There hasn’t been much on the show as slow or boring as the action on the wall this season. The Wildlings are coming!!! And everyone is ignoring Jon Snow. And the Wildlings are killing people and still coming. And Jon Snow is killing deserters before heading back to the wall only to be ignored again while the Wildlings marching towards the Wall killed more people and are still coming.
But a single 51 minute piece of television convinced us to care about that 1,000 foot block of ice again. “Watchers on the Wall” puts the rest of Westeros aside for one episode while Jon and company save them from an impending doom they aren’t even aware is coming for them. It almost makes you wish the show would just take one storyline every week and focus solely on that if this is the kind of brilliance they can produce. For the first time all season, the Wildlings were a true threat to overthrowing the Night’s Watch and getting over that wall. But while the center of the episode is the battle, the character interactions were superbly inspiring (though sometimes tragic) as well. But I figured fifty one minutes would be enough to settle the issue at the wall. Nope!!!! Now the battle at the Wall will conclude along with every other storyline that has developed over the course of season four.
As for this review, there has not been a more challenging one this season. I will attempt to cover as much of the action as I can, but I can assure you there will be something that I missed. Also, this review will be done chronologically since the episode only had one location, but I will be headlining each section based on what vicinity around the Wall the action took place.
Top of the Wall
It’s nighttime on the wall and Jon and Sam are on the watch. And of course, with the impending doom of all the men of the Night’s Watch at hand, what better time for Sam to get the birds and the bees talk from Jon. Sam wants to know what it was like to have sex since it doesn’t appear he will ever get the chance. But in case they do survive, Sam has found a loophole in the vows: members of the Night’s Watch cannot take a wife or have children, but nothing is said about sex. That is a very convenient truth for Sam if he ever sees Gilly again (remember he doesn’t know that she survived last week’s Wildling invasion on Moletown).
South of the Wall
The Wildlings are sharing stories around the campfire, but Ygritte wants nothing to do with Thormund’s sexual encounter with a bear (????). She seems very tense and on edge sharpening arrows as she talks of killing Crows, especially Jon Snow. And anyone who tries to kill him will get an arrow for their troubles, according to Ygritte. Unnoticed by the powwowing Wildlings is a shadowy character in a hood carrying a baby. Gilly, you sneaky girl you!!!
Inside the Wall
Sam has now found his way to the maester’s chambers where he is reading how Wildlings treat their captives. Maester Aemon correctly surmises that Sam is wondering how they treated Gilly, the woman he loves. Then, like your loving grandfather, the maester discusses his love life back in the days when he had one (ewww, Grandpa!!!)
Afterwards, Sam hears Gilly’s voice outside the Wall. Pyp won’t let him in, but Sam drops an f-bomb, “encouraging” Pyp to let the girl in. She enters and Sam vows to protect her from
now on. I was impressed here with both Gilly’s willingness to forgive Sam as well as Sam’s straightforwardness, a positive trait we witness throughout the episode.
The Horn Blows
When the horn sounds at the wall, one blast means men from the Night’s Watch have returned, two blasts mean Wildlings are approaching, and three blasts mean White Walkers. The pattern is repeated multiple times, but the horn is blown twice each time, with Wildlings approaching from both sides of the wall.
Top of the Wall
Up to this point, we have only met prideful, vengeful, and manipulative Alister Thorne. But with 100,000 Wildlings waiting at the bottom of the Wall, we meet brave, level-headed, inspired badass Alister Thorne. One of the strengths of Game of Thrones is the ability to see the bright side to even the worst characters (well all except a certain bratty king who died with a purple face earlier this season) and this episode was an exceptional night for Thorne. He’s humble, admitting Jon Snow has been right all along about the steps needed to stop the Wildling invasion. He also says all differences need to be put aside between the two of them until after the battle (assuming they both make it) and delivers solid leadership advice, encouraging Jon that good leaders don’t have time to worry about second guessing (and why would Jon need to hear this information tonight, Ser Allister?)
Inside the Wall
With battle imminent for all members of the Night’s Watch, Sam places Gilly and her baby in a safe place away from all the action. But Gilly does not want Sam to leave her. Once again, straightforward Sam uses inspiring words on this night, convincing Gilly that he has no choice but to fight and seals his promise to return with a kiss (nothing in the vows about kissing, right???)
Outside and Inside the Wall
The large host arrives from the North lead by Giants on Mammoths!!! The scouting party with Ygritte, Thormund, and the Thenns approach from the South attempting to breach the Wall. When word reaches the top of the Wall of their approach, Ser Allister takes a host of men with him, leaving Janos Slynt in charge on top. Thorne gives an inspiring speech that involves avoiding the fate of becoming dinner for cannibals. Thormund and crew find their way inside the wall and the first contact in the battle ensues.
Top of the Wall
On the opposite end of the spectrum from Thorne is Janos Slynt, the bald former head of the City Watch in King’s Landing. While Thorne proved he earned the title of Ser, Slynt proved himself to be a fraud. It does make sense considering the only fighting we’ve seen from Slynt has been killing babies and men who were cuffed and unable to fight back. He is scared and panicking on top of the Wall even though he is in charge. With Wildlings charging from the North side of the Wall, Grenn thinks very quickly on his feet, lying to Slynt, telling him Ser Allister needs him down below (where he would have been a great help for sure). Jon Snow orders fiery arrows shot at the charging Wildling contingent. The Wildlings answer with arrows fired from a Giant!!!
Inside the Wall
Fighting continues between two sides inside the Wall, where Ygritte is taking out Night’s Watchmen with her bow and arrow while the head Thenn kills with his battle axe. Thormund Giantsbane is mauling his way through as well. Pyp and Sam find a location and start shooting arrows, killing one person. But the success is short-lived as Pyp takes an arrow to the throat. Meanwhile, Slynt makes his way downstairs as fighting makes its way to the kitchen, hiding from the battle in the same room with Gilly and her baby.
Top of the Wall
While the Night’s Watch drops oil barrels and shoots fiery arrows down on the growing number of Wildlings below, two giants and a mammoth attempt to remove the north gate. Seeing the imminent threat, Jon Snow sends Grenn and five more men down to hold the gate in case there is a breach.
Inside the Wall
Sam comforts a dying Pyp while Thormund and Alister have a nice, though short, sword exchange. Thorne takes a slash to the league and is pulled to the side, removed from the fighting. Seeing that their leader is down, Sam heads to the top of the wall to inform Jon that more men are needed. But not before Sam shoots a Thenn in the head with a crossbow and convinces Ollie, the young boy who’s been hanging out with the Night’s Watch this season, to pick up a weapon (and wouldn’t you know it, a homemade bow is sitting right there beside him).
Top of the Wall
The exploding oil barrels take care of the Mammoth and Wildlings trying to open the gate. But when one of the giants is killed by an arrow, the surviving giant turns around and lifts the gate on his own. Sam arrives to the top and informs Jon of the need for more men and Jon agrees, putting Dolorous Edd in charge on top (who is now the fourth man who has been in charge on top of the Wall tonight).
Inside the Wall
The giant has found his way inside the gate. Now, why he didn’t hold the gate open for all the other Wildlings, I’m not sure. I guess giants are not known for their intelligence. He comes charging at the six brothers of the Night’s Watch and the Crows say their vows as they prepare to combat his charge.
Meanwhile, it’s time to meet angry Jon Snow!!! He arrives on the backside of the Wall and is mutilating people left and right. He also gives Sam a key, instructing him to free Ghost from his cage!!! Ghost takes out a Thenn and eats out his insides (oh the irony!!!) as Jon and the rather large lead Thenn find each other. A fight ensues on even terms until Jon loses his sword and must avoid the Thenn weaponless. He manages to force the large axe out of the Thenn’s hands and the men begin to punch each other. The Thenn punches Jon into a corner until Jon finds a hammer and shoves it into the Thenn’s head!!! But when Jon turns, he sees Ygritte’s bow and arrow pointed straight at him. Jon appears doomed as Ygritte finally has the chance to finish the job. But before Ygritte can shoot, she takes an arrow straight to the heart, delivered
by Ollie!!! In a world where children are tortured and butchered, it is wonderful to see one stand up for himself. Jon holds Ygritte as we get her final words, which, of course, are “You know nothing, Jon Snow.” I really wish the show would have made Ygritte more prominent this season so this scene could’ve had the full impact it deserved.
Top of the Wall
GIANT CHAIN BLADE!!!! I learned later on that this weapon is called a scythe, but I like my name better. Has there ever been a cooler weapon used in a battle scene than this giant monstrosity sweeping across the side of the wall and chopping straight through the middle of wildings trying to climb the wall? The appearance of Westeros’s version of the Death Star ended the Wildling attack for this night. But Edd reminds the men on top of the Wall the Wildlings will be returning and that they still outnumber the Crows.
Inside the Wall
Action has settled down inside the Wall as well, with Thormund Giantsbane taken captive. Action with Thormund in this episode built him up to be a real badass. He was an absolute monster, forcing his way through members of the Night’s Watch and taking arrows to the back, only to keep fighting full speed. He has three arrows in him now, but continues to threaten the Night’s Watch before Jon shoots an arrow in his leg. But with a guy so dangerous captured, why did Jon not go ahead and kill him instead of taking him prisoner?
Dawn has arrived and despite the victory, Jon reminds Sam that another attack is coming and with the numbers disadvantage being what it is, it’s almost impossible for the Night’s Watch to come out victorious. He tells Sam he means to parlay with Mance Rayder despite Sam’s protest. As they walk out to the gate, they see the Giant and the six men sent to stop him all dead. Another ally of Jon’s, Grenn, is amongst the dead. Jon hands Longclaw to Sam and with a determination unseen at this point heads out the gate as the screen turns black.
Conclusion
Game of Thrones has not produced a better single episode than “Watchers on the Wall.” The action kept you on the edge of your seat and was paced exceptionally well. The character interactions could not have been better. “Watchers” was also a graduation of sorts for the group that spent the first season in training with Jon Snow on the Wall. Jon stood determined as a leader. Grenn and Pyp died valiant deaths defending the Wall. And Sam!!! Confident Samwell Tarly inspiring fellow brothers, killing ugly Thenns, dropping f-bombs and kissing the girl all in one episode!!! The show made a decision to push this battle back to the coveted ninth episode of this season and it mostly paid off, despite having almost ignored the Wall for most of the season. My only complaint is the lack of time spent at the Wall this season took away some of the emotion from moments like Jon and Ygritte, considering we haven’t seen these two together all season and have barely seen Ygritte at all this season.
But an even bigger surprise for me was the lack of a conclusion at the Wall. I expected this one episode to finish the battle while everything else waited until the finale. But now we get the conclusion of all the major story lines in Westeros and beyond the Narrow Sea, including the Wall, this season in one 66 minute block (next week’s episode will have 15 extra minutes, which still may not be enough). I will have the verdict of whether Game of Thrones can deliver on all the significant moments that will be jam packed into the season 4 finale next “TV Tuesday”!!!
(Editor’s Note: This article was written by Jeff Merrick)