'Game of Thrones' Season 5, Episode 4 - 'Sons of the Harpy' Recap

The season has been slow thus far, setting things up here and there in anticipation of what will likely be a second half full of big moments. However, this week's episode had plenty of action in it, both of the political and swordfighting variety.

King's Landing

The crown is in a bit of money trouble, so Cersei sends her new Master of Coin to the Iron Bank in Braavos to negotiate better terms. Her council is pretty much just her now, which we're guessing is how Cersei likes it.

Cersei meets with the High Sparrow, offering him arms to create a force that could defend the people, and those of faith. This small army invades the marketplace and Baelish's brothel, smashing barrels of wine and skulls alike.

They also find and arrest Ser Loras for his homosexuality, which puts Margaery in a rage. She puts the charm on Tommen, who brings the complaint to Cersei. Naturally, he's not clever enough to get around Cersei's treachery, and she sends Tommen to speak to the High Sparrow himself. There, he's met by the Faith Militant, and the crowd calls him a bastard and an abomination.

Castle Black

Jon Snow is in the process of signing on more men for the Night's Watch when he comes across an offering for troops from Roose Bolton. Jon is understandably hesitant to accept, but desperation requires him to sign.

Melisandre, meanwhile, makes her move to seduce Jon for whatever end she's after. "I swore a vow. I loved another," he says, and turns her down. Impressive self-control, Johnny boy.

As she leaves, Melisandre turns and delivers a chilling line: "You know nothing, Jon Snow." How did she know??

There's also a darling scene between Stannis and his daughter, in which he tells her that she's still his daughter no matter what her face looks like. With Stannis being this nice and making this much sense, one can only assume he's going to die very soon.

Winterfell

Sansa visits the tomb of her family now that she's back in Winterfell. As she stops at Lyanna's grave, Baelish tells the tale of Rhaegar's jousting victory and his flirtation with Lyanna...in other words, the day that started this whole mess.

Baelish also reveals to Sansa that he's leaving, but reassures her that Stannis is planning his march against the Boltons and Winterfell, which will not only liberate her but also make her Wardeness of the North. We'll see how that turns out.

On the Road to Dorne

Jaime passes by Tarth and has a moment thinking about Brienne. Aww. Bronn, meanwhile, doesn't seem keen on their little trip. "Have you ever been to Dorne?" Bronn asks. "I have. They're crazy."

The duo are found out by some Dornish riders, and Bronn attempts to talk their way out of it before ultimately deciding to brawl. Jaime, clearly not the swordsman he once was, almost gets hacked in two before catching his opponent's blade with his metal hand. Guess that thing came in handy.

Ellaria convenes with her daughters to scheme about starting a war, and finds out by interrogating the ship's captain who smuggled Jaime and Bronn that they're in Dorne for Marcella.

Meereen

Ser Jorah is kind enough to take the gag off of Tyrion's face long enough for them to clear up confusion: Tyrion thought Jorah meant Cersei when he said "I'm taking you to the queen," and laughs when he finds out he means Danaerys, whom he was going to see anyway.

Tyrion, using is rather excellent powers of deduction, figures out that he's talking to Jorah and correctly deduces that he's being given up as a peace offering to get back in Dany's good graces.

Meanwhile, Dany is still dealing with the argument over reopening the fighting pits, which are argued to be helpful in reducing tensions between the slaves and the masters. With the Sons of the Harpy continuing to slit throats and kill Unsullied, she might actually need to listen. Even Grey Worm almost bites the dust, but Ser Barristan manages to save him at the last minute, slicing through a dozen of them on his own before taking a fatal wound.