The Mountain and the Viper

"**The Mountain and the Viper**"
"The Mountain and the Viper"
Game of Thrones episode
	Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane (left) and Oberyn "the Viper" Martell (right) engage in a trial by combat. This scene was acclaimed by critics.
Episode no.	Season 4; Episode 8
Directed by	Alex Graves
Written by	David Benioff; D. B. Weiss
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Anette Haellmigk
Editing by	Tim Porter
Original air date	June 1, 2014
Running time	52 minutes
Guest appearances
	Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell; Indira Varma as Ellaria Sand; Michael McElhatton as Roose Bolton; Ian McElhinney as Ser Barristan Selmy; Julian Glover as Grand Maester Pycelle; Roger Ashton-Griffiths as Mace Tyrell; Yuri Kolokolnikov as Styr; Jacob Anderson as Grey Worm; Nathalie Emmanuel as Missandei; Mark Stanley as Grenn; Ben Crompton as Edd Tollett; Josef Altin as Pypar; Paola Dionisotti as Anya Waynwood; Rupert Vansittart as Yohn Royce; Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson as Gregor Clegane; Grahame Fox as Ralf Kenning; Lino Facioli as Robin Arryn; Alisdair Simpson as Donnel Waynwood; Richard Doubleday as Vance Corbray;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Mockingbird"	Next →; "The Watchers on the Wall"
	Game of Thrones (season 4)
	List of episodes

"The Mountain and the Viper" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of HBO's acclaimed fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 38th overall. The episode was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss,^[1] and directed by Alex Graves.^[2] It aired on June 1, 2014.^[3]

This episode marks the final appearance of Pedro Pascal (Oberyn Martell). The title refers to the duel at the end, between Prince Oberyn and The Mountain.

Plot[]

At the Wall[]

Mole's Town is attacked by the wildlings, but Ygritte spares Gilly and her son. When news reaches Castle Black, Sam fears for Gilly but the others reassure him that she has survived worse and may yet be alive.

At Moat Cailin[]

Reek, assuming his previous identity as Theon, enters Moat Cailin and convinces the occupying Ironborn to surrender in return for safe passage home. However, Ramsay has the Ironborn garrison flayed instead. As a reward for retaking the fort, Roose presents Ramsay with a decree of legitimization. The Boltons depart for their new seat at Winterfell.

In Meereen[]

Missandei notices Grey Worm watching her bathe, but he later apologizes and she asks if he remembers his castration, saying that it was a horrible thing to do to a boy. Grey Worm responds that if he had not become an Unsullied they would have never met. Meanwhile, Barristan receives a letter with the Hand of the King's seal - Jorah's royal pardon from Robert Baratheon for spying on Daenerys. Jorah is forced to admit his duplicity and Daenerys exiles him from Meereen.

In the Vale[]

Petyr is interrogated by the nobility of the Vale about Lysa's death, who are doubtful that she committed suicide. Sansa is asked to testify; she reveals her identity, corroborates Petyr's story, and convinces the nobles of his innocence. Robin is then instructed to begin his lordship by touring the Vale.

Sandor and Arya arrive at the Bloody Gate, only to be informed of Lysa's death.

In King's Landing[]

Tyrion's trial by combat begins. Oberyn quickly gains the upper hand and fatally stabs Gregor with his poison-laced spear, before demanding he confess to killing Elia. Gregor trips him and, using the last of his strength, confesses to Elia's murder while gouging Oberyn's eyes out and then crushing his skull with his bare hands, killing him instantly. With Gregor victorious, Tywin sentences Tyrion to be executed for Joffrey's regicide.

Production[]

Writing[]

The episode was written by series co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss.

This episode contains content from three of George Martin's novels: A Storm of Swords, chapters Daenerys V, Daenerys VI, and Tyrion X; A Feast for Crows, chapters Alayne I and Alayne II; and A Dance with Dragons, chapter Reek II.^[4]

Reception[]

Ratings[]

"The Mountain and the Viper" was watched by an estimated 7.17 million people during its first airing.^[5] In the United Kingdom, the episode was viewed by 1.811 million viewers, making it the highest-rated broadcast that week. It also received 0.062 million timeshift viewers.^[6]

Critical reception[]

The episode received high praise from critics and audiences alike, with the fight between Prince Oberyn and the Mountain being hailed as the episode's highlight. On Rotten Tomatoes it obtained a 97% score, based on 32 reviews, with an average rating of 9/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "With one of the most gruesome scenes to date, 'The Mountain and the Viper' delivers a tense, twisty final scene well worth the wait."^[7]

Writing for The A.V. Club, Emily VanDerWerff gave the episode an A- and praised the staging of the final fight by director Alex Graves.^[8] Erik Adams, also writing for the A.V. Club gave the episode an A.^[9] Terri Schwartz, writing for Zap2it.com, wrote the episode was "one of the strongest Game of Thrones episodes to date, and that's just the type of episode that the death of Oberyn Martell deserves."^[10]

Awards and nominations[]

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
2014	Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Fantasy Series	Deborah Riley, Paul Ghirardani, and Rob Cameron	Won
2014	Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)	Ramin Djawadi	Nominated
2015	ADG Excellence in Production Design Award	One-Hour Single Camera Fantasy Television Series	Deborah Riley	Won
	SFX Awards	Best TV Episode		Nominated
	Hugo Awards	Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form	David Benioff, Alex Graves, and D. B. Weiss	Nominated

References[]

^ "Here is your season 4 writers breakdown". WinterIsComing.net. February 26, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
^ Hibberd, James (July 16, 2013). "'Game of Thrones' season 4 directors chosen". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
^ "Shows A–Z – Game of Thrones". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
^ Garcia, Elio; Antonsson, Linda (June 8, 2013). "EP408: The Mountain and the Viper". Westeros.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
^ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 3, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night + NHL Conference Finals, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta: Kandi's Wedding', 'Silicon Valley' & Moreh". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
^ "Top 10 Ratings (2-8 June 2014)". BARB. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
^ "The Mountain and the Viper - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster, Inc. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
^ VanDerWerff, Emily (June 1, 2014). "Game of Thrones (experts): "The Mountain And The Viper"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
^ Adams, Erik (June 2, 2014). "Game of Thrones (newbies): "The Mountain And The Viper"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
^ Terri Schwartz (June 1, 2014). "'Game of Thrones' Season 4, episode 8 'The Mountain and the Viper' recap: Tyrion gets served justice". Zap2it.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.

External links[]

"The Mountain and the Viper" at HBO.com
"The Mountain and the Viper" at IMDb

[Writers-1] "Here is your season 4 writers breakdown". WinterIsComing.net. February 26, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014.

[4directors-2] Hibberd, James (July 16, 2013). "'Game of Thrones' season 4 directors chosen". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 16, 2014.

[futon-3] "Shows A–Z – Game of Thrones". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 16, 2014.

[Westeros.org-4] Garcia, Elio; Antonsson, Linda (June 8, 2013). "EP408: The Mountain and the Viper". Westeros.org. Retrieved November 11, 2014.

[5] Kondolojy, Amanda (June 3, 2014). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Wins Night + NHL Conference Finals, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta: Kandi's Wedding', 'Silicon Valley' & Moreh". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.

[6] "Top 10 Ratings (2-8 June 2014)". BARB. Retrieved January 19, 2017.

[7] "The Mountain and the Viper - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster, Inc. Retrieved 4 June 2014.

[AVExperts-8] VanDerWerff, Emily (June 1, 2014). "Game of Thrones (experts): "The Mountain And The Viper"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 2, 2014.

[AVNewbies-9] Adams, Erik (June 2, 2014). "Game of Thrones (newbies): "The Mountain And The Viper"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 2, 2014.

[10] Terri Schwartz (June 1, 2014). "'Game of Thrones' Season 4, episode 8 'The Mountain and the Viper' recap: Tyrion gets served justice". Zap2it.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.

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v t Game of Thrones episodes
Season 1	"Winter Is Coming" "The Kingsroad" "Lord Snow" "Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things" "The Wolf and the Lion" "A Golden Crown" "You Win or You Die" "The Pointy End" "Baelor" "Fire and Blood"
Season 2	"The North Remembers" "The Night Lands" "What Is Dead May Never Die" "Garden of Bones" "The Ghost of Harrenhal" "The Old Gods and the New" "A Man Without Honor" "The Prince of Winterfell" "Blackwater" "Valar Morghulis"
Season 3	"Valar Dohaeris" "Dark Wings, Dark Words" "Walk of Punishment" "And Now His Watch Is Ended" "Kissed by Fire" "The Climb" "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" "Second Sons" "The Rains of Castamere" "Mhysa"
Season 4	"Two Swords" "The Lion and the Rose" "Breaker of Chains" "Oathkeeper" "First of His Name" "The Laws of Gods and Men" "Mockingbird" "The Mountain and the Viper" "The Watchers on the Wall" "The Children"
Season 5	"The Wars to Come" "The House of Black and White" "High Sparrow" "Sons of the Harpy" "Kill the Boy" "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken" "The Gift" "Hardhome" "The Dance of Dragons" "Mother's Mercy"
Season 6	"The Red Woman" "Home" "Oathbreaker" "Book of the Stranger" "The Door" "Blood of My Blood" "The Broken Man" "No One" "Battle of the Bastards" "The Winds of Winter"
Season 7	"Dragonstone" "Stormborn" "The Queen's Justice" "The Spoils of War" "Eastwatch" "Beyond the Wall" "The Dragon and the Wolf"
Season 8	"Winterfell" "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" "The Long Night" "The Last of the Starks" "The Bells" "The Iron Throne"