It feels like only yesterday that Game of Thrones came back but here we are folks, at the final episode already. I’ve only just learnt how to spell everyone’s names again! What an episode, and bombshell to end on!
One of the best things about the show is of course the audience participation, we love to talk about Game of Thrones. And although today it’s killed us to wait until the evening UK transmission, we’re here 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 final episode of season five, Mother’s Mercy, as this article contains spoilers.
Writers: David Benioff, D. B Weiss
Directors: David Nutter
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, Iain Glenn, Alfie Allen, Tom Wlaschiha
Synopsis: Stannis marches. Dany is surrounded by strangers. Cersei seeks forgiveness. Jon is challenged.
We kicked off the episode with the downfall of Stannis. Melisandre looked mighty pleased with herself as she noticed that the ice and snow was thawing. She clearly believed that her decision to sacrifice more ‘blood of Stannis’ had worked, clearly she’s never experienced weather before. She tried to assert her authority over Stannis once more, telling him that she had had a vision of Bolton flags burning. He seemed to have had enough of her, maybe feeling guilty about what he let happen to his daughter and walked away.
His day got much worse when he found that half of his army had deserted him and that his wife had hung herself. Worse still he was told that Melisandre had also fled the camp. Perhaps she realised that she had royally screwed up and decided to cut her losses before she was cut down herself. Clearly feeling that he was screwed either way, Stannis chose to march on Winterfell regardless; not the wisest choice as the battle (which sadly we didn’t get to see) was a complete slaughter. A slaughter that Ramsey revelled in, even offing people who were trying to surrender. One person who slipped through his fingers however, was Stannis.
The death of Stannis was reserved by Brienne who finally got her chance to avenge her beloved Renley. Though Stannis appeared to be okay with his fate, his last words being ‘Go on, do your duty’. Another contender for the throne gone, and if our math is right, all the known Baratheon’s are dead. The only hope the lineage has got is that of Gendry, last seen being cast into the vast sea in a tiny boat at the end of season three, he’s surely due a return in season six?
Whilst Brienne may have got her much anticipated vengeance, she did abandon her watch post meaning that she broke her vow to Catelyn. Worse still, as is sod’s law, the moment she turned her back on the tower was the precise second that Sansa lit that all important candle.
Knowing that her time was up, Sansa made her bid for freedom only to be cornered by Myranda and Reek. Myranda and Ramsey are clearly cut from the same cloth as she delighted in tormenting Sansa, going into some ‘lovely’ detail about what Ramsey was going to do with her various parts. Her words it appears were the straw that broke the camel’s back as Reek, possibly now back to full Theon, gave her a shove, and to her death she fell, landing with a resounding splat. Realising they were now truly in for it, the pair united, and in a weird homage to Thelma and Louise, tried their luck jumping the wall. We didn’t see any splats as they jumped so we can only assume that the pair (or at least one of them) survived the fall, but we won’t find out for sure for almost a whole year.
Sansa wasn’t the only Stark girl to take a stand, as the showdown between Arya and the first-name-on-her-list Ser Meryn Trant unfolded. Clearly not satisfied with the one young girl he had in the last episode Trant had three girls in his chambers; two were cowering in fear, but the third was standing her ground. The long hair couldn’t fool us and we had an inkling that somehow this must be Arya, and of course it was. She’d ‘borrowed’ one of the many faces so that she could easily infiltrate the brothel. It wasn’t really a battle as the Stark girl caught Trant completely off-guard, instantly blinding him by stabbing him in the eyes. Not content to just pop his eyeballs, she made sure to get in some more wounding, but not fatal, stabs to the body before revealing her true identity as Arya Stark. She then coldly slit his throat.
After the deed was done she tried to return her ‘borrowed’ property, but Jaqen, or Yoda as we like to think of him, knew exactly what she had done and he was not pleased. He offered up a vial of poison proclaiming ‘A girl stole from the Many Faced God. A debt has to be paid’. Given that at that time Arya was being held down by her frienemy, it looked like we were about to witness the death of yet another Stark. But that was not to be as Jaqen himself drank the liquid. Well someone with his face did as suddenly he was behind a distraught Arya, watching as she pulled face after face after face off of the fallen body until she came to her own. Then things went all blurry as Arya started screaming that she couldn’t see. Well the saying goes ‘an eye, for an eye’.
There was more poisoning in Dorne as Ellaria finally got her revenge (there was a lot of revenge in tonight’s show wasn’t there?) on the Lannister’s. How did she do it? Well she did it with kindness, kissing Myrcella before the young Princess boarded the ship. It was obvious that the Myrcella was done for when she uttered the words ‘I’m happy you’re my father’. There are never happy endings in Game of Thrones. Just what Jaime will do now is anyone’s guess, but his ship still isn’t that far from Dorne, and he does have Prince Trystane with him.
Last week’s episode ended with that epic scene of Daenerys flying away on Drogon’s back, but it took us till the final third of this episode to see any follow-on. Her loyal band of subjects, Daario, Missandei, Grey Worm, Jorah and new recruit Tyrion, were all waiting in her throne room. After it became apparent that their Queen wouldn’t be returning any time soon, talk turned to a search party. Just who could be involved in the party caused some contention between all the men with Tyrion calling out both Jorah and Daario on their feelings for the Daenerys, pointing out that neither a ‘sell-sword’ or a ‘disgraced knight’ were an appropriate match for a Queen. Eventually the search party was determined to be the pairing of Jorah and Daario (not really a party) as Grey Worm, Missandei and Tyrion were needed to rule the kingdom in Daenerys’ absence. Yes everyone, Tyrion is acting ruler of Meereen, and as if by magic it was at that moment that Varys re-appeared. Just where has he been hiding? Might he be connected to the Son’s of the Harpy? Might he have orchestrated everything to get Tyrion on the throne? Only time will tell.
Given all the green scenery surrounding Drogon and Daenerys, it looks like Jorah and Daario are going to have quite the trek to find her. The Mother of Dragons tried and failed at commanding Drogon to take her home, the dragon more interested in having a sleep – at least we hope it’s just a sleep, he did look quite injured. Dragon-riders of the world should note that white really isn’t the right colour to wear; Dany’s lovely white dress was ruined. We’re not exactly sure where the pair is, but it looks like her Dothraki army may have found her.
Cersei finally ‘confessed’, though I can’t help but think it’s a rouse to get herself out of the prison. She cleverly only admitted to sleeping with the man she thought the High Sparrow knew about, her cousin Lancel. The High Sparrow then questioned her about the rumours between her and her brother which she vehemently denied. Clearly thinking that a confession was all that was needed she looked more than a little surprised that she would still stand trial. Cersei then channelled her inner Sarah Connor (a role previously played by Lena Headey) as she begged to see her son. High Sparrow agreed on the provision that she atone for her sins.
Just how does one atone for sleeping with their cousin? Well in Game of Thrones you do it by getting an extreme makeover (have all your hair chopped off) followed by walking home butt-naked with a town-crier walking behind you shouting ‘shame!’ over and over. Now I know there aren’t many fans of Cersei out there, but that scene was uncomfortable, emotional and very brave of Headey to agree to. Finally she made it home and was welcomed with open arms by Qyburn, the Doctor Frankenstein of Westeros. He even took the time to introduce her to the newest member of the King’s Guard who had conveniently taken a vow of silence. Given the new additions huge stature who else reckons it’s The Mountain hiding under there?
And then we ended the season at Castle Black. Earlier we had briefly seen Jon send Sam and Gilly off to Old Town so that Sam could train to be a maester, but it wasn’t until the very end that we got a proper visit. Davos was there trying to rally more troops for Stannis, oblivious to the outcome of the battle until Melisandre arrived. At least Davos was spared the heartache of knowing that Stannis ordered the death of his kind reading tutor, Princess Shirleen.
Finally the show ended with a death that none of us wanted. Granted the seeds have been being sowed the last few episodes, it was only last week that we said to keep an eye on Olly. Sadly we were right not to trust the young hand as he lured everyone’s favourite bastard Jon Snow into a tragically fatal mutiny. Proving that with Sam gone, he really was the ‘most hated man in castle Black’ Jon was confronted with his own ‘traitor’ grave. The gang of angry ‘brothers’ all took turns after Alliser Thorne to have a stab whilst saying ‘for the watch’. The final strike came from Olly and the series ended with us all watching in disbelief as Jon’s blood oozed into the surrounding snow. I hope they will be bitterly regretting their actions when the White Walkers finally show up at the wall.
Well what an ending that was. We’re not sure what to say. If we’re honest, part of us always felt that Jon was one of the ‘safe’ characters. Rest in Peace Jon Snow, may you and Ygritte be reunited.
Series five definitely took it’s time getting moving, but once the wheels were in motion it managed to surpass what had come before. Each of the final three episodes have somehow managed to top the last in spectacular form. I can’t help but think that that cliffhanger was viciously cruel as we now have to wait until April 2016 for the story to continue!
[usr=5] Game Of Thrones airs on HBO in north America, and Sky Atlantic in the UK and Ireland.
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