‘Game Of Thrones’ Recap: Season 4, Episode 8 – ‘The Mountain & The Viper’

Daenerys Targaryen learned of a betrayal, Sansa Stark showed off a new side, Reek channeled Theon Greyjoy and the Wildlings led a new attack, all before Tyrion Lannister’s champion hit the ring in “Game of Thrones” Season 4, Episode 8 – “The Mountain and The Viper.”

Here’s our blow-by-blow recap of Sunday’s episode:

Gilly & Baby Sam, Mole’s Town: Drinking, singing, cursing and burping contests? It’s just another night in Mole’s Town, until it isn’t. “It’s just an owl, you dumb b***h,” a woman tells Gilly. “No, it’s not,” Gilly replies, when she hears a peculiar cooing outside. Cue the Thenn’s theme song as the Wildlings – Ygritte, Tormund and the cannibal Thenn – attack Mole’s Town. As they slaughter the villagers, Ygritte hears the cries of a baby, pulls back a curtain and finds Gilly and baby Sam. “Shhh!” Ygritte tells the young mom before leaving them be.

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The Night’s Watch, Castle Black: News of the attack on Mole’s Town has reached the Night’s Watch and Samwell Tarly is devastated, believing Gilly is dead. His friends remind him she’s resourceful. She survived Craster, a White Walker and the long walk to Castle Black. The thought cheers Sam up. Jon Snow is worried about what the attack means. The latest Wilding attack is close to Castle Black and Jon knows that Mance Rayder and his army of 100,000 are close, too.

Grey Worm & Missandei, Meereen: Shirtless, the Unsullied jump into a stream to bathe. A little ways down, Daenerys’ handmaiden, Missandei, is naked and also bathing. Grey Worm spots her and begins to stare – and stare. Spotting him, she stands up, grows self-conscious and covers her breasts with her hands. He dives under the water and swims away. Later, while chatting with Dany, Missandei points out Grey Worm seemed interested in her, despite his predicament (he’s a eunuch). Still later, in Dany’s throne room, Grey Worm apologizes to Missandei for looking at her naked form. She in turn apologizes to him for what they did to him as a boy, but he turns it into a positive. If Grey Worm had never been cut, he’d never have become Unsullied, served Daenerys or met Missandei.

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Reek, Outside Moat Cailin: Reek, in his old Theon Greyjoy armor, is sent into Moat Cailin (by Ramsay Snow) as a Trojan Horse. Acting as Theon, Reek tells the Iron Born he is their prince and has come to offer terms from Lord Bolton. If they surrender, they won’t be harmed. They agree, but end up flayed by Ramsay’s troops. “You didn’t think we’d let them live?” Ramsay asks his ever-loyal Reek.

Petyr Baelish, The Eyrie: A council at The Eyrie, led by a noble called Lord Royce, is questioning Petyr about the death of his wife, Lysa Arryn, who died after being pushed by Petyr through the Moon Door — an act which Littlefinger tells the council was suicide. Not ready to trust Littlefinger’s account of things, they bring out a witness – Alayne, his niece (the name Petyr gave Sansa when she first entered The Vale in disguise). “I’m sorry, Lord Baelish. I have to tell the truth,” Sansa says. She tells the council of nobles that she is Sansa Stark, the daughter of one the late Eddard Stark (one of Lord Royce’s friends). She tells them about being tormented at King’s Landing, married off to the imp and used as Joffrey’s play thing. “He saved me,” Sansa says of Lord Baelish. But when he brought her to her aunt, Lysa went mad after spotting Petyr give Sansa a peck on the cheek. Sansa explains Lysa struck her in her rage, and then said she didn’t want to live anymore, eventually stepping through the moon door to her death. The council believes her account.

With Petyr’s life no longer in jeopardy, Littlefinger asks Lord Royce what side the great houses of The Vale stand on – and whether they support the Lannisters, who beheaded their friend Ned Stark. They don’t support the Lannisters, but who can they support with Robb Stark dead? Petyr has an idea — Robin Arryn, Lord of The Vale. He then suggests it’s time for the sheltered boy, Robin, to, “leave the nest” and take up his duties.

Ser Barristan, Meereen: “Who sent you?” Ser Barristan asks a young boy who hands him a scroll. The boy doesn’t reply, but Ser Barristan sees the letter is sealed with the symbol for the Hand of the King.

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A short while later, Ser Barristan walks up to Ser Jorah, carrying the scroll. It’s “a royal pardon, signed by Robert Baratheon. … You spied on her,” Ser Barristan tells Jorah. Knowing his original reason for being around Daenerys (in Season 1) has been revealed, Ser Jorah asks to speak to the Queen in private to explain himself. “You’ll never be alone with her again,” Ser Barristan tells him.

A short while later Ser Jorah approaches Queen Daenerys, who is flanked by Missandei, Ser Barristan and Grey Worm. “This is the work of Tywin Lannister. He wants to divide us,” Ser Jorah tries to tell his Khaleesi. “The pardon was signed the year we met,” she says. “You sold my secrets to the man who killed my father and stole my brother’s throne.” Dany orders Ser Jorah out of Meereen by sundown.

Ramsay Snow, Lord Roose Bolton, Outside Of Moat Cailin: “Walk with me,” Roose tells his son after Ramsay announces Moat Cailin is in Bolton hands. Pleased that the North is now all his, Roose asks his son what his name is. “Ramsay Snow,” the bastard replies. “No, not Ramsay Snow,” Roose says, handing his son a deed that legitimizes the young man. “From this day until your last day, you are Ramsay Bolton, son of Roose Bolton, Warden of the North,” Roose tells him.

Sansa Stark, Petyr Baelish, The Eyrie: “Why did you help me?” Petyr asks Sansa. She says they would have thrown him through the moon door if she hadn’t. It’s not the answer he was looking for so he asks again. “They’d have executed you. What would they have done with me?” Sansa says. Petyr doesn’t know the answer to that and Sansa doesn’t either. That’s why she saved him. Sansa is learning.

Arya & The Hound, The Vale: Arya Stark and The Hound make small talk about Joffrey’s death as they head to The Eyrie in The Vale. As they reach the gate, The Hound introduces them both with their real names. Immediately, the guard at the gate offers his condolences. Lysa Arryn died three days ago. Arya breaks into uncontrollable giggles.

Sansa Stark, Petyr Baelish, The Vale: Littlefinger chats with young Robin about taking charge of his life as he begins his journey to meet the people of The Vale. “This is what it means to be Lord of The Vale,” Petyr tells the boy. Just then, Sansa walks down the stairs in a new dress (think Maleficent). “Shall we go?” she asks Petyr. He looks back at her with a new respect.

Tyrion’s Cell, King’s Landing: “Wine always helps,” Tyrion says, taking a swig from a jug as he sits with Jaime, ahead of the trial by combat. “You think Oberyn stands a chance?” Tyrion asks. Jaime shrugs. “I’ve never seen him fight,” he replies.

Prince Oberyn & The Nobles Of King’s Landing, The Arena: “Looks like very light armor,” Tyrion says, as he spots Oberyn in mostly fabric and leather in the arena. “I like to move around,” the cocky Oberyn replies. Watching Oberyn drink, Tyrion warns him of that too. “I always drink before a fight,” Oberyn says.

“It could get you killed. It could get me killed,” Tyrion tells him. “Today is not the day I die,” Oberyn answers.

The Mountain walks into the arena, as the eyes of Oberyn’s paramour, Ellaria Sand, widen. “You’re going to fight that?” she asks. “I’m going to kill that,” he tells her.

After an impressive display with his spear in the ring, Oberyn asks The Mountain if he knows who he is. “Some dead man,” The Mountain replies, swinging at the Prince.

“I am the brother of Elia Martell, and do you know why I have come all the way to this stinking sh** pile of a city? For you,” he says swinging back at the beast of a soldier. “I’m going to hear you confess before you die. You raped my sister, you murdered her, you killed her children. Say it now and we can make this quick.”

Oberyn matches The Mountain blow for blow, and knocks Ser Gregor’s helmet off before hitting vulnerable spots in his armor. He shouts his accusations at The Mountain, and flips out of the way after The Mountain knocks him down. And just when it seems The Mountain might have the upper hand, Oberyn jabs his spear into Clegane’s stomach, then his leg, and then — with a leap — into his chest. Stopping before his final blow, Oberyn demands a confession.

It’s a fatal mistake. The Mountain — who had been lying still on the ground — knocks Oberyn down and grabs the Prince’s face, gouging his eyes out before crushing in his face, all the while confessing during the brutal and grotesque scene. “Elia Martell, I killed her children, then I raped her, then I smashed her head in like this,” The Mountain says. Ellaria Sand screams as she sees her dead lover, and Cersei smiles.

“The gods have made their will known,” Tywin Lannister says, not wasting a moment (Jaime’s head drops). “Tyrion Lannister, in the name of King Tommen Baratheon, First of His Name, you are hereby sentenced to death.”

“Game of Thrones” continues next Sunday night at 9 PM ET/PT on HBO.

— Jolie Lash