Jon Snow is heading south. He's had enough of the Wall and the Night's Watch. He's disillusioned by what he's seen and what he's had to do as Lord Commander. Most importantly his death and resurrection has given him an out. He took his vows til death. He died. He can leave.
Edd isn't happy. He doesn't want to lose his friend and he doesn't feel qualified to take over as Lord Commander. Especially after what he saw at Hardhome. The Army of the death is bearing down on them and he feels like Jon is running from that. He can't change Jon's mind though. I don't blame Jon one bit. He's literally given his all.
A horn blast signals riders approaching. Fucking hell. What now? Who could it be? It's Brienne, Pod and Sansa!!! Tormund is instantly smitten with the imposing Brienne but the big story here is the reunion of Sansa and Jon. They haven't seen each other in years. It's a truly heartening moment.
It's like they only saw each other yesterday. They both hint at the horror they've been through since they last saw each other and reminisce over older, better times. Sansa's suggestion that they fight for Winterfell against the Bolton's rattles Jon. He just wants peace but she wants to go home. She's grown very strong psychologically since he last saw her.
Melisandre has pinned her colours to Jon. She'll go where he goes. Davos is troubled and wonders what has changed her mind and finds out Stannis's defeat shocked her. She also asks about Shireen's death but Melisandre denies any part in that. Brienne interrupts and says she killed Stannis and that she knows Melisandre killed Renly.
At Runestone in the Vale, weird little Robyn Arryn is still struggling with the essential skills needed to become a man. His bizarre mammy coddled him for too long and it's showing. He's delighted when Littlefinger (ugh) shows up. Lord of Runestone, Yohn Royce wonders what became of Littlefinger's marriage to Sansa.
Littlefinger lies and says the Bolton's kidnapped her. They could have only known her location if Royce told them. (Which he didn't). He then gets Robin Arryn to threaten Royce. He can manipulate anyone. God I hate him.
After Royce departs he informs Robyn that Sansa has escaped Winterfell. Robin is pleased. She was his first cousin after all. He offers to help her anyway he can. Littlefinger orders that the Vale's troops, the Knights of the Vale shall ride out to help her. He sold her off to the Boltons and now he's going to make it look like he's rescuing her. The snakey bastard.
In Meereen Tyrion gets a diplomatic visit from the leaders of Astapor and Yunkai. Obviously the message from Varys sent out by his little birds got to them. They want Tyrion, Daenerys, her dragons and the Unsullied to leave Slaver's Bay and let them get back to the way things were.
Tyrion speaks for Daenerys and offers the slavers a deal to abolish slavery over 7 years. It looks like they'll accept. Like Littlefinger he's great with words. Former slaves of Meereen are angered by this agreement but reluctantly Grey Worm and Missandei side with Tyrion and calm them down. They warn Tyrion it could all easily backfire though.
Ser Jorah and Daario Nahaaris are tracking Daenerys and have followed the trail to Vaes Dothrak. Before they can enter they have to hide their weapons as they are forbidden in the holy city. While hiding his Jorah accidentally reveals his greyscale infection to Daario.
Daario knows what the infection can do to a person. Jorah does too and the patch on his arm tells us that it's taken hold very deeply.
They sneak into the city at night and have to kill two guards who discover them with their bare hands. Before long they find Daenerys who has begun to make friends with a young widow called Ornella. She tells them it's an impossible plan and anyways she already has a plan in mind. Something really special.
In King's Landing Margaery Tyrell is still locked up at the command of the High Sparrow for covering up her knowledge of her brother Loras's "unnatural relationships" with other men. Septa Unella, the woman who tortured Cersei is her captor now.
She's brought before the High Sparrow who preaches at her about riches and sin and then he brings her to see her brother Loras. His imprisonment has broken him. She realises the Sparrow is trying to break her too and she pleads with Loras to stay strong.
Cersei meanwhile goes to visit her son, King Tommen. She finds him being councilled by Maester Pycelle. She orders him out but he demands to stay, it's his right to council the king. He gives her a knowing smile and leaves. He's barking up the wrong tree here if he thinks she's not dangerous.
Cersei wants him to deal with the High Sparrow but he's wary of him after their meeting. The fact that Margaery Tyrell will soon be forced into a walk of Atonement is playing on his mind too. Cersei makes Tommen believe that she cares about his wife.
She next tells Olenna Tyrell of her granddaughter's upcoming punishment. Olenna is horrified and promises her troops to Cersei to take down the High Sparrow. She's got the second largest army in Westoros after the Lannister's. At her command all hell could break loose.
Cersei's plans are falling into place. She's regaining her power and people are starting to look up to her again. And she's doing it the right away. No sneaking around, only telling people what they want and don't want to hear.
Kevan Lannister is part of the small council with Olenna. When Cersei promises him he'll get back his son Lancel when the Faith Militant is destroyed he decides to back her too. At his command the Lannister army will just stand down when the Tyrell army comes for the Faith Militant.
Theon Greyjoy has arrived home to the Iron Islands to find his father has been murdered. His sister Yara is mightily pissed off that he didn't leave with her when she came to rescue him from Ramsay Bolton's clutches. He was a broken man then. He's climbing back up into himself now.
She claims he only came to get a piece of the family claim because their father is dead. It's not true. He really did come home to support her and he will any way he can. Including supporting her claim for leader of the Iron Islands. Good man Theon. He's changed a lot from the selfish boy he once was. Being castrated does that I suppose.
In Winterfell Ramsay has Osha and Rickon Stark as his prisoners. Osha catches his eye and he decides to toy with her. I fuckin hate him. So does Osha and he knows it. He asks why she helped Rickon. She claims she only did it so she could sell him one day.
Ramsay knows she's lying. She tries to cover it up by seducing him. During her seduction she reaches for his knife but he's too quick and stabs her in the neck. He knows this is how she escaped from Theon before and he's not going to fall for the same trick. A shockingly ignoble end to a cool character
At the wall Sansa is realising how tough life there is. Brienne is freaked out by Tormund's obvious lust for her. He's not one for hiding his feelings. She looks petrified and disgusted. Meanwhile a letter arrives from Ramsay for Jon Snow.
It's a taunting one. Calling him a bastard. How he holds Winterfell. How if Jon doesn't give him back Sansa he will let his soldiers rape her and make Jon watch. And how he holds their youngest sibling Rickon on his dungeon.
This letter is enough to change Jon's mind. He wants to destroy the Bolton's now but he doesn't have the numbers. Sansa points out that he is Ned Stark's true son. He can use that status to get the houses of the North not loyal to the Bolton's to join him instead. Then he'll have the numbers.
In Vaes Dothrak, Daenerys is brought before the Khal's to hear her fate. She's been in this temple before. It's where she ate a horses heart and proved herself woman enough to carry Khal Drogo's child. She lets the collected Khal's all of this but they are unimpressed.
She tells the collected Khal's she will lead them, that they lack ambition. They tell her she'll be raped and killed before they serve her. That's it. She's had enough. It's time to show her power and end these saps. She tips over the braziers holding the fires that light up the temple. The whole place erupts in flame. A dozen Khal's dying screaming.
But she does not. She emerges unharmed from the temple. A miracle witnessed by tens of thousands of awed Dothraki. They fall to their knees before her. Jorah and Daario witness it too. She's just got herself a new massive army. One willing to do anything for her.
An epic ending that looked great but we've seen it before all the way back in S1. Daenerys' story has been treading water for so long. Hopefully, this is where it will start kicking off big style. Great to see a Stark Reunion too. 6 years in the making and it was very satisfying to behold.
Next up - The Door
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 10
Series 6 - 1 2 3
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