To the disappointment of the show’s many fans, the fifth season of ‘Game of Thrones’ was decidedly its weakest. As a consequence, the sixth season arrives with a lot less hype and anticipation than usual. Still, it remains a hugely popular series and viewers want it to return to glory. Can the show-runners get things back on track?
This will also be the first season where the TV adaptation progresses forward beyond author George R.R. Martin’s last published novel in the series (‘A Dance with Dragons’) and ventures into uncharted territory. Because I have not read any of the books, I can’t say which parts of the story (if any) come from Martin’s writing and which are new.
Like most seasons, the premiere episodes starts things off on a slow burn as the show catches us up with where the characters are and sets up new storylines for the remainder of the season.
Castle Black
When Jon Snow was assassinated in the Season 5 finale, disgruntled fans swore that he’d be back one way or the other, either by miraculously surviving his multitude of stab wounds or through resurrection by magic. Producer D.B. Weiss insisted that dead means dead and actor Kit Harrington claimed he wasn’t coming back for Season 6. Yet as the opening titles for the new premiere roll, there’s Harrington’s name still in the credits, and sure enough the first scene opens with the camera swooping down from an aerial view of Castle Black to find Jon Snow lying on the ground.
Well, he’s decisively dead all right. He won’t be crawling away from this one to get patched up by a maester somewhere. (Although seen again throughout the premiere, Harrington spends the entire episode as a corpse.) Ser Alliser and the other traitors left Snow’s body out to rot. His direwolf, locked up in the kennel, senses the loss and howls in anguish.
Ser Davos steps outside to investigate the commotion and sees Snow’s body. He and a small band of Jon Snow loyalists pick him up and quickly bring him inside. The witch Melisandre follows them in. While Davos certainly has no love for her, he recognizes that they’ll need any support they can get. Melisandre seems despondent. She swears that she saw Jon Snow walking through Winterfell again in the vision given to her by the God of Light. Is she losing faith in her god?
Ser Alliser gives a speech to the rest of the Night’s Watch admitting that he and the other officers have committed treason and murdered their Lord Commander. This causes quite an uproar. Alliser swears that it was necessary, because the path Snow was leading them on would end with the destruction of the Night’s Watch.
Alliser next appears at Davos’ door. He offers Davos and anyone helping him amnesty so long as they surrender and turn over Jon Snow’s body. Davos says that they’ll need time to discuss. Alliser gives them a deadline of nightfall. Davos then immediately tells the others that Alliser is lying and will kill all of them as soon as they open the door. While the Night’s Watch brothers are eager to fight and willing to die so long as they take Alliser with them, Davos urges them to be smart. He may have an idea.
Winterfell
Ramsay finds his mistress Miranda dead and Sansa missing. His father is displeased with his failure and reminds Ramsay that he cannot produce an heir without Sansa. If that should happen, and if his own pregnant wife should have a boy (which she believes she will), that child will then be the new heir, cutting Ramsay out. Ramsay sends his best trackers and hounds out to find the girl
The last we saw them, Sansa and Theon made a suicidal leap off the Winterfell castle wall. They’ve survived unharmed, though we get no explanation for that whatsoever. I guess they landed in a snowbank or something. On the run through the woods fleeing from hounds, they’re forced to cross a freezing river. Sansa is weak and frail. As the dogs get closer, Theon suggests that they should split up. He’ll lead their pursuers away and she should go north to Castle Black.
Much like a similar plan failed the cast of ‘The Walking Dead’ recently, Theon’s brilliant strategy falls completely to shit when he’s captured mere moments later. Although he tries to lie and claims that Sansa was killed in the fall and he left her behind, Ramsay’s soldiers aren’t fooled. The dogs quickly sniff her out as well.
Just as things look pretty dire, Brienne and Podrick storm in to the rescue. In a bloody fight, Brienne takes out most of the soldiers and even Podrick gets in a good kill. However, when one of the soldiers overpowers Podrick, Theon picks up a sword and saves him.
With the skirmish ended, Brienne once again swears her loyalty to Lady Sansa, who accepts this time. Prompted by reminders from Podrick of the words to say, Sansa formally knights Brienne into her service.
King’s Landing
Recovering from her public humiliation, Cersei sits in the castle and broods. When she receives news that a ship from Dorne has arrived, she allows herself a brief moment of happiness at the thought of seeing her daughter Myrcella again. That hope is quickly quashed when she sees Jaime and realizes that their daughter is dead. Rather than blame Jaime, as you’d expect would be her reaction, Cersei instead blames herself. She remembers the witch’s prophesy from her youth, in which she was told that she’d watch all of her children die. Jaimie defiantly tells her to “Fuck prophesy, fuck fate” and promises that the two of them, together, will come back stronger and take everything from the world. This would almost be a touching moment if these weren’t two horrible people whose relationship is an abomination.
Meanwhile, in the kingdom’s dungeon, Margaery suffers at the hand of the grumpy nun Septa Unella. The High Sparrow (Jonathan Pryce) offers her a moment of comfort and urges her to confess her sins, but Margaery remains unrepentant.
Dorne
Unaware of Myrcella’s murder, Prince Doran allows Ellaria Sand back into his good graces. This is a bad idea. As soon as news arrives of the girl’s death, Ellaria and the Sand Snakes stage a coup and assassinate Doran, as well as his son and heir Trystane (the one who was engaged to Myrcella).
Meereen
Left in charge of the kingdom, Tyrion and Varys walk its street in humble garb discussing the problems they face with civil unrest. In a very funny moment, Tyrion attempts to give a coin to a poor beggar woman on the street so that her baby can eat, but his Valyrian is poor and she misunderstands him to think that he wants to eat her baby!
Suddenly, they hear a commotion and see people running away from smoke rising on the other side of the city. They move toward it until they get a good view of all the ships in the harbor burning. Someone (presumably the Sons of the Harpy) has destroyed their navy. They won’t be sailing to Westeros anytime soon.
Outside the kingdom, Jorah and Daario follow Daenerys’ trail until they see signs of where she was grabbed by a horde. Jorah finds the ring she intentionally dropped in the grass and correctly surmises that the Dothraki have her.
Indeed, Dany is a prisoner of the Dothraki, but none recognize her or have any idea whom she is. She’s brought before the new leader, Khal Moro, and sternly announces herself with her endlessly long list of titles, one of which of course is Khaleesi. He laughs at her and isn’t impressed. He says that he looks forward to breaking her like a wild horse and making her one of his wives, but his tune changes when she reveals that she’s the widow of Khal Drogo. Moro releases her bonds. A Khal’s widow is to be treated with respect. She thanks him and promises him a thousand horses if he will return her to Meereen, but Moro has no intention of doing that. Per tradition, she will be sent to the homestead of Vaes Dothrak to live the rest of her life in mourning with the other widows of fallen Khals. That’s not exactly the future Dany had planned for herself.
Braavos
Now blinded and feeling sorry for herself, Arya lives as a humble beggar on the street. The mean girl known only as The Waif from the House of Black and White approaches her and tosses her a staff, then demands that she stand up and fight. Despite Arya’s protests, the girl taunts and hits her repeatedly. Finally, she leaves and warns that she’ll be back tomorrow for more. Clearly, the intent here is to train Arya and turn her into Daredevil.
Castle Black Again
After all the other storylines have unwound, the episode returns to Castle Black at the very end to find Melisandre alone in her quarters getting ready for bed. She strips down naked save for the choker she always wears around her neck and looks at her nude body in the mirror. The choker, it seems, is magical. As she removes it, her body is revealed in its true form, a nasty, sagging old hag who looks about a thousand years old.
I have to assume that she doesn’t usually take the choker off before bed, lest someone should walk in and discover her in that state. Does her taking it off now represent a rejection of the God of Light?
Episode Verdict
I try to take detailed notes when I recap a TV show, especially when it comes to a series as densely plotted as ‘Game of Thrones’. At the end of this premiere episode, I was a little surprised to find myself with only about half as many notes as I typically take for any given episode of even a silly show like, say, ‘The Flash’ or ‘Gotham’. Is that a measure that not much happens in this episode? I didn’t feel that way when I was watching it, until the very end when I was shocked that the hour was up and the credits rolled.
I think the premiere accomplishes what it needed to accomplish, inasmuch as that every season of the show starts slowly and ramps up in intensity as it goes. However, I’m reminded that I felt this same way after the Season 5 premiere but the show largely spun its wheels for the next nine episodes. At the moment, I’m cautiously optimistic that the writers got the message from fans and will try to avoid that mistake again.
HuskerGuy
“Prompted by reminders from Theon of the words to say, Sansa formally knights Brienne into her service.”
I think that was actually Podrick given her the reminder. I could be wrong though.
Timcharger
I, too, thought it was Theon at first.
But after rewatching the scene, it was Podrick.
Josh Zyber
AuthorFixed now, thanks.
Timcharger
Hi Josh, I would have gone with these titles:
“Youโre a greedy B, you know?”
Under the red dress is dark and full of terrors.
“What is better than that? (Rhetorically!)”
Timcharger
“Always by my hearth…” (Line!)
Timcharger
“That’s good meat. Feed it to the hounds.”
Timcharger
Woman, you can leave your hat (strike that), your choker on.
Timcharger
“And some mutton, too. Throw in some mutton on your deal.”
(I don’t think those are the exact words.
But anyway.)
Davos is great. He’s becoming one of my
favorite characters. I hope there are scenes
with Davos and Tyrion. The 2 best Hands of
the King should interact.
Timcharger
This is the title I would go with:
“Seeing a woman naked, what is better than that?”
Obviously that’s from the Dothraki scene, but that
line has a nice/wicked double meaning with the
Red Woman scene.
Josh Zyber
AuthorI believe quote was something to the effect of “Seeing a beautiful woman naked for the first time…” We’ve seen Melisandre naked many times before (though I suppose you can make the argument that this is the first time we’ve seen the *real* Melisandre at all).
Timcharger
Yeah, my Dothraki is rusty so I loosely
translated that for my purposes.
I think I will keep playing this Game of (Recap)
Titles. I figured that since you do put some
thought into how you select the titles your
recaps, I’ll play along. Gotta entertain myself
between the episodes of my Watch.
Timcharger
When Melisandre shows up and sees Jon Snow
lying on that desk, as a viewer who like many, want Jon
to be resurrected, I can’t help picture the scene from
Princess Bride. I’m hoping for Melisandre to become
Miracle Max, and tell Davos, Dolorous Edd, and those
loyal to Jon: “Don’t worry, Jon is only MOSTLY dead.”
HuskerGuy
Haha, I said the same exact thing to my wife when that scene was going on.
Timcharger
When Tyrion and Varys walk the streets of Meereen,
dressed as common merchants, their dress drew a chuckle
from me. A thought occurred that I can’t unsee. Both were
wearing capes. From the back and with the height difference,
I could only see Batman and Robin.
Timcharger
Josh: “She strips down naked save for the choker she always wears around her neck…”
I didn’t recall this detail, but it was posted online, Apparently
in a previous season when Melisandre was taking a bath and
Stannis’ wife was in the bathroom with her, Melisandre was
not wearing the choker, but looked her normal young self.
So it might not be the choker’s magic. And plus, I’m not too
sure how good Jon Snow would look wearing a choker, if that
is the solution to his death.
๐
Timcharger
http://i.vimeocdn.com/video/475860741_1280x720.jpg
Timcharger
Will try to tell Wifey:
See Honey, I was paying attention to the choker.
(Or lack thereof.) That’s what I’m watching when
I watch these kind of scenes on the show.
Timcharger
Hi Josh, I’m surprised that you didn’t write about
the girl power theme. Just about in every locale, the season
is setting up a rise to power by the women characters. I
went from imagining a Ned Stark, Khal Drogo, King Robert,
Jaime, Tywin battle royale. But now, it appears that the
final showdown may pit Daenerys, Cersei, Sansa/Arya, and
the Dorne women for the Iron Throne.
Josh Zyber
AuthorThat’s probably the writers reacting the complaints about the misogyny in previous seasons, especially last season.
The way this show works, those characters will probably all be killed off before the end of the season anyway.
Timcharger
I wouldn’t characterize it as misogyny.
I would say that last season, the women were knocked
down a peg. And that’s just storytelling methods to now
allow for them to rise and recover. Revenge is a great
plot device.
Josh Zyber
AuthorThis show gets awfully rapey at times. And I doubt that all of these women who are rising and recovering will remain risen or recovered for long.
Timcharger
I’ll give you the Dorne women since they are
relatively newly introduced. But if Dany, Cersy,
Ary, Sany bite the dust this season, i’d be
surprised.
Timcharger
And pls stop with that logic.
Show rape. The show must hate women.
Show war. The show must be pro-war.
Charles M
First episodes of Game of Thrones are almost always slow. I think only season 4 started out dramatically. People should be used to this by now. It’s a hell of a lot better than starting big and then nothing good till the last episode. That’s Walking Dead’s problem, it puts all it’s big moments in a few episodes.
Timcharger
About the Dorne scenes…
I liked them. I know that readers of the novels don’t.
But so what. That’s the benefit they have from reading
the books. They got to enjoy whatever plotline the TV
show didn’t do. But that doesn’t mean the Dorne
scenes suck. I really like the characters. I really hope
the “Bad P” female character really becomes a show
regular.
—–
I did dislike how Ellaria Sand goes against Oberyn’s
don’t-kill-innocent-children policy. But this Season,
the show has her go full tilt. And I like that. Her grief
has her with a kill-them-all attitude. If your worldview
is shattered, then go full crazy. Killing an innocent
Myrcella doesn’t really punish the Lannisters. But
engineering a war that can also raise House Martell
against the Lannisters, that’s a big move on the Game
of Thrones.
—–
While I was disappointed I didn’t get to see the badass
bodyguard Areo Hotah wield his giant spear in battle.
I’m reminded about the line Oberyn Martell said about
how he can easily kill the Lannister soldiers who were
carrying heavy broadswords with his quick daggers.
So Hotah’s death at the hands of the fast Sand snake
girl is apt.
And that is an epic tombstone marker for Hotah:
“Death From Bad Puss_”
๐
Timcharger
โWhat is better than that? (Rhetorically!)โ
I loved that scene. It was subtitled slapstick!
To attempt that humor in a foreign language
is ambitious. There’s no native Dothraki
viewer who can cue the audience to start
laughing. The reading delayed reaction, I
applaud the show’s writing.
Timcharger
How do you pull off a deadpan Dothraki tone?
Just loved it!
Timcharger
Damn! So this is what it feels like to watch
week-to-week? So my Watch begins…
(At least now, no spoiler ravens fly around me.)
David Voss
I cut the cord after season 2 so I’ve enjoyed binge watching the past few seasons. When I found out last week that HBO Now was finally available on the Xbox One, I caved and ordered the service. And now my watch begins as well…
Timcharger
No cable/satellite package for me for a
decade now. So I’ve been waiting for the blu-rays
to binge watch the show.
Ned Stark and Red Redding were unspoiled for me.
But Joffrey and Jon Snow were. Just too many
ravens buzzing around. So this year, HBO Now for
me, too.
Plus, I hate double-dipping for the GoT Steelbooks,
and that is an even longer wait for them to be
released. So HBO Now for now, and the Steelbooks
for later.
cardpetree
I was slightly fooled by Trystane’s cockiness. When he said he didn’t want to hurt either of the girls, I thought he might put up a decent fight. They shut the door on that pretty quickly.
Timcharger
When Bronn knocked Trystane out with one punch
last season, I wasn’t expecting much for him. I’m actually glad
a Sand Snake babe did the deed. I figured the Lannisters would
have had Trystane’s head on a spike rather soon, so anything to
nullify a Lannister win, is a win to me.
Timcharger
“She was such a greedy bitc_, you know that?”
I know the show wants good girls, but it really
needs the bad Sand Snakes.
No, Sand Snakes, I don’t think you’re the most
beautiful women in the world. And what are
you going to do to me about it?
๐
Jack
Great review as always Josh !
I like how you break down the review by house category.
Timcharger
About Alliser Thorne’s motivation…
This isn’t a criticism of the show. The show is
entitled to have stupid, irrational characters.
Not every character should have thought out
their actions completely.
“I never betrayed my Lord Commander’s
orders.” What a stupid cop out! I guess Jon
Snow never officially gave the order to NOT
stab him in the belly.
The never-betrayed-an-order thing must
refer to how Thorne authorized the opening
of the gate at the Wall for Snow and the
Wildlings. But that’s stupid. That would be
the time to betray his Lord Commander.
If Thorne fears the death of the Night’s Watch,
he’s going to kill Snow AFTER the Wildlings
are on this side of the Wall?
I get that Thorne wasn’t at Hardhome to
personally see the threat of the White Walker
army. But every Watchmen there must have
talked endlessly to their brothers about
witnessing this:
https://youtu.be/w8lztAAL7RE
If Thorne feared what the Wildlings would do
the Watch, he just killed the one guy who kept
the Wildlings in check.
I thought the show would have a Bolton (or
someone else) conspiracy of having Thorne
kill Jon, with a promise of aid in killing the
Wildlings next.
Shannon Nutt
I hope Jon Snow STAYS dead. First, he’s a horribly boring character (perhaps not in the books, but I’ve never liked him in the series), and secondly – if Jon comes back, that technically means ANYONE could come back…so why not bring back someone more interesting (like, say, Ned Stark).
Timcharger
While I agree with your premise,
not the “horribly boring character” part,
the violating the finality of death part…
…I still want Jon back.
—–
Here’s what I wrote 2 episodes ago. So I agree
somewhat with what you’re saying:
[Begin quote.]
I hate knowing stuff like this:
Josh: โGeorge R.R. Martin resurrected Catelyn Stark in the books, and the TV show refused to do that.โ
It so undermines the storytelling process of the
TV show. Yes, I remember Beric Dondarrion,
Thoros of Myr, and what supposedly happened
in Season 3. But there is mystery in the TV
show version to whether that is a resurrection
or a superhealing magic spell/prayer that is
administered within seconds of an injury.
Reanimating life 3 days later, that stuff creates
religions. Yes, I get that GoT has the
resurrection of white walkers. It can be argued
that the Mountain was resurrected. But if
Catelyn Stark was resurrected, it makes us ask
about Ned Stark? Robb Stark? Why doesnโt
Cersei get Joffrey resurrected? Tywin would
make sure his will has funds allocated to a
resurrection, right?
Yeah, I want Jon Snow back. But I fear how it
will be done. What that would mean to the
finality of death, and how that gives life
meaning?
[End quote.]
Shannon Nutt
Well, my reaction to the character probably has more to do with Kit’s acting than anything else. I don’t find him particularly engaging. I suspect his post-Thrones career (be it now or later down the road) isn’t going to amount to much.
But that’s just like my opinion, man. ๐
Timcharger
And Shannon, you know nothing.
๐
Look, who can predict acting careers, right? For
every great actor you knew was going to make it,
you get a how-does-that-guy-keep-making-movies?
About the role of Jon Snow, let’s face it, it’s not
one of the best roles in GoT, in the sense that it
doesn’t have juicy lines. Many other characters
get the wilder swings of love and hate and love-to-
hate.
Note what is the most famous line relating to Jon
Snow. It isn’t a line that he says. And that’s not
his fault.
David Voss
I’ve always felt that being a member of the night’s watch seems too much like my real life job, so that’s why I think I haven’t been too invested in Jon Snow’s storyline. ๐
David Voss
Ironically, looking at the date of my post above, it seems today is my 20th anniversary of my real life job.
Timcharger
Guesses on the title of Josh’s next recap:
“I prefer being an only child.”
“If I ever have an idea like that again, punch me in the face.”
Timcharger
“I’m asking the woman who showed me that miracles exist.”
This seems most apt for the biggest development in
episode 2. But the line isn’t very spicy, kind of bland.
It’s a toss up for me between “only child” and “punch in
the face.” “Only child” was haunting. “Punch” was
hilarious. I’d say those 2 are the best choices.
cardpetree
Let’s go ahead and get that 6.02 Recap posted Josh! My body is ready!
Josh Zyber
AuthorYou understand that it takes me time to write the things? ๐
Timcharger
“My body is ready.”
Melisandre sponge bathed you and gave you a haircut?!
๐
cardpetree
The young hot Melisandre!
Timcharger
Rewatching in preparation of the new season…
“Under the red dress is dark and full of terrors,” while it isn’t a line said in the episode, is my favorite title.