Game of Thrones Season 5, Episode 4 Review: Making friends with enemies

Come episode four, we have the wheels turning, and turning real fast.

For a time it would seem that Cersei has the better hand in the 'game of thrones', delivering her first proper blow to Margaery. In her first move, the Queen sends the Tyrell patriarch, Master of Coin, to negotiate the realm's debt with the Iron Bank and sends Meryn Trant to accompany him. Menacing Trant never spells comfort for anyone except Cersei and her children.

Next, she arms High Sparrow with Faith Militant, an army subdued centuries ago now revived to serve justice and be the sword of the gods. Old cousin Lancel, now a fanatic, leads the army. 

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Faith Miitants are destroying Petyr Baelish's establishments and punishing those who are sinners in the eyes of god and men. With special treatment reserved for homosexuals

Don't be fooled. Cersei's gesture to the Sparrows is far from noble. This is Cersei after all. Her move traps Ser Loras Tyrell, Knight of the Flowers and brother to Margaery, and serves as a sharp lesson to her son's queen for trying to play the power game and conspiring to send her to Casterly Rock.

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King Tommen is helplessly trapped between his mum and his queen. The poor boy king would have wanted Tywin around for this.

We see soon enough how this move might just backfire for Cersei. When Tommen goes to see High Septon to order him to release Ser Loras, the followers of High Sparrow block his way and deny him an audience. In the background, we can hear people call him a bastard and him being an abomination.

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If this catches wind, the resultant fire will wrap Cersie and swallow Jaime with her. (I haven't read the books, so this is just speculation.) The Queen has given away too much power to people out her control.

Jaime on the other hand is on his way to bring (his daughter/niece?) Marsella back from Dorne. He has sellsword Bronn to help him. On their journey, Jaime confesses that if he sees Tyrion he will split the dwarf in two for killing their father. So, Tyrion has finally lost the one family member he had on his side. On the shores of Dorne, they both encounter Dornish soldiers and Jaime realises that his gold hand can do more than just hide his amputation. It can act as a shield! (Win-win?)

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On Dorne grounds, we are introduced to the Sand Snakes, the illegitimate chilren of Prince Oberyn. The kingdom of Dorne has been shot in Spain. Must admit the cinematography is breathtaking, taking the gold, brown, and black combination of costumes into consideration. I ,for one, can't wait to see how they'll picturise the water gardens. 

Coming back from the tangent, the merchant who smuggles Jaime has ratted them out to Sisters and they will now have to act fast if they want to wage a war to avenge Oberyn. Looking at their skills with the whip and the spears, the war will be an interesting watch.

On the other side of the North sea, Ser Jorah seems to have made a mistake in kidnapping Tyrion. Tyrion convinces Jorah to remove his gag and let him talk. Big mistake by Jorah. Now Tyrion is in his head. Master of words, Tyrion tells Jorah that while he shared Daenerys' hatred of the Lannisters, Jorah might still remain hard pressed to find favour with the mother of dragons.

In Meeren, Daenerys continues to face the challenges of ruling slaves and slave masters alike. While the demand for the fighting pits is being pressed at her again and again, the Sons of Harpy grow in number and power. They corner Grey Worm and his patrolling party and wreak havoc. Ser Barrister too joins the fight to help as soldier fall around Grey Worm and the Harpy outnumber him. The fight is not an even one and we are now looking at two possible major character deaths with Grey Worm and Ser Barrister.

At Castle Black, two story lines are running together. Melisandre quite has not given up on her mission to convince John Snow to help Stannis Baratheon. She wields her two best weapons- charming words and seduction. For a moment, John Snow forgets that he is Lord Commander now, but he comes to his senses as he realises that he is still in love with dead wildling Ygritte. Melisandre tells him that only living needs loving. But John Snow is not one to cave. This marks the return of phrase 'You know nothing John Snow'.

Stannis, on the other hand, connects with his daughter, telling her that he is not ashamed of her. He recounts how he brought every maester, healer, apothecary in Westeros to keep her alive when she caught the grayscale disease. When she hugs him, Stannis is slow to respond, but he hugs her and we see the soft side of a commander on his way to claim the throne. 

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In Winterfell, Petyr Baelish is set to visit King's Landing in response to summons by Cersei in the last episode. Before leaving, he imparts 'words of wisdom' to his protege/lover/meal ticket of The North, Sansa Stark. In the crypt, he tells her about Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. When Sansa is not sure if Stannis will march on Winterfell and make her the Wardess of the North, seasoned gambler 'Littlefinger' tells Sansa to hedge her bet. If Stannis takes Winterfell, nothing like it. If he doesn't, woo the Bolton boy. A Wardess of the North, either way. So far, Sanasa has been a silent spectator. This just might be season we see the only known alive Stark kid take charge.

We are almost hitting the mid-season mark and the stories are giving way to the next generations across houses. Kids from the Stark, Tyrell, Baratheon (except for Stannis) families are coming to the fore and the Sand Sisters are the new players in the Game of Thrones. Who will win? Well, we've been asking that question from Season one episode one!

Game of Thrones Season 5 airs on HBO Defined every Monday at 6:30 am IST with a repeat telecast on the same day at 10 pm.