Another weekend is behind us and so is another episode of Game of Thrones. This week's episode is entitled "Oathbreaker". Let's dig right into it!
Jon Snow and the Night's Watch
Oathbreaker kicks off and ends at the Wall with Jon Snow coming to terms with having been brought back from the dead after his violent murder. In the beginning of the episode, we see him asking why, and recounting his memories of the afterlife to Melissandre (spoiler alert: there's nothing). At the end, we see him as executioner, hanging his murderers including young Olly. Jon then announces that his watch is over and leaves Castle Black.
It's extremely interesting to see Jon struggling with his predicament and the direction his arc seems to be taking. Having sworn an oath to the Night's Watch for life, he was to the Wall even after the death of his father and the scattering of his siblings. Now, having died and technically being freed from his oath, I hope to see Jon Snow on a path to set things right.
Sam and Gilly
After leaving the Wall to travel to the Citadel and become a maestor, Sam is sailing with Gilly and the baby to, presumably, Oldtown. However Sam reveals to Gilly that their destination is actually Hornhill because the Citadel doesn't admit women.
While I'm really interested to see where Sam and Gilly are going to end up, this scene was pretty throw-away and I felt the same information could have been shown to us in a future episode when there's maybe a bit more to show. Oh well. They can't all be winners.
Bran Stark
Speaking of winners, the next scene is definitely one! We see Bran and the Three-Eyed Raven observing a point in the past when young Ned Stark faced off against some of the King's Guard. The soldiers are guarding a tower and have been ordered to do so by the Mad King himself. This is clearly a battle that Bran has heard stories about but as it unfolds, he finds that the version who knew was a lie and Ned only won because of a dishonorable stab to his opponents back. The vision ends with Bran desperate to find out who or what is in the tower and as he calls out to his father, there's a brief moment when we think Ned might have heard him.
This arc just keeps getting better. Not only does this scene give us an excellent sword fight and show us a glimpse of the Lyanna Stark puzzle, it also introduces the concept that Bran might actually be able to influence past events. Hm. Time travel in Game of Thrones?
Daenerys, Tyrion and Varys
Next, we see Daenerys being led into a hut where she meets the Dosh Khaleen, a group of the wives of bygone Khals. She's told that if she's lucky, she'll be kept there for the rest of her life, pending a decision by the Khals. Meanwhile, back in Meereen, Varys and Tyrion discover who's been funding the subversive Sons of the Harpy. Turns out its the rest of the cities in Slaver's Bay.
This scene continues the theme of Dany's story arc this season. She is being brought low again. The leader of the Dosh Khaleen doesn't care about her many titles or the dragons she keeps. To get out of this, Daenerys Stormborn First of Her Name, Queen of Meereen etc., is going to have to become Khaleesi again. Consequently, that's also what she'll need to take back Slaver's Bay.
King's Landing
In King's Landing, we learn that Qyburn is attempting to co-opt Varys' "little birds" (read: child spies). Jaime and Cersei try to strong-arm their way onto the Small Council and King Tommen just can't seem to stay mad at the High Sparrow even though he is insistent on seeing everyone he loves suffer.
We're seeing the beginnings of the Lannister counter-strike against everyone. Cersei orders that Qyburn's band of spies spread throughout the kingdom and bring word of anyone at all who speaks ill of her. I fear the future is grim for Tommen, though, as he seems to be unable to make the tiniest stand on anything without instantly doubting himself. I'd hate to see what the Mountain would do to that little guy.
Arya Stark
Arya has been brought back into the fold of the Many-Faced God and gets the training montage we were all waiting to see. She is harnessing her senses and her inner Daredevil and by the end, has been granted her sight back. Has she really renounced all connection to her past? We're left to believe she has.
It's good to see Arya get her sight back, although I was kind of hoping for the bad-ass blind assassin bit to at least extend to her making her next kill. It's definitely bittersweet, though, because if she has turned her back on Arya Stark, where will her loyalties ultimately lie during the inevitable war to decide who sits on the Iron Throne?
Ramsey Bolton
After violently taking his father's life (and his step-mom's...and his brother's) last week, Ramsey meets with a rival northern house, the Umbers. The Umber emissary requests Bolton's help to destroy the Wildlings that Jon Snow let in. In exchange, he presents Ramsey with a gift: Rickon Stark.
Winterfell has become a very dangerous place for anyone named Stark. With House Umber's betrayal of Rickon, one wonders what cruel use Ramsey will come up with for the boy. Death would surely be uncharacteristically generous of Ramsey Bolton.
Overall, Oathbreaker was a solid, forward-looking episode. Lighter on action and shocking reveals, sure, but the episode gives us time and answers to process what the last two episodes have given us. I really can't wait to see where we go from here.
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