First of His Name

"First of His Name" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of HBO's fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 35th overall. The episode was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss,^[1] and directed by Michelle MacLaren.^[2] It aired on May 4, 2014.^[3]

Plot

In King's Landing

Tommen Baratheon (Dean-Charles Chapman) is crowned as king. Afterward, Cersei (Lena Headey) and Margaery (Natalie Dormer) talk about Joffrey's nature, and how Tommen may be a truly deserving king. In council with her father, Tywin (Charles Dance), Cersei decides that Tommen and Margaery will marry in a fortnight. They also make plans for Cersei's wedding to Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones), and discuss how the gold mines in the Westerlands have run dry. Tywin tells Cersei that the crown is deeply indebted to the Iron Bank of Braavos, and that the union of Lannister and Tyrell will help rectify this problem. Cersei also tries to influence Tywin into declaring Tyrion guilty in his upcoming trial. In the gardens, Cersei speaks to Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) about her daughter, Myrcella. She asks him to bring a ship back to Sunspear as a gift for Myrcella, which he agrees to do.

In the Vale

Lord Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen) and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) arrive in the Vale of Arryn. At the Bloody Gate, he tells Ser Donnel Waynwood (Alisdair Simpson) that Sansa's name is Alayne, hiding her true identity as she is still wanted in King's Landing for Joffrey's murder. Upon their arrival they are received by Lady Lysa Arryn (Kate Dickie) and her son, Robin (Lino Facioli). Lysa is aware of Sansa's true identity, and has Robin show her to her chamber. When they have gone, Lysa expresses her desire to marry Petyr that day, and speaks of what she has done for him, including poisoning her previous husband, Lord Jon Arryn, and accusing Lannisters in her letter to Catelyn. In order to quiet her, Petyr agrees to marry her as soon as possible. At night, Lysa and Sansa talk about Catelyn, and how Petyr loved her. Their conversation grows tense, with Lysa accusing Sansa of having seduced Petyr, but is eventually convinced by Sansa that she is a virgin. Lysa tells Sansa that, once Tyrion has been executed, she will be married to Robin.

Across the Narrow Sea

News of Joffrey's death reaches Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). At a meeting with her council, Daario Naharis (Michiel Huisman) announces that his forces have taken the Meereneese navy, and Daenerys expresses her desire to use the ships to invade Westeros. While her advisers are optimistic about her chances of seizing King's Landing, Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) warns her that may not be enough to conquer the Seven Kingdoms. He also informs Daenerys that both Astapor and Yunkai have fallen back into old habits, with Yunkai again being ruled by slavers, and Astapor now being ruled by a self-declared "imperial majesty". After seeking advice from Jorah, she tells him that she intends to rule Slaver's Bay.

On the Kingsroad

Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) and her squire, Podrick Payne (Daniel Portman), ride toward the Wall, believing they may find Sansa there with Jon Snow. At camp, Brienne scolds Podrick for not knowing how to cook or do a squire's proper duties. When asked what he did for Tyrion, Podrick tells her that he once killed a knight of the Kingsguard to protect Tyrion during the Battle of the Blackwater, which impresses her. She relents by letting him assist her with her armor.

In the Riverlands

Arya (Maisie Williams) and Sandor "the Hound" Clegane (Rory McCann) discuss her ritualistic reciting of the names of people she intends to kill, relating over Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane's appearance on the list. Arya reveals that the Hound's name is on her list as well. In the morning, the Hound finds Arya training with her sword. He insults her swordplay, and challenges her to demonstrate her abilities by attacking him. His armor easily repels her jab and he knocks her to the ground, telling her that her fighting style is useless against armored opponents.

Beyond the Wall

Locke (Noah Taylor) scouts Craster's Keep, and witnesses Rast (Luke Barnes) beating one of Craster's former wives. When he sneaks inside the encampment, he sees Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and his group held captive in a small hut. When Locke returns to the group led by Jon (Kit Harington), he tells them that they should strike soon, as the mutineers are drunk, but does not reveal that Bran is imprisoned in the camp. Jon informs his group that they will attack the Keep at sundown. Later, Karl (Burn Gorman) enters the hut and attempts to rape Meera (Ellie Kendrick), but, after a warning from Jojen (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), they are attacked by Jon's group. A battle ensues in which several mutineers are killed. Locke slips away from the fight unnoticed to see to Bran and his friends. As he cuts Bran's ties and picks him up to take him elsewhere, Bran uses his warg abilities to enter Hodor's (Kristian Nairn) mind and have him pull free of his chains. Bran, using Hodor's body, chases down Locke and kills him by snapping his neck. Though Bran wishes to see Jon, Jojen tells him that Jon will try to stop his journey north, and the group departs the encampment unseen.

Jon enters the Keep and fights Karl, and though he is injured in the fight, is able to kill Karl with the help of one of Craster's widows. While counting the dead, Edd (Ben Crompton) notices that Rast is missing. Rast flees through the woods before being killed by Ghost, Jon's direwolf, who then returns to Jon. Jon asks Craster's wives to come to the Wall, but they decline his offer, and the group burns Craster's Keep and the bodies of the dead.

Production

Writing

"First of His Name" was written by executive producers David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, based upon the source material, Martin's A Storm of Swords. Chapters adapted from A Storm of Swords to the episode were chapters 68 and 71 (Sansa VI and Daenerys VI).^[4] It also covers part of the fourth novel, A Feast of Crows: namely chapter 14 (Brienne III).^[4]

Casting

Kate Dickie (Lysa Arryn) and Lino Facioli (Robin Arryn) make return appearances after an absence of several years (since the first season).

Reception

Television ratings

"First of His Name" established a new series high in ratings, with 7.16 million people watching it during its first airing.^[5]

Critical reception

The episode received universal acclaim from critics. Rotten Tomatoes reported that 100% of the episode's reviews on the site were positive. Its consensus reads: "Only slow by Game of Thrones standards, "First of His Name" demonstrates how carefully constructed this show has been since season one."^[6] Matt Fowler of IGN gave the episode a 9/10 writing that the episode "gave us a much-needed look back at some past events on the series." He highlighted the revelation that Littlefinger's actions "put the story of the entire series into motion."^[7] Erik Adams of The A.V. Club gave the episode an A and praised the writers for their focus on the female characters.^[8]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: First of His Name

• "First of His Name" at HBO.com
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