The Mountain and the Viper

"The Mountain and the Viper" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of Game of Thrones. It is the thirty-eighth episode of the series overall. It premiered on June 1, 2014. It was written by producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and directed by Alex Graves.

In the North
Ramsay Snow sends Reek, forced to reassume his former identity of Theon Greyjoy, to treat with the ironborn garrison holding the northern fortress of Moat Cailin, barring the armies of House Bolton from returning to the North. Theon rides into the fortress to find corpses lying everywhere from constant attacks, and disease is running rampant; the ironborn remaining are sick, under-equipped and outnumbered. The garrison commander, Ralf Kenning, rebuffs the offer made by Ramsay of safe passage in exchange for surrender, and clearly thinks Theon to be an imposter, but he is cut down by one of his men, who accepts it on behalf of the soldiers. The ironborn surrender to Ramsay, but he has them killed and flayed regardless.

In the aftermath, Ramsay meets with his father and presents him with the Greyjoy banner that was flying over the fortress. In recognition of this, Roose presents Ramsay with a decree of legitimization, making him officially a member of House Bolton. Delighted at the knowledge he will succeed his father as Warden of the North, Ramsay and Reek accompany Roose's army as it approaches its final destination: the ruins of Winterfell.

In Mole's Town, a whore is arguing with Gilly about her baby who woke her up during the night. Meanwhile, wildlings, including Tormund, Styr and Ygritte, attack the town, killing everyone in their path. Ygritte discovers Gilly hiding with her baby, but urges them to keep quiet, sparing their lives.

At the Wall
News from M​ole's Town has arrived at Castle Black, where Sam worries about Gilly, blaming himself for bringing her to the town instead of keeping her with him at Castle Black. Grenn is angry at them cowering in the castle instead of helping their brothers in neighboring towns. Jon Snow says they can't go out to fight against the wildlings, as that is exactly what they want. Pypar and Edd try to comfort Sam by saying she might be alive and hiding, as she has survived worse situations, such as living with Craster, making a long march to the Wall, and even surviving a White Walker. This gives Sam hope that Gilly and her baby may have survived. Jon notes they have a bigger problem; if Mole's Town has been destroyed, Castle Black is next, and the few black brothers who remain are outnumbered a thousand to one by Mance Rayder's army. Edd notes that if the wildlings don't kill them all, there is even worse behind them that will finish the job, and asks whichever last man of the group is still alive at the end to burn the others, as he doesn't want to come back after he is dead.

Across the Narrow Sea
As Grey Worm is swimming with some other Unsullied outside Meereen, he notices Missandei and a number of other women bathing naked downstream. She spots him looking at her and returns his gaze, standing up slowly for him to see her before finally covering herself. Later Daenerys asks whether Missandei thinks he was spying on her. She says no, and Daenerys mentions that Dothraki have no taboos against nudity or public love-making. Of course, Missandei is not Dothraki, but she says it doesn't matter, as Grey Worm isn't interested in her – none of the Unsullied desire women. Missandei says he was interested though, surprisingly to both of them. Daenerys inquires whether, when a slave is castrated, the masters take "all of it"; both the "pillar" and the "stones." Missandei says she doesn't know, to which Daenerys asks if she's ever wondered. Thoughtful, Missandei confirms that she has.

In Dany's audience chamber, Grey Worm comes to apologize to Missandei, but she tells him he doesn't need to. He hopes he didn't frighten her, and she says he did not. Addressing her in the Common Tongue, he tells her the lessons she gives are precious to him. Gently correcting his vocabulary, she notes that she doesn't remember teaching him the word "precious." Grey Worm tells her that Jorah taught it to him. She asks whether he remembers his birth name, and Grey Worm says he remembers nothing. She asks if he remembers when they cut him, and he shakes his head "no." She tells him she's sorry they did that to him, and when Grey Worm asks her why, she says it's a terrible thing to do to a boy. Grey Worm counters that, had the masters not cut him, he never would have been Unsullied, he never would have been freed, chosen to lead them, and met her. Missandei is visibly moved by this. Grey Worm apologizes once again, and she stops him while he turns to leave, telling him she is glad he saw her. He tells her he's glad as well.

As Ser Barristan Selmy watches the Unsullied taking the bodies of the crucified masters down outside Meereen, a small boy approaches him, giving him a scroll bearing the seal of the Hand. He reads its contents slowly in consternation. He confronts Ser Jorah: the document is a royal pardon signed by King Robert Baratheon. Barristan surmises Jorah spied on Daenerys in exchange for the pardon. Jorah begs to be allowed to speak with her privately, but Barristan tells him that he will never be alone with her again. In an audience before her, a seething Daenerys demands an explanation, and Jorah says it is a ploy by Tywin Lannister to divide them. Dany counters that the pardon was signed the year they met. Asking him whether he claims the pardon was forged, Jorah admits that it was not. He soon confesses to giving Varys information on Daenerys' activities in Essos. Daenerys angrily says that his telling them of her pregnancy by Khal Drogo led to her near-poisoning at the hands of a wine merchant. Jorah then protests that his actions stopped her from being poisoned, but Daenerys retorts this was only because he knew it might be coming. Jorah begs for her forgiveness, but Daenerys rebuffs him, saying he betrayed her, selling her secrets to the man she holds responsible for the death of her family. She spares his life, however, and gives him a day to leave Meereen. She warns that if he is seen in the city after that, his head will be thrown into Slaver's Bay. Jorah is last seen riding from Meereen on a horse.

In the Vale
Petyr Baelish is testifying before a tribunal consisting of Lord Yohn Royce, Lady Anya Waynwood, and Ser Vance Corbray. The lords are suspicious of Lysa Arryn's death, which occured so soon after her marriage. Baelish has been attempting to spin the death as a suicide, but the lords don't believe him, given Lysa's devotion to her son. They rebuff Littlefinger's explanations in favor of speaking with the only other witness: his "niece", Alayne. After confirming that Baelish can stay for her testimony, Sansa reveals her true identity and relates the tale of her captivity and escape from King's Landing. She then proceeds to truthfully tell of Lysa's mental instability, jealousy and death, changing only a few details (saying Littlefinger only kissed her on the cheek and Lysa threw herself through the Moon Door). Sansa breaks down in tears and the lords are convinced, but while none of them are looking, she gives Littlefinger a stony, almost triumphant gaze.

Later, Baelish visits Sansa and asks why she lied on his behalf. Without looking up from the dress she is mending, Sansa explains that she has no idea what Royce, Corbray, and Waynwood would want from her if he were eliminated, but that she does know what it is he wants. Littlefinger seems impressed that she made such a calculating decision, but attempts to cast doubt on her certainty. Sansa doesn't take the bait. Later on, as Littlefinger and Robin prepare to depart on a tour of the Vale, a raven-haired Sansa accompanies them, in a feathered black dress with a plunging neckline; it is implied that she intends to keep Littlefinger firmly wrapped around her own finger.

At some point, before or after this event, Sandor Clegane and Arya Stark arrive at the bloody gate of the Eyrie and are informed of Lysa's death by Ser Donnel Waynwood. The Hound stares in shock, while Arya begins laughing due to the irony.

At King's Landing
In the last hours before his trial by combat, Tyrion and Jaime share a final drink in Tyrion's cell and reminisce about Orson Lannister, their simple-minded cousin who spent his days smashing beetles with a rock. Tyrion tells Jaime of how he used to observe Orson day after day in an attempt to understand his motives, but in the end he was never able to come to reach any understanding. Tyrion asks Jaime if he thinks Oberyn stands a chance, but Jaime is not optimistic. As a bell rings out to announce daybreak in the city, Jaime takes his leave, wishing his brother luck.

Lannister guardsmen escort Tyrion to the arena, where a large crowd has assembled. He grows apprehensive to find a helm-less Oberyn drinking, and wearing very light armor – in comparison to his opponent, Ser Gregor Clegane, clad from head to foot in heavy armor and wielding a greatsword. Oberyn dismisses Tyrion's concerns, noting that he always drinks before a fight and favors speed over protection. As Gregor and his squire make their way to the arena, Ellaria becomes concerned, noting that The Mountain is the biggest man she's ever seen, but Oberyn remains confident that he will emerge triumphant. Grand Maester Pycelle steps into the arena and begins making a long-winded speech asking the gods to favor the innocent before Tywin Lannister cuts him short and begins the trial by combat.

Oberyn, after impressing the crowd with a display of acrobatic spear maneuvers, goes on the attack, stabbing out at Gregor and constantly moving out of the knight's reach, forcing Gregor to tire himself out chasing Oberyn. All the while, Oberyn taunts Gregor by constantly bringing up his part in the murder of his sister, Elia Martell, and her children, and demanding a confession, only enraging Clegane further. As the fight progresses, Oberyn manages to seriously injure Gregor, stabbing him first in the chest, severing his hamstring and then burying his spear in Gregor's stomach, pinning him to the floor. As Jaime and Tyrion exchange a relieved grin across the arena, a furious Oberyn circles the prone Gregor, demanding that before he dies, Gregor confess to murdering Elia and her children, raping Elia, and that it was Tywin who gave the order.

However, Oberyn gets too close, and Gregor manages to trip and seize him. Berserk with fury, Gregor grabs Oberyn by the throat and lifts him off the ground, smashing out most of his teeth with a single devastating punch. Climbing on top of Oberyn, Gregor finally admits for all to hear that he raped and killed Elia as he gouges out Oberyn's eyes with his thumbs before crushing the Viper's skull between his fists, which he proclaims having done the same to his sister. As Ellaria screams in horror, a stunned silence sweeps over the crowd. The short joyful moments for Tyrion and Jaime are shattered, as Tywin gets to his feet and proclaims the will of the gods is clear: Tyrion is guilty and sentenced to death. Tyrion cannot even reply, shockingly staring in catatonic astonishment at Oberyn's skull-crushed corpse, as does Jaime; the only different reaction is from Cersei, who stares at Oberyn's decimated body, listening to Tyrion's death sentence, all the while smirking in vindication.

Appearances

 * Main: The Mountain and the Viper/Appearances

First

 * Kegs
 * Black Jack Bulwer
 * Mully
 * Ralf Kenning
 * Adrack Humble
 * Lord Yohn Royce
 * Lady Anya Waynwood
 * Ser Vance Corbray
 * Ser Daemon Sand

Deaths

 * Kegs
 * Black Jack Bulwer
 * Mully
 * Mole's Town whore
 * Ralf Kenning
 * Adrack Humble
 * Prince Oberyn Martell

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
 * Kit Harington as Jon Snow
 * Aidan Gillen as Lord Petyr Baelish
 * Charles Dance as Lord Tywin Lannister
 * Alfie Allen as Prince Theon Greyjoy
 * John Bradley as Samwell Tarly
 * Sophie Turner as Lady Sansa Stark
 * Maisie Williams as Lady Arya Stark
 * Rose Leslie as Ygritte
 * Kristofer Hivju as Tormund
 * Hannah Murray as Gilly
 * Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton
 * Conleth Hill as Lord Varys
 * Rory McCann as Sandor Clegane
 * with Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont

Guest starring Uncredited
 * Pedro Pascal as Prince Oberyn Martell
 * Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand
 * Michael McElhatton as Lord Roose Bolton
 * Ian McElhinney as Ser Barristan Selmy
 * Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle
 * Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Lord Mace Tyrell
 * Yuri Kolokolnikov as Styr
 * Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm
 * Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei
 * Mark Stanley as Grenn
 * Ben Crompton as Eddison Tollett
 * Josef Altin as Pypar
 * Paola Dionisotti as Lady Anya Waynwood
 * Rupert Vansittart as Lord Yohn Royce
 * Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Ser Gregor Clegane
 * Grahame Fox as Ralf Kenning
 * Lino Facioli as Lord Robin Arryn
 * Lois Winstone as the Mole's Town whore
 * Jody Halse as Adrack Humble
 * Alisdair Simpson as Ser Donnel Waynwood
 * Richard Doubleday as Ser Vance Corbray
 * Lu Corfield as the Mole's Town madam
 * Tim Landers as Kegs
 * Cormac McDonagh as Black Jack Bulwer
 * Andy Moore as Mully
 * Samuel Paul Small as a Little Bird
 * Unknown as Ser Daemon Sand
 * Unknown as Joss Stilwood

Cast notes

 * 18 of 26 cast members for the fourth season appear in this episode.
 * Starring cast members Carice van Houten (Melisandre), Liam Cunningham (Davos Seaworth), Stephen Dillane (Stannis Baratheon), Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell), Isaac Hempstead-Wright (Bran Stark), Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth), Jerome Flynn (Bronn) and Sibel Kekilli (Shae) 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 55, Jon VII: Jon learns about the attack on Mole's Town by the wildling raiders, including Styr and Ygritte.
 * Chapter 70, Tyrion X: The trial by combat that Tyrion requested occurs with Oberyn Martell as his champion fighting against Gregor Clegane as Cersei's champion. Throughout the fight, Oberyn accuses the Mountain of raping and murdering his sister and killing her children. Oberyn wounds Clegane severely, but before Oberyn can finish him Gregor grabs Oberyn by the leg and drags him down. With his bare hands Gregor smashes Oberyn's teeth, crushes his head, and kills him, all while admitting to the murder and rape of Elia and the murder of her children. Tyrion is then condemned to death and taken to the Black Cells.
 * Chapter 71, Daenerys VI: Daenerys learns that Jorah was once a spy for the Seven Kingdoms and she banishes him from her service.
 * Chapter 72, Jaime IX: Ramsay is legitimized as a Bolton by royal decree.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Feast for Crows:
 * Chapter 10, Sansa I: Sansa fearfully provides her own testimony to a Lord of House Royce about Lysa's murder and decides to lie and protect Littlefinger. Sansa then officially transforms into the role of Alayne by dying her hair black, and starts to become a player in the game of thrones.
 * Chapter 23, Alayne I: Sansa gets used to her role of Alayne Stone. Lord Yohn Royce, Lady Anya Waynwood and other lords of the Vale come to remove Littlefinger from his office as Lord Protector and take Lord Robin away from him. The Lords are manipulated into accepting Baelish's rule.
 * The episode is adapted from the following chapters of A Dance with Dragons:
 * Chapter 20, Reek II: Reek travels to Moat Cailin to negotiate with the ironborn, including Ralf Kenning and Adrack Humble, to give up the fortress to Ramsay. The ironborn surrender to Reek and Ramsay, who then kills all of them. The Bolton army enters the North and Roose Bolton and Ramsay meet.
 * Chapter 32, Reek III: Reek, Ramsay, Roose Bolton and his army head to Winterfell.

​Memorable Quotes
Ellaria Sand: "You're going to fight that?

Oberyn Martell: "I'm going to kill that!"

Oberyn Martell: "Elia Martell! You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children!"

Gregor Clegane: "Elia Martell. I killed her children, then I raped her. Then I smashed her head in...like this!​"

Eddison Tollett: "Whoever dies last, be a good lad and burn the rest of us. Once I am done with this world, I don't want to come back."

Arya Stark: "I'd have killed Joffrey with a chicken bone if I had to."

​Sandor Clegane: "I'd pay good money to see that."

Petyr Baelish: "Everybody dies, sooner or later. Don't worry about your death. Worry about your life. Take charge of your life for as long as it lasts."

Tyrion Lannister: "A trial by combat, deciding a man's guilt or innocence in the eyes of the gods by having two other men hack each other to pieces. Tells you something about the gods."

Tyrion Lannister: "It turns out, far too much has been written about great men but not nearly enough about morons. Doesn't seem right."

Ellaria Sand: "Don't leave me alone in this world."

Oberyn Martell: "Never."

Ramsay Bolton: "Come, Reek! I will be needing a bath!"