‘Game of Thrones’ delivers a big plot twist this week that, to be honest, is both disappointingly predictable and leaves me feeling conflicted about the direction the series is taking. I expect that it will divide a lot of the show’s fandom. The episode also brings the return of a storyline I half hoped would be forgotten for another season. The real shame is that these things have to happen in an episode that has several really great moments as well.
The North
Bran Stark was absent from the show during all of last season and I couldn’t have been more relieved about that at the time. The last we saw him was the intensely cheesy showdown between walking skeletons and little girls throwing magic fireballs in the Season 4 finale, which I still consider to be lowest point in the entire series to date. As I understand it, Bran’s storyline caught up with the last-published George R.R. Martin book at that point, which is why the show’s writers gave him a season off so they could figure out what to do with him next.
We pick up with Bran again now, and the actor has visibly had a significant growth spurt. These days, he spends most of his time underground, tangled in the roots of the magic tree. He practices his warging power with the old Gandalf wannabe known only as the Three-Eyed Raven (now played by Max von Sydow, which is a welcome upgrade), who’s been teaching him how to control and direct his psychic visions. In his latest flashback, Bran sees his father Ned Stark , his uncle Benjen and his aunt Lyanna as children – as well as young Hodor, a stable boy whose real name is Wylis and used to be able to talk. Bran is greatly amused by this and wants to spend more time watching them when the Raven extracts him from the dream.
Afterwards, Bran is excited to tell his friend Meera about the dream. He finds her looking out over the vast frozen wasteland of the North. She’s bored and unhappy, and worries that they’re wasting their time here when a great war is coming.
I assume that this sudden focus on Lyanna, whom we’ve heard about previously but died long before the events of the show’s first season, is intended to lead to a revelation about Jon Snow’s parentage. I suppose that’s a bit of foreshadowing as to what will happen at the end of this episode.
Castle Black
The deadline that Alliser set for Davos to surrender and turn over Jon Snow’s body is up. With archers and swordsmen at the ready, Alliser commands his men to break down the door. Davos and his compatriots prepare to fight, when suddenly everyone is distracted by a loud crashing noise. The giant from Hardhome smashes through the castle gates and a horde of Wildlings led by Tormund Giantsbane swarm in after him, greatly outnumbering the men of the Night’s Watch. Davos obviously must have sent for them as soon as he discovered Jon Snow dead.
Alliser orders his men to fight, but they recognize the futility in it and all put down their weapons – except for one moron who shoots the giant with an arrow and gets smashed into a bloody smear for it. Tormund takes Alliser prisoner and hauls him away. After centuries of defending the Wall from the Wildlings, the Night’s Watch has fallen.
King’s Landing
In the slums of the capital, a drunk tells ridiculous stories about sexually conquering Queen Mother Cersei. Later, as he stumbles into an alley to take a piss against a wall, The Mountain steps up from behind and pulverizes his head.
Cersei is prevented from attending her own daughter’s funeral. A group of apologetic Kingsguard soldiers, looking very nervous as The Mountain hovers over her, inform Cersei that her son, King Tommen, has ordered that she remain in the Red Keep. Cersei is displeased but chooses not to make a scene.
Only Tommen and Jaime stand over Myrcella’s body. Jaime chastises the boy for the way he’s treated his mother. Tommen tells him that the Sparrows demanded that she not be allowed inside the church. He admits to being scared and weak, and feels like a failure for being unable to protect either his mother or his wife. He doesn’t know what to do. Jaime tries to give him a pep talk and assures him that they’ll set things right together.
When the High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) enters the church, Jaime sends Tommen away to go apologize to his mother. (That the king still takes orders from his uncle is a sign of his weakness.) Jaime threateningly exchanges words with the High Sparrow and ties to intimidate him, but has to stand down when a large group of Sparrow thugs appear from all sides around him.
As he was told, Tommen talks to his mother and apologizes for being so useless. He asks for her help determining what to do next.
Meereen
Tyrion, Varys and Missandei discuss the current state of their kingdom since Daenerys went missing. Cities are revolting, the slavers are returning to power, and the two dragons chained up in the basement refuse to eat. Tyrion suggests that it’s time to set the dragons free. Historically, dragons have fared poorly in captivity. That’s what caused their extinction the last time around. When Daenerys returns, her power is largely predicated on being the Mother of Dragons. How will she maintain rule if her dragons die?
In the episode’s best scene, Tyrion and Varys nervously head down to the dungeon. Varys waits at the door as Tyrion slowly inches further into the darkened room illuminated only by his torch. The dragons reveal themselves, menacingly. Tyrion speaks to them soothingly, tells them a story about how much he wanted a dragon when he was a boy, and insists, “I’m here to help. Don’t eat the help.”
Tyrion releases both dragons from their chains and backs out of the room, telling Varys to punch him in the face if he ever tries something so foolish again.
Braavos
Blind Arya is once again accosted by The Waif. Her attempts to fight back are completely useless. The Waif then morphs into Jaqen, who asks her to tell him her name. Arya immediately recognizes that the only correct answer is, “A girl has no name.” She repeats this as Jaqen offers her food, shelter, and even to give her eyesight back if she will speak her name. Having passed this test, Jaqen tells her to follow him back to the House of Black and White. She can leave her panhandling dish behind. She won’t need it anymore.
Winterfell
Roose Bolton once again expresses his disappointment with Ramsay for allowing Sansa to escape. Surmising that she must be heading to her brother’s protection at Castle Black, Ramsay wants to attack the Night’s Watch there. His father reminds him that doing so would cost them the support of many houses in the north, but Ramsay insists they’re powerful enough that won’t matter. Roose chastises his son for behaving like a mad dog.
Their conversation is interrupted by news that Roose’s wife, Lady Walda, has given birth. As expected, she had a boy. Ramsay, recognizing the threat to his inheritance this represents, deferentially congratulates his father. Roose tells Ramsay that he will always be his first son. Ramsay thanks him for saying so and moves in for a hug, but pulls a blade and stabs his father to death. As Roose’s body collapses to the ground, Ramsay orders the maester to spread the news that Roose Bolton was poisoned by his enemies. He then calls to see his stepmother and new little brother.
Pretending to lead them to see his father, Ramsay brings Lady Walda and her baby to the kennels. Not being a total idiot, she knows that something is wrong and begs Ramsay not to harm them. Nevertheless, he coldly releases the hounds to viciously maul the woman and child to death.
En Route to Castle Black
Brienne tells Sansa about the last time she saw Arya (who was with The Hound at the time). Theon is afraid that Jon Snow will kill him as soon as they enter Castle Black, and furthermore that he would deserve it. He tells Sansa that, now that she has Brienne to protect her, she doesn’t need him anymore. He can’t go with her on the rest of the journey. When Sansa asks where he’ll go instead, he replies, “Home.”
Iron Islands
Even though they still have a powerful Navy, the Greyjoys are losing territory because they can’t hold a position on the land. Patriarch Balon Greyjoy argues with his daughter Yara about who’s to blame for that. He accuses his ship captains of being traitors for disobeying his orders, and criticizes Yara for her useless mission to rescue her brother Theon from Ramsay.
Later that night, Balon crosses a rope bridge in the pounding rain when he’s confronted by a man he recognizes as his estranged brother Euron, a pirate Balon accuses of having gone mad at sea. They argue and Balon pulls a knife, but Euron tosses him over the bridge to his death. (Apparently, family murder is a prominent theme this week.)
The next day, Yara casts her father’s body off to the sea in a funeral service, swearing that she’ll avenge his death. Although she assumes that she’s the new head of the family and will succeed her father on the throne, her other uncle Aeron Greyjoy reminds her that the next king must be chosen in an election ceremony called the “kingsmoot.” This is all undoubtedly a power play by Euron to seize control of the kingdom.
Back to Castle Black
Davos asks Melisandre if Jon Snow could be resurrected by magic. We’ve seen earlier in the series that this is possible, but it’s a power that Melisandre believes should not be in the hands of mortal men (or women). Nonetheless, despite being depressed and disillusioned, she agrees to try, though she doesn’t believe she’s powerful enough to pull it off anyway.
Melisandre washes Jon Snow’s body, then cuts off some of his hair and tosses it in a fire. She speaks the resurrection incantation, but nothing happens. She tries again. Still nothing. After a few more attempts, she gives up and everyone leaves the room disappointed.
After they leave, Jon Snow suddenly wakes up gasping for air.
Episode Verdict
That Jon Snow would be resurrected is something fans have speculated about ever since the moment he was killed. It doesn’t seem like a surprise at all. If anything, the only shock here is how quickly it happens. He’s only been dead for two episodes. Hardly any characters on the show even know he died at all!
I suppose it’s a good thing that the writers get this out of the way early rather than string it along until the season finale. Unfortunately, it still feels like a cop-out to me. While it’s true that the show established the possibility of magical resurrection in an earlier season, witnessing it happen to a major character like Jon Snow cheapens his death. What was the point of killing him off at all? It also opens the door to more characters coming back. Could Melisandre resurrect Stannis next? Or Robb Stark? Or even Ned? What’s the limit to this power?
‘Game of Thrones’ has long been lauded for the way that even seemingly-essential characters can be killed off at any moment. No one is safe, or so we were led to believe. But that’s not true anymore, is it?
How much this development affects the show will depend on how well it’s handled in the next few episodes. Will Jon Snow be changed at all? What impact will the knowledge of his death and magical resurrection have on the other characters? Was this just a cheap plot twist to toy with viewers, or will it have a legitimate value to the story? I can’t answer those questions yet. Unfortunately, I’m left feeling uneasy about the likely possibilities.
cardpetree
I really need to see the high priest and some sparrows get their heads smashed in by The Mountain.
TJ Kats
I was tired while watching this episode last night but my initial reaction is it is one of the lesser episodes the show has ever done. Every scene seemed like it could have been cut in half and still gotten the point across.
Dragons Growl at Tyrion 30 times 10 would have been plenty.
Ramsey lets Walda ramble just to ramble when he could have just killed her.
The second Davos asks about resurrection we know it will happen but then she has to chant for what seems like ages and they all leave and we still need a close up of Jon before he comes back.
I know the show/books are a slow burn and I always love it but to me this one seemed to be meandering just for the sake of being meandering.
Count333
Josh Zyber – This article was amateur at best. Your predictions about what Jon’s death may or may not mean, if it means anything at all and if the shows producers just did it to toy with fans, is ridiculous and shows that you are not in the know like most fans when it comes to the history, world and plots of GoT. Of course Jon’s murder has meaning and the only reason we were shown Thoros of Mir resurrecting Berric was because it was bound to happen again. If you read any of the books at all you’d know that this was going to happen and not only that but if you’d paid enough attention to everything leading up to this season you’d know that things would turn out this way as well. Hell you could even just read up online about Got from people who actually know what they’re talking about. And btw, Arya isn’t in Dorne as you wrote in your article, she’s in Braavos. Dumbass. And one more thing, the fans will not be divided over anything that’s happened. Get a clue and while you’re at it get another job because you obviously suck at this one.
T.J. Kats
Fans won’t be divided?
Does that mean everyone thinks this episode sucked and Jon being brought back like this is lame.
eric
I agree there was something about this review that I didn’t like. There are a number of presumptions too like “The Waif morphing into Jaqen”, we don’t know that but it seems like you add it in there because it supports your discontent with the episode. Also, he doesn’t make it clear where she is following him too. There are other places in here like that. It reads as full of discontent and muddies the facts. But not a dumbass.
Josh Zyber
AuthorFirst off, neither of those were complaints. I was just stating what happens in the plot. One second The Waif is standing there. The next second Jaqen is standing there. We know that Jaqen is a shape-shifter. We saw him take the Waif’s form in the Season 5 finale. This isn’t exactly a leap I’m making. Did they actually show him morphing on camera this time? I suppose not, but I see that as the show sparing its visual effects budget during a scene where it isn’t really needed.
And of course he’s bringing her back to the House of Black & White. Where else would they go?
You accuse me of making up things in the episode to complain about, but here you are making up things in my article to complain about.
cardpetree
Geez man, take a Xanax. It’s just an opinion.
Josh Zyber
AuthorSome Game of Thrones book fans are truly insufferable, aren’t they?
Timcharger
Josh, if you can look past the unpleasantries,
Count333 is correct about the location of Arya being
Braavos instead of Dorne. I think you had it correct
last week, so it’s just a typo.
Wanrer
As a long time reader of this blog and Josh’s reviews, the tone of your post is is both unwarranted and welcomed here. Its fine to disagree with Josh’s views of this show, but to call someone a “dumbass” because they don’t like what you do is amateurish at best.
Timcharger
“We all fail sometimes” at the title???!!!
That’s your choice? I really couldn’t remember that line
at all from the episode. Since Varys and Missandei is
pictured, I guess Varys must have said it. In all the
scenes of the episode, the conversation at Meereen’s
pyramid-top was probably least memorable.
In your same section on Meereen, the “I’m here to help.
Don’t eat the help” line is much more memorable. What
happens at the caverns under the pyramid was much
more important.
Varys and Missandei were minor, minor roles in this
episode. Strange choice, I say.
Timcharger
“I prefer being an only child.”
“If I ever have an idea like that again, punch me in the face.”
“I’m asking the woman who showed me that miracles exist.”
Or even your “don’t eat the help,” those are better.
(But I could be wrong.)
Josh Zyber
AuthorThe line was said by Jaime to Tommen, and is unrelated to the photo. The choice of photo is dependent on what publicity images are available, little more. I chose that quote because it summed up my feelings on the episode.
(And yes, the “Dorne” heading was a typo. I had it right in my notes but typed the wrong thing. It’s been corrected now.)
Timcharger
Another minor, minor role in this episode.
The show makes a point to indicate how ineffective
Tommen is.
See, I didn’t recall the line said from Jaime to Tommen,
hence my surprise at your selection. If anything the
next conversation between Jaime and the High
Sparrow was more memorable.
It’s fair that you have your Episode Verdict (and I like
to read your opinion on the episodes), but if you’re
going to choose your title quotes based on positive
or negative feelings of each episode, that seems
unfair and arbitrary.
Like episode = find any positive line between any
two characters.
Dislike episode = find any negative line between
any two characters.
Find meaningful/funny/memorable line = better.
(I could be wrong.)
Josh Zyber
AuthorI fail to see how this is in any way unfair.
Timcharger
It’s unfair to the game I play,
Guessing your next recap’s title quotes.
🙂
eric
These titles are a glimpse into the reviewers feeling about the show and particular episode. I knew as soon as I read this title that he didn’t like it, and I knew as soon as Snow was resurrected he would hate the whole show and his review would be similar to this. Seems like the show has become a burden for him.
Paul Anderson
“The soil of a man’s heart is stonier, Louis. A man grows what he can, and he tends it. ‘Cause what you buy, is what you own. And what you own… always comes home to you.”
I kept thinking about that quote and the movie it came from after the episode ended. Let’s not jump to any conclusions just yet. Who knows what kind of Jon Snow came back. He could be a evil Jon Snow…
Timcharger
Josh: “Unfortunately, it still feels like a cop-out to me. While it’s true that the show established the possibility of magical resurrection in an earlier season, witnessing it happen to a major character like Jon Snow cheapens his death.”
We still don’t know what price was paid for Jon’s return.
If he comes back exactly the same or with improvements
(supernatural powers), that would makes us wonder
what would have happened if Jon just died earlier.
“Witnessing it happen to a MAJOR character…”
I’m not sure if it happens to minor characters like Beric
Dondarrion makes it any better. If anything, it makes
more sense that major characters get the special
treatment.
Timcharger
Josh: “If anything, the only shock here is how quickly it happens. He’s only been dead for two episodes.”
I’ve said earlier that if 3 days pass, religions get created
on resurrections like that. The span of 2 episodes was
that hours or within a day at the Castle Black scenes?
I don’t know; maybe?
We can’t assume that the other scenes in episodes 1
and 2 were chronological or intercut to indicate the
passing of real-time.
So if the resurrection was relatively soon after death,
it can be argued that it was some kind of magical
super-healing.
In a world of reanimated zombies and skeletons, a
few stab wounds seem to be within the realm of
plausibility. If Jon’s head was decapitated or his
body was burned, I would share more of your
incredulous viewpoint.
Josh Zyber
AuthorIt has been one day in show time since Jon Snow’s death. Davos found him the morning after the murder. Shortly after that, Alliser set a deadline that Davos had to turn the body over by that nightfall. That night is when this episode starts.
Timcharger
Yeah, so wouldn’t it be more incredulous
the longer Jon Snow remained dead? Seems unfair
to me that you gripe about both the brevity of Jon’s
death and the implications of resurrecting “Stannis
next? Or Robb Stark? Or even Ned?”
“What’s the limit to this power?” you asked, and
wouldn’t that power be less limited the longer Jon
remained dead?
Josh Zyber
AuthorAs I said in the recap, most of the characters in the show have no idea Jon Snow was ever dead at all. So what’s the point of killing him just to bring him back immediately afterwards?
It’s the Game of Thrones equivalent to the writers saying “Psyche!!! Fooled you!” to the viewers.
Timcharger
It actually can be a “reverse-psyche.”
I didn’t believe Ned was gone. I had to pause
and go frame by frame, because I believed that
the camera cut away before the decapitation.
I was wrong.
I thought maybe in someway, like the Blackfish
was able to escape the Red Wedding, maybe
Robb could survive the arrow shots. I was
wrong.
This time, Game of Thrones did point out that
we have something on our shirt. But we
refused to look downward because we “knew”
GoT was going to flick up towards our noses.
But with Ned, GoT didn’t flick up.
But with Robb, GoT didn’t trick us.
So, I’m okay with GoT getting a laugh in this
time.
And while I wanted Jon back and believed he
would be come back, there were moments in
the off-season, that I thought he really might
be gone. Admittedly, that torturous uncertainty
did bring me a sick pleasure in my speculating.
What you see as a cheap trick, I say that it was
well played. GoT showed 2 clean hands with
Ned and Robb, and bluffed on the 3rd hand
with Jon.
Timcharger
And the fact that a few scenes at other locations
in episodes 1 & 2 made references to Jon Snow being Lord
Commander of Castle Black suggest that the scenes at
Castle Black likely occurred relatively quickly to each other.
Guess that Melisandre only climbed into her bed for a
nap. And the treasonous Watchmen weren’t standing
outside the locked room, with bows drawn for days.
Timcharger
During the final scene, I imagined a price to be paid
for the resurrection of Jon Snow. Some sacrifice had
to be made.
I first thought it would be Melisandre. Her faith was
gone. Her purpose was gone. I thought that she
might somehow transfer her “life force” (she could
live for hundreds of years, right?) to Jon. Meaning
that we would see her permanently become a
withered, old lady. Or that she would immediately
die, trading her life for Jon’s.
That didn’t happen.
My next thought was sad. The camera focused
on Ghost. And he was sleeping. His breathing
seemed to go slower and slower. I thought that
would be the sacrifice. Ghost’s life would be the
sacrifice in exchange for Jon’s. No, not the cute
(or deadly scary) doggie.
That didn’t happen. Yay! Ghost is still alive.
Good boy! Good boy!
Shannon Nutt
Hopefully Jon Snow won’t be “Jon Snow” at all – but some kind of alternate (evil?) version – kind of like what they did with John Locke on LOST. He’s got to be SOMETHING different, otherwise there’s no point in killing him off in the first place.
eric
At a minimum Jon must come back different, even if it is just some sort of mental empowerment or new vision or some sort of internal strength that the wishy washy unsure Jon Snow never had. Next episode he sits up and says “I know what I need to do.” and then he proceeds to walk around the castle naked.
I would have preferred them trying to burn Jon Snow after a failed attempt my Milasandre and instead he raised from the fire, similar to Daenerys in the first season closer. This would have left some questions and created new mystery.
T.J. Kats
I said something similar to my wife while watching when they first said to burn him. While I understand that may have jumped that pairing to far ahead in viewers mind I think would have been much cooler.
Timcharger
I get that Daenerys was “reborn” from
Khal Drogo’s fire pyre. But not really resurrected.
She went into that fire alive.
Let’s give Episode 3 a chance to explain what
exactly happened and see what price/sacrifice is
required for Jon’s return. If Jon is changed with
some kind of “empowerment” advantage, that
seems rather unfair, unearned.
eric
this one should of been called “Hulk smash!”
Timcharger
Hulks smash!
There were 2 hulks smashing skulls againsts walls
in this episode. The Mountain (Ser Strong) was
fearsome, but compared to the Giant, the
Mountain was like a molehill.
Speaking of the hulk smash, I would have been
even more cruel if I wrote the scene. Instead of
an anonymous Watchmen firing an arrow at the
Giant. I would have had that boy shoot the
arrow. Yup, the boy that had his family killed
by Wildlings. The boy that was taken under Jon’s
wing. He was Jon’s squire/assistant. Yes, the
one who also stabbed Jon.
The little boy being flung against a wall and his
bloodied-pulp body thrown at Ser Alliser’s feet.
That’s how I would have written it.
It would be a nice callback to how it was the
boy’s arrow that killed Ygritte and his arrow
shot at the Giant that got himself killed. The
adolescent boy is nearsighted in how he looks
at the world. Jon was making bigger decisions
affecting the larger world. The little boy only
could see his immediate emotional pain. He
backstabs Jon and that would lead to giant
consequences. How fitting it would be that
his foolhardy arrow makes him get smashed
by the Giant.
Gruesome, but very Game-of-Thronesy.
Timcharger
I have a memory of an episode (back in Season 1?)
where it ends with Brandon Stark’s eyes opening.
Bran was in a coma from falling/getting pushed by
Jaime Lannister. IIRC.
Seemed like the ending of this episode was a
callback to that. Both Bran’s and Jon’s eyes open
and credits roll.
Kyle
Perhaps the producers were trying to make a connection between the two. I wonder, did the show give some indication as to what Bran was doing while he was “in a coma.” If I were to guess, that might give viewers an indication as to what Jon was doing while his body was dead.
Zyber, Ned’s older brother is Brandon, not Benjen. Benjen is his younger brother. Brandon was engaged to Catelyn Tully, but was killed by Mad King Aerys prior to their wedding. Catelyn subsequently married Ned instead, to maintain the alliance between the houses. When Ned returned to Winterfell as Lord of the North, Benjen took the black.
Josh Zyber
AuthorWhich one was seen in the vision? I thought I heard “Benjen”?
T.J. Kats
He said Benjen but that could have been an error by the writers.
itjustWoRX
All three boys were there. Ned was sparring with Benjen while Brandon watched. Then Lyanna rode in.
Josh Zyber
AuthorWell there you go.
Timcharger
At one point, I imagined that it would be
the Hound that defeats the Mountain. An epic brother
versus brother matchup. But nope…
Oberyn Martell! What a new character! He would cut
the Mountain down piece by piece. But nope…
The Sand Snakes! Yes, those hotties with their speed
and cunning, working together, they will defeat the
Mountain. Maybe…
But now that we learned that Hodor, who once could
speak, can be weapon trained, and “has giant’s blood;”
might he be the one? Two giant men, Hodor versus
the Mountain. That’s a fight card.
Hodor!
Charles M
Dying free’s Jon from his duty as a Brother of the Night Watch. Which, presumably, will allow him to leave and do what ever he wants to do. Like say, fight the Boltons. Without it happening he’s stuck there. Jon takes his oaths seriously.
Timcharger
Dying and being resurrected absolves one
of all prior obligations and debts. All is forgiven.
Get out of jail for free. All except for student loans
of course. Jon Snow can never escape his student
loans.
🙂
Timcharger
How about the mere fact that the Boltons
and their allies are marching north to kill Jon and
everyone at Castle Black? Seems like Jon can
justifiably lead his Brothers and Wildlings south
to meet them headlong.
And if there is a long term commitment to be the
King of the North at Winterfell or even sit on the
Iron Throne, that will likely occur way after the
coming White Walkers’ war. And the end of said
war, will likely bring an end to Jon’s oath. Either
they failed, so there’s no need for Watchmen.
Or they succeed and arguably their duties are
fulfilled and freed.
Charles M
After all that he’d still have to go back to being Lord Commander of the Night Watch. He swore a vow. Also, he can now go on the offensive rather than waiting for the Boltons.
Timcharger
I agree that Jon’s not going back to be some
administer official designating what latrine remodeling
work needs to be done.
I’m suggesting that oath and obligations to the Night
Watch will cease to exist when the Night Watch ceases
to exist. The border patrol watching out for the
possible White Walker army, no longer needs to be
the border patrol when invasion occurs. All-out war
will put an end to the Night Watch (in victory or defeat).
Taking a foray to meet the Boltons in battle between
Castle Black and Winterfell doesn’t violate Jon’s oath.
So there’s no need for an excuse to violate the oath.
Jon refused Stannis because Stannis wanted to install
Jon as King/Warden of the North at Winterfell. That
would violate Jon’s oath.
If anything, Jon would want Sansa to rule Winterfell,
and Jon would go back to the Wall and address the
bigger threat that is coming.
Jon isn’t there in the Night Watch just because he took
an oath. Jon really believes he needs to be there to
fight the White Walkers to save the realm.
Josh Zyber
AuthorFor what it’s worth, the title of the next episode is ‘Oathbreaker’. Yes, that’s the name of Brienne’s sword, but I’m thinking it was chosen for a double meaning.
Kyle
Zyber, the sword is Oathkeeper.
http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Oathkeeper_%28sword%29
Josh Zyber
AuthorI stand corrected.
Timcharger
If Josh likes the episode,
he’ll call it Oathkeeper. If Josh
doesn’t, it’s Oathbreaker.
🙂
Jared Martin
I think you missed the scene last week where Davos sent Dolorous Edd to fetch those who are still loyal to Jon Snow.
Also the Waif clearly didn’t morph. She leaves and Arya flails about for a few seconds before Jaqen grabs her staff.
As for resurrection there is a significant cost to it being done. Barric was nothing like himself when he was resurrected. Each time he became less like himself. Ned can’t be resurrected. I think Arya asked Thoros about it in the books and it isn’t possible because he has no head and is long dead. The physical damage to the corpse plays a big part. When Catelyn was resurrected her open wounds were never healed so she has a big hole in her neck that she had to close when she talked.
I don’t think many people will be torn over what Jon’s fate will be. The show hasn’t really built him up too much, but he could potentially be the Lord of Light reborn. Maybe he could team up with aunt Daenerys to become the song of Ice & Fire against the white walkers. Exciting stuff!
Oh, and did anyone else notice the young Ned Stark in the preview for the next episode!?!? He’s fighting Targaryen soldiers in front of a tower. Could we possibly get to see Rhaegar?? Can’t wait!
Timcharger
“Maybe he could team up with aunt Daenerys to become the song of Ice & Fire.”
I have pictured a Jon Snow and Daenerys team up.
They seem like they would make a good romantic
couple. But in my picture, I’m thinking of a union
between a Stark and a Targaryen.
But R + L = J, then you’re right about the aunt part.
But then again, incest hasn’t stopped many in the
realm.
Jared Martin
The Targaryen line remained pure solely through incest. The only reason Dany was married off was for an army…and the whole Targaryen’s being killed thing, haha. It is entirely possible Dany and Jon could get together. I was thinking more of an alliance than a romance, but anything is possible! Haha.
Timcharger
What a great sick joke that would be
if GoT pulled it off.
R + L = J shouldn’t be revealed first. First have
Jon and Dany meet and fall madly in love with
each other. They save the realm. Wedding of
the century at King’s Landing. Beautiful, lovely
ceremony.
Bran shows up. Whispers into Jon’s ear, you
just married your aunt.
🙂
Jared Martin
He’d have a total ‘Old Boy’ moment! Haha.
Timcharger
Do we hate Ramsay more than Joffrey now?
Who would have guessed that GoT has/will/or-not topped
the villainy of Joffrey with Ramsay?
Ramsay must die a painful death.
Who are the candidates and how?
Theon makes sense. But I don’t know what Theon can
cut off that can one-up what Ramsay did. I don’t mind
at all if Theon did it.
Ramsay being flayed makes sense. But at the same
time, flaying is what the Boltons do. And I think I prefer
flaying being completely outlawed as Ned Stark wanted,
that seems right.
Jon Snow killing Ramsay makes sense. The two bastards.
B v B: Dawn of Justice.
Since Ramsay likes dogs, Ghost eating Ramsay will bring
me much pleasure. I like that.
Or maybe someone out of left field. Super assassin
Arya Stark meets Ramsay one night in the kennels.
Ramsay’s hounds need to be fed.
TJ Kats
Is Ramsey worse yes but *I* don’t hate him more than Joffrey. To me the reason Joffrey is worse than Ramsey because he always tried to hide it or pass the blame off to others so as a character he wasn’t honest to who he is. Ramsey on the other hand is just a total sociopath/psycopath but he knows it and owns it.
Timcharger
Oh, the dragons in the cavern under the pyramid…
They seem bigger than the opening at the top of
the stairs. Maybe the relative size next to Tyrion
has made them look even bigger.
And I was expecting them to fly off or at least exit
their dungeon. Unchained but still captive.
Dragons don’t do well in that environment. You
know, cuz “I drink and know things.”
Timcharger
Oh yeah, that bolt came undone
rather easily, no? Tyrion isn’t known for being
strong or handy around the house.
And given how “intelligent” dragons are, the
two dragons working together could have
loosened their bolts. Tyrion should have had
some kind of bolt-key or at least struggled
with some unlocking or unthreading
mechanism.
That concludes the home improvement
portion of the comments.
🙂
Timcharger
Did Melisandre succeed?
I don’t know. Seriously, I think that is a fair question.
Obviously, Jon woke up. But the way it is shot, it
might not have been Melisandre’s doing.
And I don’t mean that the credit really goes to the
Lord of LIght, instead of Melisandre. My point isn’t a
humblebrag to give credit to Melisandre’s god.
I’m curious how Episode 6.3 will explain Jon’s
recovery.
And I’m calling it a “recovery.” Yes, I see the many
puncture wounds. But was there a scene where
someone actually took Jon’s pulse? I don’t recall.
Did someone put their ear against Jon’s chest?
Jon being back may not be Melisandre’s doing.
Timcharger
Speaking of Melisandre’s success (or lack of)…
It should be noted that her 3rd leech prophecy finally came
true. Balon Greyjoy was the 3rd King to be killed from those
leeches she burned.
So she sucks then.
With Robb and Joffrey (the first 2 leeches) she was off to a
great start. But the War of the 5 Kings are over, and Stannis
died before Balon did. This can’t be counted as a success if
the person you promised these deaths to, Stannis, died
before her predictions came true.
If a fortune cookie is going to tell me the winning lottery
numbers, I would prefer it if the cookie tells me about that
drunk driver on my way to the lottery ticket store.
Timcharger
The Iron Islands…
Let’s call George R.R. Martin on exactly what the Iron
Islands really are. George really had too much wine
that night he planned out the Iron Islands.
They really are the IRONY Islands.
“Drowned God”
Huh? Most deities are worshiped for their ability to
survive, not die?
“Pay the iron price”
And the iron price is $Free.99. I tried paying the iron
price the other day on my blu-rays. The retail store
didn’t find my irony funny at all. They said I can’t just
take the blu-rays. I said I paid the iron price. Each
year, the pandemonium on Black Friday gets crazier.
Can’t wait for some retailer that advertises the iron
price.
“What is dead may never die”
I rest my case.
What is Greyjoy literature like? Every other sentence
is irony? How can anyone makes sense of it?
Is the national anthem of the Iron Islands, Alanis
Morissette’s song?
George, admit it. It was a typo. You forgot the “Y” on
your first draft and decided to just with “Iron Islands.”
Timcharger
Further, it’s ironic about the IRONy ISLANDS,
that this area of Westeros may actually be
democratic?! A Kingsmoot!
A land with a motto to not sow, and just reap.
To pay the iron price, by just taking it. The
kingship isn’t just taken, but elected?!
George, you’re just F-ing with us now, right?
The Iron Islands is going to have multi-year
campaigns. Primaries throughout the Islands.
Delegates, caucuses, hate speech and
violence at Euron Greyjoy rallies, and we all
thought that it would be a woman, Yara
Greyjoy that would be next leader of the Iron
Islands.
🙂
Timcharger
Guesses for 6.3’s recap title quotes…
The best lines were:
“What kind of god would have a pecker that small?”
“Your father was a c*nt, that’s why you killed him.”
But if Josh hated the episode, he’ll go with:
“Now, go fail again.”
“My watch is ended.”
Josh Zyber
AuthorYou know, Tim, every time you try to guess what quote I’ll pick, I have to choose something else.
Timcharger
You only have to do that, if you’re spiteful.
There’s nothing wrong with agreeing with me, once
in a while. A broken watch does tell the right time
twice a day.
Or in GoT vernacular, if I keep saying Winter is
Coming, I’ll eventually get it right.