Game of Thrones Episode 33: Breaker of Chains

Tyrion is seized in the aftermath of Joffrey’s death and thrown into a cell, while Sansa escapes King’s Landing with Littlefinger’s help after the chaos at the wedding. Across the rest of the episode, several plots move forward at once: the Iron Bank is approached for support, the Night’s Watch learns of a deadly wildling attack, and Daenerys arrives at Meereen to challenge the city’s rulers.

At King’s Landing, the episode begins in the immediate aftermath of Joffrey’s murder. Guards are ordered to seize both Tyrion and Sansa, but Sansa is secretly guided away through the city by Dontos Hollard and then picked up by Petyr Baelish, who has Dontos killed to keep the escape plan secret.

In the Sept of Baelor, Joffrey’s body lies in state as the court tries to recover. Tywin speaks with Tommen about what makes a good king, clearly beginning to shape the boy for the throne. Cersei is consumed by grief and fury, and she asks Jaime to kill Tyrion, but Jaime refuses because he does not believe Tyrion is guilty. After an emotionally charged exchange, Cersei and Jaime kiss, and Jaime forces sex on her beside Joffrey’s corpse.

Tywin later confronts Oberyn Martell and brings up the death of Oberyn’s sister Elia, implying that the Mountain was responsible. Tywin offers Oberyn a place among the judges in Tyrion’s trial in exchange for his cooperation and a chance to face the Mountain in court. Tyrion, now imprisoned, asks Podrick to bring Jaime to him. Podrick tells Tyrion that he refused a bribe to testify against him and had also turned down a knighthood, and Tyrion urges him to leave King’s Landing for his own safety.

Elsewhere in Westeros, Davos Seaworth meets with the Iron Bank of Braavos to ask for support, trying to secure money for Stannis’s cause. In the North, a brutal wildling raid leaves only one survivor, who heads to the Night’s Watch for help. At the Wall, Jon and the brothers receive troubling news as the wildlings draw closer, and the Watch’s situation becomes more desperate.

In another storyline, Arya and Sandor Clegane encounter a farmer and his daughter, who give them food and shelter. The episode shows them attempting, briefly, to live off the kindness of strangers before continuing on their road.

Across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys marches on Meereen and makes her move against the city. A champion is sent out to oppose her, and Daario Naharis steps forward to fight for her side; after he wins, Daenerys addresses the enslaved people of Meereen and promises them freedom, using the city’s own broken slave collars as proof of what she intends to end.

The episode ends with Daenerys’ army at the gates of Meereen, poised to begin her next conquest.