Game of Thrones Review: A Mother Is Not Enough
Chris O'Hara
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Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
But at Tommen's coronation, we saw how most of the pressure is on those who are tasked with ensuring that head remains atop his shoulders for as long as possible.
The Lannisters have a firm grasp on the throne, but not a pot to piss in. Tywin explained to Cersei just how in debt they are and why their alliance with the Tyrells has never been more vital.
Cersei's focus on Game of Thrones Season 4 Episode 5 wasn't on her family's finances, but on her children. In her world, though, children are often the most valuable currency. She longed for her daughter who, was dealt away from her to keep the peace.
She also put aside her differences with Margaery and spoke to her as an equal about her son's future.
Margaery played the part of the mourning widow well, but Cersei pretty much let her off the hook with regard to Joffrey so she could focus instead on Tommen.
Cersei: You still mourn for Joffrey?
Margaery: He was my husband, my king.
Cersei: He would have been your nightmare.
The most telling moment of their conversation was Cersei admitting to just how affected she was by her dead son's actions.
Cersei: You never love anything in the world the way you love your first child. It doesn't matter what they do. And what he did, it shocked me. Do you think I'm easily shocked?
Margaery: No.
Cersei: The things he did, shocked me.
Tommen is different , however, perhaps the only man to actually deserve the throne in 50 years his mother remarked. Cersei knows she needs Margaery's help to protect Tommen, that a mother's love is not enough.
The Stark kids have been without their mother's affection for some time now, but are still surviving with a little help from their "friends."
Poor Sansa. She escaped from Joffrey's house of horrors only to be taken to her Aunt's castle of crazy. We had to suffer along with Sansa, as we listened to Lysa's screams of passion, but thankfully we were spared another breast feeding scene with Robin.
Man, someone needs to make that kid "fly." We learned a great deal more about just how twisted a woman Sansa's aunt is and how Baelish has been pulling her strings - and then some - for quite awhile.
Baelish is taking steps toward the throne, but Dany's path was put on pause this week after she learned about the status of the land's she previously liberated.
What good is power if you cannot protect the ones you love?
Cersei
Cersei said it, but her words also seemed to reflect Dany's decision to turn back and rule first over those she had set free, ensuring their survival. This showed how far Dany has come as a leader. What good is the throne if no one is glad you sit atop it?
This move will only endear her more to her people and will also give those babies of hers more time to grow.
Speaking of which, Bran's warging of Hodor raised some questions with regard to them. It was said earlier on Game of Thrones Season 4 how dragons can never be fully tamed, not even by their mother... but we also know they can be ridden.
Could Bran eventually use his power to sit atop one of Dany's dragons? That sure would beat having Hodor carry him around all day.
It remains to be seen, of course, but one thing's for certain: Bran using Hodor to break Locke's neck was one of the best deaths of the show's history. Jon Snow also made a case for most phenomenal fatality of the season as he put his sword through the back of Karl's head like the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
Rounding out the episode were updates on Arya and Brienne. The former remains firm in her pledge to kill the Hound despite all they've been through. Oberyn won't be too happy if the two of them beat him to punch and killed the Mountain, but perhaps a moment like that will change how they both feel toward each other.
Brienne was back on the road, this time without Jamie, but not alone. Pod can't ride and can't cook, but he earned her respect with his story about saving Tyrion's life. A guy like that will come in handy, not just taking off armor, but also when Brienne reaches Sansa I have to think.
Weigh in with your thoughts on which death scene trumped the other and what is next for our various characters.
