tyrion and Joffrey. The scenes elsewhere nicely hint at what is to come; Bran's story about the man who killed somebody under his protection clearly implies that there will be consequences for Walder Frey. While we don't see any White Walkers everything suggests that it won't be long before the people south of the wall will be in danger soon. The finale outside the walls of Yunkai was pretty stirring as we see the reaction of the freed slaves and they carry Daenerys as her dragons circle overhead. Overall a great conclusion to the season that left me keen to see what happens next.
Inevitably this isn't as shocking as the previous episode but there is still a decent amount of action; it was certainly satisfying to see Arya Stark getting bloody as she kills one of those responsible for the death of her family at The Twins; Maisie Williams does a great job in the role as she makes us believe this young girl has what it takes to kill a man. The scenes in the Small Council chamber were equally good; Peter Dinklage's performance as Tyrion as he confronts his nephew was top notch; Charles Dance and Jack Gleeson were also on top form as Tyrion and Joffrey. The scenes elsewhere nicely hint at what is to come; Bran's story about the man who killed somebody under his protection clearly implies that there will be consequences for Walder Frey. While we don't see any White Walkers everything suggests that it won't be long before the people south of the wall will be in danger soon. The finale outside the walls of Yunkai was pretty stirring as we see the reaction of the freed slaves and they carry Daenerys as her dragons circle overhead. Overall a great conclusion to the season that left me keen to see what happens next.