Honestly, if you ask any die-hard fan when Game of Thrones officially went from "cool fantasy show" to "cultural juggernaut," they’ll probably point to a few specific moments. Ned’s head rolling? Sure. The Red Wedding? Obviously. But for me, the real turning point was Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4.
It’s called "And Now His Watch Has Ended."
The title refers to the death of Lord Commander Jeor Mormont, but the episode belongs entirely to Daenerys Targaryen. I remember watching it live back in 2013. The tension in Astapor was so thick you could practically smell the dust and dragon fire through the screen. We’d spent seasons watching Dany struggle, wander through deserts, and get shut out of spice gardens in Qarth. Then, suddenly, she stops being a victim. She stops asking for permission.
The Dracarys Moment and Why It Changed Television
Most of the episode feels like a slow burn. We’re watching the miserable march of the Night’s Watch at Craster’s Keep and Theon Greyjoy getting absolutely played by "Boy" (who we later know is the sadistic Ramsay Snow). But everything leads to that final ten minutes in the plaza of Astapor.
Dany is trading her biggest dragon, Drogon, for 8,000 Unsullied. It felt like a massive mistake. Kraznys mo Nakloz, the slave master, is shouting insults in Valyrian, thinking she can't understand him. He calls her a "bitch" and a "beggar queen." He's vulgar. He’s arrogant. He’s everything the audience hates.
Then she speaks.
"Valyrian is my mother tongue."
The look on Kraznys’ face? Pure gold. It wasn't just a plot twist; it was a character evolution that felt earned. She didn't just win; she liberated. When she utters that iconic "Dracarys," and the music by Ramin Djawadi—specifically the track "Dracarys"—swells with those heavy, tribal percussion hits and chanting, it changed the stakes of the show. It was the first time we saw the true power of the dragons. It wasn't just a lizard breathing fire; it was a tactical nuke.
The Chaos at Craster’s Keep
While Dany was thriving, the North was falling apart. The mutiny at Craster’s Keep is one of the grimmest sequences in the entire series. It’s messy. It’s claustrophobic.
Karl Tanner, played by Burn Gorman, is a terrifyingly effective villain because he’s just a "fookin' legend" from Gin Alley who doesn't care about honor. When the Night’s Watch turns on Jeor Mormont, it feels like the last bit of order in the world is dying. The Old Bear dies not in a grand battle against White Walkers, but stabbed in the back by his own hungry, desperate men.
It’s a stark contrast. In the East, a new army is born out of loyalty and liberation. In the North, the oldest army in the world is cannibalizing itself over a piece of bread and some salt.
Breaking Down the Jaime and Brienne Dynamic
We can't talk about Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4 without mentioning the mud. Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, the man who jumped out of windows and killed cousins, is at his absolute lowest point. He just lost his sword hand.
He’s tied up, being dragged behind a horse, and he's basically given up on life.
The scene where Brienne of Tarth chews him out for being a coward is vital. She calls him a "country girl" and tells him to face reality. It’s the beginning of the best character arc in the show. Gwendoline Christie and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have this chemistry that isn't romantic—at least not yet—but deeply respectful. They are mirrors of each other. She has the honor he lacks; he has the realism she needs.
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Watching Jaime try to eat horse meat with one hand while lying in the dirt is a brutal reminder that in Westeros, your status can vanish in a heartbeat.
Why the Small Council Scene Matters More Than You Think
Sometimes the best parts of this episode aren't the dragons or the stabbings. It's the furniture.
There is a brilliant, almost silent comedy bit at the start where the Small Council meets. Tywin Lannister is already seated at the head of the table. One by one, the others enter and try to assert their dominance through how they move their chairs.
- Tyrion drags his chair all the way to the other end of the table, making a loud, screeching noise just to annoy his father.
- Varys and Littlefinger jockey for position closer to the power.
- Cersei moves hers right next to Tywin.
It’s a masterclass in visual storytelling. No one has to say "I want power." They show it by where they sit. Director Alex Graves did a phenomenal job here of showing that the "game" of thrones is played in tiny, petty increments just as much as it is on the battlefield.
The Varys and Littlefinger Rivalry Reaches a Peak
"Chaos is a ladder."
Wait, that's actually the next episode, but the seeds are sown right here. In this episode, we get the backstory of how Varys became a eunuch. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability for the Spider. He shows Tyrion the sorcerer he tracked down across the world—the man who cut him—now trapped in a shipping crate.
It’s a warning. Varys plays the long game. While Littlefinger is all about immediate disruption, Varys is about "patience." He tells Tyrion that influence is something you grow like a garden. This scene grounds the show in a sense of history. These characters aren't just puppets; they have scars that dictate their every move.
What Most People Miss About the Unsullied
There’s a common misconception that the Unsullied followed Dany because of "magic" or because they were brainwashed.
That’s wrong.
If you watch closely, she gives them a choice. She tells them to walk away as free men or fight for her as soldiers. Every single one of them stays. It’s a voluntary contract. This is the moment Dany moves from being a conqueror to a leader. Of course, the irony is that she’s leading a slave army she "bought," but the nuance is in the liberation. She realizes that a man who chooses to fight is worth ten men who are forced to.
Behind the Scenes: The Logistics of Astapor
Filming this episode was a nightmare for the crew. They shot the Astapor scenes in Essaouira, Morocco. It was incredibly windy, which is why you see so much dust blowing around in those wide shots. It wasn't a special effect; it was just nature being difficult.
Emilia Clarke actually had to learn those Valyrian lines phonetically and deliver them with the authority of a queen while squinting through sandstorms. The "Dracarys" scene took days to get right because they had to coordinate the practical pyrotechnics with where the CGI dragons would eventually be placed.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going back to watch Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4, pay attention to these three things to get the most out of it:
- Watch the eyes of the Unsullied: During the trade, they remain perfectly still, but you can see the slight shift in their gaze when Dany starts speaking Valyrian. It’s subtle acting that sets the stage for the rebellion.
- Listen to the score: Ramin Djawadi uses a specific theme for the "Army of the Dead/Night's Watch" that is dissonant and cold. Contrast that with the soaring, triumphant Targaryen theme at the end. The music tells you exactly who is winning the "game" in this episode.
- The Margaery Tyrell factor: This episode shows Margaery manipulating Joffrey by playing into his love for violence. She visits the Great Sept of Baelor and wins over the crowd. Watch Cersei’s face in the background. You can see the exact moment she realizes Margaery is a bigger threat than any army.
What to Do Next
- Read the Book Chapter: Check out the Daenerys chapters in A Storm of Swords. The internal monologue during the Astapor trade is even more biting than the show.
- Compare the Mutiny: Look at how the Night’s Watch mutiny is handled compared to the show. The book version is much more chaotic and involves more named characters that the show had to cut for time.
- Track the Themes: Notice how the theme of "identity" runs through the episode. Dany finds hers as a Queen, Jaime loses his as a Knight, and Theon is in the process of losing his as a Greyjoy.
This episode remains a high-water mark for prestige television. It proved that you could have massive, cinematic spectacles on a TV budget without losing the intimate, character-driven drama that made the books famous.