Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and discuss

[Ryan8bit]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Oberyn definitely had this Inigo Montoya thing going on there. Somehow I knew he wouldn't make it because of all of his arrogance, but when they showed the Mountain down on the ground, I was starting to think I was wrong. Oh, you got me, writers. Sad to see him go, especially so gruesomely.

 

[DarthTom]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

The Viper/Mountain fight really did turn out dead-on-the-mark as I hoped/expected - brilliantly directed and choreographed. Martell was clearly a prideful sort, and that pride was his ultimate undoing, at its most brutal, the righteousness of his cause notwithstanding. He was a fan favorite when it came to long-term guest characters. Almost like the Kiss of Death in this show - much like weddings...

Excellent episode. Talk about your typical Bond villain moment - Obryn's need to talk, talk, talk reminded me of Drax's multiple attempts to kill JB and their need to lecture their intended prey rather than simply finishing them off.

My partner and I disagreed with Sansa's look at Littlefinger after she vindicated him. I took it as, 'you owe me one.' He took her glance as being grateful. What do you think?

 

[Scout101]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Yep, you don't monolog until after you've killed the guy. stabbing a giant and then turning around (while staying within reach) is poor form, rookie move...

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

The Viper/Mountain fight really did turn out dead-on-the-mark as I hoped/expected - brilliantly directed and choreographed. Martell was clearly a prideful sort, and that pride was his ultimate undoing, at its most brutal, the righteousness of his cause notwithstanding. He was a fan favorite when it came to long-term guest characters. Almost like the Kiss of Death in this show - much like weddings...

Excellent episode. Talk about your typical Bond villain moment - Obryn's need to talk, talk, talk reminded me of Drax's multiple attempts to kill JB and their need to lecture their intended prey rather than simply finishing them off.

My partner and I disagreed with Sansa's look at Littlefinger after she vindicated him. I took it as, 'you owe me one.' He took her glance as being grateful. What do you think?

I think I'm in agreement with you. The slowness of her eyes raising and -locking- with his (and I think his reaction shot may have even shown the tiniest of twitches - a nervous reaction-formation - he was full of them when she was being interrogated) clearly (to me anyway) screamed "your ass is mine now, Littlefinger". Her fate and Patyr's are now inexorably tied. She knows this and will leverage it to help him keep favor with the Vale Lords.

Sansa is clearly not the "stupid little girl" that Cersei had locked up in a cage years ago. Her education in the Game of Thrones began most brutally, long before he whisked her away, learning from the very best that King's Landing had to offer. We are now seeing the culmination of that education in her new persona as "Alayne Stone" (is she a Stone in this - don't recall her last name being mentioned here).

 

[DarthTom]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Yep, you don't monolog until after you've killed the guy. stabbing a giant and then turning around (while staying within reach) is poor form, rookie move...

What are the Vegas odds on Tyrion making it to the next season? My partner says he's a goner. I'm not so sure - he's an expert on surviving.

 

[Ethros]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Oh, and I had to laugh at the "guess what song I'm burping" game at the beginning of the episode because apparently in Westeros, you basically have a 1 in 2 chance of getting it right.

Yeah that was one part I didn't like, so there are basically only two songs in all of Westeros?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Tyrion's "What the hell are you doing?" expressions during the fight were great too.

Night's Watch rangers

You're Motorin'..!!!! Sorry, reflex

 

[davejames]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Yep, you don't monolog until after you've killed the guy. stabbing a giant and then turning around (while staying within reach) is poor form, rookie move...

Well for someone who hasn't read the books, I was halfway expecting Oberyn to launch his spear at Tywin at the end, since it seemed like that's the direction the writers were taking the scene in. The last thing I was expecting was for the Mountain to come roaring back and kill the guy!

There have been a lot of brutal, awful deaths on this show, but this one would definitely have to be the worst. By far.

 

[TheSeeker]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

My partner and I disagreed with Sansa's look at Littlefinger after she vindicated him. I took it as, 'you owe me one.' He took her glance as being grateful. What do you think?

I think she was definitely letting him know that he owed her one. I also think Littlefinger's look was one of being grateful, but I think there was also a little look of pride in seeing how well she handled herself.

 

[Rowan Sjet]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Yep, you don't monolog until after you've killed the guy. stabbing a giant and then turning around (while staying within reach) is poor form, rookie move...

Monologuing after he was dead would have been pointless, because then he wouldn't have gotten the Mountain to admit his guilt. Of course, that confession didn't work out too well for him.

I can't remember, did we see Sansa with her hair dyed black at the end there to match her dress? It looked like it but I'm not sure if it was just the lighting. Also I'll be very disappointed if Arya and the Hound are just wandering around the country again after they just told the bunch of Vale guards surrounding them who she is.

Spoiler: book change

Where was Tyrion's vomit?!?

 

[DarthTom]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

I think she was definitely letting him know that he owed her one. I also think Littlefinger's look was one of being grateful, but I think there was also a little look of pride in seeing how well she handled herself.

I also took it as a slight bit of fear. What have I created, and what will she want in return?

I also think Sansa has the upper hand now to refuse his affections.

 

[137th Gebirg]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

^^^ Oh yes. The Vale Lords know who she really is now, so Littlefinger holding that against her is a non-starter. Yes, she holds most of the cards now.

Oh, BTW, what in the world was that scene about between Tyrion and Jaime about the beetles? I suspect there was some symbolism in there somewhere, but I honestly cannot divine the point behind that scene, other than a "final" quiet moment between the two brothers before the fight.

And to answer Rohan Sjet's question, yes, I thought her hair looked like it was dyed darker, too. Not quite black, but definitely a dark brown. The Goth look becomes her.

 

[DarthTom]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

^^^ Oh yes. The Vale Lords know who she really is now, so Littlefinger holding that against her is a non-starter. Yes, she holds most of the cards now.

She's still Tyrion's wife though, and as long as he's alive she cannot marry Robyn an become queen of the Vale.

As a matter of fact I cannot think of any character that has divorced on the show? I guess the Gods permit murder, incest et al, but not divorce. In other words, just like in the real world.

 

[Klaus]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

[Dylan]How many years can a mountain exist
Before it is washed to the sea?[/Dylan]

 

[Vendikarr]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

^^^ Oh yes. The Vale Lords know who she really is now, so Littlefinger holding that against her is a non-starter. Yes, she holds most of the cards now.

She's still Tyrion's wife though, and as long as he's alive she cannot marry Robyn an become queen of the Vale.

As a matter of fact I cannot think of any character that has divorced on the show? I guess the Gods permit murder, incest et al, but not divorce. In other words, just like in the real world.

There's probably a religious loophole where she can have the marriage annulled since it was never consummated.

 

[dansigal]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

^^^ Oh yes. The Vale Lords know who she really is now, so Littlefinger holding that against her is a non-starter. Yes, she holds most of the cards now.

She's still Tyrion's wife though, and as long as he's alive she cannot marry Robyn an become queen of the Vale.

As a matter of fact I cannot think of any character that has divorced on the show? I guess the Gods permit murder, incest et al, but not divorce. In other words, just like in the real world.

There's probably a religious loophole where she can have the marriage annulled since it was never consummated.

Or disavow it completely as having been non-consensual. It's all really a technicality anyway. Those in charge determine what the rules are, she can do whatever she wants if she has the support for it.

 

[DarthTom]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Or disavow it completely as having been non-consensual. It's all really a technicality anyway. Those in charge determine what the rules are, she can do whatever she wants if she has the support for it.

Well, even Jeoffrey was beholden to some kind of rules related to marriage if you recall. And if even he couldn't break a marriage commitment to Sansa why would she be able to break an actual marriage?

Regarding consummating the marriage - everyone believes they actually did so it's Sansa's word against general perception.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

^^^ Oh yes. The Vale Lords know who she really is now, so Littlefinger holding that against her is a non-starter. Yes, she holds most of the cards now.

She's still Tyrion's wife though, and as long as he's alive she cannot marry Robyn an become queen of the Vale.

As a matter of fact I cannot think of any character that has divorced on the show? I guess the Gods permit murder, incest et al, but not divorce. In other words, just like in the real world.

There's probably a religious loophole where she can have the marriage annulled since it was never consummated.

That it was never consummated is probably the most important element, right next to Tyrion being a convicted Kingslayer and kinslayer. Hard to imagine anyone would force her to remain in such a marriage under the circumstances. Even Tywin himself would probably be happy to release her, if he could be satisfied she was not responsible for Joffrey's death.

 

[davejames]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Oh, BTW, what in the world was that scene about between Tyrion and Jaime about the beetles? I suspect there was some symbolism in there somewhere, but I honestly cannot divine the point behind that scene, other than a "final" quiet moment between the two brothers before the fight.

Well Tyrion was looking for some kind of explanation for the endless, mindless killing that his cousin was partaking in (and by extension the endless killing in their larger world), but both he and Jaime finally seem to admit that there IS no good explanation.

Plus the fact that even when severly brain-damaged, the default mode of the cousin was to do nothing but squash and kill those beneath him, which says something kinda dark about mankind.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Re: Game of Thrones 4.8 - "The Mountain and the Viper" - Rate and disc

Bloody fantastic (so to speak)! I've wondered since the moment I read the battle between the Mountain and the Red Viper how graphic the show would be. They held no stops and it was well worth it. I'm sure the more casual viewers will hate it, but it really showed how Oberyn's pride was his downfall. His Inigo Montoya moment was understandable but it backfired on him. Loved every moment of it.

Aside from the climax, by the far the best moment of the whole episode was Arya's echoing laugh before the Bloody Gates upon hearing Lysa's death. Maisie Williams nailed that scene perfectly and it's a fine example of the show improving on the book (because that moment was created for the show).

Speaking of improving on the book, the Sansa story has only gotten better. I was curious to see how Littlefinger would handle Lysa's death (in the book, someone else was present and he pinned the death on him) and the way Sansa saved his ass was priceless. But not only that, she's learning from him. She lied by telling the truth. Fantastic.