Episode 4
"Oathkeeper"
***SPOILERS***
To be honest I found this episode rather disappointing, this episode makes it quite evident where some major plot deviations from the book are going to occur. Oathekeeper begins with the Daenerys storyline which has become something of a trend this season as she seems to bookend each episode. What is nice about having the books adapted as a television show is the ability and time to show small character moments like that between Grey Worm and Missande the translator teaching him English. It was nice to see some differentiation in her storyline, not merely another scene of a host of people being emancipated, but the slaves themselves attacking their masters. Also, Dany seems to be quite aggressive in her mind, and she has become more and more strong willed. Becoming the Queen she claimed to be from the beginning. She seems very unwilling to heed her counsel and her storyline is something that is rather simplified from the book. I'm hoping now with the taking of Meereen there is some more opportunity for the political aspect of her story line. Some may find that boring, but I hope to see her character grow. Also, where are her dragons? They seem to be missing in action and no one mentions them. It was nice however to see the Targaryen flag flying over Meereen, I think the first time in the show that she has used her herald.
The show transitions to Jaime continuing his sword practice with Bronn. I was kind of surprised since the last we heard of Bronn was from Podrick telling Tyrion that he's being investigated because of Joffrey's death. Jaime's visit to Tyrion was interesting and the brothers spoke rather bluntly with each other, so different from their usual talents for discourse. This is somewhat different from their interaction in the book, where they both have their own agenda and resentments.
This episode really hones in on who was Joffrey's killer. At the end of the previous episode we saw Lord Baelish emerge and it is further explored in the scene with Sansa and her culpability in the affair. The way the scenes are cut together from Littlefinger and Sansa to Lady Olenna and Margery implies that the Tyrells were involved in the plot to kill Joffrey. That seems to be what the past season has been building to. Despite Margery's apparent surprise, she seems commended as a manipulator and begins to work on Tommen as the current heir. On a rather petty note, I noticed the details in the Tyrells grieving garb with their traditional ornate embroidery of the rose. I just wondered how they got these black clothes. Did they expect to be needing mourning attire? Or were the seamstresses up all night embroidering and sewing roses on black for them?
On the Wall it seems pretty clear how a number of storylines are tying together nicely. Albeit quite differently from the book. We get to see how Jon has grown as a leader since the time when he first came to the Wall. He is a man of the people, a traditional hero archetype. We see Locke (played by Australian actor Noah Taylor) introduced to Jon who is presumably going to try to kill or capture Jon. This may be unnecessary as Jon is about to lead volunteers beyond the Wall to storm Craster's Keep. Which is where they might run into Bran and the Reeds. This I kind of have a problem with. There is a small section earlier in the books where Jon and Bran nearly cross paths, but this brings them much closer to the drama. I anticipate some sort of battle at Craster's interlocking the Locke plot, Bran and the Whites all together.
We got to seem some nice antagonism between Jaime and Cersei. Personally I find Lena Headey's portrayal of Cersei to be more sympathetic than she is in the books. I mean, yes she's pretty mean and evil, but there is some tone of sympathy for her love of her children. Even if her child is an evil sadist like Joffrey. Now she seems drunk and grieving, I was expecting more madness from her, but hopefully that will develop with upcoming events later in the season. The show is making things much more explicit than in the book where much is left to the subtext and character's thoughts. For example Cersei interrogating and accusing Jaime of his good intentions towards Brienne and his allegiance to Tyrion. In the show she seems more intent upon Tommen's protection than on Joffrey's killer. In the book she seems more maniacal plotting and I wish that aspect would be explored further in the show, these days she just seems to be bitching at Jaime blaming and bullying him.
Margery begins her "seduction" of Tommen, more emotional than physical. It was nice to see the inclusion of Ser Pounce the kitten. It's great to see how committed the show is to every background and little detail from the book. It is interesting to see Margery's talents of different kinds of manipulation. It seems like both Lord Tywin and Margery are the ones trying to influence Tommen while Cersei is otherwise preoccupied. Speaking of Tywin, he is absent this episode. I'm kind of baffled there isn't much build up to the trial that they keep mentioning. The episodes sort of dwell on other aspects.
The Cersei and Jaime scene nicely plays into the exchange between Jaime and Brienne. These two are just great on screen and it's really nice to see his gifts to her, including Pod. It's cute to see Pod getting confused between "Ser" and "My Lady" talking to Brienne and it sets up nicely what is a really great duo in their storyline. Although I will definitely miss seeing Jaime and Brienne together on screen. Their farewell worked nicely and the acting was great leaving much left unsaid but quite evident to viewers. Even perhaps too much on the nose, but it definitely conveyed how different their relationship had gone from hatred to caring.
I found Sam's consternation about sending Gilly away rather annoying because it seemed like a stupid idea from the beginning. Also it is a significant change that Jon knows about Bran being beyond the Wall. These things seem set up for Jon to meet or attempt to reach Bran when they storm Craster's keep. That's another thing that bothers me. Not only is it changed from the book it seems like rather a stupid position, something Jon would never do. Taking some of their small force beyond the wall while the threat lies to the South and before the Wildling army meets them from the North just seems stupidly risky. I can see what the showrunners are trying to do to build up a battle and connect characters, but it really just doesn't make logical sense.
And finally we get a development on the White Walkers something we've know little about since their introduction in the opening of the very first episode in season 1. This is also something that is unknown to book readers. What looks likea glowing white mountain or tower. The white walker takes the baby into a kind ice Stone Henge and the baby's eyes go bright blue. Most of this sequence is a POV from the baby and we get a look at the White sort of wizard horned creature. Overall a lot of changes from the book this episode and some cute funny moments, but overall mostly character building and not much plot building done in the King's Landing/ Tyrion plot line. Looking forward to seeing the trial very soon, also to seeing more real development of Dany in Meereen in a different role.
