Another episode of Game of Thrones has come and gone, and we’re one step closer to this seasons finale (which, if the season so far might be any indication, should be a doozy).
This episode was a little slower than the previous ones so far, but there was a lot going on – especially to the readers of the books. So let’s review what happened real quick so we can discuss a little how this ties into the books. As always… SPOILERS.
Up north, Bran and Meera have gone as far as they could. Meera is drained and cannot drag him any further. Bran has one last vision, of basically everything that has lead up to this point, snippets from the Chidlren creating the White Walkers, to Jaime becoming a Kingslayer, up to a bunch of White Walkers catching up to him where he is now. And he wakes up, telling Meera it’s over, and that the Others have found them. And as this happens, a dozen White Walkers attack. But in the nick of time, a mad dressed in black riding a horse and having an assortment of fire weapons (including a bad as fire mace on a chain), takes them all out. His name? Coldhands. Turns out, it’s his uncle Benjen, though he looks half dead. He explains he was killed by the Whites in the past, but the Children of the Forest saved him before he turned, so he’s kind of stuck in the middle. But he knows of the great battle that comes, and he’s here to protect Bran, whom he believes is meant to face off with the Night King. This is one of the book things I will talk about a little later.
We get to see Sam again and his visit back home to the Tarly mansion. They’re definitely one of the wealthier families in Westoros, and you can see it. Sam and Gilly make it there, and Sam’s plan is to leave her there where she would be protected and safe. His father is a pos though, and clearly the stay there is disheartening and painful. So much so that in the end, in the middle of the night, Sam decides he does not want to leave Gilly behind after all, and they head out together. These scenes seemed a little pointless in my opinion, but maybe they’re building up to something. He did steal his father’s sword, Heartbane, which is Valyrian steel, so… that might be the part that comes into play later on.
Down in Kings Landing, Jamie and the Tyrell’s army set their plan in motion to free Margeary and take out the High Sparrow. To everyone’s surprise though, Tommen is already there, and in fact both of them have been converted into the ways of the Faith – in which he makes an official kings declaration that there be an official union between the King and the Faith (basically between religion and politics). I still feel like Margaery is behind this, and that she has some bigger plan up her sleeve.
This somehow leads to Jaime basically being “fired” from the Kingsguard due to his leading this revolt. He is being sent to the River Lands to assist with capturing the area, which the Frey’s are obviously having a problem with. And Cersei wants Jaime to take the mantle of Lord back at Lannisport. More on this a little later.
A quick snippet at Walder Frey being the prick that he always has been, and a mention that they’re still looking for the Blackfish. To everyones surprise, it looks like he has another Tully kept as a prisoner, who was not killed at the red wedding… Edmure Tully. More on this one a little later as well.
Across the sea, Arya has her chance to assassinate the actress, but in the end, she figures out two things… one, the person who has hired this assassination isn’t one with any good reason (she’s just jealous of the actress and wants her out of commission). And two, the actual play, of the story going on in Westoros, and of Jeoffrey dying, brings a certain delight to Arya. She likes seeing him die. It reminds her of her list, and a girl with no name should have no list… should not desire any particular people dead. But she does. And so, she decided that this girl does indeed have a name… and it’s Arya Stark. She goes and finds her sword Needle, which she had hidden, and departs in the middle of the night, knowing that the house of Black and White will be after her head (or in this case, her face). The young girl she was training with gets permission from Jaquen to hunt her down. So now we’ll see where all this goes.
Farther to the east, Dany slowly marches back to Mereen with her great army/Khalasar. But at one point she senses something and goes off on her own. Then, suddenly, she returns riding Drogon, now bigger than ever. As she lands, she addresser her Khalasar, referencing how a Dothroki Khal would pick 3 blood-riders as his leaders.. But she is changing the game. She has a bigger picture in mind, and choosing 3 would be too small an act. She proclaims that the entire Khalasar will be her blood-riders. This pretty much solidifies her army to her, as they all accept and cheer into riding the “wooden horses” (aka ships) over the sea to Westoros. More on this later… and by later, I mean now.
You see, while this season is a little head of the books, some of the stories in the books were told differently and never happened. This episode seems to be re-aligning the show with the books. Here is what we have:
Coldhands has been with Bran since like book/season 3, when they first crossed the Wall. He’s the one who helps Bran get to the Three-Eyed Raven. So, now he’s finally on screen (not to mention, it being uncle Benjen was only a theory, so now it’s been proven correct). So, like the books (though those eneded with Bran still at the tree), Coldhands is now with him.
In the books, Jaime never goes down to Dorne… he spends most of book 4 and 5 just muddling around the river lands trying to win wars… which is what he’s being sent to do now. So there you go… re-aligning is happening there too. Only difference is, he pretty much dislikes Cersei by this point, as she is proven to be nothing more than a manipulative b*tch. For some reason, while we started liking who Jaime was becoming in the show, he’s digressed and is back with her. Maybe she’ll reveal her true colors and snap some sense into him again (like maybe she planned his whole “being fired” from the Kingsguard, just to have him return to Lannisport and be lord, cause that’s what SHE wants… I guess we’ll see. (in the books, he’s still Kingsguard btw).
Meanwhile Brienne is heading toward the Riverlands as well, to find the Blackfish and bring him back for the war to take Winterfell. In the books, Sansa never left the Eyrie, and Brienne was searching in that area (Riverlands) when she meets up with certain characters. I won’t say who, as I think they’re now re-aligning this with the books as well. Lets just say something about “Lady” and “stones” and “hearts” might be coming into play… now wouldn’t that be an amazing season finale surprise. Also, the fact that the show re-mentioned the brotherhood without banners, which is also around that area in the books, so…
As for Dany, book 5 (the last one) ended the way season 5 ended… with her running into the Khalasar. Only in the books, Drogo was with her. So I’m thinking that, in the books, they just join her right there… I mean, shit… she’s riding this huge red dragon. But since the show cant really spend 6 episodes of her doing just that, they need to spice it up… make an adventure out of it. So instead, Drogon was not with her, which gets her captured and we get to see everything she did until this point… her in front of the Khalasar with Drogon.
Anyway, only 4 more episodes to go. Can’t wait.
~mozeus
