Game Of Thrones S8E4 – Small Council

Published May 6, 2019 · Updated July 6, 2022

Hey everyone at Shatontv, it’s Amelia writing all the way from England.

In terms of S8 E4, I have heard quite a lot of discontent from people saying that it was slow and just ‘filling time’ before another big battle. I do not agree. For me, the main aim of this episode was to really force us to challenge what we thought we knew about the characters and I am now certain about one thing – Daenerys cannot sit upon the Iron Throne.

I am not somebody who has always hated Dany – in fact, quite the opposite. She has proven a strong character throughout the seasons and, up until recently, I felt she evoked a reasonable balance of fear and justice etc. However, if it is at all possible, I feel she has become TOO invested in her quest for the throne. She has now lost her protector, her best friend, two of her children and her forces have been completely depleted – all she can see is red. I have to agree with Sansa on this one – it is too soon for her to make any passes at Cersei. We know she won’t listen though as she has become rash. We all know Cersei is relying on this so she can take her down while she’s at her lowest.

The conversation between Tyrion and Varys really got me thinking – it is clear that both of these characters have begun to doubt their Queen, even if Tyrion does not want to admit this to himself, and I am wondering what Varys’s next steps will be. He has pretty much told us outright that he will betray Dany, but in what way? Varys has said from the start that he works only for the good of the realm, and I feel inclined to believe him, so I’m wondering if he will go full on anarchist? He has become disillusioned with every single monarch or potential monarch he has served thus far and I can’t help feeling like this was ‘the last straw’, if you will. He’s been sick of all this squabbling for a loooong time but maybe he considered giving it one last chance with Daenerys who had a chance to be ‘different’ since she birthed the dragons etc. Now that he has clearly lost faith in her, I think it might be time for Varys to destroy the throne and those who cannot settle over who sits upon it, once and for all. Don’t forget, it was mainly children who were responsible for the explosion of the Sept of Baelor so Varys’s little birds could be put up to something similar.

Would it really be that bad to have no throne at all? I can’t decide.

Keep up the great work on the podcast!

Amelia

Subscribe Now