'Game of Thrones' Season 4, Episode 3 Review, Spoilers: Controversial 'Rape' Scene; King Joffrey Suspects Shortlist [Watch GOT 3x4 Promo Video]
"Game of Thrones" Season 4, Episode 3, titled "Breaker of Chains," tells the story of what happens next in Westeros after the so called Purple Wedding at King's Landing. Reviews of this episode are almost unanimous in citing the controversial scene between Cersei and Jaime a case of twincest rape. But what happened in the GRMM books?
Spoiler alert: This review contains spoilers on Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3. "Breaker of Chains" has several highlights, including the speech of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) in Meereen.
Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) is back to being Queen Regent in Westeros. Her son Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman) is next to the throne. In Game of Thrones Season 3, Episode 4, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) conditions the young boy to listen to grandpa so he does not die like the murdered King Joffrey. But who really killed King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson)?
Next to their son's dead body, Cersei asks Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) to kill their brother Tyrion (Peter Dinklage). Jaime protests, saying there should be a trial. What follows is a disturbing scene in which King Joffrey's twin parents violated his wake with sex. Many viewers of Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3 ranted on Twitter about the revolting act.
It was technically rape because Cersei had repeatedly said no. However, in the books "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George RR Martin, the sex was consensual. GRMM book readers know Jaime would not rape Cersei. But Game of Thrones HBO showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss probably wanted to show how conflicted Jaime is at this point in his post-Brienne life.
Tyrion is certain Cersei did not kill her son. Tywin Lannister and the rest of Westeros are in his list of suspects over King Joffrey's murder, but not Cersei. Also in GOT 4x3, Tywin confronts Prince Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal), but the latter says no child should pay for the sins of their parents or grandparents.
Lady Olenna Tyrell (Dianna Rigg) is another suspect who gets a screen time on Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3. The Lady tells granddaughter Margaery (Natalie Dormer) she is in a better place for not being a queen to King Joffrey. This makes grams the top suspect, together with another character who makes a timely appearance for the first time in Game of Thrones Season 4 -- Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen).
Littlefinger has finally taken Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) away from the Lannisters. But is his influence that vast to orchestrate the murder of King Joffrey? Many Game of Thrones viewers remain convinced that he conspired with Lady Olenna Tyrell to get Sansa back. The fierce grandma simply does not want her granddaughter to marry the awful king. Wetpaint summed up the murder of King Joffrey here.
Game of Thrones Season 4, Episode 3 presents the possible key players in King Joffrey's death. It could not have been a one-person job. As to who else is in the conspiracy, GOT fans have their own theories. Meanwhile, in Meereen, Daenerys makes a powerful speech and the "new" Daario Naharis slays for her glory.
WATCH: 'Game of Thrones' Season 4, Episode 4 (GOT 4x4) Promo Video | HBO on YouTube
Game of Thrones airs Sundays on HBO. The next new episode, titled "Oathkeeper," focuses on Jon Snow (Kit Harington), Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).
More TV Guide and Spoiler Features
'Game of Thrones' Season 4, Episode 2 Spoiler Photos, King Joffrey Speculations; Lord Varys, Bran Stark, Ramsay Snow [Watch Promo Video]
'Castle' Season 6 Finale Spoilers, Teasers: Stana Katic Says 'Goodbye' in Cryptic Tweet; NYPD Character Dies? [Watch Promo Video]
'The Good Wife' Season 5, Episode 17, 'Material World' Spoilers: Josh Charles Reveals Reasons for [SPOILERS]; Firms Merging into Season 6? [Watch Promo Video]