If last episode was showing viewers "look how far we've come", than this episode was surely showing viewers "look where we are now".
Game of Thrones has grown steadily season by season to the point now where it's teetering into becoming the juggernaut it almost is. What started out as an ambitious project with modest ratings has turned into HBO's biggest show since The Sopranos and televisions most earth shattering project. GoT has torn away traditional television forever and showed us that with enough investment, time, and patience even that most ambitious projects can find an audience and the often sought after combination of mass and critical acclaim.
The Laws of Gods and Men was a big episode, both plot-wise and location-wise. The opening shot is that of Braavos, home to the Iron Bank and some gorgeous fictional architecture that could only elicit a single 'wow" from me. It was packed with other "wow" moments; Meereen has never looked so good and Dany's throne room looks absolutely incredible (as well as all built by production designers). Her dragon rising out of a valley and roasting a field of lambs was incredible and a testament to how big the show really has become.
The plot starts to move forward rapidly from here, with the Iron Bank now funding Stannis to eventually conquer the Lannisters (we presume, although there are other threats above the wall Stannis has his eyes on...) and Yara helms a failed rescue mission for Theon, who's now been completely transformed into Reek, Ramsay's personal servant.
Everything builds towards Tyrion's trial on the second half of the episode, which was the stand out scene and the one people will be remembering this one by. As a callback to Season 1, Tyrion ends his trial by demanding he fights for his freedom in front of the eyes of gods and men, after being berated by former enemies, allies, and his lover to eventually lead the room to believe Tyrion really did kill the king. Peter Dinklage's outburst and monologue was the best scene of the episode and was a great way for him to show off his acting chops, which we've been missing for a good chunk of the season.
All in all this episode really pushes things forward and the new direction the show's heading is becoming more apparent.
9.5/10
Game of Thrones has grown steadily season by season to the point now where it's teetering into becoming the juggernaut it almost is. What started out as an ambitious project with modest ratings has turned into HBO's biggest show since The Sopranos and televisions most earth shattering project. GoT has torn away traditional television forever and showed us that with enough investment, time, and patience even that most ambitious projects can find an audience and the often sought after combination of mass and critical acclaim.
The Laws of Gods and Men was a big episode, both plot-wise and location-wise. The opening shot is that of Braavos, home to the Iron Bank and some gorgeous fictional architecture that could only elicit a single 'wow" from me. It was packed with other "wow" moments; Meereen has never looked so good and Dany's throne room looks absolutely incredible (as well as all built by production designers). Her dragon rising out of a valley and roasting a field of lambs was incredible and a testament to how big the show really has become.
The plot starts to move forward rapidly from here, with the Iron Bank now funding Stannis to eventually conquer the Lannisters (we presume, although there are other threats above the wall Stannis has his eyes on...) and Yara helms a failed rescue mission for Theon, who's now been completely transformed into Reek, Ramsay's personal servant.
Everything builds towards Tyrion's trial on the second half of the episode, which was the stand out scene and the one people will be remembering this one by. As a callback to Season 1, Tyrion ends his trial by demanding he fights for his freedom in front of the eyes of gods and men, after being berated by former enemies, allies, and his lover to eventually lead the room to believe Tyrion really did kill the king. Peter Dinklage's outburst and monologue was the best scene of the episode and was a great way for him to show off his acting chops, which we've been missing for a good chunk of the season.
All in all this episode really pushes things forward and the new direction the show's heading is becoming more apparent.
9.5/10