What I’m Watching: Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones: Season 4, Episode 3 “Breaker of Chains” (B+)

In the wake of the shocking final scene of last week’s episode, this show is really ramping up the action and getting set for a packed season of movements, conquests, surrenders, and more. This episode shared the wealth more than it has recently, focusing on nearly every plotline that the show has with an uninterrupted extended scene for each of them. It’s quite a feat to make Cersei seem sympathetic, but having her father tell her younger son how Joffrey was neither a wise nor a good king mere feet from his dead body is hardly sensitive. And then Jaime, who’s been more of a good guy lately, forced himself on her, again right next to her dead son’s body. Margaery is rightfully pitying herself for the unfortunate results of her marriages, and I hope that she’ll be enabled to remain involved in some capacity. The return of Petyr Baelish was a triumphant one, as he revealed his complicity in Joffrey’s murder and saved Sansa before promptly murdering the man he hired to do it. It’s good to see Davos thinking creatively to get back within his king’s good graces, while Jon and his men will hopefully do their best to hold off the brutal invasion of the Wildlings. We saw a cruder side of the Hound than we’ve seen before in this hour, as he disappointed Arya by being dishonest and treacherous, but at least they’re continuing to move to some hopeful eventual reunion with other Starks. Once again, Daenerys delivered a bold and mesmerizing performance, and ending the episode with a slave picking up chains and looking back at his master was immensely powerful.