The Laws of Gods and Men

"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,^[1] and directed by Alik Sakharov.^[2] It aired on May 11, 2014.^[3]

Plot

Across the Narrow Sea

Stannis (Stephen Dillane) and Davos (Liam Cunningham) arrive in Braavos, where they are received by Tycho Nestoris (Mark Gatiss) at the Iron Bank. Tycho declines Stannis's request for financial aid, naming his lack of a large army and the food necessary to sustain them as his reasons. Before leaving, Davos makes an impassioned speech about Stannis's merits, pointing out his being a man of action, his prime age, and his ability on battlefield, while also pointing out Tywin Lannister's age and his weak potential successors. Davos is successful in winning over Tycho, and later informs the pirate Salladhor Saan (Lucian Msamati) that they will set sail the next day.

Near Meereen, one of Daenerys' (Emilia Clarke) dragons attacks a group of goats led by a farmer and his son. While she receives supplicants, the farmer presents a bag of charred goat bones to Daenerys and her advisors, and she promises to pay him three times their worth. After he departs, Hizdahr zo Loraq (Joel Fry) requests the right to bury his father's remains, as he was one of the Meereenese masters crucified on Daenerys' orders. Loraq also points out that his father was one of the masters who was against the crucifixion of the slave children, but was killed due to Daenerys' "justice." Daenerys reluctantly grants his request.

At the Dreadfort

Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan) leads her Ironborn soldiers in a raid on the Dreadfort, as retaliation for Ramsay's (Iwan Rheon) torture of Theon (Alfie Allen) and the flaying of his soldiers. Yara finds Theon locked in the kennels with the dogs but he is reluctant to accept her help, believing she has been sent by Ramsay to trick him. He also refuses to acknowledge his true name, instead telling Yara that he is Reek. Before they can flee, Ramsay and a group of his men corner the Ironborn and afterwards release his hounds on the invaders. Upon returning to their rowboats, Yara tells her men that Theon is dead. In the morning, Ramsay rewards Reek with a bath. Ramsay tells Reek that he requires his assistance in taking Moat Cailin, and that, in order to comply with his father's command, he will need Reek to play the role of someone he no longer is, Theon Greyjoy.

In King's Landing

At a meeting of the Small Council, Tywin (Charles Dance) informs the councillors that Tyrion's (Peter Dinklage) trial will begin that afternoon. Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) informs Tywin that Sandor "The Hound" Clegane has been spotted in the Riverlands, and Tywin orders a bounty on his head. Varys also informs the council of Daenerys' conquest of Meereen, and Tywin decides to take measures to prevent her from launching an invasion.

In the dungeon, Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) has Tyrion shackled and brought into the throne room by order of Tywin, to begin his trial for regicide. King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) recuses himself from the trial, appointing his grandfather Tywin, Prince Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal), and Lord Mace Tyrell (Roger Ashton-Griffiths) as judges. Several witnesses are called for the prosecution, including Ser Meryn Trant (Ian Beattie), Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover), Queen Regent Cersei (Lena Headey), and Varys, all of whom give testimony backing the accusations against Tyrion, with wildly varying degrees of truthfulness, but all conveniently omitting Joffrey's actions. At recess, Jaime asks Tywin to spare Tyrion, offering to leave the Kingsguard and return to Casterly Rock, to be Tywin's heir. Tywin accepts, telling Jaime that Tyrion will be allowed to join the Night's Watch after being found guilty of Joffrey's murder, provided he pleads for mercy.

Returning to the trial, Tywin orders the next witness to testify: Shae (Sibel Kekilli). She falsely testifies that Tyrion and Sansa planned Joffrey's murder together, claiming that Sansa wanted vengeance for the murder of her father, mother, and brother. She tells the judges of Tyrion's sexual desires, embarrassing him in front of the court. Before she can continue, Tyrion's anger finally boils over, and he announces that he wishes to "confess." He first lashes out at the people of King's Landing in attendance for their ingratitude after he had saved them from Stannis Baratheon's attack on Blackwater Bay, blaming himself for not simply allowing Stannis to kill them all. Facing Tywin, Tyrion denies having killed Joffrey, but admits that he wishes he had, and accuses his father of putting him on trial because of his dwarfism. He finishes by saying that he refuses to be sentenced for a crime he did not commit and that the gods will decide his fate, demanding a trial by combat.

Production

Writing

"The Laws of Gods and Men" was written by Bryan Cogman, based upon the source material, Martin's A Storm of Swords. Chapters adapted from A Storm of Swords to the episode were chapters 66 and 70 (Tyrion IX and Tyrion X).^[4]

Reception

Television ratings

"The Laws of Gods and Men" was watched by an estimated 6.4 million people during its original broadcast.^[5]

Critical reception

The episode received universal acclaim reviews from critics, with most reviewers singling out Tyrion's trial as the highlight of the episode, particularly praising Peter Dinklage's performance.^[6][7][8][9] Matt Fowler of IGN called the final scene "one the best things I’ve seen Tyrion do in a long while. He let a lifetime of hate ooze out of him like never before."^[8]

Accolades

The episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Art Direction for a Contemporary or Fantasy Series (Single-Camera).^[10]

Due to his nomination, Peter Dinklage submitted this episode for consideration for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.^[11]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Laws of Gods and Men

• "The Laws of Gods and Men" at HBO.com
• "The Laws of Gods and Men" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Laws of Gods and Men" at TV.com