Back to the present Cersei joins Jaime, to view their dead father Tywin. The death of their father is not to be taken lightly. His death signifies a real game changer for those seeking out the rights to the Iron Throne. Cersei is none too happy with her brother-lover Jaime for freeing Tyrion. But its Jaime’s lack of thinking strategically, and acting impulsively that really has her angry.
As citizens from all over come to see Tywin’s body (and to make sure he is in fact really dead), we see Cersei’s lover-cousin Lancel. We haven’t seen him in quite a while, and since then he’s devoted himself to the Seven. He did however, casually mention that it was him that poisoned Robert during the boar hunting. Only time will tell to see what Cersei does with that information. At the moment, her only consolation seems to come from a wine cup.
As for Tywin’s murderer Tyrion, he finds himself at the home of Illyrio Mopatis, the man who had helped arrange Daenerys’s marriage to Khal Drogo and gave her the dragon eggs. Varys and Illyrio are good friends and have been plotting to find a way to get the right person on the Iron Throne. Varys asks for Tyrion’s help, but Tyrion isn’t so convinced that its even possible to find this person, who he refers to as a “him.” Varys replies, “who said anything about ‘him’?” Looks like Tyrion and Varys will be off to Meereen to cross paths with Daenerys.
Back in Meereen, Daenerys is facing issues with insurgents in the city. As the harpy falls from the Great Pyramid, a group in the city who is none too happy with Daenerys rule, and is fighting back. One of her soldiers who visits a brothel for the sole purpose of just lying with a woman and cuddling, gets his throat slashed open by one of these insurgents. It looks like we are going to see some deeper elements of Daenerys as she finds her footing as Queen.
Back at the Wall, King Stannis has taken up residency along with his army and of course Melisandre. Stannis wants the free folk to fight with them against the Lannisters. He orders Jon to speak with Mance, and convince him to bend the knee, otherwise he’ll die by fire. It was a very touching interaction between Jon and Mance. Despite Jon’s plea, Mance would not agree to Stannis’ terms. Mance goes on to say, “they followed me because they respected me, and the moment I kneel for a southern king, that’s all gone.” With that, Mance’s fate has been determined and as he bravely stands in the fire pit, it is Jon Snow that shows him mercy. As we watch the agony on Mance’s face we see him get hit with an arrow, putting him out of his misery and ending his life. Will Stannis take this as a total act of defiance from Jon?
What a great start to the season, and it looks like we’ll be seeing some of the late Prince Oberyn’s children very soon.
