"The Mountain and the Viper" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of Game of Thrones[1]. It is the thirty-eighth episode of the series overall. It premiered on June 1, 2014. It was written by producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and directed by Alex Graves.
Plot
Template:S04E08 Synopsis
Summary
In the North
In Mole's Town , a whore is arguing with Gilly about her baby who woke her up during the night. Meanwhile, Wildlings, including Tormund, Styr and Ygritte, attack the town, killing everyone in their path. Ygritte discovers Gilly hiding with her baby, but urges them to keep quiet, sparing their lives.
Ramsay Snow sends Reek, forced to reassume his former identity of Theon Greyjoy, to treat with the Ironborn garrison holding the northern fortress of Moat Cailin, barring the armies of House Bolton from returning to the North. Theon rides into the fortress to find corpses lying everywhere from constant attacks, and disease is running rampant; the Ironborn remaining are sick, under-equipped and outnumbered. The garrison commander, Ralf Kenning, refuses to believe the offer made by Ramsay of safe passage in exchange for surrender, and clearly thinks Theon to be an imposter, but he is cut down by one of his men, who accepts it. The Ironborn surrender to Ramsay, but he has them killed and flayed regardless.
In the aftermath, Ramsay meets with his father and presents him with the Greyjoy banner that was flying over the fortress. In recognition of this, Roose presents Ramsay with a decree of legitimization, making him officially a member of House Bolton. Delighted at the knowledge he will succeed his father as Warden of the North, Ramsay and Reek accompany Roose's army as it approaches its final destination: the ruins of Winterfell.
At the Wall
News from Mole's Town has arrived at Castle Black, where Sam worries about Gilly, blaming himself for bringing her to the town instead of keeping her with him at Castle Black. Grenn is angry at them cowering in the Castle instead of helping their brothers in neighboring towns. Jon Snow says they can't go out to fight against the Wildlings, as that is exactly what they want. Pypar and Edd tries to comfort Sam by saying she might be alive and hiding, as she has survived worse situations, such as living with Craster and making a long march to the wall and even surviving a White Walker, so she might have got out safely, which gives Sam some relief. Jon notes they have a bigger problem; if Mole's Town has been destroyed, Castle Black is next, and the few black brothers who remain are outnumbered a thousand to one by Mance Rayder's army. Edd notes that if the wildlings don't kill them all, there is even worse behind them that will finish the job, and asks whichever of the group is still alive at the end to burn the others, as he doesn't want to come back after he is dead.
Across the Narrow Sea
As Grey Worm is swimming with some other Unsullied outside Meereen, he notices Missandei and a number of other women bathing naked downstream. She spots him looking at her and returns his gaze, standing up slowly for him to see her before finally covering herself. Later Daenerys asks whether Missandei thinks he was spying on her. She says no, and Daenerys mentions that Dothraki have no taboos against nudity or public love-making. Of course, Missandei is not Dothraki, but she says it doesn't matter, as Grey Worm isn't interested in her – none of the Unsullied desire women. Missandei says he was interested, however, surprising to both of them. Daenerys inquires whether, when a slave is castrated, if the masters take "all of it" – both the "pillar" and the "stones." Missandei says she doesn't know, to which Daenerys asks if she's ever wondered. Thoughtful, Missandei confirms that she has.
In Dany's audience chamber, Grey Worm comes to apologize to Missandei, but she tells him he doesn't need to. He hopes he didn't frighten her, and she says he did not. Addressing her in the Common Tongue, he tells her the lessons she gives are precious to him. Gently correcting his vocabulary, she notes that she doesn't remember teaching him the word "precious." Grey Worm tells her that Jorah taught it to him. She asks whether he remembers his birth name, and Grey Worm says he remembers nothing. She asks if he remembers when they cut him, and he shakes his head "no." She tells him she's sorry they did that to him, and when Grey Worm asks her why, she says it's a terrible thing to do to a boy. Grey Worm counters that, had the masters not cut him, he never would have been Unsullied, he never would have been freed, chosen to lead them, and met her. Missandei is visibly moved by this. Grey Worm apologizes once again, and she stops him while he turns to leave, telling him she is glad he saw her. He tells her he's glad as well.
As Ser Barristan Selmy watches the Unsullied taking the bodies of the crucified masters down outside Meereen, a small boy approaches him, giving him a scroll bearing the seal of the Hand. He reads its contents slowly in consternation. He confronts Ser Jorah: the document is a royal pardon signed by King Robert Baratheon. Barristan surmises Jorah spied on Daenerys. Jorah begs to be allowed to speak with her privately, but Barristan tells him that he will never allow Jorah to be alone with her again. In an audience before her, a seething Daenerys demands an explanation, and Jorah says it is a ploy by Tywin Lannister to divide them. Dany counters that the pardon was signed the year they met. Asking him whether he claims the pardon was forged, Jorah admits that it was not. He soon confesses to giving Varys information on Daenery's activities in Essos. Daenerys angrily says that his telling them of her pregnancy by Khal Drogo led to her near-poisoning at the hands of a wine merchant. Jorah then protests that his actions stopped her from being poisoned, but Daenerys says this was only because he knew it might be coming. Jorah begs for her forgiveness, but Daenerys rebuffs him, saying he sold her secrets to the man she holds responsible for the death of her family. She spares his life, however, giving him a day to leave Meereen before she orders him killed on sight. Jorah is last seen riding alone from the city.
In the Vale
Petyr Baelish is testifying before a tribunal consisting of Lord Yohn Royce, Lady Anya Waynwood, and Ser Vance Corbray. The lords are suspicious of Lysa Arryn's death, so soon after her marriage. Baelish has been attempting to spin the death as a suicide, but the lords don't buy it, given Lysa's devotion to her son. They rebuff Littlefinger's explanations in favor of speaking with the only other witness: his "niece", Alayne. After confirming that Baelish can stay for her testimony, Alayne reveals her true identity and relates the tale of her captivity and flight from King's Landing. She then proceeds to truthfully tell of Lysa's mental instability, jealousy and death, changing only a few details (she kissed Littlefinger on the cheek and Lysa threw herself through the Moon Door). Sansa breaks down in tears and the lords are convinced, but while none of them are looking, she gives Littlefinger a stony, almost triumphant gaze.
Later, Baelish visits Sansa and asks why she lied on his behalf. Sansa explains that she has no idea what Royce and Waynwood would want from her if he were eliminated, but that she does know what it is that he wants. Later on, as Littlefinger and Robin prepare to depart on a tour of the Vale, Sansa accompanies them, in a feathered black dress with a plunging neckline; she intends to keep Littlefinger firmly wrapped around her own.
At King's Landing
In the last hours before his trial by combat, Tyrion and Jaime share a final drink and reminisce about a simple-minded cousin of theirs whom Tyrion was intrigued to understand more about. Tyrion asks Jaime what chance he thinks Oberyn has, but Jaime is not optimistic. As a bell rings out to announce daybreak in the city, Jaime takes his leave, wishing his brother luck.
Lannister guardsmen escort Tyrion to a plaza where the combat is to take place, where he finds a large crowd in attendance to watch. He is not impressed to see Oberyn wearing light armour and armed with a spear- in comparison to his opponent, Gregor Clegane, who is clad from head to foot in heavy plate and wielding a greatsword- and is drinking before the fight, but Oberyn dismisses Tyrion's concerns, noting that he always drinks before a fight and favours maneuverability over protection, dismissing Ellaria's fear that he will lose. After Tywin Lannister cuts short a long-winded speech from Pycelle asking the gods to favour the innocent, the combat begins.
Oberyn, after impressing the crowd with some acrobatics, goes on the attack, stabbing out at Gregor and constantly moving out of the knight's reach, forcing him to tire himself out chasing Oberyn. All the while, Oberyn taunts Gregor by constantly bringing up his part in the murder of Elia Martell and her children and demanding a confession, only enraging Clegane further. As the fight progresses, Oberyn manages to seriously injure Gregor, stabbing him first in the chest, severing his hamstring and then burying his spear in Gregor's stomach, pinning him to the floor. As Jaime and Tyrion exchange a relieved grin across the arena, a furious Oberyn circles the prone Gregor, demanding that before he dies, Gregor confess to murdering Elia and her children, and that it was Tywin who gave the order.
However, Oberyn gets too close, and Gregor manages to trip and seize him. Berserk with fury, Gregor admits he killed Elia as he smashes out Oberyn's teeth, gouges out the man's eyes with his thumbs, before crushing Oberyn's skull between his fists. As Ellaria screams in horror and a stunned silence sweeps over the crowd, Tywin gets to his feet and proclaims the will of the gods is clear; Tyrion is guilty and sentenced to death. Tyrion cannot even reply, staring in catatonic astonishment at Oberyn's corpse, as does Jaime; the only different reaction is from Cersei, who smirks triumphantly at the death sentence.
Appearances
First
- Kegs
- Black Jack Bulwer
- Mully
- Ralf Kenning
- Adrack Humble
- Lord Yohn Royce
- Lady Anya Waynwood
- Ser Vance Corbray
- Ser Daemon Sand
Deaths
Production
Cast
Cast notes
- 18 of 25 cast members for the fourth season appear in this episode.
- Starring cast members Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Jerome Flynn (Bronn) and Sibel Kekilli (Shae) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.
Notes
- The title is a reference to Ser Gregor Clegane, known as "The Mountain That Rides" for his immense size, and Prince Oberyn Martell, known as "The Red Viper".
- Due to the Memorial Day holiday in the United States on May 25, there was a one week break between episodes 7 and 8 of Season 4.
- Despite once again being a major setting, The Eyrie does not appear in the Title sequence for this episode. By comparison, Winterfell has not appeared all season yet has remained in the title sequence. Braavos and its associated storyline remain in the title sequence but do not appear in the episode.
- Oberyn keeps reminding the Mountain that he raped and murdered his sister Elia and killed her children. This is believed to be a nod to Inigo Montoya's famous catchphrase from the movie "The princess Bride": "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die".
In the Books
- The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Storm of Swords:
- Chapter 55, Jon VII: Jon learns about the attack on Mole's Town by Styr and his raiders.
- Chapter 70, Tyrion X: The trial by combat that Tyrion requested occurs with Oberyn Martell fighting Gregor Clegane (The Mountain and The Viper), and The Mountain confesses to his crimes of murdering Elia Martell and her children, soon before bashing Oberyn's head in.
- Chapter 71, Daenerys VI: Daenerys learns that Jorah was once a spy for the Seven Kingdoms and she banishes him from her service.
- Chapter 72, Jaime IX: Tommen Baratheon signs a royal decree that legitimizes Ramsay and appoints Roose as the Warden of the North.
- The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Feast for Crows:
- Chapter 10, Sansa I: Sansa provides her own confession to the other lords of the Vale about Lysa Arryn's murder and decides to protect Littlefinger by lying that he did not kill Lysa. Sansa then officially transforms into the role of Alayne by dying her hair black and now starting to become a player in the Game of Thrones.
- The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Dance with Dragons:
- Chapter 20, Theon/Reek II: Theon travels to Moat Cailin to negotiate with the Ironborn including Ralf Kenning and Abrack Humble to give up the fortress to Ramsay Snow. The Ironborn then surrender to Theon and Ramsay, who then kills all of the Ironborn at Moat Cailin.