15 Times S**t Got Real In Game Of Thrones
3. Oberyn's Threat
Prince Oberyn Martell had one of the best introductions of any character in the show. What started as a strangely tense interaction in a brothel turned into something much more sinister.
Even the man's entrance in to the room was full of lethal promise. There is something about a character attempting to placate their seemingly calm friend that sets you on edge. This is the function of Ellaria here. Continuing the antagonistic conversation with the Lannister men, Oberyn allows a little of his hatred to come to the surface to provoke attack.
The flash of violence was made worse by how inevitable the result seemed. The Red Viper is revealed as a cunning and dangerous foe. Tyrion and Bronn's entrance provides us with a welcome reprieve but Tyrion appears to be at a rare disadvantage. The history between the two families is something Tyrion doesn't even attempt to talk his way out of.
Oberyn insists on taking us and Tyrion on a trip down memory lane. A story we've heard before but this telling really informs the new character and gives us a rare sense that the past will come back to haunt the characters. His treatment of Tyrion and his overall predatory demeanour set up Oberyn's arc the most compelling next to Tyrion's trial.