SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen or don’t want to know details from Season 5, Episode 4 of Game of Thrones.

What would you say if I told you about a great sinner in our very midst, shielded by gold and privilege?  -Cersei asks the High Sparrow

At first, I was like which sinner?  Is it Tyrion?  But then, I saw Lancel (w/ a seven-pointed star freshly carved into his forehead- YIKES) and several Sparrows come to where Loras Tyrell was jousting w/ his men, seize him, and toss him in jail.  Joanna Robinson (A Cast of Kings podcast) thinks that Littlefinger wrote to Cersei re: Loras.  After all, Olyver was a pro who spied for Littlefinger, and has been hooking up regularly w/ Loras.   

Aren’t you and mother getting along?  -Tommen asks Margaery

LOL!  Poor King Tommen, he’s in WAY over his head in his new marriage and (we later learn) in ruling!  Cersei has given The High Sparrow (now High Septon, Joanna Robinson points out) a LOT of power by reinstating The Faith Militant, who violently “clean up” the streets of King’s Landing.

I need to be with my family right now!  -Margaery declares to Tommen before rushing out of their chamber

Both Joanna and her co-host Dave Chen noticed that this is where we get to see the REAL Margaery.  Her usual façade is gone, as she’s VERY worried for her brother.  She goes to write to her grandmother (Lady Olenna).  Diana Rigg was in the previews for the next ep; it’ll be cool to have her back!

I’ve lived an exciting life.  I want my death to be boring.  -Bronn says to Jaime

You know how we LOVED the Bronn/Tyrion friendship?  Well, this season we get the (budding) friendship between Bronn and Jaime, who the sellsword taught how to “fight dirty” in Season 4.  On the ship, when Bronn mentions his former employer, Jamie coldly says “If I see him again, I’ll split him two.”  Whoa, that was a BIT harsh-  I didn’t think Jaime would say THAT!  Tyrion killed Tywin at the end of Season 4, and Jaime can’t forgive that.

I think I can speak for all of us three who are playing Sand Snakes: We are all so grateful to him for the work that he [Pedro Pascal] did. As an actor, he set up so much of our world. He was only on the show for eight episodes, and he made such an impact. It’s incredible. So much of my performance, especially, was based on him. It was really important that the movement was similar, because Obara is the most like Oberyn. She has trained her entire life with him to use the spear like he does.  -Keisha Castle Hughes

Next is the scene w/ Ellaria Sand and Oberyn Martell’s three daughters (Obara, Nym, and Tyene).  I just expected more, BUT  did enjoy seeing Keisha Castle-Hughes all grown up; she plays Obara, the eldest of the Sand Snakes.  You may know the now 25 y.o.  from the critically-acclaimed indie Whale Rider or The Nativity Story, where she co-starred w/ rising star Oscar Isaac.  (FYI: Her mother is Maori and her father is white.) 

My father pointed to the spear and then to my mother’s tears.  I made my choice long ago.  -Obara explains to Ellaria

When Obara mentioned tears, I thought of Sansa, who can’t fight w/ weapons like these young women of Dorne.  Well, Arya and Brienne can fight, but they’re NOT typical Westerosi gals!

How many tens of thousands died because Rhaegar chose your aunt?  -Littlefinger muses to Sansa

We see Sansa in the family crypt below Winterfell, looking rather solemn.  She picks up a feather, looks at it quizzically, but we recall that it was the token King Robert Baratheon left for Lyanna back in Season 1.  Littlefinger walks in, tells the story about Rhaegar Targaryen preferring Lyanna Stark (Sansa’s aunt) over his wife Elia Martell, then says he has to leave b/c Cersei has called him back to King’s Landing.  Then he says that Ramsay has already fallen for her already, so she doesn’t need to worry.  Um no, Ramsay is just acting grateful and humble b/c Sansa is a lady with the right name!  Oh, and he also fears his father.  Now I’m even MORE worried for Sansa!

I was told you’d die… or worse..  the Grayscale would go slow and let you know the world before taking it away from you.  Everyone advised me to take you to the ruins of Valyria to live out your short life with The Stone Men, before the sickness spread through the castle.  I told them all to go to Hell.  I called in every maester on this side of the world, every healer, every apothecary.  They stopped the disease and saved your life, because you do not belong across the world with the bloody Stone Men.  You are the princess Shireen of the House Baratheon… and you are my daughter.  -Excerpt from Stannis’ speech to his daughter

Like Joanna, I teared up at the end of the scene w/ Stannis and Shireen- it was FAB!  Thank goodness, we are seeing MORE of Stannis- he’s not just a cold/calculating warrior!  He declared that Selyse his wife would “never strike” their daughter in that memorable Season 4 dinner scene.

Traditions are the only thing that will hold this city, your city, together. Without them, former slaves and former masters have nothing in common but centuries of mistrust and resentment.  -Hizdahr zo Loraq explains to Dany

I liked the above line a LOT!  Hizdahr pleads w/ Dany (again) to reconsider opening the fighting pits.  Though “the city looks peaceful” from her high perch on the pyramid, there is turmoil (as we see that in that final scene where the rag tag Sons of the Harpy take on several Unsullied… and even Ser Barristan Selmy)!

I LOVED that scene where the knight quit the Kingsguard!  Looks like Ser Barristan (who has been on the series since early in Season 1) has wielded his sword for the last time- TOO BAD!  Grey Worm is wounded, but I’m sure he’ll survive.