GAME OF THRONES Season 4 Episode 8
Episode Title: “The Watchers on the Wall”
Writers: David Benioff & D. B. Weiss
Director: Neil Marshall
Previously on “Game of Thrones”:
Last week’s “Game of Thrones” episode ended with a major cliffhanger after the death of a recent fan favorite character that left Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) sentenced to death.
“The Watchers on The Wall” leaves us hanging for another week as the entire episode takes place at Castle Black before, during and after one of the most pivotal battles in the four seasons of “Game of Thrones.”
As always, there are full spoilers ahead in this recap!
Top Billing
For the first time, it’s Kit Harington’s name that opens the show on the credit sequence. It’s fitting, because this is also Jon Snow’s biggest moment to date. The Battle for Castle Black is here, and Harington carries the episode on his back while Jon Snow faces his greatest challenge.
In the relatively quiet opening minutes, Sam (John Bradley) presses Jon for details about his relationship with Ygritte (Rose Leslie) during his time with the Wildings. While Jon has the feelings, he doesn’t have the words to express them. Even Sam agrees that Jon is no poet.
Sam Steps Up
John Bradley is also one of the episode’s MVPs, as Sam becomes a more confident hero while remaining the same man that we’ve watched for four seasons. First, Sam despairs about his pending demise with Maester Aemon (Peter Vaughan) while reading in the library. Then Sam is reunited with Gilly (Hannah Murray) and her baby.
Sam hides Gilly deep within Castle Black for her own protection. And against Gilly’s wishes, Sam refuses to abandon his Night’s Watch brothers. To cap it off, Sam finally kisses Gilly shortly after explaining to Jon that he thinks the Night’s Watch vow doesn’t necessarily mean celibacy.
Giants and Mammoth, Oh My
Last season, Mance Rayder promised the biggest fire the north had ever seen. And he delivered on that promise as his army of Wildlings attacked Castle Black from the North. According to the director of this episode, Neil Marshall, budget and technological constraints limited him to two giants and one mammoth. Regardless, they were visually striking and fearsome.
While the Night’s Watch is distracted by the approach of Mance’s army, Tormund Giantsbane (Kristofer Hivju) and Styr (Yuri Kolokolnikov) lead their warriors into Castle Black itself from the opposite side as they cut down several of the Night’s Watch in the process.
Ser Alliser The Bad Ass
We’ve gotten used to seeing Ser Alliser (Owen Teale) treating Jon Snow like s*** and generally being a jackass. But for once, Alliser is less of a dick when he acknowledges that Jon was right about the Wildling army. And rather than cower in fear like Janos Slynt (Dominic Carter), Alliser actually shows some leadership qualities when rallies the men in defense of the castle.
Alliser even holds his own in a duel with Tormund before he is injured and pulled to safety. With no one else to turn to, the remaining Night’s Watch look to Jon for his orders.
Kissed By Fire
Jon leaves Edd (Ben Crompton).in charge of defending the Wall while he personally comes down to the courtyard to confront the Wildlings in the castle. Jon narrowly kills Styr after absorbing a vicious beating before Ygritte finally catches up to Jon and aims an arrow at his heart.
However, Ygritte hesitates at the critical moment and she is fatally shot by Olly (Brennock O’Connor), the young boy whom she orphaned a few episodes back. In despair, Jon cradles Ygritte as she dies in his arms. As the battle turns against the Wildlings on both sides of the Wall, Jon personally shoots Tormund with an arrow before ordering him to be placed in chains.
“We Are The Watchers on The Wall”
Grenn (Mark Stanley) is one of the first to acknowledge Jon’s command of the Night’s Watch and he carries his own sense of authority when he follows Jon’s order to defend the inner gate at all costs. The surviving giant manages to get inside, but Grenn gets his men ready for the fight of their lives by reciting the oath of the Night’s Watch.
After the battle, Jon and Sam find Grenn and his men lying dead at the inner gate… alongside the giant’s body. Jon acknowledges their sacrifice before ordering Sam to burn the bodies before they can be reanimated by the White Walkers.
A Desperate Plan
Realizing that their victory is only temporary, Jon embarks on a risky strategy to end the crisis. Jon explains to Sam that he intends to seek out Mance Rayder beyond the Wall under a flag of truce before murdering Mance to splinter his massive Wildling army.
Sam states that it’s a terrible plan and Jon agrees. But left with no other viable options, Jon leaves his sword with Sam and he travels alone into the North.
Only one more episode of “Game of Thrones” in 2014! But before we reach the end of the fourth season, share your thoughts about this episode in the comment section below!
