Embedded Files
The fourth episode is here with a bang! Definitely a crazy episode, with lots of interesting character developments, some great interactions and some unexpected turns of the story
The whole sequence where Rhaenyra explores the night streets of King's Landing was quite fascinating, and the aftermath of what happens is even more interesting and surprising. The episode focus mostly on conversations between characters, but here is where the acting and writing really shines, since they are able to make this scenes riveting to watch.
SHORT DISCLAIMER: The transcriptions are not always in the same key as the pieces I put as example, and sometimes they are simplified to make it clearer and more concise
One of the very first things we hear in the episode is the Heir Theme, on piano, underscoring Rhanerya's audience in search for someone worthy of having her hand in marriage. The use of the theme is very clever, since the whole episode revolves around Rhaenyra's discovery of her sexuality, and her search for freedom through that. The theme here represents all the conflicts that are about to be derived from that, and how it might affect the succession line for the throne. It's also interesting that the very first thing we see is her touching the necklace Daemon gave her back in episode one.
I'd also like to note that during the conversation between Rhaenyra and Viserys, there is a segment of the Game of Thrones Theme very similar to what plays in the middle of the track "The Prince That Was Promised". Right before that scene, we hear a complete statement of Rhaenyra's Theme on harp, as she walks through the castle to Viserys' room. The theme has only been used a couple of times, but it's used as a more emotional side of her character, showing her strength and development. Many times Djawadi couples this melody with a choir motif, which is a variation on her theme but developed as a sort of ondulating ethereal motif that is used to remark her strength as a woman. As such, this motif is greatly developed in this episode.
In the scene I mentioned above, the theme itself plays alone, but in many others, the choir motif gets the spotlight. First, we hear it when she arrives at King's Landing by sea, but where it really gets extended development is during Rhaenyra's night incursion at King's Landing.
Here the singing motif gets extended development, with some references to the melody itself, together with percussion rythmys, and some ethereal textures, which give her incursion a sort of dream-like vibe.
Rhaenyra's Theme
This whole sequence culminates at the brothel, where Daemon and Rhaenyra's... "games" are intercut with Viserys having sex with Alicent. The stark contrast between the dead expression in Alicent's face, and the excitement on Rhaenyra and Daemon's actions speaks loudly of the very different ways they have to experience this, and while one of them is a relationship between an uncle and his niece, the show manages to make it more passionate. Djawadi supports this whole sequence with exotic percussion and voices, which are joined by hints a melody which I think is the same that has been introduced to us a couple of scenes earlier. A theme for Alicent. (EDIT: further analysis made me realize the melody during the brothel sequence has already been heard sparsely especially in episode 1, when Daemon gave his speech for Baelon, but Alicent's theme does get played a couple of times in the episode)
Okay, I'm not entirely sure about this, since it's a bit hard to pick on it just hearing it in the episode itself, but I think that melody in the brothel is the same that plays over Alicent and Rhaenyra's conversation after she returns to King's Landing. Their relationship has been quite interesting, in how they've grown apart, and then have become closer again, and the theme that plays here is used to reinforce the pity Rhaenyra feels for Alicent, as she reveals that she doesn't have many friends in court, and feels that she has become just a child bearer and nothing more. This same melody plays again when we see Alicent at night, trying to calm down the crying kids. I think this melody will be developed in coming episode to further represent Alicent's tragic character development. (EDIT: the melody was in fact briefly introduced in episode 2, when Otto and Alicent talk right before he goes to Dragonstone to face Daemon)
When Rhaenyra returns to the castle, she is met with Criston Cole's worries, which will soon turn into a seduction game, which ends up with the two of them having passionate sex. Djawadi leaves the first part of their interaction unscored, but as he starts to give in to her game, and they closer and closer, Djawadi starts to introduce some string ideas, which later culminate in a gorgeous melody, Rhaenyra & Cole's Love Theme. This melody has some hints of the Heir Theme, but is much more emotional and romantic, and I'm sure it will have much greater impact in future episodes, in case this romance is developed. I say in case because we know how much Game of Thrones likes to play with our expectations, and destroy the fans' favorite couples.
Before we finish this episode, there are still two sequences I'd like to mention. The first one is the sequence where Rhaenyra arrives at the King's audience with Daemon, who surrenders the crown and swears allegiance to Viserys. During this sequence we first hear a complete statement of the Targaryen Theme, as Viserys gets ready. Daemon arrives at the Throne Room with hints of his sound ambiences from previous episodes, before what I think is a variation on Daemon's theme from last episode plays on strings. Dark ambiences and hints of the theme continue through the rest of this sequence, before ending with a reference to Viserys' Theme, as Daemon and Viserys finally embrace, and apparently make peace. The other thing of note is during Alicent and Rhaenyra's conversation about her actions during her night escape, where Djawadi plays what I called the Father & Daughter theme, at episode 2. I called it that way because in that episode it played in scenes between Rhaenyra and Viserys, but here it doesn't relate to the two of them directly, so perhaps it's intended to be a sort of secondary theme for Rhaenyra, and her relationship with the poeple around her, in this case Alicent? I don't know yet, but I hope this theme gets developed a bit more, so its meaning gets a bit more clear.
Father-Daughter Theme
Daemon's Theme
Viserys' Theme
This is it for the fourth episode, which was one of the craziest ones yet! The story got developed quite a bit, with some interesting events, and Djawadi deliverd with music very fitting for the scenes, especially for Rhanerya's escape, and the love scene with her and Sir Cole.
Unfortunately, for the next couple of weeks I will be out of home and I won't be able to watch the next two or three episodes, so my analysis will be delayed a bit, but meanwhile you can check my analysis for previous episodes, as well as my analysis of the Rings of Power. Hope you enjoyed it and feel free to share it with anyone you think might enjoy it. Cheers!
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse