I’ve got a real love hate relationship for Game of Thrones.
I hate the vast amounts of politics, the incest, the deaths of so many characters. But ultimately my love for sword fights and castles and mystical creatures keeps me coming back for more.
There’s another element of Game of Thrones that keeps me hooked. Great dialogue.
And now that season 5 has officially started, I thought I’d take a stroll through season 4 and pick out the best ones.
Here’s the top 5 dialogue from HBO’s Game of Thrones Season 4.
I should warn you, the following could get a bit dark, and explicit. But if you’re a fan then you already know that. We are talking about Game of Thrones, after all.
The Hound talks to Polliver: Episode 1
Arya and the Hound reluctantly enter a tavern that’s been taken over by a bunch of Joffrey’s men.
They’re both hungry, plus Arya has a score to settle with someone named Polliver, so they sit at a table and contemplate their next move.
Polliver recognizes the Hound, comes over and starts talking about keeping the King’s peace (in a violent way) and having fun, then tries to convince him to join them on their journey to Kings Landing, doing anything they like to anyone they come across.
The Hound responds with a passionate “fuck the King”. You could imagine Polliver didn’t take that well, and here’s how the rest of it goes down:
Polliver: “When I heard that Geoffery’s dog had tucked tail and run from the Battle of the Blackwater, I didn’t believe it. But here you are…”
Hound: “Here I am. Bring me one of those chickens.”
Polliver: “You got money to pay for it?”
Hound: “You paid for it?”
Polliver: “No, but we’re the King’s men. So, you got money?”
Hound: “Not a penny… but I’ll still take that chicken.”
The dialogue gets better too, with the Hound drinking Polliver’s ale and demanding two chickens, followed by a threat “to eat every fucking chicken in this room”.
That really made me laugh.
Wildling talks to Child: Episode 3
The Wildlings roam the land, attacking villages and killing peasants.
A child hides in horror under a cart, watching the entire scene play out. A wildling grabs his ankles, pulls him out and carries him to the leader. Here’s what he says to the child:
Wildling: “You know how to get to castle Black?”
Child: “Yes.”
Wildling: “Those your parents? Open your eyes. I’m going to eat them. Do you hear me? I’m going to eat your dead mama, and I’m going to eat your dead papa. Go tell the crows at castle Black.”
I don’t know about you, but I really hate that guy.
Arya calls out her To-Kill List: Episode 5
While camping in the woods, Arya is calling out all the names of all the people she intends to kill. With the world as wicked as it is, the list is pretty long.
Just wanting to get some sleep, and growing tired of her endless droning, the Hound commands her to shut up.
Now Arya is unable to sleep unless she says the names, so he politely tells her to get it over with. Here’s her response:
Arya: “I’m almost done. Only one name left.”
Hound: “Go on!”
Arya: “The Hound.”
Ouch! Talk about ungrateful. Should have just told her to shut up.
Tyrion talks to Jury: Episode 6
Standing trial for a murder he did not commit, being judged by his own father, Tyrion has never had it harder.
He tries to keep his cool, something he has been terribly good at, until the final straw finally cracked his back: his ex-girlfriend.
After hearing her speak, he confesses to his father Lord Tywin that he’s guilty of being a dwarf. Tywin chuckles and continues:
Lord Tywin: “You’re not on trial for being a dwarf.”
Tyrion: “Oh, yes I am. I’ve been on trial for that my entire life.”
Lord Tywin: “Have you nothing to say in your defence?”
Tyrion: “Nothing but this. I did not do it. I did not kill Joffrey, but I wish that I had. Watching your vicious bastard die gave me more relief than a thousand lying whores. I wish I was the monster that you think I am. I wish I had enough poison for the whole pack of you. I would gladly give my life to watch you all swallow it.”
Hmm, nothing like a good woman to release the tension… ahem… I mean, the truth.
Brandon talks to Old Tree-Man: Episode 10
Brandon and his group of weird adventurers are trudging through the icy hills when they get attacked by walking skeletons.
They’re rescued by a little tree-girl capable of throwing big fireballs.
They run into the protection of a cave and venture into a chamber of bones where they encounter an old man entangled in roots.
The old tree-man explains how he’d been watching them the entire time and that Jojen accepted death just to lead them to him. The strange dialogue continues like this:
Brandon: “I didn’t want anyone to die for me.”
Old tree-man: “He died so you could find what you have lost.”
Brandon: “You are going to help me walk again.”
Old tree-man: “You will never walk again, but you will fly.”
So these are my top 5 dialogues from HBO’s Game of Thrones season 4. Did I miss any? Let me know what you think or what’s yours in the comments.
Now excuse me while I go catch up on season 5.
HBO has quite the track record for producing shows with expertly written dialogue. Game of Thrones (with which I also share a love/hate relationship) is certainly no exception! Between the original author’s writings in the novels and the team of wizards on the production floor for the show, we get great stuff like this.
For the same reasons you keep coming back to GoT (and possibly the same reasons that you don’t like it), you really ought to check out another great show called Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010). Takes place in Ancient Rome. It was extremely bloody, rife with witty and profound dialogue, and as a Starz original, was geared specifically for adults in every way you can imagine.
One day I’ll catch up with Game of Thrones. This post has reignited my interest!
Yes, I heard about Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
I tried watching it but there was even more politics and adult content that GoT so I really couldn’t take it.
But if you say the dialogue is also great then maybe I’ll give it another chance.
Well Jevon, I watched Game of Thrones as long as I could. They only showed a certain number of reruns here until they ran out. They’ll probably show some more when they can get them. That’s how they do it here. It is good dialogue. I agree.
Damn, Suzanne. Well I hope they get more reruns soon because it sounds like you were enjoying them.
When are we going to get some more of your fantasy writings?? I’m missing it. You are so gifted. Why are you doing only reviews??
Sorry about that, but great fantasy also takes great time to write. I’m working on two projects right now so stay tuned. I’ll definitely let you know when they are ready for the world.
But, in the mean time, I can point you in the direction of other great works of sci-fi/fantasy that I, and you, can enjoy.
Jevon, your picks are some of the best for me too. Tyrion’s entire dialogue during that trial is down as some of my favourite in the entire show. But then again, I am an unashamed Tyrion fan. His gift of gab in Game of Thrones is part of what kept me, and still keeps me, so enthralled.