Monday, May 18, 2015

Game of Thrones Season 5 Episode 6 Unbowed, Unbent and Unbroken


The episode begins with Arya washing bodies with Nan.  She is now wearing the uniform of the House of Black and White.  Arya asks Nan where the bodies go once they are prepared.  Nan chastises her and then begins to tell her own story, which mirrors Arya’s.  However, when she’s finished she asks if the story was true or a lie. Arya is frustrated.   Jaqen asks “Who are you?” Arya replies “I’m Arya Stark of Winterfell.”  Each answer earns a whipping from Jaqen.  Angry and confused, Arya asks him to stop.

Jorah has been staring at his greyscale wound all week!  Tyrion complains Jorah is “The least charming traveling companion ever!”  Jorah didn’t know why Tryion was in the brothel in Volantis.  Tryion reveals he committed patricide.  Tyrion says he met Jorah’s father at the Wall and “They will never see the like of him again.”  Jorah is stunned, he didn’t know his father was dead.  Tryion explains his own men committed mutiny and killed Lord Mormont.  Jorah is silent.

Arya is scrubbing the floor when a man enters the House with his dying daughter in his arms.  The father leaves his daughter by the pool and explains to Arya he has sought treatment for her ailment all over Braavos.  He realizes no one can help her and she’s dying.  Arya goes to the girl and tells her she was sick when she came to the House of Black and White and she was healed.  Arya offers the girl a drink from the waters, which will assure her death.

Afterwards, Arya washes the girl’s body and Jaqen motions for her to follow him.
They come to a room with huge columns containing thousands of faces.  Each death has been a sacrifice to the Faceless God and can be used by the Faceless men.  Jaqen asks if she is ready to be no one.  Arya hesitates and Jaqen says she is ready to be someone else.

After their lively discussion about their respective fathers, Tryion and Jorah continue to get to know each other.  Tryion asks why he chose to follow Danaerys. Jorah relates he was a cynic until he saw her emerge from the fire with her baby dragons.  Tryion muses the Targaryens are famously insane and how can Khalesi rule Westeros when she has never even been there.  The conversation is cut short by the arrival of a slaver’s ship.

Tense moments follow as the men consider if they should kill them or sell off parts of Tryion!  Tryion does his best to talk himself out of the situation.  Tyrion says Jorah is a great fighter and would do well in the newly reopened fighting pits.  The captors agree to take the men with them and delay severing Tyrion’s naughty bits for now.

Littlefinger arrives in King’s Landing where he meets Lancel who warns him the new faith army doesn’t take kindly to “flesh peddlers” like himself.  Littlefinger is unimpressed with Lancel and the monk’s army.  Cersei receives Littlefinger for a quiet chat. Cersei insists she had nothing to do with Ser Loras’s incarceration. Cersei offers her condolences for Lysa. (Right!)  What she really wants to know is if the Vale will fight for the Lannisters.  Littlefinger gives a vague answer stating the Vale has been loyal to the Iron Throne.  He reveals he has found Sansa Stark and she is betrothed to Ramsay Bolton. Sansa’s legitimacy is a real threat and Cersei is livid at the Boltons. “I should have never trusted that turn cloak!” (Yes, the North will remember the Red Wedding, duh.) Littlefinger stresses patience, Stannis is coming to Winterfell and they should wait to see who the victor would be in that battle and then strike at the North.  He offers the Vale knights to assist them but wants to be named “Warden of the North” in return. Cersei looks forward to seeing Sansa’s head on a spike and the Lannister banner flying over Winterfell.

Mrycella is adjusting well in the Water Gardens and has the attentions of a handsome Dornish royal named Tyrstane.  Prince Doran observes the couple from his perch worrying about the young lovers.

Bronn is singing a bawdy song that will blow their cover in Dorne.  Bronn wonders what the plan is to rescue Princess Mrycella.  Ellaria and the “Sand Snakes” are preparing for their revenge.  Their motto is “Unbowed, Unbent and Unbroken.”  (Title of this episode.) The young women leave for the Water Garden. Jaime and Bronn happen on the young lovers as the Sand Snakes emerge, then all hell breaks loose.  The Prince’s guard thwarts the kidnapping attempt by either party.  Jaime and Bronn are seized along with Ellaria and her daughters.

Margaery’s grandmother Lady Olenna has arrived from High Garden to help with the Loras situation.  She says, “If every pillow bitter in King’s Landing were arrested the dungeons would be filled.” Lady Olenna confronts Cersei who still insists she had nothing to do with Ser Loras’ arrest. Lady Olenna reminds Cersei she needs the money and soldiers of her house to keep the Lannister in power.  Cersei says he’ll be released as soon as there is a deposition given to the High Sparrow.

The court proceeding is underway and Loras denies engaging in “buggary” and other crimes.  Loras’ history with Renly is questioned and his allegiance to the Baratheons before he shifted loyalty to the Lannisters.  Margaery is called to testify and she too denies Loras’ “buggary.”  Olyvar, the Littlefinger’s brothel manager testifies against Loras and Margaery! (Ruh-Row!) Olyvar describes Loras’ birthmark and Margery and her brother are arrested.

Back to this week’s installment of pouting with Sansa! Myranda, the dog kennel tart, offers to bathe Sansa for her wedding night.  Myranda changes Sansa’s hair back to its natural color and proceeds to inform Sansa about Ramsay’s “tastes.”  Sansa may have found some courage in the bathwater as she asks Myranda how long she has loved Ramsay. “You can’t frighten me!” Sansa says as she orders the dog tart out.

Sansa paces in her wedding dress of cream and fur.  Theon comes to escort Sansa to the sacred Weir wood.  She refuses to take his arm, even if it means Theon will be punished.


Sansa walks slowly in the snow. (Is winter finally here?) Roose officiates the ceremony. Theon is introduced as the ward of the Stark’s.  Sansa voices her consent to marry Ramsay.  Reek escorts Sansa to her parents’ old bedroom. Ramsey asks if she is still a virgin.  Sansa says Tryion was kind and never forced himself upon her. Ramsay wants Reek to watch Sansa “become a woman.”  Reek cries in shame as Ramsey rapes Sansa.  Poor Sansa’s luck has finally run out; she indeed now knows the suffering of a woman.

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