The Laws of Gods and Men

"The Laws of Gods and Men" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of Game of Thrones. It is the thirty-sixth episode of the series overall. It premiered on May 11, 2014. It was written by co-producer Bryan Cogman and directed by Alik Sakharov.

At the Dreadfort
Yara Greyjoy prepares her troops for their assault on the Dreadfort to rescue her brother, Theon. She reads the letter sent by Ramsay Snow, threatening to flay all ironborn who do not leave the North. While Ramsay has rather violent sex with Myranda, Yara and her troops land and scale the walls of the castle. They quietly take out the guards as they search for Theon. Interrogating a guard, Yara learns of Theon's location which is the dog kennels. There, the ironborn and Yara see Theon sitting in a cage. Yara opens the cage, but Theon refuses to go with her, believing it is another cruel trick played by Ramsay. Ramsay and several Bolton troops enter and a fight ensues, with several Bolton and Greyjoy soldiers killed. Theon tells Yara his name has always been Reek, bites her, and cowers in his cage. Ramsay releases the hounds and Yara is forced to retreat to her ship. When one of the ironmen asks about Theon, Yara says Theon is "dead."

Ramsay allows Reek to take a bath, as a reward for his loyalty. Reek fears the bath is another trick but Ramsay assures him it is not. While Reek bathes, Ramsay now plans to assault Moat Cailin and needs Reek to pretend to be someone he isn't: Theon Greyjoy.

At King's Landing
At a meeting of the Small Council, Tywin informs the councilors that Tyrion's trial will begin that afternoon. Lord Varys informs Tywin that the Hound has been spotted in the Riverlands, and Tywin orders a bounty on his head. Varys also informs the council of Daenerys's conquest of Meereen, and Tywin decides to take measures to prevent her from launching an invasion. In the dungeon, Jaime has Tyrion shackled and brought into the throne room to begin his trial. King Tommen recuses himself from the trial, appointing his grandfather Tywin, Prince Oberyn Martell, and Lord Mace Tyrell as judges. Several witnesses are called for the prosecution, including Ser Meryn Trant, Grand Maester Pycelle, Queen Regent Cersei, and Varys, all of whom give testimony backing the accusations against Tyrion.



At recess, Jaime asks Tywin to spare Tyrion, offering to break his oath to the Kingsguard and return to Casterly Rock, to be his 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. Before the recess ends, Jaime speaks with Tyrion and urges him to do so. Tyrion is deeply distrustful of the offer, remarking that Eddard Stark was promised the same thing and yet still lost his head, but Jaime pleads with his brother to trust him, insisting that their father will keep his word.

Returning to the trial, Tywin orders the next witness to testify: Shae. She 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 crowd. Before she can continue, Tyrion, enraged beyond sense, angrily demands that he be allowed to confess his crimes. He angrily roars about how he saved King's Landing from Stannis Baratheon's forces and says he should've allowed Stannis to kill everyone in King's Landing, much to the horror and disgust of the people in the court. Tyrion then claims to be guilty. Tywin assumes that he is guilty for murdering King Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion denies this, saying he is guilty of a "far more monstrous crime. I am guilty of being a dwarf!" Tywin scoffs at Tyrion's claims and says he is not on trial for being a dwarf. Tyrion angrily says he has been on trial for his entire life as a dwarf. Tywin asks if he has nothing to say in his defense. Tyrion then says he has nothing to say in his defense "but only this." He then reveals his true feelings about Joffrey, denying guilt in the king's murder but saying he wished to have killed Joffrey himself. Tyrion then turns his full fury towards Cersei and says that watching her "vicious bastard" of a son die gave him more relief than "a thousand lying whores." He then turns around to the court and roars that he wishes to have become the monster they thought he was and would have gladly give his life to watch everyone die from drinking poison. This enrages everyone in the court and Tywin orders Ser Meryn to escort Tyrion back to the dungeons. Before he can be escorted out, Tyrion bellows that he will not lose his life for a crime he did not commit and, knowing that he will get no justice from the court, demands a trial by combat.

In Braavos
Stannis Baratheon and Ser Davos visit the Iron Bank of Braavos in hopes of securing funds to aid Stannis' war effort. At first Tycho Nestoris, a representative from the bank, rejects their request, but Davos entreats him and points out that funding Stannis is the best way they could possibly get the gold they loaned to Tywin Lannister back. The Bank agrees to lend them gold, and Davos uses it to once again recruit his old pirate friend Salladhor Saan to Stannis' cause.

In Meereen
On one sunny day outside of Meereen, a goat herder and his son are peacefully tending the goats on a hill while the son throws rocks to pass the time. Suddenly, Drogon (now the size of a horse) appears and burns the field and kills a flock of goats while taking one with him. The goat herder travels to Meereen to visit the queen and lays the charred remains of his flock before Daenerys, hoping to not anger the queen and believes it to be punishment. Daenerys apologizes about Drogon's actions and promises to pay back three times the worth of his flock.

After he departs, Hizdahr zo Loraq presents his petition: the right to bury his father's remains in the Temple of the Graces, as he was one of the Meereenese Great Masters crucified on Daenerys's orders. She counters that he was one of the masters that crucified the 163 children. Loraq reveals that his father actually spoke out against the crucifixion of the slave children but was overruled, but later was killed due to Daenerys's judgment anyway. Somewhat mollified, Daenerys allows him to bury his father. As he leaves, Daenerys asks how many more supplicants are waiting; Missandei answers that there are over 200 more.

Appearances

 * Main: The Laws of Gods and Men/Appearances

First

 * Tycho Nestoris
 * Lhara
 * Goatherd

Deaths

 * Bolton guard

Cast
Starring
 * Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister
 * Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Ser Jaime Lannister
 * Lena Headey as Queen Cersei Lannister
 * Emilia Clarke as Queen Daenerys Targaryen
 * Charles Dance as Lord Tywin Lannister
 * Natalie Dormer as Lady Margaery Tyrell
 * Liam Cunningham as Ser Davos Seaworth
 * Stephen Dillane as King Stannis Baratheon
 * Alfie Allen as Reek
 * Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Snow
 * Conleth Hill as Lord Varys
 * Sibel Kekilli as Shae
 * with Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont

Guest starring
 * Pedro Pascal as Prince Oberyn Martell
 * Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
 * Ian McElhinney as Ser Barristan Selmy
 * Mark Gatiss as Tycho Nestoris
 * Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Lord Mace Tyrell
 * Lucian Msamati as Salladhor Saan
 * Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei
 * Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm
 * Gemma Whelan as Princess Yara Greyjoy
 * Finn Jones as Ser Loras Tyrell
 * Dean-Charles Chapman as King Tommen Baratheon
 * Ian Beattie as Ser Meryn Trant
 * Joel Fry as Hizdahr zo Loraq
 * Charlotte Hope as Myranda
 * Philip Arditti as a goatherd
 * Rhodri Miles as a First Mate
 * Sarine Sofair as Lhara
 * Samantha McEwan as a Bathhouse prostitute
 * Michael Hough as Ironborn in skiff
 * Anthony Boyle as a Bolton guard
 * Conor Watters as Hizdahr zo Loraq's manservant
 * Gian Sanghera-Warren as a goatherd's son
 * Mackenzie Dean

Uncredited
 * Niamh Lennon as a King's Landing Handmaiden
 * Graeme Peacock as Stannis Crew
 * Dean Weir as Noble Man

Cast notes

 * 13 of 26 cast members for the fourth season appear in this episode
 * Starring cast members John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Jerome Flynn (Bronn), Aidan Gillen (Petyr Baelish), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane), Rose Leslie (Ygritte), Rory McCann (Sandor Clegane), Hannah Murray (Gilly), Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Carice van Houten (Melisandre) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark) are not credited and do not appear in this episode.

In the books

 * See: Differences between books and TV series - Season 4 


 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Storm of Swords:
 * Chapter 66, Tyrion IX: At his trial, Tyrion declares his innocence, and claims that Sansa was not responsible either. Meryn Trant testifies against him, recalling damning threats which Tyrion did make; and so does Pycelle, who says that Tyrion stole poisons from his solar. Tyrion is told that if he admits his guilt, he will be permitted to take the black, but he is not so sure, remembering what happened to Ned Stark, who was offered the same deal. Varys also testifies against Tyrion.
 * Chapter 70, Tyrion X: Shae is brought as a witness. She accuses Tyrion and Sansa of the murder and claims that she was an innocent girl before Tyrion abused her and used her as his whore. Furious, Tyrion says he will confess, but instead he confesses only to being a dwarf, for which he has been judged his entire life. He claims that he will not die for Joffrey's murder, so instead he demands a trial by battle.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Dance with Dragons
 * Chapter 2, Daenerys I: Daenerys meets petitioners of Meereen including the noble Hizdahr zo Loraq and a shepherd who claims that Dany's dragons devoured his sheep.
 * Chapter 9, Davos I: Davos asks Salladhor Saan for ships once again.
 * Chapter 12, Reek II: Ramsay gives Reek a bath and tells him he needs his help to retake Moat Cailin from the ironborn. Though Reek is given the chance to return to the Iron Islands with the ironborn he declines, accurately realizing that this is just another trick by Ramsay.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapter of The Winds of Winter
 * Chapter unknown, Theon I: Tycho Nestoris, a representative of the Iron Bank, comes to an agreement to finance Stannis.

Memorable quotes
Yara Greyjoy: "My brother is dead." Ramsay Snow: "I have a treat for you. A reward." Reek: "Reward?"

Ramsay: "Yes Reek. Those creatures who came in the night...they wanted to take you away. And you didn't let them. You remained loyal."

Reek: "I didn't want them to take me. I was so scared! I didn't want them..."

Ramsay: "Yes, yes, Reek." [He approaches Theon, who quivers in fear.] "It's a bath. For you.

Ramsay: "Do you love me, Reek?" Reek: "Yes of course, my lord."

Ramsay: "Good. Because I need you to do something for me, something very important. There's a castle, you see. Some bad men hold this castle. I need your help to take this castle back."

Reek: "How can..."

Ramsay: "I need you to play a role. To pretend to be someone you're not."

Reek: "Pretend to be whom?"

Ramsay: "Theon Greyjoy." Davos Seaworth: "There's only one reliable leader left in Westeros; Stannis. He's got the birthright, he's in his prime, he's a tried and tested battle commander, and he doesn't just talk about paying people back, he does it."

Tyrion Lannister: "You once said that without me, this city would have faced certain defeat. You said that the histories would never mention me, but you would not forget. Have you forgotten, Lord Varys?"

​Varys: "Sadly, my lord, I never forget a thing."

Tyrion: "Father... I wish to confess. I wish to confess."

Tywin Lannister: "You wish to confess?"

Tyrion: [To the audience of the trial] "I saved you. I saved this city and all your worthless lives! I should have let Stannis kill you all!"

Tywin: "Tyrion! Do you wish to confess?"

Tyrion: "Yes, Father. I'm guilty. Guilty! Is that what you want to hear!?"

Tywin: "You admit you've poisoned the King?"

Tyrion: "No, of that I am innocent. I am guilty of a far more monstrous crime. I am guilty of being a dwarf."

Tyrion: "Oh, yes I am! I've been on trial for that my entire life!"

Tywin: "Have you nothing to say on your defense?"

Tyrion: "Nothing but this: I did not do it. I did not kill Joffrey, but I wish that I had!" Watching your vicious bastard die give me more relief than a thousand lying whores! [To the crowd] "I wish I was the monster you think I am! I wish I had enough poison for the whole pack of you! I would gladly give my life to watch you all swallow it!"

Tywin: "Ser Meryn! Ser Meryn, escort the prisoner back to his cell!"

Tyrion: "I will not give my life for Joffrey's murder, and I know I'll get no justice here, so I will let the gods decide my fate! I demand a trial by combat!"