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| Bran and Bloodraven watch Young Ned, Lyanna and Benjen |
Bran and Bloodraven go to a Winterfell of the past in a vision and Bran watches Ned spar with Benjen. Lyanna rides through on a horse and Bran tells Bloodraven his father never spoke of her, then Hodor is there—speaking (and making us wonder what happened that took his words). Back under the tree Bran asks Hodor what happened. Of course the answer is Hodor. He then has Hodor take him out to Meera who looks depressed... she is done sitting there doing nothing. When Bran goes back in, Leaf tells Meera Bran will need him. He isn't going to stay at the wall forever.
Alliser tells Davos it is time and then the Watchmen begin to go at the door with axes. When they are almost in, louder pounding comes from elsewhere. They stop to stare as Wun Wun breaks through the gate at Castle Black and the wildlings poor in. Alliser calls Edd a traitor, but Edd says it is killing the Lord Commander that is being a traitor. Most of the Night's Watch who've been at the Castle throw down their arms and the killers are captured.
A braggart tells the story of Cersei walking past naked on her walk of shame and exaggerates to make it as insulting to Cersei as possible, then makes it out like she was interested in him. Later he is taking a piss in an alley and FrankenMountain breaks his head against the wall.
Cersei tries to go see Myrcella's body but the king has ordered she stay in the Red Keep. When Jaime asks why Tommen admits “he said she wouldn't be permitted in the sept” (meaning by the sparrows). Tommen and Jaime talk over Myrcella's body and Tommen admits he is ashamed to have not done anything to protect his wife and mother. In comes the high sparrow. Jaime sends Tommen to talk to his mother already. Jaime and the High Sparrow have words, Jaime threatening the man who seems unafraid to die, though he has dozens of sparrows there, so if Jaime kills him, it is clear Jaime will also die. Tommen comes to see Cersei. She is standoffish, until Tommen apologizes and admits he was scared of losing her. When Tommen admits he should have executed them all to save her and he wants her to help him be strong she finally melts some and hugs him.
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| So much awesome... |
Tyrion and team Dany discuss Meereen and dragons. The masters have retaken the cities besides Meereen. The dragons aren't eating. Tyrion says dragons don't do well in captivity. He asks Missendei if the dragons ever hurt her. He then explains dragon intelligence and the fact they recognize their friends. Tyrion and Varys go into the catacombs and Tyrion talks to the dragons. They seem to understand at least that he means to help them. He undoes their chains.
The waif attacks Arya and Arya ineffectually tries to fight back. At one point the waif has left and Arya is spinning circles, frantically hitting with her stick. Jaqen grabs it and asks who she is. He offers first shelter, then food, then her eyes, if Arya will say her name. Arya says each time “a girl has no name”. She has passed the test and Jaqen tells her to follow him. A girl is no longer a beggar.
Roose chastises Ramsay over the dead men who had been going after Sansa and Theon. Ramsay suggests sending forces to kill Jon Snow. Ramay lists their allies, the Karstarks, the Umbers and the Manderlys... or are they? (discussion below) Roose threatens Ramsay—telling him if he acts as a mad dog he will be treated as a mad dog. The Maester comes in and announces Lady Walda has delivered a boy. Ramsay hugs his da and then stabs him, then asks the Maester to send ravens to the northern houses that Roose was poisoned by enemies. He says to bring Lady Walda and the baby. He meets them, holds his little brother. She asks after Lord Bolton and Ramsay leads her to the kennels where he subdues the dogs, opens the pens, and then tells Walda HE is Lord Bolton. She begs to just be let to go south with her baby. They will cause no trouble. He whistles for the dogs to attack.
Brienne tells Sansa she saw Arya and she looked fine. Brienne asks what happened at Winterfell but all Sansa will say is she should have gone with Brienne when she met her before. Sansa and Theon discuss going north. Theon is sure Jon will kill him, but Sansa says she won't let him and when a man takes the black his crimes are forgiven. Theon says he doesn't want to be forgiven. That he would have taken her all the way there, but now she has Brienne he means to go home.
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| A bad place for a family reunion |
Balon and Yara argue, Balon being his typical ass self. He claims in the war of five kings he is the only one left (how does he know Stannis is dead?) Balon argues war and attacking and Yara argues protecting their people. He leaves and on the bridge between towers encounters his brother Euron who makes a lot of statements about being the storm which I will explain a bit below. As the bridge blows, Balon grasps the ropes and Euron looks perfectly at home. Euron then throws Balon off the bridge into the rocky ocean below. As Balon's body is found and sent to sea, Yara promises vengeance. She argues with Aeron Damphair about who will rule. There will be a King's Moot.
Davos knocks and comes for Melisandre, asking about whether she can bring Jon back. They have a touching conversation about faith where Davos says fuck the gods. He wants help from the woman who showed him miracles exist. She cleans Jon's body of blood, snips hair and throws it in the flames, and begins to chant magic words. Nothing happens. Tormund leaves and the others follow. Ghost stirs and Jon takes a gasping breath.
Further Analysis
Quotes I love
Bloodraven: “It is beautiful beneath the sea, but if you stay too long you will drown.”
Bran: “I wasn't drowning, I was home.”
Edd: “The only traitors here are the ones who shoved their knives into their Lord Commander's heart.”
The Storm: The Iron Islanders have a dichotomous god... as with many religions (God/Satan, R'hollor/the other) In the Iron Islands it is the Drowned God, who most worship, and The Storm. So for Euron coming in like this, he is basically saying I am Satan. And yes, he really believes he is a god.
Ohmygawd—Maisie's face acting when Jaqen says she can have her eyes back... the struggle and decision—so clear. Seriously—that is some major talent.
I believe we can trust that the Karstarks are true allies of the Boltons. Robb Stark cut off their Lord's head, after all. But if the Umbers and Manderlys are allies, I think it must have to do with hostages that guarantee their cooperation. I can't see any reason they would have left team Stark otherwise. I believe both lost people at the Red Wedding, so the opposite should actually be true. Home as a
Theme: Bran gets to see home, Arya brought back to the only home she has had since Winterfell, Theon heads home, Euron comes home
Review
This season keeps moving things along at a good pace. The big beats this week were Roose's death, Dragons free, Balon's death and Jon's awakening... say... if death pays for life... you think? In the books Balon has been long-dead, but I think the show can work with this. One king down, one up... But even though those were the big beats, all the storylines had real progress.
I loved Bran's vision and the connection to the backstory of the show. I wonder if we are going to learn what happens to Hodor. But we see in the previews we WILL learn what happens to Lyanna. And how satisfying was it to have Wun Wun break through that gate!? WUN WUN!!! Loved that! And I was glad most of the Night's Watch dropped their weapons and there was not a massacre. They will need those guys for their army.
The scene with Tommen asking Cersei to help him may prove as disastrous as Cersei arming the Faith militant. She may be his mother, but I am pretty sure Cersei's only mission right now is revenge, and she is not known for her strategic planning. Instead she is just going to lash out dangerously, perhaps insanely... And now she has looped Tommen into her madness, or so it seems. The good part of this is I think it may start the rift between Jaime and Cersei that the books have and that sets Jaime toward the Riverlands.
THE DRAGONS ARE FREE!!! I love that they didn't eat Tyrion. Seriously. There was a book plot with a character named Quentin (Tristane's older brother) that went very badly when he tried to free the dragons. So I'm glad that isn't where we went. I think Viseryon and Rhaegal have a debt of gratitude for Tyrion now, which should be fun to watch play out. Tyrion's bravery was impressive. I mean we've seen him be brave, but this is over and above.
Arya's beating was more of the same, but thankfully the last of its flavor. I like that they are moving this story along. She looks like she is now headed for some serious training—like what happened in episodes 1 and 2 was to let her know what it COULD be like, so how important it is for her to learn. She is on her way back to the House of Black and White though. YAY!!!
And HOLY COW... Ramsey hears his threats, learns he is a big brother, and then does in his father, followed by his stepmum and baby bro. Totally brutal, though I guess I figured it was coming. What is more interesting is what ELSE is now coming. Roose's alliance with the Lannisters died when he married Ramsay to Sansa. Now the Bolton alliance to the Freys is dead, since Ramsay killed Walda. Ramsay doesn't seem to be thinking very far ahead. He DOES however, seem to have his eyes on the Night's Watch and Jon Snow, who might threaten his position. Roose had said No... but Roose is no more... I like how all this was done and where it is headed. Ramsay by winning in the short run has set his own demise in motion, I think.
Loved Sansa's subtle smile hearing Arya wasn't dressed like a lady. “No, she wouldn't be.” I'm glad she now knows all her siblings, save Robb, may be alive. And her good-bye with Theon was extremely touching.
And finally Balon and Asha/Yara. She is thinking of their people, he is thinking of his own bloody legacy, or maybe he isn't thinking at all. I've been waiting for this death a while. In the books it is less direct (believed Euron paid a faceless man rather than doing it directly) and I have reason to believe that faceless man was Jaqen, but this streamlining makes sense. Whatever the case, Euron is poised to show up to challenge Yara in the King's Moot. Possibly Theon, too.
And finally JON! JON! I was a little surprised they didn't make it more complicated than this, but their decision to shorten the next two seasons and all Jon has to do means he does have a lot to do this season. So I am glad Jon is back. What did you think?
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