It's that time again! TIme to break down the latest episode of Game of Thrones and give you our thoughts. There is a LOT to get to in this one so let's just jump right in!
Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven
The episode begins with Bran in the Heart Tree having a vision of young Ned, Benjen and Lyanna Stark living pretty carefree lives in Winterfell. It's even revealed that Hodor was once a stable boy who could talk. Bran wants to stick around and bask in the happiness of being home but the Three-Eyed Raven insists that they can't stay because staying too long would tempt him to stay forever. Outside, Meera is frustrated. A war is coming and she wants to go fight it.
After not seeing any of Bran last season, it was really great to see a bit of what's going on with him. It looks like we're going to see more of his visions of the past that I assume will inform the future.
The Night's Watch
Time's up for Ser Davos and the loyal Night's Watchmen. Alliser Thorne's men begin to break down the door where the body of Jon Snow lies. Just before the men break through, Thorne hears a loud knock against the gates of Castle Black. The gates then fling open and in runs a giant followed by the Wildlings who quickly subdue and imprison Alliser thorn and his men. Tormund, Davos and the brothers of the watch then make preparations to burn Jon Snow's body.
It's always great to see the cavalry roll in just in time. It's even better when giants are involved. Ultimately though, I would have preferred to see Alliser Thorne misplace his head, but there's plenty of time for that I suppose.
King's Landing
Meanwhile in King's Landing, Cersei is forbidden by her son the king from attending her daughter's funeral while the zombie-Mountain demonstrates a willingness to murder anyone who even speaks disrespectfully about his Cersei. Jaime mixes words with the High Sparrow and juuuust about kills him in the face but decides not to on account of being surrounded by the rest of the Faith Militant.
Personally, I'm getting a little bored with the King's Landing stuff. I am sure they're building toward something really epic, but so far I'm just screaming at Tommen "You're the effing King! Just kill this guy!"
Tyrion
Tyrion, Varys and Missandei are discussing the current dire state of Meereen when Tyrion has a (brilliant?) idea: let's unleash the dragons! A quick trip to the dragon kennel later and Tyrion stands face to face with the creatures and charms them, as he does. He takes of the beast's restraints and they both retreat back into the shadows.
Call me a nerd, but the politics of ruling really intrigue me. I love the logic Tyrion uses here. Danaeyrs is the mother of dragons. To maintain the image of her power, the dragons have to be kept alive. To do that, they have to be unchained. What's interesting is that the dragons don't immediately fly out of the pyramid and start eating sheep and little kids again.
Arya Stark
Arya is still begging on streets of Braavos and fighting daily with her rival from the temple. After another fight, her mysterious friend Jaqen H'ghar appears and asks her her name. When she refuses to give her name after an offer of shelter, food and even the return of her eye sight, H'ghar leads her away.
The Many-Faced God really intrigues me and I'm excited to learn more about what's going on there. Arya's training is about to begin in earnest. Will she lose her identity as Arya Stark? And how will her plot thread weave into the greater story?
The Boltons
Ramsey Bolton learns that his father's wife has given birth to a son, his worst nightmare. Ramsey then calmly murders his father, his father's wife and his new little brother in pretty gruesome fashion. Ramsey is now Lord of Winterfell. Yikes!
I think Roose Bolton said it best: "If you acquire a reputation as a mad dog, you'll be treated as a mad dog; Taken out back and slaughtered for pig feed." One can only hope that this is foreshadowing to how Ramsey die. You can only torture and kill so many before people start to make your death a priority.
Sansa, Brienne and Reek
Sansa and Brienne discuss the state and whereabouts of the Starks, then Reek (can we call him Theon again yet?) tells Sansa he can't face Jon Snow after all he's done so he plans to leave and go home to the Iron Islands.
Sansa is shaping up to be one of my favorite characters so this week's episode was a little bit of a letdown. This scene did very little to develope Sansa, instead it was in there just to setup the next scene.
The Greyjoys
Balon and Yara Greyjoy argue about the state of the Ironborn invasion of the mainland. Balon storms out and is met on the bridge by his brother, Euron. The encounter proves to be deadly for Balon who is thrown to his death. At the funeral, Yara vows to avenge her father's murder as ruler of the Iron Islands but is told that the throne isn't hers until the Kingsmoot chooses her.
From what I gather, the Kingsmoot is sort of a council of Ironborn sea-captains who choose the ruler rather democratically. It should get interesting, then, when Theon Greyjoy shows back up. Is he in the running?
Melisandre and Jon Snow
Ser Davos appeals to Melisandre to try anything in her magic repertoire to bring Jon back from the dead. After some hesitation, she is convinced and does a few ritual-y things to Jon's body. Mysterious words are spoken, hair is burned and hands are laid. Nothing happens. One by one, those present give up on all hope and leave the room. Seconds after Ser Davos leaves, Jon Snow gasps for air and his eyes open.
Many of us kind of expected this to happen but it was no less satisfying seeing it unfold. I really love Melisandre's plan: "Well, let's just cut some hair, say some words and maybe it will work." I definitely didn't expect the resurrection to take place this early in the season. After all, the show seems to be building up the rest of the Stark family as heroes in their own right. This makes me kind of worried for Jon's ultimate fate even if he is breathing at the moment.
So what are your thoughts on this week's Game of Thrones? Leave us a comment below!
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