Writers: David Benioff, D. B. Weiss.
Directors: Daniel Sackheim.
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Gwendoline Christie, et al.
Synopsis: Tyrion strikes a deal; Jorah and Daario engage in a difficult task; Jaime and Cersei try to improve their situation.
Things are really heating up this season – and if you’ve already tuned in for Book of the Stranger – I will not apologise for the pun. Before we push forward, let’s just appreciate the exceptional cinematography and editing this week from the likes of Anette Haellmigk and Katie Weiland for the episode’s fantastic shot composition and pacing. This week sees us start off back at The Wall. Of course, show-runners Benioff and Weiss can’t leave us hanging as to what Jon Snow got up to after walking off-screen at the end of the last episode. So what happened? Turns out he just went for a walk – because he’s here, and he’s ready to pack up and leave. Just when Jon’s finished talking the talk to Edd, and he’s ready to start walking the walk, something stops him – and us – in his tracks. Wait… What?
That’s freakin’ right! Brienne, Podrick and Sansa stroll on up and through the gates of Castle Black – and I really did think they would tease this out more by having Sansa arrive just after Jon left – and man, they are turning heads! Tormund is kind of flabbergasted to see another woman born-of-fire (with red hair – for those just joining us), albeit kind of impressed when Brienne appears on-screen. We can’t blame you, Tormund, Brienne is a very impressive woman.
Cut to Sansa, cut to Jon, and cut out our bloody hearts, because it’s probably one of the most heart-warming moments of the season thus far as they hug in the bitter grounds of Castle Black. I’m surprised the snow wasn’t melting. Soon, they’re both reminiscing, but it quickly turns to business as Sansa attempts to convince Jon to help her re-take Winterfell. Jon points attention to the fact that all he’s done since they parted ways was fight; he’s hesitant and understandably so. Yet, Sansa informs him that regardless of whether he’ll join her, she’ll take back Winterfell and make it their home once more.
Meanwhile, tensions are high outside as Melisandre and Ser Davos both begin to doubt the prophecies and their validity as the Red Woman reiterates Jon to be the ‘prince that was promised.’ She states that she will follow Jon wherever he decides to go. A much needed breath of levity is injected into the conversation however, when Brienne rocks on over and informs them both that she is the one that executed Stannis on the battlefield after he admitted to using dark magic to assassinate Renly. Brienne, much like an angered, belligerent elephant, does not forgive or forget, regardless of it being in the past.
The gang’s all here and all smiles during a pleasant Michelin-star dining experience – now with a creepily flirtatious Tormund – when lo and behold, a message arrives. It’s Westeros’ son of the year – Ramsay. Interestingly, as we peel back the various aspects of his life that kept him sated, the death of Myranda for example, removing him from his ‘hobbies,’ and leaving him permanently at the side of his father, we start to see this twisted persona descend even more so into sadistic chaos. Of course, this is the Ramsay we see when Jon reads the letter out to everyone… Let’s just say it’s extremely graphic, enough to discourage Jon to continue reading it. It’s also enough to stir Sansa into a rallying cry, eventually convincing Jon to reclaim Winterfell with the help of the Wildlings and the Houses of the North as the son of the ‘last true Warden of the North.’
Elsewhere, in the Vale – Runestone to be specific – we’re met with a glimpse at the gormless Lord of the Eyrie, Robin Arryn. He seems to be training with Lord Yohn Royce at Archery, though both are obviously struggling with their respective tasks. In the distance, a carriage pulls up and out from within it, we are met with the king of conniving himself, Littlefinger – with a gift falcon (because those are totally a thing, do they not have muffin baskets in Westeros?) In a convenient narrative bout, Yohn plays the role of the audience when he notes the last time we saw Littlefinger and what he was up to – safely transporting Sansa, and well, we all know what happened since then.
As per usual, we see the level manipulation that Littlefinger is capable off after Yohn questions how Sansa became married to Ramsay Bolton, citing lies as facts and carefully words his reply to implicate Yohn in Sansa’s apparent abduction. Littlefinger then urges Robin to considering executing Yohn by throwing him through the ol’ moon-door, and then into giving him a second chance if he vows his absolute loyalty. Robin quickly learns that Sansa has escaped and is now taking refuge at Castle Black, but that Bolton’s men will still come for her. After little convincing from Littlefinger, Robin agrees to command Yohn and lead the knights of the Vale to ‘protect her,’ and Littlefinger states it’s time for them to ‘enter the fray.’
Following the previous episode of ‘It’s Always Sunny in Meereen,’ where Missandei and Grey Worm were disgruntled at the thought of Tyrion even talking to the masters of Slaver’s Bay, Tyrion decides to do just that, with wine, and… women. It’s been a while since we’ve seen this side of Tyrion, the rambunctious and exuberant actions of a Lannister ‘playboy’ – now all grown up and ready to aid Daenerys in her absence. He manages to convince the masters to cease support for the Sons of the Harpy and to abolish slavery, on the condition that it is done within seven years.
Grey Worm and Missandei clearly oppose throughout, and it’s unclear whether they’re the poster-children for diplomatic naivety, experienced slaves, Tyrion’s conscience, Daenerys’ avatars, or all of the above. Regardless, they both support him publicly, but behind closed doors, hostility is brewing and we very well may see ‘Meereen: Civil War,’ in the episodes to come. One thing that we’re all wondering though is how Daenerys will take the news when – and if – she returns.
Something tells me that this isn’t the last time we’ll see the Sons of the Harpy, either. The masters were quick to deny involvement, and yes, that may be implicative in itself, but what if they actually aren’t funding the Sons of the Harpy? What if the whispers of Varus’ sparrows are actually those tainted by the lure of Qyburn at the Red Keep? Food for thought.
Next up, we head on over to the Dothraki Sea, where Khaleesi compatriots Jorah and Daario are on a hike. To save their queen. From a khalasar of primal warriors. It’s certainly a difficult challenge, but for now, our two favourite side-pieces to Daenerys are, unsurprisingly, duking it out about their feelings. Jorah explains where the Dothraki must be keeping Daenerys, and that they might be able to sneak in – without weaponry – and if they get caught, pose as merchants. As they infiltrate the city, their bluff is called and they are forced to kill two of Khal Moro’s bloodriders. To avoid the city rioting upon finding one of the bloodriders with a stab-wound, Daario masks it by grabbing a nearby rock and smashing his head in until, we presume, there’s nothing left. Charming.
Inside the temple of the Dosh Khaleen, however, Daenerys seemingly befriends a young Dosh Khaleen, who – like her – was taken, wed and impregnated at a young age. The elder notes that the Dothraki rely on them for their wisdom, and that is why they are there. Should Khal Moro decide against Daenerys’ indoctrination into the Dosh Khaleen however, she will not be so lucky. Daenerys and her newly befriended Dosh Khaleen both leave the temple for fresh air, but shortly after encounter Jorah and Daario. They explain that sneaking out of Vaes Dothrak is the only way they can escape, and even then, it’s a slim chance. Daenerys, knowing how unlikely it is to succeed, tells them of another plan.
We will be returning to Vaes Dothrak and the Dosh Khaleen at the end of this week’s coverage, as the final scene plays out here. If you’re looking for details on the episode’s ending, skip the end of the article!
We open to the strong-willed Margaery, who, despite a timeless stay in the dungeons of the High Sparrow, has yet to break. As such, she is brought to meet him, and he begins to tell her of his past. He observes that the first thing she would return to if he released her was the security and warmth of her family, but that with these things comes excessive material goods, wealth, and power – corrupting influences that are ultimately, sins. He tells her – and us – of how he was a cobbler in his youth, in a business inherited from his father. Over time, he realised that the higher quality shoes he made, the more people would pay for them, and the more he could then spend on experiencing glimpses of the richness that pervaded his customer’s lives. Ultimately, he decrees that the poor, the beggers, they were the ones who were closer to the truth than anyone else, and with that in mind, takes Margaery to see her brother Loras. It’s here that we see who, out of the two siblings is the strongest willed, as Loras is quickly breaking under the Sparrows’ torture and he begs Margaery to make it stop.
Meanwhile, in the Red Keep, Cersei meets with Tommen, who is seen to be discussing the High Sparrow with Grand Maester Pycelle. He – as always – is quickly dismissed, and goes about it incredibly slowly, and soon, mother and son indulge too in a conversation about the High Sparrow. Tommen’s worry for Margaery is still very present, and is reluctant to provoke the High Sparrow in fear for her life, and Cersei comments that the High Sparrow cannot be trusted, because he has no respect for the crown. With information of Margaery’s fate, the very same walk of atonement that Cersei had to endure, Cersei and Jaime interrupts Kevan and Olenna in the small council chamber. In a sudden turn of events, everyone decides that the High Sparrow must be captured, or killed – but ultimately defeated, before Margaery suffers the same fate as Cersei. So Olenna pledges her army, whilst Kevan agrees to stand down when Jaime and Cersei notes that he will finally be able to get Lancel back, and that Tommen will forgive him when Margaery is once again by his side.
It all seems to be heating up in King’s Landing this week, so within the next two episodes, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Olenna’s army knock down the gates of King’s Landing and watch all of this unfold. There is, however, an air of curious uncertainty about the events that are set to play out. It is obvious, yes, that Cersei is motivated in this instance by revenge, and refreshing to see just how motivated she is – at least, enough to essentially declare two wars; on the High Sparrow and the Sand Snakes. These are two decisions that Tommen has currently had very little say in, and it would be interesting to see if Tommen will continue being swayed by the High Sparrow before the insurrection begins.
We see little of the Iron Islands, and Theon, and nothing of the mysterious new character – Euron, Theon and Yara’s uncle, this episode. What we do see though is in the distance, the gigantic shadows of the Iron Islands pierce the blanket of sleet and mist and quickly, we realise that Theon has successfully returned home. Time has passed, but has healed few wounds when Yara states that she has most certainly not forgiven Theon for betraying her when she and her men assaulted the Dreadfort. Understandably, she is cautious and skeptical as to the timing of Theon’s return, after Balon plummeted to his demise earlier in the season. The argument gets increasingly heated and Yara accuses him of returning simply to take the throne for himself, whilst Theon insists that he only heard of their father’s death after docking. She yells, and berates him, demanding to know what he wants, and finally – he vows to back her claim to the throne at the Kingsmoot.
Just something of note; ‘Book of the Stranger‘ is undoubtedly making leaps and bounds for building up its female characters. With Yara as the prospective ruler of the Iron Islands, Sansa leading the charge and rallying her brother and his forces into fighting House Bolton, Cersei pushing for utter annihilation of the Faith Militant, despite the loss of her family, and Margaery remaining completely unbroken under the various methods of the High Sparrow’s torture, it is so completely refreshing to watch these strong-willed, strong-built (in Brienne’s case!), and resourceful women rise in a series so typically dominated by its male characters and the world built around them. That’s obviously without even mentioning Daenerys, which we’ll explore at the end…
Similar to the Iron Islands, there is nothing to be seen of the now prisoner, Rickon, in Winterfell. Instead, we are met with Osha as she is brought before Ramsay. He begins questioning her, and she claims that she intended to betray Rickon and the Stark family for never paying her and for keeping her prisoner. Osha attempts to convince Ramsay that she was planning on selling Rickon, as she felt owed. Noticing a knife on the table, Osha gets closer to Ramsay, straddling him with the obvious intent to kill him – we’re all hoping and praying that Osha will do it, but in her ear, Ramsay taunts her. He tells her that he is aware that she did the same thing to Theon, who she was and why she helped Rickon, so she grasps frantically for the knife on the table, only to be met with another in her neck. Panicked, and hastily bleeding out over the floor, she stumbles to her death.
Finally: We return once more to the vast grass-seas of the Dothraki. Back in Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys is presented to Khal Moro and the other Khals set to dictate her fate. Gathered before them, she recalls how she has been in this same temple when she was to give birth to the son of Khal Drogo. She compares them all against her late husband, who promised her the world, and that he would be the first and greatest Khal to sail across the Narrow Sea and destroy anyone in her way to the Iron Throne. The Khals insult him, and subsequently, Daenerys points out how they are unsuited to lead the Dothraki people due to how pitiful they are and how their lack of ambition will always restrict them from being great. They threaten Daenerys, emphasising how they will pass her around between them all, and then the bloodriders, and then – their horses, instead of serving her. It quickly becomes clear that after all this time, she does not want them to serve her and she notes that instead, they will die.
She is calm, she is free in her mind and in one swift motion, she is physically free as well. Daenerys goes from a slave to ancient warrior tradition, to queen of yet another great people. She tips the braziers inside the straw hut over, cornering off the Khals and as the building descends into an uncontrollable blaze, she watches on as the men that berated her, the same men that threatened her, burn. The Dothraki people quickly surround the temple, and as she appears in the flames, unburnt, they – as do Jorah and Daario – bow to her.
In 6.3, I argued that it may have been the best episode we’ve seen this season. I stand corrected – ‘Book of the Stranger,’ is something else entirely. Gratifyingly cathartic, and full of fire, 6.4 shows us story-telling and character development that remembers the seeds planted in Season 1, and will undoubtedly reverberate through the rest of the series. We witness long-overdue reunions, and reintroductions to old favourites (and some not) which forces us to recount just how comprehensive the moving parts of Westeros are. We want to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to discuss with us, and enjoy the seven sleeps between this episode and the next but remember, the night is dark and full of terrors. Until next time.
Game Of Thrones airs on HBO in North America, and Sky Atlantic in the UK and Ireland.
