*This review contains spoilers for the episode*
Remember the Red Wedding? The feeling of utter shock and horror at the end? Get ready to face something very similar, since weddings in Game of Thrones are always *ahem* eventful.
Last episode we got a look at Dany and Jon. This episode instead shows us Theon, Bran and small scene with Stannis.
Theon, or should I say Reek, and Ramsay had a very dragged relationship in the previous season to the point where there scenes were criticised as "torture porn". This scene however, shows the end result of all that torture. Alfie Allen brings out the crushed, mortally frightened and crushed character of Reek brilliantly. Iwan Rheon continues his wonderful portrayal of the bloodthirsty psychopath Ramsay and we get a look at one of his cruel "recreational activities".
Bran's warg scene is very well directed and acted. You can feel the thoughts going through his direwolf's mind.
Stannis's scene drifts slightly away from the story of the books. An interaction between Melisandre and Stannis's daughter princess Shireen occurs. This scene seems to be rather unnecessary but we may see the consequences in the future.
The truly memorable scenes from the episode however come from King's Landing. Jaime's scenes of adapting to life with one-hand evoke sympathy from the viewers. But of course, the scenes which will be most talked about, perhaps for the rest of the season, will be those from Joffrey's wedding. Jack Gleeson pulls of the performance of a lifetime, as does Peter Dinklage as Tyrion as always. Their duel of words, with Joffrey's openly stinging bratty dialogues and Tyrions ever so subtle japes resulting in a well made tense atmosphere. Of course, these exchanges build up to the ending of the episode, when all the seven hells break loose and Jack Gleeson bids adieu to Game of Thrones with his finest performance.
I end by mentioning that, even though I knew Joffrey's death was coming, the ending scene still shocked me and left me reeling. It simply goes to show how Game of Thrones is so good at bringing out these emotions in their viewers. To everyone reading this, I'd just like to say: Stay tuned because season 4 has some more shocking events to come.
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