It’s back! Can you believe it’s been almost a whole year since we last left the Westeros realm? During that time the hype hasn’t died down any and we’ve all been clambering at the bit, excitedly waiting for Game of Thrones to return. Happily our not so patient waiting is finally over as season five has finally landed.
One of the best things about the show is of course the audience participation, we love to talk about Game of Thrones. THN will be here every week post UK transmission to chat about all the inevitable twists, turns and tragic deaths in our Blog of Thrones.
Be warned, only read on if you have seen the seventh episode of season five The Gift as this article contains spoilers.
Writers: David Benioff, D. B Wiess
Directors: Miguel Sapochnik
Cast: Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Alfie Allen, Iwan Rheon, Kit Harington, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Natalie Dormer, Iain Glenn, Diana Rigg
Synopsis: Jon prepares for conflict. Sansa tries to talk to Theon. Brienne waits for a sign. Stannis remains stubborn. Jaime attempts to reconnect with family.
So whose still with us? Last week’s episode Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken divided viewers with that final scene causing quite a lot of controversy. I myself was no big fan of the events that unfolded, but have decided to give the show the benefit of the doubt; Sansa is surely due vengeance and this being Game of Thrones, it’s clearly going to be glorious.
Until then however, we’ll have to stick with her as she galvanises herself. Things have clearly gone even further downhill since the Wedding with the Stark’s eldest girl now trapped in her bed chamber like some fairytale Princess. Clinging to the news that she still has allies in the North she begged Reek/Theon to light a candle in that high tower. Her attempts to undo Ramsey’s extreme brainwashing appeared to have worked as Reek set out to light that beacon of hope.
Sadly Ramsey somehow knew about the message and had chosen to set up his office in that very building. He also delighted in revealing to Sansa that he knew all her secrets, taking particular pride in showing her the latest victim of his flaying. Guess Ramsey doesn’t believe in the mantra ‘don’t flay the messenger’. He also dropped the bomb about Jon Snow being the Lord Commander. Fingers crossed she has a dastardly plan with that figurative shank she picked up.
Samwell had an eventful episode, starting by waving off his best friend and protector Jon Snow. He did make sure that he was well prepared for his journey ahead, arming his friend with some precious dragon’s glass. Does this mean that we might see more White Walker’s this series?
We had another death in the show tonight, though for once it was a natural death, as the elderly Grand Maester passed away. His dying hours had him hallucinating about his departed younger brother, the mad King. His dying words, ‘I dreamed that I was old,’ felt very Shakespearean. I’m a little confused how the Watch managed to burn his body though, he does have the blood of the dragon after all. Also during the ceremony, Sam was warned that all his allies are leaving.
Straight after we saw the consequences as Gilly was threatened; Samwell was very valiant as he tried his best to protect her. Sadly he got a beating, but thankfully Ghost was around to save them both. This wasn’t the most eventful part of Sam’s day though as he and Gilly took the next step in their relationship. The romance between this pair has been so sweet and it’s lovely to see someone in the series happy. Sam was definitely happy.
Stannis is running out of supplies fast and Davos is advising that he put off the war with Winterfell. Stannis will have none of it however, as he believes it is his time. He is also starting to question the Red Priestess’ visions. Her latest idea may be the very idea that breaks his resolve; Melissandre wants the blood of his daughter. He was horrified at the thought, might he finally stand up to her? We have a feeling that Stannis will stand firm and say no, his wife on the other hand will be more than up for this.
Jorah and Tyrion have been auctioned off as a fighting tag team, one step closer to meeting Daenerys. Dany meanwhile is fielding some male jealousy from Dairy who is not happy with her choice of future husband. He went so far as to propose, but got rebuffed. He then advised her to use the great games as an opportunity to slaughter all her potential influential enemies. When she waived stating she wasn’t a butcher he retorted that ‘leaders are either butchers or meat’. If she’s not careful, there could be more comparisons to her mad father in her future.
Later she was dragged along to one of the opening fighting pit battles, something that clearly pained her to do. As soon as Jorah knew that Dany was in the building he couldn’t not go get a glimpse of her. Upon seeing her in pain he rushed out onto the battlefield to take victory. The world’s have collided now as Tyrion and Dany have finally come face to face.
Jaime got his chance to speak to his daughter/niece Myrcella who put him in his place. She is happy where she is and will not leave Dorne. Bronn and the Sand Snakes are imprisoned, and though Bronn tried his best, his prison companions weren’t in the mood for a sing song. They did however reveal to him that they had poisoned him. Remember last season we found out that the Dornish often coat their blades with poison? Well that’s exactly what happened last week and Bronn’s ‘it is but a scratch’ is actually something much more grave, termed ‘the long farewell’. Was that the antidote that he was given? We’re not too sure…
Meanwhile at Kings Landing everything is focussed on the High Sparrow and his imprisonment of Margaery and Loras. Olenna tried to recruit High Sparrow to her own cause, but he’s a devotee of the seven pointed star. Tommen is acting like a lovesick teenager, he’s gone right off of his food; he’s ready to start a war to get his beloved Queen back. Cersei offered her support, giving Tommen a very rousing speech about how she will do anything to protect her young, like a true lioness. She really should be keeping a closer eye on Littlefinger instead of her youngest as he’s up to no good once more.
Meeting Olenna in his former business, the pair had a veiled conversation. Olenna threatened to oust Littlefinger’s involvement in Joffrey’s death, but Baelish has something up his sleeve, as he always does.
Cersei went to visit Margaery, clearly to rub salt in the wounds. Afterwards she went to speak to the High Sparrow under the pretence of caring about the plight of her daughter-in-law. Had she not, she might have lasted a little longer. It seems the secret is out as Littlefinger’s ‘gift’ to Olenna was none other than the former Lancel Lannister who knows all the family secrets.
Many fans will rejoice at the ending of tonight’s episode as Cersei was unceremoniously thrown into the dungeon. But she’s a strong and devious woman, surely she’ll find a way out of it?
The seventh episode (yep only three more left) has seen the pace pick up, with the wheels in motion for what is set to be an epic finale of the show. Actor Daniel Portman, who plays Poddrick has teased that the final episode will ‘break the internet’. Could there be something bigger than the red wedding just around the corner?
[usr=4] Game Of Thrones airs on HBO in north America, and Sky Atlantic in the UK and Ireland.
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