Season 6, Episode 8: No One: Recap and Review

Recap

First mothering Arya has received in years

Lady Crane has added Arya's suggested anger at the end of her speech. When she gets back to her dressing room she finds Arya and helps patch her up. She apparently has some experience with patching up knife holes. Lady Crane invites her to Pentos but Arya says nobody will be safe with her. She is given milk of the poppy as she needs sleep to heal.

The Hound finds some of the Brotherhood and slaughters them in vengeance for the village. 

Meereen seems to have found some order. A Red Priestess preaches how Dany saved them. Tyrion is proud, Varys skeptical. Varys is leaving for friends in Westeros and Tyrion will miss him.

Qyburn lets Cersei know several members of the faith are there to see her. The king allowed them in. Cersei goes to meet them. The High Sparrow wants to see her at the High Sept but she refuses and “chooses violence”. The Mountain kills the faith militant guy who attacks him.

Brienne and Pod look down on Jaime's siege. Brienne asks the men to speak with Ser Jaime Lannister. Bronn nabs Pod and teaches him a few tricks about dirty fighting, pondering what Jaime and Brienne are up to—he points out the mutual attraction between Jaime and Brienne. Jaime is surprised Brienne found Sansa. He points out Cersei still wants Sansa for Joffrey's murder. The two bicker about Tully's, castles, and politics. Brienne calls on him to be honorable and convinces him to let her try to convince the Blackfish to give up the castle to go north to fight for Sansa. They make a deal. She tries to give Oathkeeper back, but Jaime says it's hers. She admits if she fails and he attacks, that honor compels her to fight with Sansa's kin.

Oh, come on, you stubborn old goat...

The Blackfish is not yielding. He doesn't want to hear the plea and even if Brienne finally convinces him to read the letter and note Sansa is exactly like Catelyn, he still refuses. Brienne sends a note back to Sansa that she failed. 

Cersei enters the full throne room but is denied access to stand beside Tommen. The other ladies of the court act like she is contagious. Tommen announces that Trial By Combat is no longer a thing... Qyburn tells Cersei the rumor he investigated is much more than that.

Tyrion is smug, plying Greyworm and Missendei with wine. He dreams of having his own vinyard one day. He tries to convince them to tell jokes, but it goes rather poorly, though Missendei is giggly with wine when they hear the bells that they are under attack. The masters have come for their property.

Straight from the books (but easier to read as Jaime is bluffing)

Jaime talks to Edmure, promising to let him see his family. Edmure is skeptical, asking how Jaime lives with himself. The two discuss their sisters and the love the two had for their children. Jaime makes threats for what he will do if he must to get back to Cersei. But then we see Edmure approach Riverrun and demand entry. The Blackfish commands they refuse, but the men let him in because he is the lord. He then yields the castle to Jaime. His men obey but are clearly disappointed.

The Blackfish helps Brienne and Pod flee, but stays to fight. Jaime waves as Brienne and Pod sail off.

The slavers are firing flame into Meereen. So much for Tyrion's peace. Greyworm says the pyramid is the only defensible place, so they will wait. A noise alerts them of something... Dany is back...

The Hound finds the REAL Brotherhood hanging the violent pretenders. They have a common mission. They bicker but agree The Hound can kill two of them, but not by ax. He knocks the block out from under two. He then takes Lem's boots. The Brotherhood tries to convince him to join them. They remind him how it went when he walked away from the fighting.

Lady Crane checks on Arya then stands on a chair to get some potion and somebody comes in. It is the waif, who kills her. Arya is awoken, sees her, then leaps off the balcony to escape the waif. There is a long tense chase involving a lot of falling, jumping and bleeding. Many market goods are knocked about and a bathhouse is trespassed upon. Arya makes her way to a room and the waif asks on her knees or on her feet. Arya stands with Needle and slices off the candle.

Arya is going home!!!!

Jaqen follows the blood in the House of Black and White, past the pool, down the stairs, and to the Hall of Faces where he finds the dripping face of the waif. Arya holds Needle to Jaqen. He says, “Finally a girl is No One.” Arya says “A girl is Arya Stark of Winterfell, and I am going home.” He looks pleased.


Review 

Lady Crane inviting Arya to come be the new actress is a nice book nod—in the books Arya plays the Sansa character in the play as the actress did who has disappeared.

Varys can't go off on a secret mission in the company of the most famous dwarf in the city... Tyrion corrects the world. I just like the meta-moment here—Peter Dinklage is probably the most famous dwarf in the world... Man I hope Varys is off to meet his book plot.

I adore the dynamic between Jaime and Brienne—so much sexual tension. He admires her, even if he feels compelled to play Lannister loyalist.

Cersei is devastated by Tommen's ruling, betrayed by her son.

While it is frustrating to watch Edmure play into Jaime's hands, it is exactly how the book plot goes (less Brienne). It is all good for Jaime, and it is spot on for both Edmure and Blackfish's characters. I just wish Edmure had a spine.

Missendei and Greyworm are the exceptions that prove the rule about Tyrion making scenes fabulous. These scenes have been a bit painful. I'm not sure why the writers can't manage more here. To top it off, Tyrion's plan has backfired. But at least at the end Dany is back.

I really liked the Hound's interactions with the real Brotherhood. There was a bit of put down banter, but actual respect underneath. And I feel like The Hound is leaning toward joining them—maybe he will be the person to set the Brotherhood onto the Frey/Lannister punishment.

I've seen a lot of people really disappointed with this Arya sequence. A lot of far out speculation as to what was going on raised expectations, but I really felt like the show was never going to go that far outside the box anyway. This went exactly the way I thought it might. I was sad Lady Crane was killed, but it made sense and while some feel cheated at not seeing the actual fight, I thought slicing off the candle was fitting, and they could hardly do that AND show us the fight. And then I really liked that final Arya Jaqen scene.

Overall I've seen a lot of grumbling about how bad this episode was and I just didn't think so. If it had been in season 5 it would have been one of the best. This season has just kept the bar so high. And next week should be epic. So what did you think?