Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 4 Review: Vengeance and Allegiance!

“They hate you and you hate them; The Northerners after the Battle of Winterfell.”

The viewers asked for blood and the creators gave us blood. For those of you who complained that there wasn’t enough blood shed during the Battle of Winterfell, here comes an episode to do justice. The Night King may be dead and the Wights are not a threat anymore, but the real top dog is Cersei Lannister who runs the Game of Thrones.

Episode 4 is titled as “The Last of the Starks” – who are gathered under the Gods wood; the truth is revealed. The girls know the truth about Jon’s parentage. The stokes of the wheel are in motion. The Game of Thrones is set again as we see wavering allegiance from Tyrion, Varys, Jamie and the others.

After the Long Night, the war against the dead, the living folk are seen mourning the dead and then celebrating their victory with wine and ale. While everyone seems to be happy, the leaders seem distressed with their MVP’s shaking loyalties. The drinking game of truth and lies is on between Brienne and Jamie, with Tyrion as the moderator; they speak about an older dead king, Renly Baratheon of Storm’s End and thus the game ends with the much awaited love scene of Ser Jamie and Ser Brienne whom we have seen fight together in the battle earlier. Speaking of Storm’s End, Congratulations to Gendry on becoming the Lord of Storm’s End, courtesy of Daenerys Targaryen. Nice to see Ser Bronn after some time who has won himself Highgarden- good dealing.

Also Read: Game of Thrones Season 8, Episode 3 Review

Although love is in the air of Winterfell, a dark cloud looms over Jon and Dany’s relationship as they fight over who is the boss argument. Sansa is still hell bent on hating the Dragon-queen and with good reason. Daenerys tries very hard to be the ruler she aspires to be, fails rather miserably and ends up as Little-Miss-Sulky-Pants. The cat fight is on. Seeds sowed by Sansa are bearing fruits and we see Tyrion Lannister discussing options with the Master of Whispers as the advisors for the Queen all the while siding with the silver- haired queen. Finally, Varys proclaims himself as the protector of the Realm, sizing up Jon and Daenerys as to who is a better ruler, having learned the true parentage of Jon Snow and plans the end of the Mother of Dragons. We may see the end of Lord Varys for conspiring against the Queen.

The true motive of the Hound is yet to be disclosed and we are secretly wanting Clegane Bowl to happen in the upcoming episodes. The Hound sure has a soft spot for the Stark girls and recalls Sansa as a little bird while she was captive in King’s Landing.

As we are well aware that there are only 2 more episodes, thus concluding the final chapter of the greatest historic show ever, the creators are rushing, tying up loose ends, presenting Knighthood, giving Lordship to bastards and a purpose for Jamie Lannister to return to King’s Landing and face his twin, his lover – Cersei the queen, sitting on the Iron Throne.

Epic surprises in this episode were two major deaths; the first one came and went so quickly I had to rewind and watch in horror, the fall of the mighty Rhaegal. Jon denied riding Rhaegal and the younger of the remaining two dragons was riding solo and was hit by Euron Greyjoy upon reaching at the entrance of King’s Landing. The second and the most heart-wrenching death is of our favorite curly haired girl, Missandei from Naath who is beheaded by the Mountain, while Grey Worm and Khaleesi watch helplessly. The saddest part was when Ghost is sent off without so much a pat on his head, alongside Tormound who is heartbroken. Alas! the clapping and flirting went in vain.

Finally, after a long time, we see the Great Khaleesi snarling at her enemies and acting like the true daughter of the Mad King. The biggest takeaway from this episode is this: Cersei plays Chess and Sansa is her only true match; Daenerys is weak and nervous; she lost her dragon, her friend Missandei, the Dothraki army and is at the mercy of the Northerners who seem to dislike her.