In this week’s episode of Game of Thrones we’re thrown back into the plotlines of our most favourite and hated characters who are all coming to terms with the shifting tides in the Game of Thrones universe. “Book of the Stranger” is directed by Daniel Sackheim, who directed last week’s “Oathbreaker”.
The episode starts off in the frigid reaches of the North, at Castle Black where Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is preparing to depart, despite the arguments spewing forth from Dolorous Edd’s (Ben Crompton) mouth. It’s a heartbreaking moment as you see two friends trying to come to terms with a bitter parting but alas Jon doesn’t believe that it’s right for him to stay at Castle Black despite the fact that the White Walkers are still out there, considering that he’d been killed by his fellow brothers. However, before Jon can be on his way, a horn is sounded and Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) and Podrick (Daniel Portman) enter Castle Black. The three are uneasy at first, with Brienne clasping the hilt of her sword upon seeing Tormund (Kristofer Hivju). And then the unthinkable happens, Jon sees Sansa and the two embrace to emotional music. Considering the amount of misfortune that has fallen over the Stark family I half expected one of them to die mid-hug. The two then reminisce about their time at Winterfell, before Game of Thrones ripped our hearts to shreds; it’s an adorable scene as the two try to grasp for something normal. Alas they soon argue as Sansa states that they should return to Winterfell and overthrow the Boltons. Finally, Sansa is done with running and she’s ready to visit carnage upon those that tore her family apart. However, it seems Jon is done fighting and wants to retire as a hermit somewhere; executing Olly did not sit well with his conscience.
Meanwhile Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) visits Lady Melisandre (Carice van Houten) only to confirm what most people have realised by now; she’s regained her faith in the Lord of Light and now believes Jon Snow is the chosen one, not wishing to even talk about Stannis to Davos. Before Davos can get a full recount of Stannis’ demise from Melisandre, they’re interrupted by Brienne who, quite clearly, expresses her distaste for Melisandre. The latter did after all kill Renly Baratheon who Brienne was smitten by. Brienne then goes on to coldly say that she executed Stannis, dealing quite the blow to both Melisandre and Davos.
Later on Sansa, Brienne, Podrick, Tormund, Jon and Edd sit down to eat some food and nothing noteworthy happens amongst the sound of slurping of food and drink, other than Tormund casting a rather penetrating gaze at Brienne, someone’s clearly smitten. However, before any candles can be lit to make the moment more romantic a rider from Ramsay Bolton visits Castle Black to deliver a message. It’s more of an ultimatum; return Sansa Stark or watch Castle Black burn to the ground. The actual message is far more longer and involves a lot of dogs and gouging of eyes. We saw a battle scene between a Bolton army and a Wildling army in the season trailer and now it looks like we’re going to see one soon. While Jon was reluctant about fighting the Boltons before, this ultimatum has given him the nudge he needs and he agrees to fight against them. The Jon we’re seeing this season isn’t full of the confidence he once had.
“I’m not Lord Commander anymore”
Tearful reunions don’t just happen in the North as Theon (Alfie Allen) finally reaches Pyke, only to be greeted by a sister who is both bitter and joyous at seeing him. Yara (Gemma Whelan) doesn’t embrace her brother, instead choosing to scold and yell at him, resulting in Theon continually apologising and devolving into tears. I’m glad she did as Theon seems to harden up and through the tears state that he will support her bid in the upcoming Kingsmoot. As far as sibling bonding in Game of Thrones goes, this is one of the strongest ones.
King’s Landing has been devoid of action for most of this season and is instead centred around politics. This episode doesn’t see much of a difference from previous ones. Cersei (Lena Headey) visits her son King Tommen (Dean-Charles Chapman), kicking old Grand Maester Pycelle out, something that takes a long time as he slowly shuffles out of the room. Unfortunately for Cersei, Tommen’s talk with the High Sparrow last episode has rattled him and as a result he’s unwilling to move against the High Sparrow. Subsequently, Cersei’s admonishments of the High Sparrow seems to fall upon deaf ears. This leads to Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Cersei barging once more into a small council meeting, and after quickly laying down a plan, recruit Olenna Tyrell (Dianna Rigg) and Kevan Lannister (Ian Gelder) to their side in an attempt to soon overthrow the High Sparrow, in order to secure Margaery’s release.
“Better them than us”
And Margaery (Natalie Dormer) is in dire need of being rescued from her prison. This episode she’s taken to the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) who tantalisingly offers to release her, only to double down on a religious teaching. Jonathan Pryce’s portrayal of the High Sparrow is enchanting and with every scene you can’t help but understand where he’s coming from. Unfortunately for him, his path to righteousness has put him in the crosshairs of numerous people. He then let’s Margaery visit her brother Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones) who, once a strong and unbroken knight, is now a hurt and broken man. But Margaery is more strong willed than she appears, refusing to be a pawn in the eyes of the High Sparrow and trying to prevent her brother from giving up.
“Book of the Stranger” also sees the return of Lord Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish (Aidan Gillen), one of the more enigmatic figures in the show. He reappears in the Vale having been sent by Cersei to recapture the North from the Boltons. Rather than tell this to young, naive Lord Arryn, he chooses to instead prompt the young lad into sending the army North to protect Sansa. Littlefinger’s manipulations are something this show’s missed for a while, that and the Moon Door.
Meanwhile in Winterfell our most distasteful villain yet, Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), is visited by Osha (Natalia Tena) who, before the last episode, was trying to keep Rickon safe by delivering him to the Umbers. Alas, last episode we saw that plan epically fail and now she’s a prisoner of Ramsay’s. She’s brought into see Ramsay who’s busy peeling an apple and attempts to seduce him in order to grab the knife and stab him. Unfortunately for her and for Rickon, she’s stabbed in the neck and drowns in her own blood. So much for quickly getting rid of Ramsay.
Across the Narrow Sea in Meereen, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) has invited the slave masters in order to conduct negotiations, much to the distaste of both Grey Worm (Jacob Anderson) and Missandei (Nathalie Emmanuel). Their anger is palpable and it’s understandable why they feel so wronged; before they were liberated, they were brutally suppressed and treated as second class citizens and more often as objects. However, Tyrion is doing his best to lookout for Meereen and as a result sits down with them and Varys to negotiate with the Masters. Tyrion states that slaving is allowed for the time being; the slavers will have seven years to adapt to a no-slave policy. It’s a gutsy move, giving them that much time let’s them prepare to attack Meereen but also gives them a chance to change or face the wrath of the dragons. Missandei and Grey Worm are understandably upset; they feel that 7 years is too long but convince the other liberated slaves that Tyrion’s peace treaty is necessary, in order to prevent the liberated slaves from rising up.
“They will use you”
Meanwhile, Jorah (Iain Glen) and Daario (Michael Huisman) have finally reached Vaes Dothrak and proceed to disarm themselves, with Daario providing a bit of comic relief by struggling to leave behind his dagger and making jokes about Jorah’s age. During this segment however, Daario finds out about Jorah’s Greyscale affliction. It’s a sombre moment that reminds us that Jorah is living on borrowed time. The two manage to sneak into the city at night but predictably, cause a ruckus and kill Aggo (the Dothraki who captured Daenarys in the first place). Jorah is nearly killed before he’s save by Daario who stabs Aggo in the back with his dagger. To cover their tracks Daario proceeds to disfigure the stab wound by bashing Aggo with a rock, making some stomach churning, squelching sounds.
Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) meanwhile is planning her own means of escape and after an incredibly boring conversation with the other Dosh Khaleen, makes her way outside with another young widow. They’re soon crept up on by Jorah and Daario who come to free her, but Dany refuses, citing the fact that they would never escape alive. Instead she proposes a different idea. Later when the Khals meet to decide if Dany should remain in Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys delivers one of her most powerful speeches, claiming that she’s going to lead the Dothraki instead and belittling the current Khals by comparing them to Jason Momoa’s Khal Drogo. Unfortunately for the Khals, they laugh, refusing to believe her.
Big mistake.
Daenerys reaches for the braziers of fire, reminding us that she’s fireproof and as the orchestral music reaches its crescendo she lits the hut on fire, burning all the Khals alive and walking away, naked but unsctahed. The Dothraki meanwhile have gathered around the hut and upon seeing Daenerys emerge unburnt, they kneel before her. I speculated a couple of episodes ago that Dany would never need rescuing and that she’d instead be leading the Dothraki out of Vaes Dothrak and I was right.
“You are small men”
“Book of the Stranger” started off on a high note, with the reunion of Jon and Sansa but soon petered down to politics but as you can expect, Emilia Clarke’s performance at the end left us punching their air in joy.
