The episode opens in Myreen where Khalesi mourns Ser
Barristen and Missandei mourns Grey Worm.
Hizdar enters and apologizes to Khalesi for the death of her noble
knight. Daenerys is not amused, “He died in an alleyway by cowards who couldn’t
even show their faces.” Dario has a plan
for revenge; round up all the leaders of the great families in town and make an
example of them.
The local elite cower before Daenerys’ “children.” Khalesi gives a wicked speech about being a
good mother as the men poop themselves. (Happy Mother’s Day, ya’ll!) She pushes one man forward and he is quickly
cooked by dragon’s breath and eaten by the “kids.” Hizdar tries to put on a brave face but he is
clearly terrified. Danny decides to not, “over feed them.”
Sam reads a note about Khalesi’s rule in Myreen as Maester
Aemon enters. “A Targaryen alone in the world is a terrible thing.” He should know as Danny’s uncle. Jon enters
and asks for a private word with Aemon. Jon
confides he’s about to make an unpopular decision. Aemon advises, “Do it, you’ll find little joy
(as Lord Commander). Kill the boy and
let the man be born.” (Nice to have a direct quote from the book once in a
while, in the book Jon is fifteen so this statement makes a little more sense.)
Jon goes to speak to Tormund the Giant Slayer. Jon wants to assess if the free folk would
follow him the way they did Mance. He further reasons the role of the Night’s
Watch is to help defend the “realms of men,” and needs the free folk to help
defend against the true threat, the white walkers. Jon wishes to gather the free folk and let
them move south of the wall for their own safety and to defend the area. He
gives Tormund the same speech as he did Mance, don’t let your pride kill you
and your people. Tormund growls it’s easy for him to order a chained man
around. Jon then frees Tormund and asks him where his people have gone. Tormund
knows they are in Hard Stone, but still fears this idea is a trick to kill the
Wildlings. Tormund insists Jon accompany him on this journey to a port north of
the Wall.
Jon assembles the Night’s Watch for an explanation of this
plan. The Crows are less then enthusiastic about helping the “enemy.” Jon implores them to consider the real undead
enemy. Olly, a boy from the lands the Wildings pillaged is horrified by the
idea of letting the free folk into their villages. Olly asks Jon privately, “It’s a trick isn’t
it?” Jon is frustrated by the constant questioning of his authority and
barks, “Winter is coming!” (Meant as a F*ck you guys.)
Podrick enters to speak to Brienne. He offers, “At least Sansa is away from the
Lannisters. Maybe she’ll be ok?” Brienne ruffles, “She’s in danger even if she
doesn’t know it!” (I think she does know that much!) Breinne asks an elderly
male servant if he knew Eddard Stark and if he could help her get a message to
Sansa. The servant is frightened. Brienne explains she served Caitlyn Stark and
serves her still.
Ramsay enjoys some post-coital banter with Myranda, the
kennel master’s daughter. He is amused at her jealously regarding his upcoming
nuptials with Sansa. He quickly turns menacing as he reminds her what happens
to people who “bore him.” Myranda quickly changes tactics and bites Ramsay’s
lip and the romance is back on. (50 Shades of EWW!)
Sansa sulks as usual. An elderly female servant tells her
the “North remembers.” She tells Sansa to light a candle in the highest tower
if she ever needs help. (She needs help!)
Sansa looks up at the tower window where Bran was pushed out
by Jaime Lannister. Myranda slides up beside her and introduces herself,
complimenting her dress. Sansa says it was her mother who taught her how to
sew. Myrnada coos, “Its good to remember the way things were.” (Like before
your whole family was murdered, exiled or lost?!)
Myranda leads Sansa to the dog kennels for a “surprise.”
Sansa looks terrified as she passes the cages of snapping dogs. The last kennel
holds quite a different type of dog, Theon Greyjoy. Sansa runs away in terror
after Theon seems to warn her.
Theon waits on Ramsay and confesses that Sansa saw him
today. Ramsay asks him to get on his
knees. (He’s already cut off his fun bits, what gross thing will he make him
endure now!) Ramsay asks for Reek’s hand and says, “I forgive you.”
The most awkward dinner in the Seven Kingdoms is being held
at Winterfell. A toast is raised in honor of the upcoming wedding. Sansa,
totally ignoring Little Finger’s advice to manipulate her new man, refuses to
raise her glass. Reek enters with more
wine and Ramsay boasts he has punished him for Sansa. Reek apologizes to Sansa for murdering her
brothers at Ramsay’s urging. Ramsay then suggests since Theon is her nearest
living kin, he can give the bride away.
Roose’s fat Frey wife announces her pregnancy. Roose announces he feels it’s a boy and will
be the new heir of Winterfell. This news
twists the dagger in Sansa’s heart, but also pushes Ramsay’s position aside as
his father’s son will be the first in line to succeed him, since he was born
legitimately. (Granted, I don’t think I
could break bread with the man who murdered my brother and mother, but Sansa
isn’t doing herself any favors by her visible contempt of the Boltons and her
own position.)
After this lovely meal, Roose chastises Ramsay for his
behavior at dinner. Ramsay sulks, “I’m
your son until a better alternative comes along.” Roose asks his son why he never inquired about
his mother. Roose tells him the story of
his conception. Roose had hung the woman’s husband and proceeded to rape her
under his dangling corpse. The woman
returned about a year later to present Roose with his son. Roose admits he almost just threw the baby in
the river but when he saw his eyes, he knew this was his son. (Therapist’s
would make killing in the Seven Kingdoms.)
On this uplifting note, Roose cautions Ramsay about Stannis’
upcoming invasion. “The North is ours, help me defeat him.” (I’m not sure there
will be a choice to ignore Stannis’ invasion, but will the North fight for the
Boltons?)
Sam reads in the library at Castle Black as Gilly inquires,
“Is this all the books there is?” Sam explains there are millions of books in
the world and this is but a small sample. Gilly apologizes for her
ignorance. Sam speaks of the great
libraries in Old Town where they train the maesters. He adds he considered
becoming a maester.
Stannis enters and Gilly scurries away. Stannis addresses Sam, telling him he knew his
father and respected him for being able to beat Robert Baratheon. Stannis asks how Sam was able to defeat the
white walker. Sam is bemused but admits
he was lucky when using dragon glass. Stannis
says, “Death marches on the Wall and we need to know how to fight them.” Sam tells him he is trying to find more
information from the texts at Castle Black. Stannis leaves, advising, “Keep
reading Sam.”
Stannis consults with Ser Davos about their upcoming
departure. Davos is concerned about the
Queen and his daughter accompanying them.
Stannis doesn’t dare to trust the riff-raff at Castle Black, and stands
firm in his decision to go to battle as a family. (Even if they perish.) The
King’s army begins to depart and Jon wishes Stannis a safe journey, thanking
them for coming to the aid of the Crows.
Grey Worm lives! Missandei tends to his wounds as he wakes
up to learn Ser Barristen did not make it. Grey Worm is angry with himself, not for
losing the battle but for being afraid. Missandei comforts him as Grey Worm
reveals he was not afraid of death but of not seeing her again. (Aww!) They
kiss in a way I didn’t know a eunuch could!
Khalesi speaks to her trusted aid. (Becoming a very small
number.) She muses, “If I gave the masters what they deserve, I’d have not one
left to rule.” Melisandre gives her queen praise for her bold decisions and
tells Khalesi to trust herself.
Hizdar begs for his life. Khalesi says, “I was wrong about tradition. I
will reopen the fighting pits only for free men.” She also thinks she needs to form an alliance
with an old family of Myreen. She commands Hizdar to marry her! (This is a nice
departure from the books where this decision is made for Danny.)
Tyrion talks to himself as Mormont steers their leaky boat
in silence. “Long silences with an occasional punch in the face! The Mormont
way!” Tyrion is super-grumpy at the lack of alcohol. “People who drink need to
keep drinking!” The ruins of Valaryia appear before them. Tyrion starts to
recite a poem about the doomed city, and Mormont finishes the poem. As they look up, Rhaegon flies overhead. As the men look up in awe, something is moving
in the background.
Stonemen! (Or as I like to think of them, southern white walkers but they aren’t
technically dead, just dying a crazy awful way.) The greyscale afflicted men
pounce on the small boat. One grabs
Tryion’s ankle and because his hands are still bound, Tryion jumps into the
water. Tryion frees himself and swims away. Mormont is seen fighting the
stonemen in the boat.
Mormont wakes up Tryion on a sandy shore. Their boat is gone but they’re alive. Tyrion is
grateful to be alive but observes, “I wouldn’t have needed saving if you hadn’t
kidnapped me in the first place!” Mormont
asks if Tryion was touched by the stonemen and he says no. Mormont says he’s okay to but as he walks away
we see he’s lying. He has a small wound on
the inside of his wrist, which will
evolve into the dreaded disease.
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