Dracarys.
That one word shifted the entire axis of fantasy television. If you were watching HBO on April 21, 2013, you remember exactly where you were when Daenerys Targaryen stopped playing the victim and started playing the conqueror. Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4, titled "And Now His Watch Is Ended," isn't just a mid-season transition piece. It’s the definitive turning point for almost every major player in Westeros and Essos. It’s the moment the training wheels came off the story.
While the "Red Wedding" usually hogs the spotlight when people talk about the third season, this specific hour of television laid the groundwork for the show’s cultural dominance. It’s a masterpiece of pacing. Director Alex Graves managed to juggle three of the most significant power shifts in the entire series—the fall of the Night’s Watch leadership, the rise of the Army of the Dead’s threat, and the acquisition of the Unsullied—without making the episode feel cluttered or rushed. Honestly, it’s a miracle of editing.
The Astapor Swindle: How Daenerys Outplayed the Slavers
Most people remember the ending of Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4 because of the fire. But the real genius is the setup. Kraznys mo Nakloz, the High Grazdan of Astapor, spent several episodes insulting Daenerys in High Valyrian, assuming she couldn't understand a word of it. He called her a "beggar queen" and worse. He was arrogant. He thought he was the smartest guy in the room because he held the whip.
Then she spoke.
"Valyrian is my mother tongue."
The look on Kraznys' face is still one of the most satisfying moments in the history of the show. It wasn’t just a "cool" moment; it was a character revelation. Up until this point, Dany had been wandering. She was a refugee. In this episode, she becomes a Commander. By trading a dragon she never intended to give up for an army of 8,000 eunuch soldiers, she proved that she wasn't just a Targaryen by name—she had the strategic ruthlessness of a conqueror.
The massacre at the Plaza of Pride is brutal. It’s loud. It’s messy. But notice how Graves shoots it. The camera stays close to Dany's face. We see the heat of the flames reflected in her eyes, and for the first time, we see the "Mad Queen" potential that would eventually polarize the fanbase years later. But in 2013? We were all just cheering for the underdog who finally bit back.
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Mutiny at Craster’s Keep and the End of the Old Guard
While Dany was finding her fire, the men of the Night’s Watch were freezing and starving. This is the "And Now His Watch Is Ended" part of the title. It refers to the death of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont.
The scene at Craster’s Keep is claustrophobic and miserable. It’s a stark contrast to the bright, sun-drenched violence of Astapor. You’ve got a bunch of tired, hungry, angry men trapped in a shack with a man who marries his own daughters. It was a powder keg. When Karl Tanner—played with terrifying sleaze by Burn Gorman—finally snaps and kills Craster, the thin veneer of discipline in the Watch evaporates.
Mormont’s death is a seismic shift. He was the last bastion of the "old way." He believed in honor and the sanctity of the Watch. When he's stabbed in the back by his own men, it signals that the safety of the Wall is gone. The Night's Watch is no longer a brotherhood; it's a fractured group of survivors. Sam Tarly’s frantic escape with Gilly and her baby amidst the chaos is the only shred of hope in an otherwise bleak sequence. It’s also our first real hint that the White Walkers aren't just a legend—they are an imminent, organized threat that thrives on this kind of human chaos.
The Quiet Power Play in King's Landing
Back in the capital, Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4 gives us some of the best dialogue-driven scenes of the series. This is where the show really flexed its muscles. You don't need dragons when you have Diana Rigg and Charles Dance in the same room.
The burgeoning friendship between Margaery Tyrell and Sansa Stark is fascinating because it’s built on a foundation of polite lies. Margaery is a master manipulator. She knows Joffrey is a monster, but she also knows how to pet the monster to make him do what she wants. Watching her manipulate Joffrey in the Great Sept, convincing him that the "common people" love him, is like watching a lion tamer. She makes him feel powerful while she’s the one holding the leash.
Then there’s the Olenna Tyrell and Varys meeting.
"What happens when the non-existent bumps against the decrepit?" Olenna asks.
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They are discussing the fate of the realm over lemon cakes, and it’s arguably more dangerous than the battle in Astapor. They are plotting to marry Sansa to Loras Tyrell to keep her out of the Lannisters' hands. It’s a chess match where the pieces are living people. This episode highlights the tragedy of Sansa Stark; she is constantly a prize to be won, never a player in her own right—at least not yet.
The Redemption of Jaime Lannister?
We have to talk about the mud. Jaime Lannister, the "Kingslayer," the man who pushed a child out of a window, is at his lowest point. He’s lost his sword hand. He’s covered in filth. He’s being dragged behind a horse by Locke’s men.
Brienne of Tarth is the only reason he stays alive.
In a surprising moment of vulnerability, Jaime tries to give up. He stops eating. He wants to die because, without his right hand, he isn't "Jaime Lannister" anymore. Brienne’s refusal to let him quit—calling him a coward for wanting to die when he’s had a taste of the real world—is the catalyst for his entire redemption arc. It’s a masterclass in chemistry between Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Gwendoline Christie. They take two characters who should hate each other and forge a bond through shared misery. It’s the most "human" part of the episode.
Why This Episode Still Ranks So High
When critics look back at the "Golden Age" of GoT, this episode is always near the top. Why? Because it delivers on the promises the show made in Season 1. It rewards the viewers' patience.
Most fantasy shows tease big moments and then shy away from the budget or the narrative consequences. "And Now His Watch Is Ended" leaned in. It gave us the spectacle of the dragons, but it also gave us the crushing emotional weight of the Night's Watch falling apart. It balanced the macro-politics of King's Landing with the micro-survival of Sam and Gilly.
- The Dragon Budget: This was the first time we saw what the CGI team could really do. Drogon’s fire wasn’t just a visual effect; it felt weighty and dangerous.
- The Language: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss worked with linguist David J. Peterson to ensure the High Valyrian sounded like a real, lived-in language. It added a layer of immersion that set the show apart.
- The Score: Ramin Djawadi’s track "Dracarys" is iconic. The way the Targaryen theme swells as the Unsullied march out of the city is pure goosebumps material.
Common Misconceptions About Episode 4
A lot of casual fans think this is the episode where Jaime loses his hand. It’s not. He loses it at the very end of Episode 3 ("Walk of Punishment"). Episode 4 is about the aftermath. It’s about the psychological trauma of losing one's identity.
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Another misconception is that the Unsullied were "slaves turned into soldiers" by Dany. While true in a literal sense, the episode emphasizes that she gave them a choice. She freed them first, then asked them to fight. This distinction is crucial for her character development—it’s what separates her from the other "conquerors" in the series at this stage.
Key Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4, pay attention to the silence.
- Watch the background actors in the Plaza of Pride. Their reactions to the dragon are incredibly grounded.
- Listen to the wind at Craster's Keep. The sound design is meant to make you feel as cold and miserable as the characters.
- Observe Tywin Lannister's body language. Even when he isn't speaking, his presence dominates the room, providing a sharp contrast to the chaotic leadership happening elsewhere in the world.
The episode ends with the image of Daenerys riding away from a burning city with a massive army at her back. It was the moment the show stopped being a political thriller and became a global phenomenon. It reminded us that in Westeros, power isn't just something you inherit—it’s something you take with fire and blood.
To truly appreciate the scope of the series, compare the Daenerys of this episode to the one we meet in the series premiere. The growth is staggering. She isn't just a survivor; she's a leader. Whether she stays a "good" leader is a question for the later seasons, but for one shining hour in April 2013, she was the hero everyone wanted.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Writers:
- Study the "Rule of Three" in Scene Construction: This episode uses three distinct locations to tell three very different types of stories (War, Politics, Survival).
- Analyze Character Foil Dynamics: Look at how Brienne acts as a moral mirror for Jaime; she reflects back the person he could be, rather than the person he was.
- Notice the Use of Language as a Weapon: Re-watch the Astapor scenes specifically to see how Dany uses Kraznys' own language to lul him into a false sense of security.
For those tracking the broader lore, this episode is also the first time we see the "Brotherhood Without Banners" in a significant way, specifically Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr. Their introduction brings a whole new element of magic—resurrection—into the fold, which changes the stakes for every death moving forward.
The episode doesn't just entertain; it teaches you how to watch the rest of the series. It tells you that no one is safe, power is fluid, and dragons are the ultimate "nuke" in a medieval world.
Next Steps:
- Compare the Book to the Show: Read the "A Storm of Swords" chapters covering the mutiny at Craster's and the fall of Astapor to see how the show condensed George R.R. Martin’s prose into visual beats.
- Listen to the Commentary: If you have the physical Blu-rays, the commentary track for this episode provides incredible insight into how they filmed the dragon sequence with a limited budget.
- Map the Timeline: Track how long it takes for the news of Dany’s army to reach King's Landing in future episodes to see how the show handles the "travel time" logic that became controversial in later seasons.