Game of Thrones season 4, episode 6, review: 'Tyrion Lannister is still the best character'

Sherlock's Mark Gatiss also gives a measured turn as a banker

Tyrion in the dock as he tries to defend his name (HBO)

It’s safe to say that after this week's episode of Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage has another Emmy Award for Best Actor in the bag.

Dinklage gave a superb performance, pouring out all of Tyrion’s bile towards his father for being born a dwarf. It was momentous and heart-breaking to watch all at the same time.

All of Tyrion’s sardonic witticisms that had us tittering in previous seasons were taken out of context and used against him. This episode is the reason why Tyrion is the best character on the show hands down but there is more to come – namely a battle by trial. If this all sounds oddly familiar, cast your minds back to season one in Eyrie. Where's Bronn when you need him?

Perhaps the hardest scene to watch was Shae’s testimony against Tyrion; it was the cruelest betrayal of all. Wasn’t she supposed to be on a boat headed somewhere far, far away?

Speaking of which, across the Narrow Sea, Daenerys was learning to be a queen. In the novels her storyline becomes arduous but luckily, the creators have truncated her plot thread to allow for greater progression and pace.

She may be the Khaleesi of a Dothraki horde and the Mother of Dragons but now she is earning her regal stripes by ruling over Meereen. Each week Emilia Clarke seems to be developing a greater sense of gravitas. While her story strand is less enthralling than other ones, it is still a meaty piece of Game of Thrones.

Elsewhere in Essos, Sherlock and Doctor Who fans saw Mark Gatiss’ long-awaited appearance on the show as Tycho Nestoris, a member of the Iron Bank of Braavos. He gave a measured turn as the banker, refusing to give Stannis a loan because the chance of default was too great. If only there were more bankers like him – Wall Street take note. There was not enough of Gatiss but hopefully it will not be the last we see of him.

As well as new faces, there were some familiar ones too. Yara Greyjoy returned - that’s Theon’s sister, you know, the one he unwittingly fondled while riding horseback. She did say she was going to rescue him at the end of season three but her attack did not go to plan when she discovered her sibling had basically gone mad.

Judging by Ramsay Bolton’s plans, Theon is going to become even more insane yet. It’s safe to say that Ramsay is now the most abhorrent character in Game of Thrones. With Joffrey now dead and gone, it was only a matter of time before someone else took up the baton.

Iwan Rheon is captivating and terrifying as Ramsay. The audience is never quite sure what he’s going to do next, he might even try to castrate Theon all over again – he can’t but that wouldn’t stop him from trying.

The Laws of Gods and Men was a solid episode, shifting from action film to courtroom drama without any jarring. Every performance was brilliant and this instalment offered viewers its fair shares of twists and turns.

Until next week, may the Gods judge Tyrion justly.