Tommen Baratheon just became king. He’s a kid. He’s nice, which in the world of Westeros, usually means you’re about to have a very bad time. "First of His Name," the fifth episode of the fourth season, isn't just a bridge between the Purple Wedding and the trial of Tyrion Lannister. It’s actually the moment where the show starts to pull the rug out from under everyone. While King’s Landing deals with the transition of power, Jon Snow is up north dealing with a mess at Craster's Keep. Honestly, this episode handles the pacing perfectly.
The Coronation Nobody Wanted
Cersei Lannister looks miserable. Her oldest son just died in her arms, and now she’s watching her younger, more malleable son take the crown. It's weird seeing her be "kind" to Margaery Tyrell, but we all know it's a mask. They’re basically circling each other like sharks. In Game of Thrones season 4 episode 5, the political maneuvering hits a fever pitch because the Lannisters are broke. Tywin Lannister admits it. The gold mines have run dry. This is a massive detail people forget. The richest family in the Seven Kingdoms is living on borrowed time and Iron Bank credit.
Tywin and Cersei’s conversation in this episode is one of the best examples of the show's writing at its peak. He isn't just talking to his daughter; he’s negotiating the survival of their house. He knows they need the Tyrells. Cersei knows it too, even if it kills her to admit that Margaery is the key to holding onto the throne. It’s a desperate play disguised as a royal transition.
The Vale and the Creep Factor
Across the map, Sansa Stark finally makes it to the Eyrie. Petyr Baelish—Littlefinger—is at his most manipulative here. He marries Lysa Arryn, who is, to put it lightly, completely unhinged. The way she screams during their wedding night while Sansa sits nearby eating lemon cakes is one of those classic "Thrones" moments that makes you feel deeply uncomfortable.
Lysa is a tragic figure, though. She’s driven by a jealous, obsessive love for Petyr that he absolutely does not reciprocate. She reveals a bombshell here: she’s the one who poisoned her husband, Jon Arryn, and wrote the letter to Catelyn Stark that started the whole war. All because Petyr told her to. This recontextualizes the entire first season. The Starks didn't just fall into a trap; they were lured into one by a woman who thought she was protecting her family.
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Why the Raid on Craster’s Keep Actually Mattered
Up at the Wall, things are grim. Jon Snow leads a group of volunteers to Craster’s Keep to kill the mutineers. Why? Because if the Wildlings get a hold of the mutineers, they’ll learn how few men are actually guarding the Wall. It’s a tactical necessity. But for the viewers, this was the closest we ever got to a Stark reunion that didn't happen.
Bran Stark is right there. He’s being held captive by Karl Tanner, a man who brags about drinking wine out of the skull of Jeor Mormont. Karl is a monster. He represents the absolute worst of the Night’s Watch—the criminals who were sent there because they had no other choice. When Jon and his men attack, it’s chaotic. It’s muddy. It’s brutal.
- Jon nearly dies in a duel with Karl.
- Locke—the guy who cut off Jaime’s hand—tries to kidnap Bran.
- Bran has to warg into Hodor to kill Locke.
Seeing Hodor snap a man’s neck is a jarring reminder of the power he possesses, even if he doesn't want to use it. Bran watches Jon from a distance. He wants to call out. He wants to go home. But Jojen Reed reminds him that if they go to Jon, Jon won't let them go North. He’ll take them back to Castle Black, and the mission to find the Three-Eyed Raven will end. It’s a heartbreaking choice. Bran chooses the world over his family.
The Sword of Brienne of Tarth
Meanwhile, Brienne is on the road with Podrick Payne. This is the start of one of the best "buddy cop" duos in fantasy history. Pod can’t ride a horse well. He can't cook. He’s basically useless in the woods. But he’s loyal. When he tells Brienne how he killed a member of the Kingsguard to save Tyrion at the Blackwater, she finally sees him as a squire rather than a burden. In Game of Thrones season 4 episode 5, their relationship shifts from annoyance to mutual respect. It’s a small, human story in the middle of a show about dragons and ice zombies, and that’s why it works.
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The Dragon Queen’s Reality Check
In Meereen, Daenerys Targaryen learns that being a conqueror is easy, but being a ruler is hard. Jorah Mormont gives her the news: Astapor has been taken back by a dictator, and Yunkai has returned to slavery. She has a choice. She can take her fleet and sail for King’s Landing now, or she can stay and fix the mess she made.
She stays.
This is a pivotal moment for her character arc. It's where she decides she won't be "Queen of the Ashes." She wants to learn how to govern. It’s a noble goal, but as we see in later seasons, the Slaver's Bay plotline becomes a quagmire that almost swallows her whole. This episode sets that foundation. It shows her transition from a revolutionary to a politician.
The Subtle Mastery of Episode 5
A lot of people skip over this episode when they do rewatches because it doesn't have a "big" death or a massive battle. That's a mistake. This is where the chess pieces are moved for the second half of the season. Without the Craster’s Keep raid, the Night’s Watch is exposed. Without the Eyrie scenes, we don't understand the depth of Littlefinger’s betrayal.
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The title "First of His Name" refers to Tommen, but it also refers to the new era. The old guard—Robert, Ned, Robb, Joffrey—are all gone. The survivors are the ones who are learning to play the game differently. Tywin is playing with empty pockets. Cersei is playing with a daughter-in-law she hates. Jon is playing with a brotherhood that’s falling apart.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Rewatchers
If you're revisiting this specific era of the show, there are a few things you should keep an eye on to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the background characters: In the King's Landing scenes, notice how much the Tyrells are slowly infiltrating every layer of the Red Keep. It isn't just Margaery; it's the subtle shift in who is standing guard and who is whispering in corners.
- Track the Stark direwolf symbols: Notice how the Stark children are increasingly separated from their "Starkness." Bran is warging into humans (a taboo), Sansa is hiding under the name "Alayne Stone," and Jon is acting as a commander rather than a brother.
- Listen to the sound design: The wind in the Eyrie and the crunch of the snow at Craster's Keep provide a stark (no pun intended) contrast to the lush, quiet halls of Meereen. The show uses audio to emphasize how isolated these characters truly are.
Understanding these layers makes Game of Thrones season 4 episode 5 feel less like "filler" and more like a masterclass in slow-burn tension. The stakes aren't always about who dies; sometimes they're about who manages to keep their soul intact while the world falls apart around them.