The Rewatch Project: Season 4, Episode 5: First of His Name

Recap

Tommen is crowned by the High Septon. People come to bow for him and he makes eyes at Margaery, then Cersei steps between them. She and Margaery discuss Joffrey, Tommen and marriage.

Jorah tells Dany Joffrey's dead and they've taken the Meereenese Navy. They discuss if it's enough to take King's Landing. Barristan feels the time is right, but Jorah reminds her they need to take all of Westeros, not just King's Landing. They argue about what support she will have, but then Jorah tells her in Yunkai, the wise master's have retaken the city. And in Astapor a butcher has declared himself King. She asks all but Jorah to leave. He says Westeros has never been so vulnerable. She says she won't see those she's freed slide back into chains. She is going to stay and rule.

Petyr and Sansa arrive at the Vale. He tells her about the pass then introduces her at the gate as his niece Alayne. Sweetrobin is excited to see Petyr. Lysa greets Sansa sweetly. Lysa asks Robin to show Sansa to her chambers, then she mauls Petyr and insists they get married that night. She prattles on about the things she's done for him, including poisoning her husband and blaming the Lannisters. He tells her never to speak of it. He agrees to marry and she brings in the septon.

Cersei and Tywin discuss Tommen and Margaery's wedding. They talk about husbands and gold. Tywin admits the Lannister mines are done. They've been borrowing. He reinforces the importance of paying back the Iron Bank. Tywin refuses to discuss Tyrion's trial, so Cersei discusses the Lannister legacy.

Arya lists her names. The Hound tells her to shut up. It is her kill list and they discuss the Mountain. He tells her to get her list over with. She says one last name. The Hound.

Lysa brings food for Sansa and tells her of Cat's sweet tooth. Lysa wonders why Petyr cares so much for Sansa and freaks out, twisting Sansa's words, accusing her of letting Petyr do things to her body. She holds Sansa's hands painfully and Sansa finally convinces her nothing happened. Lysa then hugs her and says when she is widowed she will be free to marry Robin.

Brienne and Pod rid, Pod badly. Brienne keeps trying to put him off but he sticks with her.

Arya water dances. The Hound says that is no way to fight. She brags about her teacher Syrio Forrell but the Hound is not impressed by someone killed by Meryn Trant. He lets her try to stab him but his armor stops the blade and he hits her and takes her sword to prove a point.

Oberyn writes poetry in the gardens and Cersei comes to ask him to walk with her. They talk of daughters and gods and not being able to protect those they love. She shows him a boat and asks him to see it delivered to Myrcella.

Pod catches a rabbit on fire because he didn't know to skin it. He's never cooked. Brienne is fairly brutal to him as useless until he admits he killed a King's Guard who was trying to kill Tyrion. She asks for help with her armor.

Locke scouts Craster's Keep and finds Bran. Jojen tells Bran not to let anything stop him He talks of the great tree. He says this isn't the end. Locke reports back. Eleven men, mostly drunk. He tells them to steer clear of the hut he knows Bran is in, reporting it has hounds that aren't worth the danger. Karl come for Meera and is gross and suggestive. Jojen tells him if he lets her know, he can help, tell him about things that have not happened yet. “I saw you die tonight.” Then the shouting and fighting start. Locke comes to “rescue” Bran, cutting him to verify who he is. Bran wargs Hodor who breaks free and breaks Locke's neck. Hodor is distressed when Bran returns to himself, but Bran directs him to free the Reeds. Jojen convinces Bran not to call to Jon since he needs to go north. Jon finds Karl and fights him with the help of one of Craster's wives. Jon's crew lost four and killed ten. Rast has disappeared. But Ghost found him. Jon and Ghost have a nice reunion. Craster's wives want to go on their own, but burn Craster's and all the dead.


Review

This was a strong episode. Dany, Lysa and Brienne bugged me a little, but Lysa is SUPPOSED to be nuts and Brienne came around. It is just her personality to be sort of crusty. I always love Arya and the Hound, and the fight at Craster's was satisfying, especially the emotional roller coaster with Bran's crew. And the negatives were much less negative than the last couple episodes have had, even if there were no great moments of awe. Overall it was solid.

The Rewatch Project: Season 4, Episode 4, Oathkeeper

Recap

Missendei teaches Greyworm the common tongue. They talk of their homelands, but Greyworm doesn't remember. Dany checks on lessons and retrieves Greyworm. It's time to arm the slaves. A group of Unsullied go in with weapons and tell them they need to free themselves. The slaves kill many masters and then flock to Dany shouting “Mhyssa! She asks how many slaves the masters nailed along the trail. Barristan urges mercy, but she declares she will give justice.

Bronn and Jaime spar, Bronn guilting Jaime about not going to see Tyrion in his dungeon cell. It works. Jaime and Tyrion discuss the trial. Jaime admits Cersei asked him to kill Tyrion and asks if Tyrion is guilty. Tyrion asks if Jaime would free him, but Jaime claims he can't.. Tyrion says he's innocent and Jaime naively claims the trial will show that so Tyrion points out all the ways the trial will not be fair.

Sansa and Petyr discuss travel plans. She asks if he killed Joffrey. They discuss who helped and he gives his philosophy of keeping his foes confused. He says he'd risk everything to get what he wants, which is everything.

Lady Olenna and Margaery stroll and discuss Olenna leaving. Olenna asks if Margaery had been to see Tommen, then tells a story of her own betrothal. She advises Margaery to win Tommen while Cersei is distracted . She as good as confesses to killing Joffrey.

Brothers spar at Castle Black and Jon trains recruits. Locke is brutal with his fellow recruit. Alliser scolds Jon and reminds him he is a steward. Janos points out Alliser isn't liked and a choosing is coming. He suggests allowing Jon to go to Crasters, suggesting he will get himself killed. Locke tries to ingratiate himself to Jon.

Cersei sends for Jaime to ask about Tommen's protection. She asks why Catelyn set Jaime free and then asks Jaime what he'd so if she sent him to bring back Sansa's head. She knows he went to see Tyrion. Jaime says Tyrion didn't do it. Cersei demands four King's Guard to watch Tommen at all times.

Tommen wakes to a secret visit from Margaery. He is startled at first, but she is sweet and a little sexy, telling him they should get to know each other. She then makes friends with Ser Pounce.

Brienne reads from the Book of Brothers. Jaime hands her a valyrian steel sword and tells her it is hers to find and protect Lady Stark's daughters. He also gives her a new suit of armor. Brienne promises to find Sansa. They both guess Arya is dead. He then gives her a final gift. Pod. As they leave Jaime asks what she will name the sword and she dubs it Oathkeeper.

Sam frets about Gilly. No one is to leave the Castle. They discuss Bran and where he'd go. Locke interrupts to tell him he is wanted. At a meeting Alliser says Jon can go deal with the mutineers, but only with volunteers. Jon asks for them and gets ten-ish, including Locke who says he will take his vows immediately so he can go.

Karl, Rast and the other mutineers eat, rape and gloat. Karl tells Rast to go feed the beast. Rast hesitates and Karl bullies him a bit, then a woman comes in with a baby and the women all start chanting “gift to the gods”. Karl thinks they mean kill it, but they clarify that it is offered, so he puts it in Rast's hands and tells him to take it out. Rast takes the baby out and leaves it, then taunts Ghost who growls. It gets suddenly cold and the water he has poured out freezes.

Bran's group hears the baby. Bran wants to go, so he wargs Summer and goes to investigate. Unfortanatly, as he sees Ghost in the cage, he gets caught in a trap. Bran wakes and tells them and they got to investigate, but are captured.

Hodor is taunted and poked at, the others questioned. Carl hits Bran and Jojen has a fit.

A White Walker takes the baby to a ring of stones in the center of a big lake and puts it on a platform. A group comes to stand in a circle and the Night's King comes to the middle, picks up the baby, and pokes his cheek. The baby's eyes turn blue.


Review

Stuff to love. Stuff not to love. Dany, Sansa and Castle Black were fine. Except the Sam/Gilly stuff--liked that less. I really was not a fan of the Craster's stuff, but I get the point in the storytelling. I really loved both Margaery scenes--with Olenna and Tommen. And my FAVORITE was Jaime sending Brienne off with sword, armor and Pod. So well done.

The Rewatch Project: Season 4, Episode 3: Breaker of Chains

Recap

Cersei has Tyrion taken and calls for them to grab Sansa but she's gone. Dontos leads Sansa to a cover and helps her into a rowboat, then rows her out to a ship hidden by fog, which somehow takes until it is dark outside.

Petyr pulls her onto the ship, then has a bolt shot through Ser Dontos. Sansa is shocked but Petyr explains how Dontos was only a pawn. He tells her his role in Joffrey's death.

Margaery asks if she's still queen. Lady Olenna talks of her own husband's death and how much better off Margaery will be with Tommen instead of Joffrey.

Cersei and Tommen stand over Joffrey's body. Tywin talks to Tommen of what makes a good king, especially listening to those who know more. He then explains that the king needs to marry. On their way out Jaime checks with Tommen, then asks the guards to leave. Cersei says it was Tyrion and asks Jaime to kill him. Jaime says they will get to the truth and then he basically rapes her.

The Hound and Arya are found by the landowner and Arya's tale gets them invited for supper and told they can sleep in the barn. They pray over stew, to the Hound's annoyance, then eat as if it is the first time in days. The man invites the Hound to stay on—protect the farm, fair work for fair wages. The Hound agrees, but then robs them in the morning. Arya is furious.

At the wall Ser Alliser is telling the crimes of the various men to Janos, then Janos asks Sam if he is going to see his whore. Sam frets to Gilly. The men don't believe Sam killed a whitewalker. Sam and Gilly pluck geese and Sam tells her he worries about her. He suggests she'd be safer in Mole's Town.

Stannis has Davos read that's Joffrey's dead. He credits the blood of the bastard Davos sent away. He says he needs him now. They discuss which houses they can count on and it's not enough. Davos suggests sellswords.

Davos comes to read with Shireen. As they discuss pirating and Bravos. Davos comes to the Iron Bank and an idea sparks. He asks Shireen to write a letter.

Sam and Gilly get to Mole's Town and make an agreement for Gilly to do laundry at the Whore House. Sam insists no other work.

Ellaria, Oberyn and the whores have a romp at Littlefinger's. Tywin interrupts. Oberyn expresses condolences about Joffrey. Tywin asks Oberyn about poisons and what Oberyn and Tyrion discussed. Tywin denies being involved in Elia's murder and offers Oberyn a chance to question the Mountain if he will sit on the judging trio over Tyrion's trial and sit on the small counsel.

Pod visits Tyrion's cell. He brought candle, quill, paper and snacks. Pod says there will be a trial in a fortnight and the judges are Tywin, Mace and Prince Oberyn. Pod is to get a list of witnesses. When Tyrion names Sansa he learns she has disappeared. Tyrion mentions Varys and learns he's been called for the prosecution. Bronn is under suspicion himself. Finally Pod agrees to find Jaime. Pod says a man approached him to get him to testify for the crown. He refused, so Tyrion tells him he has to leave King's Landing for his own safety. They have a touching parting.

Ollie's village is attacked by wildlings. Fucking Thenns. The main Then tells Ollie to go to Castle Black and tell them what he saw. At Castle Black they argue, go after the Wildlings or stay to defend the Wall. Grenn, Edd, and others get back from up north and tell them the mutineers hold Craster's. Jon says they have to go get them or the Wildlings to the north will know how few men man the Wall.

Dany reaches Meereen outside the wall. They send out a champion who does the Monty Python French Taunting in Valyrian. Dany allows Daario to be her champion. He throws a knife and kills the man. Then Dany speaks to the slaves telling them they need to take their own freedom. She then fires barrels of slave collars into the city with catapults. You can see the slaves processing that these came off freed men.


Review

I liked much of this episode, but the scene with Jaime raping Cersei really tarnishes it. The problem for me is not so much that it happens—it also happens in the book. But in the books the timing is really different and it makes much more sense. Here Jaime has been back for weeks and Cersei and he have interacted—he could have pressed her before this and so it messes with his redemption arc a lot. In the books it is the first time he has seen her in many months and there is a component of “too overjoyed to control himself” to her, and he has not yet had time to talk to Cersei to realize his feelings about her have changed. So his redemption arc keeps moving.

I'm also not a fan of Sam taking Gilly to Mole's Town or the Wildling attack on the village, and this Arya/Hound scene is less awesome than most.

On the other hand, there was some fabulosity, too. I liked Sansa's escape, the Davos scenes, and I liked the “French Taunting” from the Meereen champion, though am glad he also lost to Daario. I also really loved Tyrion's meeting with Pod.

The Rewatch Project: Season 4, Episode 2: The Lion and the Rose

Recap 

Ramsey and Miranda hunt Tansy with Reek hobbling along behind.

Tyrion and Jaime share a meal. Or rather Tyrion eats and Jaime mopes. He says he can't fight left handed. Tyrion says he needs a discreet sparring partner and he has just the one. Jaime and Bronn are then seen sparring, Bronn using dirty tricks to get across what a one-handed man might need to stay alive.

Roose arrives at Winterfell with his new bride. Ramsey and Locke bond over their mutual sadism. Ramsey brings Reek to Roose who is angry over the flaying. Theon admits to Roose he didn't kill the Stark boys, then as he is shaving Ramsey, learns Roose killed Robb. Because all the names have to start with R. Roose sends Locke to find the boys and suggests starting with Jon at Castle Black. He then sends Ramsey and Theon to take back Moat Cailin.

Varys warns Tyrion that Shae has been noticed.

Mace Tyrell gives Joffrey a wedding cup. Cersei points Shae out to Tywin. Tyrion gives Joffrey a book all kings should read. Joffrey is surprisingly gracious. Tywin gives Joffrey a Valyrian Steel sword. Joffrey uses it to cut the book, then asks for help from the crowd to name it. They settle on Widow's Wail.

Tyrion ends things with Shae—she is particularly obstinate so he has to be mean about it. He then sends her with Bronn to get on a ship.

Lady Melisadre burns Selyse's brother as a sacrifice. Selyse is giddy about it, swearing she sees their souls freed to the Lord of Light. Ser Davos criticizes but Stannis insists they were infidels. At dinner Selyse tells of the siege at Storm's End and Melisandre shares of her childhood hunger. Selyse frets over Shireen and wants to beat her, but Stannis says no. They compromise by sending Melisandre to talk to her. Shireen was upset about the burning of her uncle. They discuss religion. Mel claims the only hell is the one we are living in.

Summer hunts and then Hodor wakes Bram. Jojen warns of spending too much time in Summer's skin. They find a weirwood and Bran asks to go to it. He sees a string of visions including where they need to go.

Margaery walks the aisle, takes Joffrey's arm, then he cloaks her, the septon binds their wrists, and they kiss.

Outside at the giant reception party Lady Olenna and Tywin discuss extravagance and money. The camera pans it all. Bronn assures Tyrion Shae got on a ship. Olenna adjusts Sansa's necklace and gives sympathy about Robb's death. She invites Sansa to High Garden, then excuses herself. Musicians play. Joffrey throws coins. Margaery suggests it's time for the announcement, so Joffrey announces HER and she announces the leftover food will go to feed the poor.

Loras and Jaime discuss Loras's pending marriage to Cersei. Jaime warns him off of it. Cersei stops Brienne to thank her for returning Jaime, then calls her on being in love with him. Cersei then demands Pycelle make sure the extra food goes to the hounds, not the poor. Dontos juggles. Cersei and Tywin talk to Oberyn and Ellaria. Cersei comments on “Sands” but Oberyn gets the better of her, reminding her she should be glad Dorne is different from King's Landing and finds rape and the murder of children distasteful.

Joffrey calls for the Historical Reenactment of the War of Five Kings. As played by dwarfs. Through the performance most everybody is offended at some point. Sansa looks devastated. Even Margaery looks disgusted. Joffrey holds the purse but then suggests Tyrion spar with them. Tyrion makes a joke of it but Joffrey takes offense. He comes over and pours wine on Tyrions head. Tyrion says it is good—too bad it spilled. The interaction keeps escalating with Tyrion offering repeated chances for Joffrey to walk away with dignity, but Joffrey keeps upping the ante, finally forcing Tyrion to act as his cup bearer. Tyrion fills his goblet then Joffrey sets it aside and cuts the pie.

Doves fly out. A piece is brought for Joffrey and Margaery. Tyrion and Sansa try to leave but Joffrey insists they stay, then Joffrey drinks. And coughs. He is choking. Jaime and Cersei run for him. Ser Dontos tells Sansa it is time to leave. Joffrey points at Tyrion as he dies. Cersei calls to seize Tyrion.


Review

I loved all the wedding-related stuff of this episode. A lot. And most of the other stuff was fine, too. But there are two scenes in this episode that bug me quite a lot. I hated the Ramsey hunting Tansy bit. I would rather have heard that as a story, I think. I mean I get it. But it's hard to watch. And then I had Melisandre burning Axyl Florent. That one I am more convinced we needed to see, but I still didn't like it. Everything about the wedding though, was SO top notch that the couple things that bugged me don't take down my overall rating of the episode all that much.

Rewatch Project: Season 4 Episode 1: Two Swords

Recap

Tywin has Ice melted down to make two Valyrian Steele swords. He gives one to Jaime, then tells him it is time to go home. He will be relieved of the King's Guard. Jaime says no, so Tywin disowns him, but he lets him keep the sword.

Trion, Pod and Bronn await Prince Doran from Dorne. When the party arrives they are informed Prince Doran is too ill to travel and has send his brother Prince Oberon in his stead. Prince Oberon however, arrived before dawn. Tyrion and Bronn set out to look for him. They find him and his lover Ellaria in Littlefinger's brothel. They had been enjoying several prostitutes but a couple Lannister soldiers were extremely rude, and so when Tyrion arrives, Oberon is getting the best of them.

Tyrion takes Oberon for a private talk and asks honestly why Oberon is there. Oberon gives the brief version of his sister Elia, her children, and Prince Rhaegar who left her for another woman. He then tells of the Mountain raping and killing her and then killing the children and his belief that if the Mountain did the deed, Tywin gave the order. He tells Tyrion to tell his father the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts.

Dany scratches Drogon behind the ears then the dragons have a scuffle over a sheep that shows their ferocity (and danger). Jorah tells her they can never be tamed. She then checks on her army and finds Daario and Greyworm in a contest to see who gets to ride at her side. She says neither as they kept her waiting.

Sansa's not eating. Shae tries to convince her, then she and Tyrion talk. He tries to convince her her mother would want her to carry on, but she leaves for the Godswood. Tyrion finds Shae in his bed, but refuses her. Their exchange is overheard by the bitchy spymaid.

Qyburn checks Jaime's hand and fits the gold one then leaves. Jaime and Cersei discuss Qyburn, Pycelle and Cersei's drinking, then Jaime admits he was disowned. Jaime tries to get cozy but Cersei says it is all different—he was gone too long. The spymaid comes in with her news.

Ygritte makes arrows and Tormund accuses her of letting Jon go. Then the Thenns arrive. Everybody hates Thenns, not least because they are cannibals.

The Night's Watch trains and Jon tells Sam about Robb (who he has just learned was killed). Jon then faces the Watch leaders to account for his “traitorous behavior”. Aemon, at least, believes he was acting on orders and he is allowed off the hook, though Janos Slynt was a right prick. Jon warns them of the attack that is pending from both sides of the wall.

Olenna hates all the necklaces being considered for Margaery's wedding and sends her hens off to find a better one. Brienne comes to pay her respects and Lady Olenna thinks she is marvelous. Brienne has a word with Margaery to tell her how Renly died.

Joffrey poses like a prat as Jaime and Ser Meryn discuss wedding security. Joffrey peruses the Book of Brothers and mocks Jaime for his lack of deeds, then insults his potential, now that he is old and only has one hand.

Dany's army marches whild Dany and Missendei discuss Meereen. Daario comes to discuss strategy. He shows her three flowers, each telling her something different about the people. She is impressed in spite of herself. They then reach a series of crucified slaves, one at each mile marker. Dany wants to look on each face before they are taken down, de-collared, and buried.

Brienne and Jaime observe Sansa. They debate how to keep their oath now that Lady Caitlyn is dead and Sansa is married to Tyrion. When Sansa is done “praying” Ser Dontos approaches her and begs she take his family necklace so it can have one last moment in the limelight.

Arya and the Hound come upon an Inn. Arya spots Poliver and in spite of the Hound wanting to just move on, she moves toward the Inn. The two are spotted, so have to go inside or it will look suspicious. The Lannister men inside are abusing the Inn keeper's daughter and taking whatever they like. Poliver comes to talk to the Hound. He doesn't recognize Arya. The Hound gets increasingly belligerent and a fight breaks out. Arya just watches at first, until she manages to get hold of a sword. Then she kills one soldier and hamstrings Poliver. She runs through the dialog of what he said to Lommy before killing him, then says what he said to Arya on taking Needle (That's a nice little bladed. Maybe I'll pick my teeth with it) before running Needle through his throat. They ride off, Arya now on her own horse and armed with her own sword.


Review

This is my favorite season opener since Season 1. Truly. I love the sword motif throughout, and the last scene with Arya and the Hound has some of the best quotes of the entire series (most delivered by the Hound). The introduction of Prince Oberon was also extremely well done. I love everything about Pedro Pescal's portrayal, and that was not a given. The character is larger than life and it would have been easy for him to have ended up a caricature.

The Thenns are a little overdone. Especially as, in the books, the Thenns are the tribe north of the wall that actually has royalty and works with iron—the most advanced of the tribes, if you will. But I suppose there is a point to having one tribe of hated Wildlings to allow the rest to be more forgivable.

New Daario is even less Daario than original Daario, but he is hot and I like the actor. I don't think he does a bad job. I just sort of wish they'd kept the character flamboyance from the books. Blue hair. Gold tooth.

Lady Olenna was awesome as always.

And man, Joffrey... he raises prattishness to entirely new levels, eh? He is such a jerk about Jaime. Looking forward to his wedding...

Season 6, Episode 10: Winds of Winter: Recap and Review

Recap

Bells toll. People are dressed (nobody seems able to dress him or herself except the High Sparrow). People feed into the Sept of Baelor as Loras shivers and prays. The seven septons sit. Pycelle fails to pay his whore. A little bird passes a message to Pycelle and Loras is brought in for his trial. Loras confesses guilt to everything. He kneels before the mother and repents, giving up his lands and titles and committing to the faith. Then they give him that bad forehead tattoo.

Tommen goes to leave and the Mountain blocks him. Margaery asks why the High Sparrow mutilated Loras and where Cersei is. The High Sparrow sends Lancel for her, but Lancel spots one of the little birds, so sends the others for Cersei and follows the little bird down under the sept. Pycelle wonders where the King is, but all he finds is Qyburn. Qyburn’s birds attack. Lancel keeps following. And gets stabbed for his efforts, then left down in the tunnels. Margaery smells a rat as Lancel spots the barrels. There are candles ahead and he crawls toward them. Margaery warns the High Sparrow but he won’t hear here. Candles melt, bringing the flame ever near the pools of wildfyre they sit in. The Faith Militant blocks people from leaving. And wildfyre levels the place… Cersei smiles. Tommen watches in horror.

Cersei pours wine on Septa Unella telling her to confess. The Septa is tied to a table. Cersei confesses pretty much everything to her, telling her it felt good. The Septa welcomes death but it isn’t death Cersei has in mind, at least not yet. She calls in Ser Gregor. He takes off his helmet and Cersei leaves Septa Unella to him.

Tommen gets the news and proceeds to jump out his window.

Walder Frey raises a toast to houses Lannister and Frey. Jaime seems to have indigestion. Bronn admires girls, though he seems disgusted that all the girls want Jaime. Jaime calls over two girls to attend to Bronn. Walder sits down and gloats. He says Edmure is back in a cell. Jaime asks about Walder’s history fighting. Frey says he has defeated his enemies. He draws parallels with Jaime and Jaime looks disgusted. Jaime points out that it is the Lannisters people fear. And that if they have to ride north every time the Freys lose Riverrun, why do they need the Freys? Walder looks confused.

Qyburn shows Cersei Tommen’s body. There is no sept for his funeral. Cersei says to burn him and bury his ashes where the sept was, as that is where his family is.

Sam and Gilly arrive at Old Town. The white ravens are all being sent out en masse. At the Citadel they seem to be backed up on information. They still have Mormont listed as Lord Commander at the Knight’s Watch and Maester Aemon as the Maester. Sam is told the arch master will discuss the irregularities with Sam but in the meantime he can use the library. Gilly and baby Sam cannot—no women or children. And… LIBRARY!!!

A white raven flies toward Winterfell. Jon tells Melisandre about his history in the great hall and she reminds him he was lucky to have a family and feasts. Davos comes in and tosses the stag to Melisandre then demands she tell Jon who it belonged to and what she did to her. She admits to burning her. Davos asks why. She claims it was the only way and that her father and mother killed her, too. Davos points out they are all dead. She says she was wrong and he asks how many died because she was wrong. He asks for leave to execute her. Jon asks what she has to say. She says she has been ready to die for years but the great war is coming and the army of the dead with it. She says she can help win that war. Jon tells her to ride south. If she returns north he will hang her as a murderer. Davos says he will execute her himself if she comes back this way.

Jon tells Sansa he’s having the Lord’s Chambers prepared for her. She says he should take it, but he credits her for saving them. He asks if she trusts Lord Baelish and she says no. She apologizes for not telling Jon. He says they need to trust each other—they have so many enemies. She tells him a raven came—winter is here. They both smile. Winter is the time for wolves.

Lady Tyrell, all in black, meets with Ellaria and the Sand Snakes. She tartly shuts the Sand Snakes up and says the grown ups will talk. Ellaria suggests they need each other for survival, but Lady Olenna is not after survival. Ellaria acknowledges that it is vengeance they will get. Varys comes out and says “fire and blood”.

Dany tells Daario he’s not invited to Westeros—that she can’t take a “mistress”. She makes it a command—that the second sons will keep the peace. He pretty much begs, but she shuts him down.

Dany and Tyrion anticipate heading to Westeros. Dany admits she felt nothing telling Daario to go and that is what scares her—she is just eager to get on with it. Tyrion says people have been telling him to believe in things his whole life but he saw where belief got them. He made a life of cynicism, but he believes in her. He says he’d swear his sword to her, but he doesn’t have one. She has had something made for him… she pins the hand on his chest and names him hand. He kneels before her.

Walder sits alone in his hall as a serving girl brings him pie. He asks for his sons, Black Walder and Lothar. The girl says they are here. She points to the pie. He peels back the crust and the girl says they weren’t easy to carve, especially Black Walder. She peels her face and Arya introduces herself, telling him she wanted the last thing he saw to be a Stark face, smiling down at him while he died. She slits his throat.

Sansa sits in the Godswood. Littlefinger interrupts. She asks what he wants. He says he thought she knew, but she thought she did but she was wrong. He says she wasn’t then tells her of his image of him on the iron throne with her by his side. He tries to kiss her but she stops him and says it’s a pretty picture and walks away. He tells her word will reach the south that he has declared for House Stark. She reminds him he has declared for houses before, always serving himself. He says she is the future of House Stark and plants the seed she deserves it more than Jon.

Benjen notes the magic in the wall that will not let him through, so he leaves off Meera and Bran at a heart tree with no mode of transportation. He will keep fighting as long as he can. Bran touches the tree for the last images he needs… or something… He ends up at the Tower of Joy and follows youngish Ned up to Lyanna in her bed of blood (but no roses). She is dying. She whispers and what I got is “if Robert finds out, he’ll kill him. You have to protect him”

Screen cuts to Jon… Bronze Yohn Royce grumbles about not fighting for wildlings and somebody suggests going home, but Jon lays out the reality of the real enemy. Lady Lyanna brings out a can of whoop-ass for all the houses who failed the call and then says House Mormont remembers and calls Jon king. The Houses stand one by one pledging to Jon. Littlefinger looks like he has something stuck in his craw. Sansa smiles at times, but also looks unsure… Littlefinger’s seeds of doubt are taking root.

Jaime and Bronn reach a burning King’s Landing. Cersei takes the Iron Throne and Qyburn crowns her. Nobody we recognize is in the audience. Jaime watches from the side, confused look on his face.

Mad Queen Cersei

Oh, the ships… Kraken sails and dragon heads… dragon sails… hundreds of them… Horses, dothraki, dragons…


Review

Anybody notice Loras had more hair in that opening sequence than at any other time this season?

The decision for all those little birds to kill Pycelle was definitely creepy, but also a little odd. Making killers of children is very disturbing. The decisions though on the wildfyre—Lancel following a little bird and being there to see it (so we could) but incapacitated so unable to stop it—all of that was done beautifully. I can’t believe though, that they wiped out the entire Tyrell family, other than Lady Olenna. Holy cow! I mean I think most of us guessed, but I somehow thought SOMEBODY would get away.

Leaving Septa Unella to Gregor *shivers* I’m glad they didn’t show this—we all know what he is capable of. I’m surprised Qyburn didn’t get her, but the show hasn’t built on his need for women for his experiments.

And holy crap, Tommen! Fly little bird, fly! *splat*

When Walder says he couldn’t go killing his son by law because it would give his family a bad name, Jaime’s look is priceless… Reminds me of the books where Manderly says it was a mercy the Frey boys died, because if they hadn’t, they would have grown up Frey.

Loved Jaime’s tone with Walder. Man Walder is smug. What a horrible ass. Jaime also seeming disgusted really helps with not being too pissed at Jaime for being there at all.

Man, Cersei is COLD regarding Tommen’s death. No bells. Apparently no funeral.

Anybody else have a library-gasm? OHMYGAWD. It was spectacular!!! Gilly and baby Sam are going to be waiting a long time because Sam is going to lose himself in there.

Melisandre banished. CALLED IT! I figured she still has story ahead, but Jon couldn’t very well keep her there. Liam Cunningham was terrific in this scene. Lots of feels with him talking about Shireen.

Loved Jon acknowledging Sansa saved them and Sansa knowing she should have told Jon. This scene where they welcome winter is a nice moment of unity.

Lady Olenna shutting down the Sand Snakes was a beautiful thing. And VARYS! So Dany will have not just the Iron Islands but also Dorne and the Reach… And with no Baratheons left… probably the Storm Lands, too…

I was surprised Daario actually used the word love… seems sort of soft for him. Begging, even. This had to happen, and the part of me with a crush on Michiel Huisman is glad he didn’t betray her.

Naming Tyrion hand made me cry—someone truly acknowledging his wisdom as an advisor—recognizing his worth… beautiful. These two are great together. They both get a lot wrong on their own, but together they seem to hit it just right. I think maybe Tyrion has never knelt before. I can’t wait to see them learn they are actually brother and sister (I know… just a theory… still…)

While the time travel bit is annoying, I LOVED Arya’s kill—Black Walder and Lothar in pies and telling Walder it was her before killing him. They Frey house is going to be a messs, killing each other for the right to be heir. Also, Arya was engaged to a Frey—that was part of the deal Robb made to cross the bridge… guess this means the engagement is off…

Oh, Littlefinger, you evil bastard, you. Jon and Sansa were united and you just may have ruined it… I’m glad Sansa refused the kiss and walked away, but that conversation is going to have repercussions.

So… not sure why Benjen didn’t leave the horse with Meera and Bran—surely it is easier for him to get another one than for those two to get the rest of the way to the wall, but whatever… The rest of the Tower of Joy was good. I would have liked ALL of what Lyanna whispered, but with: “if Robert finds out, he’ll kill him. You have to protect him” we get 1) BOY baby, and 2) ONE baby and 3) Robert would kill him (aka: not Robert’s baby, probably a Targaryen)… and then the transition to Jon… seems pretty obvious to me.

Man, I love Lady Mormont… What a badass little girl. I’m a little disappointed Jon didn’t point out that it was Sansa who won and Sansa who should be queen, but these things do seem to take on a life of their own. I liked Manderly calling Jon the White Wolf.

Couldn’t they find ANYBODY with more legitimacy than Qyburn to crown Cersei? I guess with all the septons dead… and all the nobility, because they were at the trial… sheesh… Mad Cersei, queen of the small folk? And man… Jaime throwing shade… I’ve thought the Valonqar in the books would be a complicated, elegant twist, but this looks a whole bunch like Jaime is going to do the deed.

And Dany and company are on their way back to Westeros…


So to sum up…

Dany has the Iron Islands, Dorne, the Reach, possibly the Stormlands.

The Starks have the North, The Vale.

Cersei has the West and the Riverlands. But how long will she have the Riverlands with no Frey to hold it.

Now everybody hates Cersei, that much is clear, but Dany and the Starks could feasibly make common cause… the Starks will need her… and in fact Theon being with her—he owes the Starks some atonement, eh? And Tyrion can help pave the WHY for the Starks being key in Robert’s rebellion—Aerys II DID burn Rickon and set it up so Brandon was strangled… And Jon is Targaryen AND Stark… I think these two can work together.

Several houses have been demolished: Lannister has only Cersei and Jaime, Tyrell has only Olenna, Baratheon is done, Martell is done, Tully has only Edmure, Arryn has only Robin. Stark family is actually looking pretty good with four living children…

So is this the death of nobility? Once upon a time it seemed absurd to think of someone like Littlefinger taking the throne, but if all the great houses are wiped out… And who is going to inherit House Frey?

And so much for the season ending with the wall falling… didn’t happen. Yet.


So in the next week or so, I plan on making book predicitions based on the show, meaning I will discuss where I think the books have been spoiled, versus what I think will happen differently. Depending on how much there is, it may be two posts… so watch for that!

What did all of you think?

Season 6. Episode 9: Battle of the Bastards: Recap and Review

Recap

Daario leads the Dothraki screamers

We open to fireballs catapulted at Meereen. Tyrion attempts to update Dany but he sounds like a ninny. Dany has a plan, but it sounds an awful lot like Aerys “burn them all” plan… Tyrion suggests an alternative. They meet with the representative masters to discuss terms of surrender. The masters give terms but Dany points out it is THEIR surrender they are discussing. Drogon arrives and Dany climbs on board. Rhaegal and Viserion break out, and the Dothaki arrive at the gates to kill some Harpy… Ships burn and Grey Worm explains to the soldiers that they can serve masters who will never serve them, or go home to their families. They flee. Tyrion then explains one of the masters must die. Two push the third forward saying he is low born. He drops to a knee to plead and Grey Worm cuts the throats of the two still standing. Tyrion then tells the third to go back and tell the people what happens when the masters rebel against the Queen.

Parlay parties for the Starks and Boltons meet. Ramsay is his glib, charming, psychotic self. He thanks Jon for returning his wife and asks for surrender. Jon offers instead to settle this with single combat. Ramsay laughs, refusing, since he might lose single combat but knows his army will defeat Jon’s. Ramsay asks if they will let their brother die then pulls out Shaggy Dog’s head to prove they have him.

Back in the tent they discuss tactics. Jon uses a lot of vocabulary that Tormund has not clue about. They discuss patience and letting the Bolton Army come at them from the front, as the ditches will keep them from getting surrounded. When the others leave Sansa scolds Jon, since she is the one who knows Ramsay. She warns that he is more cruel than Jon can imagine. That Ramsay won’t fall into a trap—he lays traps. She admits they will never get Rickon back. Rickon has a better claim than Jon or Sansa, so Ramsay can’t let him live. They argue about men, Sansa insisting they should have waited for more, Jon pointing out no one else would help—this is what they have. Sansa says if Ramsay wins, she will not go back to Winterfell alive.

Tormund and Davos discuss the pending battle and the kings they believed in. Mance and Stannis are gone. Tormund invites Davos for a delicious round of fermented goat's milk, but Davos wants to walk—says it clears his head before a battle. Unfortunately, his wandering brings him to Shireen’s pyre, identified by the partially burned stag he carved for her.

Jon asks if Melisandre has advice, but all she says is “don’t lose”. He says if he falls not to bring him back. She argues that she has no choice—the Lord of Light gives her the power if he wills it.

Theon and Yara stand before Dany and Tyrion. Tyrion questions Theon pretty sharply. It goes rather poorly for the Greyjoys until Theon says it is Yara’s claim they are there for, not his. Dany and Yara bond over this and discuss what it is they want and that Euron wants to make the same offer, but with a marriage required to seal the deal—that he would kill Dany as soon as he has the Seven Kingdoms. Dany agrees to give them rule of the Iron Islands provided they are also part of Westeros and they cease the reaving, raping, and pillaging of the rest of Westeros. Yara says it is all they know, but it is a condition Dany won’t budge on. They shake on it.

Armies in the north form up, the rag tag mixed army of Jon’s and the uniform army of the Boltons, Umbers and Karstarks. There are burned crosses between them—flayed men—who knows who they are? Ramsay leads Rickon on a rope, frees him, then tells him to run. Jon rides for him as Rickon runs and Ramsay begins shooting arrows at him. One finally gets him and Jon charges as Tormund wills him not to. But then they all charge.

Battle battle battle. Jon kills oodles of people. Bodies pile up. Battle battle, GIANT ACTION! And suddenly they are surrounded by Bolton shields and spears coming at them. The Boltons push in, making the space narrower and narrower. Jon gets trampled under dead bodies and more and more people keep getting piled on him. He struggles and finally claws his way up from under. And finally the war horns sound and the Vale has arrived!!!! Littlefinger sits next to Sansa as she smirks, having saved the day. The Vale demolishes the Bolton army. Jon goes after Ramsay who flees.

Ramsay makes it back to Winterfell and shuts the gates, but they are no match for Wun Wun. He is filled with arrows but has let in Jon’s army. Ramsay shoots Wun Wun in the eye and “accepts single combat” with Jon. Jon gets a shield up to catch the arrows as he comes at Ramsay, then he bashes him good. The Stark flag is hung from Winterfell.

Davos throws Melisandre shade, Jon tells the men to bury Rickon in the crypts next to Ned, Sansa asks where Ramsay is.

So satisfying

She goes to see him. He claims she can’t kill him because he is part of her. She says his words, his house, his name and all memory of him will disappear. The dog kennels begin to ease open… Seems he shouldn’t have let the information about starving his dogs out… he claims they are loyal. She claims they are starving. She has the right of it. They eat him and she smiles.


Review

Loved how things went down in Meereen—the dragons burning ships, the Dothraki killing Harpies. The meeting with the masters was great—I particularly loved how the decision as to which to kill went.

I wanted to ring Ramsay’s neck, but that is normal. So smug. But also so typically Ramsay. There was also a bit of an echo here—this offer to end this with single combat is what Jaime did to Robb back in season 2. Now Robb and Ramsay have very few things in common, and it isn’t clear how much Jaime and Jon have in common, but it does seem like a smart choice, when the leader with the bigger army is offered this choice by someone who is rumored to be a superior fighter, that letting the battle happen is smarter. I liked Sansa’s contribution at the end—telling Ramsay he would die.

It was funny watching Tormund not knowing the battle terms in a way, but at the same time really brought out how different the wildlings are in their training—I worried that miscommunication might come into play since the training is so different.

Sansa and Jon’s argument seemed realistic to me. Both were right and both were wrong, as is so often the case. Sansa DOES know Ramsay better, and while Ramsay is only a pink little man and not a white walker, he is also more cunning than anything Jon has faced. Jon, however, is right, at least given the information he has, that their army is not going to grow. Best get on with it, as their situation is rougher than that of people sitting comfy in a castle.

Really loved Tormund and Davos and their discussion of kings. I liked Davos recognizing Stannis as his own worst enemy and liked the bit of ironic foreshadowing of Jon not being a king… because of course he is who has a right to it…

Tyrion dressing down Theon was sure a mixed bag of emotion… remember what a dick Theon was? He totally deserved that, but he’s been through so much and changed so much that it was still hard to watch him have to take it. I adored the Dany/Yara interaction… two queens seeing common cause.

As hard as this Rickon scene was to watch and as totally gripped as I was, this also reminded me of the Holy Grail and running at that castle when the castle just never seems to get any closer. Also… Rickon… arrows… bob, weave, roll. Make yourself a more difficult target, dammit… make sure if you get hit, it is somewhere less lethal. Guard the heart and head, man… But seriously—so sad. And Jon totally fell into Ramsay’s trap—completely… Because Ramsay did it just right—the lethal arrow when hope was so close--by design, I believe--he wanted Jon to hope first, as that would have maximum impact.

Battle questions
* Why do none of Jon’s men have shields? They seem handy in defense of arrows.
* Where is Ghost? (though I guess he probably would have died—too obvious a target in the open like this—so maybe this was better)
* Notice Jon in the fray and Ramsay sitting back behind the battle lines not actually doing a damn thing, though his battle commands are pretty effective. Did you notice the arrows were strategically fired to build up that wall of bodies?
* Why did nobody sneak around behind the lines and murder Ramsay? (Ghost even)
* Why does nobody roll under those spears to cut off Bolton feet?
* Why does no one sneak between spears and then pull shields down from the top… a coordinated effort at this would have helped a lot.

Man, it was good of the Vale to show up. Such a relief. And dammit Sansa deserved that damn smirk. She called it—they needed more men and she delivered. And of course Ramsay, having done nothing but command and shooting arrows at Rickon, never in a speck of danger, flees. The coward. And thank goodness for Wun Wun. Though that also was the very saddest moment for me, Wun Wun dying after how much he had helped. Also loved Jon getting the better of Ramsay, but I was very glad Sansa got to deliver the final blow. Erm… bite…

I found this episode really satisfying. I loved this end for Meereen, probably compounded by being glad to be at the end of Meereen. And I didn't want Rickon or Wun Wun to die, but I sort of expected those. I am just really glad it wasn't Tormund or Davos. A lot of people are saying best episode of the season or ever, and I am not quite there. I tend to like but not love battles. I like the interpersonal stuff more, so episode 4 with the Jon/Sansa reunion or The Door are probably my favorites of the season, but this was still very good.

So what did all of you think?