Game of Thrones: Season 4 Episode 10 - The Children

Hello fellow Westerosians, Essosians, Children of the Forest and all other creatures north of the Realm!  Welcome to our season 4 finale coverage of Game of Thrones!  WOW, that is how you end a fantastic TV season!  Of course, with the finale of A Storm of Swords, this season practically wrote itself.  They captured a lot of the essence of those final pages of the book in this episode, they captured some new for television encounters, but they left out a couple things that I was pretty surprised about.  The fact that they were left out is starting to give me an idea of storylines they may cut out of the show all together due to trying to compress the next 2 books into possibly 1 season.  Rumor has it that the show will only go 7 or 8 seasons regardless of the status of the final 2 (or more) books on the way.  So, things need to be cut. Characters, storylines, etc...  Anyway, we can debate that a little bit in the recap and more in the comments.  But until then, let's get this show on the road!

Spoiler Disclaimer:  I have read all 5 books of A Song of Ice and Fire.  I am diligent in trying not to spoil the TV Only Viewers.  I will note all spoilers with a Spoiler Warning, and will most likely save them for the comments of this thread.  I do, however, like to compare events from the book with events that resemble the books on the show.  This could be difficult in this recap because certain things were cut out of key events that I'm not sure if they plan to cover them!   I'll be careful.  Let's go!

First off, here are links to EW's coverage of the finale:

• James Hibberd's LIVE Recap
• GRRM on the finale (interesting book insight here for future books!)
• Showrunners on the finale
• Inside scoop on Brienne/Hound Fight

DISCUSSION POINTS

Battle of Castle Black Conclusion

• Well, we debated a lot last week how far we'd get into the Battle with the way things ended last week.  They chose to continue the battle to conclusion in the beginning 15 minutes of the episode which was an awesome way to handle it!  Jon went to talk to Mance in a great scene discussing Mance's true intentions.  We kind of already knew them but it was nice to hear it again.  They drank to their falling and almost had a mutual respect for each other.  We've debated Kit Harrington's acting a lot recently, but I thought he held his own against Ciaran Hinds.  I imagine that's a daunting prospect.  
• Of course, if my recollection is correct they left some key developments out of Mance's story here that could be important for future seasons (if they're going to cover it).  They may just be saving it for next season so I'll shut up! 
• Mance caught on that Jon was there to kill him, but also had a feeling Jon wouldn't be able to do it as he was trying to negotiate a peaceful transfer of passage for the wildlings to hide behind the wall from the white walkers.  Seems reasonable to me! 
• But alas, their conversation was interrupted by the assault of thousands of soldiers on horses.  Great aerial CGI shots on a TV budget showing the sacking of the Wildling army.  Who has come to the North's aid?  DUH people, Stannis Baratheon!   They only talked about it in the season 3 finale!  Alas, I'm being sarcastic.  The book readers were actually surprised when Davos used the North's plea for help as a reason to stay alive at the end of season 3, because it would eliminate the surprise of Stannis's arrival at the wall in season 4.  But, it was a whole "out of sight, out of mind" concept that they went with.  Most people forgot about Stannis as he was trying to get troops and funding in Braavos, and as Melissandre, Shireen and Selyse prepared for an "unspoken" journey.   It was all setup for their arrival at The Wall.  The rightful King Stannis Baratheon of the 7 Realms.
• There was a great scene here between Mance, Jon, Stannis and Davos and Jon flexing his Stark muscles in finding a way to keep Mance alive and Mance refusing to kneel even if it meant death.  
• Jon warned Stannis that the dead should be burned before nightfall as they would come back to haunt all of them.  The same was done for the soldiers of the Night's Watch.  We got a shot of Grenn's corpse among the fallen before Jon set the pyre ablaze.  The camera focused on Shireen and Selyse to let us know they were there.  But more importantly, it showed Mellisandre checking out Jon Snow with great interest.  What does it all mean?  We shall see.  But the game board has definitely been reset with this episode.  Pieces have moved in a big way as they did in the books.  This was just the first of them.  
• There was the final goodbye for Ygritte as well.  Jon spoke with Tormund for awhile.  Tormund complained about Maester Aemon healing him.  Jon said there weren't any plans to kill him, but he doesn't know what Stannis has in mind for him either.   But then they spoke of Ygritte's love for Jon and how she deserves to be honored North of the Wall.  Jon brought her past the Wall and said his goodbyes before setting her on fire as well.  RIP again Ygritte! 

There was a key moment from Book 3 that was not covered in Jon Snow's arc in this season.  So, my guess is it will be covered in episode 1 of next season.  We assumed Stannis's arrival at the wall would be covered last week and then this key moment would be his sendoff for this season.   But, once that didn't happen, this went down as I pretty much expected.  Anyway, that's just a tease.  I'm not going to spoil! 

Mereen

• Definitely into book 5 territory with Dany at this point. But we have already been there with her extended stay in Mereen.   Many speculated this is the final scene we'd get with her this season due to the themes of not being able to control her dragons throughout the season.  
• They showed Dany holding court attending to 2 of her subjects.  One and elderly freed slave who wanted to go back into slavery.  He explained how the young slaves are rejoicing at their freedom, but the elderly slaves know no other ways to live in the world.  He actually admired his master and the master's children and requested to be employed by the master.   Dany didn't expect this turn of events but didn't want to cause anyone displeasure at the same time.  She allowed the man to go under a 1 year contract with his master which pleased him.   Ser Barristan warned Dany that the masters would take advantage of this precedent.  A possible tease for things to come next season. 
• Then, a man who did not speak the common tongue arrived in tears carrying something in a shroud.  It didn't take long to realize he was mourning the loss of a child.  And it was a direct result of Drogon, Dany's untamable dragon with whom she is most fond of.  Drogon had already set some sheep on fire earlier in the season, and now he's gone and burned a 3 year old girl!  Dany was horrified.  Worse yet, Drogon is nowhere to be found.  But, her other "CHILDREN" were and she did what she had to do.  She took them to the catacombs, chained them and locked them in there until she could figure out what to do with them.  She was clearly horrified that she had to lock her children away, but she was left with no other choice until she learned How to Train her Dragons.  (If only she could watch those movies in this realm of men)  

Jaime/Cersei/Tywin

• Cersei and Tywin rekindled their debate about marriage to Loras.  Tywin said that it would happen soon after Tommen and Margaery wed.  Cersei refused to agree and said it would not happen.  She referred back to Blackwater and how she was willing to kill Tommen with poison before she'd let anyone else take him.  Her resolve is still as strong as Tywin is clearly trying to take him for his own too.  She threatened to tell the realm the truth about her children and her relationship with her brother.   Charles Dance's reaction to learning that the rumors were true was nothing short of brilliant.  
• Cersei then went to Jaime who was in the Gold Cloak's main chamber where the all important book of their accomplishments is held.  A sacred room, a sacred book.  This was symbolic indicating that Jaime still wants to do some good in this world.  But, enter Cersei with news of her defiance against their father.  She told him the truth, they can stop living a lie.  She chooses Jaime.  Jaime pushed her off, but then she kissed Jaime's golden hand (to which she previously was disgusted at).  This turned on Jaime more than anything and he took her in that sacred room.  It's not a sept, but this time it was clearly consensual.   Jaime asked "what if someone catches us?"  Cersei responded, I don't care.    
• And that my friends, bookends Alex Graves' other episode with the alleged rape.  It was such a deliberate mirroring of the other scene that it had to be intentional.  Cersei was disgusted by the gold hand, then Jaime was furious and took her by force.  He responded with "I don't care" when she was worried people would catch them.  They were in the SACRED Sept when that happened.   Here, Cersei is the aggressor and Jaime is turned on by the kissing of his missing hand.  The same lines were said here.   So, it would seem there was always a plan to pay that scene off later on in the season.   This may be why the showrunners kept tight lipped on the situation.   I'm sure people will still question Alex Graves' comments earlier in the season and the scene in general.  But, the only thing I had required at the time was for it to be addressed in some way later on in the season.  This is a direct follow-up to that scene.   
• Of course, it's also a huge departure from the books.  They're ending this season on good terms.  Granted, and this is getting ahead of things, if Cersei finds out Jaime had anything to do with Tyrion's escape that could absolutely change.  But there was additional fuel to the fire in the books that was removed from the show.  We'll get to that.   
• Oh yes, there is also the scene with The Mountain and Qyburn, the fallen Maester.  He claims to know how to keep The Mountain alive against Grand Maester Pycelle's expert opinions.  Cersei orders Pycelle to leave the premises and gives Qyburn the okay to do whatever he needs to do.   If you forget, Qybrun is the man that fixed Jaime's wound at Harrenhal and accompanied him to King's Landing.   I forgot to mention, Oberyn Martell "THE RED VIPER" had poisoned the tip of his blade which is what put Gregor in his current state.  They kind of showed them wiping something onto the blade before their combat.  They didn't call him a Viper for nothing! 

North of the Wall

• Once us book readers saw the name of this episode we wondered if "THE CHILDREN" referred to Bran's storyline.  It shocked us though because it pretty much takes his story to the end of his book 5 arc.  So, we have no idea what's going to come next!   (Note: I think Children refers to MANY children of Westeros and Essos thematically, including dragons.  But this one is most on the surface)
• Bran and crew push on north through the rough wintery conditions.  Jojen is struggling and Meera is afraid they won't make it.  Then alas, the heart tree is ahead.  They make their way to the tree, and the dead begin to rise from the snow and attack them.  These dead skeletons should be considered the same as the dead that attacked Jon in Castle Black in season 1.  They were wights activated by the White Walkers.  This was very similar to the books in that Bran took over Hodor to fight them off.  But this was very different from the books in that the wights were able to claim Jojen Reed's life.  He is still very much alive in the books.   The showrunners explained (in the link I posted) that this just seemed like the right thing to do.  Jojen sacrificing his life to get Bran to where he needed to go and that it wouldn't have seemed realistic if the wights didn't get one of them.  Of course we are talking about humans fighting zombies so I'm not sure what's realistic about that!   But alas, RIP Jojen.  
• Of course, there was no way any of them were going to make it out of there alive if it wasn't for one of the Children of the Forest coming to their aid with magical fireballs!  I believe it was a girl and she said that the First Men called them the Children.  She assisted the rest of them in getting into the tree.  The wight's that followed exploded upon entrance.   The child explained "The power that moves them is powerless here."  Interesting, right?  I don't even think we understand what powers them in the books yet either.  
• But we do have Bran meeting the 3 eyed raven in person in the books.  And it's one of the last things he does.  The man said that he has been watching all of them all of their lives.  He has 1000 eyes in one.  The hour is late, Jojen died so Bran could find what he lost.   He admitted that Bran will never walk again, but he will fly.  Bran has gotten to his ultimate destination.  But, they didn't explain what he's doing there yet.  That is really all that's left of his book story and I'm sure it will be covered in the beginning of season 5.  
• Though, knowing what he's doing there, I can kind of guess how they might use his story in the future.  Or, they may start to go completely off book.  I don't blame the writers here for advancing his story so far.  There really were not many Bran chapters in the books and they stretched it out as long as they could.  I always loved his chapters in the book, and in the show most people have seen them as afterthoughts.  But, I think it's definitely more engaging on the page than it has been here.   Anyway, I can't say much else so just stay tuned! 

Brienne/Arya/Podrick/Hound

• This was the largest departure in this episode from the books.  I might even suggest it was the largest EVER departure.  Arya never came in contact with Brienne.  But, their meeting was absolutely spellbinding.  Arya talked to her with great interest as a woman who didn't resemble a typical woman.  She was good with a sword.  Her sword has a name (of course Arya doesn't know it's part of her father's sword).  Arya's sword has a name.  Brienne seemed to be mutually respectful of Arya as well.  
• Of course, the pleasantries stopped when the Hound and Podrick entered the conversation.  Pod recognized Sandor Clegane, and Brienne was able to put 2 and 2 together that this was Arya Stark.  She spoke to how she swore an oath to bring Arya back to her mother and protect her.  The Hound brought up some great points here.  Basically, everyone is dead and HE is looking after her now.  Arya just seemed to have an "I don't care what happens here" look about her.  Maisie Williams was absolutely awesome in this episode, by the way.  Such a great young actress.  
• Anyway, Brienne and The Hound's battle of words escalated until Brienne unleashed Oathkeeper.  The Hound knew that the handle was Lannister gold and though she was there to cash in on his bounty.  The fight they had was, I don't use this word much for the fear of it losing its meaning, EPIC!!!  Lots of great hits on both sides and come on.  Brienne bit the Hound's ear off!!  So crazy.  Of course, it ended with Brienne punching Sandor off a cliff.  
• Meanwhile Arya hid out of sight from Brienne as she did not want to tag along on some other pointless journey.  Her family is dead as far as she knows.  But, she did come back to the dying Hound.  They had an amazing goodbye scene where he pretty much ends up begging her to mercy kill him like he had done to people they came across earlier in the season.  It was poetic justice.  She could mark another one off her list.   But, Arya just leaves him there begging for death.   Great great scene.  

If this is what we have in store for future book changes, we are in good hands.  This was handled brilliantly.  The Hound is gravely injured in the books too (at that tavern they were at in the beginning of this season).  Eventually the infection takes hold.  Us Book readers thought that him getting bit a few episode back would lead to the same result.  But, this was even better.  In both scenarios, Arya leaves him begging for death.  I should note that in both scenarios we never see The Hound actually die.  It is theorized in the books that he's still alive and that we may have even seen him again.  But, since the books is by Point of View, there is a character's description that matches The Hound, but we are still not sure if it is him.   It is very interesting though that The Mountain is in a dying state and The Hound, his brother, is also in a similar state.  And both of their death/recoveries are shrouded in mystery in the books.   

Tyrion

• Most book readers assumed this would be the 2nd to last or last season of the season.  And boy it's a doozy!  Jaime, not being able to let his brother die, worked with Varys to help Tyrion escape his cell.   They say their goodbyes to each other but pretty much leave on good terms. 
• I have to make a sidenote, and you'll see this in GRRM's article above also.  There is a huge conversation between them that was cut out of the story here and I don't see how they could add it now.  Basically, Jaime admits to playing a part in the grandest hoax ever.  Tyrion's first wife actually was not a whore, but Tywin only wanted Tyrion to think so.  And Jaime played along with based on his father's wishes.  This pretty much made Tyrion rethink his entire life.  That woman actually loved him.  He also lashed back at Jaime telling him that Cersei has been sleeping around with other Lannister relatives (i.e. Lancel Lannister their cousin) among other people he just suspected.   It was a pivotal moment in the books and it's just absent here.  It fueled Tyrion's arrival into Tywin's bed chamber.  
• Granted, it wasn't necessary to have there.  Tyrion already has enough disdain for his father for sentencing him to death among the many other awful things he's told him and done to him over the years of his life.  So, he went into the chamber and found Shae in Tywin's bed looking for Tywin "her lion".  She sees Tyrion and reaches for a knife to either kill him or defend herself with.  It's unclear.  In the book, Shae is far more unredeemable a character (as GRRM explains in his interview as well) and doesn't give 2 craps about Tyrion.  So, here book readers questioned how this scene would go down.   Both book and TV show end the same way.  Tyrion is emotionally betrayed by Shae and he strangles her to death with a gold chain.  RIP Shae.   I think it was still effective, but it certainly makes more sense in the books.   Though, I think it would've made even more sense in the TV show if Jaime and Tyrion had their discussion about his first non-whore wife Tysha.  
• Tyrion then doesn't know what to do, but eyes a crossbow on the wall.  He grabs it and heads down the hall to the privy where Tywin is in his most vulnerable state.  I'll just say it, the man is taking a dump.   Tywin tries to politically maneuver his way out of the situation by saying meaningful things like, "yes I always have wanted you dead, but I wasn't really going to execute you.  You're my son, you're a Lannister"   Then Tyrion moves the discussion on to how he killed Shae.  Tywin keeps referring to her as a whore which hurts every time he says it.  (again, more meaningful with the Jaime conversation but still effective)   Tyrion moves on to Joffrey implying his father knew he couldn't have killed him.  Tywin keeps demanding they move this conversation somewhere else and probably calls Shae a whore again.  And Tyrion just looses the arrow into his father.  "You're no son of mine!" Tywin exclaims.  Tyrion retorts that he's always been his son and shoots him a 2nd time for good measure.  RIP Tywin Lannister.  The legacy you leave behind is one helluva mess! 
• Tyrion flees the scene and Varys is there to meet him.  "What have you done?", he asks.  Varys talks to how he has brought Tyrion this far and essentially to trust him.  He puts him in a box and loads him onto a ship.  The last time we saw Varys with a box he was ready to get revenge on the man from Essos that cut him.  Is Tyrion heading East?  Well, I could tell you but that might be spoilerish.   Varys is about to head back into the capital, but the bells of the Red Keep start ringing indicating something awful has happened.  Varys boards the ship and flees as well.  

Final moments

Many of us expected a different coda to the season.  Its absence makes me think that it might not happen at all.  But, in case they open next season with it, I'll keep my mouth shut.  Instead, we have the triumphant Game of Thrones theme playing as Arya rides her horse to a harbor.  She wants passage to the North.  The man says she does not want to go there.  He is heading to Braavos anyway.   Oh wait a minute.  She has a coin that will have any Braavosian helping her in a heartbeat thanks to Jaqen H'gar!  She shows the man the coin and says "Valar Marghoulis" (or however that's spelled to indicate All Men Must Die - the theme of this season).   He grants her passage and responds with "Valar Dohaeris" (all men must serve).   Arya begins her journey to Braavos far away from the drama she's been facing in Westeros.  Why is she going there?  One can speculate, but it's just better to stay quiet until next season!  But, we'll be rooting for her because she is awesome!! 

Crazy episode, right?  It was really good.  Of course, being a book reader I do dislike some of the stuff that was cut.  I think I made that clear.  I apologize for tainting your TV enjoyment with the additional details from the book that may not even be in play here.  But, the 3rd book was so good in the series that I didn't want any of it to be missing.  Some of this stuff being absent makes me wonder what shape season 5 will take.  I've mentioned before, we are now in both book 4 and book 5 territory.  Many people had to wait 10 years to find out what happened to Tyrion after he killed his father and his lover.  His resolution didn't happen until Book 5 which just came out when season 1 was airing.  But, the stories from A Feast for Crows and the first half of A Dance With Dragons happen in parallel.   Get ready for more characters next year.  But, probably not ALL of the characters from the book.  GRRM's story gets even more sprawling, and some might argue UNFOCUSED in these 2 books.  I'm thinking the show will try to eliminate a lot of that and condense the stories into 1 season.  Which means, we soon can be in uncharted territory for both book readers and TV show watchers!  But, seeing some of the stuff they came up with on the show I am convinced we are in for a great ride regardless!   

I hope you guys enjoyed my Game of Thrones ramblings this year.  I'll try to keep it up next season as well.  At the very least we'll have a place to discuss the episodes.  Enjoy your hiatus and I'll see you in the comments!