Holy shit, a lot happened on Game of Thrones tonight. “The Laws of Gods and Men” is an instantly classic episode, one, like “Baelor” or “Blackwater,” that is firmly intent on upending the status quo. It also might be the most smartly written episode of the season. Writer Bryan Cogman, who also wrote this season’s excellent “Oathkeeper,” knows he has a lot to get through in one hour, so he wisely divides the episode into two halves, one where we catch up with characters we haven’t seen in a while, and another half dedicated to the beginning of Tyrion’s trial.
The first half of “Laws” begins with a visit to Braavos with Stannis and Davos. There’s not a better actor alive than Stephen Dillane to play Stannis Baratheon. His face is twisted into a seemingly permanent scowl, and he paces the room like a caged lion. We might not see much of Stannis, but in Dillane’s performance we can see perfectly what makes him tic: he’s constantly being shortchanged or underestimated, and his frustration threatens to get the better of him when the Iron Bank of Braavos refuses him a loan. He doesn’t scream or lash out; instead he appears to give up, which is not something that comes naturally to Stannis. Davos jumps to his defense with an impassioned monologue (which Liam Cunningham absolutely nails) about Stannis both as a man and as a ruler. He even uses his shortened fingers as evidence that Stannis stays true to his word. It’s powerfully done, and Cunningham commands the room as a a chastened Stannis licks his wounds.
Next we pay a visit to the Dreadfort, where Yara Greyjoy and some Iron Islanders are planning to rescue Theon. When they finally find him, it’s a heartbreaking scene. Theon is convinced that Yara’s appearance is yet another trick played on him by Ramsay, and he refuses to leave his cage (because Ramsay naturally makes Theon sleep with the rest of his pets). Ramsay runs off the Ironborn, leaving Yara no choice but to bitterly tell her men, “My brother is dead.”
Then comes a truly unsettling scene, one where Iwan Rheon’s performance as Ramsay really made my skin crawl. He offers Theon a bath, as a reward for his royalty. His eyes light up with vicious glee while he observes his handiwork as Theon disrobes, and when Theon steps into the bath, Ramsay washes him. The level of intimacy on display is a cruel mockery of love, and as if to underscore this point, Ramsay actually makes Theon say that he loves him. Rheon’s impish appearance – those almond-shaped eyes and elfin ears – do nothing to belie the insanity and sadism dwelling within Ramsay Snow. At the scene’s end, he gives his pet a task: he wants him to pretend to be someone in order to help Ramsa claim a castle. Who does Reek have to pretend to be? Theon Greyjoy.
Then Daenerys acts as Queen of Mereen and meets with dozens of supplicants. Honestly this section is the part of “Laws” that kept it from being a five-star episode. Emilia Clarke’s performance is as solid as ever, but Dany is in narrative stasis. The show checks in on her every episode because, well, Dany is a really popular character. But I think they could skip her every now and then.
The meat of tonight, though, was Tyrion’s trial. Game of Thrones is a show bursting to the seams with great actors, but so often we take it for granted. “The Laws of Gods and Men” ably shows us exactly why we should appreciate these people and their appearance on our televisions. Everyone is on point tonight. Pedro Pascal continues to have a blast as Oberyn Martell, the best new character of the season. Charles Dance, as Tywin Lannister, nimbly steps into the role of villain left vacant by Joffrey. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau keeps finding ways to impress me as Jaime – tonight, it’s by staring down his father, the most powerful man in Westeros, and getting his way. The love he feels for Tyrion really comes through, and it’s quite touching.
The star of the show, though, is Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. Dinklage won an Emmy for his portrayal of Tyrion in GoT‘s first season, and I think after tonight he’s due for another one. Tyrion of season four is vastly different from Tyrion of season one. The growth has been both subtle and remarkable.
As Tyrion is forced to listen to one witness after another besmirch his character (by quoting him out of context, or stretching the truth, or even by lying), Dinklage has to do a lot of acting with his face. The best instance of this is when Shae is brought in as a witness for the prosecution. Tyrion’s face drops; his heart – and ours – breaks. Halfway through Shae’s testimony – nothing but lies and fabrications – Tyrion pleads with her: “Shae, please don’t.” But she does, and Tyrion tells his father he wants to confess. Confess to what? To being a dwarf.
Then he goes scorched-earth on everyone. He tells the crowd that he should have let Stannis kill them all; he says he didn’t kill Joffrey, but he wishes he had; he fumes, he rages, and lastly he demands a trial by combat. The screen cuts to black as “The Rains of Castamere plays,” and we all start thinking of ways to sleep until next Sunday, because the wait is going to be interminable.
A Few Thoughts
– How naive was Robb Stark to have House Bolton as bannermen? Their sigil is a flayed man, and their keep is called the Dreadfort. This is not how good guys behave!
– Side note: if you haven’t watched HBO’s 2008 miniseries John Adams, starring Paul Giamatti, get on that. I only bring it up because I just finished it, and because Stephen Dillane plays Thomas Jefferson
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