Bran and Meera are on the run. Hodor and the Three Eyed Raven have just been butchered before them. She's dragging him and the snow and cold are slowly her down with every step but they can't stop as the Army of the dead and the Night's King are on their tail.
As he's being dragged Bran is still warging. He sees himself being crippled, the death of his mam, a dragon over King's Landing, the Night's King creating White Walkers, his father's execution, Jaime killing the Mad King Targaryen, Robb's death and a huge explosion all in rapid succession. Ok, that explosion is new.... don't recall that happening.
Just as the dead catch up with them a hooded figure rides to their rescue swinging a fiery ball and chain at their pursuers. With them destroyed he lifts them onto his horse and away from danger. Phew. Saviours in this show have a great sense of timing.
Sam and Gilly have arrived at Horn Hill (heh), Sam's family home. Gilly is very impressed. Sam is nervous. He never assumed he'd come home again. And he deffo didn't think he'd be bringing home a woman and child. He makes Gilly hide the fact she's a wildling too. His father Randall aint a fan of the free folk.
His mother Melessa is delighted though and welcomes Gilly and wee Sam with open arms. His father and brother are nowhere to be seen though. They couldn't even be bothered to be here for Sam's return. Not a good sign.
This life is totally alien to Gilly. She doesn't know how to deal with it or polite society. She went from her bastard father Craster to Mole's Town to Castle Black. All she's ever known is hardship and now everyone is being nice to her.
In King's Landing Tommen is meeting the High Sparrow. He's terrified about his wife margaery's walk of atonement as he knows how brutal it was for his mother.
Tommen is brought to see her. Her imprisonment has broken her. She's given herself up to the gods of the faith militant and converted. Her praise of the High Sparrow baffles Tommen totally.
She also admits her brother Loras is in the wrong for indulging in sinful activities with his boyfriend. This really baffles Tommen. What's going on? What did the High Sparrow do to her to brainwash her like this?
Dinner is served in Hornhill. Gilly is dressed up to the nines and loving it. Sam's father Randall is ashamed of Sam. He sees his leaving the wall as a shame. He insults him nonstop. He's a bollix. No wonder Sam was nervous.
Gilly defends Sam and tells them all Sam took down a White Walker and a Thenn all by himself. Sam's brother Dickon pipes up that White Walker's are a myth and they cannot exist.
She says they do and that she's seen them. In doing so she outs herself as a Wildling. Randall erupts. He does not want Wildling filth in his house. He points out his Valyrian sword on the wall. That sword was used to kill many Wildling's.
He decides to let Gilly stay because she's given him a grandson (he thinks) but Sam has to go and he's never allowed to set foot in Hornhill again. He's better off. With a prick like that as a father who needs enemies?
Sam bids farewall to Gilly and lil Sam. Surely this can't be the end of Westoros's best couple?? Thankfully Sam changes his mind and decides to bring them along with him. Nice one.
And even better is that he decides to steal his father's Valyrian sword too. Valyrian steel, one of the few things that can destroy a White Walker. Also handy to have by your side. There's not many left in the world. Jon, Brienne & now Sam own them.
Arya is back spying on her soon to be victim Lady Crane. In this play she gets to see how Joffrey died and it pleases her seeing as he was on her list and she never got to deal with him personally.
Afterwards she sneaks backstage and laces the actress's rum with poison but gets stopped by her on the way out. Lady Crane has a good memory for faces and recognises her from the crowd. She's nice to Arya. That makes a change. It's been a long time since anyone was just nice to her.
Her niceness saves her when Arya rushes back and stops her from poisoning herself. her conscience has gotten to her. Unfortunately for Arya the waif from the House of Black & White witnesses her act of mercy.
Arya doesn't know the waif saw her but she knows she's put herself in danger and retrieves Needle, her sword, from its hiding place. Better to be safe than sorry and all that jazz.
The waif rushes back to Jaqen Hagar and informs him of Arya's failure. He's disappointed but not surprised by Arya's mercy. He gives the waif the ok to kill Arya. The bastard. Meanwhile Arya gets reacquainted with her favourite weapon.
In King's Landing the Tyrell army is marching towards the High Septor. They are there on Olenna Tyrell's command to ensure Margaery Tyrell isn't made do the walk of atonement.
Jaime, marching with the Tyrell's orders the High Sparrow to free Margaery and Loras. But it's a moot point. She was never going to be made walk the walk. It was all for show.
In secret King Tommen has made a deal with the High Sparrow and the Faith Militant. He has declared that the crown and the faith will be joined. He's been suckered in by his wife Margaery like the High Sparrow knew he would. Jaime is horrified. Olenna Tyrell is disgusted because this means the Sparrow has won a huge moral victory.
Jaime is called into the Throne room before Tommen and stripped of his leadership of the King's Guard for daring to stand up to the Sparrow. He's to be exiled from the city. This means he'll be away from the woman he loves. His sister Cersei (i know, i know).
In Castle Frey Walder Frey is pissed off because the Blackfish Tully has retaken Riverrun. The Frey's are losing power because the Brotherhood With Banner's keep raiding their supplies and their scummy behaviour has lost them support from other families. Frey has a plan.
He brings in Edmure Tully who's been in his possession since the Red Wedding. Edmure is the Blackfish's nephew and therefore a weakness to him. He'll be used as a bargaining chip.
In King's Landing Jaime finds out he's being sent to deal with the Blackfish too. House Lannister still owes a death to Walder Frey for his part in killing Robb Stark and this is the payment. All he wants to do is get Bronn and destroy the High Sparrow and his followers. He's in a rage over what they've done to his family.
Cersei talks him down and tells him his destruction of the Blackfish will be a show of force, a way to relight the Lannister fire. She tells him she's not worried about her trial either, another concern of his. It will be a trial by combat and when her championship is a zombified Gregor Clegane, she has nothing to worry about.
Back in the North we find out who rescued Bran and Meera. It's Benjen Stark. Bran's uncle who went missing above the wall years before. He been contacted telepathically by the Three Eyed Raven. He looks different now. He was stabbed by a White Walker but saved by the Children of the Forest.
He's a half zombie but is still a good man. he informs Bran that Bran is the new Three Eyed Raven. He's a man who can change the course of the forthcoming war. But first he needs to learn how to fully use his powers before he can go back to Winterfell.
Across the narrow Sea, Daenerys is riding with her new huge army when she reunites with her dragon, Drogon. Her appearance atop the dragon amazes the Dothraki. She asks will they cross the sea with her. Traditionally they're terrified of water but their faith in their new Queen means they'll do anything for her.
Not as good as episodes 4 & 5 but how could it live up to those masterful hours. Good in it's own way though. The reintroduction of Benjen Stark, not seen since S1 was well done. Less good is the reintroduction of Edmure and Blackfish Tully, 2 characters who made no impact originally and only crop up here to tie up loose ends. I'd forgotten they existed.
Next up - The Broken Man
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 4 5
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