Episode still from HBO
**SPOILER ALERT** This article contains major character death spoilers for “Game of Thrones” episode 4×09, “The Watchers on the Wall.” Read at your own risk.
It’s been a long time since “Game of Thrones” gave us such a great battle episode. Exactly two seasons, in fact: episode 2×09, “Blackwater” was much like this one, down to the single-location plot and film-quality special effects. “The Watchers on the Wall” didn’t have one breathtaking moment like the wildfire explosion in “Blackwater,” but several awesome ones sprinkled throughout. It kept the pace moving and the audience at the edge of their seats.
The special effects were “Lord of the Rings”-caliber. The mammoths and giants were believable, Mance’s fire was breathtaking and that scythe gave me chills. I’ve never seen such good quality CGI in a television series. The popularity of the show is really coming through; the budget must’ve been astronomical to afford this level of artistry.
I have to give particular praise the score of this episode. It was my favorite of all of “Game of Thrones.” That rumbling brass evoked battle horns and doom, dredging up a sense of emotional urgency befitting a hopeless life-and-death battle.
The best of “Game of Thrones” will always be the characters, though, and this episode didn’t forget that. Everyone got a badass moment: an unexpectedly valiant Alliser Thorne delivering a speech reminiscent of Tyrion’s in “Blackwater” and swordfighting Tormund; Tormund and Styr laying into men left and right; Grenn leading his brothers in a heartwarming recitation of their oath before they die as heroes; Sam taking charge wherever he needs to and killing a Thenn; and, of course, Jon Snow seizing command.
Everything Jon has done and experienced before has been building up to him taking control at the siege of Castle Black. Lord Snow stepped into the role like it was a tailor-made coat, and so did Kit Harington. I’m so impressed by the progress of all these actors. I used to think Harington’s Jon noble but kind of wooden. And while Harington’s constant sad face look hasn’t changed, he seems to really grasp the nuances of Jon’s character now. The duty-driven heroism, natural charisma, loyalties torn between his sworn brothers and the girl he loves – Harington makes all that real.
Another actor who has visibly blossomed is John Bradley, who plays Sam Tarly. Sam has always been great, but Bradley plays up his courage, intelligence and warm heart while adding a sassy streak all his own. It’s great to see a previously weak and cowardly character, one we can all identify with, come so far. His romance with Gilly is sweet, too.
One thing I’m uneasy about is unexpected character deaths. I knew Ygritte’s death was coming. Pyp and Grenn, though, were a surprise. They survive in the books. Did you think this episode wouldn’t be devastating enough, writers? God forbid we get a break after Oberyn’s traumatizing death.
It was in the name of good drama, I know, but they’re throwing away some comic relief and half of Jon’s support in the days to come. Maybe that was the point. The writers could mean to isolate him. It’s a risky move, but if they pull it off it could force Jon to work harder for what he gets in the future, meaning better character development.
This episode was a perfect example of what I love most about “Game of Thrones” characters. You know how they say hard times and suffering will either make or break a person? All our protagonists fall into the “make” category. Jon, Sam, Catelyn, Sansa, Arya, Daenerys, Jaime, Tyrion, Brienne, Davos, even Stannis to a degree: All these characters start out low, cowardly or disgraced, but when they go through pain and hardship that should break them, they grow instead. It’s through the struggle that we get to see what they’re truly made of.
Next week the last episode of this season airs, and I think it’s going to be jam-packed. At least, I hope it will, knowing all the things from “A Storm of Swords” they haven’t yet gotten to. The promo was unusually vague and uninformative, but maybe that means they have a lot of surprises waiting for us. We’ll have to wait and see.
