Stannis's camp starts thawing out and Melisandre claims it's a result of the sacrifice of Shireen. Stannis sees it as a sign he should ride on Winterfell. He's undermanned and Davos hasn't returned with supplies but he's a stubborn bastard who'll do it anyway.
The sacrifice had other effects too. Half his men deserted him when they saw the horror he was capable of. His wife Selyse is gone too, dead by her own hand after the guilt of what she allowed to happen got to her.
Stannis has nothing left to lose. Either does Melisandre who does a legger before Stannis can blame it all on her. The cowardly witch. Stannis orders a march on Winterfell. A fight he knows he cannot win.
At the wall Jon is haunted by what he saw during the White Walker massacre at Hardhome. Sam points out that Valyrian steel is a new weapon to fight them with but there's not much of that around. Sam asks Jon's permission for him and Gilly to leave so he can become a Maester. Jon, very reluctantly, lets go of his friend. A really lovely moment.
The Baratheon army reaches Winterfell. At the same time Sansa escapes her room. She rums to the tower to signal Brienne. But, in a case of terrible timing, Brienne has just found out via Podrick that Stannis is nearby and she heads off for her revenge.
Stannis is an experienced battle planner but even he can't stretch his resources too far. Just as they plan for a siege they see the Bolton army riding out to face them. This is all happening very suddenly. I love it.
Stannis, a man never afraid to get his hands dirty, leads his men into battle against a superior force. It all happens as Sansa gazes out from the tower. And just like that it's all over. The Baratheon forces are decimated.
There's very few survivors. Stannis is one of them. He's critically injured but still manages to take out to final enemies. As he lies beneath a tree Brienne appears. It's time to get revenge for Renly. Stannis accepts his fate. Brienne swings her sword with a roar. That's it. Stannis's storyline is over. He went out with a whimper.
Ramsay Bolton led his men into battle too. He enjoyed himself far more than Stannis did. He's one cruel piece of work. Even his own men shudder at him. His bloodlust sends him back to the castle looking for Sansa.
She returned to her room but Myranda catches her, threatening her with a bow and arrow. Theon, finally, rises up and pushes Myranda off the castle wall to her death. Nice one Theon. He makes a decision. He takes Sansa's hand and they jump off the other side of the wall into the deep snow. It's time to get away from Ramsay. Gotta love a bit of redemption.
In Braavos, Ser Meryn Trant is back to the brothel and this time he's torturing young girls. He truly is a nasty piece of work. One of the girls won't scream and we realise it's Arya in disguise. She's taken a face from the House of black and white. She's about to make her first kill as an assassin.
She buries a knife in Trant's eye. And then in his other one. Then she knifes his chest as she tells him who she is. She's gloating at his pain. It's a brutally violent moment. Once he realises who she is she slits his throat.
Back at the House of Black and White she returns the face she borrowed. Jaqen is disappointed she went off course and the other girl who works there is pleased that Arya failed. Jaqen mentions a wrong life was taken, that a debt is owed to the gods. He decides the best way to pay the debt is to kill himself. What???
But then the other girl turns out to be Jaqen. Oh jesus this is needlessly confusing. Then Arya's sight fades and disappears. She's gone blind. This is her punishment for wearing a face when she wasn't supposed to.
In Dorne Jaime, Bronn, Myrcella and Trystane are readying to leave for their journey back to King's Landing. Thank god. This is a terrible subplot. Ellaria Sand says goodbye by kissing Myrcella on the lips. An odd moment. Oh she's not one to be trusted. At sea Myrcella tells Jaime she knows he's her real father. She accepts him. Jaime is truly happy for a moment.
Until Myrcella's nose starts to bleed and she struggles to breath. She's been poisoned. Ellaria Sand did it with her kiss. The snakey evil wagon. She was an innocent child. She takes the antidote that Myrcella cannot.
In Meereen, Tyrion, Daario and Jorah are rudderless without Daenerys to lead them. Tyrion slags off both the lovelorn fellas. A wounded Greyworm questions Jorah's presence but Missandei calms him down. Tempers are frayed as all calm devotion to Daenerys.
Jorah and Daario decide to leave and search for her. Tyrion is left behind to control the city in her absence. He's the only one with political experience. He'll command with Greyworm as his proxy. The populace will listen to Greyworm and Missandei speaking Tyrion's decree.
Tyrion is worried about how he'll cope. Until an old friend appears at his side. Varys!! Deadly. Love Varys. Varys will advise Tyrion. Things should be ok for now. Varys once had a hand in controlling King's Landing. Meereen should be a piece of piss compared to that.
In the mountains North of Meereen Daenerys and her dragon are regrouping as he heals his wounds. He's been an awkward teenage dragon and won't listen to her commands. She goes off to get some food and who does she run into? Why it's only a massive horde of Dothraki who instantly surround her. Great, she's back to where she started.
In King's Landing Cersei has had enough of starvation and decides to confess her sins to the High Sparrow. She admits to her affair with Lancel but denies lying with Jaime and also her part in Robert Baratheon's death.
She claims the rumours of her and Jaime are lies spread by Stannis Baratheon. The High Sparrow tells her she has to stand trial. He also tells her she must atone for her sins first.
Her atonement is horrifying. She's stripped, her hair is shorn and she's made walk miles through the streets of King's Landing in the nude. It's a moment as brutal as any bit of violence and it seems everyone in the city is out to see her brought down a notch.
The people of King's Landing abuse her, throw rotten food at her, flash her and spit on her. All the while the words "SHAME, SHAME" ring out above her head. She breaks down in tears, we've never seen her this low. It's fair hard to watch
She finally returns to the Red Keep. Maester Pycelle is pleased with her ragged appearance. Qyburn is there to cover her up. He's her only ally. He introduces her to the newest member of the King's Guard. A fully reanimated Gregor Clegane. The Mountain is now a zombie. Fucking hell that is terrifying.
With him by her side she'll not have to worry about much anymore. He picks her up with ease and carries her to her room to begin her recovery and no doubt to begin plotting a massive revenge against all who've wronged her.
At the wall, Davos is pleading with Jon to get the Wildlings to fight with Stannis. Obviusly he hasn't heard the news yet. Just then Melisandre turns up and Jon & Davos realise its too late. Davos is heartbroken when he realises his little friend Shireen is dead.
That night Jon is visited by Olly. He has news. Jon's long missing uncle Benjen has been spotted. One of the Wildlings from Hardhome saw him in the North. It's a tiny glimmer of hope for Jon. He rushes out to talk to the Wildling,
But there's no Wildling. Only Olly, Ser Allister and other Night's Watch men who see Jon as a traitor. They attack. Allister strikes first. The others join in. Even Olly. Jon is stabbed a dozen times over. It's a genuinely traumatic scene.
Jon dies alone in the snow. A vicious ending for a good man.
A superb finale. Tons going on. Loads of stuff being set up for next year. And Jon Snow is dead. Jesus. Still as shocking to watch the second time around.
Next up - The Red Woman
Series 1 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 3 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 4 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Series 5 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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