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'''"The Laws of Gods and Men"''' is the sixth episode of the fourth season of HBO's fantasy television series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', and the 36th overall. The episode was written by [[w:Bryan Cogman|Bryan Cogman]] and directed by [[w:Alik Sakharov|Alik Sakharov]]. It aired on May 11, 2014.
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"'''The Laws of Gods and Men'''" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of HBO's fantasy television series ''[[Game of Thrones]]'', and the 36th overall. The episode was written by [[w:Bryan Cogman|Bryan Cogman]] and directed by [[w:Alik Sakharov|Alik Sakharov]]. It aired on May 11, 2014.
  
 
==Plot==
 
==Plot==

Revision as of 16:24, 20 May 2019

The Laws of Gods and Men
Game of Thrones
Episode # Season 4, Episode 6
Airdate May 11, 2014
Director Alik Sakharov
Episode chronology
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"First of His Name" "Mockingbird"
List of Game of Thrones episodes

"The Laws of Gods and Men" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of HBO's fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 36th overall. The episode was written by Bryan Cogman and directed by Alik Sakharov. It aired on May 11, 2014.

Plot

In Braavos

In Braavos Stannis Baratheon and Ser Davos Seaworth arrive in Braavos, where they visit the Iron Bank, hopinh to secure fonds to aid Stannis. They are made to wait long, leaving Stannis impatient. Finally, they meet with the representatives of the Iron Bank, amongst them Tycho Nestoris. Stannis and Nestoris discuss the claim to the Iron Throne, and Nestoris requests to know the number of men and seaworthy ships Stannis still has, and rejects Stannis' request.

Davos does not give up easily, and explains that Stannis is an honest man, and that Stannis is their best chance of getting back the money that was lend to King's Landing. He tells them the war is not yet over. He tells them that Tywin Lannister, the true power in King's Landing, is an old man, and that there is no one suitable left in King's Landing to back, once Tywin is dead. Davos tells them that Stannis is the best choice. The Iron Bank agrees to support Stannis, and Davos is allowed to use it to hire his old pirate friend, Salladhor Saan, once more.

At the Dreadfort

Yara Greyjoy is on her way to the Dreadfort, rereading the letter that was sent to her house, along with Theon's "favorite toy", by Ramsay Snow. In the letter, Ramsay threatens to send more boxes with "more Theon", if the Ironborn do not retreat from the North.

While Ramsay is having sexwith Myranda, Yara and her troops arrive at the Dreadfort, scale the walls, and enter the castle. Yara forces a guard to tell her where Theon is, and he leads her to his location: the dog kennels. Yara kills the guard and enters, finding Theon in a cage. She opens the cage, but Theon refuses to come along, and resists in panic, fearing another trick from Ramsay. Ramsay and several Bolton men enter, and a fight ensues, with men on both sides dying. Theon bites Yara, and flees back into his cage. Ramsay releases the hounds, and Yara and her remaining men are forced to retreat. Yara orders the men waiting for her with a boat to take them back to the ship, and when asked about Theon, replies that "my brother is dead".

As a reward for staying loyal, Ramsay allows "Reek" to take a bath. Ramsay orders Reek to undress, and step into the water. He then assists in washing Reek, while telling Reek that he needs him to do something. There's a castle, which is held by bad people, whom Ramsay needs gone, and therefor, he needs Reek to pretend someone he is not: Theon Greyjoy.

At Meereen

Outside of Meereen, a goat herder and his son are tending to their goats on a hill. The son is throwing rocks off the hill to pass the time, when Drogon suddenly appears. The dragon burns part of the flock and takes off with a goat. The herder travels to Meereen, to lay the charred bones of a goat in front of Daenerys Targaryen. He hopes that he has not offended Daenerys, but he now has nothing. Daenerys apologizes, and promises him the value of his goats three times over. The herder thanks her and departs in haste.

The next petitioner is Hizdahr zo Loraq, who is introduced by a servant, which Dany does not agree about. She believes that Hizdahr can speak for himself, and so he does. He tells Daenerys that his father was a respected man of Meereen, who oversaw the restoration of many of Meereen's landmarks, Daenerys' pyramid included. Dany compliments the pyramid, and says she would be honored to meet him. Hizdahr tells her she already has: he was one of the men she had crucified. He prays she will never have to see a member of her family treated as cruely as he has seen his. Daenerys tells him that his father had crucified innocent children, but Hizdahr informs her that his father had been against those crucifixions, but had been overruled. He asks, whether is it justice to answer one crime with another.

Daenerys reminds him that her treatment of the masters was not a crime. Hizdahr tells her he is a servant of Meereen, and asks to be allowed to continue the tradition of burying his father in the temple of the Graces, reminding Dany that the masters are still outside, rotting in the sun. Daenerys allows him to bury his father, and Hizdahr leaves.

While he does so, Daenerys asks how many more supplicants are waiting; Missandei answers that there are still two hundred and twelve left.

In King's Landing

The small council holds a meeting, where Lord Varys informs those present (Pycelle, Cersei Lannister, Tywin Lannister, Oberyn Martell, and Mace Tyrell) that Sandor Clegane has been seen in the riverlands, where he killed five of the king's men. Tywin orders Varys to promise a hundred silver stags to the man brave enough to kill the Hound. Varys also heard whispers from the east, that Daenerys has taken Meereen and rules as its Queen. He lists Daenerys' army, and reveals that Jorah Mormont is no longer spying for them. The dismissal of Barristan Selmy is discussed, and Tywin decides that dealing with Daenerys an wait, though he does ask Varys whether he has little birds in Meereen, which he does.

After the meeting, Varys and Prince Oberyn meet in the throne room, where Varys asks why Oberyn spend five years in Essos. Oberyn reveals that Varys' speech betrayed to him that he is from Lys. Oberyn invites Varys to the brothel where he and Ellaria spend their time, yet Varys declines. He was never interested in boys or girls, he says. Stating that the absence of desire leaves one free to persue other things, he looks meaningful at the Iron Throne

In the dungeons, Jaime arrives. He has Tyrion shackled and brought into the throne room, where his trial begins. King Tommen recuses himself from the trial, appointing his grandfather Tywin, as Hand of the King, and Prince Oberyn Martell and Lord Mace Tyrell as judges in his stead.

The judges take their place, and Tyrion pleads innosense, for both himself and Sansa Stark. Several witnesses are called, including Ser Meryn Trant, who recalls how Tyrion slapped Joffrey during the Riot of King's Landing and how Tyrion had reminded Joffrey about meeting the same fate as Aerys the Mad had, Grand Maester Pycelle, who lists all the poisons he had in his room, until Tyrion had stolen them upon Pycelle's arrest. Pycelle confirms that it had been poison that had killed Joffrey, and shows the necklace Sansa had worn during the wedding, which had been found upon the body of Dontos Hollard. Pycelle says that the Strangler had been found in the necklace.

Cersei is the next witness, and she tells about the night of the Battle of the Blackwater, where Tyrion had threatened her, after she had threatened to kill Ros (whom she believed to have been Tyrion's lover).

Varys is next, and repeats hwo Tyrion had told Joffrey "perhaps you should speak more softly to me then. Monsters are dangerous, and just now kings are dying like flies", after news of Robb Stark's death had arrived. Varys suggests that Tyrion, who had not seemed gladdened by the news of Robb's death, might have become more sympathetic to the cause of the North due to his marriage to Sansa. Tyrion requests to be allowed to ask Varys one question, to which Tywin agrees. Tyrion asks Varys whether he has forgotten that he had once told Tyrion how, while Tyrion would not be remembered by history for saving King's Landing, Varys would not forget. Sadly, Varys tells him, he never forgets a thing.

The trial goes into recess for an hour, and Jaime goes to see Tywin. Jaime tells Tywin that the trial is a farce, and that Cersei has manipulated everything. Jaime wonders out loud what will happen to the Lannister name if Tyrion is found guilty and executed. Jaime is a Kingsguard, and had sworn an oath. He cannot carry on the name. But if Tyrion's life is spared, Jaime promises the Lannister dynasty will live on through him; he is willing to leave the Kingsguard, if Tyrion is allowed to live. Tywin agrees immediately. When Tyrion is found guilty, according to Tywin, he has to plead for mercy, which Tywin will grant him by sending him to the Night's Watch. Jaime will immediately depart for Casterly Rock, marry, and father children named Lannister.

Before recess ends, Jaime goes to speak with Tyrion. Jaime tells him about his deal with Tywin, to which Tyrion recalls how Eddard Stark was made the same promise, once, but still lost his head. Tyrion is distrustful of the offer, but Jaime is certain Tywin will keep his word.

The trial continues, and the next witness is called: Shae. She testifies that Tyrion is guilty, and that Tyrion and Sansa had planned the murder together. Shae claims that Sansa blamed the deaths of her brother, father and mother on Joffrey, and that Tyrion was happy to help, as he hated Joffrey, Cersei and Tywin. When asked how Shae could know that Tyrion had stolen the poison to put in Joffrey's wine, Shae reveals that she had been Tyrion's whore. She tells the judges of Tyrion's sexual desires, which embarrasses in front of the entire court. Shae tells how, after his marriage, Tyrion only wanted Sansa, but that Sansa refused him into her bed, causing Tyrion to promise to kill Joffrey for her.

At this point, Tyrion states he wishes to confess. An enraged turns to the crowd, reminding him how he had saved them, stating he should have let Stannis kill all those in King's Landing, to the disgust of the crowd.

Tyrion then states he is guilty, but when asked "Do you admit you poisoned the King?", the answer is no. He's guilty of a crime far worse than that: being a dwarf. Angrily, Tyrion says he has been on trial his entire life for being a dwarf. Tywin asks if he has nothing to say in his defense, and Tyrion states that he did not do it, though he wishes that he had. Turning to Cersei, he states that watching her "vicious bastard" die gave him more satisfaction that "a thousand lying whores". Turning to the crowd next, he states he wishes that he was the monster they all believe him to be, and that he had enough poison for all of them, gladly giving his life to see them all swallow it.

When Ser Meryn is ordered to escort Tyrion out, Tyrion shouts that he will not lose his life for Joffrey's murder, and, as he will get no justice from the court, demands a trial by combat.

Production

Writing

"The Laws of Gods and Men" was written by Bryan Cogman, based on the original series by George R. R. Martin.

The episode is adapted from the following chapters from the A Song of Ice and Fire series: Tyrion IX and Tyrion X from A Storm of Swords, Daenerys I, Davos I and Reek II from A Dance with Dragons, and Theon I from The Winds of Winter.

Regular cast members

Thirteen out of twenty-six cast members appeared in this episode. John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Aidan Gillen (Petyr Baelish), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), Hannah Murray (Gilly), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Carice van Houten (Melisandre) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.

Guest cast

References