GAME OF THRONES Review: ‘The Mountain And The Viper’ – The Most Brutal. Yet.

Pardon us for the lousy subtitle of this latest Game of Thrones review, but perhaps it’s fittingly apt to how this episode ended. It was probably the most brutal thing we saw for this series yet. While it is true that we were used to seeing gory stuff(Trust us, we’ve seen worse.), but the finality and the impact of how it was carried out brought a catharsis of sorts.

And it might take time for some of us to recover.

“Why does the simple man keep smashing the bugs?”

What was typically a jovial and brotherly exchange between Tyrion and Jaime turned quite differently as the former posed that question. True enough, the answer is simple: He smashes the bugs because of the heck of it. Because he thinks it is HIS purpose. To kill. That theme resonated throughout the episode, as subtle hints were rendered at every segment to prepare us for the brutality that is to come at the conclusion. A brutality so intensely depicted, it might have surpassed the travesty that is The Red Wedding.

“All people die, Robyn. Going out and living life is the most important thing you can do.”

 Indeed. Littlefinger further echoes what was in store for us by teaching Robyn a little lesson following the death of his crazed mother Lysa Arryn. No matter what we do, and how we fight, we’ll bite the dust – one way or another. Look at Oberyn Martell. He had a greater purpose than anyone. He lived his life merrily – albeit shorter than anyone. He did all things with passion – including his other affairs. He walked at King’s Landing with a noble quest, and look where it brought him.

“I loved you.”

Perhaps the most heartbreaking moment of this episode, we see Daenerys banishing her most trusted adviser for the revelation of his apparent betrayal. It sucks knowing that you did everything for the one person you loved, only to be scorned in a flicker of the eye. Like Oberyn Martell, he did everything to get his revenge exacted. He knew the risks, yet he pushed forward, and now…..

“I see nothing.”

Nothing. That’s the point. As Ramsay Bolton’s(Yeah, he’s legit now. Poor Jon Snow.)observation simply implies, at the end of each existence, we are pulled to nothingness. Everything ends. Memento Mori. The image of the flayed man demonstrates his point, setting our mindset at what we should expect coming to our dear eyes.

“Shhhh….”

We are also reminded of the Wildling threat, as Mance’s army presses forward to the Wall whilst raiding villages in the process. There was this particular scene in which Ygritte spares Guilly and her kid, and asks her to keep mum to survive. What follows after a brief moment of serenity is a series of screams and howls. Another premonition perhaps?

“What can stop 100,000 men? The wall.”

Now, this has no connection at all to the overarching theme that we are pointing here, but it is a teaser of some kind for the upcoming battle next week. Like I said, Mance is coming, and the Watch needs to be ready. There was no readiness, no sense of alert, nothing. Leaving a few men to ponder what lies next. It simply brings a brooding feeling to me, that some big mess is ought to happen because of it.

“YOU RAPED HER! YOU KILLED HER CHILDREN! YOU MURDERED HER!”

Let us expand on Oberyn shall we before discussing how the climax went on. He was a well crafted character. He was engaging, despite his short stay in the story. He provided us a false sense of hope that perhaps, the Lannisters will now get it. He fought out with every slash, with every spin, with every strike and thrust, while holding to his beliefs and his quest. We silently rooted for him because he might be the hero that we deserve.

He’s NOT.

Look at Ned Stark. He lived his life with honor. He held to that same code even with his head at the stake. His son Robb Stark did the same thing, and now Grey Wind’s head is sewn in his body. What does this tell us? Thrones is not a fairly tale made up of clean-cut heroes winning the war. It is twisted, because reality IS twisted. Heroes die because they chose to. We have learned that with the last three seasons, right?

And then, there is silence.

We have to say: This is a beautifully crafted episode, with a theme that strongly emanates all throughout. It also represents what Game of Thrones is all about, and why we should beware of it.

10 Spears Out Of 10

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Two episodes remain. Here’s the trailer for this season’s climactic chapter, ‘The Watchers On The Wall.’